This article ranks the dumbest decisions in manga, highlighting 7 iconic moments where characters made terrible choices and somehow survived.
Manga characters are famous for epic battles, emotional arcs—and absolutely terrible life choices. Today we rank the funniest, dumbest moments where manga characters made decisions so bad fans still talk about them.
They often live in worlds of conflict, supernatural powers, and mind-bending plots — but even the strongest manga hero or cleverest anti-hero sometimes makes jaw-dropping terrible life choices.
Somehow, they keep coming back for more, and so do we, cheerfully facepalming along the way. Let’s dive into seven famous manga moments where characters blundered so badly you had to ask, “Are you for real?” Spoiler: The answer is always yes.
1. Light Yagami’s “I’ll Just Use the Death Note Like a Responsible Adult” Phase — Death Note
Ah, Light Yagami. A brilliant student who finds a notebook that kills people just by writing their names in it. You’d think such power would come with an “innocent until proven guilty” mindset, but nope. Light’s TERRIBLE life choice? Immediately declaring himself judge, jury, and executioner.
Instead of calling the cops or seeking justice legally, he goes full “dictator of the world.” Plot twist: That doesn’t work out well, and spoiler alert—he ends up dead. Moral of the story? Don’t murder everyone just because you can. Also, don’t underestimate detective L, who is way smarter than you.
2. Naruto Running Headlong into Danger (Seriously, What Is with This Guy?) — Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki’s signature move is literally running full speed into life-threatening situations without backup, a solid example of TERRIBLE strategic planning. Despite being trained ninja, he continuously ignores subtlety, stealth, or even a plan at all. The result?
Endless beatdowns, saving the day only by last-minute plot armor. It’s like watching someone try to navigate a minefield with roller skates on. But hey, you gotta admire his optimism and stamina. Unfortunately, the chakra exhaustion and near-death moments? Not great for his longevity.
3. Eren Yeager’s Impulsive Decisions That Nearly Ruined Everything — Attack on Titan
Eren, the relentless Titan shifter, is basically the poster child for “thinking with your feelings rather than your brain.” Instead of teamwork or diplomacy, his first resort is almost always “destroy everything and everyone.” Eren’s TERRIBLE life choice?
Prioritizing revenge over all else without a clear plan, triggering wars, civil unrest, and general apocalypse vibes. You can’t help but feel a little sorry for the guy, but he could have just taken a yoga class, right? Chill out, Eren.
4. Gon Freecss Deciding “Sure, I’ll Sacrifice My Entire Future for One Fight!” — Hunter x Hunter
Gon’s TERRIBLE decision to barter all his potential powers and future to fight the enemy pitifully hurt fans who just wanted him to have a chill childhood. Blowing up your life potential for a single battle screams “I not only lack foresight, I have none.” This impulsive disaster moment left Gon weakened and out of commission much longer than necessary. If only someone handed him a “Think Before You Leap” pamphlet.
5. Ryo Saeba’s “Love Every Woman, Pay No Consequence” Philosophy — City Hunter
Known for his flirtatious, pervy antics, Ryo’s TERRIBLE lifestyle choice is going through life like it’s a never-ending rom-com with zero emotional consequences or health insurance. The dude absolutely refuses to learn from his mistakes—falling head over heels for every woman that walks by, often landing himself—and his wallet—in dangerous predicaments. Career advice: Maybe get a hobby that doesn’t revolve around flirting and danger.
6. Shinji Ikari’s On-again-Off-again Will to Pilot a Gigantic Robot — Neon Genesis Evangelion (manga version included)
Shinji’s TERRIBLE life choice is his emotional rollercoaster of indecision combined with choosing to pilot a massive biomechanical robot that can destroy cities… but he’s terrified half the time. His “I want to save the world but also just want to cry in a corner” attitude makes for prime existential dread. You want to yell, “Kid, just pick a lane already!” But also, maybe your internal struggles are justified. Tough parenting, Shinji.
7. Gintoki Sakata’s Habit of Turning Everything Into a Mess (Then Nonchalantly Cleaning Up) — Gintama
Gintoki’s TERRIBLE choice is consistently choosing laziness, gluttony, and procrastination over responsibility—with a pathological addiction to ridiculous shenanigans. Whether it’s ignoring serious tasks or picking fights just “because why not,” he drags others into chaos. Yet somehow, his legendary nonchalance and samurai skills mean things don’t always stay broken. This poses the sneaky question: are terrible life choices just part of the charm?
Manga characters often prove that bad decisions don’t have to lead to immediate doom—sometimes, they make stories more entertaining. These seven examples remind us that even heroes and antiheroes can be gloriously flawed, making hilarious, reckless, or downright terrible choices for our viewing (and laughing) pleasure. Which manga moment had you shouting “Nooo, don’t do that!”?
These moments prove manga characters aren’t heroes because they’re perfect—they’re heroes because they keep surviving their ridiculous decisions. Which moment should we roast next?
Author Bio: Ana Milojevic
Ana Milojevic is a passionate manga enthusiast and freelance writer specializing in pop culture analysis. With a background in journalism, she blends academic insight with witty commentary on anime and manga trends. Ana runs niche blogs covering entertainment and viral topics, where she crafts SEO-optimized articles that dive into manga characters bad decisions and their hilarious fallout.
Author Commentary
Writing about manga characters bad decisions felt like reliving the funniest manga moments all over again—those dumb decisions in manga that leave you yelling at the page. From Light Yagami’s god complex to Gintoki’s chaotic laziness, these manga characters who messed up prove terrible life choices in anime fuel the best stories. This manga comedy article celebrates how their blunders turn epic tales into side-splitting gold, reminding fans why we keep coming back despite the facepalms.
FAQ
Q1: Why do manga characters make such terrible decisions?
A: Because it creates drama, comedy, and character growth—and readers love chaos.
Q2: Which manga has the funniest bad decisions?
A: Series like Gintama, Naruto, and One Piece are famous for hilarious impulsive moments.
Q3: Do dumb choices help manga characters grow?
A: Yes. Many major plot twists are triggered by reckless or emotional decisions.
Q4: Are these examples from the manga versions specifically?
A: Yes, each example references moments depicted in the manga source material.
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