10 Most Overpowered Anime Characters, Ranked

Anime offers a huge variety of stories, but fans often compare shows based on how powerful the characters are. This kind of comparison is especially common with characters from the Shonen genre, which frequently focuses on characters getting stronger. However, it’s not just Shonen series that feature incredibly strong characters – other genres have their share of overpowered figures as well.

Many anime characters are incredibly powerful, sometimes seeming like gods. However, this list focuses on 10 characters who are overpowered, but in a way that feels earned and makes them uniquely memorable. We’ve left out characters whose power feels arbitrary, like Zeno from *Dragon Ball*, and instead highlighted those with a distinct personality and impressive abilities.

10) Monkey D. Luffy

Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation has undeniably made him one of the most powerful characters in *One Piece*, and a major force in anime overall. It’s easily one of the most unique and over-the-top abilities seen in recent Shonen series. While it appears to just enhance his rubbery qualities, Gear 5 is actually a power that almost lets Luffy manipulate reality itself.

Gear 5 lets Luffy create almost anything he can imagine, like suddenly having glasses appear or even catching lightning. Essentially, this power turns Luffy’s thoughts into reality. Because of this incredible ability, and the fact that he’s still getting stronger, Luffy definitely earns his place on this list, and he might become unbelievably powerful in the future.

9) Saitama

Saitama, the main character from the anime *One-Punch Man* created by One, is famous for being incredibly powerful. The whole idea behind the show is that he defeats enemies with just one punch, making him a comedic character. Many fans believe he could beat anyone else on this list in a single blow.

Saitama’s incredible strength, gained through a surprisingly silly training regimen, is almost as unbelievable as his ability to defeat enemies with a single punch. While he’s clearly incredibly powerful, his story isn’t as emotionally engaging as some others, which keeps him from ranking higher on this list. However, the sheer absurdity of his motivation is what makes him a noteworthy character.

8) Meruem

Meruem is the main villain in the final story arc of the *Hunter x Hunter* anime, known as the Chimera Ant arc. As the offspring of the Chimera Ant Queen, he was born to be a ruler and is considered one of the most powerful characters in the series. From the very beginning, Meruem was shown as someone with incredible, limitless potential, getting stronger with everything he consumed.

Honestly, Meruem was just on another level! He was incredibly smart and could figure out any problem, and being born with Nen meant his physical strength was unreal. It’s crazy to think that if Netero hadn’t made that ultimate sacrifice, Meruem could have kept getting stronger and maybe even lived forever. But I really believe it was his bond with Komugi that ultimately led him to accept his fate. Without her, I think his potential was truly endless.

7) Natsuke Hirose

Natsuke Hirose is a compelling new anime character who’s quickly gaining attention. She’s the main character in Zenshu, an original anime released by MAPPA earlier in 2025. Natsuke is remarkable for her incredibly powerful and unique abilities. Interestingly, the character’s creator was experiencing burnout while working on a project when she found herself transported into the world of her own anime.

Natsuke isn’t just an animator; she truly understands everything about her creations, giving her the incredible power to bring them to life. It makes sense she’s so powerful – she’s the one who created the anime in the first place! The anime itself is also captivating, with a strong story centered around a character who is exceptionally powerful.

6) Shigeo Kageyama

I’ve been thinking about overpowered characters in anime, and Shigeo Kageyama – or Mob, as most people call him from *Mob Psycho* – really stands out. He’s created by the same author as Saitama, but I actually find Mob to be a more compelling character. It’s not just his power, but how his story feels genuinely heartfelt and is central to everything that happens in the series. He seems like a pretty typical high school student, just trying to get by and dealing with a normal crush, but there’s so much more to him.

Despite appearing ordinary, Mob is actually a powerful esper with virtually limitless psychic abilities. He uses his powers to help fight curses during his internship, but when he gets emotional, his strength becomes incredibly overwhelming. No one in the world of *Mob Psycho* can match his power, and he’d be a formidable opponent – and likely a winner – against anyone else on this list.

5) Gojo Satoru

One of the standout and grittier series from Shonen Jump is *Jujutsu Kaisen*, which gave us Gojo Satoru – an incredibly powerful anime character who’s become hugely popular. He’s gained an exceptional fanbase, so much so that fans even held a memorial service after his character died, showing just how much of an impact he had on viewers.

In *Jujutsu Kaisen*, Gojo is known as the “Strongest,” and his birth dramatically altered the flow of cursed energy worldwide. Though some fans debate whether Sukuna is more powerful, Gojo possesses immense strength despite being only 30 years old, compared to Sukuna’s thousand years of experience. Gojo is undeniably one of the most powerful characters in anime history, radiating strength in every aspect of his being.

4) Rimuru Tempest

Anime’s Isekai genre is incredibly popular, frequently featuring characters with immense power. Among these, Rimuru Tempest from *That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime* is particularly unique. What makes Rimuru so interesting as a powerful character isn’t just *what* he can do, but *how* he became that way.

Rimuru wasn’t always a powerful being – he used to be a regular office worker in Japan. His new life in a magical world offers an exciting escape for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in a routine. Starting as a simple slime, he gains the incredible ability to absorb and copy the skills of anything he eats, and quickly begins building his own nation. Thanks to this limitless power, Rimuru is a character with almost endless possibilities.

3) Goku

No discussion of iconic anime would be complete without mentioning *Dragon Ball* and its hero, Son Goku. Goku is a warrior who lives for battle, and while other characters in the series are even more powerful, his constant drive to improve and overcome challenges has made him a symbol of perseverance for fans worldwide.

Goku’s ability to transform his body likely set the standard for how many action-packed anime and manga stories show characters getting stronger. Beyond his influence on the genre, Goku’s incredible accomplishments – like defeating the planet-destroying Kid Buu and mastering the powerful Ultra Instinct technique to win the Tournament of Power – solidify his place as one of the most powerful characters in anime history. He’s undeniably overpowered, and he’ll be remembered that way.

2) Frieren

Frieren, the main character of *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End*, is an incredibly powerful mage, easily one of the strongest ever seen in anime. What truly sets her apart is her long life – she’s lived for over 500 years. As an elf who doesn’t fear death, Frieren has gathered centuries of knowledge and continues to become even more skilled.

Watching the first season of *Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End*, I was really struck by how much the story emphasizes the power of time and what we learn from it. It’s clear that gaining experience and knowledge is the biggest strength anyone can have in this world, and Frieren herself really embodies that idea. It’s a central theme that makes the series stand out to me.

1) Sung Jinwoo

Sung Jinwoo is incredibly popular right now, and he’s largely responsible for the recent surge in interest in *Solo Leveling* and manhwa in general. *Solo Leveling* is becoming a groundbreaking series, potentially having a similar impact on manhwa as *Dragon Ball* had on anime. Just as Goku was central to the success and evolution of *Dragon Ball* and anime, Sung Jinwoo is doing the same for the manhwa industry.

Jinwoo from *Solo Leveling* isn’t just popular – his incredible growth as a character is a major reason he’s considered the strongest. Thanks to a special system, he can become endlessly powerful, commanding a huge army being just one of his many skills. But what really makes Jinwoo stand out as one of the best overpowered anime characters of recent years is his inspiring story: he starts as a completely ordinary person and rises to become a hero, a journey that has really connected with viewers.

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2025-09-24 16:43