Fairy Tail was packed full of impressive magicians with innate and unique abilities. The Fairy Tail guild itself was renowned as the most impressive in the land, with its members having tackled huge threats to the entire world. Though the women outmatch most of the guild's men, there are some impressive powers sets from the lads too.
From conjuring, elemental magic, all the way to physical strength, the men of Fairy Tail are no slouches when in battle. The Fairy Tail boys are always challenging one another, so much so that they spend more time fighting each other than actual enemies. Master Markov has been omitted from this list for that reason, as he tends to sit out the fights in favor of booze anyways.
10 Macao Conbolt
Macao has years of experience under his belt as a long-standing member of the guild and eventual guild master. He is one of the first mages in the series to display true skill and has since demonstrated he can be relied upon for most situations.
He tells Natsu his purple flare is a type of fire, though he can control it beyond mere heat and flame. He has used it to shoot bullet-like projectiles at enemies and even used it to ensnare members of the Phantom Lord guild. The only reason he isn't higher on this list is that he has significantly less screen time than some of the more prominent Fairy Tail members.
9 Bickslow
As a member of the Thunder God Tribe, Bickslow fights alongside Evergreen, Freed, and their leader Laxus. He has been both friend and foe but ultimately joins his brother and sisters in Fairy Tail for good.
His magic is based on dolls, which he can control and manipulate to do his bidding. His dolls can also produce formations that create varying devastating effects. He also has a secondary ability in the form of his eye magic. This enables him to control any living thing he makes eye contact with. Though Bickslow has fought against Gray and Natsu, he is ultimately lower on the list due to his lack of raw power.
8 Elfman Strauss
This self-proclaimed 'man' of the Fairy Tail guild spends the majority of season one lamenting in his feelings and trying not to lose control. Though, in the Phantom Lord Arc, he finally gives in to the full body takeover. This ability allows him to completely transform into an immense beast of impressive stature.
Throughout the rest of the series, Elfman shows various beast forms, from colossal cat-like creatures to a fully scaled lizard monster. Though his beast forms are incredibly impressive, Elfman lacks the conviction and determination of other mages in the guild.
7 Freed Justine
Freed is another member of the Thunder God Tribe and a close friend of Laxus. His magic is based on drawing runes in the air that have numerous uses. He was able to hold his own against Mirajane for a while, though he was pushed to use a forbidden spell known as Darkness.
He is somewhat of a loose cannon but has a strong moral compass, though his morals are sometimes overridden by his need to please his friends. In terms of sheer power, the versatility of his ability makes him a ruthless fighter. He is also enormously skilled with his sword, which can also carve runes into the air.
6 Gajeel Redfox
Though Gajeel was initially a threat to Fairy Tail, going so far as to beating Levy to a pulp, he now serves the greater good with people he used to call enemies. His Dragon Slayer magic is like that of Natsu's, and the only reason he does not rank higher is his success rate in battle.
Gajeel tends to fight the same throughout the series, which makes his attacks somewhat predictable to his enemies. Where other characters adapt and change throughout the show, Gajeel seems as consistently ruthless since his first appearance. However, his resilience in the face of adversity makes him a genuinely shocking combatant.
5 Gray Fullbuster
It may be corny, but Gray is very much as cool as a cucumber during battle, even if he does have the strange tendency to strip without knowing. His allure aside, Gray is a fearsome warrior and front runner for the most potent guild member.
His 'Ice make' magic, alongside his Devil Slayer Magic, makes him a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. He has defeated opponents like Juvia, Lyon, and even the demon Deliora. His creativity on the battlefield keeps his opponents at bay, while his lack of a shirt may at least draw confusion.
4 Laxus Dreyar
As the resident bad-boy of the Fairy Tail guild, Laxus has fought almost every member of his own guild. He is a fearsome practitioner of both lighting magic and Lighting Dragon Slayer magic, which puts him at odds with Natsu and Gajeel.
Laxus's uncaring attitude allows him to do whatever it takes in battle. In his fight with Natsu and Gajeel, he entered a berserker-like state, his body physically growing in size as lighting surrounded him. Though he ultimately cares about Fairy Tail's reputation and influence, he wasn't at one point afraid to betray those "close" to him.
3 Natsu Dragneel
Since episode one, Natsu has repeatedly proven that he can take down almost anyone, besides Erza of course. Each time he is counted out of the fight, he brings himself back from the precipice of defeat, ultimately defeating the attacker before him.
Both his fire magic and Dragon Slayer magic are unrelenting and furious. As his temper burns, so does the aura around him, which is the only signifier for the coming onslaught he is about to bestow on his enemies. He is also a capable fighter, not solely relying on his magic during battle.
2 Mystogan
His name essentially says it all, because this S-Class mage is mystery incarnate. He was later revealed to be an alternative version of Jellal, though his magic is somewhat different due to his origin. His magical staves, essentially staffs imbued with magical energy, allow him to perform incredible feats of magic.
He was able to go against a wizard saint head-on, pushing Jura to his breaking point. His sacred song has taken out Laxus, Jura, and no doubt aided when he single-handedly disbanded all the Phantom Lord chapters in the kingdom. Though he may be shrouded in mystery, his power is unrivaled, besides one man that is.
1 Gildarts Clive
He is the father of Fairy Tail member Cana and an S-class mage himself. Gildarts possesses the ability to "crush" which does exactly what it says on the tin. From mountains to people, and even magic itself, Gildarts can crumble and crush whatever he is faced with.
He is famous for holding back in fights, fearing he may do more damage than initially intended. His cool temperament contrasts the hot-headed nature of many of his fellow guild members. As a nationally recognized wizard, Gildarts has the attention, love, and respect of all those in his community. He is a true powerhouse of magic.