Throughout Nintendo’s different series, including crossover titles, we see heroes, villains, monsters, gods, magicians, and more. All incredibly powerful beings in their own right. But it begs the question, “Who is the absolute strongest?”
Drawing from all of these universes, we decided to figure it out. Here are the ten most powerful Nintendo characters.
10. Ike / Fire Emblem
Among the protagonists in Fire Emblem, Ike is rare by having two games to grow in power. He battles the strongest warrior in the world at the end of the Path of Radiance. Ike is the only one who can strike down the goddess Ashera in Radiant Dawn. His powers don’t go beyond that of a talented warrior, but he’s nonetheless the most powerful by the time of Fire Emblem Heroes.
9. Calamity Ganon / The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The recurring villain and final boss of many Legend of Zelda titles is Ganon. Often portrayed in demonic or human forms, in Breath of the Wild, he’s more powerful than ever and out to destroy the world as Calamity Ganon. He’s difficult to bind, with an endless string of reincarnations, and invulnerable to nearly all weapons.
8. Kirby / Kirby (series)
Throughout many games, Kirby, a cute-looking pink blob with eyes, arms, and boots, doesn’t appear terrifying at first glance. But this character is near-godlike in power and interacts with the world by inhaling things. The super-playable Kirby has appeared in over 50 games and every Super Smash Bros.
7. The X Parasite / Metroid
Far more terrifying than the titular creatures of the Metroid series is the enemy they were designed to defeat – the X Parasite. The “X” is a shape-shifting alien race that can evolve into different and deadlier forms. Intelligent, capable of replicating their host, and nearly indestructible, they seek to infect all life in the galaxy.
6. The Shadow Queen / Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
The Shadow Queen from the 2004 RPG Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the ultimate villain. Her demonic powers are so powerful to stop her, she must be locked behind a door sealed with the world’s most powerful artifacts. To defeat her, Mario must recruit the efforts of many others.
5. Rosalina / Super Mario Galaxy
The most powerful princess in the Mario series is Rosalina, from 2007’s Super Mario Galaxy. As a princess, her main duty is to guard the entire cosmos. While not a goddess, but perhaps immortal, her full abilities are not yet known. Rosalina’s use of magic enables her to fight Bowser’s entire fleet.
4. Tabuu / Super Smash Bros. Brawl
More than just a crossover fighting game, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is deep on story, too. In Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary, we meet a mysterious being called Tabuu. This creature appears nearly omnipotent. Tabuu staves off Ganon’s might, wipes out nearly every hero, and easily defeats the Master Hand.
3. Arceus / Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl
Pokémon: Diamond and Pearl took the series to new heights in 2006, with the addition of new features, extraterrestrial beings, near-divine dragons, and more. The character Arceus, known as “the original one,” is the closest thing the series has seen to a central deity.
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2. Shulk / Xenoblade Chronicles
Shulk is the main protagonist of Xenoblade Chronicles, and he draws much of his power from a sword known as Monado. In addition to extraordinary fighting powers, he has precognition. Even after losing Monado, we learn Shulk had untapped powers deep within.
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1. Palutena / Kid Icarus
In the Kid Icarus series, Palutena is the protagonist, the goddess of light and Skyworld. She’s also the patron of Pit and is incredibly powerful. Her abilities include magic, creation, blessings, and more. In the entire canon of Nintendo games, Palutena has few matches, even with her minimal role.
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