Top 10 Strongest Female Anime and Manga Characters

Anime and manga have given us some of the most incredible female characters, not just in terms of their strength, but also in their impact on the stories they're part of. From warriors who can take on armies by themselves to brilliant tacticians who outsmart their enemies at every turn, the strongest women in anime and manga are forces to be reckoned with.

These characters aren't just tough physically. They often embody resilience, intelligence, and sheer willpower, breaking through stereotypes and redefining what it means to be strong.

This list compiles some of the fiercest female fighters, leaders, and heroes across different series, ranked by fans who know them best. You get to weigh in and vote for the ones you believe should be at the top. Are you a fan of the master sword fighter who never backs down from a challenge? Or do you prefer the calm and calculating character who uses her smarts to win? Maybe it's the one with a mix of raw power and unshakable loyalty that earns your vote.

The Top Ten

Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z)

Android 18 is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga and anime series created by Akira Toriyama. She is originally introduced as a villain and one of the androids created by Dr. Gero to destroy Goku.
After being absorbed and later released by Cell, Android 18 reforms and becomes a key... read more

Android 18 is clearly the strongest woman in all of anime, and I'll tell you why. She's from the Dragon Ball series, which is infamous for its overpowered male characters. When most people hear the name Dragon Ball Z, they think of guys with big hair and crazy superpowers. However, many might not realize there was once a woman who handed most of those guys their defeat. That was Android 18.
The series also has other strong women, such as Videl and Chi-Chi. However, none of them have ever taken on a Super Saiyan in battle. When Android 18 was first introduced, she was the latest in a series of androids created by Dr. Gero with the intent of killing Goku. In her first fight against the uber-powerful Vegeta, she emerged victorious. Much later in the series, she took on both Trunks and Goten together. She was a seriously underused character.
Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)

Erza Scarlet is an S-Class Mage from the infamous magic guild Fairy Tail. She starts off as a lone wolf who strictly follows the rules. As the story develops, Erza changes into a loving, strong, and independent mage.
Her terrible past haunts her, and she initially ignores her nakama's calls for... read more

Erza Scarlet fights with honor and dignity. She said herself that even if she were weak and had no power at all, she would fight to the death for her comrades. It's not just physical power, but also the power of love she and her guild share, which makes her strong.
One of the greatest episodes where Erza's powers are demonstrated is the episode called Pandemonium. She uses her strategic abilities to quickly change armor by combining different weapons and armors from various sets. For example, she used her Flame Empress armor against a fire monster but combined it not only with its matching sword but also the sword from her Sea Empress armor set. She is truly amazing and deserves the title of Titania.
Vados (Dragon Ball Super)

Vados is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Dragon Ball Super, created by Akira Toriyama. She is an Angel and the attendant and martial arts teacher of Champa, the God of Destruction of Universe 6. Vados is the elder sister of Whis, who serves a similar role in Universe 7.

DBZ is known as one of the most powerful anime universes of all time, with characters capable of busting galaxies. So, what is Vados, the current second most powerful DB character (besides Zeno), doing down here? She's a universal buster. No offense, but Erza would die in a blink of an eye if she fought Vados. Even Beerus, who is much weaker than Vados, has destroyed several planets just from sneezing!

Oh, tell me how Erza could defeat Vados? Vados would destroy both Goku and Vegeta at the same time without even trying. Are you trying to say that Erza stands a chance against those two alien beasts? Not even the whole Fairy Tail universe would win against Krillin, who is a planet buster (excluding Zeref, since his curse is hax).
Tsunade (Naruto)

Tsunade is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise. She was created by Masashi Kishimoto and is one of the Legendary Sannin. Tsunade is known for her medical skills, superhuman strength, and her leadership as the Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Not only is she one of the best fighters on this list, but she is also an amazing healer, capable of healing a whole village at the same time. Combined with her monstrous strength and cunning tactics, she's a fearsome warrior who deserves her place on this list.

If I were to say everything I thought of Tsunade here, I think I'd be here until kingdom come. I'll say this: Tsunade is rightfully one of Konoha's Sannin and deserved her spot as the Fifth Hokage. Truly an impressive display of a strong, intelligent woman.

