"There's no 'I' in 'team,'" as the famous saying goes, but sometimes, there's one team member who throws in more spirit than the rest. These members tend to be leaders, advisors, or quick thinkers whose resourcefulness and tenacity make them stand out on the team.
Crucial players on any team are frequently lauded as stronger than their teammates in one regard, whether through physical strength or intellectual acuity. And because of their heightened talents, they're expected to do a lot of heavy lifting during team activities. There is a multitude of characters in anime whose extraordinary skills are critical in carrying their teams through the toughest times.
10 Mikasa Pulls Armin & Eren Through The Battle Against Titans (Attack On Titan)
Eren Yeager might be the indisputable leader out of his friends, and Armin Arlet might be the brains, but Mikasa Ackerman is the muscle. Eren seems to have mixed feelings about Mikasa's strength, but the fact is that she's usually the one who gets them out of trouble in Attack on Titan, whether he likes it or not. Mikasa is level-headed and tactical in nearly every situation, and she's usually the one who swoops in to handle whatever threat the trio is facing.
9 Bossun Always Solves The Toughest Puzzles (SKET Dance)
Out of all the Sket Dan's members, Bossun is usually the guy who's got the right answers to any given dilemma in SKET Dance. He's especially skilled in the arts and logic puzzles, and he's frequently the one to figure out the most devilish brain teasers in the series. It's worth noting that Bossun is probably the most motivated to help others since he's got a passion for assisting those in need. Fellow Sket Dan members Himeko and Switch know they can count on Bossun in a pinch.
8 Goku, Earth's Strongest Warrior, Is The One Most Relied On (Dragon Ball Z)
When villains appear to wreak havoc on Earth, Goku is usually the one everyone relies on to protect the planet. Dragon Ball Z has a wide cast of characters but most of them can't come close to the level of power that Goku has attained time and time again over the course of the series.
And whenever things are looking bad for the Z Fighters when Goku isn't around, it's always Goku's name that they call on to help them out of their predicament.
7 Levi's Ferocity Makes Him A Reliable Fighter (Attack On Titan)
Levi Ackerman's intimidating and intense fighting prowess easily makes him the Survey Corps' strongest warrior in Attack on Titan. Levi's distaste for Titans and his tutelage under Kenny Ackerman have made him a verifiable Titan assassin. He rarely shows compassion for Titans and kills indiscriminately, even after he learns that they're actually humans. Levi's traumatic background has fashioned him into a skillful and resourceful soldier on the battlefield, so the Survey Corps can breathe a sigh of relief whenever he appears.
6 The Straw Hats Benefit From Zoro's Companionship (One Piece)
While Luffy's crew has plenty of strong fighters in One Piece, Roronoa Zoro might be the most important of them all. Every Straw Hat pirate has a reason they're allied with Luffy, but Zoro is specifically concerned with being the strongest swordsman in the world. It's precisely because Zoro's goal is to be the strongest that he comes in handy for Luffy and the rest on several occasions. Zoro's no-nonsense attitude and dedication to training help keep the Straw Hats focused and disciplined.
5 Madoka's Sacrifice Frees Magical Girls From The Burden Of Witches (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
In alternate timelines, Madoka Kaname was presented as the most talented and fearless magical girl out of the main cast in Puella Magi Madoka Magica. But after repeated time-looping due to Homura Akemi's attempts to save her, Madoka's confidence shrunk to a fraction of its former glory. But Madoka's power still rests within her despite her lacking confidence. Her innate potential allows her to get the ultimate wish granted, absolving all magical girls from the burden of becoming Witches.
4 Ash Wouldn't Have Gotten Far Without Pikachu (Pokémon)
While it's true that Ash Ketchum's spirited personality has done a lot to keep his dreams alive in Pokémon, his partner Pikachu has done a lot of heavy lifting over the course of the series. It's usually Pikachu that Ash can rely on in a pinch, and the rest of his Pokémon acknowledge Pikachu's strength, too.
Maybe it's because Pikachu is the mascot of the series, but Ash's Pikachu is a cut above other Pikachu, which is something that makes him a target for Team Rocket's Jessie and James.
3 Gojo Is Frequently Referred To As "The Strongest" (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Any jujutsu sorcerer worth their salt knows the name "Satoru Gojo" in Jujutsu Kaisen. Gojo is universally referred to as the strongest jujutsu sorcerer, not only in technical skill but also in his command of the Limitless inherited technique. Between his immense reserves of cursed energy and mastery of the Limitless, Gojo is a man who evokes fear in the hearts of his enemies just by the sound of his name. His allies find him a bit troublesome, but they always know the fight will be over soon once Gojo steps in.
2 Giorno's Assistance Isn't Always Immediately Obvious (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind)
Bruno Bucciarati is the undisputed leader of his small group in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 5: Golden Wind, but Giorno Giovanna has contributed to more wins behind the scenes. Giorno's biggest strength is the ability to think rationally during intense moments, and he's used his Stand, Gold Experience, to turn the tides of battle on several occasions. One of his more impressive accomplishments is his effort to prolong Bucciarati's life long enough to unmask the true identity of Passione's corrupt boss.
1 Futaba's Hacking Skills Prove Detrimental To The Phantom Thieves' Success (Persona 5 The Animation)
The Phantom Thieves were managing their heists well enough before they rescued Futaba Sakura in Persona 5 the Animation, but their exploits improved exponentially once she became part of the team. Futaba's genius intellect and hacking skills allowed the Phantom Thieves to gather information like never before, and she proved to be a crucial team member on many occasions throughout the story. In fact, Futaba's resourcefulness prompted an entire character arc for Morgana, who still needed to learn his place on the Phantom Thieves' team.