Best Manga With Tamer Protagonists

Key Takeaways

• Tamer protagonists add variety to isekai stories by creating unique dynamics with monsters.
• Some tamers value a peaceful life over adventuring, finding different ways to utilize their skills.
• Many tamer protagonists focus on maintaining bonds with animals rather than showcasing overpowering strength.

In fantasy games and stories, tamers are people who can befriend monsters and animals and team up with them in battle. This type of character doesn’t usually get much attention, but many manga protagonists end up being some form of tamer, whether by accident or by coincidence. Either way, another character is added to the main cast. This happens quite a lot in isekai.

That being said, there aren’t many manga where the protagonist starts as a tamer or has a tamer class. It’s usually more popular for the protagonist himself to be overpowered, so many authors have found a way to get around that in their stories. Sometimes the familiar shares power with the tamer, and other times the protagonist is already incredibly strong. Otherwise, they avoid action altogether.

9 Isekai Mofumofu Café

Running A Cat Café In A Fantasy World

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2021 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Punichan
• Illustrator: Yuu Takaoka

Although tamers are meant to be an adventuring class, many tamer protagonists choose to live a comfortable life instead. After saving a cat from a car, Taichi Arima dies and is reincarnated into a different world. He gains various abilities from god that allow him to be a powerful tamer, but because of his love of animals, he uses those powers to create a fluffy café.

Compared to other isekai, this manga is definitely lacking in excitement, but it’s still quite cute and fun. The biggest selling point of the story is all the adorable animals and monsters that Taichi tames, who are given notably round and soft features. Even notable monsters like Fenrir and Cerberus are given fluffy, round features. It’s very wholesome content.

8 I’m The Only Monster Tamer In The World And Was Mistaken For The Demon Lord

Resigning From Being A Hero Turns Into A Much Larger Problem

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.61
• Published: 2018 to 2024
• Genre/Theme: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Author: Senri Kakei
• Illustrator: Norio Doujima

In most stories, the protagonist is already a tamer, but in this manga, Noah Whitefield is actually a “hero.” He hated it so much, he went on a five-year journey to get rid of the class. Using the Divine Class Tome, he’s able to change his occupation to Monster Tamer. Unfortunately, his absurd strength and the monsters he tames make him look like a demon lord.

Overpowered protagonists aren’t anything new, but this story starts in the middle rather than at the beginning, which means more action. While there isn’t much about the characters that are special, they’re a fun cast, especially the tamed monsters. That being said, the plot is pretty straightforward, and there aren’t many interesting twists.

7 Orphanage Tamer

Using Isekai Powers To Save A Makeshift Family

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.62
• Published: 2019 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Slice of Life
• Author: Masaki Andou
• Illustrator: Moroko Kurasaki

Orphanage Tamer is a mellow story about life at an orphanage. Shu was reincarnated after dying of old age, and god gave him a variety of powers before being born again, including the power to tame monsters. Unfortunately, the orphanage he lives in is poor and can’t support everyone. Using his abilities, Shu begins hunting around the area to provide for everyone. Soon everyone is pitching in to support the orphanage.

Slow-life isekai are often popular because they lack the intensity of action stories, and Orphanage Tamer runs with that in mind. The characters, plot, and illustrations are very simple, which means it doesn’t take much effort to read. The taming part is rather mild since the monsters are more like pets for the orphanage than anything. They do make the story more entertaining, at least.

6 My Isekai Life: I Gained A Second Character Class And Became The Strongest Sage In The World!

Slimes Accidentally Turn A Man Into A Genius

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.71
• Published: 2018 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Shotou Shinkou
• Illustrator: Jea Pon

Of the overpowered isekai protagonists, Yuji Sano is probably one of the most absurd. After being isekai’d, he’s given a taming skill, which he uses to tame a group of slimes. In this world, it’s possible to learn magic just by reading the right books, so when his slimes begin reading books found in a random, dilapidated cottage, he instantly becomes a sage.

The story fits the archetype of a protagonist who doesn’t know how strong he is, and a lot of the humor revolves around the phenomena Yuji creates with his slimes and his magic. The tamed monsters are the best part of the story, and they make up for Yuji’s lack of personality. The plot is rather simple, but it was entertaining enough to get an anime adaptation.

