Villains are just as anticipated as heroes in Solo Leveling season 2, it's no surprise that fans are once again drawn to not only Jinwoo but also his former enemy-turned-shadow, Beru. Beru made his terrifying debut during the Jeju Island Arc, where he struck fear into even the strongest S-Rank hunters. His sheer speed, strength, and presence made him feel unstoppable until Jinwoo arrived.

Though Jinwoo defeated him in mere minutes, that doesn't diminish Beru’s impact as a top-tier threat in Solo Leveling’s world. His character was thrilling, intense, and added a serious jolt to the narrative. However, anime is a vast universe filled with villains that go far beyond Beru in power, intelligence, and destruction. From war-hardened masterminds to literal gods, many have sured what Beru brought to the battlefield.

10 Meruem Is a King Who Sured Intelligence and Power

Hunter x Hunter

Hunter X Hunter franchise poster
Created by
Yoshihiro Togashi
First Film
Hunter x Hunter: Phantom Rouge
Latest Film
Hunter x Hunter: The Last Mission

Meruem, also known as the Chimera Ant King, is one of the strongest characters in Hunter x Hunter. Like Beru from Solo Leveling, he was born from a queen, but unlike the loyal Shadow Soldier, Meruem forced his birth, which killed his mother. This act alone sets them apart in personality and sheer dominance, as Meruem immediately claimed his title as King. In contrast, Beru remained obedient to his Queen until her death. Beru indeed has superhuman strength, incredible speed, and regeneration, and his submission to authority significantly differs from Meruem's ruthless ambition and thirst for evolution.

Related
Did Solo Leveling Really Copy Hunter x Hunter's Best Arc? Don't Be So Hasty

Both Solo Leveling and Hunter x Hunter have an arc entirely devoted to fighting ants, but did Solo Leveling really plagiarize Hunter x Hunter?

5

Meruem's superior intelligence, combat prowess, and ability to adapt rapidly in battle make him stronger the longer he fights. Unlike Beru, who relies on Jinwoo's commands and physical abilities, Meruem learns and refines his techniques in real time, overpowering even the strongest Nen s like Netero. While Beru is a formidable warrior and one of the deadliest creatures in Solo Leveling, Meruem's inherent dominance, intelligence, and limitless growth potential make him the superior King.

9 Madara Uchiha Is The Shinobi Who Took an Entire Alliance

Naruto: Shippuden

Madara Uchiha is undeniably one of the most iconic and overpowered villains in anime history. Madara's Sharingan allows him to read and easily predict fast attacks, nullifying one of Beru's biggest advantages, his speed. Madara also possesses the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan, which allow him to use powerful jutsu that causes massive damage on the battlefield. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, he summoned meteors that could wipe out armies instantly, suring anything Beru has shown in the series.

Related
After Rewatching Naruto, I Finally Know Why the Anime's Final Arc Feels So Wrong

Naruto is one of my favorite anime series of all time, but at the end of 500 episodes, I thought that one character ruined the finale for everyone.

2

Moreover, Madara's Perfect Susanoo is a gigantic, armored warrior with an impenetrable defense capable of cutting through mountains with a single swing. He also took on an entire army of shinobi single-handedly. His god-like chakra reserves, regeneration, and battlefield control make it clear that even an elite Shadow Soldier like Beru wouldn't stand a chance against the Uchiha legend.

8 The Dragon Who Makes Dragons Tremble Is Acnologia

Fairy Tail

fairytail-tag-cover.jpg
Fairy Tail
Systems
Released
July 31, 2020
ESRB
T For Teen Due To Alcohol Reference, Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Gust
Publisher(s)
Koei Tecmo
Franchise
Fairy Tail

Acnologia, the Dragon King of Destruction, is a villain who makes dragons tremble at the mere mention of his name in Fairy Tail. Unlike Beru, who serves as a powerful Shadow Soldier, Acnologia is a one-man apocalypse, wiping out everything in his path. His powerful Dragon Slayer Magic allows him to devour magic and erase entire islands with ease. In the final fight of the series, it took every Dragon Slayer, including Natsu, to bring him down.

Related
Do You Miss Fairy Tail? The Manga's Creator Has a Perfect Recommendation for You

Hiro Mashima praises Galaxias, a promising new manga, helping it gain traction while continuing his own work on Eden’s Zero.

