Updated March 10, 2023 by Ernie
If you’re searching for a fresh and epic historical anime to immerse yourself in, then Vinland Saga is a must-watch. If you enjoy Vikings and the vibe of “The Last Kingdom,” then get ready, because this series is going to be worth your time.
Table of Contents
This series, written and illustrated by award-winning creator Makoto Yukimura, is a gripping tale of revenge and betrayal set in the 11th century.
Not only does the series boast an action-packed and well-written story, but it also showcases stunningly detailed illustrations, especially in its battle scenes. Additionally, the characters in Vinland Saga are both compelling and beautifully depicted, making the story even more captivating.
So, if you haven’t had the chance to watch the series or read the manga, it’s time to catch up! In this blog, we’ll dive into the world of Vinland Saga and discover who the strongest characters are.
POWERFUL IN VINLAND SAGA!!
22. Halfdan
Aside from being wealthy, owning land, and being a money-lender Halfdan truly shines with his chain-swinging prowess. He has earned the nickname “Iron Chain” for his mastery of wielding it with such skill and accuracy. Can you imagine the strength and control it takes to swing a chain with such precision? It’s truly remarkable!
21. Gardar
Gardar is a slave in the Vinland Saga series but before being one, he was a strong viking who lived a prosperous life with his family. After the war, his reputation as a viking was lost and now became a slave to a certain master. As Gardar attempts to escape, he manages to kill Lizard but loses his fight against Snake. Even though Gardar succeeded in escaping, his severe injuries eventually lead him to his death (Vinland Saga, Chapter 74).
20. Garm
Garm is a violent guy who’s strongly obsessed with fighting since he finds joy in it. After meeting Thorfinn and seeing his combat skills, Garm has been wanting to battle him ever since. He’s been assumed to be Thorkell’s bastard son because of their shared love of combat, but his flashback debunked that theory because Garm’s real father dislikes him for his behavior.
19. Ear
Ear got his name for his incredible hearing abilities and is a member of Askeladd’s gang. As for his real name, it is not yet revealed in the series. His main weapons in combat are an axe and a shield and has shown decent prowess in fighting. The best thing about this guy is his hearing since he can easily identify animal sounds and the pace of marching speeds (Vinland Saga, Chapter 23).
18. Sigurd
The son of an infamous money-lender, inherits his father’s skills but is said to be even stronger by his own father’s admission. Also, during Sigurd’s pursuit of his wife Gudrid, he fought alongside Thorkell, displaying his formidable strength and bravery.
17. Ymir
Ymir is the pet of Floki and first appeared when he was tasked to fight against Thorkell. Unlike other characters, Ymir is a monstrous character and takes the form of a giant prehistoric-looking man with a chain on his neck. What makes him one of the strongest is the fact that he fought against the Greatest Warrior alive for a whole night! This goes to show Ymir’s immense strength and stamina when going into battles (Vinland Saga, Chapter 158). Thinking of these facts, would you consider him one the deadliest anime characters?
16. Hild
Undoubtedly, Hild deserves a place on this list. Not only is she highly skilled with the crossbow, but she’s also incredibly clever and resourceful. She is a talented inventor and hunter who, with her wit, was able to defeat Thorfinn. Imagine Hild among the big players, I would place my bet on her any day!
15. Vagn
One of the main Viking officers in leading the rebellion against Floki was Vagn, a Jomsviking commander and he had long believed that Floki was responsible for the demise of some Jomsviking leader candidates (Vinland Saga, Chapter 131).
Since Vagn is a commanding officer himself, he is obviously well-versed in combat and wields a giant hammer as his main weapon.
14. Torgrim
Torgrim was once a member of Askeladd’s group and is the brother of Atli. Torgrim was introduced as a large man with dark blonde facial hair, green eyes, and short blonde hair. He is the type of person who dislikes Christian believers similar to other members within Askeladd’s group.
After his group fought against Torkell and lost, Torgrim suffered a brain disorder which resulted in him having amnesia. Ever since then, he and his brother decided to leave Askeladd’s group in order to change their way of living.
13. Canute
Canute is a female-looking guy and is deemed as the ruler of the countries, Denmark and England. When Canute first debuted in the series, he had long blond hair, blue eyes, and a feminine face which resulted in him being mistaken for a girl especially during his time as a teenager (Vinland Saga, Episode 9).
Even though Canute is not the best when it comes to swordfights, he is known for his witty strategies of quietly killing his enemies through poison and assassinating them. As a king, he doesn’t only have an empire but also a fleet large enough for him to be seen as a guy who shouldn’t be underestimated! If you’re looking for some Vinland Saga Waifus then we also have some of that, Canute is .. well… included of course!
12. Thorgil
Thorgil is the older brother of Olmar and the eldest son of a wealthy farmer named Ketil. He’s a strong and ruthless warrior who was once one of King Canute’s thegn.
But when King Canute set his sights on Ketil’s farm and framed the family, Thorgil was driven to seek revenge and sought to kill the king himself.
While defending their home from the Joms and the king’s men, Thorgil swam across the sea and launched a surprise attack on Canute’s camp. He was close to taking down the king, but Ulf came to his defense. In his second attempt to kill the king, Thorgil also failed due to Thorfinn persuading the king to leave the farm alone.
11. Atli
Atli was once a part of Askeladd’s group and participated in the fight against Thorkell. He was also one of the few remaining survivors after that gruesome battle. After the war, Atli asked Askeladd for him and his brother to leave the group as Atli now wants to settle a peaceful life with his sibling (Vinland Saga, Episode 2).
