How do Shikigami work in Jujutsu Kaisen?

In Jujutsu Kaisen, there are tons of jujutsu users with different techniques. Some of them use shikigami, but what exactly is that and how do they work?

Jujutsu Kaisen‘s Shibuya Incident anime arc is in full swing and our heroes face ever-worsening odds. Still, the many techniques used by the Jujutsu High students will come in handy. As seen prevalently in this arc is shikigami. While you may not know them by name, their presence in the series is constant.

NOTE: This is an anime-specific guide, so no spoilers for the manga will be discussed. There is some light discussion of characters, enemies, and skills shown in the Shibuya Incident arc.

Pocket Monsters

Shikigami, in Jujutsu Kaisen, are cursed spirit-like monsters that many sorcerers can summon in battle. While one has to tame them before using them, they provide several advantages. For example, one can use a shikigami to attack from long distance as they battle face-to-face. Similar to techniques like curtains, non-sorcerers cannot see them. People who use these monsters fall under the label Shikigami Users. Notable examples include Megumi, Junpei, and Dagon.

In order to summon a shikigami, one has to use a talisman or their cursed techniques. All sorcerers who don’t have an innate technique can summon a shikigami, albeit a simple and weak one. Once created, they serve whatever purpose the sorcerer desires. Their presence disappears if the user faints, dies, or releases their technique.

The most notable Shikigami User is Yuji Itadori’s friend and classmate Megumi Fushiguro. As part of the Zenin Clan, Megumi inherited the Ten Shadows Technique, which lets him summon ten shikigami. Mainly, he uses his two Divine Dogs, though he has used Nue and Toad in different situations. In the Shibuya Incident arc, Dagon, the special-grade cursed spirit, can summon several piranha-like shikigami within his domain. Shikigami can prove to be very useful in combat, as shown by the two users mentioned.

Well, that’s all you need to know about shikigami in Jujutsu Kaisen! While they may not be the fiercest monsters, they can tip the scales of the battlefield tremendously. So next time you see Megumi or other sorcerers summon creatures, you’ll know exactly what they are. Just make sure they’re on your side.