Gojo vs Sukuna: Who Would Really Win? Final Analysis (2026)
The question that has dominated Jujutsu Kaisen discussions since the series began: who would win in a fight between Satoru Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna? With the manga now having given us an answer, we can finally break down this matchup in complete detail.
⚠️ MAJOR MANGA SPOILERS AHEAD – This article discusses events from the Shinjuku Showdown Arc.
The Setup: Why This Fight Matters
Throughout Jujutsu Kaisen, Gojo Satoru has been established as the undisputed strongest sorcerer of the modern era. His existence alone changed the balance of power between cursed spirits and humanity. Meanwhile, Sukuna—the King of Curses—is a legend from the golden age of jujutsu, feared even in an era of powerful sorcerers.
The series consistently teased this confrontation:
- Gojo’s casual claim that he could beat Sukuna
- Sukuna’s interest in fighting Gojo
- Both characters representing “the strongest” in their respective eras
Breaking Down Their Abilities
Gojo Satoru’s Arsenal
Limitless (Cursed Technique)
Gojo’s curse manipulates space at an atomic level:
Six Eyes
The Six Eyes allow Gojo to:
- See cursed energy in perfect detail
- Use techniques with virtually zero energy cost
- Process information at superhuman speeds
- Never run out of cursed energy
Domain Expansion: Infinite Void
Traps opponents in a space of infinite information, overloading their brain with endless stimuli. Victims are effectively paralyzed and vulnerable.
Sukuna’s Arsenal
Shrine (Cursed Technique)
World Cutting Slash
A slash that can cut the world itself—capable of severing even Gojo’s Infinity by targeting the space around the concept rather than the concept itself.
Domain Expansion: Malevolent Shrine
Unlike most domains, Malevolent Shrine doesn’t create a separate barrier space. Instead, it imposes Sukuna’s technique directly onto reality. This means:
- A guaranteed hit without needing to trap opponents
- 200-meter radius of constant Cleave/Dismantle
- Extremely fast activation
Ten Shadows Technique (Acquired)
After taking over Megumi’s body, Sukuna gained access to the Ten Shadows Technique, including the potential to summon Mahoraga—the Divine General that can adapt to any phenomenon.
The Theoretical Matchup (Pre-Fight)
Before their actual fight, fans debated several scenarios:
Scenario 1: Prime Sukuna vs Current Gojo
Arguments for Gojo:
- Infinity is “absolute” defense
- Infinite Void’s guaranteed brain shutdown
- Six Eyes provides perfect information advantage
- Gojo is faster (teleportation via Blue)
Arguments for Sukuna:
- Historical reputation as unbeatable
- Cleave adapts to target’s cursed energy
- Malevolent Shrine doesn’t need a barrier
- Combat experience spanning centuries
Scenario 2: Domain Battle
When two domains clash, the stronger one wins. The debate centered on:
- Gojo’s domain is “more refined” (complete barrier)
- Sukuna’s domain is “more powerful” (reality imposition)
- Whose sure-hit effect takes priority?
Scenario 3: Simple Domain/Anti-Domain Techniques
Both fighters can counter domains:
- Gojo can narrow his Infinity to protect himself
- Sukuna’s domain has no barrier to break
- Falling Blossom Emotion and similar techniques
What Actually Happened: The Shinjuku Showdown
Chapter 221-236 covered the long-awaited fight. Here’s how it went down:
Round 1: Domain Clash
The fight opened with both deploying their domains. Sukuna’s barrier-less domain clashed with Gojo’s complete domain. The result? A domain tug-of-war that neither could decisively win.
Round 2: Tactical Combat
Between domain deployments (both have cooldown periods), the fight devolved into hand-to-hand combat mixed with technique use. Gojo proved faster, but Sukuna’s durability and combat IQ kept him in the fight.
Round 3: The Mahoraga Factor
Sukuna’s trump card wasn’t his own power—it was using Megumi’s Ten Shadows to summon Mahoraga. By keeping Mahoraga active throughout the fight, Sukuna allowed the Divine General to adapt to Infinity itself.
