Protagonists come in all different sizes and shapes, and many of them are incredibly (and occasionally irksomely) overpowered. The main character could only appear to be a regular person going about their daily business, but they are capable of wielding incredible amounts of power.
Together, let’s take a look at some of the best anime with powerful MCs who’ve managed to shock the audience and everyone around them by revealing the magnitude of their power.
Best Anime Where MC Is OP And Surprises Everyone
23. Sky Wizard Academy
A long time ago, enormous magically armored insects that had grown too powerful and hostile to handle nearly wiped off all of humanity. People now live in floating cities rather than on earth as a result of these enormous bugs. This does not imply that all hope is gone, either, as these monsters are being fought by wizards from illustrious floating wizard institutions.
Even though Kanata Age was once hailed as the “Black Master Swordsman,” he is now considered a traitor. By guiding team E601, which appears to be having some issues, he has the potential to restore his reputation. Misora Whitale, Lecty Eisenach, and Rico Flamel are the three girls in it, and they all have different issues. It seems that because of them, Kanata would repeatedly find herself in trouble.
22. Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Cautious
A common saying goes, “You can never be too careful.” Even if it seems like a pointless waste of time, it is crucial to be ready for every circumstance you may encounter. Additionally, in games like role-playing games, it is wise to outclass your opponents if you want to win completely.
The way these phrases characterize Seiya Ryuuguuin is almost too accurate. The hero gets ready for his heroic adventure after being called by the goddess Ristarte to save the planet of Gaeabrande from annihilation. Even though he has extremely strong stats, he spends a lot of time training himself, which may be normal. To keep safe, he uses his best weapons against weak foes and acquires an enormous amount of supplies and remedies.
Gaeabrande’s attitude may be a bit unpleasant, but it may just be his saving grace, given that he lives in a world where evil powers rule over all expectations.
21. Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs
Yuragi-sou, formerly a hot springs inn and now a boarding home with absurdly low rent, is all but deserted but for a few odd occupants. It is said to be haunted by an evil ghost who frightens off any possible occupants. Fuyuzora Kogarashi, a destitute and homeless psychic looking for an economical place to stay and spirits to exorcise, will therefore find it to be the ideal haven.
When Kogarashi is ready to fight the ghost, he learns that it is not as evil as the legends had suggested. It is actually the spirit of a lovely girl with silver hair, whose only memory of her life prior to death is her name: Yuuna. Even more puzzling is the fact that each of the other Yuragi-sou inhabitants has a unique supernatural power in addition to being able to see Yuuna.
Kogarashi searches for the sorrow that holds Yuuna connected to the living world in the middle of the mayhem generated by his eccentric neighbors in an effort to save her from turning into an evil spirit doomed to spend her afterlife in hell.
20. The Asterisk War
The Invertia, an extraordinary catastrophe that occurred in the preceding century, fundamentally altered the course of history. The Integrated Empire Foundation came into power as a result of a sharp drop in the power of the world’s current states. But more importantly, the Invertia stimulated the development of the Genestella, a new race of people with extraordinary physical prowess at birth. Its elite are hand-selected from all over the world to attend the top six schools, and they compete against one another in shows called Festas.
At the famous Seidoukan Academy, which has recently seen a decline in performance, Ayato Amagiri is a scholarship transfer student. He unintentionally spots Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, the well-known Witch of Resplendent Flames, in her undergarments! Julis is incensed and dares him to fight for violating her privacy. Ayato admits he has no interest in Festas when the student council president annuls the duel. Instead, in order to find his missing older sister, he enrolled in the academy. However, as a more cunning scheme comes to light, Ayato sets out to triumph while being surrounded by some of the world’s most gifted Genestella.
19. Dr. Stone
High school student Taiju Ooki, who has been holding affection for Yuzuriha Ogawa for five years, is now prepared to profess his love to her. However, just as Taiju starts to confess, a bright green light envelops the planet, terrifying everyone on it and turning them all into stone.
