Summary

• Shikigami are spiritual creatures summoned by jujutsu sorcerers to aid them in battles against paranormal forces.
• They possess unique powers and abilities and are fully under the control of their summoners.
• While shikigami grant immense power, there are risks involved such as energy depletion and the danger of summoning uncontrollable ones.

In the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, sorcerers constantly face threats from evil spirits and paranormal forces. To battle the various dangers that plague both the supernatural and normal worlds, jujutsu sorcerers wield a wide array of abilities and mystical aids. One of the most flexible assets available to some is a familiar one called shikigami.

Shikigami are supernatural beings conjured through cursed energy to help sorcerers. Manifested by talismans and summoning magic, these familiars give their masters powers and skills beyond their own. Whether serving as scouts, carriers, fighters, or more, shikigami fulfill important roles for their owners in fights against cursed spirits and other enemies. However, exactly what are the nature and potential of these magical summonses?

What are Shikigami?

Shikigami are spiritual creatures that certain jujutsu sorcerers can summon and control through exorcism rituals and curse techniques. They act as helpful servants and tools for their summoners. Shikigami come in all shapes and sizes, each possessing their own unique powers and abilities. Stronger shikigami require more cursed energy to maintain their conjuration. Once summoned, shikigami are completely under the command of the user and will obey any orders given. However, some particularly powerful shikigami may be impossible to fully subjugate.

Shikigami disappear when their summoner's technique is released, or they become incapacitated. As incarnations of cursed energy, Shikigami persist only as long as the user maintaining them remains concentrated on the summoning. If the conjurer becomes unconscious or otherwise unable to focus their energy, the summoning fades and the Shikigami disappear.

The source and limits of a shikigami's power depend on its origin. Some are manifested by a user's innate cursed technique, while others stem from cursed tools or objects. If a shikigami is destroyed in combat, the energy it holds dissipates. But some techniques allow a shikigami's power to be inherited by those still living. Overall, shikigami grant sorcerers access to a menagerie of skills to aid them on the battlefield.

How are Shikigami summoned and used

Shikigami are summoned through the use of intermediaries like talismans, sorcery techniques, or shadows, depending on the user's abilities. An example is Junpei Yoshino, a newly realized sorcerer able to summon shikigami through a cursed technique.

Through his cursed technique, Junpei is able to conjure Moon Dregs, a poison jellyfish shikigami. Poison created from Junpei's cursed energy is emitted from the shikigami's tendrils, allowing it to support Junpei in battle. As with most shikigami users, Junpei has full control over Moon Dregs' actions through his sorcery technique.

Shikigami provide varied abilities according to their characteristics. In Moon Dregs' case, its tendrils can emit poison from Junpei's cursed energy. This grants offensive abilities, enhancing Junpei's combat effectiveness. Through sorcery techniques or other intermediaries, users are able to summon, command, and dismiss shikigami at will, depending on the battle situation.

Megumi's Ten Shadows Technique

One of the most prominent shikigami users is Megumi Fushiguro of the Tokyo Jujutsu Tech School. Through his inherited Ten Shadows Technique, Megumi controls a diverse arsenal of shikigami, each with his own skillsets. His divine dogs serve as scouts with enhanced tracking and notification abilities. Nue provides aerial support and shock attacks with its wings. The toad binds foes with its long, elastic tongue. The Great Serpent quickly ensnares targets within its large mouth. The Max Elephant spews large volumes of water from its trunk or acts with its weight. Rabbit Escape fills the area with dozens of rabbit shikigami to create distraction. The round deer heals through the reverse curse technique with positive energy.

Megumi's tactical skills shine as he seamlessly coordinates these shikigami, having each support him in varied ways. He devises clever deceptions by briefly summoning shikigami as distractions or hiding within shadows. And perhaps his most prized shikigami is Mahoraga, described as uncontrollable but granting immense power at the cost of its user's life if summoned. Through diligent training, Megumi has pushed the boundaries of his inherited technique to new heights.

Dangers and Downsides of Shikigami

While shikigami grants immense power to sorcerers, their usage is not without risks. Maintaining shikigami in the physical world requires the constant expenditure of cursed energy. If a user's cursed energy runs dry mid-battle, their shikigami will immediately be dismissed, leaving them defenseless. Overuse can even lead to death via cursed energy depletion. Once a shikigami is destroyed in combat, it cannot be re-summoned, permanently removing that combat option. If the user's shikigami are eliminated, they lose a major component of their battle prowess.

Some shikigami also have limitations built into their conjuration. For Max Elephant, it requires far more cursed energy than other shikigami due to its bulky form. Transporting large objects within shadows also burdens the user with that additional weight. But perhaps the greatest danger comes from shikigami, which cannot be fully tamed. The legendary Eight-Handled Sword Mahoraga granted to the Zenin head cannot be controlled once summoned, dooming both user and opponent if unleashed. Overall, while shikigami provide impressive firepower, their maintenance comes with energy demands and risks if not properly managed in battle. Sorcerers must wield them carefully.

Shikigami provides jujutsu sorcerers with great versatility in battle. As familiars summoned through cursed techniques, each shikigami offers unique abilities suited to different environments and playstyles. In skilled hands, shikigami can be utilized not just as assistants but as effective weapons customized to the situation.

While shikigami users must still be wary of close combat weaknesses, clever tactics allow one to overcome such limitations. A sorcerer's true strength lies in creatively combining shikigami powers in new ways. Their teamwork allows perceived faults to be offset by other strengths. For jujutsu experts, no other technique presents as many supportive options on the field or room for adaptive growth. Shikigami undoubtedly comprise one of Jujutsu's most adaptable arsenals.

Jujutsu Kaisen is available to stream on Crunchyroll.