Top 10 Most Powerful Fictional Characters

Ever wondered who'd win in a fight between Superman and Goku? Or maybe you've pondered the true extent of Shaggy's power?

What makes a character truly powerful? Is it raw strength, reality-warping abilities, or an unwavering will? Maybe it's a combination of all these traits, creating a character that leaves a lasting impact.

This list is the culmination of votes from fans like you, weighing in on who they believe deserves the title of most powerful. It's a mix of beloved heroes, terrifying villains, and some characters that might surprise you. From gods to reality benders, super-powered aliens to unassuming cartoon characters, this list spans the vast spectrum of fiction.

The Top Ten

One Above All (Marvel Comics)

The One Above All is the supreme being and the creator of the Marvel Multiverse. This character is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, and embodies the ultimate power and authority in the Marvel Universe.

The One Above All is by far the most powerful character ever created. The current number one, Goku, may be able to destroy galaxies, but I don't think he can create them on a whim, which is what it would take to be a speck of a blip on the One Above All's radar.
The One Above All literally has power over everything. If Goku tried to fight him, her, or it, The One Above All could easily just take Goku's abilities away or simply negate their existence. He, she, or it could also negate his entire existence. That's real power.

Ain't no way Saitama, Goku, or Superman are top five. I'm just saying that right now. There are literal creators of the universe that cannot die and are all-powerful. I don't understand people's logic when they say Saitama or Goku could beat One Above All, The Presence, or Kami Tenchi.
Since they are literal gods, with a capital G, couldn't they literally do anything? Yes, Saitama can't just punch those gods out of existence. If you believe that, this is probably the nicest way I'll put it: you aren't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed.
Goku (Dragon Ball)

Goku is a Saiyan warrior known for his incredible strength, martial arts skills, and ability to achieve increasingly powerful transformations. He is the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball series and continually strives to protect Earth and its inhabitants.

Goku's powers are unlimited. All others are nothing in front of the Dragon Ball character. Who is Zeno? He can erase all universes in just a second. As Goku can go beyond his powers, it is possible that Goku can surpass Zeno.
Some people say that Goku's power level increases without training. Actually, no. The anime mostly shows the training, which is a waste of time. If there is something very interesting in the training part, it is always shown. The day is very close when Goku will be the most powerful character in anime history, both in the present and obviously in comparison to others.
There is no comparison between Marvel characters and Dragon Ball characters.
Superman (DC Comics)

Superman, also known as Kal-El or Clark Kent, is an alien from the planet Krypton with superhuman abilities, including flight, super strength, and invulnerability. He serves as one of Earth's greatest heroes, dedicated to justice and protection.

Plain old regular Superman is already formidable. He can move planets, defeat universal-level threats, carry 20 quintillion tons, and hold black holes in his hands. Sure, he can do that, but that doesn't cut it for me.
However, when we consider the more powerful versions of Superman, things get interesting. Certain versions of Superman definitely deserve to be on this list. I'm not listing them all, but if one is interested, they should do their research.

I don't care what others say. Superman is a better fighter and father than Goku! And he's smarter, stronger! Superman is always trying to save everyone, while Goku is always satisfying his own desires/ego to be the strongest warrior in the universe. But this is precisely why he's always risking everyone's lives... Superman has a truly pure heart, not Goku...
The Presence (DC Comics)

The Presence is the omnipotent entity in the DC Universe, representing the ultimate source of power and creation. This character oversees and influences all aspects of existence within the DC Multiverse.

The Presence is (yet again) a literal god. Why are these gods rated so low? Idiotic fans really put Superman higher than the god who created him.
The Presence is easily stronger than Superman and Goku. The Presence is on the level of Zeno from DBS, so of course, he's stronger than Goku. My god, just put the overpowered beings in the right spots. Easily number 4 or 5.

He is completely omnipotent. He created the DC multiverse. He can change and warp reality without so much as a thought, which means characters like Superman, Saitama, Goku, or anybody else are powerless against him. Even with all their power combined, they're not infinite in every way imaginable like he is. Therefore, he'd just wish them out of existence and "poof," they're gone.
Galactus (Marvel Comics)

Galactus is a colossal cosmic being known as the Devourer of Worlds, consuming planets to sustain his life force. He is one of the most powerful entities in the Marvel Universe, often posing a significant threat to entire civilizations.

