Since its premiere in 1996, Case Closed— also known as Detective Conan— has been one of the most loved detective anime ever. The character that leads the series has been instrumental in this popularity, if not downright the primary reason for it. Shinichi Kudo, the high school detective also known as the "Detective of the East" is the protagonist. Shinichi Kudo's transformation into a younger version of himself caused by a criminal organization is at the core of the story.
Shinichi assuming the alias of Conan Edogawa and helping Inspector Moore to solve crimes is what keeps the fans on their toes. Conan has, time and again, impressed fans and critics alike with his striking intellect and impressive deductions. But obviously, he is not unrivaled when it comes to tact and intelligence in the world of anime.
10 Smarter: Senku Ishigami (Dr. Stone)
Senku Ishigami is the protagonist of the Dr. Stone series. He has extraordinary creativity and an insightful psyche, a virtuoso with exhaustive information on everything logical. He is knowledgeable in science, design, geography, and arithmetic. Senku could make different helpful devices and contraptions, medication, and even the de-petrification mixture, in spite of the limited materials present in the Stone World.
Despite Conan being a genius, he wouldn't compare to the lush amounts of information Senku has in different academic disciplines. Senku's genius that triumphs in the Stone World display his superior intelligence.
9 Not Smarter: Yugi Muto (Yu-Gi-Oh!)
With the spirit of Pharaoh Atem, Yugi holds the title "King of Games". Being the main character of the series comes with its fair share of plot armor. Yugi for one has been blessed in this regard countless times. Be it the self-destructing Kuribohs or other rule-bending moments, it is safe to say that at times, Yugi's wins are in negligence of the game's rules.
Yugi, despite having his moments against duelers like Seto Kaiba and Rafael, still pales in comparison to Conan. Conan's arcs are built more logically and concretely around facts and reality.
8 Smarter: Dr. Vegapunk (One Piece)
A man whose logical accomplishments are supposed to be at a rate of 500 years in front of the ebb and flow of innovation in the One Piece universe, Dr. Vegapunk is the main researcher of the Marines. His work incorporates finding the mysteries and employments of Devil Fruits and Seastone.
It is shown that even in Dr. Vegapunk's childhood, the researcher was a prodigy who, even without the assets and materials to build up his innovations, hypothesized the making of Pacifista cyborgs. Conan, unfortunately, can't compete against the raw genius of the man.
7 Not Smarter: Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
Izuku Midoriya, aka Deku, is the main protagonist of My Hero Academia. Despite the fact that Izuku was born into the world Quirkless, he manages to grab the eye of All Might because of his natural gallantry. The reason Deku is loved by all is not just due to the power of One for All but because of his quick wit and bravery.
Deku's smartness is displayed in various instances of the series. From analyzing monstrous opponents to finding great strategies on the fly. Sadly though, when the metric to compare the characters is intelligence, the deductive nature of Conan is far superior to Deku.
6 Smarter: Daimon Kaito (Phi Brain)
Daimon Kaito, who goes by the title Einstein after solving the "Philosopher's Puzzle," is a tremendous solver. He is perceived as a genius by numerous other puzzle solvers in the series. It's safe to say that while using the Orpheus Ring his intellectual abilities are comparable to very few in the entirety of the anime world.
Daimon Kaito's genius being used to solve problems is at the center of Phi Brain. Although Conan has cracked multiple puzzles and solved many complex cases, the raw level of problem-solving involved in the daily life of Daimon Kaito is way more sophisticated.
5 Not Smarter: Korosensei (Assassination Classroom)
Korosensei is the homeroom instructor of Class 3-E of Kunugigaoka Junior High School, and the antihero of Assassination Classroom. From absolute defense to energy lasers, Korosensei's strength is unquestionable. His ability to read his students and also remain unbaffled under tense circumstances highlights his quick wit and ability to adapt.
Despite his baffling strength, Korosensei has been surprised more than once in the series. Conan on the other hand usually ends with the last laugh in most arcs.
4 Smarter: Shikamaru Nara (Naruto)
Shikamaru has an insight that reliably comes in handy to win in combat. Shikamaru is normally a lazy individual and his tendency is to accomplish as little work as possible. This is in spite of his IQ being over 200 as discovered by Asuma. His fights always display an intellectual angle to combat that fascinates fans of all ages.
The kind of analysis Shikamaru displays in his fight against Hidan is just an example of his ability to plan. By the time of Boruto: The Naruto Movie, he is regarded as the smartest person in Konoha.
3 Not Smarter: Heiji Hattori (Case Closed)
Heiji Hattori is a supporting character in Case Closed. He is called "The Detective of the West" and just as the name suggests he is also a famous high school detective. Heiji, being the first person to deduct Conan's true identity, has often garnered praise from his fellow compatriots for his spoils.
Although Hejii has his moments in the Bourbon and Rum arcs, his contribution was scarce in comparison to Conan. Conan has, time and time again, shown how he has the edge when it comes to a battle of wits.
2 Smarter: Kisuke Urahara (Bleach)
Kisuke Urahara is the former captain of the 12 Division. Normally a laid-back, idealistic, happy, modest, and offbeat man, Urahara shows a misleadingly crafty side when the circumstance warrants it. He generally utilizes his intellect to think about the bigger picture.
Urahara's intellect was the final nail to Aizen's coffin. Urahara, although shown as a supporting character, achieved his goal through superior intellect which was integral to his role within the series.
1 Not Smarter: Light Yagami (Death Note)
Light Yagami as "Kira" was one of the most iconic characters to ever grace anime. Despite his shortfalls towards the end of the series, nobody can argue that Light had impeccable talent and was a natural genius.
In spite of Light always being steps ahead of his competition, he bore too many losses. Conan, on the other hand, is a gifted organizer, great at outlining situations and rarely on the losing side. Conan outsmarts Light, in what would be only a narrow win for the young detective.