7 Anime main characters who will never be the strongest in their universe

It's rare but not unnatural to find not-so-powerful Anime main characters. A lot of popular anime like Naruto, Black Clover, Tokyo Revengers, etc. have introduced seemingly weak main characters, who eventually grow stronger with the progression of the plot.

There are also many anime with more powerful side characters than the main characters, such as Bungo Stray Dogs, Hunter x Hunter, Re: Zero, etc. While the anime universe is filled with overpowered anime main characters, not-so-powerful main characters can be more relatable and refreshing for the audience at times. This is a list of seven anime main characters, who will never become the strongest in their universes.

Disclaimer: The article is not ranked in any way and reflects the opinion of the author.

From Yona to Edward Elric, here's a list of anime main characters who will never be the strongest in their universe

1) Yona- Yona of the Dawn

The 2014 series Yona of the Dawn is quite famous among supernatural adventure anime. The anime introduces “Princess Yona”, who embarks on a journey to find four “Dragon Gods” to reunite her kingdom.

Although Yona is the leader of her army, she is not a powerful warrior. She relies on her allies- Son Hak, Yoon, Kija, etc. to win the kingdom back from Soo Won. As the plot progresses, once naive Yona trains to become stronger; but, she will never be the strongest in Yona of the Dawn universe.

2) Subaru- Re: Zero

Subaru from the 2015 series Re: Zero is one of the weakest anime main characters. In the Anime, he is transported into a fantasy world and gains the ability to return to the past after he dies.

Subaru is often seen as a crybaby and dies multiple times due to his inability to take proper actions throughout the plot. He cannot even control his “ability” and involuntarily returns to life after his death every time. So far there’s no sign of Subaru ever becoming the strongest in his universe.

3) Kenshin- Rurouni Kenshin

Ishin Shishi Himura Kenshin (Image via Studio Gallop)

Rurouni Kenshin is a classic martial arts anime that has attracted audiences for decades. However, Ishin Shishi Himura Kenshin is not one of the strongest anime main characters. The plot is loosely based on Kenshin trying to change his past as the heinous “Man Slayer”.

Throughout his journey, he encounters many characters who are clearly stronger than him. Although the plot shows Kenshin’s development as a character and a powerful martial artist, he never became the strongest character in the anime.

4) Light Yagami- Death Note

Light Yagami (Image via Madhouse Production)

Light Yagami is undoubtedly one of the smartest anime main characters in the anime universe, however, is not the strongest individual in the anime. Light is a Dexter-like character, driven by his twisted sense of justice.

Light could kill anyone by writing their name in his “Death Note” ( A notebook used by “Shinigami” to note the names of deceased persons ). Light used this notebook to kill all the criminals around the world, however, this killing spree did not stop only at criminals he eradicated everyone standing in his way

While Light’s power seems inevitable, it has a weakness- he needs to know the name of the individual he wants to kill. Light was aided by Misa and his “Shinigami” Ryuk to keep his identity hidden. Ultimately, he was blinded by his pride, leading him right into the trap of “Near”, proving his shortcomings. It’s fair to say, Light was never the strongest person in Death Note’s universe.

5) Atsushi Nakajima- Bungo Stray Dogs

Atsushi Nakajima (Image via Studio Bones)

Bungo Stray Dogs is an interesting supernatural action anime, where all the characters are named after famous authors. The plot is loosely based on Atsushi Nakajima’s life with the Armed Detective Agency and the numerous conflicts they face throughout the time.

While Atsushi has the power of the Berserker White Tiger, he is not the strongest character in the anime. Characters like Dazai, Akutagawa, and Fitzgerald are far stronger and smarter than him. Although he goes through a massive transformation through the plot, he is clearly not one of the strongest anime main characters.

6) Edward Elric- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

The genius young alchemist, Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is one of the smartest anime main characters. The plot revolves around Edward and Alphonse’s journey to acquire the Philosopher’s Stone. Through the journey, they clash with homunculi who are also after the Philosopher’s Stone.

Edward has proven his genius and strength countless times in the anime, he saved many people from homunculi, helped Ishvalan refugees, and ultimately defeated Father (the living philosopher’s stone). However, in terms of raw strength Edward is far behind Roy, Scar, Lust, and Father, therefore Edward would likely not fall among the strongest anime main characters.

7) Natsu Dragneel- Fairy Tail

Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail is one of the strongest fire mages in the anime universe. He shows unparalleled magic control and is hailed as the true dragon king by Acnologia.

Fairy Tail is a fantasy anime based on the quests of different mages from the Fairy Tail guild. The anime introduces many overpowered characters like- Natsu, Erza, Guildarts, Zeref, Acnologia, and more.

Natsu is definitely powerful and undergoes a massive transformation to become equal to the fire dragon Igneel. However, since the plot has many more powerful characters including Zeref (Natsu’s older brother), and Acnologia, Natsu could likely never become the strongest character in the Fairy Tail universe.

To conclude

While fans love to see their favorite characters win all the battles, it is not unlikely to see them lose at times. Not being overly powerful makes the anime's main characters more humane and relatable.

The not-so-powerful characters depend on their peers a lot more than characters like Indra or Saitama, which shows the value of mutual companionship. Some of the characters in this list are insanely powerful, however, the fact that they are not the strongest characters in their respective universes teaches humility, camaraderie, and values of friendship to the audience.