Strongest Demon Lords In Anime, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Demon lords in anime embody vast power and complexity, challenging protagonists and norms.
• Anime demon lords are charismatic and diverse, with unique approaches to their roles.
• The strongest demon lords in anime like Diablo and Anos Voldigoad showcase immense power and influence.

One has to give credit to the anime’s roster of demon lords. Without them, the protagonists wouldn’t have much of a villain to shout at. Not only do they represent the ceiling of anime power and capability, but they also serve as a near-impossible goal for many anime main characters.

Of course, there’s also the fact that the typical anime demon lord is charismatic and is easily a somewhat likable character for some despite being “evil.” It’s a tried and tested trope that isn’t about to stop anytime soon, meaning the number of demon lords will just keep growing. To keep better track of who’s who when it comes to hierarchy, here are some of the strongest demon kings in anime who each have a successful track record under their belts!

Updated on November 14, 2024, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: One thing about anime is that it never fails to fascinate and captivate its fans with its thrilling narratives and complex characters. These characters are the stars of the show, and among the variety of characters that exist are the demon lords. Demon lords are known to yield immense powers and profound complexity as they are designed to challenge the protagonists or sometimes, challenge the norms, as can be seen in Demon King Daimao. The role of a demon lord varies from malevolent tyrants seeking destruction to antiheroes or reluctant rulers battling with the moral implications of their power. However, one thing is for sure: these characters are strong in their world, be it through power or influence.

26 Krebsklem – How To Not Summon A Demon Lord

A Strong Demon Lord Cosplaying As An Innocent Child

How to Not Summon A Demon Lord tells the story of Takuma, a shut-in gamer who finds himself in his favorite online game, Cross Reverie. Takuma was known as the great and powerful demon lord, Diablo, and now stuck in the game’s world, he takes the form of Diablo but with the mind of Takuma. Diablo struggles to adapt to this world, but it is not long before he finds individuals to form a party with, and one of them includes Krebsklem.

In this world, Diablo is not the only demon lord, and fans discover that looks are indeed deceiving as Krebsklem graces their screens. Krebsklem is a perfect example of that statement. She might look like an innocent girl, but she possesses great magical powers and is considered one of the strongest demon lords in How To Not Summon A Demon Lord. Krebsklem, also known as Klem, has the ability to switch forms from her demon form to her childlike form. In her true form as a demon lord, her abilities are greatly enhanced, and she becomes a significant threat to anyone around her.

25 Akuto Sai – Demon King Daimao

A Powerful Demon King Set To Change The Standards Of What It Means To Be A Demon King

• Japanese Title: Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou
• Year of Release: 2010
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Ecchi

Akuto’s plan for his future is to be a priest, but life has other plans in store for him. He enrolls in Constant Magic Academy, where they evaluate him and predict that he is going to be a demon king in the future. Such a great responsibility lies ahead for Akuto, but he has the extraordinary level of magical powers needed for this role.

As the anime progresses, Akuto tries to avoid his fate, but everything he does brings him closer to his destined role as Demon King. Akuto eventually becomes the demon king—a strong one, for that matter. His role as demon king is different from the conventional ones, as he strives to use his power for good and have a positive impact on the world, rather than being evil as most demon kings are.

24 Yuri – Demon King From Today

From An Ordinary Human To A Demon King

• Japanese Title: Kyou kara Maou!
• Year of Release: 2004
• Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Yuri never thought he would ever be a demon king, but his life takes a drastic turn as one day he is transported to a fantastical world where he is declared to be the new demon king.

An ordinary human from Earth, who, through a twist of fate, is transported to a fantastical world. Immediately upon his arrival, he is proclaimed the new Demon King. Yuri does not know how this world works, but as the Demon King, he has to learn the ways of his kingdom.

Yuri might not be incredibly strong, as his magical powers are average at best, but when it comes to influence, he is unmatched, and this makes him the strongest in his world. Yuri often uses his intelligence to navigate challenges and conflicts, relying on clever strategies rather than brute force.

