30 Strongest Anime Characters Of All Time, Ranked (2023)

Ninjas, mutants, demons, cyborgs, and aliens battle across anime with sword strokes powerful enough to slice through steel and energy blasts that can level mountains. Anime has various characters and powers, making it hard to determine exactly which characters are the strongest of all time.

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Whereas some characters may be clear standouts, there is always subjectivity when it comes to assessing powers. Different fictional universes play by different rules, and that makes comparisons tough. However, thanks to common genre tropes and story beats across anime, certain characters rise to the top. These characters are not only the strongest in their respective shows but the strongest anime characters of all time.

Updated by Alexandra Locke on December 17th, 2022: Powerful anime characters come in all shapes in sizes. They can be found across all anime genres, and their strength is unparalleled. With so many powerful characters to choose from, this article has been updated to include even more of anime's strongest characters.

35 Kenshin Himura

Rurouni Kenshin (1996 - 1998)

Despite his small stature, Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin is regarded as one of the most powerful and legendary swordsmen to ever exist. After slaughtering countless people during the Meiji Revolution, Kenshin hung up his blade, vowing to never kill again. He travels around Japan as a rurouni, a wandering, masterless samurai, seeking redemption for the lives he's taken.

Kenshin inherits the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu sword style from his master, a form of kenjutsu meant to allow a single samurai to defeat multiple enemies at once. The fact that he can take out so many enemies while refusing to kill shows just how skilled he truly is.

34 Shinichi Izumi & Migi

Parasyte (2014 - 2015)

Parasyte is not a series for the faint of heart. Still, terrible circumstances always lead to interesting heroes, and Shinichi Izumi is one of the most unique in anime history. In this series, human bodies are taken over by parasitic aliens that feast on human flesh. When they first bond, Shinichi is an average teenager who relies on the parasite Migi to protect him. Migi can change shape and composition. He is also incredibly smart and strong for his size.

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After Shinichi is attacked and almost killed by another alien, Migi disperses 30% of his body into Shinichi's. Shinichi gains enhanced strength, speed, durability, and vastly improved mental faculties. Additionally, Migi is a combat strategist for the two. This allows them to take out some of the strongest characters in anime, like the practically invincible Gotou.

33 Son Hak

Yona of the Dawn (2014 - 2015)

Son Hak is the head guard in charge of protecting Princess Yona in Yona of the Dawn. Even after the Koka Kingdom is overthrown, Hak keeps Yona in his care, taking her to his village and traveling with her to find the four Dragon Warriors. Though many people and factions are after the pair, Hak skillfully cuts them down single-handedly, proving his title as the Lighting Beast of Koka.

No matter what foe Hak faces, he always comes out on top. Even when some guards hit him with a poison dart, Hak holds his own. Hak is an incredible fighter who has yet to meet anyone who can beat him. Hak is a one-man army in his own right.

32 Izuku Midoriya

My Hero Academia (2016 - present)

Izuku Midoriya is My Hero Academia's protagonist. Just before he enters high school, Izuku's dream of becoming a Pro Hero becomes a reality after receiving a Quirk from his idol, All Might. However, One For All turns out to be more powerful than Izuku could have imagined.

Even so, he handles his immense power with superhuman strength and concentration. His new Quirk is so great that it regularly shatters his bones in the beginning, but now he can use that same force against his enemies. Izuku very rarely loses his battles all thanks to the immense inherited powers of those before him.

31 Eren Yeager

Attack on Titan (2013 - present)

When Attack on Titan fans are first introduced to Eren, he is a member of the Survey Corps, a team of soldiers dedicated to protecting the populace from the threat of Titans. While he is a skilled soldier, Eren earns his title as one of the strongest anime characters thanks to his ability to transform into the Attack Titan.

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When he transforms, Eren retains his intelligence and military training, making him that much more dangerous. The reason that he cannot compete with some of the other strongest anime characters is that he cannot always rely on his Titan form. To transform, Eren needs to physically injure himself. Characters in the series have taken advantage of this weakness by tying his hands together and gagging him, reducing him to a skilled but mundane soldier. However, with his new Founding Titan abilities, Eren has become much more powerful.

30 Edward Elric

Fullmetal Alchemist (2003 - 2004) and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009 - 2010)

Edward Elric stands out among the other alchemists in Fullmetal Alchemist for several reasons. He is the youngest State Alchemist in history, achieving his certification by the time he is twelve. This alone proves that he is a capable combatant. Typically, alchemists need to draw a transmutation circle before attempting alchemy.

