Anime is full of great main characters, but most of the time, the side characters steal the show with their impressive abilities, backstories, and growth. In this list, we throw the spotlight on 10 anime series where the supporting or side characters are more powerful than the MC or the protagonist, focusing on their astonishing achievements and giving them the credit they deserve.
Table of Contents
10. Naruto: Itachi Uchiha
- IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 8.01/10
- Episodes: 720 (220 in Naruto and 500 in Naruto: Shippuden)
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video,
- Status: Concluded
Famous for his genius-level intellect and God-level Sharingan powers, Itachi’s presence in Naruto is crucial, even if he meets a tragic demise. He might not have received much screen time compared to others, but his strength and emotional depth have made him one of the most memorable characters in the series.
Not to mention that Itachi was the youngest ANBU Black Ops member, joining at the age of 11, and became a squad leader at 12. An age where Naruto struggled to even learn Shadow Clone Jutsu. His place in the anime and impact on other characters are so strong that he is still a fan favorite even though he is not the main character.
9. Tokyo Revengers: Mikey (Manjiro Sano)
- IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 7.86/10
- Episodes: 51 (Season 1: 24 episodes, Season 2: 13 episodes, Season 3: 14 episodes)
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Disney+, Hulu
- Status: Ongoing
Mikey, the leader of the Tokyo Manji Gang of Tokyo Revengers, is one of the renowned people in the delinquent world. Although he looks young, Mikey’s fighting skills and commitment to his friends add a depth that helps to set him apart from the protagonist, Takemichi.
His conflicts and development as a leader make him arguably the most compelling character. Many fans say that Mikey, not Takemichi, is the reason they are watching the anime in the first place.
8. Attack on Titan: Levi Ackerman
- IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 8.86/10
- Episodes: 89 main episodes + 2 TV specials
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime, Hulu, The Roku Channel
- Status: Concluded
In Attack on Titan, Levi Ackerman’s combat skills and sheer willpower make him an unbeatable force. Although the story centers around Eren, Levi’s precision and agility in combat and his calm composure against insurmountable odds make him humanity’s strongest fighter.
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Levi’s battles, particularly against Titans such as the Beast Titan, are the stuff of legend. His tactical genius and toughness take him to a level of greatness that tends to overshadow the rest of the anime’s characters.
7. Jujutsu Kaisen: Gojo Satoru
- IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 8.55/10
- Episodes: 47 (Season 1: 24 episodes, Season 2: 23 episodes)
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, Prime, Disney+
- Status: Ongoing
Gojo Satoru is the strongest character in Jujutsu Kaisen, at least in this generation, if not overall. With his boundless cursed energy and Infinite technique, Gojo can easily dominate any situation. His sheer power tends to overshadow the main protagonists, such as Yuji Itadori, as he easily dispatches most threats.
His arrogant nature, limitless energy, and philosophical thinking only make him one of the more appealing characters. Fans often joke that the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen never moves one step forward when Gojo is not present, one indication of his central role and boundless power.
6. Fate/Zero: Gilgamesh
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 8.27/10
- Episodes: 25
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Hulu, Netflix
- Status: Concluded
Gilgamesh, the Hero King of Fate/Zero, is not only powerful, he’s legendary. As the king of all treasures, his power to call forth and utilize artifacts of unimaginable power places him among the top-ranked characters in the anime. His magical skills and fighting ability make him formidable.
Gilgamesh’s multi-faceted motivation and interaction with other characters, particularly Saber and Kiritsugu, add a level of depth to him that places him at the center of the story, making him a character who overshadows every scene in which he appears.
5. Fairy Tail: Erza Scarlet
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 7.57/10
- Episodes: 328
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
- Status: Concluded
Erza Scarlet is Fairy Tail’s strongest and most beloved character. Natsu and Lucy are the central protagonists, but it’s Erza’s immense power and versatility that make her one of the most powerful characters in the series.
Her Requip magic, which allows her to change armor and weapons on the fly, makes her unpredictable and versatile in combat. Other than her power, her unbreakable will, and her leadership position in the Fairy Tail guild, make her a character to remember. Erza’s place in the story and development make her so much more than a mere side character.
4. Black Clover: Yami Sukehiro
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 8.14/10
- Episodes: 170
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu
- Status: Haitus
While Asta is the determined hero of Black Clover, it is Yami Sukehiro who steals the limelight time and again. The captain of the Black Bulls, Yami, is a force to be reckoned with, owing to his incredible strength and dark magic. The author had to nerf him down with his toilet issue so that Asta could shine.
His mastery of Ki and space-slicing Dimension Slash put him above most mages and Asta. He was so strong that the Spade Kingdom’s Dark Triad had to take him down to weaken the Clover Kingdom.
3. Death Note: L
- IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 8.62/10
- Episodes: 37
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Hulu, Crunchyroll, Peacock
- Status: Concluded
This might be the list of powerful characters, but being powerful doesn’t necessarily mean powerful in terms of strength; it can also be in terms of intelligence. L may lack supernatural powers, but his intelligence and detective skills make him one of the most dominant characters in the anime.
In his rivalry against Light Yagami, L employs his keen intellect and unorthodox methods to remain one step ahead. His presence was so compelling that after his death, Death Note felt empty.
2. Hunter x Hunter: Killua Zoldyck
- IMDb Rating: 9.0/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 9.03/10
- Episodes: 148
- Where to Watch: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock
- Status: Haitus
Killua Zoldyck of Hunter x Hunter is not so much a main character, but he is certainly one of the strongest in the series. With his incredible speed, skill with Nen, and training as an assassin by the notorious Zoldyck clan, Killua is a force to be feared.
Killua’s character development, emotional growth, and his love for Gon make him the true MVP of the anime. His ability to adapt to any situation and his Godspeed nen technique make him unstoppable, showing that power isn’t just physical, it’s emotional and mental, too.
1. My Hero Academia: All Might
- IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
- MyAnimeList Rating: 7.84/10
- Episodes: 159 (as of May 2025)
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV
- Status: Ongoing
All Might in My Hero Academia is not just the strongest hero the world has ever seen; he is the symbol of peace, which even Deku failed to become. All Might’s incredible power and ability to inspire others make him an irreplaceable character.
It’s not that Deku wasn’t able to surpass All Might in terms of strength, but he couldn’t reach the same mark as All Might, where civilians would feel at ease with his presence by hearing him say, “I am here!” He was more than just strong; he was a symbol of peace, which made villains hesitate to take action.
These anime shows that sometimes the people just behind the spotlight are the ones who shine the brightest, and these characters are the perfect example of it.