23 Echidna

Strategic Demon Queen That Has The Power To Conjure The Deadliest and Hottest Flames From Hell

• Japanese Title: Yuusha, Yamemasu
• Year of Release: 2022
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

I’m Quitting Heroing is just like any adventure anime where the main character successfully defeats the demon lord and stops them from carrying out their evil agenda against mankind. However, things are quite different in this anime, as the protagonist gets banished after defeating the demon lord, in this case, the demon queen Echidna. The reason was that most humans feared Leo because of his great strength and assumed that he would take up the role of a demon lord.

Echidna, the demon queen, accepts her defeat and starts making plans on how to rebuild her army and be stronger for the next battle. Echidna is strategic and a competent leader, as she wants what is best for the demons in the demon realm. Her motive for attacking humans is to capture the philosopher’s stone, which she plans to use to achieve peace in her realm. Amidst her intellectual abilities is her inferno magic, which is the highest level of spellfire, making her an explosive threat to her enemies.

22 Arata Kasuga

A Normal Boy Who Turns Into A Demon Lord

• Japanese Title: Trinity Seven
• Year of Release: 2014
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Ecchi

The loss of a loved one can push a person into doing unthinkable things, and that is what Trinity Seven tries to show viewers. This anime tells the story of Arata and how the destruction of his hometown and the mysterious disappearance of his cousin changed his entire life. Arata enrolls at the Royal Biblia Academy, and his adventure begins.

It is in this academy that Arata discovers that he is a Demon Lord candidate and can transform into a Demon Lord, especially in stressful situations. As a demon lord, Arata’s magic and strength become exceptional, making him extremely strong and dangerous to his opponents. As the anime progresses, so do his strengths and powers.

21 Rimuru Tempest

From A Weak Slime To A Demon Lord

The only way up is from the bottom, and Rimuru did well to progress and leave the status of the weakest being behind. In an alternate world, Rimuru, formerly known as Satoru, reincarnates as a slime, the weakest being. His predator ability as a slime allows him to gain the power and abilities of any creature he consumes.

Rimuru evolves from being a slime to a demon lord, making him one of the most powerful creatures in his world. Although he is powerful, all Rimuru wants is to create a world where all he can do is sit back, relax, and watch some entertainment.

20 Baby Beel

A Powerful Demon Lord In The Making

In time, people will get to know the full extent of Baby Beel’s power. However, for the majority of his form in Beelzebub, he’s mostly just a baby demon who urinates metric gallons (enough to fill houses), much to his foster parent’s misfortune. Baby Beel or Beelzebub IV is the son of Beelzebub III and the successor to the Demon World.

He’s prophesied to bring about the destruction of the human world, just as soon as he starts growing up. He’s more powerful in terms of potential compared to the other demon lords here, but, even as an infant, Baby Beel is already quite the troublemaker.

19 Sesshomaru

Immortal Full-Blooded Demon

The belated follow-up series to InuYasha paints Sesshomaru in a lighter shade where he even has a kid and seems to be a decent parent. Back in the original anime, however, Sesshomaru was quite the menace and a constant thorn in Inuyasha and Kagome’s sides.

He’s a full-blooded demon, meaning he’s automatically more powerful than his half-blood brother. Apart from the full superhuman package of super-strength, speed, durability, reflexes, and regeneration, he’s also immortal and possesses some impressive demonic techniques that have caused even the main antagonist (who’s also a demon) to acknowledge that Sesshomaru is more powerful.

18 Claude Jeanne Ellmeyer

His Red Eyes Alone Puts Fear In Everyone

Anyone looking for proof of Claude’s demonic heritage needs only one glance, as his red eyes are evidence enough! This Black Mage’s life has been under threat since childhood, and the numerous attempted poisonings have left him immune to such half-hearted toxic attacks. Additionally, Claude can communicate with his fellow demons telepathically and potentially incite them all to war within milliseconds.