Galactus could beat Superman. He can absorb matter and energy, so he could do that to his enemies. He could get too big to fight.

Worlds are certainly fun to destroy, but to eat?
Thanos (Marvel Comics)

Thanos is a powerful villain in the Marvel Universe, known for his quest to collect the Infinity Stones and his ambition to bring balance to the universe by wiping out half of all life. His actions pose a significant threat to superheroes and the cosmos.

This assessment seems misguided. Considering plain-old Thanos, MCOC Thanos, or MCU Thanos, he falls short when compared to characters like Saitama. However, if we refer to HOTU Thanos, he would rank at number five, not counting actual deities.
Regarding Regulator Thanos, he would be placed at number six, inclusive of literal gods such as The Presence, TOAA, Kami Tenchi, Zeno, and Azathoth. I might have overlooked some, but this would at most adjust Regulator Thanos's ranking by one position or not at all, as he is on par with gods, having been the one to reveal TOAA initially. Regulator Thanos is unstoppable. Regular Thanos, in contrast, is comparable to entities like Galactus or Darkseid. In the MCU, he is on par with Batman, whereas MCOC portrays him rather trivially.
Kirby (Kirby)

Kirby is a small, pink, and round character with the ability to inhale enemies and gain their powers. He hails from the planet Popstar and frequently saves his world from various threats.

Kirby is literally the most powerful creature ever. He may look cute, but he can destroy planets with his bare fist. He can punch 50 times a second, and it only takes three of these punches to kill a weaker character.
His Warp Star is faster than light, and with bare feet he can run on water. He has defeated creatures with infinite power. He can throw a frying pan with a 20-ton critter on it to the sun and back. He can eat anything, including planets.
Don't forget his copy ability. He can survive planet-sized explosions. And don't forget that this is all while he's a baby. If he were an adult, he would probably launch a planet across the universe by touching it. He can inhale all of reality, and can use invincible candy to become indestructible and deal contact damage.
In conclusion, no one can survive the wrath of cute little Kirby.
Saitama (One Punch Man)

Saitama, also known as One Punch Man, possesses overwhelming strength and is able to defeat any opponent with a single punch. He is often bored by the lack of challenging foes in his pursuit of heroism.

Saitama is a character whose power knows no bounds. As a fan of both Saitama and Goku, I would place Goku above all except in terms of strength. Saitama's power appears limitless, especially since he hasn't shown his full strength yet.
He outshines Superman, having jumped from the sun to Earth in less than five seconds, and remember, Saitama is a human. While Goku's speed with Ultra Instinct is impressive, in terms of sheer strength, he is surpassed. However, the Dragon Ball series is not yet complete, so Goku's true potential remains unknown.
As he continues to grow stronger, the debate over whether Saitama or Goku is the superior fighter remains unresolved. But for me, they both share the top spot.
Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls)

Bill Cipher is a powerful and malevolent interdimensional demon in the form of a one-eyed yellow triangle. He serves as the main antagonist of Gravity Falls, seeking to cause chaos and gain ultimate power.

Logic, people. Bill can disintegrate a 900-million-ton baby using just 1/10 of his power. If I'm correct, unless you are a 4th or 5th-dimensional reality warper, you cannot harm Bill Cipher in any way.
He is one of the ONLY characters in fiction who can permanently kill Deadpool. This is because, when Bill blasts an opponent, they disintegrate into dust. Doing that to Deadpool would kill him because there would be no cells left to regenerate from.
If I'm right about this, Bill could solo the Undertale universe, the DC universe, the Marvel universe, the DBZ universe, and almost every other universe. So, logic, people - seriously. Bill Cipher's power comes down to mathematics. Man, society disappoints me.
Living Tribunal (Marvel Comics)

The Living Tribunal is a cosmic entity tasked with maintaining balance in the Marvel Multiverse. It has nearly unlimited power and authority, often intervening in matters of cosmic significance.

This character should be in the top five at least. The Living Tribunal regulates the entire Marvel Multiverse, reducing Goku and Superman to mere children in comparison.
With nearly omnipotent powers by Marvel standards, this is significant, given that Marvel is arguably the strongest fictional universe.

I cannot believe that Superman, Goku, Kirby, and Galactus are ranked higher than the Living Tribunal. He is the Cosmic Judge of all realities. He could obliterate all the listed characters' realities with a simple command. In Marvel, this guy is second only to his master, The One Above All.

