And do you wanna know one safest way to write a good MC? Just make them badass beyond all belief. Sure, some people prefer a more relatable character. But a memorable badass has never turned anyone away. So let’s take a look at ranking some of the most badass main characters that anime has to offer.
20. Anos Voldigoad
Anime: The Misfit of Demon King Academy Anos represents the easiest form of badassery, that being immense power. Every other show these days has a semi-god as a main character. But I think that none of them come close to Anos. If you want to see what a truly overpowered character is, just watch this show. Anos never has to break a sweat. And entire wars are no more than a play thing for the dude, since he can blow you away by just blinking very fast. Unlike a normal human, he never loses composure. So he’s badass around the clock, which is why he’s on this list.
19. Karma Akabane
Anime: Assassination Classroom The intellectual badboy is another surefire way to grab an audience. Even though this entire anime is centered on assassins, Karma seems like the only genuine killer of the bunch. He’s quick on his feet, and is not afraid to get his hands dirty if it means getting results. He’s also a fierce fighter and a surprisingly caring friend. The dude just has no chinks in his armor, and his fanbase is widespread and strong. He does mellow out later on in the series, which is not a bad thing. But it does make him lose some badass points for the sake of this ranking.
18. Lelouch Lamperouge
Anime: Code Geass We already had an intellectual badboy, so it’s only logical that we move onto an intellectual emperor. The thing that makes Lelouch so badass and so memorable is his immense drive and ambition. The dude is prepared to fight the entire world to achieve his goal. And the series finale shows just how dedicated he is to this cause. Sure, he isn’t perfect. But he’s just clever and daring enough to turn any situation in his favor. The magical eye also helps, but that’s beside the point.
17. Satsuki Kiryuuin
Anime: Kill la Kill I love Ryuuko, but Satsuki has her beat when it comes to pure badassery. I mean, just look at what she accomplished in just the first few episodes. She bent the will of a Kamui by force, dueled Ryuuko with only a regular sword and no Goku Uniform, and then mastered her new power immediately. Even the way she stands above everyone else, looking down upon them like an omnipotent god, is just badass. A bit evil-looking, but still badass. She never falters either. And she has the mental strength to carry the entire world on her back.
16. Ken Kaneki
Anime: Tokyo Ghoul Even though I’m still mentally traumatized at how this anime ended, I have to give it up for season 1 and season 2 Kaneki. There’s a reason why this white-haired ghoul dominated ever Hot Topic in the world. Once he let go of his humanity and just started beating the ever-living hell out of anyone that stands in his path, he just became such a hype train to watch. I mean, just look at his fight with Jason! That fight alone can give you enough adrenaline to punch a wall and then sprint to the hospital.
15. Hyakkimaru
Anime: Dororo If you wield a sword, you’re just automatically a badass. It’s simple math. But if your arms are swords, that effect gets multiplied even further! The “silent samurai with a vicious temper and the skill to rival entire armies” trope will arguably never get old. And Hyakkimaru is one of my favorite examples. I almost don’t know at which times he intrigues me the most: when he’s calm and collected while chopping demons up, or when he loses his humanity and just becomes a raging raid boss. Either way, I’m here for it.
14. Killua Zoldyck
Anime: Hunter x Hunter Killua is one of those characters where it’s like he has two separate personalities. When everything is laid back, he’s just this likable kid who likes to joke around. But when he gets serious, or god forbid angry, he’s like the reincarnation of death itself. This is where his badass nature truly shines, as he’s capable of ripping out people’s heart in a mere second without batting an eye. Gon also had a few of those moments, his last being the most memorable of course. But Killua always hit different in that regard, which is why I decided to put him on the list here.
13. Joutarou Kuujou
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders Now this dude is just iconic in so many ways. From the fact that he’s probably the manliest man to have ever walked the anime Earth, to his no-BS attitude, the dude just stands out as a badass. He’s also the perfect mix of intelligence and strength. I mean, he always had to outsmart his opponents to beat them at their own game. And his schemes are often incredibly intricate and well thought out. And then he blasts them in the face for about 2 minutes. It honestly never gets old. So including him on this list is a no-brainer.
12. Satoru Gojou
Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen Gojou is the newest member of the overpowered and badass family. And it took him no time to become pretty iconic. As much as Kuujo was cool because he was always serious, Gojou is cool because he’s literally never serious. Everything is a game to this man. One would think that he would just come off as goofy. But his power is so flashy and so cool that his antics have the opposite effect. The dude is so strong and confident that he never has to take anything seriously. Which is what I think we would all like from life, right?
11. Revy
Anime: Black Lagoon Revy is just out here taking names. She’s a pistol-swinging, constantly cursing, tough as nails badass who makes up for her lack of charisma with a lot of led. If you’re looking for a strong independent female MC, look no further. As Revy not only doesn’t need help, but she actively avoids it. She’s definitely the type of character that you could leave in the middle of nowhere and barely worry that something bad would happen to her. This is an MC that can definitely take care of themselves.