A few millennia later, when Taiju awakens, he discovers that the modern period has totally vanished and that nature has regenerated during the time that people were silent. Taiju only comes across one other living person in the stone world of statues: his science-obsessed friend Senkuu, who has been active for a few months. Taiju discovers Senkuu’s ambitious plan to use science to usher in a total restoration of civilization. Together, Taiju’s strength and Senkuu’s intelligence form a strong team that quickly discovers a way to resuscitate the petrified.
However, when his ideals are contested by those who awaken, Senkuu’s grand scheme is put in jeopardy. The cause of humanity’s petrification is still a mystery.
18. Tanya the Evil
Young soldier Tanya Degurechaff has earned the moniker “Devil of the Rhine” for her predatorial-like ferocity and amazing tactical prowess. Underneath her innocent exterior, however, is the spirit of a man who challenged Being X, the self-declared God, to a match of wits, leading to his reincarnation as a young girl into a realm of magical conflict. As the globe progressively descends into conflict, Tanya decides to rise through the ranks of her nation’s military with only Being X standing in her way of returning to the tranquil existence she once knew. However, the strong Empire’s astute moves and fighting initiative have an unanticipated side effect that makes it one of the most powerful countries.
17. Classroom of The Elite
Koudo Ikusei Senior High School appears to be a utopia from the outside. The level of freedom enjoyed by the pupils is unique, and it is well-regarded in Japan. The reality, though, is far from ideal. Only the top four classes—A through D—get preferential treatment after being ranked in order of merit.
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji attends Class D, which is where the worst of the school are dumped. There he meets the awkward Suzune Horikita, who wants to move all the way up to Class A since she thinks she was put in Class D by mistake, and the friendly-seeming class hero Kikyou Kushida, who wants to have as many friends as possible.
Class rankings are not permanent, but class membership is; students in lower-ranked classes can move up if they perform better than those in higher-ranked classes. Furthermore, there are no restrictions on how one can advance in Class D. Can one overcome the hurdles and succeed at this competitive school?
16. Isekai Cheat Magician
Regular high school student Taichi Nishimura is traveling to school that morning with his childhood friend Rin Azuma. They are abruptly enveloped in a bright light that whisks them away to a fantastical planet populated by supernatural beings.
A beast confronts Taichi and Rin when they arrive. Immediately after their rescue, a group of explorers warns the two that going unarmed and untrained leaves them open to the recently on the rise monster attacks. The Guild is the location where Taichi and Rin are told to go so they can register as adventurers and determine their magical aptitude. The test they take, though, yields an unexpected result: Taichi and Rin have remarkable abilities that far exceed those of a conventional mage, quickly elevating them from common high school kids to the pinnacle of cheat magicians.
Taichi and Rin gain a thorough understanding of their abilities as well as acclimate to their new environment. However, an unanticipated threat lurks in the shadows as the pair works to figure out the cause of their transportation and a potential route back to their native world.
15. Hellsing
The eradication of a vampire that is transforming the residents of Cheddar into ghouls requires the assistance of Hellsing, a group that specializes in combating supernatural threats. Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, the organization’s head, sends her most formidable asset—a potent vampire by the name of Alucard—to put an end to this.
Alucard wreaks fury on the demons plaguing Cheddar with just a single firearm. Seras Victoria, a young police officer, is hurt fatally as a result of being caught up in the turmoil. Alucard, who has compassion for the girl, offers her the choice of continuing as a vampire or dying as a human. Seras accepts his invitation and embarks on a new life as a Hellsing member.
Seras struggles with the knowledge that she is no longer human even though it was her choice. But if she wants to survive on the front lines of the conflict between humans and the supernatural, she must soon come to terms with becoming a creature of the night.
14. Hunter x Hunter
Hunters devote their lives to doing dangerous activities, such as exploring undiscovered regions of the earth and seeking out rare objects and beasts. One must pass the Hunter Examination in order to become a Hunter, which is a risky selection process where the majority of candidates end up disabled or, worse, dead.
Ambitious candidates that take the infamous exam do it for a specific motive. Gon Freecss, 12, is motivated by the desire to discover Ging, his father, and another Hunter. Gon begins to follow the same route since he thinks that by becoming a Hunter, he will eventually run into his father.
Gon makes friends with Leorio Paladiknight, a medical student, the vengeful Kurapika, and Killua Zoldyck, a former assassin, while they are all taking the Hunter Examination. Despite having very different motivations, they team up for a similar objective and step into a dangerous environment.
