These are the most powerful anime heroes as chosen by fans outside of Japan. Who will claim the top spot and does your favorite make the list?

Heroes are the kind of people you’d want on your side in a fight, and who can pick you up on your worst days. The list, which was compiled by TheRichest, asked anime otaku around the world to submit who they think are the most powerful heroes, accounting for things like strength, power, skill, and growth potential. Any of the characters who appear on this list would make a brilliant representative for you in a trial by combat. Let’s see who made the cut.

15. Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)

Dragon Ball Wiki

Though he started out in Dragon Ball Z as one of the bad guys, he has turned into someone the DBZ warriors can count on to battle the foes of Earth. Whatever other fighters can do, Vegeta will attempt it himself and usually does it better. He continues to think up harder and harder training regimens so that he can become the greatest Saiyan in the universe.

14. Kenshin Himura (Rurouni Kenshin)

YouTube/wannise

Kenshin was already one of the most skilled swordsman before he decided to give up his “manslaughter-ing” ways in favor of a more peaceful life. But even using his reverse-blade sword and a strict no killing policy, Kenshin is able to best all the foes that come after him. His ability to adapt is second to none and his quick wit is also great for diffusing a tense situation. When push comes to shove, you never want to find yourself on the wrong end of his sword.

13. Guts (Berserk)

Berserk Wiki

His giant muscles aren’t just for show. He’s fought demons, taken on a hundred men at the same time and swings a giant sword as if it was nothing more than a magic wand. He’s been severely beaten up and gotten up, only to be severely beaten again. Demons fear him as much as humans do.

12. Kenshiro (Fist of the North Star)

Hokuto Renkitoza Wiki

Practitioner of the Hokuto Shinken style, Kenshiro roams the post-apocalyptic wasteland protecting the weak and needy from the evil beings that would prey upon them. His power lies within, as in within the enemy’s body as he attacks their pressure points. His catch phrase, “You are already dead” infuriated his foes, but little did they know, it is the truth.

11. Levi (Attack on Titan)

Attack on Titan Wiki

He may have been omitted from the live action movie, but Levi is a hero to the people who he protects from the ravaging titans. A leading soldier in the Survey Corps and given the title of Captain Levi by his squad, it’s suspected he is the strongest soldier in the world and that we haven’t seen him even approach his limits yet.

10. Edward Elric (Full Metal Alchemist)

Fullmetal Alchemist Wiki

The incredibly bright and young Edward Elric draws his strength from the mythical powers of alchemy. Able to call upon those powers without requiring a transmutation circle, Edward is a powerful force to be reckoned with in battle. Constantly reshaping his arm and the battlefield through alchemy, his true strength might be immeasurable as he is able to adapt and copy his opponent’s skills after only seeing them one time.

9. Jotaro Kujo (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Jojo’s Bizarre Encyclopedia

While many of the characters in Jojo’s are quite strong, Jotaro is one of the best. His strength and ability plays off his tough and silent personality, but when it comes to a fight, don’t expect him to remain calm and quiet. After Jotaro receives Star Platinum (a Stand, which is a supernatural power similar to a guardian) he gains the ability to stop time. That isn’t someone you want to mess with.

8. Yusuke Urameshi (Yu Yu Hakusho)

YuYu Hakusho Wiki

Tasked with protecting humans from the spirit world, Yusuke loves a good brawl. His super-human stamina, strength and speed easily make him one of the most powerful characters in the series. When that fails, he is always ready to turn to his spirit powers and fire off some powerful shots from his spirit gun (his finger). Like all good superheroes, he also possesses a stronger second form, one whose powers seem to be inexhaustible!

7. Saitama (One-Punch Man)

OnePunch-Man Wiki

This simple hero defeats his opponents with one move: a punch. No one has survived a fist from Saitama, which is due to the relentless training he did for three years. He doesn’t look for gratitude or credit for his deeds; he just wants to find someone who can give him a good fight and protect people in need.

6. Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)

Fairy Tail Wiki

Fire dragon slayer magic courses through the veins of Natsu in Fairy Tail, and due to the properties of his powers, he can consume any other fire to replenish his energy. His powers also take on different forms depending on the fire he consumes, causing real problems for his enemies. Natsu can also enter a form called the Dragon Force (no relation to the band) and achieve powers equivalent to real dragons. Move over Khaleesi, no need to be mother of dragons when you basically are a dragon.

5. Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)

One Piece Wiki

No one can beat Luffy’s determination and his desire to become the Pirate King. His strength and abilities since eating the Gum-Gum Fruit are equal to his charisma and strengthened by his bonds with his friends. If he says he’s going to win the fight, then that is exactly what he will do and if you end up being buddies afterwards, that’s fine too. Luffy will fight anyone who comes between him and his dream of being the Pirate King, whether it is fellow pirates, Marines, or anyone else, which has led to him having one of the highest bounties ever. As they say, “With great power comes great bounty-bilities”.

4. Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)

Bleach Wiki

For someone who was temporarily given the job of being a Shinigami, Ichigo has done pretty well for himself. He has trained in martial arts since he was young and continued to grow as he’s learned about his new powers. He masters advanced techniques in a matter of days when it would take most people a handful of years, and that’s not even getting into his Quincy and Hollow powers.

3. Alucard (Hellsing)

Hellsing Wiki

No matter how strong you are, it’s hard to defeat someone if they can’t die. Pair that with Alucard’s strength and speed and he’s a match made in hell. “Hero” might also be an interesting choice of word to describe him, but for the Hellsing family, Alucard is certainly their knight in bloody armor.

2. Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto)

Narutopedia

Naruto could easily have turned the hate and animosity towards him into a burning hatred of all ninjas, but instead he becomes the unlikely hero of his village. His title as the Seventh Hokage and the strongest ninja in the village is well deserved, as the full extent of his powers is only limited by how much the nine tails hates, and he hates a lot.

1. Goku (Dragon Ball Z)

Dragon Ball Wiki

No one else belongs at the top of this list. Goku has proven time and time again that his strength never falters, and he will match and surpass whatever new super villain comes to claim earth. It also helps that when he isn’t fighting, he is a lovable guy that you’d want to destroy a buffet with. Perhaps that’s what makes him special; his true power comes in the form of friendship.

There you have it, the 15 most powerful men in all of anime. Surely, they’ve missed one or two, so let us know in the comments who you think deserves to be on this list.

Source: TheRichest via Otaku.com

Top Image: YouTube/PS360HD2