Stop Only Watching Brainless Anime! 2025's 12 Must-Watch "Playing Dumb to Eat the Tiger" Masterpiece Anime Selections!

Hello fellow anime fans! 👋 It's already been three months into 2025, and you're still in an anime drought? Still only watching mindless power fantasy shows? It's time for something different! Today, I'm here to recommend a wave of amazing anime featuring  "protagonists who deliberately hide their true power" ! Guaranteed to make you  gasp in surprise, drop your jaw, and finish watching on your knees ! 😎

As a seasoned anime otaku, who hasn't fantasized about being an unassuming master like the janitor monk? Pretending to be weak normally, but shocking everyone with a single move at the critical moment—this kind of  gap moe  is just too good! 🤤 So this time, I've specially compiled 12 anime where the protagonists are all  "acting big time" , letting you binge-watch to your heart's content! Ready? Let's GO! 👇

🌟 Playing dumb to eat the tiger! True strength reigns supreme! Must-watch hidden power anime list 🌟

1. 《Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry》: A failure? Doesn't exist! Big bro just doesn't want to be too flashy 😎
   

   

   
   This one is absolutely the classic representative of playing dumb to eat the tiger! The male protagonist, Ikki Kurogane, despite having superb swordsmanship, is mocked as a "Failed Knight". And then? As soon as the match starts, he directly goes Asura mode and utterly crushes the geniuses, making those who looked down on him get their faces swollen! This show tells us that even ordinary people can become Asuras if they work hard enough! (Burning🔥)

2. 《Our Last Crusade or the Rise of a New World》: Saving the world while dating, strength is just a bonus 😉

   

   
   The male protagonist, Iska, is the empire's strongest swordsman, but due to differing ideals, he gets exiled to the border. Hey, wait a minute, sending someone this strong to the border is just dimensional crushing, right?! He superficially seems to want a peaceful life, but when he encounters enemies, he's utterly ruthless, his strength is practically ceiling level! His fated rivalry-turned-romance with the female protagonist Alice is also super sweet—fighting while falling in love, who can resist that! 🥰
   

3. 《TRINITY SEVEN: The Seven Magicians》: A full harem, saving the world on the side, protagonist power-ups fully activated! 🤩

   

   
   The male protagonist Arata Kasuga's daily life is building a harem (so envious and jealous🔥), but he's actually a Demon King candidate possessing immense magical power. He usually seems a bit dumb, but the strength he displays at critical moments will absolutely make your jaw drop! This series is full of fan service, and the plot is brain-burning enough—it's definitely a great choice for killing time! (Highly recommended👍)

4. 《Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle》: A fallen prince? Just waiting for the chance to rise!

   

   
   Lux is a prince of a former empire who, due to an incident, ends up in an all-girls academy. Seemingly weak, he actually possesses superb Drag-Ride piloting skills and a mysterious black Drag-Ride! Watching him hide his identity, pretend to be weak in an academy full of beauties, and then step by step uncover the truth and get revenge is truly a classic storyline, boiling with热血! 🔥
   

5. 《No Game No Life Zero》: The legend of the brother-sister duo, weak? You just don't get it 😎

   

   
   "There is a pair of siblings who are weak but have never lost; there is a pair of lovers who are strong but have never won." This sentence perfectly summarizes Riku and Schwi from No Game No Life Zero! They exist in a world of despair and war, where humans are extremely weak, yet they rely on exceptional intelligence and strategy to gradually turn the tide of war! Although they have no superpowers, their brainpower is their strongest weapon! Seeing them pretend to be weak and then achieve victory through unexpected means really makes you admire them wholeheartedly! 

6. 《Classroom of the Elite》: A scheming male protagonist, intellect crushing, this is true meritocracy! 🧠

   

   
   The male protagonist, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, seems ordinary but is actually extremely profound and calculating, his IQ is practically off the charts! To achieve his goals, he can be ruthless; on the surface, he acts harmless, but in reality, he manipulates everyone like puppets! This brain-burning masterpiece will absolutely keep you hooked! (In awe👏)

7. 《Charlotte》: Superpowers aren't everything, but the protagonist's superpower... is really quite everything! 😂

   

   
   The male protagonist, Yū Otosaka, possesses the superpower to steal others' abilities. At first, he uses his power to cheat and act clever, but later, to save the world, he starts seriously going all out! Although the plot can be a bit gut-wrenching, the protagonist's growth and power-ups are definitely the highlights! (Touching😭)

8. 《Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest》: Climbing from the bottom to the top, this is a true comeback! 💪

   

   
   The male protagonist, Hajime Nagumo, originally the weakest in his class, gets betrayed by his classmates and falls into the abyss of a labyrinth. But he doesn't give up; instead, he is reborn from the flames, gaining immense power and various black technologies! Going from a failure to the strongest, this kind of plot is super热血! (Burning up🔥)

9. 《Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious》: The strongest hero? He's just afraid of dying! 🤣

   

   
   The male protagonist, Seiya, is a hero with MAX stats, but he's so overly cautious it's laughable! He buys three sets of equipment, uses nuclear-level magic to fight slimes! This kind of gap moe is just too funny! And the plot is surprisingly exciting too! (Laughing my head off🤣)

10. 《The Rising of the Shield Hero》: Framed, betrayed, the Shield Hero proves himself with strength! 🛡️

    

    
    The male protagonist, Naofumi Iwatani, gets framed and ostracized, rising from the universally despised "Shield Hero" to become a true hero! Relying on the various abilities of his shield and his tenacious will, he gradually becomes stronger, slapping the faces of those who looked down on him! This series has a profound plot that will absolutely make you tear up! (Respect 🙏)

11. 《The Eminence in Shadow》: Chuunibyou outbreak, but this time he's seriously strong to the max! 😂

    

    
    The male protagonist, Cid Kagenou, is a super chuunibyou sufferer who dreams of becoming the mastermind in the shadows (Eminence in Shadow). And then he stumbles his way into actually becoming an overpowered existence! All the showboating and crazy plot twists will have you laughing non-stop! This one will definitely help you relax! (Fun😂)

12. 《OVERLORD》: The Bone Daddy needs no introduction, absolutely strong! 👑

    

    
    Of course, the grand finale is the Bone Daddy (Ainz Ooal Gown)! A game player who gets transported to another world, becoming the Overlord of the Undead, possessing absolute power! On the surface, Ainz looks very calm, but internally he's full of monologues! Watching Ainz show off and rule the world is super satisfying! (Aura of dominance 😎)

That concludes my carefully selected list of  12 anime where the protagonists deliberately hide their true power ! Each one is guaranteed to make you feel  热血沸腾 and unable to stop watching! If you also like this kind of  gap moe  and  playing dumb to eat the tiger  plot, then quickly  add them to your watchlist  and start watching! (Sprinting at full speed🏃♂️💨)

After reading this recommendation, is there any one that makes you  particularly excited ?