Jujutsu society uses grades to classify sorcerers, cursed spirits, cursed tools, and missions. These grades are not perfect power measurements, but they are useful for estimating danger. A lower-grade curse can still kill civilians or careless sorcerers, especially in groups or in favorable terrain. A higher-grade curse may require multiple trained sorcerers or a specialist to defeat.
The basic threat structure used in this campaign includes Grade 3, Grade 2, Grade 1, Semi-Grade 1, and Special Grade. Grade 4 can exist in lore, but the campaign’s main combat encounters begin at Grade 3 because the world is already unstable after Shibuya.
Grade 3 cursed spirits are weak compared to trained sorcerers but still dangerous to civilians. They are common in alleys, empty buildings, schools, subway corners, and places with everyday fear or resentment. In combat, they should appear in small groups. Their purpose is to create pressure, establish horror, and let players fight common curse threats without making every encounter a boss fight.
Grade 2 cursed spirits are stronger, more aggressive, and capable of hunting people with basic instinct or limited intelligence. They can threaten inexperienced sorcerers and overwhelm groups if ignored. These curses should appear in dangerous districts, tunnels, abandoned apartments, and corrupted shrines. They are strong enough to make early missions feel serious.
Grade 1 cursed spirits are major threats. They can control territory, attract weaker curses, and challenge trained sorcerers. A Grade 1 curse should not feel like random filler. When one appears, the environment should respond: lights fail, barriers strain, weaker curses scatter or gather, and the air becomes oppressive. Grade 1 curses work well as mini-bosses or area threats.
Semi-Grade 1 cursed spirits are near-special-grade threats. They are rare, powerful, and often used as elite encounters before true special grade enemies. They may have crude cursed techniques, command lesser curses, distort terrain, or behave with frightening intelligence. These should appear in late-game areas like the Dead Ward, Hollow Barrier Zone, or Curse Nest: Hanging Shrine.
Special Grade threats are abnormal. They cannot be measured cleanly by ordinary standards. Mahito, Sukuna-related objects, Kenjaku-level plans, the Prison Realm, and certain disaster-level cursed spirits belong in this category. A Special Grade encounter should be a major story event, not a casual random fight.
Sorcerer grades follow a related but different logic. A Grade 1 sorcerer is an elite professional capable of handling serious threats. Special Grade sorcerers like Gojo or Yuta are abnormal individuals whose abilities exceed normal classification. Students can be powerful but still inexperienced, and experience matters heavily in jujutsu combat.
AI guidance: do not treat grades like exact video game levels. Match grade to narrative danger. A Grade 3 curse in a dark tunnel with civilians present can still be frightening. A Grade 1 curse in open combat should feel like a serious threat requiring strategy.
AI guidance: use groups for lower-grade curses. Example: Kurokawa District may spawn 1–4 Grade 3 curses. Shibuya may spawn multiple Grade 3 and Grade 2 curses. The Dead Ward may spawn Grade 2, Grade 1, or Semi-Grade 1 threats.
AI guidance: keep named monsters distinct from generic grade monsters. The Weeping Passenger, Kurotsume, The Hanging Shrine, Akaoni Broodmother, and Mahito should feel like unique entities with origins and behaviors, not just stronger stat blocks.