The Most Powerful Eye Abilities In Anime
Descriptions
Superpowers and abilities being tied to a character's eyesight is a favorite trope featured throughout Japanese anime. Shonen series are particularly fond of giving magical eyes to both heroes and villains. As such, more than a few anime eye powers have proven to be deadly weapons over the years.
Anime characters are known for their highly expressive eyes, and in certain anime series, looks really can kill. Many anime heroes and villains alike have supernatural gifts related to their eyes, often to see things that others cannot perceive. Further, their eyeballs might cast magic spells, control other people, or even view the future before it happens.
Updated on August 23, 2023, by Louis Kemner & Ajay Aravind: Dozens of anime characters with special ocular powers have become fan favorites, and keeping track of them all helps any anime fan realize just how diverse the seemingly niche field of eye-based abilities can really be. We've updated this list to review some of the best anime eye powers with up-to-date information so fans can learn why seeing really is believing in every sense.
20 Ciel Phantomhive's Faustian Eyes
Black Butler
While Ciel of Black Butler's marked eye isn't powerful in and of itself, it's a potent symbol. The marked eye is proof of Ciel's contract with the demon known as Sebastian, whose dangerous abilities and charm Ciel utilizes as a means to avenge his family. Ciel keeps his eye hidden not to contain its power but to keep this contract and his true intentions secret.
Deeper Black Butler lore explains that the Faustian contract may appear anywhere on the body and absolutely bind the human and demon together. The human is totally unable to escape the demon's reach. In return, the demon may never lie to the human and must obey orders that begin with "I command you."
19 Ryuk's Shinigami Eyes
Death Note
In Death Note, the villainous Light Yagami decided to never accept Ryuk's deal to get Shinigami eyes, though fans can still see the appeal. In exchange for half of one's remaining lifespan, a human may get Shinigami eyes to see the name and lifespan of anyone in their visual vicinity. Light didn't make that deal, but several other characters did, including his lover, Misa Amane, and even his own father, Soichiro. In fact, Misa made that deal twice, first with Rem and then with Ryuk, implying that she may have very little time left to live. That said, she clearly thought it was worth it.
18 Viola's Glare-Glare Fruit
One Piece
One Piece's Devil Fruit system has granted countless characters completely unique abilities. The Glare-Glare Fruit, for example, is possibly one of the most underrated support Devil Fruits in One Piece. The fruit offers its users an array of abilities that all revolve around the eyes. After eating this Devil Fruit, Viola gained the ability to observe faraway objects, as well as some telepathic tendencies and the ability to attack an enemy directly using her eyes alone. This made her incredibly useful to the Straw Hat pirates and their allies when the final battle for Dressrosa began one fateful afternoon. Viola probably has one of the most impressive anime eye powers out there.
17 Evergreen's Stone Eyes
Fairy Tail
Evergreen's unique brand of magic in Fairy Tail is called Stone Eyes. As the name suggests, her eyes were evidently inspired by the petrification ability wielded by Medusa of lore. The petrification effects, however, aren't as absolute as an opponent might fear. For example, they can be bypassed simply by wearing protective glasses. Evergreen's Stone Eyes ability has immense potential, though she only rarely uses it for positive outcomes. Under Laxus Dreyar's orders, Evergreen turns several Fairy Tail guild members to stone to take them hostage
16 Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes
Hunter x Hunter
In Hunter x Hunter, Kurapika's eyes are a constant reminder of the torment experienced by his beloved Kurta Clan. While the Scarlet Eyes do enhance Kurapika's strength and focus once he becomes enraged, the eyes of his family were harvested as curiosities in the past. Due to their beautiful color, the Scarlet Eyes were long sought after by cruel treasure hunters. Eventually, all of the Kurta Clan was massacred so the Phantom Troupe could obtain their precious eyes. Only Kurapika still remains alive, his eyes red and furious as he seeks to avenge his murdered kinsfolk.
15 Yoki's Ginko Of The Tokoyami
Mushishi
Possibly more a curse than a blessing, Yoki/Ginko of Mushishi is named after the same mushi that infected him as a child. This infection blacked out one of his eyes but gave him the ability to see mushi forever thereafter. Unfortunately, mushi are now drawn to Ginko and his eye, and he must live a nomadic existence or risk causing trouble if he ever lingers in any one place for too long. Most importantly, these eyes help give the story structure, the protagonist a defined purpose, and the audience a fantastic gem of a series.
