He's the guy who literally can't die, but honestly, that’s the least interesting thing about him. When people first see Ban from the Seven Deadly Sins, they see the flash. They see the red leather outfit that looks like it was stolen from a 1980s rock star, the jagged scar on his neck, and that signature "Fox's Sin of Greed" smirk. But if you've actually sat through the seasons of Nakaba Suzuki’s epic, you know the immortality is a curse dressed up as a superpower.
It's weird.
Usually, in shonen anime, greed is the villain's trait. It's the motive for the guy trying to take over the world. But with Ban, greed isn't about money or power. It’s about a desperate, starving need for connection that he was denied since he was a kid stealing scraps in Ravens.
The Fountain of Youth and the Lie of Greed
The whole "Sin of Greed" title is a massive bit of irony. Most fans remember the flashback to the Fairy King’s Forest. Ban didn't go there to become a god; he went there because he heard the Fountain of Youth could give him a reason to keep living. He met Elaine, the Guardian Saint. And here’s where the "greed" label falls apart. When the Red Demon attacked and they were both dying, Ban didn't snatch the cup for himself. He tried to give it to her.
He's the Fox Sin of Greed because the world thinks he stole the water and burned the forest. In reality, he’s the most selfless person on the team.
He spent decades in Baste Prison just because he didn't feel like leaving. Think about that for a second. A man with the physical strength to shatter steel walls stayed in a dungeon getting tortured daily because he didn't have a reason to walk out the front door. It wasn't until he heard Meliodas was back that he decided to snap his chains. That's a specific kind of loyalty you don't see often. It’s a ride-or-die mentality that defines his entire arc, especially his relationship with Meliodas.
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Snatch: More Than Just Stealing Physical Objects
Let’s talk about his power, Snatch. On the surface, it’s a cool combat mechanic. He can grab a heart out of a chest or pull a weapon from an enemy’s hand without touching them. But the real depth comes from his ability to steal physical attributes.
He can rob an opponent of their speed and strength, adding it to his own. This creates a fascinating power dynamic. Ban isn't inherently the strongest member of the Sins—characters like Escanor or Meliodas have higher "base stats"—but Ban has no ceiling. As long as his body can handle the strain, he can keep sucking the life out of his surroundings to level the playing field.
But there's a catch.
There's always a catch with Ban. Using Snatch on a massive scale puts a ridiculous amount of strain on his physical form. During the fight with Galand of the Ten Commandments, we saw the limits. You can't just take everything. Eventually, the container breaks. This mirrors his emotional state; he wants to take everyone’s pain onto himself, but even an immortal has a breaking point.
The Dynamics of a Broken Bromance
The bond between Meliodas and Ban is probably the best-written friendship in the series. It’s not the "we believe in the power of friendship" trope. It’s messy. It’s violent. Remember when Ban tried to kill Meliodas because a goddess told him it would bring Elaine back?
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Most protagonists would never forgive that.
But Meliodas did, because he understood the desperation. They’ve both lived too long. They’ve both lost the women they loved over and over (or in Ban’s case, once but for a very long time). When Ban finally makes the journey into Purgatory to find Meliodas’s soul, he stays there for what feels like thousands of years. The environment in Purgatory is hell—burning air, freezing ground, and monsters that tear you apart. Ban survived it. He didn't just survive; he evolved.
Giving Up Immortality: The Ultimate Character Shift
Most characters spend their whole lives trying to find a way to live forever. Ban is the only one who fought to give it up.
When he finally uses the power of the Fountain of Youth to revive Elaine, he loses his regeneration. This is the moment Ban from the Seven Deadly Sins becomes truly legendary. He traded the one thing that made him "special" in a fight for the person he loved. He went from a man who couldn't be hurt to a man who was vulnerable, and somehow, he became stronger for it.
His power level post-Purgatory is a subject of a lot of debate in the fandom. Even without immortality, his "Gift" ability—the inverse of Snatch—allows him to give his strength to others. It’s the completion of his character arc. He stopped taking and started giving.
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What People Get Wrong About His Scar
You’d think an immortal would have perfect skin, right? Every wound Ban takes heals instantly. Except for the one on his neck.
That scar came from Meliodas. It’s a permanent reminder that even with all the magical healing in the world, some things stick. It happened because Ban tried to mess with Meliodas’s sword, and the Dragon’s Sin reacted instinctively. It’s a symbol of their rivalry and the fact that Ban isn't untouchable. It grounds him. It makes him human in a cast of literal demons, giants, and fairies.
Practical Takeaways for Fans and Writers
If you’re looking at Ban as a case study for character writing or just trying to understand the lore better, here are the key beats to remember:
- Subversion of Sins: Ban proves that the "Sin" isn't always a personality flaw; sometimes it's a burden placed on you by a society that doesn't know the full story.
- The Cost of Power: Immortality in Seven Deadly Sins isn't a gift. It leads to apathy. Ban’s struggle is finding a reason to care when time doesn't matter.
- Combat Evolution: Watch how Ban’s fighting style shifts from selfish (stealing) to selfless (giving) as the series progresses. It’s a subtle bit of storytelling through action.
- Emotional Resilience: The time spent in Purgatory is the most important part of his power-up. It wasn't a magic spell; it was thousands of years of endurance that hardened his spirit.
Ban isn't just the comic relief or the "cool guy" of the group. He's the emotional anchor. While Meliodas is dealing with ancient curses and destiny, Ban is just a guy trying to fix his mistakes and keep his promises. That’s why, even years after the manga finished, he’s still the fan favorite. He’s the most "human" Sin, despite being the one who couldn't die.
To truly understand his journey, re-watch the "Bandit Ban" side-stories. They provide the context for why he acts the way he does in the main timeline. Pay close attention to his dialogue with Zhivago—it's the key to his entire worldview on fatherhood and betrayal. Understanding that relationship makes his eventual reunion with his "father" in the spirit world one of the most emotional peaks in the entire franchise.
Next Steps for Deep Lore Enthusiasts:
Examine the Four Knights of the Apocalypse sequel series to see how Ban’s legacy continues through his son, Lancelot. The shift in his demeanor as a king and father provides a final, satisfying resolution to the "Greed" he felt as a lonely boy in Ravens. Compare his early Snatch techniques to his late-game "Gift" abilities to see the mechanical representation of his growth from a thief to a provider.