The Hundred Seals can beat anyone, I bet. Plus, remember how Jiraiya fears her? Even Orochimaru thought twice before dueling with her for the second time, after he got to know about her new jutsu.
Yoruichi Shihōin (Bleach)

Yoruichi Shihoin is a fictional character in the Bleach manga series and its adaptations created by Tite Kubo. She is a former captain of the 2nd Division in the Gotei 13 and also the former commander of the Onmitsukidō. Known for her speed and transformation ability, she plays a key role in several... read more

In terms of Bleach females, the only one that is probably stronger than her is Unohana. However, Yoruichi is arguably the fastest character in the entire series and has shown herself to be capable of standing against Espadas, and even fighting against an evolved form of Aizen, who was nearly invincible. She is far stronger than Rukia, Sakura, and even Tsunade. I think that the only female in anime that may be more powerful is Android 18.

I think this list is driven more by emotion than rational thinking. Yoruichi can outmatch more than half of the characters in the top eighteen. Rukia is an amazing person, and I'm a dedicated fan of hers, but let's face it: Yoruichi takes the cake in speed, strength, brains, and awesomeness.
Zangya (Dragon Ball Z)

Zangya is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball Z anime and manga series, created by Akira Toriyama. She appears as a villain in the movie Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound. Zangya is a member of Bojack's group and is known for her distinctive blue skin and orange hair.

Wait a sec. Is she down here because she's unpopular? Because Zangya is easily the strongest female here, even outclassing 18. For shame, people.

There are stronger characters, but Zangya is definitely more powerful than anyone currently at the top.

What is Zangya doing down here? She is one of DB's strongest female characters!
Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach)

Rukia Kuchiki is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Bleach, created by Tite Kubo. She is a Soul Reaper who begins as the lieutenant and later becomes the captain of the 13th Division. Rukia is the adoptive sister of Byakuya Kuchiki, a close friend to Ichigo Kurosaki, and eventually... read more

Top 1 for me because she's not a Mary Sue kind of character. She has strengths and weaknesses, and Tite Kubo has portrayed that well. Despite this, she proved that she is strong not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
She never sits around crying and screaming for help. Instead, she is the one who protects and fights for her loved ones, even strangers in need of help. All in all, she's AWESOME!

Rukia is the vice-captain of the 13th division. She has a very powerful ice-type Zanpakutou and recently gained Bankai as well. Not to mention, she has a very strong will and mind and a very strong conviction. She is one of the best and strongest female characters ever.
Lucy (Elfen Lied)

Lucy, born Kaede, is a fictional Japanese character who serves as the tragic antiheroine and main protagonist of the manga Elfen Lied. The series was created by Lynn Okamoto and is best known for its anime adaptation, directed by Mamoru Kanbe and written by Takao Yoshioka. In the Japanese version, Lucy... read more

What are Sakura Haruno and Tsunade compared to this immensely terrifying woman? If Sakura and Tsunade were to even go up against her, their heads would be ripped apart, and they wouldn't even know what happened to them.

A deadly femme fatale you don't want to mess with. With those vectors, you won't last long. Trust me, you don't want to remind her of the pain Lucy went through.

You can't run, and you can't hide from her. She is clearly the most powerful with her abilities. I'm sorry, but voting her down the list like this is a chump move. Heck, I can't stand Naruto, Fairy Tail, and One Piece.
Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)

Mikasa Ackerman is a fictional character in the manga and anime series Attack on Titan, also known by its Japanese title Shingeki no Kyojin. Created by Hajime Isayama, she is one of the main characters and serves as a close companion and protector of Eren Jaeger. Mikasa is known for her exceptional combat... read more

Oh my gosh, her parents were killed in front of her. She was kidnapped by men who wanted to sell her to rapists, watched a boy her age kill two men, and saw him almost be strangled. Then she killed a man herself. Her adopted mother also died in front of her. All she has left is her adopted brother, Eren. Yet, she remains strong and emotionally stable, kind, and genuinely caring.

