One Punch Man: Understanding the Hierarchy of Monster Leaders

Article Key Points

In the world of One Punch Man, the strength of monsters keeps increasing, requiring stronger heroes to deal with them.

The Monster Association arc introduces formidable dragon level threats called the Monster Leaders, who possess distinctive abilities and present a formidable challenge to the S-Class heroes. This leads to intense battles and casualties.

In the world of One Punch Man, the enemies faced by the heroes become progressively stronger as the story unfolds. Initially, the focus is on lower-level monsters like the Wolf and Tiger, but eventually, Demon Level threats become common. As the monsters grow stronger, the heroes must also become more powerful to defeat them. Even though the heroes faced a Dragon Level threat in the form of Boros in season 1, episode 12, titled "The Strongest Hero," the monsters' strength continues to increase.

Now, let's fast-forward to the Monster Association arc. In this arc, the S-Class and the rest of the Hero Association are confronted by an organization that stands in direct opposition to them. This organization is led by monsters and encompasses threats ranging from Wolf to Dragon Level. The top-ranking members of this organization, known as the Monster Leaders, are a group of nine exceptionally powerful Dragon Level threats. Each of them possesses enough strength to single-handedly destroy an entire city. Let's now delve into who these formidable foes are!

Gums

Gums is an enormous monster with an apparently insatiable appetite. Its powerful jaws allow it to devour almost anything, and its stomach contains a potent acid that aids in digestion. This formidable and resilient creature has consumed numerous other monsters in the past, successfully defeating Rank 10's Pig God and Rank 15's Tanktop Master in battle. Although both individuals ultimately survived, Gums inflicted significant damage upon them before being slain by Fuhrer Ugly, who tore it apart from within.

Nyan

Nyan, a Dragon Level threat, possessed a unique ability to effortlessly squeeze through any opening or crevice. Furthermore, he possessed the uncanny capability to extend his claws into lethal weapons, allowing him to mercilessly slash and maul his adversaries. Despite his immense power, arrogance consumed Nyan's demeanor, as evident by his unwavering confidence in his status as an executive cadre of the Monster Association. This arrogance led him to relentlessly pursue Saitama, even after witnessing Rover's defeat. However, when Nyan finally comprehended Saitama's formidable strength, fear overwhelmed him, causing him to retreat. Although he effortlessly overpowered Puri-Puri Prisoner, his hubris ultimately became his downfall when he encountered S-Class hero Drive Knight, who successfully annihilated him.

Fuhrer Ugly

Fuhrer Ugly, originally an unattractive man, was disregarded by society and harbored intense hatred and resentment within himself. This loathing transformed him into a monstrous being. He particularly despised those who possessed beauty, with Amai Mask being the object of his deepest resentment. Despite his repulsive appearance, Fuhrer Ugly possessed remarkable strength, able to confront numerous S-Class heroes and withstand the corrosive powers of Gums' stomach acid, resulting in his infamous "Vomited Fuhrer Ugly" form.

Additionally, Fuhrer Ugly exhibited an unparalleled level of violence and brutality, surpassing even his fellow Leaders. He mercilessly assaulted Tanktop Master, tore through Gums from within, and gruesomely divided Amai Mask into two halves. Ultimately, Garou's forceful blow to Fuhrer Ugly's abdomen led to his defeat.

Homeless Emperor

Homeless Emperor, once an unemployed man who held a disdainful view of humanity and its impact on the Earth and nature, rose to become a formidable member of the Monster Cadre. Utilizing his spheres of light, he unleashed immense destruction upon the Hero Association. Despite his vulnerability due to his frail human body, Homeless Emperor managed to devastate Zombieman and hold numerous other S-Class heroes at bay with his Light Spheres. However, he was caught off guard and ultimately overwhelmed by Zombieman, leading to the loss of his powers and his demise at the hands of God.

Gouketsu

Amongst all the Leaders of the monsters, Gouketsu remains shrouded in mystery. In his human form, he possessed extraordinary combat skills that led him to emerge victorious in a martial arts tournament before undergoing his transformation into a monster. Despite his short-lived appearance, he effortlessly overpowered the S-Class hero, Genos, and subsequently defeated the highly skilled martial artist, Suiryu, who surpasses the abilities of many in the A-Class heroes. Additionally, he paid little attention to the assaults launched by Bakuzan, whom he categorized as a formidable Dragon Level threat. Despite Gouketsu's remarkably composed demeanor as a monster, his demise ultimately came at the hands of Saitama, who swiftly decapitated him with a single punch.

