He looks like a kid. He runs a bar on the back of a giant green pig. He spends way too much time being a total creep toward Princess Elizabeth. If you just started watching or reading, you’d think Meliodas 7 deadly sins is just another generic shonen protagonist with a "pervert" gag and a big sword.
You’d be wrong. Dead wrong.
The Dragon's Sin of Wrath is one of the most layered, tragic, and honestly disturbing characters in modern anime. Most people see the yellow hair and the goofy "Sate Sate Sate" catchphrase and miss the fact that we’re looking at a literal demon prince who has been stuck in a 3,000-year loop of watching the woman he loves die. Over and over. 107 times, to be exact. It’s dark. It’s messy. It’s Meliodas.
The Problem With the Meliodas 7 Deadly Sins Power Scale
Trying to figure out how strong Meliodas actually is feels like a fever dream because his power levels fluctuate more than a crypto chart. In the beginning, he’s already "overpowered" compared to Holy Knights, but he’s basically playing with his food. He’s suppressed. He has to be.
Why? Because when Meliodas actually lets go, things get ugly.
His base power level at the start of the series is around 3,370. By the time he regains his true power from the Druids at Istar, that number jumps to 32,500. Then he dies (temporarily), comes back, and hits 60,000. By the time he enters Assault Mode—that terrifying, dark-matted state where he loses his emotions—he's clocking in at 142,000.
But numbers are boring. What actually matters is the Full Counter.
Unlike Estarossa’s Full Counter, which reflects physical attacks, Meliodas reflects magic. But he doesn't just block it; he sends it back with more than double the original force. It’s a reactive ability. It means he’s only as dangerous as the person he’s fighting, which is a brilliant bit of writing by Nakaba Suzuki. It forces Meliodas to be a tactical fighter, not just a brawler, even if he can split a mountain with a literal stick.
The Curse That Ruined Everything
Let’s talk about the Elephant—or the Demon—in the room. The curse.
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Meliodas and Elizabeth aren't just a couple; they are victims of a cosmic prank played by the Supreme Deity and the Demon King. Meliodas was cursed with Eternal Life. He cannot die. If he does, he just wakes up after hanging out in Purgatory for a bit, but there's a catch: every time he comes back, the Demon King eats a piece of his emotions. He becomes more like his old self—the cruel, heartless leader of the Ten Commandments.
Elizabeth was cursed with Perpetual Reincarnation. She is reborn as a human every time she dies. The kicker? If she ever remembers her past lives, she dies in front of Meliodas exactly three days later.
Imagine that.
You’re Meliodas. You’ve spent three millennia trying to find a way to break this cycle. You’ve raised her as a baby, watched her grow up, fallen in love with her, and then watched her die a hundred times. It explains why he’s so nonchalant about everything. He’s seen it all. He’s numb. That "wrath" he’s supposed to represent isn't a hot, screaming anger. It’s a cold, deep, bottomless pit of frustration.
Why We Should Stop Ignoring the Ten Commandments Era
People love to talk about Meliodas as the Captain of the Sins, but the "Real" Meliodas—the one the Demon Realm remembers—was a monster. He was the original leader of the Ten Commandments and was slated to be the next Demon King.
Even Mael, the strongest of the Four Archangels, was terrified of him.
When you see Meliodas in his Assault Mode, you aren't seeing a power-up. You’re seeing a relapse. It’s a recovery of his true nature that he desperately wants to suppress. This is what makes the Meliodas 7 deadly sins dynamic so interesting. The other Sins follow him because he’s kind and protective, but they are also low-key terrified of what happens if he stops being "nice."
Ban is arguably the only one who truly gets it. Their friendship isn't just about the arm wrestling and the scars. Ban is the only one who can keep up with the emotional toll of immortality. They are two guys who literally cannot leave the party, no matter how much they want to.
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The Mystery of the Broken Sword
Remember the Dragon Handle? That goofy-looking broken sword he carried for the first half of the series?
It wasn't a fashion statement. It was a key. Specifically, a piece of the Coffin of Eternal Darkness.
