The Ranma 1/2 franchise is undoubtedly one of the most beloved across the globe, thanks to its riveting humor, wholesome romance, and amazing fight scenes. Despite being mostly a romantic comedy, the series never lacked in the action department, with stunning fights in which the world’s most powerful warriors battle for dominance.

As the series progressed, various mighty opponents challenged Ranma to prove their strength or achieve their nefarious goals. Nonetheless, only a few can be considered among the most powerful and skilled martial artists in the series, due to their techniques, physical strength, and agility.

10 Shampoo

Agile, Smart, and Cunning

One of Ramna's fiancées, as well as a member of the proud Amazon Tribe, Shampoo is a cheerful girl who hides an impressive power. She was trained as a martial artist since childhood, giving her both incredible agility and speed that not many can keep up with. While not the most physically imposing, she has enough strength to carry around a pair of massive Chui, an ancient Chinese blunt weapon.

Akane still weak as always. Maybe you beat Shampoo in hundred years!

-Shampoo.

The curse she acquired after falling into one of Jusenkyo’s legendary ponds turns her into a small but agile cat, which strips her of her strength and combat ability. What is more, Shampoo has been shown to have issues fighting opponents more resilient than her, as proven by her constant defeats at the hands of Ranma.

9 Pantyhose Taro

A Warrior Capable of Transforming Into a Terrifying Beast

Egotistical, power-hungry, and with a deep hatred for anyone who stands in his way, Pantyhose Taro was one of Ramna's toughest opponents. In human form, he is not a major threat, as he does not seem to be on the same level as the Saotome heir. He is still stronger, more agile, and durable than most other characters, but the protagonist can fight him without issues.

Taro’s true power resides in his cursed form, which gives him the body of a winged yeti with monstrous strength. When in a fight, he would often search for ways to transform into his monstrous other self, as its raw power was practically unbeatable. Still, his overreliance on his cursed form makes him a careless fighter who does not put effort into increasing his skills in human form.

8 Genma Saotome

Ranma’s First Teacher

At first glance, Ranma’s father does not look like the most threatening fighter in the world. Yet, this pioneer of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts is one of the most resourceful and skilled warriors in the franchise. Throughout his life, Genma traveled the world in search of the most powerful techniques in existence. He learned most of them, amassing an arsenal of special abilities that can defeat virtually any opponent.

The Saotome final attack is founded on three principles: speed, strategy, and separation.

-Genma Saotome.

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While not as strong or agile as his son, Genma still retains some of the skills that made him a feared martial artist. Woefully, the Saotome patriarch rarely ever fights fair, preferring to resort to tricks and manipulation. This has caused him to lose several combats against clever adversaries, as well as neglect his techniques, resulting in a significant loss of ability.

7 Ryoga Hibiki

A Young Man With Overwhelming Strength

Ryoga is Ranma’s old friend and rival, as well as one of the series’ most beloved characters. With a tendency to get lost when walking alone, Hibiki was forced to learn to fend for himself in the wilderness. This has granted him a superhuman strength that rivals that of the most powerful beings in the series.

He is also one of the most resilient characters in the franchise, surviving hits that would kill any other human and continuing to fight uninterrupted. Nevertheless, while Ryoga excels in power and durability, he is sorely lacking in both technique and speed. His style can become predictable, causing smarter opponents to quickly realize its flaws. To make matters worse, Ryoga’s cursed form is an adorable black pig known as P-chan, stripping him of his usual might.

6 Ryu Kumon

Armed With a Lethal Forbidden Technique

Driven by a desire for revenge against Genma, Ryu traveled the world looking for a forbidden scroll that would turn him into the deadliest warrior. As the only alive master of the Yama-Sen Ken, a style created by Ranma’s father that could prove fatal for unprepared learners, Kumon was an extremely threatening fighter. Not only was he agile and durable, but he could also kill almost any opponent with a single attack.