The Newcomers

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Ben Quadinaros (Star Wars)

The "chosen one": finishes the race successfully.
Ben Quadinaros: So friggin' powerful that his pod racer, with four engines instead of two, got completely overloaded due to Ben's immense power.
Verdict: Ben Quadinaros's power is just too much.
When Obi-Wan was exiled to Tatooine, his only good memory of this planet was seeing this legendary racer. Naturally, Obi-wan accentuated the positive and named himself after Ben to keep his identity secret.
The "chosen one," Anakin, was so impressed by Ben's sheer power that he wanted his grandson named after Ben Quadinaros.
Some of the most legendary characters in Star Wars aspire to be like Ben Quadinaros. It's easy to see why.
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Mahoraga (Jujutsu Kaisen)

He is really strong, and he almost beat Sukuna at 15 fingers.

The Contenders

Shaggy Rogers (Scooby-Doo)

Shaggy Rogers is a member of Mystery Inc., known for his close companionship with the Great Dane, Scooby-Doo. Despite his cowardly nature, Shaggy often finds himself in the midst of mystery-solving adventures.

To say that the ultimate force that is Shaggy Rogers is the most powerful being in the entirety of existence would be an understatement. Many people might argue that Thanos is more powerful, but while Thanos could only destroy half of all living things in the universe with the Infinity Stones, Shaggy could snap his fingers and destroy every conceivable universe and timeline and still not be at his maximum power.
I would go so far as to say that he not only created the world we are standing on but likely even created each universe. Before there was existence, there was Shaggy Rogers.

Easily number 1. The dude can literally destroy the entire Omniverse with 100% of his power, and that's not even close to his max limit. His max limit literally goes up to 50,000%.
He could obliterate every character on this list except The Presence, TOAA, and Memes with just 0.5% of his power. With 10%, he could destroy the meme characters too. With 20%, he could even beat The Presence and TOAA.
It's also proven by the creators of Shaggy themselves that Shaggy is this strong. Just go watch the intro scene of Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms for yourself.
Beyonder (Marvel Comics)

The Beyonder is an immensely powerful being from beyond the Marvel Multiverse, capable of manipulating reality at will. This character often plays a pivotal role in major Marvel storylines, including the Secret Wars.

The Beyonder was extremely powerful and nearly had unlimited power. He was so overpowered in Secret Wars.
The dude could create portals and travel into other universes and dimensions. In Secret Wars 2, he said, "Cows don't have wings because I don't want them to," which basically means everything is exactly how he wants it to be. If he wanted cows to have wings, they would have wings. If he wanted the world to end, it would end. If he wanted to take over the world, he could do so effortlessly.
The Beyonder could accomplish things with a single thought, such as destroying galaxies in space, all while just standing there with his arms crossed. He had almost every hero in Secret Wars under his control.
He could manipulate matter and even control nonliving objects like the ocean, rocks, the ground, animals, etc.
So I don't know how Goku, Superman, Kirby, the Living Tribunal, or Galactus are ranked above him when he is clearly far more powerful than all of them combined. He even swatted Galactus like a fly in the comic, and it was said Galactus was like an ant compared to him. He should definitely be higher on the list.
Batman (DC Comics)

Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, is a vigilante hero in Gotham City, relying on his intellect, detective skills, and physical prowess. He is one of DC Comics' most iconic characters, dedicated to fighting crime and corruption.

With prep, Batman beats everything. It's that simple. With preparation, he has beaten the Suicide Squad, the Justice League, and Darkseid. An evil variant of him has taken down his whole universe, and this was before gaining the powers of Dr. Manhattan.
With those powers, this variant, also known as The Batman Who Laughs, killed the creator of the DC multiverse with ease. He also killed Superboy-Prime while holding back and possesses the power of all major crisis events in history (Crisis on Infinite Earths, Zero Hour, Infinite Crisis, Final Crisis, and Dark Nights: Metal).
Therefore, The Batman Who Laughs surpasses the Anti-Monitor, Parallax, Superboy-Prime, True Form Darkseid, Cosmic Armor Superman, Mandrakk, and Barbatos. His mere presence shook the Sphere of the Gods, broke the Bleed, and erased alternate timelines.
I don't know if there's anything he can't do. The only being I know of that's stronger is Grant Morrison. That's why you don't push Batman too hard.
Godzilla (Godzilla)

Godzilla is a gigantic, prehistoric sea monster awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation. This character has become an iconic figure in film, known for its immense strength and destructive capabilities.

