Let's be real: trying to figure out the strongest ghouls in Tokyo Ghoul is a complete nightmare. You can’t just look at Kagune types and call it a day. Sui Ishida didn't make a simple shonen power ladder where "Power A" always beats "Power B." Instead, he gave us a messy, tragic world where mental stability—or the lack of it—dictates who wins a fight.
Ken Kaneki wasn't always the top dog. Not even close. If you look back at the early chapters, he was basically a punching bag for anyone with a grudge. But the power ceiling in this series is high. Like, "destroying a city block while having a psychological breakdown" high. When we talk about the apex predators of this universe, we are talking about Ghouls who have moved past the standard Ukaku or Rinkaku classifications and entered the realm of Kakuja monstrosities.
The One-Eyed King and the burden of the Crown
It’s impossible to start anywhere else. Ken Kaneki is the obvious answer, but he’s also the most complicated one. By the end of Tokyo Ghoul:re, specifically during the Dragon arc, his power level is essentially off the charts. He isn't just a ghoul anymore; he's a biological event.
Most people point to his fight with Kishou Arima as the turning point. Arima was the CCG’s "God of Death," a human (well, half-human) who had never lost. When Kaneki took that mantle, he didn't just inherit a title. He inherited the responsibility of being the strongest. His Post-Dragon form is terrifying. He can manifest multiple Kagune types, his regeneration is basically instantaneous, and he has the tactical mind of someone who has spent years being tortured and fighting for every breath.
But honestly? Kaneki’s strength is tied to his trauma. Every time he "leveled up," it was because he broke. Yamori tortured him, so he became a Centipede. He felt useless, so he became Black Reaper. He wanted to protect everyone, so he became a literal kaiju. He’s the strongest because he’s suffered the most. That’s the grim reality of Ishida’s writing.
Why Eto Yoshimura is the most dangerous ghoul you'll ever meet
If Kaneki is the protagonist, Eto Yoshimura is the architect of the chaos. She is the original One-Eyed Owl, and for most of the series, she was the undisputed heavyweight champion of terror. What makes Eto one of the strongest ghouls in Tokyo Ghoul isn't just her massive Kakuja—though that thing is a nightmare of teeth and blades—it’s her intelligence.
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She founded Aogiri Tree. She wrote books that manipulated the entire social fabric of Tokyo. In combat, she’s erratic. She talks to her opponents, mocks them, and plays with her food. Remember the rooftop at the end of the first series? She made some of the CCG’s best investigators look like toddlers.
Eto’s Kagune is unique because it's detached. She can speak through it. She can plant pieces of it in others (like she did with Kanae). Most ghouls use their Kagune as a sword; Eto uses hers like a sentient extension of her will. She only "lost" when the plot required the world to shift toward Kaneki and Furuta, but in a vacuum? Eto is the apex predator.
The Old Guard: Yoshimura and Matasaka Kamishiro
We can't ignore the "Manager." Yoshimura (Kuzen) spent most of the series making coffee and looking peaceful, but he was a beast. He held off multiple Special Class investigators at once during the Anteiku Raid. He was the original Owl, the one who gave the CCG nightmares for decades.
Then there’s Shachi (Matasaka Kamishiro). Shachi is a bit of an anomaly in the strongest ghouls in Tokyo Ghoul discussions because he doesn't rely on flashy Kakuja transformations. He’s a martial artist. Think about that for a second. A ghoul with super-strength and regeneration who also knows how to throw a perfect punch and use your own momentum against you.
Shachi embarrassed Kaneki. He didn't just beat him; he schooled him. He proved that raw power means nothing if you can't hit your target. He’s one of the few ghouls who lived a disciplined life, focusing on his "human" skills to enhance his predatory nature. He only fell when he ran into Arima, which, to be fair, is how almost everyone’s story ends in this world.
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The wild cards: Nimura Furuta and the Dragon Orphans
Furuta is the guy everyone loves to hate. He’s a "troll" character, but his power is legitimate. Because he has Rize’s Kagune and the sunlit garden training, he’s a freak of nature. He ended Eto’s reign with horrifying ease. He doesn't fight with honor or even a consistent style. He just wins.
Then you have the results of the Dragon arc. The "orphans" and the regenerated ghouls created by the toxin. This changed the power scaling entirely. Suddenly, the streets were filled with creatures that shouldn't exist. But even among them, the classic names still hold weight.
A quick reality check on "SSS" Ratings
The CCG uses ratings like S, SS, and SSS. It’s a decent metric, but it’s flawed. An SSS rating doesn't just mean "strong." It means "we need an entire army to stop this person."
- Owl (Eto/Kuzen): SSS. Total war required.
- Centipede (Kaneki): Started at SS, ended way above SSS.
- Noroi: This guy was basically a zombie made of Kagune. He’s often overlooked, but his regenerative ability was actually higher than almost anyone else's. You had to vaporize him to make him stop.
The tragedy of the "Strongest"
Being the strongest ghoul is a curse. Look at Takizawa (Seidou). He went from a mid-tier investigator to a terrifying T-Owl. He’s incredibly powerful, capable of tearing through squads of investigators without breaking a sweat. But he’s miserable. He’s a cannibal who lost his mind.
That’s the recurring theme here. To reach the top of the strongest ghouls in Tokyo Ghoul list, you have to eat your own kind. You have to commit to cannibalism to develop a Kakuja. You have to endure trauma to push your RC cell count higher. Power in Tokyo Ghoul isn't a gift; it’s a symptom of a broken life.
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Renji Yomo and Uta are great examples of "quiet" power. They don't always go for the kill, but when they clash, the scale of their fight is massive. Lightning generation? Shape-shifting? They have abilities that feel almost magical, yet they stay on the sidelines because they know what happens when you try to be the King.
Final thoughts on the hierarchy
If you’re looking for a definitive "who beats whom," it usually looks like this:
- Ken Kaneki (Post-Dragon): He’s basically a god by the end.
- Nimura Furuta: His hybrid nature and Rize’s core make him a nightmare.
- Eto Yoshimura: The most skilled and intelligent Kakuja user.
- Kishou Arima: I know, he’s "human," but he’s the benchmark they all have to clear.
- Yoshimura (Manager): The blueprint for what a powerful ghoul should be.
Most fans get caught up in who can punch harder, but the real strength in Tokyo Ghoul is the will to keep going. Kaneki didn't win because he was "stronger" than Furuta in a vacuum; he won because he finally had something to live for beyond just survival.
Actionable Insights for Tokyo Ghoul Fans:
- Re-read the "re" Manga: The anime skips almost all the nuance regarding RC cell counts and the specific biological differences between the ghouls. If you want to understand why Kaneki is the strongest, you have to see the internal dialogue in the manga.
- Study the Kagune Types: Understanding the Rock-Paper-Scissors mechanic (Ukaku beats Binkaku, etc.) explains why some "weaker" ghouls win certain matchups.
- Watch the background details: Sui Ishida hides a lot of "power hints" in the art, specifically in the way kagune are drawn with eyes or mouths, indicating the level of cannibalism the ghoul has practiced.
To truly understand the power dynamics, you have to look past the gore and see the characters. The strongest aren't just the ones with the biggest wings or the sharpest tails; they’re the ones who survived the longest in a world that wanted them dead from day one.