10. Sinbad
Anime: Magi: Adventure of Sinbad The original Magi gave us a taste of the baller king known as Sinbad. But this prequel just helped him achieve ever greater heights. To be blunt, he’s overpowered as hell. However, he became overpowered through blood, sweat, and tears. So it’s more satisfying than someone who was just born into power. And then he used that power to get even more power, and then he just built up his very own country and took over a continent. A story as old as time. Say what you will about the guy, but both his stats and his ambition are way above anything you’ll see in the show.
9. Escanor
Anime: The Seven Deadly Sins I was honestly going to put Ban or Meliodas on here initially, because they had more screen time and larger feats. But I just can’t pass up my Sun boy like that. This dude just has some of the best one-liners you’ll ever hear. And his confidence is so contagious that you just can’t help but love him. He can confidently state how he’s the most powerful person on Earth, and then summon a miniature Sun on his fingertip and blast you into oblivion, just to prove his point. It’s like “Hail to the King” is constantly playing whenever he’s on screen. And nothing is more badass than some Avenged Sevenhold.
8. Tanya Degurechaff
Anime: The Saga of Tanya the Evil The thing I love about Tanya is the fact that you would never think of her as a badass just from seeing her. She is a little girl, after all. But oh boy, even the title of the show doesn’t give her enough credit. Tanya is simply merciless on the battleground, and will rip through entire platoons by herself. Even back at home she’s rather intimidating, as she’ll beat anyone into submission who dares to step out of line. Seeing so much anger and power packed into such a little body just makes her beyond interesting. Which is why I had to put her at a decent spot on this list.
7. Sasuke Uchiha
Anime: Naruto: Shippuden Sasuke’s character writing has had some ups and downs. But the only constant was the fact that he was pretty badass. From his initial demonic form to his later Orochimaru-lite aesthetic, and finally to his Akatsuki swag, Sasuke has always looked menacing and cool. The Sharingan is simply the coolest aspect of the entire series. And as I’ve mentioned already, having a sword gives you some brownie points. Put all of these things together, plus an attitude that the edgiest of edge lords can vibe to, and you get Sasuke Uchiha.
6. Momonga
Anime: Overlord If you’re really into RPGs or DnD, Momonga probably holds a special place in your heart. He’s just this giant skeleton dude with magic that surpasses anything his realm has ever seen. He resides inside a giant castle, and has an entourage of some of the most powerful and scary-looking characters in the verse – plus an alter-ego as the champion of humanity. Momonha just has so many things going on. And the fact that his knowledge of the game allows him to achieve such heights, well, it gives us nerds more satisfaction than we’re proud to admit.
5. Shinya Kougami
Anime: Psycho-Pass If you’re not too keen on the new “overpowered and calm” approach to badassery, Shinya might prove a better fit. He’s that old-school kind of cool, which is unorthodox, but gets results. Even though he’s looked down upon by the higher ups, he still does his best to do his job and catch the many lunatics out there in the open. You even get some of that classic “no one understands a criminal better than a criminal” vibe. So when it comes to traditional cop coolness, Shinya has all the bases covered.
4. Mugen
Anime: Samurai Champloo Mugen is a very similar story to Shinya, but we’re talking about samurai now. He never had to go to a proper school to learn how to fight. Rather he relied on his wits and his natural talent to get by. He does practice all the time, though. Most often with real people acting as his stabbing bags. But he never had to be prim and proper to get the job done. In fact, he’s so unique that some of the best samurai out there can’t predict his moves or put him down. Truly the type of energy we all strive for in life.
3. Giorno Giovanna
Anime: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind Since we’re talking about being a cool badass, I couldn’t possibly limit myself to only one JoJo. Maybe it’s because this part had a mafia setting, or because Giorno is the most unapolagetic when it comes to murder. But either way, he was the coolest of the JoJos so far. The man just has so much style, so much wit, and such incredible power, that he just owns a room by walking into it. And like a fine wine, he only got better and better as the series progressed.
2. Eren Yaeger
Anime: Attack on Titan For three entire seasons I would have never put Eren on here. He was completely covered by the shadows of Mikasa and Levi. However, the final season changed so much, it’s hard to comprehend. In the final season, Eren had so many iconic and amazing scenes that I just grew to love him far more than the rest of the cast. Okay, Levi is still a close second. And I don’t really want to spoil anything here in case you haven’t seen the final season yet. But if you ever thought that Eren was just a whimpering baby who couldn’t do anything by himself, be prepared for a wild ride.
1. Alucard
Anime: Hellsing Ultimate I chose Alucard as my number one pick since he has a little bit of everything I’ve already mentioned in this list. He is, without a doubt, the most powerful being of his universe. Plus his smug attitude gives very little room for concern, his style is on point, and his presence within the show is overwhelming. Every fight he’s in feels like he’s just playing with his food before violently tearing it to pieces. And just ask yourself, what’s cooler than an omnipotent stylish vampire-demon who also knows how to have a good time?
