Death Note has developed from a manga in 2003, as well as several film adaptations, and a large following of devotees to the thrilling story with its themes of justice, fairness, and revenge. There is also expected to be a whole host of new followers joining the Death Note gang.
If you're new to the series or just need a refresher after a while away, you may be curious about what the rules of Death Note are. We've covered all of the manga, anime, and television series to provide you with this comprehensive guide!
What is Death Note?
Death Note began as a manga series in 2003. The Japanese graphic novels revolve around bored teen genius Light Yagami, who is the son of the National Police Agency's detective superintendent. He begins to kill anyone he knows by writing their name and face into its pages, and soon acquires the nickname Kira, which roughly translates to "killer."
Light discovers the notebook's supernatural origins when he is visited by a Shinigami (a god of death in Japanese culture) named Ryuk. L quickly discovers the killer, and soon becomes a cat-and-mouse with the student as both attempt to uncover crucial information.
An actress named Misa Amane discovers a second death note handed to her by Ren, another shinigami named L. The plot then progresses a few years later, when a number of cults dedicated to Kira attempt to capture the killer, putting an end to the practice.
What are the guidelines for Death Note?
Throughout the series, the rules of Death Note are revealed. The rules may be divided into three sections: How to Use a Death Note, the Ownership Rules of a Death Note, and the Shinigami Rules.
There are several guidelines that may be imposed on anyone who wishes to make a Death Note to kill others, including names, causes, limitations, and other things to keep in mind.
The rules around who owns a particular Death Note seem straightforward, but there are a few technicalities that can complicate matters.
The shinigami have their own rules that they may apply to them or not. There are also various guidelines on how a shinigami may interact with humans.
- Their Death Note is given to a human.
- They are finding a human to give it to, in which case they can only stay for 82 hours.
- If they are following someone and plan to murder them, but again they may only stay in the human realm for 82 hours.
- Their Death Note is given to a human.
- They are finding a human to give it to, in which case they can only stay for 82 hours.
- If they are following someone and plan to murder them, but again they may only stay in the human realm for 82 hours.
The rulebook for fake death notices
Light writes down two fake Death Note rules as part of a plot to dispel suspicion.
A complete list of all the Death Note rules is here!