Chainsaw Man: The Strongest Character In Every Arc, Ranked

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The following contains spoilers for the Chainsaw Man manga.

The world of Chainsaw Man constantly changes which characters are in the spotlight, whether it’s the devil hunters or the devils they fight. Because of this, it’s hard to say definitively who the strongest characters are – the rankings often change with each new story arc, which keeps things exciting. While powerful figures like Makima and the Four Horsemen are consistently strong, they aren’t always central to what’s happening.

The two main story arcs in Chainsaw Man consistently establish the most powerful characters, and the battles are always intense. While shorter arcs sometimes portray Denji as the strongest, he’s usually overshadowed in the larger, more important storylines. Looking back at the toughest fighters in each major arc, it’s incredible to consider how Denji managed to survive all those dangerous encounters.

Katana Man Arc: Denji

Denji Went Plus Ultra to Shred His Nemesis

For the first few story arcs of Chainsaw Man, Denji is among the most powerful characters. He’s consistently tough and resilient, always able to withstand fights with even the most dangerous devils. However, Denji isn’t usually the absolute strongest character in a story arc, so he should make the most of it when he is.

The Katana Man Arc marked the last time Denji easily won against a major villain without taking significant damage. While Katana Man proved to be a strong opponent and initially gained the advantage, Denji ultimately overpowered him. Thanks to assistance from Aki and a boost in power, Denji decisively defeated Katana Man and severely punished him for challenging Chainsaw Man.

Reze Arc: Reze

The Bomb Devil’s Explosions Nearly Blew Denji Apart

Image via MAPPA.

The Reze Arc took anime fans by surprise, introducing a new danger to Chainsaw Man’s world. Many viewers thought Makima was the main love interest for Denji, but then he met Reze, a captivating waitress who quickly caught his attention and gave him hope for a real relationship. However, it was a shocking twist – Reze was actually a powerful and dangerous devil hybrid with explosive abilities, originating from the Soviet Union.

Reze quickly proved herself as the most powerful fighter in the arc, surpassing all other explosion-based characters. As the Bomb Devil, she was a relentless and self-assured assassin determined to kill Denji. Initially, her explosive power overwhelmed Denji, and with help from the Typhoon Devil, she pushed his team to their breaking point. Denji and Beam barely managed to defeat her through a combination of smart strategy and bravery, and it was a very close fight.

International Assassins Arc: Darkness Devil

Primordial Fears Like Darkness Aren’t So Easily Beaten

Image via Shonen Jump.

Beginning with the International Assassins arc in the Chainsaw Man manga, villains like the Bat Devil, Katana Man, and even Reze seemed less threatening when compared to Denji’s later opponents. While human assassins such as Quanxi were notable, the most powerful enemy in the arc was undoubtedly the Darkness Devil. Denji encountered this terrifying creature in Hell, an experience that deeply shook Power and permanently damaged her self-assurance.

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The Darkness Devil was a major threat early in Chainsaw Man, being one of the very first primordial devils introduced. These powerful beings represent humanity’s oldest and deepest fears, making them incredibly strong and resilient – far beyond the capabilities of most other devils. When Denji, Aki, and the others fought the Darkness Devil, their priority was simply to survive and get away, as winning wasn’t realistic. While Santa Claus proved to be a formidable opponent later on, the Darkness Devil was undoubtedly the strongest of the two.

Gun Devil Arc: Makima

Makima Defeated a Force of Destruction

Image via MAPPA.

For a significant portion of the story, Makima was the strongest fighter in Chainsaw Man, and it became clear she was incredibly powerful and dangerous. While fans hoped she wouldn’t use her abilities to harm Denji, Power, and Aki, a sense of dread built that something bad was going to happen.

Even during the Gun Devil Arc, Makima didn’t seem like an immediate threat to Denji, but fans of Chainsaw Man were still uneasy about her. It was unsettling, not exciting, to watch her effortlessly use her immense power and control against the Gun Devil while Aki battled Denji in his Gun Devil form. Despite the Gun Devil being built up as an incredibly destructive force capable of causing widespread devastation, Makima dealt with it without much difficulty.

Control Devil Arc: Makima

Denji’s Love Interest Became an Endgame Boss Battle

Image via MAPPA.

The intense final arc of the first part of Chainsaw Man finally showed how truly powerful Makima was, and she turned that power against Denji. By this point, she saw anyone standing in the way of her goal – capturing the Chainsaw Devil, including Power – as an enemy. When Makima killed Power, Denji felt more lost and empty than ever before, ultimately leading to a confrontation between the two of them.

Makima proved to be a huge danger as the Control Devil, and Denji was incredibly lucky to make it through their intense battle – it was his toughest fight yet. He barely won, and it wasn’t the first time a girl who cared for Denji ultimately became his enemy. This left the Control Devil Arc, and the first major story arc of Chainsaw Man, with a sad but fitting conclusion, setting the stage for Asa Mitaka to become the new, surprising protagonist.

Falling Devil Arc: Falling Devil

This Primordial Fear Fancies Herself a Chef

Image via MAPPA.

Some of the storylines in the second part of Chainsaw Man are particularly memorable because of the exciting fights against new enemies. As Asa and Yoru grew in power, they formed an unusual partnership as antiheroes. One especially challenging opponent was the Falling Devil, a being based on the primal fear of falling. While falling might seem like a minor injury, like a scraped knee, the Falling Devil is a far more powerful and terrifying threat.

The ‘Falling Devil Arc’ focused on Asa and Yoru’s challenging battle against a powerful devil who was incredibly difficult to defeat. This devil, living up to her name, could manipulate the battlefield to make opponents fall, and she enjoyed tormenting them like a cruel game. Surprisingly, she presented herself as a humble servant of Hell and other devils, but remained unpredictable and capable of betraying them when it suited her.

Chainsaw Man Church Arc: Pochita

Makima Coveted This Power For a Reason

Image via MAPPA.

I realized pretty quickly why Makima was so focused on Denji – it wasn’t him she cared about. She wanted Chainsaw Man, and all the incredible power that came with him. It wasn’t just about the chainsaws and destruction; Pochita’s power could actually wipe other devils out of existence completely, and that’s what Makima really desired.

Throughout the series, the main characters Denji and Pochita constantly grow stronger, unlocking impressive new powers and transformations. While this doesn’t necessarily make Denji the most powerful character overall, it means Pochita is incredibly strong when needed. We see this particularly in the Chainsaw Man Church Arc, where Pochita’s ultimate form allowed Denji to easily defeat other hybrids and destroy everything around him. Although this power is immense, Denji can’t always access it, leaving him vulnerable in many situations.

Aging Devil Arc: Aging Devil

Everyone Fears the Long March of Time

Image via MAPPA.

The recently concluded Aging Devil Arc is a major part of the Chainsaw Man story, and as of now, it’s unclear who the strongest fighter in this arc is. Many fans are focusing on the creepy Aging Devil as the most impactful villain we’ve seen so far. It represents a fundamental fear – everyone worries about getting old. While death is a more common fear, the Death Devil wasn’t the main threat in this arc, making the Aging Devil the most significant villain of the story arc thus far.

The Aging Devil is incredibly difficult to defeat – it’s a primal fear that has never truly been overcome. It’s a powerful attacker, easily overpowering heroes like Denji with just a few blows. Beyond its strength, the Aging Devil can stop time to dodge attacks and rapidly age opponents, either weakening them completely or killing them instantly.

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2026-02-17 22:06