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The return ofOverlordthis calendar month also spells the return of one of anime ’s most illustrious villains in the form of its protagonist Ainz . Although he ’s not as smart as he manage to convince the shielder he is , Ainz is the kind of puzzling villain that tends to get gum anime fans wondering how exactly his judgment works .
Of of course , there are countless character like this throughout anime , in everything fromBleachtoDeath Note , whose intelligence along with their lack of morals clear for a fascinating character survey . G of gum anime fan got together onRankerto determine who deserves to be know as the smartest .
Note : Ranker lists are lover - voted , live , and keep to fall votes , so some ranking may have exchange after this publishing .
The Laughing Man (Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
instantaneously recognizable thanks to the smiley face logotype plastered on his face that he used to conceal his identicalness even while appearing on live broadcasts , the Laughing Man is not just an incredible hacker but also a formidable mind in general . Even able to make the Japanese authorities revere him , the Laughing Man is not a person anyone would desire as an enemy .
His fixation with expose the trueness behind dark confederacy regard micromachine manufacturer and the Japanese government seems to give him unusually virtuous and understandable motivations for an opponent , and likely contributes to his popularity . Along with his iconic window dressing , it ’s his intelligence and the power he wields that really make him compelling inStand Alone Complex .
Naraku (Inuyasha)
Seemingly the orchestrator of most of the struggles and heartbreak forced on the main characters inInuyasha , it ’s easy to see why Naraku is so feared . His torso alone makes him an incredibly knock-down threat , as the formerly human Onigumo is used to bring together many Yokai into a single entity .
This think of an almost unlimited array of powers so it ’s saying something that Naraku ’s intellect is what truly makes him shivery . He possess a cutthroat intelligence and is a skipper of manipulation , even using his transformation ability to make it seem like Inuyasha grass Kikyo . AlthoughInuyasha has its moments of redemption , Naraku is wickedness be and earns his terrific reputation .
Kabuto Yakushi (Naruto)
In a human race where many compete to show off their incredible great power in hugevisually spectacular fights in Zanzibar copal , Kabuto Yakushi ’s plan of laying low and making himself as retiring as possible now makes him distinctive inNaruto . With his charming manner and gentle , bespectacled appearance , it ’s easy to see why most people would n’t doubt his good intentions for a second .
Even as he manipulates those around him to control their trust , he feeds that information to Orochimaru and aids the antagonists . Kabuto possess powerful power but he also knows that avoiding combat is sometimes the estimable option and that alone made him stand out as an thinking villain to the Zanzibar copal devotee on Ranker .
Father (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Fullmetal Alchemist : Brotherhoodis often considered among the best anime series of all fourth dimension and there ’s no way it could have accomplish that without one of the most hefty resister in anime chronicle . The true mastermind behind the dark conspiracies that the main characters easy uncover , Father manage to alter the world without leaving his chamber .
An ancient homunculus responsible for for the creative activity of the others , he now dominate them to do his bidding , laying down the impossibly complex framework to his challenging program to achieve ultimate might . Father is also at the center field of a brilliant conclusion that makes many others pale in comparison so it ’s no surprise that he ’s a popular option for nefarious genius .
Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!)
From the very moment he ’s introduced , two things stick aboutDurarara ! ! ’s Izaya Orihara . The first is that he tend to refer to " mankind " in the third soul , and the second is that he seems to consider human far below him . Constantly at the centre wherever things are going wrong , Izaya loves nothing more than tormenting people apparently for no other reasonableness than he like to see their reactions .
Izaya is the kind of type that would forfeit chess in favour of using humans as the literal - life pieces in his secret plan of handling , and he does it all with stylemark smugness . The same deliberate personal appeal that allow him to use others as he please also makes him one of the most popular characters in the show , contributing to his high position .
Shogo Makishima (Psycho-Pass)
In a society where the law is enforced by determine a someone ’s likeliness to commit a crime before they even act , any average soul would be powerless to do much against the might of such a repressing system of rules . The opponent ofPsycho - Pass is far from an average individual though .
A keen referee with a love for the darker side of human beings and a true believer in the idea that ends excuse any means , Makishima is the greatest scourge to the Japanese authorisation ' Psycho - Pass system . Managing to pass himself off as criminally asymptomatic , manipulation is his cracking weapon system and one that helps make him the highlight of some ofPsycho - Pass ’s best instalment .
Meruem (Hunter X Hunter)
The newborn king of the Chimera Ants , what Meruem lack in experience he makes up for in sheer power along with more than a number of a unpitying streak inHunter X Hunter ’s Chimera Ant arc . While that alone pull in him a chilling villain , he combines it with a fiercely strategic head that is constantly engross info to think of the winning move .
His accomplishment at board games is the best demonstration of his incredible creative thinker , as he only needs 10 plot to be able to match world champions who ’ve drop their entire life practicing . Meruem was also a baddie with an interesting discharge , so it ’s loose to see why the tactical brilliance Chimera Ant stuck with so many fans .
Johan Liebert (Monster)
Monsteris a captivating series made all the more interesting by the enigmatic " monster " of its title , Johan Liebert . From a immature historic period , Liebert showed huge potential for wickedness , orchestrating a conflict in the experimental orphanage where he was get up that result in the deaths of everyone present .
As an adult , Liebert has only become more efficient and more sadistic , assure that there is never enough evidence to connect him to his abhorrent crimes while easy increasing his magnate . AlthoughMonsteris now fill up to two decades one-time , its antagonist made such an wallop on fans that he ’s still strongly associated with extremely intelligent evil today .
Sosuke Aizen (Bleach)
Even in the man ofBleach , where Soul Reapers need to be impertinent and have tactical knowhow to go , Aizen ’s intelligence stands out . Aizen possesses a wealthiness of cognition which means he ’s almost always one step ahead of those who seek to take him down , though , of course of action , he be given to manipulate events so that no one even gets the chance .
For over a century , Aizen was able to get aside with his drab experimentation without anyone suspecting a thing and it ’s no accident . Even his fighting techniques are all about hypnosis and controlling others ' senses to his own liking . ThoughBleachis a democratic series , the fact that Aizen is rated so highly for his intelligence is all about the terrifying baron of the character himself .
Light Yagami (Death Note)
Not just one of the chic anime villains but also one ofthe impertinent gum anime characters of all time , Light Yagami ’s reputation for calculated villainy is unmatchable . Though his intent to create a more just cosmos is arguably quite pure , the tyrannical and murderous means through which he attempts to achieve this ensures he stays firmly in the villain family .
His intelligence activity is self - evident throughout the serial , as he participate a conflict of wits with the greatest detective of all metre . Any time that Light seems to have been foiled , he is able to think of some way to make it work to his advantage , using those loyal to him for his own selfish ends . Perhaps the most iconic mind in all of anime , Light is still turn over to be the smartest villain it ’s ever seen .
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