14 Wrath's Ultimate Eye
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood's Wrath, publicly known as King Bradley, is a deadly fighter who benefits greatly from having the Ultimate Eye. Through it, Bradley can foresee opponents' movements and react accordingly. It's almost like the Sharingan from Naruto, minus the Mangekyo part. Wrath's left eye has the Ouroboros tattoo on it, though he tends to keep that hidden in his daily life. He was born human, but was eventually injected with a small Philosopher's Stone. This experiment morphed his left eye into its current form, forever marking Wrath as a supernatural being of immense power.
13 Leo's All-Seeing Eyes Of God
Kekkai Sensen
Kekkai Sensen is a show that's not afraid to be different. New York has blended with another dimension; aliens and monsters are denizens of the city, and the characters are far from ordinary people. Among them is Leo, who boasts a pair of eyes that make him a prized target. Leo hosts the All-Seeing Eyes of God, which allow him to perceive hidden truths and sometimes even visions of the past and future. He can also see through the eyes of other people. The All-Seeing Eyes can even be used to project hallucinations and false visions into the sight of outsiders, often to devastating effect.
12 Aizawa's Erasure
My Hero Academia
In My Hero Academia, Erasure is an eye-based Quirk that allows the Pro Hero Shota Aizawa/Eraserhead to temporarily cancel the Quirk of a target located within his field of vision. Though incapable of directly dealing damage to the said target, the effects are still profound and almost omnipotent in most scenarios. Aizawa supplements the usage of his Quirk with advanced martial skills for maximum efficiency. After tedious trial and error, Aizawa eventually uses this Quirk to help him become one of the most formidable heroes in MHA. There's no doubt that Aizawa has one of the strongest eyes in anime.
11 Neji Hyuga's Byakugan
Naruto
One of the best anime eyes, Byakugan is an eye technique exclusive to members of the Hyuga Clan in Naruto. The term "Byakugan" roughly translates to the all-seeing eye. Members of the Hyuga Clan are able to see across vast distances and sometimes see right through walls and objects, though the Byakugan is also useful up close. In melee battles, Hyuga ninjas like Neji Hyuga can use the Byakugan to locate the opponent's chakra points and strike them with great precision. Naruto fans saw that for themselves in the Chunin Exam arc when Neji struck all of Naruto's chakra points, one after the other.
10 Lelouch's Geass
Code Geass
Code Geass is a famous science fiction anime that mostly focuses on politics and futuristic warfare, though the series still has room for fantasy-style elements. One of them is protagonist Lelouch Lamperouge's signature ability, the Geass, which appears in his left eye. Geass grants Lelouch the ability to control people's minds, but only after certain conditions are met. Eventually, Lelouch uses this ability to subjugate his enemies and establish himself as a supreme leader. Aside from the Geass, Lelouch can also use his formidable intellect to stay ahead of his opponents and advance his plans.
9 Sasuke's Sharingan
Naruto
Sharingan is the Uchiha Clan's signature eye. Unlike the Byakugan, which exists only in one state, the Sharingan can evolve into a wide variety of forms based on the user's individual experiences. For example, Sasuke's relationship with the Sharingan will be different from that of his brother. While most Uchiha Clan members only manage to awaken the basic form of Sharingan throughout their lifetimes, the Mangekyo Sharingan and Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan are rare cases that are only awakened a handful of times during Naruto. Both these techniques are among the most powerful eyes in anime.
8 Zommari Rureaux's Brujería
Bleach
Bleach's combat system supports an astonishing variety of powers, including the eye-based power of Zommaru Rureaux, the 7th Espada. In his one and only fight, Zommari first demonstrated his extreme speed with the Gemelos Sonido move, then released his Zanpakuto Brujería. In his released form, Zommari can open the enchanted eyes all over his body to take control of whatever they see, such as the enemy's arms and legs, or even their head. Zommari lost the fight against Byakuya Kuchiki, however, implying that he doesn't have the strongest eyes in anime.
