Is Mashle Based on Black Clover?

If you’ve watched Mashle: Magic and Muscles, you’ve probably heard people say it feels a lot like Black Clover. Both series feature worlds built around magic, main characters born without it, and a lot of loud, over-the-top humor and heart. So, it’s not surprising that fans keep asking: Is Mashle based on Black Clover?

It’s a fair question. The similarities are obvious at first glance, but once you dig deeper, you’ll find that while they share some surface elements, the two series are actually quite different in tone, purpose, and storytelling style. Let’s talk about why people compare them, what makes each one unique, and whether Mashle really took inspiration from Black Clover or if it’s carving its own path entirely.

Why People Think Mashle Is Like Black Clover

At first glance, the connection between Mashle and Black Clover feels undeniable. Both stories take place in worlds where magic defines everything, and both protagonists are “outsiders” who lack magic but refuse to give up on their dreams.

In Black Clover, Asta is born without magic in a society that worships it. He compensates with intense physical training and an anti-magic sword that can cancel spells. In Mashle, Mash Burnedead is in a similar position. He has no magical power in a world where everyone else does, so he uses sheer muscle strength to punch through magic itself.

Both characters are also incredibly determined, never backing down, no matter how impossible things seem. Their goals are similar to Asta wants to become the Wizard King, while Mash wants to live peacefully with his adoptive father in a society that discriminates against the powerless.

So it’s easy to see why fans draw parallels between the two. They both deliver that classic underdog energy that shonen manga fans love.

The Real Inspiration Behind Mashle

Here’s where things get interesting: Mashle wasn’t directly inspired by Black Clover. According to interviews with creator Hajime Komoto, the series was inspired more by Harry Potter, One Punch Man, and Mob Psycho 100 than by any other shonen manga.

Komoto wanted to create a comedy set in a magic school, but instead of focusing on spells or complex magic systems, he decided to flip the entire concept upside down. What if the main character had no magic at all but relied on brute strength instead?

That’s how Mashle was born, a parody of magical school stories mixed with absurd humor and shonen-style determination.

So while Mashle and Black Clover might share some themes, they weren’t created with one influencing the other. They simply draw from similar ideas that are common in the genre: magic, hierarchy, underdogs, and determination.

You can check out the Mashle manga online to see for yourself how it blends parody, action, and emotion in a way that feels totally different from Black Clover.

Mashle Is a Parody, Black Clover Is a Classic Shonen

One of the biggest differences between Mashle and Black Clover lies in their tone.

Black Clover is a straightforward action fantasy story. It takes itself seriously, even when it’s being funny. Asta’s journey is about proving himself, protecting his friends, and becoming the Wizard King. There are emotional rivalries, epic battles, and a consistent sense of rising stakes.

Mashle, on the other hand, is a parody. It plays with tropes from other series, turning serious moments into absurd comedy. When Mash faces a powerful mage, he doesn’t come up with a clever counterspell—he literally throws a punch so hard that magic stops working. His deadpan attitude and the ridiculous logic of the world make the story a constant satire of the magic-school genre.

In that sense, Mashle isn’t trying to be Black Clover. It’s making fun of the kinds of systems and expectations that Black Clover embraces wholeheartedly.

The Main Characters: Asta vs. Mash

Another reason fans love comparing the two series is that Asta and Mash seem similar at first, but their personalities are completely different.

Asta is loud, emotional, and driven by a dream of recognition. He’s passionate about becoming the Wizard King and helping others who are looked down upon. His strength comes from his relentless optimism and teamwork.

Mash, by contrast, is quiet, blunt, and often hilariously detached from reality. He doesn’t dream of fame or power. His goal is simple: live peacefully with his adoptive father, Regro. Everything he does—smashing through magical challenges, fighting arrogant nobles, and breaking the laws of magic—is all for that small, personal dream.

While Asta shouts his way through battles, Mash calmly breaks the rules of the world without even realizing how ridiculous he is. That’s what makes him so funny and unique.

Storytelling and Themes

Both series explore familiar shonen themes like determination, friendship, and justice, but they approach them in completely different ways.

In Black Clover, Asta’s struggle is framed as a genuine battle against social inequality and destiny. The story constantly expands its world, adding new kingdoms, enemies, and layers of lore.

In Mashle, the world-building takes a backseat to comedy. The humor often comes from how overpowered and nonsensical things get. For example, instead of solving problems logically, Mash might just throw someone across a room or deflect a spell with a loaf of cream puff bread.

Yet beneath all the absurdity, Mashle still has heart. It’s about acceptance, belonging, and finding your place in a world that tells you you don’t deserve one. That message is what connects it to Black Clover, even if the tone couldn’t be more different.

The Visual and Battle Styles

The visual tone also sets the two series apart. Black Clover has flashy, detailed magic battles filled with explosions, spells, and glowing runes. It’s designed to look grand and intense.

Mashle, however, thrives on contrast. Its action scenes are brutal and fast-paced, but the humor often comes from how casual Mash looks while performing impossible feats. Watching him punch through magic barriers or block spells with one hand is hilarious precisely because of how little effort he seems to put in.

It’s not about showing off beautiful magic effects, it’s about making you laugh at how nonsensical the situation is.

So, Is Mashle Based on Black Clover?

In short: no, it isn’t.

Mashle and Black Clover share some shonen DNA, but Mashle is its own beast. It draws inspiration from the broader world of magic-themed fiction and turns it into a clever, comedic spin on traditional tropes.

If anything, Mashle feels like what would happen if One Punch Man walked into Harry Potter’s world and decided to take an entrance exam at Hogwarts. It’s self-aware, ridiculous, and refreshingly original.

Black Clover takes the opposite route, it embraces the classic formula of friendship, rivalry, and hard work and turns it into an epic adventure full of heart and sincerity.

Both Mashle and Black Clover deserve the love they get, and the comparisons between them are more a sign of how good they both are than evidence of imitation. They share similar ideas, but each expresses them in its own style.

Mashle is pure fun, the kind of series that knows how silly it is and proudly leans into it. Black Clover is more emotional and heroic, a story about ambition and unity.

So while Mashle isn’t based on Black Clover, fans of one will almost certainly enjoy the other. They both celebrate the underdog spirit that makes shonen manga so special and that’s something worth appreciating, magic or not.