Summary
Although the concept of mages and magic has been popularised in Western entertainment, anime is no stranger to trying its hand at portraying powerful mages. Naturally coming fromanimeset in afantasy landwhere magic runs free, these mages are either established, renowned figures in their respective worlds or clawed their way up to the top by improving their magical aptitude.
These characters have notable, powerful magical abilities and intelligence that set them apart from their peers. Some of them do practice dark magic (either for the better or the worse), but it can’t be denied that these are some of the best mages ever depicted in anime.
10Adam Jobs
Mashle: Magic And Muscles
Although by the time the canon timeline of Mashle rolls around, Adam Jobs has already passed, his legacy is prominent in every feature of magical society during Mash Burndead’s time. Considered one of the most powerful mages and a trailblazer in every sense of the word, Jobs was a practitioner of Dark Magic and was the first-ever Divine Visionary.
Jobs established a single, unified magical realm through sheer power alone, as well as laying the groundwork for magical education. He was the mentor of Wahlberg Baigan, Innocent Zero and Meliadoul Amy, though his student, Innocent Zero ended up becoming a Dark Wizard and head of a criminal, terrorist organisation. Despite this, Adam Jobs was noted for his compassion and altruistic belief in assisting those who require help.
9Atsuko Kagari
Little Witch Academia
The protagonist of Little WItch Academia, Atsuko Kagari (nicknamed Akko) can’t be said to be the most talented magical user at first glance. Enrolling at Luna Nova Academy for witches despite having no magical background, Akko had a difficult time wielding magic compared to her classmates, and so had to struggle and put in more effort than everyone else.
She dreams of emulating her idol, Shiny Chariot, and has demonstrated remarkable bravery and the potential for magic at some points in the story. Akko manages to improve her magic with the help of her friends and teachers and has shown a natural aptitude for shapeshifting.
8Kumoko
So I’m A Spider, So What?
The protagonist of theisekai animeSo I’m A Spider, So What? is initially a nameless main character, who, after dying, is reincarnated into a baby spider. We don’t figure out her name until much later on, but this adorable, optimistic spider had a rough start in her new life, being the weakest creature reborn in a labyrinth filled with gargantuan deadly monsters.
Kumoko only had her webs and venom to defend herself at first, but using her wits and desperate need for survival, she levels up and evolves into new forms, which grant her a slew of powerful new abilities. By the time she’s evolved into an Arachne, she could expertly wield dark and elemental magic, including variants of her ‘Evil Eyes’, which allow her to inflict damage on her victims. She’s also able to revive herself by implanting her soul in an unhatched spider egg, an ability she won by killing her gigantic Spider-Mother.
7Elias Ainsworth
Ancient Magus' Bride
The elegant and refined Elias Ainsworth, also known as the Thorn Mage, is a humanoid, magical being with a wolf’s skull and origins that were never explicitly mentioned in the show. He has demonstrated a vast range of magical capabilities, able to change his appearance and size to whatever he desires.
As referred to in his moniker, the Thorn Mage, Elias can create thorns and uses shadows to hide his presence. Aside from his skill in medicine-making, he’s also shown to be able to teleport himself and others, as well as physically split himself into two.
6Rimuru Tempest
That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime
In the tradition of isekai tropes, an overworked Japanese salaryman meets misfortune and ends up reincarnated in a magical fantasy land. However, in the most ignominious of beginnings, Satoru Kimaki is reborn as an adorable ball of blue slime and renamed Rimuru Tempest.
At first, Rimuru is unable to talk or do much as a slime, but begins to evolve and power up after absorbing Veldora’s magicules, before eventually gaining human form. Not only is Rimuru able to absorb and copy the magic of others, but he is also able to use elemental spells, shapeshift, teleport, summon demons and use a whole host of other overpowered abilities.
5Natsu Dragneel
Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail follows the main character, Natsu Dragneel, a mage who’s a member of the Fairy Tail Guild and is on a quest to kill Acnologia. Natsu is kind-hearted, compassionate, and very much a free spirit, and is known for combining his fire magic with his combat aptitude.
But as the story goes on, Natsu’s range of magical powers expands and improves, attaining the powerful Dragon Force. He was eventually able to tap into his overpowered demonic E.N.D. powers and use them to confront powerful opponents like Zeref.
4Julius Novachrono
Black Clover
Black Clover’s Julius Novachrono is arguably the most powerful mage in the Clover Kingdom, managing to climb his way to becoming the Wizard King of the Magic Knights.
As a result of a contract with the devil Astaroth, Julius has access to and mastery over Time Magic, which allows him to manipulate time and even heal others simply by reversing time. His Time Magic allows him to store time, which he uses to resurrect himself after he sacrifices his life to protect the Clover Kingdom, which hints at the possibility that his magic may make him practically immortal.
3Frieren
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
A practicallyimmortal elven mage, Frieren is the main character of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, a high-fantasy anime. The story opens with Frieren as part of the four-member Hero Party, returning victorious after killing the Demon King. Fast-forward several decades and Frieren stays largely unchanged in appearance, while her friend Himmel has died of old age. Another friend, Heiter, is on the verge of dying and asks Frieren to take Fern as her apprentice.
Frieren trains Fern in her craft, and Frieren’s expertise in magic is demonstrated throughout the story. She is a master at killing demons, and her large mana reserves allow her to accomplish a variety of spells, from summoning a black hole and powerful seals to restrain demons to causing a field of flowers to materialise.
2Howl Jenkins Pendragon
Howl’s Moving Castle
One of the central characters alongside Sophie Hatter, Howl Jenkins Pendragon (or simply Howl) is regarded as a great and powerful mage in the world ofHowl’s Moving Castle. Howl lives in a towering, moving contraption powered by the fire demon Calcifer, who also serves as a vessel for Howl’s heart.
Despite being an incorrigible ladies' man and a figure of admiration, Howl uses his magical gifts to evade any form of conflict or responsibility. Not only is he able to shapeshift, but he can perform defensive and spatial transformation spells to change the location of his moving castle, and has even demonstrated the ability to control the bodies of others early in the movie.
1Ainz Ooal Gown
Overlord
Ainz Ooal Gown (or Momonga) is the protagonist of Overlord and is regarded as the most powerful necromancer in the world. As the guildmaster of Ainz Ooal Gown and the Sorcerer King, he is also asupremely wealthy individualwith a penchant for rare collectables.
Naturally, as a necromancer, Momonga can summon the undead and other creatures like an Elder Lich. He has an expert grasp on tenth-tier spells and beyond, from resurrection and manipulating, to spells that can render any type of immunity null and ensure instant death.
