Summary
Quick Links
Binding vows (or blood oaths, blood pacts, unbreakable vows, etc.) are a familiarconcept in supernatural and fantasy stories—magical contracts that trade restrictions for power. ButJujutsu Kaisentakes this idea further by allowing sorcerers to make these vows not just with others but also with themselves. This self-imposed gamble lets them enhance their abilities at a cost, but breaking a vow means losing everything it granted.
No one exploits this system better than Ryomen Sukuna. Unlike most sorcerers who cautiously enter binding vows, Sukuna crafts them with precision, using them to bypass limitations, power-up techniques, and manipulate fights in ways few can predict. Understanding his binding vows is key to grasping how he remains one of the most dangerous forces inJujutsu Kaisen.
Gege Akutami’sJujutsu Kaisendebuted inWeekly Shōnen Jumpin 2018 and has since skyrocketed in popularity. With an anime adaptation by MAPPA, the prequel filmJujutsu Kaisen 0breaking box office records, and another movie dropping later this year, the series continues to dominate the shonen landscape.
Binding Vows in Jujutsu Kaisen
A binding vow isa contract made using cursed energy, enforcing strict rules in exchange for a benefit. These vows follow a give-and-take system—if a sorcerer imposes a limitation on themselves, they gain increased power or ability in return. However, the penalty for breaking a vow is severe. If the contract is self-imposed, the user immediately loses whatever advantage was gained. If it was made with another person,the consequences are unknown but always dire.
Binding vows come in two types: self-imposed restrictions and agreements between individuals. Each has its own rules and consequences.
Every Sukuna Binding Vow and Its Impact
Sukuna doesn’t just use binding vows—he weaponizes them. Every vow he makes is a calculated move to strengthen himself or trap his enemies. Let’s break down each vow, when he made it, and how it changed the game.
255
Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 27
Sukuna’s signature slashes,DismantleandCleave, usually follow strict activation rules. To overridethose conditions against Satoru Gojo, he made a binding vow that forced him to chant incantations and manually direct the attacks in the future. This one-time trade let him bypass the standard activation just when he needed it most.
258
Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 30
Ordinarily, maintaining a domain expansion weakens its range or output over time. Sukuna found a workaround. By altering his hand sign and using an undamaged part of his brain to handle cursed and barrier techniques, he created an improvised binding vow that let him maintainMalevolent Shrineat full power for 99 seconds.
259
Inhuman Makyo Shinjuku Showdown, Part 31
Sukuna’sDivine Flametechnique got a major buffthrough another binding vow. The restriction? He can’t use it against multiple opponents—unless inside his domain. The reward? His domain’s reach expands, and every particle within it turns into a thermobaric explosive, detonating on contact with cursed energy.
11
Episode
6 (Anime)
Sukuna’s most infamous binding vow came when Yuji Itadori temporarily died. Sukuna made him an offer: he’d bring Yuji back to life in exchange for the ability to take control of his body for one minute whenever he said the word “Enchain.” He even promised not to kill anyone during that time—but only under the condition that Yuji would forget about the deal. Yuji refused at first, butSukuna forced him into a deathmatch and won,sealing the vow.
This vow came back to haunt Yuji when Sukuna used “Enchain” to hijack his body, rip off his own finger, turn it into a cursed object, and force-feed it to Megumi Fushiguro. This maneuver let Sukuna abandon Yuji’s body and take over Megumi’s instead.
Sukuna’s mastery of binding vows is one of the many reasons he remains one ofJujutsu Kaisen’s most terrifying characters. Where others hesitate, he embraces the risks, crafting conditions that let him overpower even the strongest opponents. Every vow he makes is about controlling the battlefield, bending the rules of jujutsu to his will, and ensuring that no one, not even once-in-a-lifetime sorcerers like Gojo, can keep up with him.
