Since the dawn of the Golden Age of comic books, DC Comics has stood out among the best publishers in the industry thanks to heroes like Batman and Superman. While the publisher often does some of its best work through street-level heroes, DC also boasts some of the most outrageously over-powered characters in fiction. From cosmic deities to heroes with almost unmatched strength, the publisher is arguably more stacked with power than even Marvel.

DC is arguably better known for its powerful cosmic and magical heroes than any publisher in the industry, and has often taken pride in its handling of these figures, spawning rivalries that span millennia, involving gods, monsters and fantastical creatures from other dimensions. While some of the company's most powerful characters have been notably absent in recent years, others continue to make their presence known in current events. These are just some of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe right now.

20 Doomsday

First Appearance: Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (Louise Simonson, Jon Bogdanove, Dennis Janke & Glenn Whitmore)

Doomsday's most well-known feat in DC lore is killing Superman, and he has only grown more powerful since his brutal deathmatch with the Man of Steel. Thanks to his immense strength and durability that put him on par with Kryptonians, this rampaging beast has earned a reputation throughout the cosmos as the "Killer of Worlds."

is final form pushes him to insurmountable heights as he becomes the Time Trapper, unlocking speech capabilities and control over time itself. Like Superman, Doomsday is an immortal being destined to endure until the end of existence, ranking him among the mightiest gods in DC's pantheon.

19 The Phantom Stranger

First Appearance: Phantom Stranger #1 (John Broome & Carmine Infantino)

As perhaps the most enigmatic character in the DCU, the Phantom Stranger wanders Earth offering his assistance to those in need. During the Silver Age, he often protected the vulnerable from threats of the supernatural world, taking on evil spirits, witches, curses and more. Since then, he has made his presence known during various Crisis events, typically serving among the magical s to stave off the forces of darkness. In Titans #9 (Tom Taylor & Lucas Meyer), the hero made his first appearance since Lazarus Planet, confirming his return to the Quintessence team of DC's most powerful beings.

The Phantom Stranger's mastery over magic is only rivaled by his wisdom, which has been accumulated over thousands of years of existence. Many readers subscribe to his origin as a cursed Judas Iscariot, damned to walk the Earth for all time. He has the ability to manipulate reality, counteract powerful spells and teleport, being one of the few heroes to casually associate with Darkseid without breaking a sweat. His only vulnerability appears to be characters like Spectre, who are powered by the Presence -- seemingly confirming the Judas theory.

18 Swamp Thing

First Appearance: House of Secrets #92 (Len Wein & Bernie Wrightson)

As an elemental force influenced by the Parliament of Trees, Swamp Thing is the Protector of the Green, using various dead humans as its host to guard the welfare of the natural world. Most famously controlled by Alec Holland, the hero learned to manipulate the Green, allowing him to call upon the trees to aid him in battle. During the events of Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths, he proved a key asset in defeating the Great Darkness.

Swamp Thing is practically invulnerable, capable of resurrecting a new body for himself from any plant life anywhere in the universe, so long as its a part of the Green. This has even allowed him to visit other planets. As a master over one of the core elements of the universe, the hero could prove disastrous should he be so inclined -- and the havoc wrought by malevolent avatars of the Rot have shown just how powerful these beings can be.

17 Amazo (And Amanda Waller)

First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #30 (Gardner Fox & Mike Sekowsky)

Created by Professor Ivo, Amazo was designed to be an android capable of copying the abilities of anyone it comes into with. This ability meant the machine could effectively become a one-man Justice League, ensuring it would always be the perfect match, physically at least, for its opponent.

Recently, Amanda Waller cemented her own status as one of DC's most powerful characters by deploying a small army of Amazos, and using her resources to counter the world's heroes. Taking on characters like Wonder Woman and Superman, the android continues to prove itself the most dangerous machine in the DCU. The heroes typically have to resort to the one thing the robot can't replicate: their intelligence.

16 Beast Boy

First Appearance: Doom Patrol #99 (Arnold Drake & Bob Brown)

The Titans' Beast Boy may not appear threatening on the surface, but his recent feats have solidified him as one of DC's most dangerous heroes to date. His ability to shapeshift into any animal at will is formidable enough due to its versatility, but Beast Boy demonstrated that he isn't limited to normal animals when he achieved his terrifying Garro transformation.

Harnessing the powers of Starro, he unleashed a beast plague upon the Earth that left the whole hero community in shambles. The endless possibilities of Beast Boy's shapeshifting show just how formidable he can be when he loses control.

15 Dreamer

First Appearance: Supergirl "American Alien" (Robert Rovner and Jessica Queller), DC Pride 2022 #1

Nia Nal, known as Dreamer, has made waves in the DC Universe since her transition from live action to comics. A Naltorian-Human hybrid, Dreamer is capable of astral projection, precognition, and the creation of energy constructs, but her greatest strength has only just been unveiled: invulnerability.

Even if her body is destroyed, she can rebuild herself in the Dreamscape if someone in the living world dreams about her - which Jon Kent does, following her presumed death in Superman's Fortress of Solitude. This makes Dreamer effectively immortal, and therefore one of the most indestructible beings in DC's canon.

14 Zatanna

First Appearance: Hawkman #4 (Gardner Fox & Murphy Anderson)

Zatanna's mastery of the mystic arts is nearly unparalleled among the magical beings in DC's continuity, hence her status as one of the Justice League's most powerful heroes. She casts spells via "backwards magic", which is activated by speaking phrases backwards as the moniker implies. She can disarm foes or even freeze the likes of Superman in place through her sorcery.

Enemies could once de-power her by stripping away her ability to speak, but she has since circumvented that weakness by learning sign language, thus reinforcing Zatanna's status as an unstoppable force and the Justice League's main source for anything regarding magic.

13 Superman

First Appearance: Action Comics #1 (Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster)

Superman has, since his creation at the dawn of the Golden Age, consistently ranked among the most powerful beings in the DCU -- at least, under a red sun. With seemingly infinite strength that has allowed him to bench press planets, the hero is a walking, one-man army, with speed to match the Flash, the endurance of a god and the mind of a supercomputer.

Superman continues to lead the pack as far as DC's superheroes are concerned, and received a power boost in the wake of the events of the "Warworld Saga." Despite a vulnerability to magic, Kryptonite and red suns, the hero has always found a way to overcome his opponents.

12 The Flash (Wally West)

First Appearance: The Flash #110 (John Broome & Carmine Infantino)

Since inheriting the Flash mantle from Barry Allen, Wally West has more than earned his title of "Fastest Man Alive". His deep connection to the Speed Force enables him to tap into vast reserves of power and outpace every other speedster in the DC Universe. Most recently, Wally uncovered the ability to step in and out of reality to dissect his enemies in the blink of an eye.

Using this power, he defeats cosmic enemies known as Arc Angles, putting him on par with gods. The Flash isn't just the Fastest Man Alive, he's the fastest being in the multiverse.

11 Metron

New Gods #1 (Jack Kirby)

Created by Jack Kirby, The New Gods are a race of god-like beings, who derive various powers from the Source. In Metron's case, he is a being defined by his intelligence, which he uses to construct various technologies for the characters of Apokolips and New Genesis, such as the Mother Boxes. Through his Mobius Chair, he has become the god of knowledge in the DCU.

Metron's vast knowledge makes him borderline omnipotent, an underrated power that has allowed him to avoid some of the worst crises in the DCU. It has also made him indispensable to both sides of the New Gods. When Batman took control of his chair, its sheer power became clear as the hero became the new god of knowledge, allowing him to prevent crimes before they happened.