Why Black Clover Has One of Anime’s Best Tournament Arcs
Black Clover’s most recent season ended in March 2021, but the series has pleased fans with almost 200 episodes and epic arcs that would put most shonen series to shame. The series has a power system based on magic and this is shown through the abilities of “magic knights”.
The magic knights are essentially protectors of the kingdom, chosen for their magical prowess to work in squads led by different captains. Black Clover has excelled in thrilling viewers with different forms of magic used in fresh, entertaining ways. Of the different arcs in the show, the royal knights arc stood out for one primary reason; a tournament arc for the ages.
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The famed “tournament arc” has been a staple of Shonen anime for decades, as iconic to the genre as “the power of friendship”. Seasoned anime viewers know what’s in store as soon as a “test”, “exam”, or “festival” is introduced. Tournament arcs may vary by name, but they typically include the same ingredients: epic fights and huge character development. There are also plenty of other features they could share.
Tournament arcs present a unique opportunity that other arcs fail to provide. The arc is a perfect time for tertiary characters who have spent time in the background up to then to become fan favorites or, at the very least, give a good show. This is also a good chance to pit characters against each other who would have no other reason for battling, like teammates or characters from different circles.
A good tournament arc introduces new characters, builds on the characters previously introduced, affects the story moving forward with lasting consequences, and gives fans the fights they didn’t even know they wanted. In
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