The air crackles. A desperate mage, cornered, throws everything he has against an unseen foe. His spells hit something, somewhere…but the killing blow never lands, only a mocking echo. In the world of Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, demons aren’t just monsters; they’re forces of nature, and some possess power that rivals gods.
Demons in Frieren are formidable magic users. Within the Demon King’s army lurks beings of immense power, from Greater Demons to the Seven Sages of Destruction, each wielding unique and terrifying abilities. I’ve compiled a list of the most potent demons encountered so far in Frieren, offering insight into their strengths and why they command such fear.
Frieren: Strongest Demons in Anime and Manga
The anime has introduced a handful of demons, but the manga expands the demonic ranks considerably. Here’s a quick rundown of the strongest demons and their special powers:
| Demon Name | Class | Rank | Special Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qual the Elder Sage of Corruption | Mage | – | Zoltraak |
| Tot the Saint of the End | Mage | Greater Demon | Curse |
| Aura the Guillotine | Mage | Sage of Destruction | Spell of Obedience |
| Bose the Immortal | Mage | Sage of Destruction | Unbreakable Barriers |
| Rivale the Bloody God of War | Warrior | Demon General | Weapon Creation |
| Grausam the Miraculous | Mage | Sage of Destruction | Mental Magic |
| Solitar the Nameless Greater Demon | Mage | Greater Demon | Human Magic |
| Macht of the Golden Land | Mage | Sage of Destruction | Diagoldze |
| Schlact the Omniscient | Mage | King’s Confidant | Future Sight |
| Demon King | Mage | King | Unknown |
Below, I’ll provide details on each demon and the reasoning behind their ranking. Note that the order descends, with the strongest demon at the very end.
Qual
Ever watched a toddler pick up a crayon for the first time? That’s Qual, but with world-ending magic. Imagine that crayon could rewrite reality. That’s the level of threat Qual posed.
- Epithet: The Elder Sage of Corruption
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Unknown
- Debut: Episode 3, Chapter 5
Qual created the Zoltraak spell wielded by Frieren, Fern, and others; he was the first major demon threat in the series, terrorizing the Größe Forest for ages. Though not one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, he was a loyal follower of the Demon King. Qual instilled fear in humans with his Zoltraak spell since the Demon King’s reign.
Mages couldn’t defend against Qual’s Zoltraak. The Hero Party couldn’t defeat him, forcing Frieren to seal him away. Years later, with improved knowledge of human magic, Frieren killed the Elder Sage with his own Zoltraak.
Tot
Think of Tot as a software company releasing a “bug fix” that corrupts your entire operating system. Seemingly innocuous, her curse is a ticking time bomb.
- Epithet: Saint of the End
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Greater Demon
- Debut: Episode TBD, Chapter 116
Tot, the Saint of the End, is one of the newest demons introduced in the manga. Though a Greater Demon, she claims she isn’t a typical fighting demon. Her special power is a lethal curse in progress.
Tot mentions that her curse will spread across the planet and is currently 30% complete. The curse feels like a world-ending threat that must be stopped. Tot appears to be a cerebral demon, so further actions in the series are anticipated. What steps do you think Frieren will take to counter her curse?
Aura
Ever met someone who needs to win every argument, no matter the cost? Aura takes that to a terrifying extreme, wielding power to enforce her will on others.
- Epithet: The Guillotine
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Greater Demon, Seven Sages of Destruction
- Debut: Episode 8, Chapter 14
Aura was the second major challenge for Frieren after Qual in season one. She was one of the Seven Sages of Destruction, showing her immense power. The name Aura the Guillotine comes from her Spell of Obedience: Auserlese. Aura carries a scale, using her spell to weigh her mana against her opponent’s.
The spell allows whoever holds more mana to control their opponent’s body. For 500 years, Aura won, beheading enemies and turning them into headless soldiers. Though she escaped execution by the Hero’s Party in the past, Frieren later used Aura’s spell against her and decapitated her.
Bose
Bose is like that one player in every online game who relies exclusively on defense. He’s not flashy, but good luck getting past his impenetrable wall.
- Epithet: The Immortal
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Greater Demon, Seven Sages of Destruction
- Debut: Episode 28, Chapter 59
The Seven Sages of Destruction earn their place among the strongest demons, and Bose, with his unbreakable barriers, is no exception. Bose the Immortal was a master of barrier magic; Frieren claimed his barriers were indestructible by humans.
