What is the Strongest Devil in Chainsaw Man? Explained

Pochita, Darkness Devil, Gun Devil and Makima
Pochita, Darkness Devil, Gun Devil and Makima (Image Credits: MAPPA and Shueisha)

Chainsaw Man is one of the most well-known dark fantasy anime and manga series, owing its popularity to violent fights, intricate psychology, and a devil-reliance power system. Within the universe of Chainsaw Man, devils are supernatural entities born of the overall fears of humanity: meaning the more people fear something, the stronger the devil. These creatures vary in strength from almost comical ones to near-invincible forces connected to the inner fears of humanity. With a vast number of villains, fans are always curious about the strongest devil within the series.

The most powerful devils in Chainsaw Man are the Primordial Fear Devils, with one of the most fearsome and powerful being the Darkness Devil.

These devils represent some universal, very basic fears that everyone shares, including darkness, death, and the unknown. Unlike regular devils, who can be destroyed and then reborn in Hell, Primordial Fears are of a power so vast that even some of the most experienced devil hunters and high-level devils hesitate to challenge them. Their power lies not only in their sheer capacity to destroy but also in the absolute terror they portray, resulting in them having seemingly unlimited sway.

Darkness Devil summoning the Dark blade (Image Credits: Shueisha)
Darkness Devil summoning the Dark blade (Image Credits: Shueisha)

It is essential to comprehend the hierarchy of devils to understand why some, like the Darkness Devil, are unrivalled. Devils like Gun Devil and Control Devil are powerful, no doubt, but their forces are based on societal or situational fears, not ageless fears. Control and guns are two anxieties that have gained momentum throughout the modern context, and darkness is a fear that has affected humankind since the dawn of time. That level of contrast puts the Darkness Devil in a place above human understanding, not as a warrior but as a self-realization of a fatal destiny.

Pieces of Gun Devil's bullet flesh (Image Credits: MAPPA)
Pieces of Gun Devil's bullet flesh (Image Credits: MAPPA)

The power scaling in Chainsaw Man has also depicted the interaction of devils with human perception. The Chainsaw Devil, or Pochita, is particularly powerful due to his powers to banish devils out of existence, both their physical bodies as well as the fear they bring. However, despite having these remarkable powers, the Darkness Devil continues to be considered the mightiest devil because it appeals to a fear that no one can ever forget. Humanity will someday conquer its addiction to guns or replace its concern over control with something more palatable, but the fear of the darkness shall not leave.


The Strongest Devil in Chainsaw Man

When reasoning upon the high value placed on the Darkness Devil, one must acknowledge its power and symbolism alike. Its debut in the series demonstrated how even the most elite of devil hunters and the contracted devil ended up helpless before it. It travels silently, puts great pressure, and destroys enemy forces with ease. Such omnipotent subordination is not only an instrument in the narrative but is also an immediate description of how such fear of darkness has ruled men throughout eons. Technically speaking, the Darkness Devil is the ultimate of what a devil can become in the Chainsaw Man franchise.

Besides, the Darkness Devil in Chainsaw Man helps the author to highlight the idea of inevitability when it comes to fear. Whereas the Gun Devil points at the fact that humanity itself is a creator of any form of terror, and the Control Devil invokes his power using social interactions and the game of influence, the Darkness Devil is simply all about the primordial state of existence. However sophisticated the civilization may become, the fear of the unknown in the darkness persists and dominates human psychology. Narratively speaking, this not only makes the Darkness Devil a very strong character in a fight, but it also keeps it thematically central to the series' philosophy on fear.

Denji attacking the Darkness Devil (Image Credits: MAPPA)
Denji attacking the Darkness Devil (Image Credits: MAPPA)

However, it is necessary to mention that strength in Chainsaw Man is not necessarily direct. Devils like Chainsaw Devil can change the balance of power through their individual characteristics, whereas some of them, such as Control Devil, can impact these changes covertly yet broadly.

Nevertheless, none of it diminishes the fact that Darkness Devil is the most frightening and dominant force, made so due to its lack of change and universality. Its very presence helps to emphasize how fear is the great equalizer in the eyes of Chainsaw Man, which ties together all humans regardless of time or location.


In summary, the Darkness Devil is considered to be the strongest devil in Chainsaw Man; it is also one of the Primordial Fear Devils. Not only does its destructive potential make it quintessential, but also its association with universality as a fear. Unlike other devils related to a cultural or contemporary fear, the Devil of Darkness is related to an eternal and unalterable fear. This qualifies it as the ultimate power in the story and an outstanding expression of the story that deals with fear.

Ultimately, the universe of Chainsaw Man informs us that human beings should not underestimate the most powerful forces, as in some cases, they cannot be fought but only dealt with, as they have been residing in the human psyche since the very beginning of time.

Edited by IRMA