Part of what makes Edward so powerful is that he is one of the very few alchemists who do not need to draw these circles. By simply placing his hands together, Edward replaces the need for a transmutation circle, allowing him to instantly transmute amid battle. Ed most often uses transmutation on his steel arm, turning it into a variety of different weapons like a blade.

29 Ryuko Matoi

Kill la Kill (2013 - 2014)

Ryuko Matoi is on a mission to discover her father's murderer in the anime Kill la Kill. After some digging, Ryuko comes into possession of a Kamuy – a garment/being made entirely of Life Fibers that enhance her combat abilities. As Ryuko and Kamuy Senketsu become more in sync, the two begin to merge, making Ryuko an unstoppable force.

Senketsu was made for Ryuko, and since Ryuko is partially Life Fibers herself, the two mesh together into one ultimate being. With Senketsu's help, Ryuko can slice through even the toughest Life Fibers that hold the evil Ragyo Kiryuin together. Ryoku's power regularly cuts through enemies, making herself and Senketsu even stronger in the process.

28 Levi Ackerman

Attack On Titan (2013 - present)

Levi Ackerman is a Captain in the Scout Regiment in Attack on Titan. Although he has a short stature, Levi uses it to his advantage as he flies around on his Omni-Driectional Mobility gear, taking Titans down one by one.

Levi is not afraid to get close to the giants he faces, and has been known to hold his own up against the more fearsome Titan Warriors. Levi's rage and sorrow fuel his fighting, making him one of the most lethal members of the Scouts. With the highest kill count and the highest number of assists in the regiment, Levi has proven that he is the most powerful character in Attack on Titan.

27 Guts

Berserk (1997 - 1998) & Berserk (2016 - 2017)

Few anime series are more tragic than Berserk. But tragedy can give way to great strength. The character Guts is no exception. Also referred to as the Black Swordsman, Guts is an ex-mercenary and one of the unlucky humans to be branded with the Brand of Sacrifice, which causes him to be hunted by flesh-craving monsters.

Since the age of nine, Guts has been a soldier on the battlefield. During his mercenary days, Guts single-handedly defeated a troop of 100 soldiers. He is even strong enough to take out numerous apostles – former humans who have ascended to join the ranks of demonkind.

26 Luffy

One Piece (1999 - present)

The carefree captain of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece, Luffy, hides incredible power behind a toothy grin. Initially, his Rubber Human Devil Fruit was thought to be one of the weaker fruits in the series. However, after extensive training, he unlocks the massive potential of his power.

Luffy is incredibly strong and fast, and his rubber body makes him impervious to most attacks. Luffy's strength is further solidified due to his inclusion in the Worst Generation. These eleven notorious, powerful rookie pirates are wanted for crimes committed against the World Governments.

25 Tetsuo Shima

Akira (1988)

When Tetsuo is injured after he almost runs over a young boy on the street, doctors discover his massive latent psionic abilities. After unlocking his powers, Tetsuo can fly, generate force fields, bend light, levitate objects, and channel his telekinesis into powerful energy blasts.

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Even when Tetsuo's arm is blasted off by an orbital laser, he simply replaces it with a mechanical one and keeps going. Unfortunately, Tetsuo's violent search for more power causes him to overstep his bounds. Unable to control his newfound abilities, he transforms into a giant fleshy mass. Despite this grotesque sight, Akirais one of the most viscerally stunning films of all time.

24 Whitebeard

One Piece (1999 - present)

In One Piece, Edward Newgate, aka Whitebeard, captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, is hailed as the strongest man in the world. His stature is imposing, and his scars tell a tale of the countless battles he survived. Even as an old man, his physical strength eclipses that of giants. With the addition of the Quake-Quake Devil Fruit power, which granted him the ability to generate earthquakes, he was a truly fearsome opponent.

The earthquakes Whitebeard generated could take down entire buildings and cause tsunamis. Whitebeard's enhanced endurance and seismic abilities made him not just the strongest man in One Piece,but one of the strongest anime characters of all time.

23 Yusuke Urameshi

YuYu Hakusho (1992 - 1994)

Yusuke Urameshi is the half-human/half-demon protagonist in the series YuYu Hakusho. As a Spirit Detective, he protects the human world from supernatural threats like spirits and demons. His prowess with spiritual energy, plus his demonic ancestry, makes him one of the most powerful anime characters by far.

