The Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise is one of the most well-known and influential mecha anime in the genre. It is recognizable thanks to its unique designs for the Eva units and the Angels, as well as for its deep exploration of philosophical themes. Many also flock to its likable characters and the storylines surrounding them.

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Between the original TV series and the Rebuild of Evangelion movies, there are many Eva pilots of varying degrees of skill. Some excel at their job, and others fall by the wayside. On top of that, some of the series most iconic characters are completely different in the show and the movies.

Warning: This list contains heavy plot spoilers for the original Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion, as well as the Rebuild of Evangelion films.

6 Toji Suzuhara Fails As A Pilot

Evangelion Toji Looking Up During a Sunset

In both the original series and Rebuild films, Toji Suzuhara is introduced more as a bully than someone the audience wants to root for, as he gives Shinji a swift punch in the face. However, after witnessing what Shinji goes through while piloting an Eva, he quickly changes his tune, and the two, along with Kensuke, become good friends.

However, the films diverge from the original storyline for Toji. In the series, Toji is selected as the fourth Eva pilot and is assigned to Eva Unit-03. Unfortunately, things go very wrong, very quickly, as the unit is possessed by an Angel and goes on a rampage. Shinji is dispatched in Unit-01 to fight the Angel, not knowing who is inside the entry plug.

Shinji refuses to attack the Eva, not wishing to harm another human. His father has other plans, and immediately takes manual control of Unit-01 and destroys the creature. Toji is severely injured in the battle, and his fate is ultimately unknown as he does not physically appear again in the series.

While Toji does not pilot any Eva Units in the Rebuild film series and his failure to control Unit-03 is not his fault, he is by far the least skilled pilot. After all, he has no experience and never even has a chance to actually try piloting.

5 Kaworu Nagisa Is Not Who He Says He Is

Evangelion Kaworu Stares into Camera With Earth in Background

The character of Kaworu Nagisa is similar in both the original anime and the Rebuild series in that it is later revealed that he is actually an Angel in human form. That and his relationship with Shinji are about the only things that the two versions of the character have in common. In the anime series, Kaworu is chosen as the Fifth Child and is to pilot Unit-02 while Asuka is recovering.

While he does not technically ever pilot an Eva, he is still able to control Unit-02 and make it fight Shinji so that Kaworu can get to what he believes is Adam. However, after discovering this creature is Lilith, he asks Shinji to kill him. He is reluctant at first but follows through on Kaworu's final request.

In the Rebuild films, Kaworu and Shinji pilot the two-person Eva Unit-13 together. Gendo instructs the two to remove a spear from Lilith. Kaworu is hesitant, but Shinji insists on accomplishing their mission. Asuka, Mari, and Kaworu all try to stop him, but Shinji inadvertently causes the Fourth Impact by removing the spear. Kaworu forces their Eva to stab itself and then dies to an explosive choker around his throat.

While Kaworu's piloting prowess is not particularly impressive in either film, his ability to maintain control of any Eva makes him a fairly skilled pilot.

4 Shinji Ikari Is A Flawed Pilot

Evangelion Shinji Lying on Bed in Dark Room While Listening to Music

As the protagonist of the entire franchise, one would expect Shinji Ikari to be the best Eva pilot there is. However, this is far from the truth. With his pacifistic nature and his inability to overcome his fears, he is a deeply flawed pilot in both the original series and the Rebuild films.

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Shinji frequently disobeys orders and refuses to listen to the people who care about him, which often results in disastrous consequences, including the Third and Fourth Impacts. Shinji has almost no restraint, and when things don't go his way, he often slips into a deep depression, during which he simply sits around feeling sorry for himself.

However, Shinji adjusts quickly to piloting Eva Unit-01 and is even able to cause the machine to go berserk. While he is not the most gifted pilot, he does demonstrate some amount of skill.

3 Rei Ayanami Was Created With One Purpose

Evangelion Rei in Plugsuit with Moon in Background

Rei Ayanami is the First Child and the first pilot of Eva Unit-00. While she is severely injured when the audience is first introduced to her, she later demonstrates substantial skill when it comes to piloting.

She uses a shield to protect Shinji from an Angel attack, allowing him to successfully destroy it. She also is assigned to protect Shinji and Kaworu in the third film and shows off her prowess by fighting against both Mari and Asuka. While engaged in combat against these two superior pilots, she is able to hold her own long enough for Gendo's plan to succeed.

However, it is later revealed that she is so powerful because she is a clone of Shinji's mother, which means she was created specifically to be a good pilot. Despite that, both Asuka and Mari show substantial natural skills when it comes to controlling their own Eva units.

2 Asuka Langley Is Naturally Talented

Evangelion Asuka in Plugsuit Stands Confidently

Asuka is one of NERV's most valuable assets, as she is one of their most highly skilled pilots. In the original series, Asuka Langley Soryu is shown to be extremely confident in herself. During her first appearance, she meets Shinji, Misato, Kensuke, and Toji on board an aircraft carrier. The ship is attacked by an Angel, and Asuka does not hesitate to engage in Unit-02.

While she is extremely hotheaded and self-assured, she also carries a great amount of trauma and insecurity with her. This is shown by how she practically shuts down when Shinji outperforms her later in the series. However, in the film, The End of Evangelion, Asuka regains her confidence and pilots Unit-02 once more, single-handedly taking down nine mechas. Unforunately, that victory is short-lived as her Eva runs out of power soon after.

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In the Rebuild films, Asuka is first introduced while in a battle against an Angel. Rather than requiring help from Shinji, Asuka Langley Shikinami takes down the monster on her own. Later, she fills the role that Toji played in the original series, as she is selected as the pilot of the experimental Unit-03 that is possessed by an Angel.

While the resulting battle puts Asuka out of commission for a bit, she returns stronger than ever and fights with just as much ferocity. On top of all that, she forces Shinji to confront his own mistakes and return to Misato onboard the Wunder.

Her skill in these films far outmatches her ability in the original series as she frequently takes on Angels alongside Mari, and is even one of the last pilots standing during the climactic battle in the fourth film.

1 Mari Makinami Is The Most Skilled Pilot

Evangelion Closeup of Mari Grinning into Camera

While Mari Illustrious Makinami does not appear in the original anime series, she is by far the most skilled pilot in the franchise. She demonstrates an unparalleled understanding of the Evangelion Units, going so far as to maintain control when activating a Unit's "Beast Mode."

In the Rebuild films, Mari is able to take down an Angel while piloting Asuka's Unit-02 just as easily as she can while piloting her own Unit-05. She also later pilots Unit-08 to assist Asuka in their mission to rescue Unit-01 and prevent Shinji from inadvertently initiating the Fourth Impact.

In the final film, 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Mari and Asuka are the two leading the attack on NERV to stop Gendo. After Shinji restores the world without Evangelions, Mari lands her Unit in the ocean in front of Shinji and exits just before it ceases to exist.

Later, they are shown as adults at a train station in Tokyo and are the only two to remember everything that happened. Mari takes Shinji's hand and leads him out of the station so that the two can experience the new world together.

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