Let’s be real for a second. If you’re diving into the roster of Record of Ragnarok characters, you aren't just looking for a history lesson. You're here for the absolute chaos of seeing a serial killer take on a god of justice, or a sumo wrestler trying to out-muscle the peak of Hindu mythology. Shinya Umemura and Takumi Fukui didn't just pick names out of a hat; they rebuilt these icons from the ground up, often stripping away the "clean" versions we learned in school to show something much more visceral.
The premise is simple enough. Gods want humans dead. Humans say no. To settle it, they hold a 13-v-13 tournament called Ragnarok. But the brilliance of the series—and the reason it’s sparked a thousand Reddit debates—is how it subverts expectations of what these legends should be.
The Humanity of the Einherjar
Take Adam. Most media depicts the first man as a naive figure or a sinner. In Record of Ragnarok, he's the ultimate "Dad." He doesn't fight because he hates the gods or because he's seeking glory. He fights because his children are in danger. Period. His "Eyes of the Lord" ability, which lets him copy any divine move, isn't just a cool power-up; it’s a thematic statement that humans were made in the image of the divine, making him the ultimate mirror. When he stood his ground against Zeus, even after his heart stopped, it wasn't just a fight scene. It was a character-defining moment that set the tone for the entire series.
Then you've got Jack the Ripper. Honestly, he’s probably the most controversial inclusion on the human side. Putting a notorious murderer on the same team as Adam or Kojiro Sasaki feels wrong, right? That’s exactly the point. Brunhilde, the Valkyrie orchestrating this whole mess, knows that to beat "perfect" gods, you sometimes need the worst of humanity. Jack’s fight against Heracles is essentially a battle of philosophies: absolute malice versus absolute love.
Kojiro Sasaki represents a different flavor of human potential. He's known as "History's Greatest Loser." Why? Because he never won a duel in his life—until he died. He spent his afterlife "simulating" fights in his head, perfecting his style over centuries. This is a massive departure from the traditional Shonen protagonist who wins through sheer willpower. Sasaki wins through homework. He’s the personification of the "grind," and seeing him slice through Poseidon—a god who viewed humans as literal insects—was incredibly cathartic.
The Gods and Their Fragile Egos
The Record of Ragnarok characters on the divine side are surprisingly... human. And not in a good way. They’re arrogant, bored, and deeply insecure. Zeus isn't some wise sky-father; he’s a battle-hungry old man who looks like a raisin until he pumps his muscles up to the size of a minivan. His victory over Adam was technically a win, but it felt like a moral defeat. He was terrified. For the first time in eons, a god felt the cold breath of mortality.
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Shiva's depiction caused some real-world ripples, particularly regarding how he's worshipped in Hinduism, but within the narrative of the manga, he serves as the "bro" of the heavens. He’s the peak of the Indian pantheon, but his fight with Raiden Tameemon showed a side of him that respected human strength. It wasn't just about destruction; it was about the "dance" of combat.
And then there's Thor. He starts the series as a silent engine of destruction. He’s so strong he’s bored. His opponent, Lu Bu, was exactly the same. Their fight was less about saving the world and more about two lonely monsters finally finding someone who could take a hit. It's a weirdly tragic dynamic. When Thor kills Lu Bu, he doesn't gloat. He pays respect. He lost the only person who could ever understand him.
Why We Get the Power Scalers Wrong
Everyone loves a tier list. You’ve seen them. "Is Zeus stronger than Shiva?" "Could Buddha beat Thor?" Honestly, most of these discussions miss the forest for the trees. The power system in Record of Ragnarok is based heavily on matchups and "Volundr"—the soul-bonding between a human and a Valkyrie.
A human like Jack the Ripper would get absolutely pulverized by someone like Poseidon in three seconds. But because he fought Heracles in a specific environment (Victorian London) with a specific set of tricks, he won. The series emphasizes that "strength" isn't a flat number. It's about compatibility, terrain, and mental state.