Elder Centipede

Elder Centipede, a Cadre who made an early appearance in the series, possessed enough power to combat Blast, the top-ranked S-Class hero. Although their battle nearly resulted in Elder Centipede's demise, it reveals his formidable capabilities. Seeking vengeance against Blast, he engages in a confrontation with the combined forces of Genos, Bang, and Bomb, three powerful S-Class heroes. However, their collective onslaught proves insufficient against Elder Centipede, as his impenetrable carapace shields him from their attacks, including Genos's fiery assault on his internals. The encounter concludes when Saitama delivers a fatal blow, ultimately exterminating Elder Centipede with one serious punch.

Overgrown Rover

Rover, a member of the Monster Leaders, functions more as a guardian for the Monster Association headquarters rather than an active participant. This massive six-eyed dog monster displays remarkable durability, surpassing Fuhrer Ugly and Gums in a confrontation against Garou. Despite enduring a powerful strike from the Hero Hunter, Rover quickly rebounds and emerges victorious. His unparalleled endurance is evident through his ability to even withstand a punch from Saitama. In addition to his durability, Rover possesses immense strength and can unleash potent energy attacks from his mouth. It is worth noting that his encounter with Saitama prompts Rover to learn the command to sit, ultimately leading to him being adopted by the superhero at the conclusion of the Monster Association arc.

Evil Natural Water

Evil Natural Water, classified by Psykos as the most perilous member of the Monster Association, poses a grave threat. Its mindless nature renders it impervious to reason, attacking any entity it perceives as hostile. Consequently, the Association has secured it within a specialized containment unit. Despite its liquid composition, Evil Natural Water possesses the ability to endlessly alter its form to suit its will, as well as projecting highly pressurized water streams. Following its expulsion into the ocean by Garou, it merged with the vast body of water, transforming into Evil Natural Ocean and surpassing nearly all other Cadres in strength. Nevertheless, Saitama vanquished it with a single serious punch, resulting in only a minuscule portion surviving and being consumed by Pig God.

Black Sperm

Black Sperm is widely regarded as the most formidable leader in the series. His overwhelming power stems from the astonishing number of cells he possesses. During the Monster Association arc, he amassed an extraordinary cell count exceeding 11 trillion, with each individual cell possessing the strength equivalent to an A-Class warrior. As a result, Black Sperm effortlessly dominated the entire battlefield.

Aside from that, Black Sperm has the ability to merge the majority of their numbers, resulting in a highly formidable transformation called Golden Sperm. This form poses a significant threat at the Dragon Level and can overpower most S-Class heroes. It displays exceptional durability, withstanding powerful attacks from both S-Class heroes and Fuhrer Ugly's acid, as well as easily overpowering Superalloy Darkshine.

However, if more than 11 trillion of these cells merge, they give rise to a form known as Platinum Sperm, which is the strongest version of this character. In addition to possessing the strength of its Golden Form, Platinum Sperm is incredibly fast and is considered one of the top four fastest characters in the entire series. In a three-way battle with Garou and Flashy Flash, they moved at such immense speed that they created constellations in the sky within seconds. Despite Flashy Flash's speed, Platinum Sperm and Garou proved to be too fast, resulting in Garou ultimately exploding and killing Platinum Sperm.

One Punch Man is available to stream on Netflix and Hulu.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have a few thoughts on the hierarchy of monster leaders in One Punch Man. First, I think it's really interesting how each leader has their own unique abilities and powers. For example, Gums has an insatiable appetite and can devour almost anything, while Nyan can effortlessly squeeze through any opening or crevice. These unique abilities make each leader a formidable opponent for the heroes.

Overall, I think the hierarchy of monster leaders in One Punch Man is a really cool concept. It adds a lot of depth and complexity to the story, and it makes the battles between the heroes and the monsters even more exciting. I can't wait to see what other powerful leaders we'll meet in the future!