Shounen almost always casts characters like Luffy, Naruto or Asta who really need to have to learn and work to be actually able to lay a finger on the antagonists of their series.
This makes the character relatable and the payoff for the climax that much sweeter.
Well, for a change, let’s take a look at these absolutely fantastic main characters that were overpowered from the very beginning of the series who absolutely stole their own shows!
Without wasting any more time let’s begin the list of 15 best anime with insanely overpowered main characters.
15. Needless
Needless is the kind of anime that does not add all the typical stereotypes and clichés found in the genre.
A Group of mutated people known as the Needless is people blessed with superhuman, nearly god-like powers. Just that a Needless only has ONE power, no exceptions and the government wants you captured or dead. Easy to understand, right?
A creatively intelligent parody of the usual shounen characters and genre in general, that utilizes and brutalizes the overused gags, character traits, and parameters to both, entertain and frustrate the audience.
14. Hataraku Maou Sama
Imagine the cute McDonald’s part time worker turned out to be the Demon Lord Satan.
Hataraku Maou-sama focuses on Satan living in the human world, his powers being fuelled by panic and chaos.
There’s basically no limit to powerful he can be provided he has access to these emotions of people, which Satan, “Maou-sama” shows very adeptly in the show while battling his General Lucifer and other creatures who come to get him back.
Maou-sama captures very well the greyness of both demons and angels as species and poses a really important question in front of us.
What exactly is good? Or evil?
13. Mushibugyo
Hello? Yes? What’s the threat to humanity? Giant Bugs? Yes, of course! Mushibugyou Protection Office will exterminate the threat!
When the bugs prove too much of a threat to be dealt with alone, the office requests aid from famed Samurai, Genjuurou Tsukishima who unfortunately can’t join them. He sends his son, Jinbei in his stead.
His incredibly passionate samurai beliefs, training, admiration for other fighters, trying his best to be like them, exaggerated heroism, backstories, and struggles make for the perfect recipe for a perfectly overpowered hero who will make sure to jump in at the slightest threat to absolutely anyone!
12. One Outs
Kojima has many names… Baseball legend, Superstar cleanup hitter for the Lycaons, Rookie of the year seven times… Now he only desires one title. The one of “Champion”.
And his ticket to making his team into a “Champions team” comes with the protagonist, Toua Tokuchi, who has arrived with absolutely absurd demands.
Instead of a salary, he will receive five million yen for each out and lose fifty million yen for each point lost. Bad attitude with prodigal skills? Which will win?.
11. Seven Deadly Sins
The King’s Holy Knights have been corrupted by demons. Now it’s up to the Seven Deadly Sins, an exiled group of oddballs who seem to spend as much time fighting each other as they do fighting their enemies…
This anime presents you with everything you need to go with an overpowered protagonist like Meliodas, camaraderie, comedy, tug at the heartstrings, sparking intellectual curiosity, real and flesh-out characters, and absolutely fantastic animation!
10. Mob Psycho 100
Mob’s power comes from his emotions. The more intensely he feels a certain emotion the more devastating his psychic powers are.
Mob looks like your average kid when you look at his at first glance. There’s nothing really special or something that stands about him which is what makes this contrast of him being so overpowered is played very well.
An OP MC, and an exaggerated plot with lots of dry comedy… What could go wrong?
Mob Psycho 100 will make sure to make you enjoy every moment that you watch this kid try to find his place in society.
9. Noragami
This is another anime where a very extremely overpowered character needs to work odd jobs to have his needs met.
Noragami focuses on Yato the goofy and aloof, God of Calamity. Yes, the God of Calamity.
A power that is very fitting to the overpoweredness of the character.
8. Assassination Classroom
An entire class of student assigned to kill their teacher or else he’ll destroy the earth. Shouldn’t be that difficult, right?
It isn’t until the students realize a few things about their Sensei like how he can travel from Japan to America and return in a few seconds, he is a tentacled yellow monster and he’s the best teacher they’ve ever had.
The likeability of this show definitely comes from the comedic times, the stark contrast of the dramatic moments, and how Sensei manages to say the most profound things under the pretext of a joke.
All in all, Assassination Classroom will keep you hooked on to itself with all of these incredible developments that happen within a span of a measly 2 seasons.
7. Death Note
This is one of those times when two of the smartest kids in class have clashing answers.
Light is a charming serial killer who uses his newfound powers that can kill anyone provided he knows their name and face. Determined to make the world a better place, Light is, ironically, consumed by the darkness of his newfound powers.
Light is a model student, charming, otherworldly intelligent, and also great at tennis! L definitely doesn’t fit the bill of an ideal student, but manages to charm people, have an innate genius, and is also great at tennis!
The two characters reflect each other so well in the moral conflict that the series poses.
The genius of Light and L makes this anime a thrill to watch which will constantly keep you on edge and guessing, finally who wins?
6. I’m Sakomoto, you know?
Ever been jealous of that overachiever kid that just excels at everything without even trying?
In this whole anime, the teachers keep trying to find even the tiniest speck of fault in this protagonist, obviously without success.
Sakamoto, the genius who is well-liked by both girls and boys always manages to fix the problem in absolute perfection while still being over the top.
Studio Deen is yet to renew for the second season but the demand keeps increasing.
5. Magic Kaito
Kaitou Kuroba is a regular high school student with an aptitude for magic, but he transforms into the notorious thief and master of disguise, Kaitou Kid, as the sun sinks into it’s sleep and the world is swallowed by darkness.
A very Lupin the Third-esque feel when he announces where he’s going to steal next to his arch-rival Inspector Nakamori.
Kaito just being a school student is able to outsmart almost anyone assigned to his capture.
His very charming thief with good heart characters not only steals the show but also your heart with it.
And don’t forget to check your pocket. Maybe some money is gone too.
4. The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.
Kusuo Saiki is a typical 16-year-old high school student… except he has psychic powers… and he can use them to get whatever he wants… and he also knows everything that people are thinking… Everything. No surprises, no secrets, no normal human experiences.
Yeah. That’s Saiki.
He often breaks the fourth wall and delves into deadpan to make sure to keep you giggling and laughing at all the gag moments.
This is a very special slice of life comedy shounen that relies on where Saiki, who is now in high school and will use his power to bend spoons!… And rules.
3. Overlord
You’re playing a video game and playing as a monster who can decimate their enemies. Suddenly the lights go off and you now are the character you were playing.
All of your character’s devastating powers, total dominion over your loyal NPCs, and nothing better to do?
That’s Overlord summed up in a shell.
Momonga discovers himself in such a situation and decides to take full advantage of it beating up local rogues and then legendary beasts.
All you need to do is prepare yourself for a little gore to come from all the action scenes and other key points in the series.
2. The Irregular at Magic High School
Ever wanted to see a guy just vaporise a truck and walk away like nothing happened? Tatsuya Shiba is your pick!
He and his sister go to a renowned magic high school in Japan.
Though magic is portrayed as the ultimate ability most coveted by all the world, Shiba for one shows that magic alone does not mean someone is better and that you can succeed even without it.
Being such an overpowered character without having the ultimate weapon in your arsenal just goes on to show and speculate what he could if he did have access to such resources.
1. One Punch Man
This striking bald protagonist is known for doing exactly what the title says. One punch and the enemy is done for.
The entire story revolves around Saitama searching for a new and worthy challenge growing bored due to his overwhelming strength.
The comedy and story make the anime worth watching and interesting to see how far the protagonist can go with just one punch.
The action scenes in this series still do pack a punch (pun intended) without ever-growing boring even though the opponent is defeated in just one punch thrown by Saitama.
