if you dont know anything about nanatsu power levels here is a resume:
I'll break down how the three power categories—magic, strength, and spirit—work in Nanatsu no Taizai, including how they influence each other in battle. I'll also include specific character examples and pull from both the anime and manga for a complete overview.
I'll get back to you shortly with the details.
Nanatsu no Taizai Power Categories: Magic, Strength, and Spirit
In Nanatsu no Taizai, a character's Power Level is the sum of three stats: Magic (魔力 maryoku), Strength (武力 buryoku), and Spirit (気力 kiryoku). As lore explains, Merlin's Balor's Magical Eye device measures a person's Power Level and divides it among these three components. Briefly, Magic quantifies arcane or supernatural power, Strength quantifies raw physical might, and Spirit quantifies willpower/determination. The total Power Level is literally the sum of Magic + Strength + Spirit. (A high Power Level indicates greater potential, but is only a rough gauge – it can shift with circumstances.)
Magic (Maryoku)
Definition: Magic measures a character's innate magical energy and spellcasting potency. In effect, a high Magic stat lets a character unleash powerful spells, enchantments or defenses in battle. Measured Value: For example, Merlin's stats are Magic 3,540, Strength 70, Spirit 1,100 (total 4,710). This shows her focus on magic (most of her power is in the Magic stat).
Combat Role: Characters with high Magic rely on ranged or area attacks. They can overwhelm foes with energy blasts, barriers, illusions, etc. For example, Merlin (Magic 3,540) combats foes with complex spells rather than physical blows. By contrast, Diane's magic stat is only 2,000 (while her Strength is 5,200); she rarely casts spells herself, instead smashing enemies physically. King has Magic 38,800 and Strength 0 – he literally has no muscle, so he fights entirely with magic (flying with Chastiefol and throwing energy attacks).
Examples:
Merlin – Magic 3,540; she casts powerful spells, barriers, and illusions.
Diane – Magic 2,000 vs Strength 5,200; her spells (like Earthspell) supplement her attacks, but her main damage is physical.
King – Magic 38,800, Strength 0; with no strength stat, he relies completely on magical attacks (e.g. spinning his Spirit Spear at range).
Interactions: In practice, high Magic often compensates for low Strength. A "mage" with huge Magic but tiny Strength (like King) stays at a distance and uses ranged spells, while a low-Magic/high-Strength fighter (like Derieri below) must close in. When Magic is high and Spirit is also decent (like Merlin's 1,100 Spirit), the caster can maintain large spells without tiring. Conversely, a character with low Magic may need to depend on Strength or Spirit – for instance, Diane (low Magic 2,000) fought Claymore demons primarily by sheer force. Overall, Magic augments combat by enabling special attacks, but characters often balance it with Strength and Spirit for a complete fighting style.
Strength (Buryoku)
Definition: Strength is a measure of raw physical power. It represents how hard a character can hit, how heavy things they can lift, and their physical durability.
Combat Role: High-Strength fighters excel in melee combat and can deal massive physical damage. For example, Diane's Strength is 5,200 (total 8,800), reflecting her giant physique; she literally uproots trees and throws them. Among the Ten Commandments, Derieri has Strength 48,000 (with only 1,500 Magic), making her axe swings able to tear through most foes. In contrast, Merlin's Strength is only 70 – she is fragile physically and avoids hand-to-hand fights.
Examples:
Derieri (Purity) – Strength 48,000, Magic 1,500. As a brute-force warrior, she dispatches enemies by pure force, hardly using spells.
Diane – Strength 5,200, Magic 2,000. Her giant form and hammer blows dominate opponents, though her magic boosts her earth-manipulation techniques.
Gilthunder – Strength 670, Magic 1,130. He strikes a balance: his physical swordsmanship is aided by lightning magic, letting him fight both up-close and at range.
Interactions: Strength often complements or substitutes for Magic. A pure Strength character with low Magic (like Derieri) must rely on melee – she overwhelms weaker foes with close-range might. A character with moderate Strength and some Magic (like Gilthunder) can mix swordplay with spell attacks. Conversely, a character with low Strength (like King, 0) must fall back on Magic. High Strength also works with Spirit: Escanor (during daylight) had enormous Strength (and presumably high Magic too), enabling him to outmuscle most opponents (though exact day stats aren't given). Overall, Strength determines physical impact and synergizes with Spirit for endurance, but it can be offset by another's superior magic if misused.
Spirit (Kiryoku)
Definition: Spirit measures willpower, composure, and perseverance. It's a bit abstract: essentially a character's mental fortitude or determination in battle.
Combat Role: Spirit doesn't directly cause damage, but it affects endurance and resolve. A high Spirit often lets a fighter keep pushing despite fatigue or injury. Zeldris has Spirit 3,800 – his calm, unyielding nature in battle reflects this. Ban's Spirit is 910, matching his legendary tenacity (immortality and refusal to die). In contrast, Jericho's Spirit is only 100 (out of total 280) – her determination is low, so she depends on clever tools (her smoke bombs, a Magic ability) rather than brute will.
Examples:
Zeldris – Spirit 3,800. His high willpower helps sustain his intense Demon King powers and unwavering leadership.
Ban – Spirit 910. His strong spirit underlies his capacity to survive fatal wounds and keep fighting.
Escanor (midnight) – Spirit 5 (all stats 5, total 15). At his weakest, his will to fight is essentially zero – he is utterly helpless.
Jericho – Spirit 100. With low spirit, she cannot outlast tough opponents, so she uses her Gloomy Sunday ability (a magic that incapacitates enemies) to fight.
Interactions: Spirit interacts more subtly with Magic and Strength. High Spirit can amplify either by letting a character endure or focus. For instance, Escanor's Spirit rises with the sun, and his towering Spirit and Strength together make him nearly unstoppable. In contrast, low Spirit means a character might give in to fear or fatigue unless they compensate. For example, despite moderate stats, Gilthunder's Spirit (530) lets him press on through injury. Generally, Spirit underpins how long and hard a character can fight: strong Spirit can bolster weak Magic or Strength in a pinch, while weak Spirit forces reliance on quick tactics or allies.
Total Power Level and Combat Effectiveness
Total Power: By definition, Power Level = Magic + Strength + Spirit. For example, Merlin's Power Level is 4,710 (3,540 + 70 + 1,100). In fan data, other totals follow this simple sum.
Rough Estimate: Importantly, PL is only a rough benchmark. Situational factors (strategy, terrain, compatibility of powers, even luck) affect outcomes. A higher PL usually means more raw capability, but it doesn't guarantee victory.
Not Always Linear: Some characters defy straight PL comparisons. For instance, Jericho's total 280 is minuscule, yet her skill nearly stalled the Sins using a special spell (Gloomy Sunday). Likewise, Escanor's daytime total (peaking around 114,000) dwarfs others, but at midnight his total was only 15, rendering him weaker than ordinary humans. Conversely, Merlin's modest total 4,710 belies her fearsome versatility – her high Magic lets her control fights despite lower total. This shows that skill and stats distribution matter as much as raw totals.
Summary: In practice, Power Level guides how much raw power a character has in each domain, but the distribution and how they use it determines the fight. A hero with balanced stats may outmaneuver a stronger but one-dimensional foe. In short, Total PL = Magic+Strength+Spirit, but true combat effectiveness depends on how that power is applied, giving exceptions like Escanor (extreme PL swings) or resourceful fighters like Jericho.