Many powerhouse characters in the Fairy Tail universe are heroic wizards, and one of them is Makarov Dreyar, the master of the Fairy Tail guild itself. Although Makarov is in his senior years, he has learned well from experience, and he is as tough and spry as a much younger man. His fighting days are not behind him just yet.
As for his fighting style, Makarov is a melee wizard, using his magic to augment his body's size so he can swell up into a giant and pummel his foes. He can also perform Fairy Law if given the time to charge it up, a spell that allows him to crush all enemies inside a large radius. Still, some anime characters can outclass even him, including within Fairy Tail itself.
10 Stronger: Gildarts Clive (Fairy Tail) Can Obliterate Makarov With Crush Magic
Within the Fairy Tail world, a handful of characters (both heroes and villains) can outclass master Makarov in combat, and one of them is Gildarts Clive, the father of Cana Alberona. Gildarts is also a melee wizard, boasting unbelievable strength, speed, agility, and stamina. He can even toss Natsu Dragneel around like a ragdoll.
It's true that Gildarts can't as easily use Fairy Law or Fairy Glitter as Makarov can, but Gildarts' Crush magic can obliterate just about any foe or magical effect that opposes him, and he can even stand up to the almighty wizard August, who is the world's most powreful mage.
9 Weaker: Greed (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) Can Harden His Body Like Diamond Against Makarov's Melee Attacks
Greed the homunculus is one of Father's seven "children," and he is a martial artist who can use the Ultimate Shield ability in combat. When Greed rearranges the carbon atoms in his body, he can harden his skin like diamond and his fingernails become claw-like. He can also regenerate wounds thanks to his Philosopher's Stone.
While that's an impressive package, it doesn't compare that well to Makarov, who can use magic to become a giant or at least swell up his arms to deliver blows that can blast buildings apart with ease.
8 Stronger: Meliodas (The Seven Deadly Sins) Is A Powerful Ancient Demon With The Ability To Counter Makarov's Attacks
The captain of the Seven Deadly Sins squad, Meliodas is a boy who is more than he seems to be. In fact, he is an ancient demon prince with enormous power, far more than any mortal man could have. He even outstrips the mighty Escanor in combat, and Escanor could rival Makarov in strength.
Meliodas, when his full demonic power is available, becomes the world's strongest fighter, boasting speed, strength and endurance exceeding Makarov at his best. He can also perform the Full Counter ability to reflect the enemy's attack right back at them, combining offense with defense.
7 Weaker: Chad (Bleach) Would Be Easily Overtaken By Makarov In His Giant Form
When comparing shonen characters to each other, it's easy to see who's stronger if they have a similar fighting style. Makarov is a melee warrior, so he could compete with Yasutora "Chad" Sado to see who is the mightier warrior. And Makarov's odds are promising.
Chad is a large, tough teenager who has Hollow-like powers in his arms, and his El Directo strike and El Muerte ability are fearsome. Makarov, however, can wreak far greater devastation in his giant form, and Fairy Law outstrips anything Chad can muster.
6 Stronger: Rimuru Tempest (That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime) Has A Long List Of Powers That Makarov Doesn't Stand A Chance Against
Rimuru Tempest, the telepathic blue slime critter, is far more than he seems to be. Rimuru is an isekai hero who was reborn as a humble slime, but thanks to the Predator skill, he rapidly gained many new powers and traits from all the monsters he's eaten.
Rimuru's list of abilities and powers is extensive, and it seems to grow by the day. Telepathy, rapid flesh regeneration, sensing magic, and Predator are just the start; Rimuru can grow wings and fly, conjure powerful black fire and lightning storms, spin webs of sharp steel silk, create water blades, and more. Few enemies can even survive against him, let alone win.
5 Weaker: Rikido Sato (My Hero Academia) Is Only Powerful For Short Bursts, And Makarov Can Easily Outlast Him
A trainee hero at U.A., Rikido Sato is a melee warrior who likes to get a rush out of combat— a sugar rush, that is. He is a big and tough kid like Chad, but instead of Hollow/Fullbring powers, Rikido will eat straight sugar to get stronger. And he's not doing it for the taste.
Rikido's Quirk gives him explosive power when he eats sugar, and he can punch through sheer concrete and keep up a barrage of punches. He's still not as strong as Makarov, though, and his sugar rush lasts only a few moments. Then he becomes tired and extremely vulnerable.
4 Stronger: Kakashi Hatake (Naruto) Is A Formidable Ninja Warrior Who Can Predict All Of Makarov's Movements With Sharingan Eye
The masked ninja called Kakashi Hatake was Naruto Uzumaki's first Jonin teacher, and he is absolutely packed with abilities and skills in combat. Kakashi has a borrowed Sharingan eye that can see and copy enemy jutsu, and he can predict his enemy's movements in battle.
Kakashi remembers all those jutsu and can combine various release styles to confuse the enemy and take them by surprise. If that weren't enough, he's also adept at using the Mangekyo Sharingain, the devastating Lightning Blade, as well as tricks and traps to outmaneuver the enemy.
3 Weaker: Lieutenant Hinawa (Fire Force) Lacks The Defensive Durability To Withstand Makarov's Powerful Attacks
Lieutenant Hinawa has an ignition ability that works well with firearms and bullets. When this Fire Soldier fires a rifle or pistol, he can control the combustion of the gunpower and pressurized gases to affect how the bullet moves, thus creating magic bullets.
That's a great way to dispatch some targets, but Lieutenant Hinawa simply lacks Makarov's sheer destructive power, and Hinawa also lacks Makarov's toughness. He can't easily afford to take a punch from the enemy.
2 Stronger: DIO (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure) Can Stop Time With His Stand & Use It To Gain The Advantage Over Makarov
DIO was once known as Dio Brando, and he donned the stone Aztec mask to become a vampire with supernatural abilities. But he reached his full potential when he gained a Stand named The World, which was arguably the best Stand in the Stardust Crusaders story arc.
DIO's Stand has incredible speed and melee power, being more than a match for the short-range specialist Star Platinum. Most fearsome of all is The World's ability to stop time for a few seconds, allowing DIO to dispatch an enemy with impunity without taking return fire.
1 Weaker: Puri Puri Prisoner (One-Punch Man) Is As Physically Strong As Makarov, But Not Nearly As Gifted Magically
Another melee specialist has arrived to challenge Makarov to see who's the strongest warrior, and Puri Puri Prisoner has every reason to feel confident. His strength and endurance are formidable, and he can perform angelic dashes and leaps to get in close with the enemy.
Puri Puri Prisoner is powerful, but he can't become a magical titan like Makarov, and he certainly can't perform Fairy Law, either. His strength comes close, but Fairy Law is the deciding factor here.