He was patient and determined, never allowing himself to become weaker until his desire became a reality. He is one of the few antagonists who defeated Ranma on more than one occasion, forcing the protagonist to learn an entirely new fighting style to narrowly beat him. If allowed to achieve his dream, he could have become an unstoppable fighter.

5 Herb

Powerful and Durable Like No Other

Descendant of an ancient and powerful dragon as well as the leader of a respected Chinese tribe, Herb is an arrogant and strict warrior. He was trained to become an imposing foe from birth, helping him acquire mastery in combat early in life. A few years before meeting Ranma, the Musk Tribe leader was permanently cursed with becoming a woman, which decreased his strength and durability.

Herb, the successor to the throne of the Musk dynasty, is said, like all those of the imperial line, to have inherited the blood of the dragon.

-Cologne.

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Still, his agility and speed helped him remain one of the series’ best fighters, capable of fighting toe-to-toe with the protagonist for extended periods. His most impressive feat is undoubtedly surviving an attack from Ranma which caused a massive mountain to crumble. Herb did not only walk away from that fight, but he was also completely healed hours later, proving how resilient he can be.

4 Ranma Saotome

The Most Versatile Warrior in the Series

Heir to the Anything Goes School and the protagonist of the story, Ranma is a stubborn but noble fighter. He believes it is the duty of the strong to take care of those who cannot do it themselves, which is why he is constantly training to better himself. During his trip around the world with his father, Ranma learned from various fighting styles, turning him into an outstandingly versatile individual.

Besides being incredibly strong, agile, and resilient, the Saotome heir also possesses a wide arsenal of secret techniques. From rapid attacks imperceptible by the human eye to punches that can turn boulders into dust, Ranma can overcome almost all obstacles. Despite his cursed female form being slightly weaker, he could still defeat almost all the villains in the series on his own, thanks to his quick and creative thinking.

3 Saffron

Imbued With Mythical Abilities

Ruler of a noble tribe of human-phoenix hybrids, Saffron is the final antagonist of the Ranma 1/2 franchise, as well as the mightiest. His mythical lineage made him an impressive warrior, naturally stronger and faster than a regular person. Saffron was also immortal, being able to resurrect himself as an infant after being violently killed and cure almost all wounds inflicted on him.

Most impressive of all was his ability to control fire and heat, making it nearly impossible to get close enough to him during a battle. It was only because Saffron’s body was not properly developed at the time that Ranma managed to survive their encounter. If the ruler of the Phoenixes had been fighting at full power, there is little the heroes of the story could have done to defeat him.

2 Happosai

A Genius and Experienced Martial Artist

Perhaps the most divisive member of Ranma 1/2's cast, Happosai is the creator of the Anything Goes style. While his advanced age and short stature can make him seem innocuous, Genma’s master is anything but a frail elderly gentleman. Happosai is without a doubt the most physically capable fighter in the series, as his speed, strength, and technique greatly outmatch anyone else’s.

Those who have trained under him cannot help but respect his power and experience, despite his often questionable and heinous actions. Few characters in the series can hope to fight Happosai and leave the battle unscathed. Even Ranma has not been able to defeat his father’s mentor without resorting to underhanded tricks. When it comes to fighting techniques, no one can sur Genma and Soun’s teacher.

1 Cologne

A Respectable Elder Armed with Thousands of Secret Techniques

An estimated elder from the Amazon tribe in China, Cologne is Shampoo’s grandma, as well as the most knowledgeable fighter in the series. Despite not being as physically capable as Happosai, the leader of the Chinese warrior women did not lack both might and agility. She was able to easily dominate powerful fighters like Ranma or Genma without breaking a sweat.

Her years of experience make her a formidable foe, who can easily predict an opponent’s moves before they even occur. Yet, her biggest strength relies on the plethora of techniques and secret artifacts that she has access to. Cologne could always utilize a mystical weapon or an ancient Chinese secret technique that could exploit an opponent’s weakness. She is the most threatening and respectable warrior in Ranma 1/2.