13. Drifters
Toyohisa Shimazu is the rearguard for his retreated troops during the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and he is badly wounded when he unexpectedly finds himself in a contemporary, sparkling white hallway. Toyohisa is drawn into the next door and into a world that is entirely different from his own when he is faced with only a stoic guy named Murasaki and hundreds of doors on both sides.
Along with several fanciful creatures, the odd continent is home to long-dead soldiers from various periods of Toyohisa’s history. As soon as he meets the notorious warlord Nobunaga Oda and the legendary archer Yoichi Suketaka Nasu, Toyohisa finds out about the continent’s political strife. Additionally, they have been called “Drifters” to battle the “Ends,” those who brought about the Orte Empire and are attempting to wipe out the Drifters. The Empire’s persecution of elves and other demihumans intensifies as the Ends become more potent.
Toyohisa and his band of outlandish warriors must fight in a new world conflict to aid the people of the Empire, while also defending the territory they intend to take and confronting the Ends.
12. How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord
None can compare to the power of the Demon King Diablo in the fantasy MMORPG Cross Reverie. With the rarest artifacts in the game and an unmatched player level, he easily defeats anyone dumb enough to challenge him. But despite his intimidating reputation, Takuma Sakamoto, a reclusive gamer with little social skills, is actually Diablo. Takuma just thinks about his virtual existence as he defeats hopeless opponents day by day—that is until a summoning spell unexpectedly takes him to another dimension where he appears as Diablo!
Takuma is welcomed by the two females that called him, Rem Galeu, a little Pantherian adventurer, and Shera L. Greenwood, a busty Elf summoner, in this new realm that resembles his favorite video game. In an effort to control him, they perform an enslavement ritual, but the ritual backfires, turning them into his slaves. Takuma chooses to help the girls in breaking their contract as he learns to adjust to his new role as the terrifying Demon King as the situation becomes more unpleasant than before.
11. World Trigger
Mikado City is besieged by mysterious entities known as “Neighbors,” evil monsters resistant to conventional weapons when a gate to another realm unexpectedly opens on Earth. A group called the Border Defense Agency has been created in response to their arrival to use specialized weaponry dubbed “Triggers” to confront the neighbor threat. Neighbors are still a menace, even after several years have passed since the gate initially opened, and Border agents are still on duty to protect the planet.
Osamu Mikumo and other members-in-training are prohibited from using their Triggers away from the headquarters despite this delicate scenario. However, when the mysterious new kid in his class is coerced by bullies into a prohibited location, they are attacked by Neighbors, and Osamu has no choice but to act in accordance with his moral convictions. To his amazement, however, Yuuma Kuga, a transfer student, quickly dispatches the aliens after showing that he is actually a humanoid Neighbor.
10. Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody
Programmer Ichirou Suzuki, who is approaching his 30s, is overworked. Being exhausted, he finally gets a chance to catch up on sleep, only to awaken in a fantasy RPG world that is a mashup of the games he was actually debugging. He discovers in this new location that not only has his appearance changed to resemble a younger version of himself, but also that his name has changed to Satou, a pen name he employed when conducting game beta tests.
Before Satou can completely comprehend his predicament, a lizardman army attacks him. Satou wipes them out entirely as a result of being forced to perform a potent spell in retaliation, and his level is increased to 310, thereby maximizing his stats. Satou now embarks on an adventure as a high-leveled adventurer with a wide range of skills and no way to return to the real world.
9. In Another World With My Smartphone
God makes a careless error and unintentionally kills Touya Mochizuki with a lightning strike! God grants him one wish as an apology and the opportunity to start over in a fantastical fantasy realm. Touya gladly accepts the job and makes just one request before setting off on his adventure in this enigmatic world: that he be allowed to keep his smartphone.
When Touya first enters this new world, he discovers that it is full of gorgeous girls competing for his attention and magic, a subject to which he has an affinity. These girls—Yumina Urnea Belfast, Leen, Yae Kokonoe, the twins Linze and Elze Silhoueska, Leen, and Yae Kokonoe—offer Touya a never-ending supply of love difficulties as well as company while he learns the details of this new society.
