Cursed Techniques Explained: How Jujutsu Kaisen's Power System Works
Cursed techniques are the hereditary or self-developed abilities that define every sorcerer's fighting style. From innate techniques passed down through clans to Domain Expansions that guarantee lethality, this guide breaks down the full structure of the JJK power system.
What Is a Cursed Technique?
Cursed techniques are abilities fuelled by cursed energy — a form of power generated by the negative emotions of living beings. Every human produces some cursed energy passively, but sorcerers are those who can consciously manipulate it. A cursed technique is the specific application of that energy, shaped by a person's innate template or years of dedicated training.
Innate techniques are hereditary: they are written into a sorcerer's body at birth, passed through bloodlines like the Gojo, Zenin, and Kamo clans. A sorcerer born into one of these families may access their clan's signature technique from a young age, though mastery takes years. Self-developed techniques — built from scratch through rigorous practice — also exist, though they tend to be narrower in scope.
Extensions and Secret Techniques
A base technique is rarely the ceiling of a sorcerer's ability. Most innate techniques have extensions: advanced applications that build on the core and unlock new strategic options. Gojo's Limitless, for example, has at its base the passive Infinity (an endless series of convergent values that slows any approach to zero); its extensions include the attraction of Blue, the repulsion of Red, and the combined catastrophic release of Hollow Purple.
Secret techniques represent the absolute peak of a technique's development. They are typically kept hidden — even from allies — because revealing them removes the element of surprise in high-stakes combat. Nanami's Ratio Technique, for instance, has an extension called Collapse that he reserves for moments where he needs to guarantee a lethal hit.
Domain Expansion
Domain Expansion is the pinnacle of cursed technique application. A sorcerer manifests their innate domain — a pocket reality shaped by their technique — and expands it around both themselves and their target. Inside the domain, the sorcerer's technique is infused with guaranteed accuracy: every attack lands automatically, with no possibility of dodging.
The tradeoff is significant: Domain Expansion consumes enormous quantities of cursed energy. Opening a domain multiple times in a single day risks permanent damage to the technique, and in extreme cases a sorcerer may lose their ability entirely. This is why most sorcerers treat their domain as a last resort rather than an opening gambit.
The exception is Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine, which is the only known domain that does not require a barrier. Instead of sealing both parties inside a closed space, it expands directly into the real world — destroying everything within a massive radius without giving the target the closed-space restriction most domains impose.
Reverse Cursed Technique and Healing
Standard cursed energy is negative in nature, which is why techniques built from it are generally destructive. Reverse Cursed Technique (RCT) inverts this by multiplying negative energy by negative energy to produce positive output — essentially converting destructive force into life-giving energy. This allows RCT practitioners to heal injuries, both their own and others'.
Mastering RCT is exceedingly rare. In the main story only Gojo Satoru, Shoko Ieiri (as a dedicated medical sorcerer), and Sukuna are shown using it fluently. Yuji Itadori develops a rudimentary form during the Culling Game arc, but the precision required to regenerate complex tissue without error keeps full RCT mastery out of reach for most.
Binding Vows — Power Through Restriction
A Binding Vow is a self-imposed rule that amplifies a technique in exchange for a significant limitation. The logic of the jujutsu world is that any restriction on information or ability can be converted into raw power — the stricter the vow, the greater the enhancement.
Gojo's use of Infinity provides a famous example: Infinity is normally passive, blocking everything automatically. By announcing his technique to an opponent — removing the element of surprise — he can activate a stronger version. Equally, the Binding Vow between Sukuna and Yuji that allows Sukuna temporary control carries enormous consequences for both parties, illustrating how high the stakes of these contracts can be.