Jujutsu Kaisen has been setting a benchmark every week when it comes to the animation sequences. The recent episode continued that tradition with fantastic choreography and execution of the fight between Ryomen Sukuna and Jogo.
Viewers especially lauded the Fire Arrow of Sukuna. However, that fight has left many scratching their heads as well. After all, how can Sukuna even wield fire? Was he just copying Jogo? Or was it something else?
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 16.
There are two theories on how Sukuna can use a Fire Arrow. One- He can use the Fire Arrow because it is an extension of his innate cursed technique. Two- he can quickly learn the properties of other techniques. So, he recreated the effect of a Fire Arrow by using his cursed energy to manifest those attacks physically.
How Can Ryomen Sukuna Use Fire Arrows?
In this week’s episode, the King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna, defeated Jogo using a fire-based technique.
Viewers of the anime and readers of the manga are curious to understand how the Fire Arrow technique can be connected to the Cursed Techniques that Ryomen Sukuna generally uses.
This confusion exists because Sukuna only used cutting or slashing techniques to defeat his enemies. Also, this lines up with Malevolent Shrine, his Domain Expansion. However, there’s a gap in the lore provided by the manga.
But first, we need to understand cursed techniques. In the manga, beings who have cursed spirits and energy are born with one inherited cursed technique. These can’t be mastered or learned over time.
Someone with a cursed technique can utilize multiple attacks. These are extensions of their leading talent. Regarding Sukuna, we assumed this innate cursed technique involved cutting or slashing.
But the series hasn’t explicitly told that. So, the Fire Arrow could also be an extension of his cursed technique. So Sukuna would be able to use the Fire Arrow attack.
Also backing up this theory is the fact that Sukuna says “Open” before using the Fire Arrow. Meaning that he has unlocked his ability to do so.
This Fire Arrow exceeded the abilities of Jogo, a fire technique specialist. However, Jogo is still weaker than him. Since Sukuna knows that, he doesn’t need to use any extra effort to defeat him.
In the manga, Sukuna is capable of way more horrors than what has been shown in the anime till now. So defeating Jogo wasn’t difficult for him.
However, one question remains.
Did Ryomen Sukuna Copy Jogo’s Technique?
Copying isn’t the right word to explain Ryomen Sukuna’s abilities. He, instead, is a prodigy when it comes to learning about curse techniques. He can quickly learn and then use the properties and foundations of such techniques.
So Sukuna likely manipulates the cursed energy with his intelligence to create the effect of a technique rather than using the technique itself. For example, if he had copied Fire Arrow, he wouldn’t have been using the fire technique.
Instead, he would recreate the effect of that Fire Arrow by forming something physical with the cursed energy. But this is just a theory for now.
Many in the fandom have also frequently expressed that Gege Akutami needs to tread cautiously, or Sukuna can become too overpowered. It will be interesting to see how the series explains Sukuna’s abilities.
How do you think Sukuna was able to do the Fire Arrow attack?
Let us know in the comments if you have a different theory.
