The Top 10 Best OP Anime Characters

5. Momonga/ Ainz Ooal Gown- Overlord

Isekai series and OP anime characters go together like chocolate and peanut butter. In fact, some of the most OP anime characters of all time have emerged recently with the genre’s explosion in popularity. This goes double for Demon Lords, who are springing up like daisies. Among these Demon Lords, one stands out as the most terrifying. Ainz Ooal Gown, is the titular Overlord of his series and possesses power that can only be described as Godlike. His own power though is of little consequence, since anyone who would want to challenge him has to make it through his army of devout servants who outclass everyone in this strange new world they’ve found themselves in. Of course, when Ainz Ooal Gowan does take to the battlefield the damage he deals is on par with nuclear war. In one instance, he decimates half an enemy army only to reveal that they were simply the sacrifice for the spell to come. The image of what came next will send a chill down even the most hardened anime fan’s spine. 

4. Rimuru Tempest- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

One thing I learned in my quest to find the top 10 OP anime characters of all time is that sometimes the ability you least expect can be the most OP. Rimuru Tempest is another isekai character who finds himself reincarnated in a fantasy world after he’s murdered. The thing is that he’s come back as a slime. Slimes are fantasy monsters wich notoriously easy to defeat, except Rimaru has three abilities that make his power immeasurable. The first is “Predator” that allows him to devour nearly any creature or object and absorb their skills, powers, and abilities. The second is “Great Sage” that is basically a voice in his head that can answer any question for him, such as, “How do I beat this guy?”. The third is plain and simple immortality. So, not only is Rimaru immortal, but he has access to knowledge of all things, and can instantly absorb any skill or ability, while adding an enemy’s strength to his own. I dunno if anyone else on this list could beat him, but if any can, it’ll be the characters below. 

3. All Might- My Hero Academia

My Hero Academia takes place in a world where the vast majority of people are born with incredible abilities called quirks. You can essentially think of it as a planet where almost everyone has a power. So, how do you stand out in a world where anyone could be a superhero? Well, it helps if you’re the Superman of Supermen, AKA All Might. Within the mythos of My Hero Academia is the pinnacle of hope and justice, a hero who even his rivals look upon with nothing but respect (even if it’s begrudging). Every school kid training to be a hero aspires to live up to the legacy of All Might. The source of his power is the quirk “One for All” which can be transferred from one person to another (essentially a quirk for all people). Each time it is willingly given, it becomes even stronger and stockpiles raw power that the user can focus throughout their body. His powers might seem simplistic, but All Might’s will allows him to always dig deeper for more power when he needs it, making him nearly invincible. 

2. Saitama- One Punch Man

I put in plenty of research for this list of OP anime characters, but even from the start I knew the top spot would come down to two characters. I’ll probably get hate mail for this, but coming in at number two (for now) is the hero of the recent cult phenomenon, One Punch Man. Like My Hero Academia, the series takes place in a world filled with heroes and follows the most powerful and hopeless of them all, Saitama. His nom de vigilante comes from the fact that he can not only defeat, but OBLITERATE, any enemy with just one punch. However, hardly anyone knows he even exists because he’s so bad at every other aspect of being a hero other than punching things. Saitama is so powerful that he’s oblivious to most threats he encounters and simply bats them aside. As of season two of the series he’s defeated every single enemy he’s encountered without breaking a sweat. However, that’s his weakness. We have no idea what might happen if Saitama faced a foe that could hurt him and one’s true strength is often revealed in the face of defeat. So, for now, he’s a solid second on this list of OP anime characters. 

1. Son Goku- The Dragon Ball Franchise

If you look up OP anime characters in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of Son Goku next to it and chances are that isn’t even his final form! Sure, the guy has gotten his butt kicked a few times. Hell, he’s gone and gotten himself killed by an enemy more than once. However, Goku always comes back stronger than ever. The guy is a blood knight, constantly seeking out the thrill of battle and even handicapping himself to make things more challenging. This is probably what’s so infuriating about him, since if he went all out from the start he’d defeat all those OP villains also using handicaps. Just when you think he’s become the strongest being in existence, Akira Toriyama comes up with something stronger for him to face. I have to give Toriyama respect for still creating bad guys for Goku to face after four decades, but if he ever does run out of ideas, he could always use some of the other entries on the list.

Honorable Mention: Satoru Gojo- Jujutsu Kaisen

Right now, Jujutsu Kaisen is finishing up its first season and Satoru Gojo has made a strong case for potentially being one of the most OP anime characters of all time. The series takes place in a world where sorcerers do battle with cursed beings, and Gojo has declared himself the “Strongest in the World.” Despite being self-proclaimed, no one is disputing it. That’s because of his godlike power, Limitless. In order to fully explain his power, I’d have to do a deep dive into theoretical physics. So, I’ll just sum it up as total control over space to where he can create and manipulate paradoxes within it. Gojo can create and erase existence on a subatomic level that allows him to manipulate fundamental forces of the universe. This includes perception, and he can flood his enemies with endless experiences and stimuli all at once. This ability doesn’t even include his enhanced strength, speed, and overall combat abilities. Those above might want to be wary of this honorable mention…  

Shout-Out: Seiya Ryūgūin- Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious

While Demon Lords tend to be the OP anime characters, there are a few heroes who can still stand against them. One that immediately springs to mind is Seiya Ryūgūin, a hero summoned to a fantasy world to save it from a Demon Lord. This isn’t his first rodeo though, and this overly cautious hero doesn’t believe in leaving anything to chance before heading into battle. That means he never enters a fight he isn’t 100% sure he can win, which makes him pretty overpowered by the end of the series. His strength though isn’t some magical power, he puts in the hours to earn his the old-fashioned way. While his approach might seem pragmatic, it’s simply because he knows the stakes resting on his shoulders. If he should lose a fight, the world would be at the mercy of these monsters. It’s his duty to be strong enough to save them, and that dedication gives him the potential to be one of the most OP anime characters of all time.

There are dozens of OP anime characters out there and if you know of a great one from an obscure series, let me know in the comments below. I’m always looking for new and crazy anime to watch, and love suggestions. That means I’ll be constantly updating this list as I discover new OP anime characters. So, be sure to check back from time to time to see how the rankings might change!