7 Sir Nighteye's Foresight
My Hero Academia
Sir Nighteye is a sharply-dressed Pro Hero who bears the Quirk Foresight, a powerful and unique ability by any measure. Using Foresight allows Sir Nighteye can see the future as though watching reels of film, typically through the eyes of a target he's made physical and eye contact with. While Nighteye's ability does have limitations in My Hero Academia, such as only being able to use it once a day, the visions he sees are supposed to be perfectly accurate. This means he recognizes the future as a terrifying, unmoving object, and he has to deal with that disconcerting notion for years.
6 Nagato's Rinnegan
Naruto
The Rinnegan is an eye with godlike power. This eye is the very definition of overpowered, and it seems almost unfair even in a series where many villains feel way too stacked. Even a taboo like the revival of the dead is nothing but a hitch for the Rinnegan. In the wide universe established by Naruto, the Rinnegan stands as the pinnacle of strength and rarity. Only an iconic villain like Pain can bring out the very best of the Rinnegan, though other characters have also been known to use it, such as Sasuke and Madara Uchiha.
5 Gojo's Six Eyes
Jujutsu Kaisen
Jujutsu Kaisen features the popular hero Satoru Gojo, an exorcist and the inheritor of the Six Eyes. The Six Eyes allows Gojo to utilize his Limitless technique to its fullest extent. While this may sound like babble to those unfamiliar with the show, this is actually a stunning ability since it lets him redefine reality. By using his eyes to reshape reality, Gojo can distort time and space within the confines of a pocket universe. Gojo wields this incredible power skillfully, and he is unlikely to ever face any opponent who can outwit the power of those omnipotent anime eyes.
4 Yahaba's Koketsu Arrow
Demon Slayer
In Demon Slayer's first season, protagonist Tanjiro Kamado and his sister Nezuko had a 2-v-2 battle against the aggressive, ball-throwing demon Susamaru and her partner, Yahaba. The latter never opens his actual eyes, but he does use special eyes on his palms to fight. Yahaba is known as the Arrow Demon because his special eyes have arrows for irises. With this Blood Demon Art, Yahaba can throw items and people around with magical arrows. He can disrupt his enemies' movements that way, or even bolster Susamaru's own style. Yahaba might be weak, but he has one of the strongest eyes in anime.
3 Hiei's Jagan Eye
Yu Yu Hakusho
Yu Yu Hakusho's Hiei is referred to as the Jaganshi, or Master of the Evil Eye. Although he doesn't have this power at birth, Hiei later obtains the Jagan through a highly complex and magical surgery. The Jagan gives him the opportunity to exercise a range of fantastic techniques, such as deleting memories, telekinesis, and making telepathic links. Hiei's greatest technique, the Dragon of the Darkness Flame, would have been an uncontrollable mess without the Jagan's near-flawless guidance. Furthermore, Hiei can access the so-called Jaganshi form, transforming him into a green monster with some of the most powerful eyes in anime.
2 Pegasus' Millennium Eye
Yu-Gi-Oh!
Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Maximillion Pegasus begins his character arc as a major villain, but eventually atones for his mistakes. He obtains the Millennium Eye, one of the Millennium Items that people have been hunting for thousands of years. Maximillion notices his dead wife upon receiving this power, explaining why he exploits the Millennium Eye as much as possible. The Millennium Eye can essentially comb through the darkest recesses of a target's mind, giving Maximillion the upper edge in most battles. Although this doesn't happen in the anime adaptation, the manga version states that any Millennium Eye user would be granted a single wish.
1 Yhwach's Almighty
Bleach
Yhwach is the most powerful character in Bleach, arguably stronger than the protagonist himself. While he doesn't have access to the Almighty at the beginning of the Thousand-Year Blood War, he wouldn't have won the fight against Ichibei Hyosube without activating his omniscient eyesight. Yhwach's single iris splits into three, allowing him to perceive every possible future imaginable. If this isn't overpowered enough, he can also cherry-pick the least threatening future and make it a reality. Yhwach later gains dozens of eye-like organs on his body after absorbing the Soul King, making the villain effectively invincible.
Add a review