Every Way Yuji Has Surpassed Gojo in ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (Modulo Ranked)

Within the world of Jujutsu Kaisen, Satoru Gojo has long been treated as a benchmark: a near-untouchable sorcerer whose power reshapes what “strong” looks like. Yuji Itadori, introduced as a physically gifted but inexperienced student, began the series far from that ceiling. The story’s later arcs, however, increasingly frame Yuji’s growth in ways that do not merely narrow the gap, but in select, clearly defined areas, move him past Gojo’s profile.

As discussed in the referenced ranking analysis, the comparison is not presented as a simple claim that Yuji is “overall stronger” than Gojo. Instead, it is a set of modular advantages—specific skills, traits, and combat realities where Yuji’s development produces outcomes Gojo either cannot replicate, does not specialize in, or did not demonstrate in the same way within the narrative context. Those distinctions matter because power in Jujutsu Kaisen is not a single stat; it is a composite of technique, resilience, adaptability, and matchup constraints.

Physicality and close-quarters output

One of the most consistent through-lines in Yuji’s portrayal is exceptional base physical ability that remains relevant even as the series escalates into high-end sorcery. The ranking analysis points to Yuji’s close-quarters effectiveness as an area where he can exceed what Gojo is typically shown emphasizing: relentless hand-to-hand pressure, athletic explosiveness, and damage output that does not rely on maintaining a technique-first advantage.

Gojo is depicted as capable in melee, but his combat identity is heavily anchored to the tactical dominance of Limitless and the Six Eyes, particularly the space-manipulation that controls engagements. Yuji’s progress, by contrast, leans into direct contact exchanges, rapid chaining of strikes, and a style that can keep working even when conditions become chaotic. In terms of pure “keep fighting and keep landing” dynamics, the argument is that Yuji’s toolkit has evolved into something more specialized and, in some scenarios, more effective than Gojo’s typical approach.

Durability, pain tolerance, and fighting through damage

The referenced analysis also highlights survivability as a category where Yuji’s arc differentiates him from Gojo. Yuji is repeatedly positioned as a character who absorbs punishment, continues operating under extreme stress, and remains functional even when fights become wars of attrition. That endurance becomes a competitive advantage because it limits the effectiveness of opponents who depend on breaking a sorcerer’s rhythm or resolve.

Gojo is portrayed as extraordinarily difficult to harm, but that is often attributed to defensive superiority—preventing hits from landing in the first place through technique-based control of distance and contact. Yuji’s advantage is framed differently: he can take damage and still keep his offense online. In matchups where technique reliability is compromised or where prolonged combat favors mental and physical grit, Yuji’s capacity to remain dangerous while injured is treated as a meaningful “surpassing” metric.

Adaptability and high-pressure learning curve

Yuji’s growth is not only about strength; it is about the speed and severity of his adaptation. The ranking analysis points to how quickly Yuji integrates new lessons under lethal conditions, converting setbacks into usable experience. Rather than relying on a single defining ability, Yuji’s improvements are portrayed as cumulative: better timing, smarter engagements, and sharper decision-making under pressure.

Gojo, by narrative design, entered the story already optimized—an apex figure whose presence can trivialize conventional threats. That role leaves less room for visible, in-the-moment learning. Yuji’s advantage is the opposite: he is forged in crisis. The argument presented is that Yuji’s trajectory demonstrates an ability to evolve inside combat environments at a pace that, as a character function, exceeds what the story asks of Gojo.

Flexibility without relying on an “untouchable” defensive premise

A recurring theme in comparisons between the two characters is how dependent Gojo’s dominance can be on maintaining the conditions that make him functionally untouchable. When those conditions are challenged—whether through specialized counters, domain mechanics, or situational constraints—Gojo’s fights shift from inevitability to contest. The ranking analysis treats this as an axis where Yuji’s growth stands out: effectiveness that is less contingent on a single defensive premise.

Yuji’s fighting style and improvements are built around what remains when protective assumptions fail. The analysis frames Yuji as more “portable” across hostile conditions: he can operate without a guaranteed safety buffer, continue closing distance, and sustain offense even when the environment favors the opponent. That is not presented as a claim that Yuji has a better ultimate defense than Gojo; it is presented as a claim that Yuji’s combat viability is less binary when protections are removed.

Compatibility with modern threats and “modular” power scaling

The referenced ranking underscores that Jujutsu Kaisen increasingly tests characters against threats designed to invalidate straightforward supremacy. As power scaling becomes more modular—domains, counters, restrictions, and conditional advantages—the question becomes less about who is the strongest in a vacuum and more about who can still win when the rules change. Yuji’s progression is treated as aligning with that shift.

Gojo’s ceiling remains extraordinary, but his narrative function often places him at the center of “if he is present, the story changes.” Yuji’s growth, by contrast, is framed as the ability to keep being relevant in a system that constantly adjusts to prevent one answer from solving everything. In that sense, the analysis argues Yuji can surpass Gojo in “fit” for certain high-variance encounters, where adaptability, stamina, and non-reliance on a singular trump condition become more valuable than peak theoretical output.

Where the comparison is strongest—and where it is limited

The ranking’s core takeaway is that the Yuji-Gojo comparison is most persuasive when it is specific. Yuji surpassing Gojo is argued in categories like endurance under punishment, sustained close-range pressure, and combat usefulness when ideal protections or assumptions are stripped away. Those are measurable within the story’s depiction of how fights are won and lost, especially as constraints and counters become more prominent.

At the same time, the analysis is not a blanket reversal of Gojo’s status. Gojo’s signature advantages—rare perception, refined technique control, and overwhelming threat management—remain defining. The “modulo” framing emphasizes that Yuji’s surpassing is situational and attribute-based. The result is a comparison that treats power as multidimensional: Yuji can be ahead in selected lanes even if Gojo retains superiority in others.

Disclaimer: This article discusses character abilities and power comparisons depicted in the Jujutsu Kaisen manga/anime and a referenced third-party analysis; interpretations may vary by reader and by story arc.