Moreover, what makes Acnologia even more terrifying is his immortality, durability, and destructive capability, making him far more catastrophic than Beru. While Beru is undeniably fast and powerful, Acnologia's ability to withstand direct attacks from the strongest mages and dragons without flinching further proves his dominance. Compared to Beru, who thrives in battle but remains bound by orders, Acnologia is an unstoppable conqueror, driven solely by his lust for destruction, making him a far greater threat in every sense.

7 Father Is a Mortal Who Achieves Near-Omnipotence

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Father from Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is far beyond Beru in of power, intelligence, and control over reality. Father has the ability to bend the laws of nature at will after absorbing the energy of an entire nation. While Beru relies on his speed, strength, and regeneration, Father can nullify alchemy, create matter from nothing, and even survive fatal injuries without effort. He also showed his godlike power by holding a miniature sun.

Father can nullify alchemy, create matter from nothing, and even survive fatal injuries without effort.

Beru is a powerful character, but his abilities are limited to combat skills and physical dominance, whereas Father exceeds mortality itself. Father could reshape the battlefield, absorb souls for energy, and regenerate from devastating attacks even when weakened. In contrast, Beru is strong but still bound by the limits of his physical form, making him far weaker in a battle of pure power. Against an opponent who can alter reality, erase threats instantly, and survive destruction, Beru wouldn't stand a chance.

6 Aizen Conquered Hueco Mundo

Bleach

Bleach Poster
Created by
Tite Kubo
First Film
Bleach: Memories of Nobody
First TV Show
Bleach
Cast
Johnny Yong Bosch, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh, Jamieson Price, Derek Stephen Prince, Wally Wingert

Aizen is one of the anime villains in a league of his own, transcending the limits of a normal Shinigami and reaching a level of power that few can even comprehend. His Kyoka Suigetsu's absolute hypnosis can manipulate entire armies, making his enemies fight illusions while he remains untouched. Beyond that, his immense spiritual pressure, instant regeneration, and near-immortality make him almost impossible to kill, allowing him to take on some of Bleach's strongest characters without breaking a sweat.

Related
Bleach Just Found Its Perfect Anime Spin-Off Thanks to Tite Kubo's Newest Pitch

Tite Kubo released a fun and hilarious April Fool's Day art piece for Bleach, but it turns out this piece is getting its very own novel spin-off.

What makes Aizen even more impressive is that he conquered Hueco Mundo, the world of Hollows, the ultimate enemy of Shinigamis. Unlike Beru, who follows Jinwoo's commands, Aizen commands his fate, defying the Soul Society and nearly bringing it to its knees with his power. Ichigo, the main protagonist, had to sacrifice all of his Shinigami powers for their final battle, proving just how impossible Aizen was to defeat.

5 Sukuna Is The King of Curses Who Knows No Equal

Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen Anime Poster
Created by
Gege Akutami
First Film
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
Latest Film
Jujutsu Kaisen 0
First TV Show
Jujutsu Kaisen

Sukuna, the King of Curses, exceeds Beru in strength and sheer dominance. Sukuna's cursed energy output is overwhelming, allowing him to destroy buildings, slice enemies from a distance, and heal from fatal injuries almost instantly. Even against special-grade opponents like Mahoraga, a being that can adapt to any attack, Sukuna effortlessly proved why he is feared as the strongest.

Related
Jujutsu Kaisen’s Most Impactful Death Almost Didn’t Happen

The Jujutsu Kaisen death that broke fans' hearts the most was almost never a part of the story, according to an interview with Gege Akutami.

Moreover, Sukuna's techniques make evasion nearly impossible, a complete disadvantage for Beru, who relies mostly on his speed. His Domain Expansion, Malevolent Shrine, creates a wide-range slashing zone that guarantees his attacks will hit. Sukuna also possesses superior intellect and battle experience, making him strong and strategic. Beru may be a menacing fighter, but he wouldn't last long against an opponent who can annihilate everything in his path with precise, unavoidable attacks.

4 Beerus Is Known As The Friendly God of Destruction

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Franchise Image

Beerus, the God of Destruction, possesses divine strength, putting him on an entirely different level compared to Beru. Despite being a villain, his mere presence demands fear and respect, as he can erase anything from existence with his power, move at faster-than-light speeds, and casually destroy planets with a flick of his wrist. Goku's entire group on Earth had to follow his demands, offering him food and hospitality to avoid complete planetary destruction.

