As a series, RWBY has a lot of traits that helped make it one of the most unique and successful properties to come out of the Youtube age. One of the more subtle of these is the series focus on ‘teams’.
Teams in RWBY were originally a way for the series’ schools to force students to learn to act in tight-knit squads. As the series continued though, these teams provided the perfect excuse for bombastic ensemble fights and complex character relationships. Whether it be due to their teamwork and synergy or their raw individual power, some of these teams end up being a much bigger threat.
7 Team FNKI
Mainly seen during the ‘vytal festival’ tournament, this team consists of Flynt Coal, Neon Katt, Kobalt and Ivori. The two latter members didn’t get to show off much of their abilities, but the team as a whole have managed a respectable performance across the series.
They managed to make their way through the vytal festival tournament, before being defeated by team RWBY, but put up a strong performance. The team later went on to join the Atlas military, likely receiving much more training, and eventually participating in the battle of Atlas as ground troops.
6 Team CFVY
One of the lesser seen teams in the original RWBY series, team CFVY nonetheless made a big impression during their 2 big appearances in the vytal festival tournament and the fall of Beacon Academy. The team is made up of Coco Adel, Fox Alistair, Velvet Scarlatina, and Yatsuhachi Daichi.
From the little shown of them, Coco and Velvet were the real stars. Coco’s fashion sense and minigun weapon make her stand out the most, and Velvet’s ability to copy other weapons and fighting styles is extremely interesting. Although they haven’t been seen for a long time in the show, they did star as the main characters of the RWBY spinoffsRWBY: After the Fall and RWBY: Before the Dawn, helping to shut down a semblance obsessed group known as ‘The Crown’.
5 Team JNPR
Originally consisting of Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos and Lie Ren, team JNPR have had a rough time of it since RWBY volume 3, when they lost their strongest member, Pyrrha. After Pyrrha’s death and the fall of Beacon, the team had a bit of an identity crisis, but each member has since fully come into their own.
While Pyrrha had the benefits of a strong semblance and a lot of experience, the rest of the team are nothing to snuff at. Nora especially, is a hard hitter who’s semblance lets her absorb and redirect electricity to further boost her raw strength. Jaune and Ren are less powerful fighters, but the strong utility offered by their semblances help the team stay strong even in non-combat situations.
4 Team RWBY
The titular team of the series, this team is formed of Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Blake Beladonna, and Yang Xiao Long. Despite a rough start, the series’ 4 protagonists have grown into a strong and reliable unit with great teamwork and great individual power.
Despite being the youngest member, team leader Ruby is a prodigy with a talent for crafting weapons and uses them to great effect. Combined with Yang’s durable brawling, Weiss’ powerful summons, and Blake’s elusive disruptions, they’ve managed to take down villain after villain, and become truly powerful and trustworthy huntresses.
3 The Ace-Ops
By far the most professionally trained and experienced team in RWBY, the Ace-Ops were a recent but good addition to the series’ lineup. They especially work as great examples for team RWBY to aspire to and eventually overcome.
They consist of Clover Ebi, Vine Zeki, Elm Ederne, Harriet Bree, and Marrow Amin. Marrow is the least experienced member, but even he has a semblance that can freeze opponents in place. The other members combine strong semblances like Clover’s Good Fortune and skilled teamwork to accomplish every mission they are tasked with. While they did eventually lose to team RWBY, this was is a weakened state after the loss of their leader Clover
2 Cinder’s Team
While arguably not a traditional team, Cinder’s main squad did attend Beacon for a while, and have been a consistent antagonistic unit within the story. Between their many appearances, they have consistently kept the heroes in check, both strategically and physically.
Cinder herself is a magic-wielding maiden and a strong fighter, and with Emerald and Mercury’s help, it took several seasons for her to see a real defeat. Emerald’s illusion powers especially make things difficult for their opponents, and Mercury is a strong enough fighter to compete with even hard hitters like Pyrrha and Yang.
1 Team STRQ
Although This team is long gone by the time the series starts, most of its members are still present in the story, giving an insight into just how strong they were together. The team consisted of Summer Rose, Taiyang Xiao Long, Raven Branwen and Qrow Branwen. 3 of whom are parents to Ruby and Yang form team RWBY.
Raven and Qrow are the most well known members of the team, and have stacked up many accolades in their lives. STRQ were star pupils of Beacon Academy just like team RWBY, and the Branwen twins performed so well that they were invited into Professor Ozpin’s inner circle. Raven even earned the right to become one of the 4 maidens. Qrow and Taiyang also trained Ruby and Yang, to use their respective weapons, putting them on the 'experienced master' level as characters like Avatar: The Last Airbender's Iroh.
While they may have never been shown at full force, it’s hard to imagine anyone taking out team STRQ at their best.