Petals of Reincarnation Power System Explained: How Do the Branches of Reincarnation Work?

Petals of Reincarnation introduces one of the most controversial power systems to ever exist in any anime. It is basically based on drawing out the expertise of iconic historical figures like Einstein, Newton, Darwin, and many others, and giving them a Shonen power-up. To know how it works, what it is called, and more, keep reading.

What Are the Branches of Reincarnation?

The Branches of Reincarnation, as the name suggests, are knife-like devices that trigger the reincarnation process and draw out the talent of your past life. As a result, you can see many sick cameos of people you might idolize, or figures you’ve probably read about in history books.

Haito Luo Buffett from Petals of Reincarnation | Credits: BENTEN Film

The device is used by cutting your throat and hoping you receive a Talent from your past life. However, if you do not manage to gain a Talent, then you will die! Thus, it is quite uncertain whether you will receive power or not. If none of your past lives had a specific Talent, you will be gone as soon as you slit your throat with the Branch.

The ones who do come back to life after obtaining special powers are called Returners. The Branches then dissolve into petals, and instead of blood, petals disperse from the wound. But there is another price you may have to pay for it. Initially, you will retain your current identity even after receiving the powers, but later, you will turn into a Complete Returner. Here is more information on that.

Complete Returners: How Full Manifestation Works

Complete Returners are basically Returners whose transformation becomes permanent. Until they die, the Branch remains fused with them. Because of this, their power never fades. This state is also described as full manifestation.

On the other hand, Incomplete Returners revert to their original form and lose their powers after using them for some time. Touya and Haito in the anime are still Incomplete Returners, whereas Einstein, Newton, Schrödinger, and Simo Häyhä are Complete Returners.

Does Petals of Reincarnation Have a Power Ranking?

John V. Neumann from Petals of Reincarnation | Credits: BENTEN Film

Although this Spring 2026 anime does not have a well-defined power ranking among all the Returners, we can still assume who is stronger based on their skill sets. First of all, it is undeniable that Complete Returners are stronger than Incomplete Returners. Among the Complete Returners, those with greater achievements in history are expected to be more powerful.

Also, in hypothetical clashes between Complete Returners, the victor can often be decided by the matchup itself. Certain Talents are simply stronger than others in specific situations. So, it is not always about who is stronger overall, but rather who is fighting at that particular moment.

The Limitation of the Branch of Reincarnation

Touya Senji from Petals of Reincarnation | Credits: BENTEN Film

There is also another important factor to consider as a Returner, and that is compatibility. The individual needs to be compatible with the power they are about to receive; otherwise, a complete breakdown of the body may occur. The deeper the connection, the stronger the transformation.

Some quick information on the Petals of Reincarnation anime:

Another major downside is the loss of personality, as mentioned earlier, when becoming a Complete Returner. It is basically a “great power comes with great sacrifice” kind of scenario.

That would be all you need to know about Petals of Reincarnation’s power system. If you still have doubts or are unsure about specific intricacies, feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Petals of Reincarnation is currently available to watch on HIDIVE.