Bose didn’t live up to his name. Frieren and her party broke his barriers and defeated him. Bose’s indestructible barrier magic makes him one of the strongest demons. But how did Frieren manage to neutralize this seemingly impenetrable defense?
Rivale
We all know that one athlete who can pick up any sport and dominate. Rivale is the demon version of that, a master of all forms of combat.
- Epithet: The Bloody God of War
- Class: Warrior
- Rank: Greater Demon, Demon General
- Debut: Episode TBD, Chapter 116
Rivale, the Bloody God of War, is a warrior rather than a mage. He is known as the strongest warrior on the demon side, as seen in his battle against Eisen. He is a master of hand-to-hand combat and weapon wielding.
His special power, Weapon Regeneration, allows Rivale to create any weapon he desires using his mana. He has fought with axes, spears, and more. Rivale is a refreshing change from the mage-centric demons. Considering his adaptability, could Rivale pose a threat to mages who rely solely on magic?
Grausam
Ever get trapped in a maze where every path seems familiar but leads nowhere? Grausam inflicts that feeling on his opponents, twisting their minds until they break.
- Epithet: The Miraculous
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Greater Demon, Seven Sages of Destruction
- Debut: Episode TBD, Chapter 89
A character capable of manipulating their opponents’ mental state is always dangerous. Grausam the Miraculous wields mental magic, capable of manipulating his body, conjuring illusions, and rewriting memories.
He was promoted to one of the Seven Sages of Destruction to serve the Demon King. Grausam was a dangerous demon to encounter, particularly for those psychologically weak. The Hero Party bypassed his mental magic and defeated him. Considering the rise of mental health awareness in modern society (services are projected to be a $400 billion (€370 billion) industry by 2030, according to McKinsey), how might Grausam’s abilities translate into real-world fears?
Solitär
Solitär is that brilliant scientist who isolates herself in the lab, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, regardless of the ethical implications.
- Epithet: Nameless Greater Demon
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Greater Demon
- Debut: Episode TBD, Chapter 88
Solitär had the potential to join the Seven Sages of Destruction. This Nameless Greater Demon was obsessed with experimentation. Like Aura, all who faced Solitär in the past were vanquished.
Solitär’s human experiments benefited her, making her an expert in human magic; she even taught Macht. Solitär had exceptional mana and control, leading to offensive attacks like mana blades and defensive mana shields.
Which demon taught Macht human magic?
Solitär taught Macht human magic. But beyond teaching, how does the combination of demon and human magic make her a unique threat?
Macht
Macht is the chess grandmaster who’s always three steps ahead, turning every advantage into a crushing victory.
- Epithet: Macht of the Golden Land
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Greater Demon, Seven Sages of Destruction
- Debut: Episode TBD, Chapter 77
Macht of the Golden Land has defeated Frieren. He is considered the most powerful of the Seven Sages of Destruction. Macht is strong in physical and mana levels, and his signature move is the curse, Diagoldze.
Inspired by Midas’ Touch, Macht can transmute anything into gold and use it. He also learned human magic from Solitar. Considering his range of powers, how can anyone truly counter such diverse abilities?
Schlact
Schlact is like a high-frequency trading algorithm that anticipates every market fluctuation, leaving his opponents in the dust.
- Epithet: The Omniscient
- Class: Mage
- Rank: Confidant
- Debut: Episode 30, Chapter 63
The Demon King’s right-hand man, Schlact, was revealed halfway through the story. Schlact’s omniscient title comes from seeing thousands of years into the future; he sees all possibilities.
What is Schlact’s Ability?
Schlact can see thousand years into the future. He served as the Demon King’s confidant and fought against the Hero of the South. Schlact was the most powerful demon after the Demon King. Given his future sight, was his defeat inevitable, or could he have changed the outcome?
Demon King
The data is incomplete. The variables are too vast. But the conclusion is inescapable: this entity sits at the apex.
- Epithet: The Demon King
- Class: Mage
- Rank: King
- Debut: Episode 1, Chapter 1
Little is known about the Demon King, even after 100+ chapters. He led the demon army for over a thousand years.
Who is the most powerful in Frieren?
The Demon King is the most powerful character in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. The Hero Party defeated him, though he was an insurmountable threat. The king of the demons is the strongest demon in Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. With such little known about his abilities, will we ever see his true power?
These are the 10 strongest demons in the Frieren series, based on what we currently know. More demons might appear and shift the balance of power as the manga continues. As the story progresses, do you think anyone will surpass the Demon King?