Goku is widely considered one of the strongest anime characters of all time. From his first appearance in “Dragon Ball” to his latest battles in “Dragon Ball Super,” Goku has amazed audiences with his incredible powers and fighting skills. However, several other anime and manga characters could defeat Goku in a one-on-one battle. This article will explore the top 15+ strongest anime & manga characters who can take down Goku.
Criteria for this List
To qualify for this list, the characters must be from anime, manga, or light novels and have proven stronger than Goku in their respective universes. We’ve also included characters who have the potential to defeat Goku, even if they haven’t done so yet.
1. Saitama – One Punch Man
Saitama, also known as One Punch Man, is the main character of the “One Punch Man” anime and manga series. While some believe that he can defeat Goku easily due to his title and reputation, the fact remains that Saitama is nowhere near Goku’s peak strength.
Although Saitama can destroy planets with a sneeze or maybe even an entire solar system if he wishes, this kind of strength is very common in the Dragon Ball franchise. Goku has shown several feats that outclass anything that Saitama has ever done.
However, in Saitama’s own universe, he is the one-punch man who is supposed to defeat anything and anyone with just his punches. He has a sort of plot armor that makes him undefeatable. If Goku does not have any reality-bending ability that can erase the concept of Saitama’s invincibility, then Saitama can win.
2. Zeno – Dragon Ball Super
Zeno is the ruler of all universes and the strongest character in the “Dragon Ball Super” series. He has the power to erase anything from existence and can defeat any opponent with ease. While he may not have engaged in battle himself, his immense power and authority make him a top candidate for defeating Goku.
3. Tetsuo Shima – Akira
The protagonist of the anime and manga series “Akira” is Tetsuo Shima. He used to be a motorcycle gang member who has incredible psychic abilities after taking an experimental medicine.
Tetsuo has the abilities of telepathy and telekinesis, which enable him to read the thoughts of others and move objects with his mind, respectively. He is a fearsome foe due to his extraordinary strength and stamina.
Tetsuo gets more erratic and unpredictable as his powers develop, endangering both himself and others around him. He strives to acquire more and more power out of a desire to be in charge of his own destiny.
Tetsuo’s mental abilities and great strength make him a fearsome foe who might be able to defeat Goku in a fight.
4. Lelouch Lamperouge – Code Geass
Lelouch Lamperouge is a genius strategist and the main character of the “Code Geass” anime series. He could single-handedly overthrow an entire empire and change the world as he wanted, making him a formidable opponent for Goku.
Lelouch’s geass power allows him to command anyone to do anything he wants. He has even used this power on collective consciousness, which means it might be possible to command Goku to do his bidding.
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While strong willpower can resist the command for a certain duration, the command itself is absolute, and Goku would end up obeying it at the end, whether he wanted to or not. For example, Lelouch could command Goku to kill himself, which would end the battle.
However, Goku’s strong willpower and fighting skills make this a difficult battle to predict. While Lelouch may have the power to manipulate him, Goku may be able to resist or overpower the command.
5. Alucard – Hellsing Ultimate
Alucard is the main character of the “Hellsing Ultimate” anime and manga series. He is a powerful vampire who has lived for centuries and has immense strength and abilities that surpass many other characters on this list.
Alucard’s powers include superhuman strength, speed, agility, regeneration, and the ability to shape-shift and control shadows. He can also summon an army of ghouls to fight for him.
In his most powerful form, Alucard becomes a being known as “Count Dracula,” and his powers are multiplied several times over. He can even resurrect himself from death by calling forth the souls of the people he has killed.
6. Giorno Giovanna – JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
The main character of “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind” is Giorno Giovanna. He has a special Magical power called “Gold Experience” that enables him to give inanimate objects life and sensory perception.
Giorno has the ability to generate live species out of inanimate objects and change living things into different forms using his Stand. He has the ability to restore health and even undo the effects of death.
Giorno’s ultimate form, “Gold Experience Requiem,” has the ability to effectively cancel out any action or attack by setting everything that occurs back to zero. He is almost impossible to defeat thanks to this talent, which puts him in the running to be the strongest anime character ever.
Giorno is a dangerous foe that has the capacity to beat Goku in a fight thanks to his Stand powers and ultimate form.
