Inside theDigimonuniverse, a Tamer is a human selected to become the partner of a digital monster, oftentimes being children or teenagers. Their role is to create strategies for the creature under their care to defeat the dangerous villains and opponents that come across them. The bond they form with their partners is what allows the Digimon to grow stronger and even evolve.
While most of the kids who have been granted this title have demonstrated that they more than deserved the responsibility, not all have been equally successful. SomeTamers deserve far more credit for their competence, strategic minds, and pure hearts. Fromcharacters who tamed the most dangerous Digimonto heroes whose bravery always saved the day, the franchise has no shortage of amazing human partners.
Likely, mostDigimonfans will not need to be introduced to Izzy, as he is one of the most iconic characters in the series. He is one of the original DigiDestined chosen by the deities of the Digital World during the beginning of theAdventureanime,considered by many as one of the best in the franchise. Izzy was never particularly brave or strong, buthis intelligence and reasoning capacity were vital for the survivalof the kids.
It was thanks to the genius that Tai and his friends were able to discover the secrets of the Digital World, helping them on their quest to get back home. His strategies during combat were also quite impressive, helping his partner, Tentomon, defeat some of the most imposing enemies in the series. However, he could sometimes allow his research to get in the way of helping his friends.
When faced withone of the strongest Digimon in the series, most humans would logically choose to either run or use the strength of their partner to defeat the beast.Marcus, the protagonist of theData Squadseason, preferred to deal with his opponents himself, giving them a punch that they would never forget. He was arguably the bravest Tamer ever introduced to the franchise, demonstrating that humans are just as capable as their partners.
Although he was not known for being the brightest fighter, as he would prefer a more direct approach during combat, his spirit and determination helped him shine brightly on several occasions. His strength and belief in his partner gave him access to the elusive Burst Mode, a skill that unlocks the hidden potential of a Digimon. Still, his recklessness and refusal to follow authority caused his team to see him as a liability in more than one fight.
Takuya, the protagonist and leader of theDigimon Frontierera, is not a Tamer in the regular sense of the word. Instead of having a partner by his side, this brave child was given aDigiSpirit, an ancient treasure that allowed him to transform into a powerful Digimon. Despite this distinction, there have been few leaders as capable and noble as Takuya in the franchise.
From the moment he arrived in the Digital World, he took it upon himself to act as the guardian of his team, making sure that nothing bad would happen to them. His battle style, while lacking a bit on the strategic side, used his strength and agility perfectly, making him a formidable opponent. Still, his brash attitude and stubborn personality caused more than one fight among his friends, taking away from his time as a leader.
Arguably one of the least-known and most underrated Tamers in the series, Hiro Amanokawa is the protagonist of2022’s hidden gemDigimon Ghost Game. He is a kind and cautious child who used his impressive detective skills to solve the many terrifying mysteries that threatened the human world. Unlike most other heroes in the franchise,Hiro was known for avoiding conflict, preferring to avoid hurting any Digimon if possible.
His empathy and open mind helped him prevent several deaths during his time as leader, as well as aid his partner, Gammamon, through his battle against his dark side. However, whenever the boy needed to fight, he was more than willing to support his friends and prove himself as a fierce and dependable Tamer. He is also one of the bravest heroes in the franchise, as not many would face the horrifying monsters of his series and keep going.
Amongthe original DigiDestined and their Digimon partners, T.K. always stood out for being the youngest and most innocent, at least until Kari joined the team. For most of the original series, Matt’s little brother acted as the heart of the team, bringing the kids together by always giving them hope. His importance was made apparent during the battle against Devimon, as his power was the only thing that could hurt the villain.
Years later, T.K. once again took his Digivice to join the02cast, taking the role of co-leader alongside Davis. This older version of the character proved to be far more rational, strategic, and cautious than most of his peers.His bravery and knowledge of the Digital World were key to liberating the land from the Digimon Emperorand helping Ken regain his senses.
TheDigimon Tamersanime series was the first season of the franchise that did not revolve around the world or the cast ofAdventure. As such, the series had to introduce new and unique characters, such as the prideful and strong Rika. From the beginning of the show, the girl proved to be one of the most skillful Tamers in the franchise.
She began the story as a brash and cold huntress who wanted nothing more than to establish herself as the most powerful Tamer in Japan. As the series progressed, she became a much more caring person,learning to work with Renamon as equals instead of seeing her partner as a weapon.
4Ryo Akiyama – Digimon Adventure 02 / Tamers / V-Tamer
A Mysterious Interdimensional Traveler
Few side characters in theDigimonfranchise have grown to become as popular as the once mysterious Ryo.He began his story as a nameless character seen in the background of Ken’s memories during the 02 anime, which sparked interest in him among most fans. TheV-Tamermanga and many side games revealed part of his backstory and relationship with ZeedMilleniummon,one of the best-designed and most destructive Digimon in the series.
He would later become a part of the Tamers’ main cast, acting as an experienced warrior who could help the heroes fight against dangerous monsters. His nonchalant attitude might make some fans believe he is not a skillful Tamer, but he is by far one of the most valuable fighters a team can have.
The main character of theFusionseason,Taiki, was introduced as an exceedingly talented kid who could learn and master any task that caught his interest. This trait was perfect for his role as one of the generals fighting against Bagramon and his dark Digimon. His broad imagination and impressive physical strength helped him become a formidable ally of the rebellion.
His strategies could help bring out the best in every one of his Digimon partners, with their powers becoming equal tothe powerful gods of the Digital World introduced in his show, the Olympos XII. His achievements are seldom recognized by fans, asFusionwas nowhere near as popular as other entries, but he is still one of the best tamers ever introduced.
2Takato Matsuda – Digimon Tamers
A Kind but Powerful Soul
Takato’s biggest wish since he was little was to go on a journey like the cast of his favorite series,Digimon Adventure. The protagonist of theTamersseason, often considered the best anime in the franchise, learned everything about the world of the series before he was even granted a partner. As such, when Guilmon came to life and joined him, he was more than prepared to help the monster.
He taught his friend, who wasborn to be a weapon of mass destruction, how to be kind, friendly, and brave. Thanks to Takato, Guilmon became one of the most powerful and beloved Digimon, capable of defeating even world-ending threats like the D-Reaper. His bravery and ability as a Tamer are remembered fondly by fans even to this day.
By far the most iconic Tamer inDigimon’s history, Tai is the bravest and most capable leader the Digital World has ever seen.Adventure’s protagonist was depicted as a loyal, relaxed, and dependable hero whom the other kids looked up to during their journey.His role as the leader helped him mature from a reckless child to a serious and confident Tamerwho could facethe messed-up monsters and situations that were common during the original series.
Yet, his most impressive accomplishments can be found in the lesser-knownV-Tamermanga, which follows an alternative version of the character. This Tai is several times more analytical than hisAdventurecounterpart while maintaining his bravery and skill. No other Tamer has accomplished what the original leader has done in his many iterations, making him the indisputable best Tamer inDigimon.
