Top 6 Most Powerful Starships in Anime, Ranked

Anime frequently explores the realm of science fiction, encompassing themes like hard sci-fi, dystopian futures set far ahead, and vibrant space operas. Frequently, the spaceships in these anime become characters themselves, and while mecha series are well-known for their significant spaceships, they appear just as frequently in other genres of anime.

Famous anime spaceships are often integral to their respective narratives and sometimes lend their names to the series or films they’re featured in. However, it’s not just about size and firepower when it comes to determining the mightiest spacecraft in anime – while these factors certainly play a role, there are other considerations involved in compiling this list of powerful starships.

6. The XGP15A-II (Outlaw Star)

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Title “Future Retro Next Generation Outlaw Star” is a translation of its original Japanese name. This title incorporates a piece of the comic’s original title. The series blends elements of mecha, interspersed with the dramatic and humorous aspects common to space-themed outlaw shows like “Cowboy Bebop” or “Space Dandy.

In this space opera, Gene Starwind is our protagonist, who turns out to be something akin to a space cowboy. He acquires an extraordinary vessel known as the XGP15A-II, which is fueled by an enigmatic substance called dragonite. This ship later gets renamed the Outlaw Star, and it’s not just any ordinary spaceship; it’s swift, potent, and equipped with the standard arsenal of missiles, melee weapons, and firearms. However, what truly sets the Outlaw Star apart in combat is its grappling arms, a unique feature that gives it an advantage in battles.

5. The Starlight (Odin: Photon Sailor Starlight)

Following The Path Of Ancient Gods

Release Date: August 10, 1985
Distributor: Toei Company
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

The Starlight isn’t merely a spaceship; it’s a laser-propelled cosmic galleon, being the first of its unique kind. The narrative unfolds during its inaugural journey, as an ordinary orbital excursion transforms into a life-saving operation to aid a solitary survivor from an enigmatic interstellar conflict. Subsequently, a rebellion ensues where the team overthrows the captain and navigates towards the unknown, aiming for a distant location called Odin.

The Starlight’s strength doesn’t lie in its weapons or dimensions, but rather in navigating an arduous journey blending old deities and their supernatural abilities with tangible technological perils. Moreover, they solve a centuries-old enigma and conquer the Master Computer on their quest to Odin.

4. The AAA Wunder (Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone)

Utilizes Its Own Magi System

The Autonomous Assault Ark Wunder isn’t designed for space exploration, yet it often ventures into the stratosphere, similar to the Evangelions. Its design is a blend of the initial Evas and the three NERV Magi supercomputers, enabling it to perform tasks an Eva can do, along with the capabilities of a formidable warship.

In the initial segment of “Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone,” the AAA Wunder assumes crucial functions. Later, it shows up in subsequent films as the leading vessel of the armada. It possesses sufficient might to engage an Eva directly, and it makes its debut assisting Asuka when she’s attempting to retrieve Shinji and Unit 001.

3. The Yamato (Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199)

Interstellar Navigation, Space Travel, And The Survival Of Humanity

If you’re an aficionado of contemporary mecha anime, this series really pushed the genre to new heights when it initially aired towards the end of the 1970s. The American adaptation is often called “Star Blazers” and originated in the early 1980s. The latest iteration is essentially a reboot, featuring the same characters and narrative but delving deeper into details and providing more extensive background information.

In this sci-fi series, the Yamato is recognized as a super-advanced space battleship equipped with exceptional interstellar navigation and travel capabilities. Yet, it serves an even more pivotal role – concealing a brand new, formidable starship being constructed by humans to counter the malevolent Garmillas Empire.

2. The ND-001 Nadesico (Martian Successor Nadesico)

Various Weapons, Plus A Gravity Blast Cannon

The Martian Successor Nadesico is a series that blends humor with space saga, set in the year 2196. The Earth finds itself under assault by extraterrestrial beings, known as the Jovian Lizards. In response, the ND-001 Nadesico, a vessel specifically engineered and constructed for battle, is deployed to counter their threat.

Equipped with both offensive and defensive strategies, as well as a powerful gravity blast cannon, the ND-001 Nadesico measures nearly 300 meters in length and doubles as a base for launching smaller vessels. With its 12 decks and over 200 crew members, this mighty battleship carries significant weight in terms of duty, despite the challenges posed by post-traumatic stress and complex personal issues among the team.

1. The SDF-1 Macross (Macross Plus)

A Fortress To Protect A Planet

When AI pop sensation Sharon Apple deviated from her programming and aimed to control an entire planet through her mesmerizing voice, she selected the Super Dimension Fortress Macross as her defense against incoming fighter jets. At that moment, it was serving as a permanent structure, symbolizing the arrival of interstellar harmony; the era of colossal battleships and terrifying robots had supposedly passed.

In the expansive universe of this franchise, I’m always in awe when I see the mighty SDF-1 make an appearance. It transforms into either a powerful mecha or a battleship, depending on the situation that calls for a formidable starship. One of its arms is the CVS-101 Prometheus, a colossal aircraft carrier, and the other is the SLV-111 Daedalus, a semi-submersible assault landing vessel. These appendages not only suggest the SDF-1’s imposing size but also hint at its formidable firepower, leaving me in awe every time I witness it in action!

2025-03-07 13:42