Mikoto Misaka is one of the most powerful characters in the A Certain series (including both A Certain Magical Index and A Certain Scientific Railgun, as well as several other anime and manga spin-offs). However, despite her beloved personality and strong abilities, there is still a lot to Mikoto Misaka fans of the anime may have missed.

10 Mikoto Misaka Is An Esper

In the world of A Certain Magical Index (and its other character-based spin-offs), the world is divided between esper and non-espers. Espers are people that are gifted with scientific powers, that use the power of their minds to change the world around them — Mikoto Misaka is one of these espers.

Using her powers, she can manipulate electrical currents. Mikoto Misaka is considered an Electromaster, utilizing her powers to magnetize metals, redirect energy beams, and power her projectile-based signature move.

9 Mikoto Misaka Is Academy City’s Number Three

Among Level 5 Espers (the most powerful ability-users in Academy City), Mikoto Misaka is ranked 3 of 7. This has earned her the nickname “Railgun”, based on her signature attack which uses electrical currents like a railgun, a nickname referenced in the series title.

Ranks are determined based on two major factors: the firepower of an ability, and most importantly, its usefulness. On one hand, Mikoto Misaka’s railgun ability is incredibly powerful, destroying cars, walls, electrical grids, and even satellites, with a single coin. However, Misaka is also incredibly witty — using her electrical capabilities to dodge fatal energy shots and explosions, hack computers, and destroy research facilities.

8 Mikoto Misaka Works For Judgement

In A Certain Scientific Railgun (and the main series) there are two major policing organizations confirmed in Academy City, excluding organizations on the Dark Side. The first is Anti-Skill, which acts as the city’s main police.

On the other hand, Judgement is the rendition of the organization run by the students of the city, one of which being Mikoto Misaka (though only technically for a day). The organization is more like a disciplinary committee, working to support public morals and stop minor crimes, as opposed to Anti-Skill which focuses on large-scale crime and issues of security. Interestingly, another role of Judgement is to watch over the actions of Anti-Skill to prevent corruption, giving major power to the organization throughout the story.

7 Mikoto Misaka Goes To Tokiwadai Academy

To enter Academy City, most people are required to attend a school in the area (especially younger individuals). As for Mikoto Misaka, she attends one of the most prestigious middle schools in the city, Tokiwadai Academy.

Tokiwadai is known for being incredibly selective, only allowing espers to join their ranks (much to the chagrin of non-espers). This shows, as two of the Level 5 Espers attend the school: Shokuhou Misaki and Mikoto Misaka.

6 Mikoto Misaka Has An Interesting Personality

It isn’t uncommon for a character’s personality to match their ability. In Mikoto Misaka’s case, her personality matches the characteristics of electricity — she is short-tempered with a small fuse (especially around Kamijou Touma, given her tsundere characterization), leading to a lot of arguments and quick reactions.

This can be seen in her interactions throughout the series, destroying facilities in a fit of anger after learning about the Level 6 Shift experiment and confronting Accelerator. She also has a habit of trying to shock Kamijou Touma whenever he ticks her off, earning her the nickname Biri-Biri (the Japanese onomatopoeia for electrical currents).

5 Mikoto Misaka Helped Create The Sisters Network

One of the pivotal moments for Misaka in the early days of A Certain Magical Index is the Sisters Arc. The arc revolves around the Level 6 Shift Experiment, in which the antagonist Accelerator rapidly kills a total of 20,000 clones of Mikoto Misaka in order to reach Level 6 status.

However, unknown to many just getting into the series, Mikoto Misaka actually helped to create the clone network (although unknowingly). When she was a child, the scientists behind the network were able to procure Misaka’s DNA with her approval, making the situation all the more frustrating for the Electromaster.

4 Mikoto Misaka Has Met The Most Level 5s

The Level 5 Espers are one of the most exclusive groups in Academy City (and the entire A Certain universe for that matter). Few characters have met all seven, and surprisingly, it isn’t the number one or two that are the most connected on the 7.

Mikoto Misaka, despite only being ranked 3 out of 7, is shown throughout the series to be the most well-connected, having met at least 4 of the 7 Level 5 Espers. Many were as antagonists, including both Accelerator and Mugino Shizuri in A Certain Scientific Railgun. However, both Shokuhou Misaki and Sogiita Gunha were also met through the context of being a student — so far Mikoto Misaka has not met Kakine Teitoku and Aihana Etsu (the latter of who remains one of the most mysterious anime characters in the series).

3 Mikoto Misaka Is A Prodigy

Most know that Mikoto Misaka is a powerful esper, with an endless amount of firepower, which is enough to make her a prodigy from the get-go. However, many aren’t aware of how much of a prodigy she is.

Mikoto Misaka was one of the quickest espers to become high-leveled, having become a Level 5 Esper in just a year. Given the speed of this power boost (based on pure ability without scientific intervention at that), Mikoto Misaka is referred to as the Ace of Tokiwadai multiple times in A Certain Scientific Railgun, even getting the attention of Number Two Kakine Teitoku despite never meeting in the series.

2 Mikoto Misaka Is Most Sane Among The Level 5s

It has been stated that Mikoto Misaka is one of the more sane members of the Level 5 Espers. Most other members are shown to have very flawed perceptions of reality and ethical decisions — whether that be Accelerator’s nonchalant participation in the Level 6 Shift Experiment or Sogiita Gunha’s disregard for rules and reality altogether.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that Misaka is completely in the clear, as she is shown time and time again in A Certain Scientific Railgun to make decisions rashly, such as when she decided to raid laboratories conducting the Shift Experiment (leading to her confrontation with ITEM). However, given her more lighthearted and caring background, it does seem like Mikoto Misaka has the most reasonable head on her shoulders.

1 Mikoto Misaka Is A Member Of The Kamijou Faction

The Kamijou Faction is an unofficial term in the series used to refer to people that associate closely with Kamijou Touma, like Tsuchimikado Motoharu and Index. Although the two are often shown to argue with each other, Mikoto Misaka was one of the first members of the Kamijou Faction introduced in the series.

Due to his actions in the Sisters Arc, Mikoto Misaka is shown to highly trust Touma on several occasions, even trying to rescue him during the World War III events. All of this is deepened by Misaka’s (often unexpressed) admiration of A Certain Magical Index’s main protagonist, as it is confirmed that she holds romantic feelings for the Kamijou Touma later in the story. Nonetheless, Mikoto Misaka’s membership in the Kamijou Faction will continue to be a major influence as the story continues.

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