Most anime series are mainly focused on making their characters the strongest, and why wouldn't they, given that this is typically a recipe for instant success? However, there are certain anime series that subvert the powerful main character trope, instead focusing on other qualities to make their protagonists more interesting and unique.

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One of the best qualities that a person could have is intelligence, but it is something that not all characters get an equal amount of. Some characters are more clever than others, with the smartest anime characters often demonstrating that brains can be much more important than brawn in many situations.

Updated on December 29, 2023, by Suzail Ahmad: Being smart is more than just scoring good grades on an exam. In such debates, it is important to keep in mind how a person uses their brains other than for learning. Many anime characters have proven that smartness can be used to accomplish humongous tasks with minimal effort. In some other cases, intelligence is utilized to outsmart the opponent and bring them to their knees. Some anime characters are naturally better than the rest at using their wit. They truly deserve to be called the smartest anime characters of all time.

11 Johan

Johan is considered by many to be the greatest anime villain of all time. He did not have flashy abilities or hairstyles; all he had was his charisma and wit. Johan relied on charisma more than his intelligence to get the job done.

However, if the need arose, Johan could easily concoct a plan to get away from his pursuers. Throughout the entire series, Johan kept Tenma and the police on their toes, not giving them an inch to operate. Even outlaws weren't safe from Johan's influence.

10 Makise Kurisu

Makise Kurisu might not be as popular as the other names on the list, but she is not someone who can be overlooked. She is a prodigy who revolutionized many scientific fields.

Kurisu created a time machine that was completely unprecedented. Kurisu's success earned her the jealousy of many scholars, her father being one of them. Throughout the story, Kurisu showed her incredible intelligence several times.

9 L Lawliet

L Lawliet is one of the main antagonists of the Death Note series. He was the smartest detective in the world, and he was brought in to help the police catch Kira, who was passing judgment on criminals across the world. No one was able to pinpoint his location, but L came up with the plan to broadcast the news and use a fake version of himself.

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Kira took the bait, and L immediately knew that he was in Japan. This started a game of cat and mouse that lasted for several episodes. L came close to catching Kira, but the latter's knowledge of the Death Note gave him the advantage. Eventually, L was killed by Kira, but only after an elaborate plan.

8 Osamu Dazai

Osamu Dazai has garnered the reputation of being one of the most renowned anime detectives. Originally, he was a member of the mafia, but he left and ended up in the Agency. His intelligence is second to none, and his peers consider him the smartest among them.

Osamu Dazai has gone up against Fyodor Dostoevsky, a remarkably clever person in his own right. Dazai relies on his wit to negotiate with enemies and predict the future. He is without a doubt one of the smartest anime characters.

7 Kars

Kars is the major antagonist of Battle Tendency. He was a Pillar Man blessed with incredible intelligence and physical strength. Kars was responsible for the creation of the stone mask that could turn regular humans into vampires. He created the mask in an attempt to become the perfect living being.

Once he managed to accomplish his goal, Kars gained an insane 400 IQ. In contrast, human beings rarely go much higher than 115 when taking IQ tests. He was able to master his newfound abilities in a very short period of time, which is further proof of his brilliance.

6 Donquixote Doflamingo

Donquixote Doflamingo is a former Shichibukai who used to rule over Dressrosa. Doflamingo was a ruthless man, and he made sure that he would accomplish his goals at any cost. Doflamingo took over Dressrosa in the most ingenious way possible. He used the power of the Ito Ito no Mi to control King Riku and murder innocent civilians.

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Once everyone realized that Riku had gone mad, Doflamingo stepped in to stop him. The people of Dressrosa were overjoyed and had no problem crowning him their new king. Following this incident, Doflamingo began to solidify his grasp of the country. He eliminated any threats by using Sugar's Devil Fruit and used the country's ports to smuggle Devil Fruits and other weapons. Doflamingo would have continued to rule his country if it weren't for the intervention of the Straw Hat Pirates.

5 Shikamaru Nara

Shikamaru Nara is arguably the smartest character in Naruto. He was the son of Shukaku Nara, who was an intellectual in his own right. Shikamaru showed off his intelligence for the very first time in the Chunin Exams when he was drawn to fight Temari from the Hidden Sand. She was confident that she would overwhelm him easily.

However, Shikamaru managed to outfox her completely and make her quit. Shikamaru also devised a plan to separate Hidan from Kakuzu and ensnare him. He was successful in his attempt and managed to defeat the Akatsuki member without any flashy ninjutsu.

4 Senku Ishigami

Senku Ishigami is extremely knowledgeable. He knows about many different subjects, including physics, chemistry, biology, and geology. He used his expertise in these fields to accomplish things that most people could only dream of achieving.

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Senku is also highly resourceful. He can create weapons and other objects with the simplest of materials. Senku is able to keep his calm in the direst of situations, and can quickly come up with strategies to save himself and others from harm.

3 Conan

Shinichi Kudo, better known by his alias Conan Edogawa, has a strong case for being the smartest detective in anime history. He gained a lot of popularity for helping the police to solve some of the most confusing cases. This resulted in him being targeted by a criminal syndicate, which tried to murder him using a drug.

Fortunately, it did not work. Instead, it caused Conan's body to turn into that of a six-year-old. Conan has a very sharp mind that enables him to pick up clues and predict the next move of the criminals. Given the fact that he has solved hundreds of cases over the years, there is no doubt that he is a genius and one of the smartest anime characters of all time.

2 Yagami Light

It is impossible to have a discussion about the smartest anime characters without mentioning Yagami Light from Death Note. The anime itself is nothing short of amazing, but it is Light who steals the spotlight. When it comes to intelligence, Yagami Light is definitely among the very best.

He was the top student in his school, and his family was extremely proud of him. However, Light was more interested in using the power of the Death Note to pass judgment on the criminals of the world. All the major law enforcement agencies tried to catch him, but they failed horribly. Even L, the smartest detective in the world, was unable to catch him. However, in the end, Light's complacency led to his downfall.

1 Lelouch VI Britannia

Lelouch VI Britannia is the main protagonist of Code Geass. When Lelouch received the power of the Geass, he immediately tested its power. He didn't get carried away after receiving the Geass though, instead taking the time to learn all about the limitations of the eye. Once he had mastered the eye, Lelouch used the Geass' power to overwhelm his enemies and eventually take down the Kingdom of Britannia.

In order to create peace throughout the world, Lelouch concocted a plan that saw him sacrifice himself to unite the world. He was an eloquent speaker and used his words to manipulate people into doing his bidding. He was a clever individual who had an insane ability to improvise in any given situation. Lelouch's ability to conjure multiple strategies, along with his mental capabilities are arguably what make him the smartest anime character of all time.

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