When thinking about thestrongest anime characters of all time, fans often imagine beings with god-like abilities, like Goku fromDragon Ballor Naruto. While it is always fun to see these mighty fighters use their special powers to engage in epic battles, it is also quite enjoyable to see a regular human prove their worth.
Some of the most impressive fighters in anime history have reached their level without ever relying on magical or superhuman abilities. From soldiers able to fight against immortal creatures to martial artists whose feats seem to go against human nature, these anime’s most spectacular characters are as human as they come.
10Levi Ackerman – Attack on Titan
In a world where gigantic monsters have forced humanity to hide from the outside world, only the strongest warriors can lead the charge of liberation. This was the role of Levi Ackerman,Attack on Titan’s beloved tragic hero. He was seen as the last hope of humankind, a prodigy destined to defeat the titans once and for all.
He was an expert with the 3D maneuver gear, which, combined with his superior agility and impressive swordsmanship skills, made him a deadly machine. Levi was an inspiration to all members of the Survey Corps, and his contributions to the series cannot be understated. Without him, Eren’s story would have been much shorter.
9Thors – Vinland Saga
Among the plethora of terrifying and cruel Vikings introduced to theVinland Sagaseries, one stood out for his kindness and empathy, despite being the most powerful: Thors. During his youth, the man was feared across the seas for being a ruthless fighter who would brutally slay all his opponents without remorse.
After the birth of his daughter, he changed his ways and used his influence and power to guide his people down a more peaceful path. Nonetheless, whenever needed, he would once again prove himself as the series’ strongest character by swiftly and efficiently taking down multiple opponents, even while unarmed.
8Manjiro “Mikey” Sano – Tokyo Revengers
Among the delinquent organizations in Japan, one stood out for having some of the country’s strongest fighters: The Tokyo Manji Gang. Leading this dangerous team was none other than Manjiro Sano, one ofthe most tragic anime characters. He was trained from childhood by his grandfather to be a ruthless and effective martial artist.
Although not the most imposing in terms of physical appearance, Manjiro has seldom ever been defeated, let alone hit during a battle. His speed, agility, and strength go far beyond anything a teenager of his age should be able to accomplish. Mikey has been able to knock out fighters several times older and bulkier than him in a single kick.
On top of his unnatural strength, Mikey was also constantly fighting against his dark impulses, brief but overwhelming moments of rage that increased his power tenfold. During these scenes, Mikey was able to kill opponents with ease, greatly increase his durability, and become virtually invincible, as no otherTokyo Revengerscharacter could surpass him.
7Gintoki Sakata - Gintama
While best known for beingone of the best comedy anime,Gintamahas also delivered some of the most amazing fighting scenes in Shōnen. Many of these impressive battles revolve around the skillful yet nonchalant protagonist, Gintoki. Do not be fooled by his lazy attitude, as this samurai can fight even otherworldly creatures.
Gintoki is canonically a human, not having any kind of alien or monster DNA in his blood, and yet, he has proven to have the strength needed to defeat characters who were supposed to be better than him in every respect. From destroying a wall with a single punch to moving faster than humanly possible, Gintoki is a true prodigy.
6Olivier Mira Armstrong – Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Hidden in the middle of the snowy mountains of Amestris’ border, stands a fortress guarded by one of anime’s best side characters, Olivier Mira Armstrong. Unlike most of her family, who had mastered the use of Alchemy through the decades, the Major General did not use any kind of magical abilities.
Instead, she relied solely on her outstanding strength and unrivaled ability with the saber. In battle, only thestrongest characters in theFullmetal Alchemistcould face her and live to tell the tale. Her intellect was also far superior to that of most other soldiers, rivaling the Elric brothers, who were depicted as prodigies.
Olivier might have been just a regular human, but her determination and strength were vital to the heroes’ victory, as without her, the Homunculus known as Sloth would not have been stopped. Not even her younger brother, the eccentric General Armstrong, could compare to Olivier in terms of strength and combat skill.
5Yor Forger – Spy x Family
Best known in the underworld by the nickname of Thorn Princess, Yor is an assassin tasked with eliminating possible threats to the peace between Ostania and Westalis. While her appearance might be that of a regular woman, her kind smile hides one of the most terrifyingly competent fighters in anime.
Yor is not only a deadly killer with proficiency with blades and other weapons, but she is also by far thestrongest character inSpy x Family. She has been able to kick moving cars without sustaining any damage, destroy trees with a ball throw, and has even been seen destroying an advanced military-grade cyborg.
4Shizuo Heiwajima – Durarara!!
Shizuo, one of the most intriguing characters in theDurarara!!anime, was born without the natural limiters that prevent humans from using their full strength. Ever since he was a child, he demonstrated power that vastly outmatched most adults, being able to destroy walls and lift heavy objects while still in elementary school.
As an adult, Shizuo’s achievements became that much more monumental, to the point of bordering on the supernatural realm. He could easily reach the speed of a moving truck, lift vending machines without effort, and defeat even fantastical creatures. While his resistance is not comparable to his strength by any means, as he was still human, his strength is legendary.
3Toji Fushiguro – Jujutsu Kaisen
Born into the prestigious and prejudiced Zenin clan, Toji was one of the fewcharacters inJujutsu Kaisenborn with a Heavenly Restriction, stripping him of the ability to harness cursed energy. As such, he was seen as the shame of the family, forced to train his body on his own and make a name for himself as a mercenary.
Despite his inherent weakness, Toji pushed his body past his limits, reaching a point where he could battle against the most powerful sorcerers and Curses without any issue. His agility, strength, and combat skills were far superior to most other characters in theJujutsu Kaisenuniverse, even those with vast amounts of cursed energy.
It took the might of Gojo Satoru, the strongest modern sorcerer, to finally take down the mercenary once and for all. Furthermore, no regular technique would have worked on the man, forcing Yuji’s teacher to utilize his most powerful technique, Hollow Purple, in one ofJujutsu Kaisen’s most epic moments.
2Yujiro Hanma – Baki The Grappler
Fighters from all around the globe tremble in fear whenever the name Yujiro Hanma is spoken out loud. Hailed as the most powerful creature on Earth, due to his immense strength and near-supernatural durability, Baki’s father is more than their show’s strongest character; he is a true force of nature.
Legends say that Yujiro is more lethal than any weapon on the planet, and entire nations fear the day he decides to fight against them, as he could easily overpower them. His power is such that a single punch is enough to prevent an earthquake from occurring. If Yujiro is after someone, their chances of survival are extremely low.
1Saitama – One-Punch Man
Bored with his mundane life as a salaryman, Saitama decided to take a risk and become a hero. He trained day and night, breaking all the limits of humanity’s potential and rising far beyond what people think possible. His efforts were recompensed by making him one of anime’s most powerful characters of all time.
As his name implies, Saitama can defeat almost all opponents with a single punch, a fact that greatly disappoints the man. Instead of finding excitement in his new line of work, he is constantly faced with the truth that no being in the universe can pose a true challenge to him.
Even though it can seem logical to assume that Saitama somehow found a way to acquire powers through his training, seeing as he has performed feats that vastly outmatch most other anime characters, the series makes it clear this is not the case. His strength comes solely from his efforts, making him thestrongest human inOne-Punch Manand anime.