7. Featherine Augustus – Umineko no Naku Koro ni
Featherine Augustus is a character from the “Umineko no Naku Koro ni” visual novel and anime series. She is the highest-ranking witch in the series and has immense magical powers.
She has the ability to manipulate reality and can create and destroy entire universes with ease. She can also manipulate probability and rewrite history. With her immense power and magical abilities, Featherine Augustus could easily take down Goku in a one-on-one battle.
8. Sosuke Aizen – Bleach
Sosuke Aizen is a major antagonist in the “Bleach” anime and manga series. He is a former captain of the Gotei 13, a group of Soul Reapers who protect the balance of the spiritual world.
Aizen possesses immense spiritual power, which he uses to manipulate the senses of others, making them see and hear what he wants them to. He can also create illusions, making his opponents see and feel things that aren’t there.
Aizen’s ultimate ability is called “Kyoka Suigetsu,” which allows him to manipulate the senses of anyone who sees or hears his Zanpakuto, making them see and believe anything he wants them to. This ability is nearly unbeatable and makes Aizen a formidable opponent.
9. Guts – Berserk
Guts is a skilled warrior with immense physical strength, speed, and agility. He is also a master swordsman who wields a massive sword known as the “Dragon Slayer.”
Guts’ fighting style is brutal and aggressive, and he is known to take on several enemies at once. He is also incredibly resilient, withstanding severe injuries and even losing an arm during his battles.
Guts’ greatest asset, however, is his willpower and determination. He has survived through countless battles and traumatic experiences, making him a formidable opponent who never gives up.
10. Ryuk – Death Note
Ryuk is the god of death in the “Death Note” anime and manga series. He has the ability to grant death to humans, but some believe that he cannot defeat Goku because he is a Saiyan.
However, this is not entirely true. Ryuk wrote the rules for the Death Note so that its human user had to abide by them. In the one-shot sequel manga, we see Ryuk adding new rules to the book, which means that it is entirely possible for him to kill Saiyans.
Since Ryuk is invisible to anyone who does not have the Death Note, Goku cannot see him, touch him, or attack him. However, killing people when it is not their time is a taboo that costs the shinigami its life. So Ryuk might die if he breaks this rule, unless it is overwritten by a higher being who made the rule.
11. Accelerator – A Certain Magical Index
From “A Certain Magical Index,” an anime and manga series, comes the strong character Accelerator. He is regarded as the most powerful Esper in Academy City and has the power to control vectors, which practically invulnerable.
With the aid of Accelerator’s power, he is able to manipulate the strength and direction of any physical force he comes into contact with, including the wind, heat, and even the blood flow of others. He is a fearsome foe due to his extraordinary speed and agility.
Accelerator has amazing skills, but he’s also incredibly smart and cunning. He is an expert fighter who can anticipate the maneuvers of his rivals, making him even more dangerous.
Accelerator is a difficult foe to confront in a fight against Goku due to his ability to manipulate vectors and near invincibility.
12. Meliodas – The Seven Deadly Sins
In the anime and manga series “The Seven Deadly Sins,” Meliodas is the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins. He is renowned for his superhuman strength, quickness, and capacity to control the forces of darkness.
Complete Counter, a special ability of Meliodas, enables him to return any physical or magical strike to its target with twice the power. He is also incredibly regenerative, which enables him to recover from almost any injury.
Meliodas possesses amazing skills, but he is also a brilliant combatant and tactician. He is even more dangerous in battle because of his ability to assess opponents swiftly and identify their weaknesses.
13. Ichigo Kurosaki – Bleach
The lead character in the anime and manga series “Bleach” is Ichigo Kurosaki. He is a Soul Reaper who obtains incredible power through engaging in training and being hollowified, among other methods.
Ichigo has superhuman strength, speed, and the capacity to gather spiritual energy and channel it into devastating energy bursts. He may also transform into his hollow form, which increases his power and gives him new skills.
Ichigo possesses amazing skills, but he’s also a brilliant warrior and tactician. He is even more dangerous in battle because of his ability to assess opponents swiftly and identify their weaknesses.