In theory, Godzilla Earth's considerable size would give him a significant advantage. It is suggested that Godzilla Earth will continue to grow indefinitely. I believe that, due to his size, Godzilla Earth may have an advantage over other characters if he can simply crush them underfoot.
However, I am not familiar with the strength of other characters ranked higher on this list.

Which incarnation?
If it's Godzilla Earth, then he should definitely rank above Saitama. Saitama may have easily defeated beings with godlike powers, but Godzilla Earth overcame Void Ghidorah, an almighty Lovecraftian entity that consumes universes and reality as sustenance. Considering that Void Ghidorah does not even originate from our plane of reality and barely exists, I doubt Saitama could impact either of these adversaries.
Vegeta (Dragon Ball)

Vegeta is a Saiyan prince and a prominent character in the Dragon Ball series, known for his fierce pride, strength, and rivalry with Goku. Over time, he evolves from a villain to a hero, fighting to protect Earth.

Not the strongest compared to TOAA, Zeno, etc., but being nearly at the same level as Goku, he definitely deserves to be ranked high. Especially with his new Ultra Ego transformation in the manga, which is his equivalent form to Ultra Instinct.
If there were a list of the Strongest Characters in all of Fiction, whether Goku was in first place or 100th, no matter what, Vegeta still deserves to be directly behind him. No Superman or Saitama behind Goku, specifically Vegeta. This is because if Goku can beat Superman (which I don't think he can), then Vegeta can too.

44? The only character who can go pound for pound with Goku, and even surpass him up until the final tournament arc, is ranked 44? This list is nonsense.
Silver Surfer (Marvel Comics)

The Silver Surfer, originally named Norrin Radd, is a cosmic hero who wields the Power Cosmic, which grants him superhuman abilities and control over matter and energy. He serves as a herald for Galactus, seeking out planets for his master to consume.

The Silver Surfer is one of the most powerful beings in the universe and the most powerful of the Heralds of Galactus. Imbued with the Power Cosmic by Galactus himself, he possesses near limitless energy absorption and manipulation abilities that manifest in various ways.
Thor (Marvel Comics)

Thor is the Asgardian God of Thunder, wielding the enchanted hammer Mjolnir and possessing immense strength and control over lightning. He is a prominent superhero in the Marvel Universe, often protecting Earth and the Nine Realms from various threats.

Thor is incredibly powerful, and he was the reason the Avengers weren't completely destroyed in Wakanda. He got close to defeating Thanos, but at that point, Thanos was already way too powerful. Moreover, to wield Stormbreaker, one has to be extremely powerful. Any normal person attempting to wield it would disintegrate.
Thor also escaped from Surtur and defeated him in combat.

In Infinity War, it is shown that Thor could single-handedly destroy Thanos, even when Thanos had all the Infinity Stones.

He's literally a god. There's no way he's below Batman.
Kami Tenchi (Tenchi Muyo!)

Kami Tenchi is an omnipotent and transcendent being from the Tenchi Muyo! series, embodying the ultimate power and the source of all existence. This character's true nature and abilities surpass the comprehension of other entities in the series.

He is the omnipotent being of the whole setting.

He's a literal god. He should be higher on the list.

He's an omnipotent god. He can just think of something, and it will happen.
Doomsday (DC Comics)

Doomsday is a monstrous being with immense strength and regenerative abilities, known for his role in killing Superman. He is nearly indestructible, continually evolving to overcome any force that defeats him.

Doomsday is undoubtedly one of the most underrated characters. Often overlooked, he stands as one of the most powerful beings in the DC universe, comparable to or possibly superior to Superman (regardless of the version). He killed Superman and possesses a form of immortality. If he is killed, he revives and becomes resistant to whatever killed him. Therefore, unless you are an all-powerful god, a 6th-dimensional imp, possess 12th-level intellect, or are Kirby, you have no chance of defeating Doomsday permanently.

I know he killed the Man of Steel. Why's he so low? Plus, he looks so cool, and when he dies, he gets up and gets stronger. He should be at least number 1 or 2. Like, Superman got killed by this guy. Does anybody know that?
Zenō (Dragon Ball)

Zenō, also known as the Omni-King, is the supreme ruler of all universes in the Dragon Ball series. Despite his childlike appearance, he possesses the power to destroy entire universes effortlessly.

