Power scaling has almost no limits in anime. When the main character has the power to destroy entire continents or rewrite reality with their abilities, then the sky’s the limit with power levels in anime. The popularity of such stories has only increased as power fantasy has exploded with demand over recent years. While not every anime revolves around overpowered gods, there are a few series that take the idea of power levels to the extreme.
Entire genres exist to showcase powerful characters reaching godhood as walking plot devices. Shonen anime and isekai anime have become infamous for absurd levels of power scaling that can ruin any semblance of conflict or stakes. While such stories offer little in the way of danger for the main character, that doesn’t mean spectacle isn’t a major consideration for audiences who just want to watch a character become a god.
10 The Eminence in Shadow Showcases a Secret Battle to Save Humanity
Streaming on Hulu
The Eminence in Shadow follows Cid Kagenou after a tragic accident, despite a lifetime attempting to surpass human limits. After awakening in a new world, Cid gains extraordinary powers as the most powerful magic user in this new world. The catch is that Cid has no intention of standing out, preferring to blend into the crowd as a background character. However, Cid also has grand delusions of a vast conspiracy that a cult is secretly controlling the world behind the scenes.
Cid stands as the most powerful character, capable of destroying entire cities without effort and to ease his boredom. He founded Shadow Garden, a secret organization tasked with taking down the Cult of Diablos from the shadows. Cid recruits powerful followers who work under him to eradicate the cult. Yet, despite his followers’ belief in him, Cid thinks they are simply acting to appease him, when in reality the cult exists and Shadow Garden is the only force capable of saving them.
9 Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia Showcases a War Between Gods
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia follows Ritsuki Fujimaru as humanity’s last master capable of summoning servants. After a calamity destroys the world, a secret organization known as Chaldea attempts to rewrite history by sending Ritsuki and his servant, Mash Kyrielight, into singularities to save the planet from destruction. Taking place in the Fate universe, the power levels in the franchise are nothing short of god-tier.
Within the anime itself, the story follows Ritsuki and Mash as they travel back to ancient Babylonia to save humanity from a coming apocalypse. With the help of famous figures such as Merlin, King Gilgamesh, and the Mesopatamian gods, the duo fight on the frontlines of a war between gods. Fate/Grand Order Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia may ultimately highlight key story arcs from the mobile game, but the anime offers some of the best moments in the entire Fate franchise.
8 The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World Gives the Main Character Cheat Powers
Streaming on Crunchyroll
The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat rode the wave of power fantasy within the isekai anime genre to phenomenal success. Following the world’s greatest assassin after a tragic betrayal by the very organization he dedicated his life to. Now reincarnated as Lugh Tuatha Dé, he is given a second chance at life for the small price of assassinating the Hero to save the world from oblivion.
The anime features some of the most absurd power levels in isekai anime, which is saying a lot. Having been given near-godlike cheat powers by the Goddess herself, Lugh hones his body and mind for the coming day that he’ll have to kill the Hero to save the world. Despite his grandiose mission, Lugh’s journey follows him as he navigates the life of a noble family who does the dirty work of the kingdom from the shadows.
7 The Misfit of Demon King Academy Follows the Demon King's Rise
Streaming on Crunchyroll
The Misfit of Demon King Academy isn’t exactly an isekai anime, but it does feature reincarnation. Anos Voldigoad, the Demon King, sacrifices his life before the Hero to end the war between demons and humans. After being reincarnated thousands of years in the future, Anos awakens to a world of peace and prosperity. However, not everything is right in the world. Most notably, Anos himself has been erased from history and an impostor has taken his place.
The anime series follows Anos as he enrolls in the Demon King Academy to search for clues and to restore his status as the true Demon King. As for the power levels, Anos reincarnates with his full power at his disposal, capable of rewriting reality and even resurrecting the dead on a whim. In terms of power, Anos is essentially a walking god capable of dealing with any threat that arises.
6 Jujutsu Kaisen Broke Power Scaling in All of Shonen Anime
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Jujutsu Kaisen has some of the best power levels and scaling in anime. Jujutsu Sorcerers are the only thing keeping humanity safe from malignant curses that grow stronger from human despair by consuming spiritual energy. The anime follows Yuuji Itadori after he consumes the finger of the King of Curses, Sukuna. Having been introduced to a secret world of sorcerers and curses, Yuuji finds himself under the care of Gojo Satoru, the world’s strongest sorcerer.