Firstly, her parents were killed right before her eyes, and of course, she was terrified, unable to move or blink. She froze as if she were in hell or something. Yet, she dedicated herself (thanks to Eren) to kill them by saying, "Fight! If you don't fight, you die. If you do fight, you live," or something like that. If I have any grammar or spelling mistakes, I'm deeply sorry.
Mirajane Strauss (Fairy Tail)

Mirajane Strauss is a character from the anime and manga series Fairy Tail. She is the older sister of Lisanna and Elfman, and she possesses "Take Over" magic, which allows her to transform into animals, other people, or powerful demonic forms known as "Satan Soul." Mirajane holds the rank of S-Class... read more

While employing her Satan Soul, she is a formidable and scary opponent. In the past, she was on par with Erza Scarlet, a witch with as much power as the 10 Wizard Saints of the anime. She had quit her mage job due to the tragedy she suffered. After she awakened again, she became a valuable asset for Fairy Tail. Plus, all three Satan Souls are easily overwhelming for all her opponents.

People, realize it already! I hate it when people say Erza is stronger than Mira. She's not. Even Hiro Mashima says so.
Some people argue, "Well, if Mira was stronger, then Erza wouldn't have gained the title of the queen of the fairies." My reaction? You can't call a demon badass a fairy! Others say Erza was recognized as the strongest female mage in Fairy Tail when she was first introduced to the series. My reaction? Mira was severely injured, so she couldn't use her true magic. But after she regained her powers, she was amazing. They didn't mention who was stronger later, after Mira got her powers back. But if they did, it should be Mira. You don't have anything to argue against me now. I win.

The Newcomers

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Mami Tomoe (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Mami Tomoe (Japanese: 巴マミ) is a fictional character and one of the five main magical girls from the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. She is known for her composed demeanor and her ability to summon and wield flintlock rifles in battle. Mami also serves as a protagonist alongside Kyoko Sakura... read more
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Yuriko Okada/Electro-Wave Human Tackle II (Tanzaboro Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider)

The Contenders

Madoka Kaname (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Madoka Kaname is the main character of the 2011 anime series Puella Magi Madoka Magica. She is depicted as a kind and selfless middle school student who becomes a magical girl. Madoka's choices and development are central to the series and its related media.

She's basically a goddess by the end of the series (Kyubey even says so). I'm surprised she's at #9.
Madoka is constantly tortured with the decision she has to make between becoming a magical girl, bound to fight witches until she becomes one or dies, and choosing not to become a magical girl, knowing what other magical girls have to go through and not doing anything about it. That's a pretty tough choice to make.
Additionally, she watched one of her friends get decapitated by a witch, had one of her best friends turn into a witch and die, and unknowingly had to witness her classmate go back in time repeatedly, only to find that she couldn't save Madoka (did I mention there were spoilers?).
And yet, Madoka remains a kind, caring, and emotionally stable person who is modest and much smarter than she thinks. She has to be one of the strongest characters in anime history.
Videl (Dragon Ball Z)

Videl is a fictional character from the anime and manga series Dragon Ball Z, created by Akira Toriyama. She is the daughter of Mr. Satan (Hercule), a martial arts champion, and later becomes the wife of Gohan, the son of Goku. Videl is known for her fighting skills and strong-willed personality.

For her to be human, she is pretty awesome. She has extraordinary powers and is super hot.

Beautiful as well as strong. That's Videl.
Revy (Black Lagoon)

Rebecca Lee, commonly known as Revy and sometimes called Two Hands, is the main female protagonist of the anime and manga series Black Lagoon. She is known for her combat skills and use of dual pistols. Revy is one of the most prominent and violent characters in the series.

Honestly, what's so badass about her is her attitude and the way she handles things. Sure, she only has her guns at her side and doesn't have magic and all that, but without magic, she could beat all those people up there into a bloody pulp.

She's one of those female characters who actually isn't useless or crying over the male protagonist. In fact, it's actually the other way around in the show.

I wish that her character could have been less flat. She also seemed to be using her strength to cover up her soft spots, so she isn't really strong.
Izumi Curtis (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Izumi Curtis is a fictional character from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series and its adaptations created by Hiromu Arakawa. She is the teacher of the main characters, Edward and Alphonse Elric. Izumi is known for her strict discipline, powerful alchemy skills, and tragic backstory.

Izumi Curtis is undoubtedly one of the most powerful individuals in all of manga and anime. She is a master alchemist, one of the few capable of using the versatile hand-clapping transmutation circle, and extremely skilled in martial arts. She is also the only human who managed to invade Olivier Mira Armstrong's fort on the northern border. Izumi won a fight against the homunculus Sloth using only her bare hands. There must be a reason why Ed and Al are so afraid of her, despite her kind nature. Furthermore, her cunningness allows her to bend her surroundings to her advantage.

