WhileGintamamay have a reputation asone of the funniest anime series of all time, it also has plenty of dramatic action scenes to excite fans of more conventional battle anime. The massive ensemble cast ofGintamamay be goofballs and jokesters most of the time, but when it’s time to get serious, they know how to fight as well asany other shonen hero.
While many of the major players inGintamaare much stronger than the average fighter, there is definitely a clear difference in strength between some characters. Here are some of thestrongest characters inGintama, ranked by their strength.
Updated on July 05, 2025, by Danny Guan:Gintama remains an anime classic years after its conclusion with The Final movie in 2021, but it still remains underappreciated for its fight scenes. While it still has and deserves its reputation for being laugh-out-loud hilarious, it’s important to remember that one of Gintama’s biggest strengths will always be its ability to flow seamlessly between action and comedy. With that in mind, here are some more characters in Gintama who can put up a good fight on their own.
23Ensho
Vengeful Warrior Of Burei
Ensho was a mighty warrior and prince from the planet of Burei, whose planet was destroyed by an Altana explosion caused by the Tendoshu. He joined the Altana Liberation Army in its attack against Earth and was one of its main leaders. Though he eventually learned that the Tendoshu were already defeated, he continued to attack Earth to sate his own hatred.
Ensho was a mighty warrior and master of the beam saber. He could fight an army all on his own, and while he lacked significant fights in the series, it is easy to see his skill in the few altercations he gets into.
22Mutsu
The Kaientai’s Shadow Leader
Mutsu is the second-in-command of the merchant fleet Kaientai, as well as its de facto leader due to the real leader, Tatsuma Sakamoto, being extremely unreliable. She handles most of the actual work while Sakamoto runs around making nonsensical deals, and is more serious compared to his lackadaisical personality.
While Mutsu rarely appears in the series, when she does appear she is always a valuable asset. As a Yato, her strength is guaranteed, and while she may not have many significant fights, she remains a steadfast ally for the Yorozuya crew.
21Abuto
Kamui’s Reliable Second-In-Command
Abuto is the vice-captain of the Harusame Space Pirates' 7th Division, working directly under Kamui. He is much more level-headed and diplomatic than his leader and often has to clean up the messes he leaves behind.
As a Yato, Abuto’s strength and combat ability far outstrip many of Gintama’s cast members, being able to overwhelm characters like Kagura and Shinpachi easily. However, his lack of screen time means that he gets very few significant fights, meaning he doesn’t have that many chances to show off that incredible strength.
20Bansai Kawakami
The Strongest Of Takasugi’s Kiheitai
While he sometimes works as a music producer under the pseudonym Tsunpo, Bansai Kawakami is actually a member of Takasugi Shinsuke’s Kiheitai and is one of its strongest members. Though Kawakami only makes a few appearances throughout the series, this music-obsessed swordsman is actually quite the fighter.
Bansai only has a few major fights throughout the series, one of them being against the series' main character, Gintoki. Though his steel shamisen strings gave Gintoki a difficult time, in the end, he lost out to Gintoki’s resolve and willpower.
19Ayame “Sacchan” Sarutobi
The Fearsome Glasses Assassin
It can be easy to forget thanks to how often this masochistic ninja often features as a comic character throughout the series, but Ayame Sarutobi, also known as Sacchan, is actually quite the skilled ninja.When she isn’t stalking Gintoki, she is often given important assassination jobs and has even been tasked with protecting the shogun.
As a ninja, Sacchan relies on her agility and stealth skills to execute her missions, and when in combat often fights by throwing kunai with unerring accuracy. Her skill with the kunai is so good that she can hit her target even without her glasses.
18Zenzo Hattori
Leader Of The Oniwabanshu
Another ninja, Zenzo Hattori doesn’t necessarily put on an impressive front. He is constantly obsessed with reading Jump and has to deal with a chronic case of hemorrhoids that never seem to get any better. In addition, he rarely figures in battles, never participating in some of the series' most climactic moments.
However, Hattori is not just any ninja. He is the son of the former head of the Oniwabanshu, a ninja group once charged with protecting the shogun. As a result, Hattori is immensely skilled in the art of the ninja, being able to use a variety of weapons as well as close combat martial arts.
17Jiraia
The Ninja Master Of Many Faces
Once a member of the Oniwabanshu, Jiraia was ousted after attempting to kill the former shogun. He later became Tsukuyo’s teacherand raised her so she could become the perfect ninja. Jiraia is the antagonist of the Red Spider Arc and is one of Gintoki’s deadliest enemies.
Jiraia is a powerful ninja, using wired kunais to create “spider webs” to entrap his opponents. While he is certainly a force to be reckoned with in battle, his disguise skills are also nothing to sneer at, as his destroyed face allows him to assume any appearance he wishes.
16Hosen
The Deadly King Of The Night
The ruler of Yoshiwara and King of the Night, Hosen is actually a former member of the Harusame Space Pirates on top of being a Yato, one of the mightiest races in the world of Gintama. Despite being older, Hosen has lost none of his strength and serves as the antagonist for the Yoshiwara in Flames Arc.
As a Yato, Hosen sports incredible fighting power, with massive strength that is able to pulverize a human being with ease. Despite this, he does have a glaring weakness. Due to years spent hiding underground, he is especially weak to sunlight, even when compared to other Yato.
15Isao Kondo
Beloved Leader Of The Shinsengumi
As the Commander of the Shinsengumi, it’s no surprise that Isao Kondo is able to put up a fight on his own. Having trained since childhood with his allies Toshiro Hijikata and Sogo Okita, Kondo is a skilled swordsman and a capable leader.
Though Kondo is a powerful fighter, he is not as strong as some of his Shinsengumi compatriots due to being more of a leader who commands others. Nevertheless, he can still brawl with the best of them when necessary, and while he rarely has significant one-on-one fights, he is a force to be reckoned with.
14Kyubei Yagyu
One-Eyed Swordmaster
Kyubei Yagyu is the heir to the Yagyu clan and childhood friend of Tae Shimura. As a member of the renowned Yagyu clan knownfor their incredible sword skills, Kyubei is also an incredible swordfighter as well, one easily able to keep pace with Gintoki.
Kyubei’s sword style is generally one that relies on speed, with lightning-fast sword strikes that land before an opponent has a chance to react. While Kyubei does not have all that many significant one-on-one fights in the series, her strength cannot be underestimated.