It’s easy to forget that Meliodas spent centuries holding onto the very thing that could restart the Holy War just to make sure it never happened. He lived as a wanderer, a failure in his own eyes, carrying the weight of his race’s sins on his back. When he finally gets his "real" sword, Lostvayne, it allows him to create physical clones of himself.
Here’s the nuance: the clones are weaker than him. If he makes four clones, each only has a fraction of his power. It’s not about overwhelming the enemy with strength; it’s about tactical distraction. He uses the clones to bait out a massive magical attack so the "real" Meliodas can hit a Full Counter that ends the fight instantly.
Dealing With the "Pervert" Trope
We have to address it. It’s the biggest complaint people have about the series.
Meliodas is constantly groping Elizabeth. In 2026, looking back at this trope, it feels incredibly dated and, frankly, uncomfortable for a lot of viewers. Some fans argue it's his way of "checking" if it’s the same Elizabeth, or that his lack of social boundaries comes from being 3,000 years old.
Honestly? It's mostly just typical Shonen "ecchi" humor that didn't age well.
However, if you look at it through a darker lens, there’s a desperate, clingy nature to him. He is terrified of losing her. He treats her like an extension of himself because, in his mind, she’s the only thing that keeps him human. It doesn't justify the behavior, but it adds a layer of psychological obsession that fits a man who has lost his mind a dozen times over.
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Real Talk: Is He a Hero?
Meliodas is a "hero" by circumstance. He wants to save Elizabeth. If saving the world happens to be part of that, cool. If he had to burn the world down to break her curse, he probably would have done that too.
That’s the beauty of his character. He isn't Deku or Naruto. He doesn't have a dream of being the best. He’s a guy who has already been at the top, hated it, and just wants to go home.
The Evolution of the Art and Animation
We can’t talk about Meliodas 7 deadly sins without mentioning the "incident."
The first two seasons by A-1 Pictures were gorgeous. The fight between Meliodas and the Ten Commandments was peak shonen. But when the production shifted to Studio Deen for "Wrath of the Gods," things got... rough.
The infamous fight between Meliodas and Escanor—the "One"—was a low point for the franchise. The proportions were off. The fluid movement was gone. For a character defined by his physical prowess, seeing him look like a poorly drawn doodle was a gut punch to the fandom.
Thankfully, the movie Cursed by Light and the sequel series Four Knights of the Apocalypse have done a lot to restore the visual dignity of the character. If you’re a Meliodas fan, you’ve learned to focus on the manga's art, where Nakaba Suzuki’s linework is consistently incredible.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re trying to deep-dive into the lore or just want to appreciate the character more, here is how you should actually consume the story:
- Read the Manga for the Assault Mode Arc: The animation in the later seasons doesn't do justice to the sheer scale of the fights. The manga panels convey the "weight" of Meliodas' darkness much better.
- Watch the "Vampires of Edinburgh" OVA/Side Story: This gives vital context on Meliodas' power and his relationship with the other Sins before the main series starts.
- Pay attention to his eyes: Suzuki uses Meliodas’ eyes to signal his mental state. When the pupils disappear or the demon mark changes shape, his personality is literally shifting. It’s not just a power-up; it’s a loss of self.
- Follow the sequel: Four Knights of the Apocalypse features an older, "King" Meliodas. Seeing him in a leadership role after centuries of being a fugitive is incredibly satisfying.
Meliodas isn't a simple character. He’s a walking contradiction. He’s the Sin of Wrath who is almost always calm. He’s a demon who wants to be an angel. He’s a kid who is older than most civilizations.
Understanding him requires looking past the bar-tender persona and seeing the tired soldier underneath. He’s not fighting for justice; he’s fighting for a day when he doesn't have to fight anymore. And in the world of Britannia, that’s the hardest battle of all.
Next Steps for Lore Enthusiasts:
To fully grasp the hierarchy Meliodas escaped, research the specific origins of the Ten Commandments and their "Edicts." Understanding how the Demon King's magic affects those who break his rules explains why Meliodas had to be so secretive during the early arcs. You should also compare the "Original Demon" lore to Meliodas' own biology to see just how much of a mutation he really was for his species.