8. Arifureta: From Commonplace To World’s Strongest
Hajime Nagumo, a 17-year-old otaku, has his routine interrupted when he and his classmates are called to a fantasy realm and given the mission of preserving humanity. Hajime is made fun of for just learning a subpar transmutation skill with no actual attacking strength, while his peers are given spectacular powers beneficial in battle.
Hajime is deceived by one of his classmates while on a trip to the Great Orcus Labyrinth, sending him hurtling to the bottom of an abyss. Even if he escapes the fall, Hajime encounters dreadful monsters and unfortunate events that plunge him into a terrifying nightmare. He decides to battle for his life out of a desire to survive and one day go home, only to run with a vampire named Yue who is also trying to get out of the maze. By becoming interested in him, Yue and a few other people along the way join Hajime on his quest to return home while gradually becoming the strongest person in the world.
7. The Rising Of The Shield Hero
The Four Cardinal Heroes are a group of common Japanese men who were sent to the kingdom of Melromarc to save it. Melromarc is a nation repeatedly destroyed by the Waves of Catastrophe, which have caused disaster for its residents for ages. To defeat these Waves, the four heroes are each given a sword, spear, bow, and shield. Otaku Naofumi Iwatani acquires the curse of being the “Shield Hero.” Due to his meager shield and limited attacking prowess, Naofumi is mocked and disparaged by both his fellow heroes and the populace of the kingdom.
When the heroes are given supplies and allies to practice with, Naofumi leaves with Malty Melromarc, the only person eager to train with him. However, she soon betrays him, and he is wrongfully accused of exploiting her. The citizens of Melromarc start to severely discriminate against and loathe Naofumi for something he didn’t do. Naofumi sets off on his quest to build himself and his reputation while harboring a raging storm of hurt and mistrust in his heart. Later on though, the difficulty of being alone sets in, so Naofumi purchases Raphtalia, a demi-human slave who is on the point of death, to travel with him.
Naofumi and Raphtalia are forced to fight for the survival of the kingdom and save the Melromarc inhabitants from an unfavorable future as the Waves approach the realm.
6. My Hero Academia
Over the years, “quirks,” or recently found superpowers, have appeared more often, with 80 percent of humanity now possessing a range of skills from elemental manipulation to shapeshifting. Izuku Midoriya is one of those people who is entirely powerless as a result, along with the rest of the world.
The aspirational middle schooler has dreamed of becoming a hero ever since he was a young child. Due to his unfortunate circumstances, Izuku spends his time admiring heroes and making notes about them. But it appears that his perseverance paid off: Izuku runs into All Might, the world’s greatest hero and his personal hero. All Might’s quirk is a special talent that may be passed down, and he has selected Izuku to be his heir!
Izuku enrolls in UA High after enduring several months of arduous training; this esteemed high school is renowned for its superb hero training program, and this year’s freshmen seem especially promising. Izuku will soon discover what it truly means to be a hero from his odd but gifted classmates and the rising threat of an evil organization.
5. Black Clover
On the same day, Asta and Yuno were left behind at the same church. Growing up together, they learned of the “Wizard King,” the name was given to the most powerful mage in the realm, and made a pact to battle it out to be the next Wizard King. But as they grew older, it was clear how drastically they differed from one another. Asta is unable to use magic at all and is urgently trying to develop his abilities through physical training, in contrast to Yuno, who can use magic with astounding power and control.
When they turn 15, Asta receives nothing, while Yuno is given a magnificent Grimoire with a four-leaf clover. But soon after, a man named Lebuty attacks Yuno with the intention of taking his Grimoire. Lebuty is stronger than Asta, who tries to fight him. Though defeated and without hope, he finds the will to go on when he hears Yuno’s voice. Asta receives a five-leaf clover grimoire, a “Black Clover,” which gives him the strength to defeat Lebuty when he lets out his inner feelings in a fit of wrath. A few days later, the two pals leave for the outside world with the same ambition in mind: to become the Wizard King.
