Why Are Devils In Chainsaw Man Named After Fears?

Daksh Chaudhary
2 days ago
3 min read

Why Devils in Chainsaw Man are named after fear

Imagine if your fear of spiders, darkness, or even clowns came to life as a monster. That’s exactly how Devils work in Chainsaw Man. From the Gun Devil to the Tomato Devil, every devil’s name matches what humans fear. But why? Why not name them after colors, or elements, or maybe pizza toppings?

The answer is simple: In Chainsaw Man, the Devils are born from human fears. The more people dread something, the stronger the Devil becomes. That’s why the Gun Devil is a planet-level threat, while the Tomato Devil is a joke.

ALSO READ: Is Chainsaw Man: Buddy Stories Canon? A Guide For The Fans

Fear = Power: The Fuel For The Devils In Chainsaw Man

Devils in Chainsaw Man are literally made from human fear. The concept is simple: If people fear something, a Devil is born from that fear. And the stronger the fear, the stronger the Devil. For example, the Gun Devil is insanely powerful because guns kill thousands worldwide, making it a universal terror. Meanwhile, the Bat Devil is weaker because bats are mostly just creepy, not deadly

This rule explains why some Devils are god-like, like the Darkness Devil, while others are pathetic. It also means the Devils can grow stronger over time. For instance, the Nuclear Weapons Devil would be unstoppable today because everyone fears nukes. But in Chainsaw Man’s timeline, it’s weaker because the Chainsaw Devil (Pochita) ate its name from existence, erasing humanity’s fear of nukes.

Names Are A Devil’s Greatest Weapon And Weakness

A Devil’s name defines their powers, their appearance, and even their personality. For instance, Makima is the Control Devil, and her name tells you everything: She controls people, animals, and even death itself. If she were called the “Puppet Devil,” her vibe would be totally different, right?

But names can also be a Devil’s downfall. If you know a Devil’s name, you can exploit their weaknesses. For example, Denji figures out that the Zombie Devil hates fire (because zombies burn), so he uses that to win. Similarly, the Future Devil loves chaos, so Aki Hayakawa makes a contract with it by offering his eye, a gamble tied to its name. Thus, a name can be a clue to surviving a Devil’s wrath.

The Chainsaw Devil Breaks All The Rules

Here’s the twist: Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil, doesn’t fit the fear rule. Chainsaws aren’t that scary compared to guns or death, right? But Pochita is one of the strongest Devils ever. Why? Because other Devils fear him.

Pochita has a unique power: He can erase anything he eats from existence, including concepts like “Nazis” or “World War II.” This terrifies the Devils because if he eats their name, they vanish forever. So while humans don’t fear chainsaws much, Devils absolutely do, making Pochita a nightmare for them. That's the reason why everyone wants to control him.

Final Verdict: Fear Makes The Devil World Go Round

Devils in Chainsaw Man are named after fears because fear is the source of their power. It’s a scary cycle - the more we fear them, the stronger they become, and the more they make us suffer.

But characters like Denji, Aki, and Power prove that facing fear can break that cycle. As long as people fear devils, they’ll continue to exist. The only way to truly end them is to stop fearing them, or have the Chainsaw Devil devour them.