While Gintama may have a reputation as one of the funniest anime series of all time, it also has plenty of dramatic action scenes to excite fans of more conventional battle anime. The massive ensemble cast of Gintama may be goofballs and jokesters most of the time, but when it’s time to get serious, they know how to fight as well as any other shonen hero.
While many of the major players in Gintama are much stronger than the average fighter, there is definitely a clear difference in strength between some characters. Here are some of the strongest characters in Gintama, ranked by their strength.
Updated on November 14, 2023, by Danny Guan: Gintama remains an anime classic years after its conclusion with The Final movie in 2021, but it still remains underappreciated for its fight scenes. While it still has and deserves its reputation for being laugh-out-loud hilarious, it’s important to remember that one of Gintama’s biggest strengths will always be its ability to flow seamlessly between action and comedy. With that in mind, here are some more characters in Gintama who can put up a good fight on their own.
23 Ensho
Vengeful Warrior Of Burei
Ensho was a mighty warrior and prince from the planet of Burei, whose planet was destroyed by an Altana explosion caused by the Tendoshu. He joined the Altana Liberation Army in its attack against Earth and was one of its main leaders. Though he eventually learned that the Tendoshu were already defeated, he continued to attack Earth in order to sate his own hatred.
Ensho was a mighty warrior and master of the beam saber. He could fight an army all on his own, and while he lacked significant fights in the series, it is easy to see his skill in the few altercations he gets into.
22 Mutsu
The Kaientai’s Shadow Leader
Mutsu is the second-in-command of the merchant fleet Kaientai, as well as its de facto leader due to the real leader, Tatsuma Sakamoto, being extremely unreliable. She handles most of the actual work while Sakamoto runs around making nonsensical deals, and is more serious compared to his lackadaisical personality.
While Mutsu rarely appears in the series, when she does appear she is always a valuable asset. As a Yato, her strength is guaranteed, and while she may not have many significant fights, she remains a steadfast ally for the Yorozuya crew.
21 Abuto
Kamui’s Reliable Second-In-Command
Abuto is the vice-captain of the Harusame Space Pirates’ 7th Division, working directly under Kamui. He is much more level-headed and diplomatic than his leader and often has to clean up the messes he leaves behind.
As a Yato, Abuto’s strength and combat ability far outstrip many of Gintama’s cast members, being able to overwhelm characters like Kagura and Shinpachi easily. However, his lack of screen time means that he gets very few significant fights, meaning he doesn’t have that many chances to show off that incredible strength.
20 Bansai Kawakami
The Strongest Of Takasugi’s Kiheitai
While he sometimes works as a music producer under the pseudonym Tsunpo, Bansai Kawakami is actually a member of Takasugi Shinsuke’s Kiheitai and is one of its strongest members. Though Kawakami only makes a few appearances throughout the series, this music-obsessed swordsman is actually quite the fighter.
Bansai only has a few major fights throughout the series, one of them being against the series’ main character, Gintoki. Though his steel shamisen strings gave Gintoki a difficult time, in the end, he lost out to Gintoki’s resolve and willpower.
19 Ayame “Sacchan” Sarutobi
The Fearsome Glasses Assassin
It can be easy to forget thanks to how often this masochistic ninja often features as a comic character throughout the series, but Ayame Sarutobi, also known as Sacchan, is actually quite the skilled ninja. When she isn’t stalking Gintoki, she is often given important assassination jobs and has even been tasked with protecting the shogun.
As a ninja, Sacchan relies on her agility and stealth skills to execute her missions, and when in combat often fights by throwing kunai with unerring accuracy. Her skill with the kunai is so good that she can hit her target even without her glasses.
18 Zenzo Hattori
Leader Of The Oniwabanshu
Another ninja, Zenzo Hattori doesn’t necessarily put on an impressive front. He is constantly obsessed with reading Jump and has to deal with a chronic case of hemorrhoids that never seem to get any better. In addition, he rarely figures in battles, never participating in some of the series’ most climactic moments.