Ichigo is a tough opponent in a fight with Goku because to his tremendous strength, speed, and capacity for controlling strong energy blasts.
14. Akuto Sai – Demon King Daimao
Akuto Sai is the main character of the “Demon King Daimao” anime and manga series. While the anime doesn’t fully explore his immense power, in the light novel, he becomes omnipotent and omniscient, making him one of the strongest anime characters of all time.
As an immortal being, Akuto Sai has a void body form that makes him everything and nothing at the same time. He possesses limitless skills and abilities, which make anything possible for him. Fans believe that he is even more powerful than Featherine Augustus from “Umineko no Naku Koro ni.”
15. Monkey D. Luffy – One Piece
The main character of the anime and manga series “One Piece” is Monkey D. Luffy. He gets the Gomu Gomu no Mi Devil Fruit, which gives him his legendary power and rubber-based skills.
With the use of his rubber-like physique, Luffy can extend his body to enormous lengths and deflect physical attacks. He is a fearsome foe due to his extraordinary strength, agility, and speed.
In addition to his amazing abilities, Luffy is an expert combatant and tactician. He is even more dangerous in battle because of his ability to assess opponents swiftly and identify their weaknesses.
16. Levi Ackerman – Attack on Titan
In the anime and manga series “Attack on Titan,” Levi Ackerman is a skilled soldier in the Scout Regiment. He is known for being very fast, agile, and strong, which makes him a tough opponent.
Levi is the best fighter there is, and he can quickly figure out his opponents’ weaknesses. He is also a good tactician who can make plans on the spot in the middle of a battle.
Levi has a lot of great skills, and he also has the ODM gear, which makes it easy for him to move through the air and fight Titans.
17. Light Yagami – Death Note
Light Yagami is a brilliant high school student and the main protagonist of the anime and manga series “Death Note.” He discovers a mysterious notebook that has the power to kill anyone whose name is written inside it.
With this power, Light decides to rid the world of criminals and create a utopian society ruled by him. He becomes known as “Kira,” a vigilante who is revered by some and feared by others.
Light’s intelligence and cunning make him a dangerous opponent. He is able to outsmart even the most skilled detectives and law enforcement agencies, and his ability to manipulate people to do his bidding is unparalleled.
In a battle against Goku, Light’s intelligence and cunning make him a formidable opponent.
18. Naruto Uzumaki – Naruto Shippuden
Fans of the anime and manga series Naruto and Naruto Shippuden will recognize Naruto Uzumaki as the series’ main protagonist. To say that Naruto is a powerful ninja is an understatement. The Nine-Tailed Fox spirit is locked inside of him, and it gives him extraordinary skills.
Naruto’s incredible speed, agility, and strength all on full display throughout the series. As an added bonus, he can use his chakra to execute devastating moves like the Rasengan and the Tailed Beast Bomb.
Naruto’s refusal to give up, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, is one of his greatest qualities. This resolve is what has allowed him to mature physically and mentally into a deadly adversary.
Naruto’s strong skill set and his ability to channel the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox make him a formidable opponent for Goku in battle.
19. Truth – Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood
Truth is a mysterious entity from the “Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood” anime and manga series. It has never used its powers in the series, so it’s unclear what it is truly capable of. However, we do know that Truth is a concept that cannot be erased by Goku’s powers.
As a concept, Truth is something that cannot be defeated by conventional means. While Goku has the power to erase timelines and universes, he cannot do anything to the concept of truth. This means that there is a high likelihood that Truth could defeat Goku in a one-on-one battle.
20. Eri – My Hero Academia
Eri from My Hero Academia possesses an extraordinary quirk that allows her to rewind time for anyone she touches. In fact, she can even rewind someone’s existence to the point of non-existence.
While it may seem like Eri could easily defeat Goku by touching him and erasing his existence, the reality is much more complicated. Goku’s incredible speed and fighting skills make it highly unlikely that Eri would ever be able to touch him in the first place.
Moreover, even if Eri were able to touch Goku and activate her powers, it’s not clear how quickly she could erase him from existence. Given Goku’s lightning-fast reflexes, he may be able to escape her touch before she can fully erase him. Therefore, it’s unclear who would emerge victorious in a hypothetical battle between Eri and Goku.