4. Overlord
The last few minutes of the well-known virtual reality game Yggdrasil are here. However, when the servers start to go down, Momonga, a formidable wizard and the leader of the evil guild Ainz Ooal Gown, chooses to spend his final moments playing the game. To his amazement, Momonga is still fully awake as his character even though the clock has struck midnight, and additionally, the non-player characters seem to have grown identities of their own!
When faced with this unusual circumstance, Momonga orders his obedient followers to assist him in exploring and taking control of this new universe in order to learn what has caused this development and whether there are any other individuals experiencing a similar condition.
3. The Misfit of Demon King Academy
An ancient conflict between humans and demons resulted in immense mayhem and bloodshed. Demon King Anos Voldigoad willingly gave his life in order to put an end to this struggle that seemed to go on forever, hoping to be resurrected in a time of peace.
The Demon King Academy was established by the demon race as a means of identifying Anos when he reawakens in anticipation of their king’s homecoming. When he reincarnates two millennia later, he is shocked to discover that the amount of magic in the world has significantly decreased. Additionally, he discovers that demonkind has a different memory of him when he enrolls in the academy to reclaim his rightful rank. His character, his actions, and even his legacy are all fabrications that are hidden under a false identity. He is the academy’s outlier—a misfit never before seen in history—due to his “lack” of common knowledge.
Anos is unconcerned despite these problems. He takes it upon himself to convince his descendants that their monarch has at last returned as he sets out to discover those responsible for changing his magnificent past.
2. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Satoru Mikami, 37, is a regular corporate employee who is pleased with his boring lifestyle in Tokyo. However, he has never been able to commit to a woman throughout his life. He is stabbed while having a casual conversation with his coworker and is the victim of an unprovoked street attack. But as he succumbs to his wounds, a strange voice echoes in his head and repeats a series of instructions that the dying man cannot understand.
Satoru realizes that he has been reincarnated as a glob of slime in a foreign realm when he comes to when he regains awareness. He gains additional talents as a result, most notably the ability to swallow anything and duplicate its features and prowess. The Catastrophe-level monster “Storm Dragon” Veldora, which had been imprisoned for the previous 300 years after destroying a village to ashes, is later discovered by him. Satoru makes friends with him after recognizing his plight and pledges to help him break the barrier. In exchange, Veldora gives him the name Rimuru Tempest to provide him with divine defense.
Liberated from the tedium of his previous existence, Rimuru now sets out on a brand-new trip with a clear destination in mind. His goofy antics spread around the world as he gets used to his new body, gradually changing his destiny.
1. One Punch Man
The mediocre Saitama has a pretty unusual pastime: playing the hero. Saitama diligently trained for three years, losing all of his hair in the process, in order to realize his childhood goal. Now, Saitama is so powerful, he can defeat any enemy with only one punch. However, having no one capable of matching his might has led Saitama to an unanticipated problem—he is no longer able to enjoy the thrill of battle and has become extremely bored.
When Genos, a 19-year-old cyborg, first sees Saitama, he is immediately captivated by his strength and asks to be his pupil. Genos suggests that the two become members of the Hero Association so that they might be accredited as heroes and be honored for their contributions to society. Saitama accepts right away, startled that nobody recognizes him. Saitama sets off on a new voyage as a member of the Hero Association to relive the thrill of war. Along the way, he meets new allies and faces new adversaries.
BONUS: Mob Psycho 100
Eighth-grader Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama has tapped into his inner wellspring of psychic prowess at a young age. But the power quickly proves to be a liability when he realizes the potential danger in his skills. Choosing to suppress his power, Mob’s only present use for his ability is to impress his longtime crush, Tsubomi, who soon grows bored of the same tricks.
Arataka Reigen, a con man who poses as a psychic and uses Mob’s abilities for money, takes Mob under his wing in order to exert control over his abilities. Exorcising bad spirits on demand is becoming a routine part of Mob’s humdrum everyday life. The psychological energy he generates is only the tip of the iceberg; if his boundless potential and unbridled emotions go mad, a cataclysmic event will be set off that would make him entirely unrecognizable. It is pointless to try and stop Mob from exploding because it is moving in that direction.
That was it for the list, let us know what’s your favorite anime where the mc is op and surprises everyone in the comments below!
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