One needs to look skywards when attempting to assess the Demon King’s mood, as Claude’s emotional state directly affects the weather (and many of his other magic abilities, too.) Anger is a particularly potent and volatile emotion for Aileen’s paramore, with catastrophic consequences such as volcanic eruptions. However, when this rage is directed at humans, the Demon King’s true form emerges, revealing a massive, murderous, havoc-reeking dragon. Only Aileen can soothe this savage beast before all life is destroyed; no pressure or anything!

17 Sadao Maou

Powerful Demon Lord Cosplaying As A Fast Food Employee

Even though King Satan Jacob, aka Sadao, is not as potent in the mortal realm compared to his homeland down below, this passionate fast-food employee supersedes the human standard significantly. When confined to his human form, Sadao’s body can still cope with intense strain, allowing him to walk away from near-fatal incidents virtually unscathed. However, the big guns are revealed when his demonic roots are unveiled, unleashing a horrific monstrosity onto the world.

While in his authentic Demon King state, Sadao feeds off the fears and negativity of all humans in his vicinity, increasing his strength to incredible levels. Although he is quite capable in terms of the close combat department, Sadao favors the versatile collection of magical attacks in his arsenal whenever possible. Terrorizing innocent humans might be beneficial to this Demon King but he honestly wishes no harm. In fact, Sadao has grown quite fond of what the human world has to offer!

16 Ard Meteor

Demon Lord Looking For An Exciting Challenge

The Demon Lord Varvatos has become so overpowered that nothing is thrilling anymore, and so he plans to inhibit his omnipotent abilities by reincarnating as a human. However, 3000 years later, his plan backfires, as the newly-named Ard Meteor is clearly leaps and bounds ahead of the rest!

Ard’s talents and eloquent spellcasting are put to the test at the Academy of Magic; however, even in the direst of situations, he still keeps his magic limiters enabled. If perchance Ard faces a worthwhile opponent, he incrementally reduces his limiters to match his opponent’s power levels. Surprisingly, defeating even a potent beast only warrants a 15% reduction; one can only imagine what this kid is capable of when fighting at full-blown power!

15 Shiki Granbell

A Demon King That Manipulates Gravity

Shiki inherited his Demon King status from his belated grandfather, Ziggy, whose Satin Gravity Ether Gear fit the boy like a glove! The gravity manipulation mechanics of this overpowered Gear allow Shiki to micromanage gravitational fields, focusing on a specific person, place, or object. He produces unpredictable battlefields whereby the very forces of nature can’t be trusted, as Shiki is the one in charge here!

When applied to himself, the Edens Zero commander’s maneuverability is unmatched, while he can also add more power to his punches with his Gravity Fist assault. The Gravity Cannon is another nifty attack whereas his anti-gravity field defensive skills are not lacking either. But nothing quite compares to Shiki’s transformative Overdrive form, whereby he essentially becomes an inescapable black hole strong enough to sap the very memories from his victim’s minds.

14 Terrorblade

• Title: DOTA
• Year of Release: 2021
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery

While Netflix’s DOTA 2-inspired Terrorblade is technically a demon prince, his dominion over Foulfell makes him worthy of this Demon Lord anime list. The hidden dimension was literally created to torture demons, yet Terrorblade emerged all the more powerful and with a cool new companion in tow! His mind games and manipulation tactics are incomparable, as this narcissist finds the roots of his victim’s deepest darkest fears, before exploiting them to the fullest extent, rendering most targets useless. Brainwashing is another favorite and doesn’t require a living victim to be effective.

This demonic tyrant can also create bloodthirsty replicas of his enemies, who are hellbent on destroying their twin. Furthermore, Terrorblade’s power grows substantially with each dragon’s soul consumed. And even though Davion has more Elderwurms on his side, their epic battle was still pretty on par overall, which proves just how powerful Terrorblade truly is.

13 Diablo

An Introverted Gamer Turns Into A Powerful Demon Lord

Diablo from How Not to Summon a Demon Lord was but a mere video game character controlled by an introverted protagonist. But, since the anime is an isekai, said human protagonist was reincarnated and became Diablo who also happens to be the strongest being in his own video game world. He’s so powerful that he even holds back his skills when fighting other players’ characters.