Considering Jujutsu Kaisen is a shonen anime series, it’s no surprise that the anime features some of the most insane power levels in the genre, let alone anime. Gojo has one of the most overpowered abilities in anime, while his students grow into powerful sorcerers capable of taking down some of the strongest curses imaginable. While the anime has become infamous for brutal deaths, tragic sacrifices, and insane power scaling, the series ultimately stands as one of the best shonen anime in recent memory.
5 Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Showcases Naruto & Sasuke at Their Peaks
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Following the events of Naruto: Shippuden, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations takes place in a new era full of technology, villains, and jutsu. The anime doesn’t follow Naruto and Sasuke, however. Instead, the premise of the story follows the next generation of shinobi as they grow up in an age of peace and uncertainty. While Naruto and Sasuke aren’t the focus, they serve as mentors for their children and, ultimately, as the most powerful shinobi of their time.
The Fourth Great Shinobi War introduced the idea of the Otsutsuki Clan, invasive aliens who consume entire planets’ chakra to grow in power. And Boruto: Naruto Next Generations has double-downed on the Otsutsuki as the primary antagonists of the series. As such, the power scaling in the anime has only increased since Naruto: Shippuden, as Naruto and Sasuke are walking gods as the only real defense against the Otsutsuki Clan.
4 Overlord Follows the Villain's Takeover of the World
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Overlord features perhaps the most broken main character in isekai anime. Unlike other characters who are reincarnated with god-like abilities, Ainz Ool Gown not only has the most overpowered abilities, but he has an entire army of minions at his disposal to command. The anime follows Ainz after he ends up trapped inside his favorite video game, and he attempts to find other players from his guild. To do so, Ainz uses the vast resources of his guild to take over the world as a villain.
The catch is that the world isn’t a video game, but an alternate reality with real people, monsters, and perhaps even other players. Ainz uses his vast array of abilities, items, and minions to wage war against humanity to become its sole ruler. Ainz isn’t a good guy, he’s the primary villain of the anime who has no problems with leveling entire cities with his spells to showcase his power.
3 Hellsing Ultimate Created the Most Powerful Vampire in Anime History
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Hellsing Ultimate has perhaps one of the most overpowered characters in anime. At the very least, Alucard is the most powerful vampire in anime as living plot armor that can never truly be killed. The story follows Seras Victoria after Alucard, a vampire working under the Hellsing organization, turns her into a vampire. Tasked with protecting humanity from vampires, ghouls, and supernatural entities, Seras finds herself as Alucard’s pupil as she fights alongside him against the forces of evil.
The anime features some of the most godly abilities in anime, as Alucard has no limits to the power he can wield. Instant regeneration, armies of the damned, and unlimited power at his disposal, Alucard is the most dangerous character in the series. It’s hard to forget that Alucard is one of the good guys, as he’s one of the most destructive characters in the series who has no issue with collateral damage.
2 Solo Leveling has Infinite Power Scaling in the Anime Series
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Solo Leveling‘s entire premise surrounds the idea of power levels. Hunters are ranked into separate categories based on their power, which is permanent and can never change. Unless a Hunter experiences a Second Awakening, allowing them to rise in both power and importance. The anime follows Sung Jin-woo after a harrowing encounter that leaves him left for dead within a rare double-dungeon.
After surviving the encounter, Jin-woo awakens to video game menus and is referred to as «The Player» by a mysterious system. Now part of a video game leveling system, Jin-woo slowly gains stronger after every battle as he grows exponentially more powerful. Unlike other Hunters whose power is set in stone, Jin-woo has no limits to his power as he becomes a guiding light to save humanity from the dangers that lurk beyond the Gates.
1 Dragon Ball Z Popularized Insane Power Scaling in Shonen Anime
Streaming on Crunchyroll
Dragon Ball Z may not have introduced audiences to the idea of power scaling and levels, but it most certainly popularized the tropes. Following Sun Goku five years after claiming victory in the World Martial Arts tournament, a looming war threatens to destroy everything Goku holds dear. Dragon Ball has long been associated with insane power scaling that depicts Saiyans fighting gods, destroying entire universes, and even realities, as the franchise has some of the best power scaling in anime.
While Dragon Ball Z has certainly aged since its release back in 1989, that hasn’t stopped the series from reaching new heights in both popularity and importance within the wider anime community. The anime became famous for a reason and, as such, Goku’s journey showcases some of the most overpowered and destructive power scaling in fiction. There’s a reason anime fans often ask if certain characters could defeat Goku to scale them. Ultimately, power levels in anime come in a wide variety of forms, but every instance showcases some of the most powerful characters in anime.
