Meruem is perhaps the deadliest villain to have ever existed in the Hunter x Hunter universe. The King of Chimera Ants and the pinnacle of evolution, he was strong enough to shrug off attacks from the chairman of the Hunter's Association, Isaac Netero, and force him to depend on underhanded means to put him down for good.

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Despite his tremendous accolades, Meruem is not invincible. There are other anime villains which possess power even greater than his, and to discern the limits of his strength, here is an estimate by comparing him with opponents he would defeat and lose to.

10 Could Beat - Death Gun (Sword Art Online)

Death Gun looking menacing in Sword Art Online.

As his name implies, Death Gun is extremely capable of ranged weaponry and is an especially talented sniper. He was able to hold his own against the Black Swordsman, Kirito, though would ultimately lose to him.

While he may pack guns far deadlier than traditional military firearms, none are capable of punching through Meruem's carapace and cause significant damage to him. Without being able to intimidate his opponents with the threat of death in the real world, the former Laughing Coffin assassin would soon fall to the King.

9 Would Lose - Hazamada (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Hazamada jojo

There are few characters in the JoJo universe able to defeat Meruem, though unfortunately for him, Hazmada is one of them. His Stand allows him not only to mimic his target but force his opponent to copy his movements.

Accordingly, he could use Meruem's own strength to stop his breathing or rip off his head. The King is able to do this with relatively minimal effort, as seen through the way he removed his arm during his game with Komugi. His only reprieve would be by rushing Hazamada before he could use his Stand, but given his hubris, he would likely want to observe him until it's too late.

8 Could Beat - Envy (Fullmetal Alchemist)

The homunculus of Envy has the ability to become a large, grotesque monster and assail his opponents through a variety of insidious techniques. However, his size and horrific appearance belie his vulnerability, as he has faltered against the dazzling flames of Roy Mustang.

Given his poor speed and cumbersome form, Envy's skills depend on the premise that his opponents are not particularly durable. Meruem's thick shell was able to withstand the might of Netero's Guanyin Bodhisattva, making anything the homunculus could throw at him a trifle at best.

7 Would Lose - Kaguya (Naruto)

Kaguya with Mountains in the background

As proficient as Meruem might be in physical brawn, Kaguya's unrivaled Ninjutsu would create problems he has no answer for. Her bone spikes are able to kill their marks in one hit regardless of how durable they might be, posing a serious problem for the King.

Moreover, she could also teleport them both to a dimension of acid and simply choose to leave him there. Unable to fly until his royal guards have lent him their power, he would have no hope of escape and die a slow, agonizing death.

6 Could Beat - Feitan (Hunter x Hunter)

Feitan Fighting A Chimera Ant Queen In Hunter x Hunter

A tried and true assassin, Feitan's strength comes from his agility and piercing attacks. However, he has struggled significantly against the King's underlings during their attack on Meteor City, evincing that it would be unthinkable for him to overcome their master.

Further, Feitan's piercing weaponry is better equipped to rend flesh, not Meruem's impervious carapace. If he had the fortune of landing a strike on him, it's more likely that his attack would be useless. Able to rip Netero limb from limb, it stands to reason that the Chimera Ant could tear Feitan apart just as easily.

5 Would Lose - Schrodinger (Hellsing)

Schrodinger, Hellsing

Schrodinger may not have the most terrifying appearance, and against many opponents, he may rightfully be discounted as a non-threat. However, he does possess an ability that could take out Meruem specifically ~ should his blood be imbibed, he would be able to dominate his opponent from inside their own mind. This was his means of defeating the seemingly indomitable Alucard.

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Given that the King enjoys eating many of his foes (especially the ones infused with inordinate strength), he is destined to fall for this ruse and become the Millennium agent's next victim.

4 Could Beat - Thaegan (Deltora Quest)

Thaegan was one of the most nefarious and effective sorceresses of her time. Through her magic, she oversaw a small horde of monsters that she called her "children" and posed a significant threat to Lief and his allies.

However, her magics were overcome by those who were only moderately above average warriors. Given the disparity between their skill and Meruem's and their subsequent victory over the sorceress, it follows that the King should be able to overpower her magics and kill her with relatively little difficulty.

3 Would Lose - Estarossa (Seven Deadly Sins)

Seven Deadly Sins Estarossa of the 10 commandments

Estarossa and Meruem have both been depicted as capable of relatively similar feats. While the King was able to survive Netero's concentrated blast, the heir of the Demon King lived through Escanor's "Cruel Sun" and was even able to overcome the devastating combined power of two archangels.

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Where Estarossa surpasses his opponent is his unique commandment of love. Any foe who bears hatred in their heart against them is stricken powerless, leaving them vulnerable to be slain. Though this would definitely affect the King early into the Chimera Ant arc, his exposure to Komugi may give him a fighting chance.

2 Could Beat - Yahaba (Demon Slayer)

yahaba demon slayer

Working best alongside Susamaru, Yahaba's power lets him produce arrows from his hand. These projectiles are not only able to thrust their opponents into the air, they also cause physical harm to those they hit.

Given how quickly Meruem was able to recover from being pummeled by Isaac Netero's Guanyin statue (which is observably more devastating than the demon's own abilities), Yahaba does not have the physical stopping power to make a dent in the King and would perish for his insolence.

1 Would Lose - Aizen (Bleach)

Aizen Getting Ready To Fight Several Of The Other Captains

Meruem would benefit from his own raw physical power, the same means by which Ichigo was able to defeat Aizen despite the strength of the Hogyoku. However, much like the other Gotei captains, he does not have a solid counter to Sosuke's Zanpakuto.

Unless the King is able to physically touch the sword before he can use it, it allows him to put his opponent under a state of hypnosis. Such a technique would invariably guarantee his victory, and judging by the speed at which he was able to avoid the Soul Society, he would have the time to use it.

NEXT: Bleach: 5 Anime Heroes Aizen Can Destroy (& 5 He Has No Chance Against)