14 Best Anime Where the MC Hides Their True Power

If you are a fan of anime featuring main characters who keep their true power hidden while acting like ordinary individuals, then this article is tailored for you.

We will showcase the top 14 anime where the MC conceals their abilities, taking into account factors such as popularity, quality, impact, and relevance. Whether you prefer action, comedy, or drama, there is something in this list that will cater to your preferences.

Let's dive into the countdown of the best 14 anime where the main character hides their true power.

14. Eminence In Shadow

The Eminence in Shadow, also known as Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!, is a dark fantasy isekai anime where the protagonist, Cid, gets reincarnated into another world. Obsessed with becoming a mastermind who operates from the shadows, Cid creates a fake organization to train in secret. Hilariously unaware, the villainous cult Cid invents is actually real, and his made-up shadow operations accidentally thwart their plans. The series follows Cid's comedic attempts at manipulating events from behind the scenes, while completely misjudging the true threats around him.

13. Classroom Of The Elite

Classroom of the Elite, also known as Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e, is a light novel series following Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, a student who enters the prestigious Tokyo Koudo Ikusei Senior High School. This school boasts a near-100% graduation rate for college or employment. However, Kiyotaka ends up in Class D, the school’s dumping ground for problem students. With a unique point system that grants students a luxurious lifestyle, Kiyotaka must navigate this cutthroat academic society alongside his aloof classmate, Suzune Horikita, to rise through the ranks of the classes.

12. Irregular At Magic Highschool

The Irregular at Magic High School dives into a world where magic isn't mystical chants and staves, but a refined technology. Here, students like Tatsuya Shiba and his perfect sister Miyuki attend a prestigious magic high school and hone their skills with Casting Assistant Devices. Despite Miyuki's enrollment as a top student, Tatsuya is placed in the lower "weeds" class due to his seemingly low magic power. However, Tatsuya holds a secret – he's an engineering genius who can perform magic through unorthodox methods, making him a unique and potentially misunderstood irregular at magic high school.

11. The Devil is a Part-Timer

The Devil is a Part-Timer! is a comedy fantasy anime where the devil, Satan, finds himself defeated and stranded in modern-day Tokyo. With no magic and no idea how to get back home, he's forced to take a menial job at a fast food restaurant to make ends meet. Hilarity ensues as the once-feared demon king struggles with the daily grind, all while his angelic nemesis tracks him down and becomes his unlikely coworker.

10. Plunderer

Plunderer throws you into a bizarre world where everyone has a "Count" tattooed on their body. This number reflects your actions and emotions, and letting it drop to zero sends you to the nightmarish Abyss. Hina, a young woman driven by her mother's mysterious final words, journeys to find the legendary "Legendary Aces" alongside Licht, a seemingly apathetic fighter with a hidden past. Together, they unravel the secrets of this warped society and fight against a force threatening to consume everything.

9. Noragami

Noragami is an action-packed anime with a dash of humor that follows Yato, a down-on-his-luck minor god with dreams of grandeur. To make ends meet, Yato grants wishes for anyone who pays his measly fee of 5 yen. When a kind-hearted high school girl named Hiyori saves Yato from a bus (and becomes a near-far God herself in the process), their destinies become intertwined. Together, they tackle phantoms, rogue gods, and Yato's own dark past, all while navigating the fascinating world of the gods and the near shore.

8. Sky Wizards Academy

Sky Wizards Academy is an anime set in a world where humanity has taken refuge on floating cities due to monstrous insects. These insects are combated by elite warriors known as Sky Wizards who fight with magic in aerial battles. The story follows Kanata Age, a disgraced yet powerful Sky Wizard who becomes the instructor of a struggling platoon of girls. Nicknamed "Traitor" by some, Kanata must train these rookies to become skilled fighters while dealing with their shortcomings and his own troubled past.

7. The Misfit of Demon King Academy

In The Misfit of Demon King Academy, Anos Voldigoad, the tyrannical Demon King, longs for peace. After reincarnating 2000 years later, he enrolls in Demon King Academy, expecting a society yearning for his return. However, his immense power far surpasses the weakened magic of his descendants. Branded a misfit by the academy, Anos must navigate a world far weaker than he anticipated, all while unraveling mysteries and finding a place where his power is understood.

6. The Asterisk War

The Asterisk War takes place in a futuristic Academy City built on water, known as Rikka. This city is the stage for the high-octane Star Wars Festival, where students with superhuman abilities called the Star Pulse Generation fight for glory. Enter Ayato Amagiri, a talented but mysterious transfer student with a clouded past. As he navigates the prestigious academies and competes in the Festival, Ayato gets tangled with a charming yet formidable warrior princess, Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, and uncovers hidden agendas that threaten the entire Asterisk War.

5. I’m Quitting Heroing

In the anime "I'm Quitting Heroing," the protagonist, Leo Demonheart, defies hero stereotypes. After saving the world, he's ostracized for his immense power. Disillusioned, he ditches heroism and seeks a new job... with the Demon Queen's army! This comedic twist follows Leo as he uses his skills to revitalize the very enemy he vanquished, navigating a quirky workplace filled with demon co-workers.

4. Parasyte

Parasyte is a horror anime where alien creatures, disguised as grotesque worms, infiltrate human bodies, taking complete control. Our protagonist, Shinichi, is a teenager who narrowly avoids complete possession when a parasite enters his arm instead of his head. Forced into an uneasy partnership with the talking parasite he names Migi, Shinichi must fight for survival against other parasites who prey on humans. As the line between human and monster blurs, Parasyte explores themes of morality, survival, and the nature of humanity in the face of a terrifying alien threat.

3. Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero flips the script on the classic hero's journey. Akatsuki, a hero returning from a fantasy world after defeating the Demon Lord, finds himself back in the real world with an unexpected companion: Miu, the curvaceous daughter of the fallen villain. To keep her safe, they enroll in Babel Academy, a school for those with otherworldly powers. But school life isn't all sunshine and textbooks. Akatsuki's unorthodox methods and Miu's hidden past make for a hilarious and action-packed fish-out-of-water story.

2. The King’s Avatar

The King's Avatar throws you into the world of esports, but with a twist! Ye Xiu, a legendary pro-gamer in the massively popular online game Glory, gets forced out of his team. Undeterred, he starts afresh at an internet cafe, building a new character and wielding his ten years of experience. With a ragtag group of talented newbies by his side, Ye Xiu aims to climb the ranks of Glory once again, proving his skills and passion for the game that defines him.

1. Darker Than Black

Darker Than Black plunges you into a world reshaped by mysterious anomalies. Ten years after "Hell's Gate" sealed off Tokyo, strange individuals called Contractors emerge, wielding supernatural powers in exchange for their humanity. Among them is Hei, a masked assassin shrouded in secrecy, who works for a clandestine organization. As he navigates the treacherous underworld, a hidden agenda and the search for a lost sister fuel his enigmatic missions.