10 Anime with OP MCs Pretending to Be Weak

Anime featuring main characters (MC) with overwhelming power are often a fan favorite. The incredible abilities of these mc never fail to astound the audience. When combined with an intriguing storyline, it amplifies the excitement of this particular anime genre.

However, in some of these anime, the main protagonists appear to conceal their powers for various reasons. Some are fearful of their own abilities, others view their strength as a curse, and some simply wish to live like ordinary individuals.

This underlying backstory adds a unique and captivating element to the overall narrative, making it all the more engaging to follow. As a result, we are witnessing a growing number of anime with similar premises being developed.

In this article, Showpoiler has compiled an exciting list of anime recommendations featuring overpowered main characters who attempt to conceal their true strength. Take a look at the following list!

1. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime 

In this anime, the main character Satoru Mikami undergoes reincarnation in a new world after being fatally stabbed by an unknown man. Interestingly, in this new world, he transforms into a slime monster which is considered the most helpless type of monster.

Living alone in a cave in this form, Satoru then encounters a dragon monster named Veldora, who had been sealed for 300 years due to causing destruction in a city. Empathizing with Veldora's situation, Satoru releases the dragon's seal and begins to establish a friendship with him.

Both of them pledge unwavering loyalty to each other, and Veldora even bestows upon Satoru the name Rimuru Tempest. They embark on a journey in this new fantasy world, gradually altering Rimuru's destiny.

Despite being reincarnated as a monster of the lowest class, it turns out that Rimuru possesses tremendous power as a slime monster. He can absorb the abilities and powers of any object or creature he consumes.

Rimuru can even assume the shape of the objects and creatures that he absorbs. As time passes, his strength becomes increasingly unmatched.

2. Disastrous Life of Saiki

Kusuo Saiki was born with psychic abilities and longs for a normal life as a high school student. He is determined to keep his powers a secret from his friends, as he believes they would only cause problems. Consequently, he chooses to be introverted and socially awkward.

Ironically, the more Saiki tries to blend in as an unremarkable student, the more he attracts the attention of his friends, who each have unique personalities. Saiki is reluctantly drawn into their company and faces various challenges in his daily school life.

Kusuo Saiki's psychic abilities are exceptionally remarkable, allowing him to perform psychokinesis and teleportation, and even possess X-ray vision. Despite his slender physique, Saiki also possesses immense physical strength. His unparalleled power places him among the iconic protagonists who pretend to be weak but are actually overpowering.

3. Mob Psycho 100

Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama is a socially awkward middle school student, but he possesses extraordinary psychic powers that are linked to his emotions. When he experiences negative emotions, these powers become destructive and harmful to those around him, which is why Mob keeps his abilities hidden.

Mob seeks out Reigen Arataka, who claims to be a "psychic expert" and offers to help Mob understand and control his powers. Mob asks Reigen to become his mentor and agrees to work as Reigen's assistant in return. However, unbeknownst to Mob, Reigen is only seeking to exploit Mob's powers for his personal gain.

As time passes, Mob encounters various psychics and supernatural beings. Eventually, he becomes entangled with Claw, an organization of psychics that seeks to dominate the world. Claw poses a threat not only to Mob but also to society and the people he cares about.

4. Assassination Classroom

Assassination Classroom revolves around a teacher named Koro Sensei, an alien with the appearance of an octopus. He is a lively and often comical teacher, especially when faced with something inappropriate.

Beneath his humorous demeanor, Koro Sensei possesses an undeniably adorable appearance. His vibrant yellow body is adorned with tentacles. Moreover, Koro Sensei is immensely powerful and capable of destroying both the moon and the Earth.

The storyline of Assassination Classroom follows Koro Sensei's decision to become a teacher at a junior high school in Japan. The students in his class are assigned the mission to eliminate Koro Sensei in order to prevent the destruction of the Earth.

5. Tokyo Ghoul

Tokyo Ghoul tells the story of Ken Kaneki, an ordinary young man who is shy and hesitant. One day, Kaneki encounters a beautiful ghoul named Rize, who intends to consume him. The man-eating creature nearly takes his life, but he is fortunate enough to be saved by a doctor. However, the doctor then combines Rize's organs with Kaneki's body.

This event ultimately gives Kaneki tremendous strength and transforms into a ghoul. But unlike typical ghouls, he is unable to consume human flesh. The only food he can consume is coffee. Due to his inability to feast on humans, Kaneki's left eye turns red, resembling the feared eyes of a demon among ghouls.

After isolating himself for a significant period as a ghoul, Kaneki eventually returns to school. It is here that his journey as a ghoul begins.