Related
A Year After Akira Toriyama's Death, Dragon Ball Is Honoring Its Creator With a Touching New Tribute

The latest volume of Dragon Ball Super has just been released, and inside is a touching tribute to the late creator of the legendary series.

3

What makes Beerus even more terrifying is how effortless his power truly is. When Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan God, an ultimate Saiyan form that defies the limits of a mortal, Beerus treated their fight as nothing more than a casual warm-up. If Beru is a fearsome predator, Beerus is a cosmic force, wielding godlike destruction without breaking a sweat. Compared to Beru, who relies on brute strength and speed, Beerus is a universal threat, effortlessly wiping out entire civilizations.

3 Rimuru Tempest Is a Hero One Never Wants as an Enemy

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime TV Series Poster

Your Rating

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Release Date
October 5, 2018
Directors
Yasuhito Kikuchi

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

While Rimuru Tempest is not a villain in general, much like how Beru is not entirely evil in Solo Leveling, both characters have moments that make them seem terrifying. After becoming Jinwoo’s shadow, Beru is more of a loyal warrior than a true antagonist, yet his overwhelming power remains undeniable. Similarly, Rimuru, as the leader of the Tempest Federation, is known for his warm smile and kindness, but to his enemies, he is a force of destruction. When his people were threatened, he mercilessly wiped out thousands of enemy soldiers, proving that he could be just as heartless as any villain.

Related
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Is Getting a New Movie: What We Know So Far

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime announces a new movie, Tears of the Blue Sea Arc, set for release in February 2026

Rimuru’s overwhelming strength and ability to absorb and evolve make him one of the most unstoppable beings in anime. He has the power to erase threats in an instant, and his cold efficiency in battle is what makes him feared. While he cherishes his allies and rules with fairness, those who oppose him see nothing but a monster with god-like power. Despite his outward kindness, Rimuru’s brutal decisiveness in eliminating threats shows that he can be one of the most terrifying villains, at least in the eyes of those who stand against him.

2 Dio Brando Is an Evil That Transcends Death

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Jojos Bizzare Adventure Franchise Poster
Created by
Hirohiko Araki
TV Show(s)
JoJo Bizarre Adventure
Video Game(s)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R

Dio Brando is a ruthless and sadistic vampire whose main goal is to destroy the Joestar family and take over the world. Even after his death, his influence lingers, shaping events and creating chaos for generations. His obsession with power and immortality drives him to seek godhood, believing he can reach "Heaven" in his own image and rule over all. His presence is so overwhelming that even other villains, like Gray Fly, see him as a dark savior, worshiping him as a figure of ultimate evil.

Dio had a rough past, growing up in the slums of London with an abusive, alcoholic father, but that does not excuse the cruelty he embraced. Given the chance at a better life under George Joestar, he still chose to follow his hunger for domination. His thirst for power only grew stronger, evolving from a manipulative human into an immortal vampire who could warp time itself. From his rivalry with Jonathan Joestar to his final battle with Jotaro Kujo, Dio cemented himself as a symbol of evil and ambition that refused to fade away.

1 Kars Is a Villain Who Cannot Be Killed

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Aside from Dio Brando, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is not just filled with heroes but also some of the most vile and dangerous villains. Kars, the leader of the Pillar Men, is the greatest among them, eventually becoming the Ultimate Life Form after obtaining the Red Stone of Aja. He is functionally immortal, able to regenerate from almost any injury while possessing superhuman strength, intelligence, and complete control over his body. Unlike Beru, who can be defeated under the right conditions, Kars cannot be permanently destroyed through any conventional means.

Related
Is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Ready to Drop Its Next Anime? New Evidence Suggests So

Anticipation for an announcement of a Jojo Steel Ball Run anime is reaching a fever pitch, and signs are pointing that it could be on the way soon.

What makes Kars even more terrifying is his ability to adapt and evolve, making him nearly impossible to defeat in battle. He can create organic weapons from his body, shapeshift, and even survive in space, proving just how far beyond human limitations he truly is. His intelligence rivals his strength, allowing him to out-think and overpower his enemies effortlessly. While Beru is a powerful warrior, Kars is a being without weakness, making him one of the most unstoppable villains in anime.