5 Beast Tamer

Tamer Forms A Party With The Strongest Monster Girls

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.85
• Published: 2019 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Action, Fantasy
• Author: Suzu Miyama
• Illustrator: Moto Shigemura

There are plenty of manga where the protagonist is kicked out of the hero’s party, and they all usually play out the same. This one is no different. It follows Rein the tamer as he makes a life for himself after being fired. He soon meets and saves Kanade, a member of the superior cat race, and eventually, they team up. On their adventures, they meet other members of superior races who join the group.

While Rein does tame many animals, it’s for brief moments and only in key situations. His identity as a tamer is mostly defined by the party members he “controls,” like Kanade. They aren’t beasts as much as they’re humanoids with special features like cat ears or a dragon’s tail. It’s a pretty cookie-cutter story, but it’s fun in its own way.

4 Saint? No! I’m Just A Passing Beast Tamer!: The Invincible Saint And The Quest For Fluff

Strongest Saint Candidate Wants To Pet Fluffy Animals

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.11
• Published: 2020 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
• Author: Inumajin
• Illustrator: Toi Iida

Rather than something impressive, being a beast tamer in this world is laughable. Due to sharing their strength with their companions, the tamers themselves are very weak. However, what would happen if that person was incredibly overpowered? Kanata is a genius with amazing talent in swordsmanship and magic, but instead of becoming a saint as everyone expected, she becomes a beastmaster to pet fluffy animals.

The best part is that Kanata experiences none of the drawbacks of being a tamer. She can still throttle dragons and instantly purify ghosts if she needs to. Suddenly, the weakest job is starting to look very good. It doesn’t help that the first beast she tames is the deposed demon king. The story is truly unpredictable, but that’s what makes it fun. Unfortunately, there are slightly less than twenty chapters.

3 By The Grace Of The Gods

The Most Unfortunate Man Becomes An Expert On Slimes

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.30
• Published: 2017 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai, Iyashikei, Reincarnation
• Author: Roy
• Illustrator: Ranran

Slimes are one of the most popular monster types, and that’s because they’re often depicted as innocent and weak. In By the Grace of the Gods, Ryouma Takebayashi reincarnates in another world and lives alone for three years. In that time, he tamed hundreds of slimes, using them for day-to-day chores and other tasks. When people from the town enter his forest, he decides to live among humans again.

This is another feel-good manga about relaxed and comfy living. In fact, the gods of this other world reincarnated Ryouma just so he could live a peaceful life which he was deprived of on Earth. Although he only tamed slimes, he was able to evolve them and produce different species that didn’t exist naturally in the wild. It may be a slow-life manga, but there are plenty of interesting things in the story.

2 The Weakest Tamer Began A Journey To Pick Up Trash

Rummaging Through Junk To Feed Her Pet Slime

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.58
• Published: 2020 to ?
• Genre/Theme: Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Honobonoru500
• Illustrator: Tou Fukino

Tamers traditionally use their partners in combat, so they need to be strong. However, in many manga, slimes are the monster of choice for many protagonists. In Ivy’s case, she doesn’t have much of a choice. Her taming ability is the weakest, so she’s only able to tame a small slime. However, her status as a “starless” gets her kicked out of her village.

This manga is a cute reincarnation story that focuses on Ivy’s journey of survival. Despite her tragic origins, Ivy is able to overcome many challenges and even make a few friends. Her adventure is about moving forward and growing up, which is a great change of pace from other action-oriented isekai. It’s great for relaxed reading. There’s also an anime for those who prefer that.

1 Campfire Cooking In Another World With My Absurd Skill

Using The Power Of Online Shopping In Another World

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.54
• Published: 2017 to Present
• Genre/Theme: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Gourmet, Isekai
• Author: Ren Eguchi
• Illustrator: Akagishi K

In Campfire Cooking, Tsuyoshi Mukouda isn’t technically a tamer, but he becomes one out of necessity. After being brought to a different world, he gains a unique skill that allows him to shop online for things like food, toiletries, and appliances. One night, his food attracts a legendary Fenrir who demands a pact, so he can continue eating Mukouda’s food.

After that, the story focuses on their travels and the food they eat. It’s an extremely lighthearted adventure with no real goal and no threats. Mukouda eventually tames a slime and a small dragon using his food, which makes the story more fun. Each monster has its own personality and quirks that create an entertaining family dynamic. It’s one of the best examples of taming in manga.