Yusuke's signature move, the Spirit Gun, fires a concentrated blast of energy from his right index finger. At the beginning of the series, it is enough to smash a small boulder. By the end, once Yusuke unlocks his demon powers, it is near the destructive level of atomic explosions.

22 Ichigo Kurosaki

Bleach (2004 - 2012)

Ichigo Kurosaki is a Soul Reaper, responsible for providing safe passage to spirits who are traveling between the human world and the afterlife in Bleach. Every Soul Reaper carries around a Zanpakuto, which is a sword that can cut spiritual bodies, making them one of the few weapons to dispatch hollows.

Ichigo has an incredibly powerful Zanpakuto named Zangetsu. When released into its final form, Zangetsu boosts Ichigo's strength and speed to superhuman levels. Despite the fact he is a new Soul Reaper, Ichigo has more spirit energy than many of the captains of the Soul Society. Ichigo's ability to fight off supernatural creatures in defense of human spirits puts him in the running for the strongest anime character ever.

21 Jotaro Kujo

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012-Present)

Jotaro Kujo is the third generation of Joestars to become a hero in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Although he has a delinquent personality, Jotaro protects his family at all costs and saves them from the evil that is DIO Brando.

While he is powerful on his own, Jotaro's Stand, Star Platinum, helps him to defeat DIO once and for all. With its ability to stop time, Jotaro's strength surpasses his enemies and takes DIO's power for his own. Jotaro is not only one of the strongest Joestars, but one of the most powerful anime characters.

20 Avatar Aang

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

Aang begins Avatar: The Last Airbender as a young boy, inexperienced in his powers and life. However, as he learns and grows, Aang quickly becomes one of the most powerful people in the world. Not only does he master the bending of all four elements, but he also learns to control his Avatar State to perform awesome acts of strength and power.

Despite his strength, Aang prefers not to use his power and remains a pacifist throughout the show. Even when everyone tells him to kill the Fire Lord to put an end to the war, Aang refuses and finds a more meaningful way to bring the destructive monarch to justice.

19 Tengen Uzui

Demon Slayer (2019-Present)

Tengen Uzui is the Sound Hashira from the hit show, Demon Slayer. This flashy character is not only stylish but incredibly powerful. As a former Shinobi, Tengen easily handles enemies as if they were nothing but overgrown weeds. He effortlessly cuts them down without batting an eye.

Even when Tengen is faced with a much more formidable foe, such as Gyutaro in the Entertainment District, Tengen shows just how mighty he is. Not only does he endure Gyutaro's attacks, but he still retains the strength to help finish Gyutaro once and for all, despite grave injuries. Tengen is an over-the-top Demon Slayer who uses his power to help make a better world for himself and his family.

18 Lucy

Elfen Lied (2004)

Lucy is a new species of human known as Diclonius in the anime, Elfen Lied. As such, she is taken in by human scientists who torture and experiment on her. However, Lucy shows her true evolved power one day when she escapes the lab and kills anyone who gets in her way.

Because she is a Diclonius, Lucy can use telekinetic powers to vanquish enemies. With just a flick of her head, she easily takes out numerous humans who wish to keep her locked away. Lucy's power is awesome and terrifying – especially for someone who just wants to survive.

17 Akira Fudo / Devilman

Devilman (1972 - 1973)

In the classic '70s anime Devilman, Akira Fudo gains the powers and memories of the demon hero Amon after he is possessed. However, due to his pure heart, Akira retains his human consciousness. He uses his powers to protect humanity from hordes of demonic creatures who seek humanity's destruction.

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Akira has enough physical strength to tear demons in half, fly, project energy beams from his antenna, teleport, and breathe flames hot enough to reduce his enemies to ash within seconds. Furthermore, he can phase through walls and can even increase his size, as if being a regular-sized demon was not scary enough.

16 All Might

My Hero Academia (2016 - present)

Otherwise known as Toshinori Yagi, All Might is one of the main characters in My Hero Academia and is regarded as the strongest hero in the world. His Quirk, One For All, is passed from legendary hero to legendary hero and is easily one of the strongest in the entire MHA universe.

One For All allows the user to stockpile and access power, which in turn grants momentary, nearly unlimited, superhuman strength, agility, and speed. A single punch from All Might can generate enough wind pressure to destroy several city blocks. All Might is one of the strongest anime characters ever. However, his physical strength is not his only power. All Might is known as the Symbol of Peace, and even his name is enough to deter villains from attempting to harm others.