Since Atli is a survivor, we can assume that the warrior has decent capabilities in combat and has an expertise in whatever kind of weapon he used to fight with.
10. Ragnar
Back when he was a young boy, Ragnar had always been Canute’s most loyal subordinate since he served him not just as a guardian but also as a foster father as well. He has a short temper and negates any criticism directed at the prince. During his time as Canute’s retainer, Ragnar did everything in his power to keep the prince safe.
Even though his combat capabilities are unknown, him being Canute’s guardian is enough to prove that he is a decent fighter and can manage himself in battle. After his death, it served as a development to Canute’s character since he became a much more courageous and determined person than ever before. Speaking about character developments and personalities, are you curious on who your Vinland Saga character twin might be? Then take this Vinland Saga Personality Quiz!
9. Bjorn
Another member of Askeladd’s group is Bjorn and he is his most trusted follower with Bjorn being the second-in-command. Other than his strong devotion to Askeladd and his beliefs, he is an exemplary warrior and fights with his usual sword and shield (Vinland Saga, Episode 2).
His true strength and power are fully unleashed whenever he eats a fungus called the Berserker mushroom. After eating the Berserker mushroom, the user gains an increase not just in strength but also speed and strong resistance from pain. This turns Bjorn into an unstoppable force and can even continue to fight after suffering major injuries. There are also anime like Vinland Saga, if this series wouldn’t suffice your thirst for such genre!
8. Floki
Floki is the main antagonist of Vinland Saga and everything that happens in the story revolves around him. He was once a Jomsviking commander who wanted his rival Thors to be dead which resulted in him hiring Askeladd and his gang (Vinland Saga, Episode 1).
Despite his combat performance not shown that much, his feat being a Jomsviking commander is enough to assume that Floki can be a formidable opponent to fight against.
7. Ylva
Ylva is Thorfinn’s older sister and she doesn’t have battle experience, but I gotta give her credit for her strength (being the daughter of a troll and all). She can easily take down Thorfinn with just a few kicks and punches, sending him flying through the air! That’s some serious strength right there! We also have some powerful Vinland Saga quotes you might want to check out too!
6. Thorfinn
Next up is our main character of the series, Thorfinn! He is the son of a viking commander named, Thors Snorresson and was a former member of Askeladd’s group. A lot of things have happened in Thorfinn’s life that he even became a slave at one point. After reclaiming his freedom, he is now but a wandering merchant traveling along with Leif Ericson.
As for his combat capabilities, Thorfinn is very adept in using knives as his main weapon and can even use both of them simultaneously with ease. Ever since he was a kid, Thorfinn already got exposed to the battlefield and has grown used to battling enemies making him a very skilled fighter (Vinland Saga, Episode 1).
Other than that, Thorfinn also makes his return for Vinland Saga Season 2 which is now airing as of this writing so you might wanna check this one out!
5. Wulf
Wulf is King Canute’s head thegn and war instructor. When Thorgil tried to kill Canute, Wulf successfully protected his king and in the process, Thorgil gauged out his right eye – an eye for the king’s life.
4. Askeladd
Taking the 4th place is Askeladd or also known for his true name as Lucius Artorius Castus. He is the leader and commander of his own band of Vikings and was an antagonist during the early part of Vinland Saga (Vinland Saga, Episode 2).
Askeladd is a genius tactician who can influence others to follow his beliefs and that is the reason why he was able to create his own group of Vikings. When it comes to battle prowess, Askeladd is an excellent swordsman and can fight against several opponents simultaneously. He’s also quite skilled in throwing weapons such as knives, and hatches even though he barely uses them.
3. Snake
Snake is a kind and pragmatic individual. Snake frequently demonstrates sincere concern for other people and this includes both free men and slaves. With both his beliefs and his intimidating fighting skills, he has rescued Thorfinn several times in the series making him one of the best characters, indeed! When it comes to his abilities, it is known that Snake is known to be stronger than Askeladd and has a matching speed as Thorfinn!
2. Thors Snorresson
For our 2nd strongest Vinland Saga character, that would be Thors Snorresson, the commander of all Jomsviking and the so-called Troll of Jom! He is also the father of the main character, Thorfinn, and his sister, Ylva.
During his prime, Thors was one of the best and most ruthless warriors among Vikings and was the only one who defeated Thorkell in a one on one combat. When he had a child with his wife, Helga, he threw away his violent personality due to being a viking and is now a more humble and kind man. And If you want to get started on the series, then you may want to check this Vinland Saga Filler List first!
1. Thorkell
Thorkell or more famously known for his title as Thorkell the Tall is deemed as the strongest Viking who ever lived and his strength was recognized by the likes of Floki and Garm. He was also once a Jomsviking commander but later switched to the England army led by Canute (Vinland Saga, Episode 8).
Other than having a huge physical stature, Thorkell possesses superhuman strength and incredible reflexes. This makes the warrior almost an invincible human being and can consider him as a one-man army! Even an antagonist such as Floki believes that no living being could defeat a man like Thorkell.
Conclusion
Vinland Saga is a manga series that’s definitely worth your time. If you’re looking for a well-written, beautifully illustrated, and action-packed historical epic, then you should definitely check out Vinland Saga! This is definitely one of the most worth watching anime in our time, and you would never regret!