However, Hattori is not just any ninja. He is the son of the former head of the Oniwabanshu, a ninja group once charged with protecting the shogun. As a result, Hattori is immensely skilled in the art of the ninja, being able to use a variety of weapons as well as close combat martial arts.
17 Jiraia
The Ninja Master Of Many Faces
Once a member of the Oniwabanshu, Jiraia was ousted after attempting to kill the former shogun. He later became Tsukuyo’s teacher and raised her so she could become the perfect ninja. Jiraia is the antagonist of the Red Spider Arc and is one of Gintoki’s deadliest enemies.
Jiraia is a powerful ninja, using wired kunais to create “spider webs” to entrap his opponents. While he is certainly a force to be reckoned with in battle, his disguise skills are also nothing to sneer at, as his destroyed face allows him to assume any appearance he wishes.
16 Hosen
The Deadly King Of The Night
The ruler of Yoshiwara and King of the Night, Hosen is actually a former member of the Harusame Space Pirates on top of being a Yato, one of the mightiest races in the world of Gintama. Despite being older, Hosen has lost none of his strength and serves as the antagonist for the Yoshiwara in Flames Arc.
As a Yato, Hosen sports incredible fighting power, with massive strength that is able to pulverize a human being with ease. Despite this, he does have a glaring weakness. Due to years spent hiding underground, he is especially weak to sunlight, even when compared to other Yato.
15 Isao Kondo
Beloved Leader Of The Shinsengumi
As the Commander of the Shinsengumi, it’s no surprise that Isao Kondo is able to put up a fight on his own. Having trained since childhood with his allies Toshiro Hijikata and Sogo Okita, Kondo is a skilled swordsman and a capable leader.
Though Kondo is a powerful fighter, he is not as strong as some of his Shinsengumi compatriots due to being more of a leader who commands others. Nevertheless, he can still brawl with the best of them when necessary, and while he rarely has significant one-on-one fights, he is a force to be reckoned with.
14 Kyubei Yagyu
One-Eyed Swordmaster
Kyubei Yagyu is the heir to the Yagyu clan and childhood friend of Tae Shimura. As a member of the renowned Yagyu clan known for their incredible sword skills, Kyubei is also an incredible swordfighter as well, one easily able to keep pace with Gintoki.
Kyubei’s sword style is generally one that relies on speed, with lightning-fast sword strikes that land before an opponent has a chance to react. While Kyubei does not have all that many significant one-on-one fights in the series, her strength cannot be underestimated.
13 Tsukuyo
Yoshiwara’s Defender In The Darkness
The Courtesan of Death Tsukuyo is the leader of the Hyakka, an enforcement squad of female ninjas meant to protect Yoshiwara from invaders. Having trained as a ninja since childhood, Tsukuyo frequently assists the Odd Jobs crew with her expert kunai techniques and ninja skills.
Tsukuyo generally relies on her incredible agility and acrobatic skills in battle, allowing her to evade attacks before countering with her incredible kunai-throwing skills. While Tsukuyo rarely fights one-on-one, she can also fight in close quarters to some degree.
12 Toshiro Hijikata
The Shinsengumi’s Battle Commander
Toshiro Hijikata, better known as the Shinsengumi’s Demon Vice-Commander, is one of the strongest warriors in the Shinsengumi police force. Hijikata’s strictness is only unmatched by his devotion to the Shinsengumi and Kondo’s ideals. Hijikata frequently takes the front line in battles, acting as an example to his men.
Hijikata, as a swordfighter, is nearly Gintoki’s equal in battle, as seen by their constant rivalry. While he isn’t the strongest fighter in the Shinsengumi, he is certainly one of their aces, and he has had some incredible fights throughout the series.
11 Sogo Okita
Strongest Of The Shinsengumi
As the captain of the Shinsengumi’s 1st Division, Sogo Okita is yet another high-ranking member of the Shinsengumi who is also an incredible swordsman in his own right. In fact, Okita is easily the most powerful member of the Shinsengumi, and he has been referred to as a genius swordsman.