It is specifically stated by a god that Zen-chan can never be defeated. It does not matter at all who has what feats, as, first, Zeno has effortlessly surpassed feats of complete omnipotents (One Above All, Beyonder, Living Tribunal, The Source, Kami Tenchi) and has never even been challenged.
Second, he has greater potential to be a great fighter with his infinite strength, even without training. Moreover, it is stated that it is not possible to defeat him. Also, Zalama, a dragon god the size of a universe, is not as strong as him. Let me explain. Zamasu wished on the Super Dragon Balls to be immortal, and that immortality granted by Zalama was overridden by Zeno.
Azathoth (Cthulhu Mythos)

Azathoth is a cosmic entity from H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, often described as the blind and idiot god at the center of the universe. Its existence embodies chaos and insanity, influencing the mythos' dark and mysterious nature.

In my opinion, Azathoth can easily go toe to toe with characters such as One Above All and Kami Tenchi. All of existence is stated to be a part of its dream, and it will vanish when Azathoth awakens. Its mind has been able to create countless reality-warping and beyond-dimensional entities with knowledge and power beyond human imagination. Azathoth is omnipresent, omnipotent, and probably omniscient. I know that people can argue about the omniscience statement, but there are two facts to consider:
1. Azathoth has created a being like Yog-Sothoth, who is truly omniscient.
2. The entire "Blind Idiot God" label could be more connected to the fact that Azathoth isn't aware of its own creation than to it being simply unintelligent.
Furthermore, it is impossible to hurt or kill Azathoth in any way because concepts such as life, death, and destruction are just parts of its dream, which means Azathoth is beyond all of them. You should also remember that it can do so much by simply dreaming. What would Azathoth be truly capable of when it is fully conscious and awake? The thought gives me creeps.
Popeye (Popeye the Sailor)

Popeye is a sailor with superhuman strength, which he gains from eating spinach. He is known for his distinctive speech and his relentless efforts to protect his love interest, Olive Oyl, from various antagonists.

Popeye can beat Goku, Saitama, Superman, Thanos, and One Above All, so checkmate!
Ben 10 (Ben 10)

Ben 10, or Ben Tennyson, is a young hero who can transform into various alien forms using the Omnitrix device. His adventures revolve around combating evil forces and protecting the universe.

He's literally overpowered, like the definition of overpowered. He has four different aliens he can choose from for any occasion. Even if he turns into Grey Matter when he wants brawn, he literally still kicks ass.

Ben 10 possesses Alien X, which is an omnipotent being, as stated multiple times throughout the show and confirmed by its writers. That's what makes Ben 10 the most powerful fictional character.

He can become omnipotent and can rewrite the timeline of the multiverse.
Darkseid (DC Comics)

Darkseid is a tyrannical ruler of the planet Apokolips and one of the most powerful villains in the DC Universe. He seeks to conquer the universe and obtain the Anti-Life Equation to control all sentient beings.

God of Apokolips. Lord of Tyranny. Darkseid is.
Darkseid's Omega Effect is more than enough to have him in the top ten. However, he's also very smart and is an experienced fighter in his own right. His feats are ridiculous and can match up to godlike figures like Superman and Orion (his son), who are themselves some of the strongest heroes in DC.
His true form resides in the Fourth World, and his strength there is at its greatest, capable of overwhelming most godlike beings without much of an issue. His true form is so malevolent that simply exiting the Fourth World would destroy the entire multiverse. This is why he creates avatars to interact with the universe, and even then, they are incredibly powerful in their own right.
Hulk (Marvel Comics)

The Hulk, also known as Bruce Banner, transforms into a powerful green-skinned giant when enraged. He possesses incredible strength and durability, making him one of the most formidable heroes in the Marvel Universe.

The Hulk's power is practically unlimited. As his fury increases, he gets stronger and stronger.
He takes time to ramp up, but can outpower Saitama and Superman. He just needs to survive long enough and get mad enough. Not even close to top 10 though, even disregarding the gods.
Actually, this list isn't about who would win in a fight, just about who is the strongest. But we all know Hulk is the strongest there is (disregarding gods).
He would never win a fight against anyone in the top 10 unless he gets a chance to build up his rage. Then, after centuries of anger, he one-shots Superman and Saitama. Though gods wouldn't get hit, neither would Goku, and neither would Regulator Thanos.