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Toma has the "imagine breaker" which is regarded by many as a very powerful
hability, moreover he was able to defeat the most powerful esper and one of
the most powerful magicians, one who was capable of turning into reality what
he thought.

Why Toma is considered only a level 0 esper then?


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a-certain-magical-index a-certain-scientific-railgun a-certain-scientific-accelerator
Why Touma is considered only a level 0 esper when he's clearly so powerful and was able to defeat the most powerful level 5 esper?


For whatever reason, Toma Kamijo's [Imagine
Breaker](https://toarumajutsunoindex.fandom.com/wiki/Imagine_Breaker) ability
is not considered an esper power, so according to Academy City's ranking
system he's a level 0 esper with no known abilities. It's also not seen as a
magic ability so he's not considered to be on the other side of the
technology/magic divide. The true nature of the power hasn't been revealed.
Its origins are unknown and the series hints that even Toma doesn't know what
its fully capable of.

Toma's ranking is confirmed through the annual [System
Scan](https://toarumajutsunoindex.fandom.com/wiki/System_Scan) tests, which
corresponds to the mandatory physical exams that Japanese students have to
take every year. The real life exams measure things like height and weight,
but the System Scan tests measure student's esper abilities and these tests
have always shown that Toma is only a level 0 esper.

The series also tries to portray Toma's encounters against powerful level 5
espers as a David versus Goliath situation. A mere level 0 who has the courage
to take on the most powerful level 5 espers in Academy City in order to
protect his friends. Given how powerful his Imagine Breaker ability is, this
lacks some credibility, but it doesn't stop Toma claiming this himself as he
punches someone in the face.


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Imagine Breaker affects both esper & magic. What is common with both is that
they are the mind manipulating reality, one through 'science' (quantative) and
the other through 'magic' (qualitative or symbolic). His power therefore is a
reassertion of reality. Touma may have an esper power, but his right hand
would naturally nullify it.

At least that is my working theory.


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