DanMachi is a pure fantasy anime, which feels rare these days given the number of isekai that air every season. However, the levels system in DanMachi could easily be found in isekai titles.
Levels are a crucial part of an adventurer’s development; one level can make all the difference between a middling mercenary and a high-flying hero.
With DanMachi Season 5 on the way later this year, here’s a spoiler-free refresh on how levels work.
What are Levels in DanMachi?
Levels is a skill system in DanMachi that determines the overall combat abilities of an adventurer.
DanMachi uses an abilities system similar to what you would see in videogames and isekai anime. Through continued work and experience, adventurers can level up, unlocking a range of new physical, technical and magic attributes.
However, unlike particular pocket-monster-based videogames, levelling up in DanMachi is a monumental task.
The majority of mob adventurers will never move above Level 1 in their lifetime, and many side characters in DanMachi took 5-10 years to increase their level.
For those who can level up, it makes a transformational difference. The abilities that it unlocks are so significant that adventurers often need a ‘bedding-in’ period to get used to their new strengths.
Someone at the peak of their powers will usually lose against someone who is just one level higher, even if they are comparatively inexperienced. The caveat here is that levels only account for individual abilities; they don’t account for external support through magic items or the combatant’s health.
Unlike some isekai anime where the protagonist is the only one aware of levels, in DanMachi, all of this information is common knowledge. You’ll often hear people in Orario openly talking about each other's levels.
The Difference Between DanMachi's Levels and Rankings
To make things slightly more confusing, DanMachi also has a separate ability ranking system.
Unlike levels, which show someone's overall capabilities, rankings measure a selection of individual skills:
- Strength
- Endurance
- Dexterity
- Agility
- Magic
While levels are numbered in single digits (level 1, 2, 3 etc.), rankings are given a score from zero to 999 which are then categorized into a letter ranking:
Rank | Score |
|---|---|
S | 900-999 |
A | 800-899 |
B | 700-799 |
C | 600-699 |
D | 500-599 |
E | 400-499 |
F | 300-399 |
G | 200-299 |
H | 100-199 |
I | 0-99 |
As an example, Ais Wallenstein currently has an endurance ranking of H153 and a magic ranking of G202.
There are additional specialist development abilities that can be earned as characters level up, such as swordsman and blacksmith, but these are not graded in the same way as those five universal skills.
The higher someone’s ranking, the more adept they are at that skill. However, when someone levels up, they keep their previous abilities while their ranking is reset to allow for further growth.
As a result, regardless of someone’s ranking score, they still won’t compare to someone a level above them.
While Ais' rankings might not sound very high, that doesn't take into account her abnormally high level which makes her one of DanMachi's strongest characters.
What is the Highest Level in DanMachi So Far?
It’s not confirmed yet what the highest potential level could be, or if there even is a maximum to be reached. Moving from level 1 to level 2 is a huge effort, so it's likely that no characters have stopped to think about a potential level cap.
So far, the highest level anybody is believed to have reached is level 9, attributed to the unknown captain of the historic Hera Familia.
Based on what we know, that still wasn’t strong enough for what might ultimately become DanMachi's final antagonist. So, breaking that record will probably play a big role at the end of the story.
While a level cap feels unlikely, it might be required due to the relationship between DanMachi's gods and the humans.
The strongest characters in DanMachi right now are already almost untouchable, and too many more levels would result in normal people gaining god-like strength.
Remember, gods are on Earth for entertainment and are unlikely to allow any humans to reach a level of strength that could threaten their control.
It is believed that the final mission in DanMachi will require an adventurer around the level 10 mark.
However, Bell – like any good anime protagonist – has already shown the ability to surpass his limits. There is every chance that he might break the level 10 threshold by the time his journey comes to an end.
What Level is Bell Currently?
As of the latest instalments in the story, Bell Cranel is a Level 5 adventurer.
While levels are pretty much defining for most adventurers, with Bell, they can be taken with a pinch of plot.
Bell has a unique ability not only to level up incredibly fast but also to develop abilities surpassing his level.
If there’s anyone in the world of DanMachi who’s able to fight against someone a level higher, it’s Bell Cranel.
What Level is Ais?
Ais Wallenstein, Bell Cranel’s target in more ways than one, is currently a level 6 adventurer.
For most gods and adventurers in Orario, Ais is seen as a shining star and next in line to be the strongest adventurer. She’s nicknamed the Sword Princess and is nearly unstoppable when in full combat mode.
Due to their differences in levels, Bell shouldn’t stand a chance in combat against Ais. However, while Bell fights above his level, Ais has a weakness when fighting other humans.
These traits make combat between the two stars of DanMachi much more interesting than would be the case between other adventurers with similar skill differences.
And yet, both Ais and Bell have so much further to go! It will be interesting to see how these two rank by the time the story comes to an end.
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