The Critical Moment
Mahoraga’s adaptation wheel completed its rotation against Infinity, developing the “World Cutting Slash”—an attack that severs the concept being targeted rather than the concept itself. In other words: it cuts the space AROUND Infinity rather than through Infinity.
The Result
Sukuna won. But the victory came with massive caveats:
- Sukuna used Megumi’s body and technique
- Mahoraga’s adaptation was the key factor
- The fight lasted long enough for others to prepare
- Gojo pushed Sukuna to his absolute limits
Analysis: Why Sukuna Won
1. The Mahoraga Gambit
Gojo could not have predicted Sukuna would use an external factor (Mahoraga’s adaptation) to bypass Infinity. This wasn’t Sukuna being “stronger”—it was Sukuna being smarter.
2. Accumulated Damage
Even before the World Cutting Slash, Gojo had sustained significant damage from repeated domain clashes. Sukuna’s ability to tank damage while Gojo accumulated wounds shifted the attrition battle.
3. The Second Cursed Technique
Sukuna having two innate techniques (Shrine and an implied fire technique) gave him more options. Gojo’s toolkit, while incredibly powerful, is more limited in variety.
4. Experience Difference
Sukuna fought during the golden age of jujutsu against countless strong opponents. While Gojo is a genius, he grew up in an era where he had no equals—limiting his experience against truly strong opponents.
What This Means for Power Scaling
The outcome establishes several things:
Could Gojo Have Won?
Several factors might have changed the outcome:
If Gojo knew about Mahoraga’s adaptation:
He could have specifically targeted and destroyed Mahoraga before it completed adapting to Infinity.
If Gojo fought 15-finger Sukuna:
Without the Ten Shadows and full power, Sukuna might not have had enough tools to overcome Infinity.
If Gojo had domain expansion mastery:
A more stable Infinite Void might have shut down Sukuna before Mahoraga could adapt.
Fan Reaction and Debate
The community response has been divided:
“Sukuna rightfully won” Camp:
- The story built toward Sukuna being the final boss
- Using Mahoraga shows Sukuna’s intelligence
- Gojo’s loss was necessary for narrative stakes
“Gojo was robbed” Camp:
- Sukuna needed external power (Mahoraga) to win
- 1v1 without Ten Shadows favors Gojo
- The fight felt rushed after years of buildup
Our Take:
Both arguments have merit. Sukuna won the fight that happened, but the circumstances make it hard to call him definitively “stronger” in a vacuum. The manga wanted to show that even Gojo Satoru has limits—while also demonstrating that reaching those limits requires everything in your arsenal.
Verdict: Who Is Stronger?
With full access to all abilities:
Sukuna > Gojo (narrowly)
In a “pure” 1v1 without borrowed techniques:
Gojo ≥ Sukuna (debatable)
In terms of ceiling/potential:
Sukuna = Gojo (functionally equal)
The reality is that these two represent the absolute pinnacle of Jujutsu Kaisen’s power system. Their fight wasn’t decided by overwhelming power difference—it was decided by tactical choices, accumulated factors, and one crucial adaptation.
Impact on the Story
Gojo’s defeat served several narrative purposes:
The story continues with other characters attempting what Gojo couldn’t—defeating Sukuna through teamwork and strategy rather than overwhelming individual power.
Conclusion
The Gojo vs Sukuna debate finally has an answer: Sukuna wins, but it’s closer than most expected.
This wasn’t a stomp in either direction. Both fighters demonstrated why they’re considered the strongest of their eras. Sukuna’s victory came through cunning use of resources rather than simple power superiority.
For Jujutsu Kaisen fans, the fight delivered years of buildup with a satisfying (if painful) conclusion. Whether you agree with the outcome or not, it’s impossible to deny that this battle will be remembered as one of anime/manga’s greatest confrontations.
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