The Buddha Variable
Buddha is the ultimate wildcard. He’s a god who fights for humanity because he simply doesn't like being told what to do. His "Future Vision" makes him nearly untouchable, but his real power is his sheer audacity. He breaks the rules of the tournament, shifts the balance of power, and reminds both sides that enlightenment isn't about sitting under a tree—it's about having the guts to stand up for what's right, even if the entire universe is against you.
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The Valkyries: More Than Just Weapons
We can't talk about Record of Ragnarok characters without mentioning the sisters who make the fights possible. Brunhilde is a masterpiece of a protagonist. She’s messy. She screams, she makes ugly faces, she swears, and she clearly has some trauma regarding the gods she once served. She isn't a "waifu" character; she’s a desperate general willing to sacrifice her sisters' lives to prevent extinction.
Each Valkyrie that undergoes "Volund" essentially dies if their human partner dies. It’s a suicide pact. When Hlokk was forced to bond with Jack the Ripper, it was a dark, uncomfortable moment that highlighted the cost of this war. These aren't just power-ups. They are living beings turning into swords and shields, betting their entire existence on the hope that a human can kill a god.
The Misconception of "Evil" Gods
It's easy to paint the gods as the villains. Most of them are. But characters like Heracles complicate that. Heracles was a human who ascended to godhood. He loves humanity. He explicitly states he will vote to save them after he wins his match. But he still fights for the gods because he is a man of honor and duty. This creates a heartbreaking tension. You want the humans to win, but you don't want Heracles to die. The manga excels at making you feel guilty for rooting for either side.
Technical Nuance: The Art of the Backstory
If you’ve read the manga or watched the anime, you know that a single punch can take three chapters. This is because the creators use the "flashback" technique to build the stakes. We don't just see Lu Bu swing a halberd; we see his entire life story, his quest for a challenge, and the moment he realized he was "the strongest under the heavens."
This creates an emotional resonance that purely action-focused series often lack. You aren't just watching two sprites hit each other; you’re watching two conflicting ideologies collide. Beelzebub’s recent fight against Nikola Tesla is a perfect example. You have the personification of misery and darkness versus the personification of human progress and light. Tesla’s "Science" wasn't just magic; it was the cumulative effort of every human mind in history.
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What to Watch Out For Next
As the tournament progresses, the stakes are only getting higher. We still haven't seen the full potential of characters like King Leonidas or the mysterious Nostradamus (who apparently is a "joker" in the deck). The gods are also running out of heavy hitters, which means they might start playing dirty.
If you're trying to keep up with the lore, pay attention to the small details in the crowd. The "spectator" characters—like Arthur Conan Doyle watching Jack the Ripper or the various scientists watching Tesla—often provide the best commentary on what makes these fighters tick.
Actionable Insights for Fans
- Read the Manga: The anime is great for the voice acting and music, but the manga's art (especially the facial expressions) is on another level.
- Look Beyond the Stats: Stop worrying about who has the "highest destructive capability." Look at the thematic irony of the matchups. The creators usually pair opponents who represent opposite sides of the same coin.
- Research the Mythology: Half the fun is seeing how the authors twisted the real-world myths. Knowing the "real" story of Qin Shi Huang makes his "In-Manga" version even more impressive.
The roster of Record of Ragnarok characters is a celebration of what it means to be alive, flawed, and stubborn. Whether it's a god trying to reclaim their dignity or a human trying to prove they belong, every fight is a lesson in character study. Keep an eye on the upcoming rounds; the most surprising heroes are usually the ones history forgot to mention.
To get the most out of your experience, focus on the "why" behind each fighter's style. Don't just look at the attacks—look at what they sacrificed to gain that power. Understanding the "Volund" mechanics will also give you a better grasp of why certain humans stand a chance while others would fail. Study the pairings carefully, as they often reveal the underlying philosophical conflict of the round.