Sacred Gear
Powers born to maintain the balance between Heaven, Hell, and Earth, granting their wielders the strength to defy destiny.
Sacred Gears are unique supernatural artifacts that can be inherited through bloodlines or awakened randomly within humans. While devils may possess them, this is only possible if the user was originally human before reincarnation or in exceptional cases. These powers manifest in various forms—some as gauntlets, others as weapons, armor, or even abstract abilities. Unlike the inherent magic of Devils or Angels, a Sacred Gear is an innate power source that typically awakens under stress or specific conditions, granting its user abilities ranging from elemental manipulation to reality warping.
- Origin
- Inherited through bloodlines or awakened randomly in humans; rarely possessed by
- Primary Users
- Primarily humans; devils only if reincarnated from humans or in rare exceptions
- Nature
- Innate Supernatural Power / Artifact
- Key Evolution Stage
- Balance Breaker, Sub-Species, or Juggernaut Drive
- Counterpart Threat
- Not specifically designed to counter any single threat; created to maintain bala
- Notable Location
- Kuoh Academy (School territory of the Gremory and Sitri peerages)
Lore & Background
The hierarchy of these artifacts varies significantly in strength and function. While some are simple tools for offense or defense, others like the Boosted Gear possess world-altering capabilities that can shift the tides of war between factions. The Church often recruits or protects Sacred Gear users, while rogue factions like the Khaos Brigade have been known to hunt them. Devils sometimes seek to recruit powerful wielders into their ranks. Despite being a gift from God, Sacred Gears have no loyalty to any specific faction, making their owners unpredictable variables in the eternal struggle between Heaven, Hell, and Earth. It is important to note that Longinus are a specific class of Sacred Gears from the start, not an evolution of regular Sacred Gears.
In Their Own Story
The air in the abandoned warehouse crackled with ozone as Issei sat up, his right arm trembling violently. A glowing green dragon head materialized from his forearm, its scales shimmering with an ethereal light that cut through the darkness of the room. The voice inside his mind was ancient and commanding, echoing with a power far beyond human comprehension. 'Boost,' it whispered, not as a request but as a law of physics being rewritten around him. Issei clenched his fist, feeling the surge of energy flood his veins, transforming his fear into an unyielding resolve to protect those he loved.
Reader's Guide
A Sacred Gear functions by embedding itself within the host's soul or physical form, granting them access to abilities that defy natural laws. The gear's power is often tied to a specific theme, such as fire, time manipulation, or dragon transformation, which can be enhanced through combat experience and emotional intensity. Most users must learn to control their gear through trial and error, as uncontrolled usage can lead to exhaustion or loss of humanity. Advanced users may trigger 'Balance Breakers,' a state where the gear's power is maximized at the cost of significant stamina, often resulting in a dramatic physical transformation for the host. While primarily found in humans, some Devils and Angels have been known to wield them through special circumstances or contracts. The most famous wielder is Issei Hyoudou, whose Boosted Gear allows him to accumulate power exponentially, making him a central figure in the conflict between supernatural factions.
Did You Know?
- The Boosted Gear is one of the Thirteen Longinus items, as revealed by Rias in the anime.
- Issei's Boosted Gear houses Ddraig, the Red Dragon Emperor.
- Asia Argento possesses a set of Sacred Gear rings called Twilight Healing.
- The Boosted Gear's ability 'Boost' enables Issei to double his powers every ten seconds.
- Issei can use 'Dress Break' to obliterate a girl's clothes after previously touching her.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are Sacred Gears?
These divine tools were created by the Creator specifically to empower humanity against existential dangers like Demonic Beasts and Fallen Angels. They appear as crystalline structures that integrate with the user, offering capabilities separate from traditional angelic or demonic magic.
Who is eligible to wield a Sacred Gear?
Although intended mostly for ordinary people to challenge fate, certain supernatural entities can occasionally utilize these powers under special conditions. Awakening occurs unpredictably, granting the host abilities without any prior training or lineage requirements.
Can Sacred Gears get stronger over time?
Users can unlock higher potential through a process called evolution, which may allow specific gear types to reach a powerful state known as Dragonization. This transformation drastically boosts physical stats and combat effectiveness beyond the initial form of the artifact.
Why do Sacred Gears matter in the supernatural world?
They function as an essential check on supernatural power, ensuring humans can defend themselves against dominant factions like Devils and Angels. This dynamic prevents any single group from completely dominating the global order without opposition.
Where do most Sacred Gear stories take place?
Although activation happens globally, Kuoh Academy becomes a central gathering point for these users within the narrative. The school acts as a faction hub where various gear wielders interact with different supernatural organizations.
More in Powers & Sacred Gears
Elsewhere in the Highschool DxD universe
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