Shōnen Jumphas birthed several iconic shōnen heroes, portraying them through rigorous training and brutal fights. These heroes fight to push their limits and protect what they care about. They are often faced with powerful villains with aims to kill or destroy. To win against these odds, shōnen heroes are usually equipped with unbelievable power.
However, for every strong protagonist, there’s an even stronger one. Someexceptional anime heroesare so overpowered that they go beyond mere strength to redefine power itself. Obtained from persistent training or supernatural forces, their abilities turn their battles into exhibitions rather than struggles for victory.
10Saitama (One-Punch Man)
Where many other characters struggle, Saitama only needs a single punch to shine. He began as an ordinary man, then engaged himself in a regimen so extreme and straightforward that it sounds ridiculous.
His power makes other heroes jealous yet awestruck. One hundred daily push-ups, sit-ups, and squats, along with a 10km run, don’t seem enough to create an unbeatable fighter. However, that’s precisely the secret Saitama claims is behind breaking his limiter, unleashing his full strength.
Unfortunately, his power is so deceptively simple that much of his strength goes unacknowledged. His true enemy is boredom, since no one else is strong enough to give him an interesting fight.
9Son Goku (Dragon Ball Series)
It’s almost safe to say thatno limit exists to Goku’s strength. To him, battles are like training sessions, and he continues to win them by constantly upskilling. From challenging Beerus, the God of Destruction, to defeating Jiren with some help from Vegeta, it’s evident that Goku isn’t interested in supposed limits.
His eyes are always set on improving himself, getting stronger, and conquering other powerful characters. Goku’s strength is second only to his determination. If there’s someone stronger somewhere, Goku will simply grow stronger just to come out on top.
His Saiyan blood is just the beginning of his power. While other heroes might need to consider every move during battles, Goku possesses a tremendous ability, Ultra Instinct, which makes every battle move happen without his conscious thought.
8Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
Luffy’s power borders on nonsensical. His goofy approach to treasure hunting suggests nothing of the immense strength and durability he possesses. Ascaptain of the Straw Hats, his crew trusts him despite his sometimes reckless behaviour, because they recognize how powerful he is.
Even though Luffy’s power is established, some of his feats are still surprising. In the Water 7 arc, Luffy escapes an impossible situation by pushing apart two buildings even with his arms stuck at his sides.
In the Impel Down arc, Luffy survives Magellan’s poison and afterward becomes immune. Armed with all three advanced Hakis and his Gear Five technique, Luffy is powerful enough to bend reality in creative ways, from floating in mid-air to swallowing a laser shot and rendering it harmless.
7Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)
Naruto’s rise to power is extraordinary. While it isn’t always a delight to watch him struggle and face impossible odds, the once-young orphan proves himself over and over again.
A large portion of his strength can be attributed to his training and determination to improve, like when, at the start of his story, he was already tiring himself out so that he could masterthe Shadow clone technique.
Beyond that, Naruto’s chakra reserves rival even the shinobi of old, thanks to his Uzumaki blood and the nine-tailed fox housed in his body. Naruto’s strength became undeniable during the Fourth Great Ninja War, when he finally defeated Sasuke, even with Sasuke fully tapped into the power of all the nine-tailed beasts.
6Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
Ichigo Kurosaki is a cocktail of power sources. With Soul Reaper, Quincy, and Hollow powers, his ability pool is massive. When combined with his combat skills, he’s even more of a threat. Through rigorous training, he’s mastered his Shikai, Bankai, and Hollow mask techniques. Using air pressure alone, Ichigo performs feats like blowing up a mountain and slicing buildings.
In the Fullbring arc, Ichigo transforming into his Bankai alone is enough to destroy Yukio’s dimension. Such performances are hard to mimic by just anyone. In terms of raw spiritual power, almost no one comes close. With some help, Ichigo is even able to defeatthe Quincy King, Yhwach, in the Quincy Blood War.
5Itadori Yuji (Jujutsu Kaisen)
On the surface, Yuji’s strength is reasonably impressive, but it’s the King of Curses he carries inside him that makes him so powerful. After Yuji swallows the cursed object, Sukuna takes residence inside his body, and the two begin a power play over who gets to take control.
While jujutsu sorcerers would usually kill cursed vessels like him, Yuji retains control of his mind and body, keeping Sukuna at bay. This resistance alone is a show of strength that not many could boast of.
However, what makes others wary of him is the possibility of Sukuna taking over. Yuji occasionally yields to Sukuna’s control to get out of tight spots, and the power displayed in those moments is outstanding, similar only to Gojo’s. With a combination of adaptability, domain expansion, incredible speed, and many more abilities,Yuji’s cohabitant is untouchable.
4Izuku “Deku” Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
Izuku Midoriya gave the Shōnen genre one of its most dramatic rises. From a quirkless dreamer to the wielder of one of the most powerful quirks, One For All, Izuku has All Might’s ability and works to unlock his predecessors' powers along the way.
Through extensive training, Deku eventually develops control over his inherited power until he’s powerful enough to destroy a city without crippling himself. It’s clear that villains recognize his power and potential, because they try to take him out before he fully evolves and masters his abilities.
Fighting against Overhaul, Deku unleashes One For All completely. The fight ends with him defeating one of the show’s most powerful villains.
3Yusuke Urameshi - (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Yusuke starts as an everyday troublemaker roaming the streets before unlocking incredible spirit energy upon becoming a spirit detective. After his demon lineage is awakened, he begins to access Demon energy, which lets him use powers from demon forms. The Mazoku form, for instance, makes him far stronger and faster than his normal state.
Despite his natural power, Yusuke doesn’t go without training. He spends much of his time honing his skills in combat and controlling his spirit energy. In the anime’s 93rd episode, Yusuke kills Shinobu Sensui, a member of the strongest human class, when his Mazoku form is activated against his will.
2Giorno Giovanna (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventureis full ofstrangely powerful characters, yet Giorno’s powers still stand out. His Stand, called the Gold Experience Requiem, basically allows him to control reality. It’s the kind of ability that renders any opposing action futile. He can return physical or mental attacks and even reverse death to zero, effectively erasing them.
As an added advantage, Giorno is skilled at using his abilities in random and creative ways, adding unpredictability to his arsenal. Giorno’s godlike powers mean that he can heal, create life, and even undo and redo death. His skill and powers make him arguably the most powerful of all the Jojos.
1Gon Freecss (Hunter × Hunter)
Gon’s Nen mastery is on a rare level. With strength and speed that overpower his opponents, superhuman senses, and rapid healing, he’s undoubtedly a powerful character in the world ofHunter x Hunter.
While Gon’s abilities have always been clearly above the curve, his ultimate display of power comes in the Chimera Ant arc. When faced with the seemingly unbeatable Pitou, Gon’s anger from his mentor’s death pushes his control to the edge.
He decides to sacrifice his future potential and force his body to its peak. He transforms into an overwhelming reservoir of power that shocks Killua and frightens Pitou.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter × Hunteris a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The story follows Gon Freecss, a boy who discovers his father is a legendary Hunter, and embarks on a journey to become one himself. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes in a world filled with martial arts, adventure, and paranormal elements. The franchise spans manga, multiple anime adaptations, films, OVAs, and video games.