She's absolutely terrifying, and that's when she's in a good mood. Her hobbies include throwing knives, throwing people and monsters, and beating the crap out of alley hoodlums such as half-animal, half-human mutant monsters. And she does it all with half her internal organs missing and periodically spewing blood from her mouth.
Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Riza Hawkeye is a fictional character in the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series and its various adaptations, created by Hiromu Arakawa. She is known as a loyal and skilled sharpshooter who serves as the trusted adjutant to Colonel Roy Mustang. Her character is central to the series' themes of duty, loyalty... read more

Where do I start with Riza Hawkeye? She definitely deserves to be higher on this list, at least in the top ten. In my opinion, she is the greatest female anime character ever. Riza is neither weak nor an emotional wreck, unlike many other female anime characters. She is a lieutenant in the military, famed for her incredible sharpshooting abilities. Additionally, she keeps Mustang in line, which is no easy feat. The only time she cries in the entire series is when she believes Mustang, who is essentially her life, is dead.

I'd say power alone doesn't make a person strong. If you send a berserk maniac into a war who has zero battle IQ, he'll obviously lose. Riza is an experienced, skilled, and cool-headed person who can think under pressure and execute strategies.
She's extremely professional and doesn't let her personal life or emotions interfere. And of course, she isn't called Hawkeye for no reason. She's literally the best sniper in the whole military.
Nico Robin (One Piece)

"Devil Child" Nico Robin is a fictional character in the One Piece franchise created by Eiichiro Oda. She is an archaeologist and a member of the Straw Hat Pirates, known for her calm demeanor and intelligence. Robin has the ability to sprout body parts from any surface using the powers of the Hana Hana... read more

She's one of the strongest Strawhat Pirates, even though she doesn't get that much screen time at the moment. She was Sir Crocodile's right-hand woman and survived a lot before Luffy got her into his crew. She's strong and kicks ass.

I think she's stronger than the ones above her. She could break the bones of all the enemies she wants, and I think she deserves to be higher.

She can break people's necks and bones without touching them and is so sweet at the same time.
Arale Norimaki (Dr. Slump)

Arale Norimaki (Japanese: 則巻アラレ, Hepburn: Norimaki Arare) is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Dr. Slump manga and anime series created by Akira Toriyama. She is a robot built by Senbei Norimaki who looks like a young girl.... read more

She came from the moon and back by farting, punched the sun into Jupiter, and survived Super Saiyan Blue Goku. She definitely deserves a higher rating on this list. Calling Arale the 16th on this list is like Thor if he were never able to pick up that heavy hammer.

If she easily defeated Vegeta, threw Goku by the tail in his Great Ape form, and faced Goku in his Super Saiyan Blue form with Goku saying he can't stop her canon attack, and with Vegeta even saying that she does not obey the laws of physics, shouldn't she be number 1?
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki (Naruto)

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki is a fictional character from the Naruto manga and anime franchise created by Masashi Kishimoto. She is portrayed as the first wielder of chakra and is the mother of Hagoromo and Hamura Ōtsutsuki. Kaguya serves as the final antagonist of the original series.

Tsunade is currently number five on this list and is also the "strongest" Naruto girl according to this list. But Kaguya is actually the strongest Naruto character of all time. Where is your logic, people?

How is it that no one placed her in the top 10?! Kaguya created all possibilities for chakra or tailed beasts, etc. Naruto and Sasuke together struggled to take her down. Like what?! I don't think you guys are voting properly. Kaguya jumps through dimensions as easily and comfortably as we all jump into bed. Come on, guys, be realistic with fiction.
Pan (Dragon Ball GT)

Pan (パン, Pan) is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama. She is the granddaughter of Goku, who is known as Earth's greatest protector, and Mr. Satan, the reigning martial arts champion of the world. Pan is the daughter of Gohan and Videl, making her three-quarters... read more

I love her in the original manga. Don't count that non-canon Dragon Ball GT. I hate that. When she was four years old at the end of the original series, she flew around the Earth and was clearly stronger than Goku and Gohan when they were four. She has potential and will soon surpass Android #18. Come on, she is Son Goku's granddaughter, Gohan's daughter, and Goten's niece!

