Benimaru Shinmon’s Hybrid Pyrokinetic Abilities, Explained

This article contains spoilers from the Fire Force mangaAfter a five-year hiatus, David Production launched the third season of Fire Force, reminding fans of the anime’s refreshing qualities that make it exceptional in the oversaturated shōnen genre. Balancing a unique power system with tension-relieving comedy, Fire Force features a broad set of outstanding characters who impact the series in different, notable ways. A prime character that pushes this narrative is none other than “Asakusa’s King of Destruction,” Benimaru Shinmon.

Set in a world where Adolla mysteries constantly shape the lives of fire soldiers, pyrokinetics, and unpowered humans, Fire Force uses striking characters like Benimaru to alter the story’s power balance. Benimaru Shinmon is undoubtedly one of the Fire Force’s strongest pyrokinetics, and his battle acumen exponentially increases his efficiency as a core member of the Special Fire Force. However, what makes Benimaru the fire soldier interesting is his hybrid pyrokinetic abilities and his precise control over fire.

Benimaru Is Both A Second Generation & Third Generation Pyrokinetic

He Is Capable Of Creating And Manipulating Flames To A Devastating Level

Benimaru Shinmon, the Captain of Special Fire Force Company 7, is touted as the strongest officer due to the immense firepower he wields, powers even Shinra with his intimate connection to Adolla can barely replicate. Trained by Hibachi Shinmon to be his heir, Benimaru Shinmon, an orphan, was primed for the life of soldierhood and leadership even as a young child. To fully grasp the depth of Benimaru’s hybrid abilities, you’ll need to understand the principle behind Fire Force’s pyrokinesis.

Pyrokinetics are at the core of Fire Force’s power system, and they are broadly classified into two categories: Second Generation and Third Generation pyrokinetics. Second Generation pyrokinetics can’t create flames; however, they can manipulate flames differently. A clear example of how Second Generation manipulates flames differently can be seen in how Karim Flam can transform flames into ice, and how Charon absorbs fire energy to expel it at critical intervals. On the contrary, Third Generation pyrokinetics live and breathe fire. Using oxygen, they cannot only produce flames but also manipulate them.

Surprisingly, the level of control they exert over flames is underwhelming, keeping the power scaling balanced between both groups. A leading Second Generation user is Shinra, Fire Force‘s quirky protagonist, whose flames serve as a boost, allowing him to reach lightning speeds in seconds. Benimaru is both a Second and Third Generation pyrokinetic. This rare characteristic allows him to create flames and manipulate them with fluid control, making him the perfect pyrokinetic. He lacks the flaw that Third Generation Pyrokinetics share in their limited flame manipulation abilities, as a result of his precise control over vast flames.

A visible reference is shown in Episode 7 of Season 3, where Inca, a member of the White Clad, who can see the pathways of flame, openly remarked that Benimaru was able to completely control all the heat within a four-meter radius of himself. One can rightly speculate if his manipulation extends to control over infernals, since Fire Force has shown Benimaru putting infernals and doppelgangers to rest with his bare hands.

How Benimaru Constantly Redefines The Power Dynamic In Fire Force

Even People’s Awe-Inspired Perception Of Him Fails To Capture The Depth Of His Abilities

Despite already being formidable as a hybrid pyrokinetic, Benimaru is a talented martial artist who practices the iaido martial arts passed down to him from his master, Hibachi. The combination of his martial prowess, robust fire abilities, and tough-love leadership style earns the devotion of his people, who highly respect and adore him. Everyone knows Benimaru is the strongest; regardless, he still exceeds the expectations of characters and viewers in breathtaking ways.

In the “Great Cataclysm arc,” Benimaru is confronted by a doppelganger, an alternate version of himself, originating from Adolla, who almost destroyed the world with a sun wheel. Doppelgangers are real-life apparitions of people’s perception of the person they impersonate, allowing them to mimic abilities their original version possesses. Consequently, Benimaru’s doppelganger should be as powerful as he is. Shockingly, this perception was shattered as Benimaru killed his doppelganger with one move. Similarly, he was able to overcome his Master’s doppelganger by reinventing a new move: Crimson Moon’s Sun Wheel.

Benimaru not only breaks away from the confines of the rules governing the power dynamic in Fire Force, he continuously proves that he is capable of surpassing people’s expectations of himself. It’s hard not to admire such an inspiring character who refuses to bend to the mental confines of a society.

Fire Force

Release Date

July 6, 2019

Directors

Yuki Yase, Tatsuma Minamikawa

Writers

Yamato Haijima, Tatsuma Minamikawa

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