Despite possessing immense power, Kaneki continues to identify as a human and refrains from attacking other humans. It is this principle that leads him into complex conflicts between humans and ghouls.

6. Noragami

Noragami follows the journey of a god named Yato who aspires to gain a multitude of followers. He identifies himself as the Delivery God. Yet, to his frustration, there is not a single shrine dedicated to his name, indicating his limited number of followers.

On a daily basis, Yato handles various mundane tasks in exchange for a mere 5 yen. His days can be described as uninteresting and repetitive. However, behind this seemingly monotonous existence, Yato possesses incredible power as a god, wielding a katana sword named Yukine as his flagship weapon.

One day, Yato encounters Hiyori Iki who attempts to save him from an accident. While Yato survives, Hiyori is injured and loses her life. This incident becomes an important stage in Yato's godly adventure as he attempts to restore Hiyori and maintain peace in the world.

7. Sword Art Online

As indicated by its title, Sword Art Online revolves around a virtual reality massively multiplayer online game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online (SAO). At one point in time, all players find themselves trapped within the world of SAO.

Escaping this virtual realm becomes impossible unless the players manage to complete the game and defeat the final boss. Furthermore, if their in-game personas die, their real-life selves will die as well.

Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya who previously beta-tested SAO, finds himself among the trapped players. Despite his familiarity with the game, Kirito finds it incredibly challenging to navigate through it.

Nevertheless, he strives to survive, defeat monsters and rivals, and establish himself as the foremost player. While Kirito becomes a member of the Sword Art Online Strike Team, he prefers not to draw attention to himself.

During his journey, Kirito encounters other players, including Asuna, a girl who eventually becomes his in-game partner. Together, they face numerous struggles and uncover the peculiarities of the game. What are these anomalies, and will they manage to escape the confines of SAO?

8. Hyouka

Hyouka follows the story of Houtarou Oreki, a lazy high school student in Kamiyama. His life motto is "Save your energy as much as you can and use it when necessary." This is why he lacks interest in anything around him, including his friends.

However, his principles start to change when his older sister urges him to join the school's Classic Literature Club. The club is on the edge of disbandment due to a lack of members, and Houtarou is requested to become one.

As Houtarou becomes more involved in the club's activities, he discovers more about its history. Eventually, he uncovers a deeply hidden secret that has been kept under wraps for decades.

Upon learning this secret, Houtarou can't remain silent. He is compelled to utilize his intelligence and analytical abilities to reveal the hidden truths of the school through a book written by one of the members of the Kamiyama High School Literature Club. What is the actual secret that lies within the club?

9. Blue Exorcist

In the world of Blue Exorcist, humans and demons inhabit separate dimensions: Assiah and Gehenna. However, demons are plotting to take control of Assiah, and all they need to do is possess a human body to cross over.

Unfortunately, Satan, the ruler of Gehenna, has been unable to find a suitable human vessel for himself. As a result, he sends two of his sons to Assiah, hoping that they will eventually become the demon kings ruling that world.

Satan is unaware that the twins are being raised by a well-known exorcist named Shiro Fujimoto. The two siblings Rin and Yukio Okumura grow up as humans. Rin, in particular, aspires to become a skilled exorcist like Shiro.

The anime's main protagonist is Rin Okumura. Despite his lazy and mischievous nature, Rin possesses tremendous power inherited from his biological father, who was the strongest demon. Rin is determined to continue his stepfather's exorcism legacy and protect Assiah rather than give in to evil.

10. Classroom of the Elite

Koudo Ikusei High School is a prestigious and highly ranked school in Japan, known for its strict class ranking system and rules. Students at the school not only take pride in attending but also actively engage in their studies.

The school is divided into four classes: A, B, C, and D, each categorized based on student achievements. The upper classes receive preferential treatment, which motivates students to strive for the coveted A-class status.

In Classroom of the Elite, the story centers around Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, a reserved and socially awkward student from Class D. He prefers to keep to himself, maintaining a low profile and avoiding unnecessary attention. However, unbeknownst to his peers, Ayanokouji possesses exceptional intelligence.

Everything changes for Ayanokouji when he encounters Suzune Horikita and Kikyō Kushida. Their meeting leads him into various unexpected situations and challenges. Ayanokouji's initial goal of simply surviving school starts to evolve. What lies ahead for Ayanokouji?

Those are a compilation of anime featuring main characters who conceal their true strength and pretend to be weak. There are various reasons why they choose not to display their power over other characters. But when the circumstance calls for it, their actual power can be breathtaking.

If you enjoy anime with main characters who possess this kind of personality, be sure not to miss the recommendations above. Feel free to share your own suggestions if your favorite anime is not listed. Enjoy watching!