Kafka Hibino is the strongest combatant shown in the anime so far, based on his restored Kaiju No. 8 transformation overpowering Kaiju No. 9. That is an editorial verdict, not an official series ranking: the anime’s materials call Gen Narumi “the strongest man in the Defense Force,” while No. 9 remains a rapidly evolving kaiju threat. This list uses anime-only evidence through the official site’s episode 23 material and weighs combat results, destructive output, special abilities, and equipment.
How this anime-only ranking works
The official anime materials do not publish a complete power ranking. The order below is therefore a comparison of what the anime has shown, not a canonical scale. Ranged specialists such as Mina Ashiro are especially difficult to compare with close-combat fighters: a single long-range attack can change a battle without demonstrating the same versatility in a hand-to-hand fight.
Numbers weapons also affect the comparison. Some entries are kaiju, some are human fighters, and some derive much of their capability from specialized equipment. The official site identifies Gen Narumi as the user of Numbers 1, Kikoru Shinomiya as the user of Numbers 4, and Soshiro Hoshina as the user of Numbers 10; Reno Ichikawa is selected as compatible with Numbers 6.
The 14 strongest characters shown in the anime
1. Kafka Hibino / Kaiju No. 8
Kafka takes the top spot because his restored transformation overwhelms No. 9 in episode 16. The official Season 2 synopsis also frames his Kaiju No. 8 power as the force he uses to make Narumi recognize his strength. His placement is based on those demonstrated results, not on a claim that every matchup would favor him.
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2. Kaiju No. 9
No. 9 is the anime’s most consequential evolving threat. In episode 15, it splits into two bodies and continues evolving during the fight. After absorbing Isao Shinomiya and the power of Kaiju No. 2, it escapes the combined pressure of Narumi and Kafka in episode 17. Its adaptability and survival make it a stronger overall threat than a simple comparison of striking power would suggest.
3. Gen Narumi
The official Season 2 synopsis calls Narumi “the strongest man in the Defense Force.” That is an in-world description of his standing among Defense Force personnel, not a settled verdict that he outranks every kaiju. He leads the First Division, uses Numbers 1, and fights one of No. 9’s bodies while Kafka and Kikoru engage the other.
4. Mina Ashiro
Mina’s clearest standout feat in the latest official episode material is a powerful long-range shot that helps rescue the Defense Force from a gigantic kaiju. That destructive reach earns her a high position, although it does not make her directly comparable to fighters whose strongest evidence comes from close combat.
5. Isao Shinomiya
Isao belongs here as a comparison of peak capability, not as an active combatant in the later story. No. 9’s decision to absorb him and the power of Kaiju No. 2 underscores the value of what he brought to a fight. The anime material establishes his importance through that event rather than through a later personal battle result.
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6. Soshiro Hoshina
Hoshina is a specialist in close-quarters combat, and Kafka receives direct Defense Force hand-to-hand training from him. His later use of the intelligent Numbers 10 weapon adds a significant advantage. That weaponized partnership is part of the case for his placement, rather than evidence that Hoshina and an unequipped fighter are being compared on identical terms.
7. Kaiju No. 10
No. 10 is an intelligent kaiju whose weaponization makes it a serious combat asset. Ranking it beside human fighters depends partly on whether the comparison counts a fighter’s full equipment. The official site identifies Hoshina as the user of the Numbers weapon made from No. 10, so the two entries represent the kaiju and the human who wields its weapon—not two unrelated power sets.
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8. Kikoru Shinomiya
Kikoru contributes to the fight against No. 9, and her words help Kafka regain his transformation in episode 16. She later uses Numbers 4, previously wielded by her mother. Those showings establish both battle relevance and access to a powerful specialized weapon, though the available episode material does not place her above the senior fighters ranked higher.
9. Reno Ichikawa
Reno is selected as compatible with Numbers 6, which the official episode 19 synopsis describes as the most powerful and dangerous weapon. He enters live combat with it, making him a high-potential fighter whose placement reflects both his compatibility and the weapon’s significance.
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10. Iharu Furuhashi
Episode 20 shows Iharu producing high momentary combat output and developing the potential of a flash adapter while fighting alongside Reno. This is evidence of a burst-capability case, not proof that he can sustain the same level of performance as the fighters above him.
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11. Hikari Shinomiya
Hikari is included as a historical peak-combat comparison, not a present-day fighter with a newly shown battle result. The official episode 20 summary identifies her as Isao’s former colleague, and official material connects her to Numbers 4, which she wielded before Kikoru.
12. Aoi Kaguragi
Aoi is a capable Defense Force fighter, but the official episode summaries available for this cutoff do not establish an individual feat comparable to those cited for the higher-ranked characters. His position is consequently more tentative than the rankings above.
13. Haruichi Izumo
The official character roster confirms Haruichi’s place among the main characters, but the episode summaries used for this anime cutoff offer little basis for a strong comparative placement. The ranking reflects that limited demonstrated evidence; it does not claim that his future ceiling is known.
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14. Reno with Numbers 6, rather than Kaiju No. 6 as a separate active fighter
A character-only list should not count the original Kaiju No. 6 as an active combatant merely because its power is represented by a Numbers weapon. The anime evidence here supports Reno entering live combat with Numbers 6, not a separate recent fight by the original kaiju. This final slot is therefore best understood as Reno’s weaponized combat configuration; he is already ranked above, and the entry is not a claim that the two are separate fighters.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the middle and lower placements are less certain
The strongest evidence is concentrated in the major clashes involving Kafka, No. 9, Narumi, Mina, and the Numbers users. For several lower-ranked characters, the official episode summaries confirm a role or a potential without supplying a comparable individual result. Their exact order is consequently more judgment-based, and the list should not be read as a precise measurement of strength.
The cutoff is the official anime site’s episode 23 material. The site separately describes a concluding installment as in production; its eventual release date and contents are not established here. New animated material could change the order.
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