7 Anime Main Characters Who Will Never Be the Strongest in Their Universe

It is uncommon but not unusual to encounter Anime protagonists who are not overly powerful. Many well-known anime series, such as Naruto, Black Clover, and Tokyo Revengers, have featured main characters who initially appear weak, but gradually become stronger as the story unfolds.

In addition, there are numerous anime in which the supporting characters possess greater strength than the main characters, such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Hunter x Hunter, and Re: Zero. While the world of anime is often dominated by overpowered protagonists, it can be refreshing and relatable to see protagonists who are not as strong. The following is a compilation of seven anime main characters who will never hold the title of the strongest in their respective universes.

Please note that this article is not ranked and solely represents the author’s personal opinion.

From Yona to Edward Elric, here’s a list of Anime Main Characters Who Will Never Be the Strongest in Their Universe

Yona of the Dawn

Hak and Yona (Image via Pierrot)
Hak and Yona (Image via Pierrot)

Yona of the Dawn, a popular supernatural adventure anime series from 2014, follows the story of “Princess Yona”as she sets out on a quest to locate the four “Dragon Gods”and restore order to her kingdom.

Despite being the leader of her army, Yona is not a formidable warrior. She depends on her allies, including Son Hak, Yoon, and Kija, to reclaim the kingdom from Soo Won. As the story unfolds, Yona, who was once naive, undergoes intense training to improve her strength; however, she will always be outmatched in the Yona of the Dawn universe.

Subaru’s Experience in the World of Re: Zero

Subaru (Image via White Fox)
Subaru (Image via White Fox)

Subaru, the protagonist of the 2015 series Re: Zero, is often considered one of the least powerful main characters in anime. In the show, he is suddenly transported to a fantastical realm and discovers that he has the unique ability to reset time whenever he dies.

Subaru is frequently viewed as a crybaby and repeatedly meets his demise as a result of his failure to make sound decisions throughout the storyline. He is unable to command his “power”and automatically resurrects after each death. As of now, there is no indication that Subaru will ever become the most powerful in his world.

Kenshin – Rurouni Kenshin

Ishin Shishi Himura Kenshin (Image via Studio Gallop)
Ishin Shishi Himura Kenshin (Image via Studio Gallop)

Rurouni Kenshin is a timeless martial arts anime that has captivated viewers for many years. Despite this, Ishin Shishi Himura Kenshin is not portrayed as one of the most formidable main characters in anime. The storyline centers around Kenshin’s journey to atone for his past as the notorious “Man Slayer”.

As he travels, he comes across numerous characters who are undeniably more powerful than him. Despite the story depicting Kenshin’s growth as both a person and a skilled fighter, he never reaches the status of the strongest character in the anime.

Light Yagami- Death Note

Light Yagami (Image via Madhouse Production)
Light Yagami (Image via Madhouse Production)

In the anime universe, Light Yagami is widely recognized as one of the most intelligent main characters, but he is not considered to be the strongest. Similar to Dexter, Light is motivated by his own warped idea of justice.

Light possessed the power to cause death by simply writing a person’s name in his “Death Note”, a notebook utilized by “Shinigami”to record the names of the deceased. He utilized this notebook to eliminate all criminals worldwide, but his actions extended beyond just criminals as he removed anyone who opposed him.

Despite his seemingly unstoppable power, Light is not without weakness – he must know the name of his intended victim in order to use his abilities. In order to maintain his anonymity, Light received assistance from Misa and his Shinigami, Ryuk. However, his arrogance ultimately proved to be his downfall, as he fell into the trap set by the young detective known as “Near”. In the end, it can be concluded that Light was not the most formidable individual in the world of Death Note.

Atsushi Nakajima – Bungo Stray Dogs

Atsushi Nakajima (Image via Studio Bones)
Atsushi Nakajima (Image via Studio Bones)

Bungo Stray Dogs is a captivating supernatural action anime that features characters named after renowned authors. The storyline draws inspiration from Atsushi Nakajima’s experiences with the Armed Detective Agency and the many challenges they encounter.

Despite possessing the power of the Berserker White Tiger, Atsushi is not the most powerful character in the anime. Other characters such as Dazai, Akutagawa, and Fitzgerald surpass him in both strength and intelligence. Despite undergoing a significant transformation throughout the plot, Atsushi is still not considered to be among the strongest main characters in the anime.

Main Character of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Edward Elric (Image via Studio Bones)
Edward Elric (Image via Studio Bones)

Edward Elric, the brilliant young alchemist from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, is widely recognized as one of the most intelligent protagonists in anime. The series follows Edward and his brother Alphonse as they embark on a quest to obtain the legendary Philosopher’s Stone. Along the way, they encounter and engage in battles with homunculi who are also seeking the coveted stone.

Despite Edward’s countless displays of genius and bravery in the anime, such as saving people from homunculi and aiding Ishvalan refugees, he ultimately emerged victorious in defeating Father (the living philosopher’s stone). However, in terms of raw strength, Edward falls behind characters like Roy, Scar, Lust, and Father, and may not be considered one of the strongest main characters in anime.

Natsu Dragneel – Main Character of Fairy Tail

Natsu Dragneel (Image via A-1 Pictures)
Natsu Dragneel (Image via A-1 Pictures)

In the world of anime, Natsu Dragneel is widely regarded as one of the most powerful fire mages. His exceptional mastery of magic has earned him the title of “true dragon king”from none other than Acnologia.

Fairy Tail is a fantasy anime that follows the adventures of various mages from the Fairy Tail guild. The show features a plethora of powerful characters such as Natsu, Erza, Guildarts, Zeref, Acnologia, and others.

Despite undergoing a significant transformation to match the strength of the fire dragon Igneel, Natsu is undeniably powerful. However, due to the presence of other formidable characters such as his older brother Zeref and Acnologia, it is unlikely that Natsu will ever surpass them to become the strongest character in the world of Fairy Tail.

To conclude

While fans enjoy watching their favorite characters emerge victorious in battles, it is not uncommon for them to face defeat at times. This adds a humanizing aspect to the main characters in the anime, making them more relatable.

The characters who are not as strong as Indra or Saitama rely heavily on their peers, highlighting the importance of mutual support. While some of the characters on this list possess immense power, they are not the strongest in their own universes, thereby imparting lessons of humility, camaraderie, and the significance of friendship to the audience.

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