Okita frequently fights with a rocket launcher, usually when fights are not all that serious and the enemies aren’t very strong. When he gets serious, however, he is even more deadly with a sword in his hands.
10 Kotaro Katsura
The Reclusive Rebel Leader
Katsura is the leader of the Joi rebels and the childhood friend and comrade of Gintoki. Having lost the battle against the invading Amanto, Katsura now fights a guerilla war against the current government in hopes of making the country a more equal place.
While Katsura is quite the airheaded goofball, he is also an extremely powerful swordsman. As one of Gintoki’s few allies to survive the war, Katsura is a veteran general whose fighting skill is equal to his leadership abilities. While he is known as “Runaway Kotaro,” when he fights, he is nigh unstoppable.
9 Nobume Imai
The Murderous Vice-Captain
The soft-spoken, donut-loving vice-captain of the Mimawarigumi is also one of the most powerful characters in the Gintama anime. A skilled swordsman with an extremely fluid fighting style, Nobume is a cold-hearted killer on par with Okita of the Shinsengumi.
Nobume is far from your average swordsman; as a child, she was trained by the elite assassination unit Naraku, and she was strong enough to be known as one of their Three Feathers. While she has long left their organization, her strength and skill still remain.
8 Jirocho Doromizu
Mighty Deva Of Kamurocho
Jirocho is one of the oldest characters in Gintama, but that doesn’t mean that he’s weak by any measure. He’s a veteran swordsman with a wealth of experience, and he’s had to prove his toughness while making his way up to the top of Kabukicho.
While Jirocho has only had a few appearances throughout the entirety of Gintama, he is still one of the strongest fighters in the series, and each fight he’s in is incredibly memorable. Whether he’s an enemy or an ally, Jirocho always makes an impact whenever he appears.
7 Kagura
Master Of Her Own Bloodlust
The youngest member of the Odd Jobs crew might seem like just a cute little girl, but Kagura is anything but. As a member of the powerful mercenary clan, the Yato, Kagura has an unbelievable amount of physical strength, easily overpowering adult warriors.
Kagura is easily the muscle of the Odd Jobs crew, as she is strong enough to stop cars and lift massive boulders all on her own. While other characters might beat her out in skill and technique, Kagura’s brutal fighting style is still quite effective.
6 Oboro
The Right Hand Of Utsuro
The mysterious and ominous Oboro is one of the strongest members of the Tenshoin Naraku, as well as one of its Three Feathers. Initially appearing as a supporting antagonist in the Courtesan of a Nation arc, Oboro quickly established himself as a major antagonist in the latter half of Gintama.
Oboro’s strength lies not only in his fighting skill and mastery of pressure points. In the past, Oboro once received a blood transfusion from Utsuro, granting him superhuman regenerative abilities. This allows him to recover even from fatal wounds, making him quite the persistent foe.
5 Shinsuke Takasugi
Kiheitai Leader And Revolutionary
Shinsuke Takasugi is yet another old childhood friend of Gintoki and a rebel who yearns to topple Japan’s government. Unlike Katsura, who is willing to pursue peaceful efforts, Takasugi is insistent on seeing Japan burn for the sake of his personal vengeance.
While Takasugi does not fight very often in the series proper, he shows himself as more than capable when he does. His fight against Gintoki is one of the most iconic fights in the series, and his fighting skill is only matched by his undying willpower.
4 Gintoki Sakata
The White Yaksha, Hero Of The Joi War
Naturally, the main character of the series is one of the strongest characters in the series. Once a rebel feared far and wide as the White Yaksha, Gintoki now works as a jack-of-all-trades in Kabukicho, living paycheck to paycheck.
Whenever things get serious in Gintama, Gintoki sheds his deadbeat persona and brings out the strength that once made him feared on the battlefield. While he may not have special powers or supernatural abilities, Gintoki’s willpower and strength of spirit carry him through each and every trial.