As additional proof of his powers. Diablo also quickly enslaved the two powerful mage girls who summoned him with the goal of chaining him. Of course, his human side has no powers whatsoever, but Diablo has a plethora of spells, abilities, and equipment that allow him to dominate just about anyone and anything in his world.

12 Muzan Kibutsuji

An Intellectual Demon Lord

Speaking of immortal demon lords, Muzan Kibutsuji is fast gaining notoriety thanks to the latest season of Demon Slayer. While he doesn’t make too many appearances in that anime, he’s still very much the final boss and the source of most demons in the series. He can create lieutenants just by giving them a bit of blood.

As a demon lord, he also possesses the typical superhuman starter pack — but where he shines against the Demon Slayer corps is his intellect. Muzan is frighteningly clever and sharp; this has allowed him to maintain the long-standing feud between him and his nemesis organization. As a demon, he’s also a success story, since he’s supposed to be more than 1,000 years old.

11 Albedo

Right Hand To Ainz Ooal Gown But Is An Incredibly Powerful Demon Lord

The infamous Albedo from Overlord isn’t even the most powerful evil being in her own anime. That title belongs to Ainz Ooal Gown but he’s an undead sorcerer so, technically, is not a demon lord. Even so, Albedo is at Ainz’s side at all times, and much to his luck, she’s the most powerful Succubus in the series.

Albedo usually doesn’t even have to demonstrate her magical and demonic spells in her fight against Ainz’s enemies. She has an inherent full suite of superhuman capabilities along with an axe and a set of armor that turns her into a powerhouse who can do most of Ainz’s dirty work for him.

10 Meliodas

Meliodas is an odd one as far as demon lords go. He was once one of the finest demon lords in his own mythos, being second only to the Demon King. However, he was greatly humbled after being cursed to witness his true love die hundreds of times and be reborn in an endless cycle.

Thus, in the Seven Deadly Sins’ main timeline, he’s a more human and boyish version of his former self. From time to time, however, his old self will re-awaken and he’ll revert back to his demon lord form. In such a state, Meliodas becomes a nigh-unstoppable force of destruction.

9 Ryomen Sukuna

Even In His Weakest State, He Can Wreak Unfathomable Havoc

Coming up next is also another recent demon lord who is unapologetically omnipotent with little to no backstory: Ryomen Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen. Sukuna was technically defeated by Jujutsu sorcerers, but he still managed to survive, thanks to his severed fingers.

If he does manage to unite and collect all those missing digits, he can arise again and practically destroy the world as only a literal handful few can stand in his way — and they’re all mortals. Even in his defeated form, Sukuna can still wreak havoc and dominate any curse-wielder, including Jujutsu sorcerers.

8 Mephisto Pheles

A Trickster Demon Lord

Mephisto Pheles or Samael is just the second strongest demon lord in Blue Exorcist. The strongest is Lucifer but there are already too many Lucifers or Satans here, so Samael’s in luck, he gets a spot. In any case, he’s no slouch despite being second.

As a demon lord, being called a “devil” is more fitting for Mephisto Pheles. He’s a certified trickster and typically “assists” the series’ protagonist with an ulterior motive. He also has students and they know that he’s a demon lord; the only reason they’re not taking him down is that they can’t… yet. Mephisto Pheles is too powerful for that.

7 Raizen

His Legacy Lives On

Raizen from the classic Yu Yu Hakusho appears as a shell of his former self. He’s a bit emaciated after his refusal to consume humans. That very well means he’s not in his prime anymore. Even so, he’s still either the strongest or second strongest among the Three Kings who are S-Class demons in the anime.

Back in his prime, he could have easily killed the other two members of the Three Kings. As far as his powers are concerned, Raizen’s immense demonic strength is what stands out as well as his ability to possess his descendants. It was even said that Raizen shakes the whole Earth when he powers up.