Some people think that she shouldn't be powerful because she's not half Saiyan. Those are ridiculous reasons. Haters are going to hate, but Pan is still one of the strongest female characters ever to exist (not counting GT), as she is Gohan's daughter, for goodness' sake! She inherits her father's potential and her grandfather's greatness.
Sakura Haruno (Naruto)

Sakura Haruno is one of the primary heroines of the series Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden. She is the only female ninja in Team Seven, which originally consists of Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and their sensei Kakashi Hatake. Her family includes her mother, Mebuki Haruno, and her father, Kizashi Haruno... read more

The only reason that people don't like Sakura is because she rejected Naruto's advances. She's the strongest female character other than Kaguya, and she has the ability to kill people with a single hit - she's pretty much the Saitama of the Naruto universe. She's the only female character in the show that is physically strong, and she even took down Sasori by herself!
Critics often argue that it was Chiyo who did the fighting, but reading the manga will prove that to be untrue. Even Chiyo stated that she was shocked by Sakura's strength, and she even said that Sakura did it without her help! If it wasn't for Sakura, almost every main character would be dead. She saved Naruto's life more than six times throughout the series, and she saved thousands of lives all by herself when Pain destroyed Konoha.
Sakura could easily take on the entire Hyuga clan by herself if she wanted to! Critics will try to tell you that she's weak or useless, but simply watching the anime and/or reading the manga will prove that to be false. She isn't the strongest character, but she's by far the strongest female character.
Saber (Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Zero)

Saber is a fictional character from the Japanese visual novel and anime series Fate/stay night by Type-Moon and its prequel Fate/Zero by Type-Moon and nitroplus. She is the Saber-class Servant of Kiritsugu Emiya during the Fourth Holy Grail War in Fate/Zero and the Servant of Shirou Emiya during the... read more

Her Noble Phantasm has basically annihilated anyone she's had the chance to direct it at, including Gilgamesh. It generates a giant mushroom cloud. Please.

This so-called king needs to be in second place on this list after Mikasa. I mean, this girl has some serious fighting skills, even more so when she has the invisible sword with her.

Inexcusable that she wasn't on this list from the get-go. We're talking about strongest female characters here. Saber should be an obvious inclusion.
Medaka Kurokami (Medaka Box)

Even though her power doesn't affect everyone, it has adapted over time so it could steal and improve abilities it couldn't before. With preparation time, she could quite possibly beat any other character from a battle manga or anime. However, All-fiction is one of the best abilities she copied, so that alone makes her stronger than most battle manga characters.
The relatively small portion she can't beat outright, she can if she gets her abnormality power THE END to evolve into being able to steal abilities it never could before. Yes, she certainly is stronger than the lovely lady above her on this list. Also, she is my waifu. So I'm totally biased, but for good reasons, that I can prove.
Morgiana (Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic)

Morgiana (モルジアナ, Morujiana) is a pure-blood Fanalis and a major character in the anime and manga series Magi, created by Shinobu Ohtaka. She was originally enslaved by a character named Jamil, along with another slave named Goltas. Her life changed after she met Aladdin and Alibaba Saluja.... read more

Morgiana is the best on this list in terms of both strength and characterization. She is a lovable, developed character with not only enough sheer power to destroy everyone else on this list but also a complex, complete, and altogether realistic personality that really makes her stand out as a character.

Morgiana is literally one of the best female anime characters out there. No arguments. She's probably one of the strongest on the list, with the combination of her super strength and Household Vessel.
Ai Enma (Hell Girl)

Ai Enma is the main protagonist of the series and is known as the "Jigoku Shoujo," which translates to "Hell Girl" in English. She appears regularly throughout the series, though her presence is smaller and less frequent in "Hell Girl: Three Vessels."... read more

Ai Enma has endured being thrown into a wall numerous times and set on fire, all without sustaining a scratch. She possesses the ability to instantly send someone to hell. Ai can manipulate you into sending someone to hell by entering your mind. She crawled out of hell and a pit, and set fire to an entire village. She can drive you insane and make you admit to your crimes, all without leaving a trace. Her willpower was strong enough to seek revenge. Ai Enma literally defeated the master of hell in one or two moves. In summary, Ai Enma is a badass.

She's the girl who takes people to hell in the anime, right?
Soi Fon (Bleach)