Top 10 Anime Heroes With Terrifying Powers

“Gleipnir” (2020) Timid, pale anime schoolboys transforming into giant beasts that cause a lot of havoc is nothing new, but rarely have we seen one that makes us feel this…uncomfortable. It’s not enough that Shuichi bulks out into a monster; he becomes a giant stuffed animal with a creepy, stitched-on smile. That would be unsettling enough, but then we watched his sadistic classmate give him a power boost by literally unzipping his back and stepping inside him. Becoming one with your waifu has never looked so painful.

“Parasyte” (2014-15) An alien being accidentally fusing into your right hand might sound like a bad time, but having someone like Migi occupy your body is pretty ideal when you have other intergalactic invaders roaming around and turning innocents into fleshy vessels with a desperate hunger for blood. That being said, watching this sentient right-hand shift into various weapons, stretching out and shooting the shit in general does not make for pleasant viewing. It’s action-packed body horror at its finest, and one that never fails to give us the shivers whenever we see Shinichi expand and contort his body to take down a parasite.

“One Piece” (1999-) From prince charming to the stuff nightmares at the tip of a hat! When we first met this flamboyant swordsman in Dressrosa, he seemed like your competent if narcissistic beau of the high seas, never wasting a moment to express just how he was the pinnacle of beauty, sparkles included. At least until he got knocked out during the clash with Doflamingo’s familia…then we got to see his ugly side. Known as Hakuba, this sinister and perpetually smiling alter ego is a merciless killing machine that can slice down a whole slew of gladiators within the blink of an eye, with a face that will chill you to the bone.

“Inuyashiki” (2017) Cyborgs may be considered slick and stylish these days, but it turns out having your body converted into a mechanical murder-switch is a pretty horrifying process. While still taking on the appearance of a feeble old man, after being brought back to life via some alien tech, Inuyashiki’s new body granted him excessive strength, flight, enough armaments to waste an entire yakuza group with pinpoint precision. He likely would have been able to slaughter his way through a whole city if he had experimented more with his new body like Shishigami did, but he’s just too much of a sweet guy.

“A Certain Magical Index” Franchise (2008-) Pretty easy to be a villain when you’re considered the strongest esper in all of Academy City and your psychic powers essentially turns vectors into your plaything. Of course, following on from his humbling defeat at the unbeatable right fist of Touma, Accelerator isn’t only left severely handicapped, but also given a new perspective, wherein he uses his astronomical power to shield the innocent Last Order as her lone guardian. As all his opponents found out the hard way, even nerfed, his vectors still have the potential to crush all matter around him and protect him from all harm. If he gets you in his sights, you’re done.

“Legend of the Legendary Heroes” (2010) By himself, this wannabe magician wasn’t shown to be capable of much aside from antagonising the series’ best girl. But when the Alpha Stigma comes into play, Ryner becomes an absolute force of nature. Driven by a desire to destroy everything in sight, this entity kicks his new host’s magic into hyperdrive, to the point he can massacre a squadron of skilled magic knights with ease. It’s not a pretty death either, since it seems the Stigma tends to favour blowing up body parts and innards for maximum gruesomeness. Messy yet effective.

“That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime” (2018-) He’s a gelatinous blob who’s only starting talent is the power to absorb and assimilate whatever melts into his squishy body, and as such eventually rose up to become possibly the strongest being in this classic fantasy land. From monsters, to deities, to plant life and even his own love interest, every time Rimuru ingests something, it becomes a permanent part of his arsenal, to the point where his magic and strength are beyond reckoning. No wonder he was able to build up a nation of his own so quickly.

“Mob Psycho 100” (2016-19) For the most part, this soft-spoken, empathetic cinnamon roll is just an awkward boy who wants to make some friends and improve himself, the kind of person who’d rather apologise than start a fight. Unless you push his emotional capacity to a hundred percent, in which case prepare to feel the all-consuming wrath of some next level psychic abilities. Whether it’s anger, sadness, bravery or anything else, once Mob reaches that esper event horizon, his power explodes, to the point where he can casually lift entire cities with his mind and telekinetically devastate everything around him. Thankfully, he’s a good boy who would rather spend his time with the body improvement club.

“JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind” (2018-19) There are a lot of Stand Users out there, all with crazy abilities that both confound and scare the daylights out of us, whether due to their appearances of their sinister skills, but only one has tipped over the line into godhood, and that is Gold Experience Requiem. Taking the competent but hardly OP nature of Giorno’s Stand and combining it with the uber-enhancing properties of the mysterious arrow, this new Requiem form essentially allowed the gang-star to reject and nullify any threat to come his way, to the point where GER doesn’t just kill someone, it sends them spiralling into a endless cycle of death and rebirth. It can’t be touched.

“Fire Force” (2019-) While his potential has yet to be realised, this Fire Soldier has already shown signs of reaching that HOLY SHIT shounen powerhouse level, and it’s all thanks to the Adolla Burst. Not only does this pure flame allow him to sense the intentions and thoughts of other, but also create a mental link with them that can dive deep into their memories. Oh, and he can propel himself at such speed with his flames that he has now mastered travelling at the speed of light, which in itself is redefining the laws of the universe for his convenience…