Nintendo has created some of the most iconic characters in gaming, with Samus Aran standing out as a shining example. Metroid has proven time and time again that Samus is one of the universe's deadliest warriors, with an impressive array of skills, weapons, and accomplishments that would put any bounty hunter to shame.

RELATED: Metroid: All of Samus' Power Suits, Ranked By Aesthetic

Samus isn't the only fictional bounty hunter in town, however. As powerful as Samus Aran is, there are dozens of anime bounty hunters who would not only make her break a sweat, they'd give her a real run for her money.

10 Franky Has The Strength To Take On Samus (One Piece)

Franky from One Piece with Pluton Blueprints.

The Straw Hat Pirates' shipwright from One Piece may be reckless at times, but Franky has proven he is a valuable member of the crew and has what it takes to give Samus Aran a run for her money. While his speed is lacking compared to Samus, Franky's durability is nothing to scoff at.

Franky's traded blows with Kuma, a character stronger than most Straw Hats, and can tank explosions like nothing. Not only is Franky tough, his strength is incredible. With superior strength and durability, Franky has what it takes to tank Samus' attacks and overpower her when given the chance.

9 Erza Scarlet Is Too Versatile For Samus (Fairy Tail)

Erza Scarlet in an armor with wings

Fairy Tail's Erza Scarlet is known for her incredible will and strength. At the age of 15, she became one of the highest-ranking mages among the guild, and her powers would pose a challenge to Samus. Erza's tremendous strength can cause damage to the power suit.

RELATED: Fairy Tail: Erza's 10 Greatest Accomplishments, Ranked

Even when she was low on magic, Erza destroyed a meteor with a sword swing. Her magic lets her access over 100 sets of armors and weapons, giving her plenty to throw at her opponent. If Erza can defeat 100 monsters single-handedly, she should have no problem giving a single Samus a run for her money.

8 Gene Starwind Has The Determination & Firepower To Defeat Samus (Outlaw Star)

Gene Starwind flexing and grinning while holding a wrench in Outlaw Star.

Outlaw Star's Gene Starwind and Samus share a few things in common. Both characters lost their family to space pirates and became bounty hunters that traverse the cosmos. Gene is one of anime's best gunslingers who will do whatever it takes to survive, and it is this determination and quick thinking that'll keep Samus on her toes. Gene's weapons are no joke either. His Caster guns can create miniaturized black holes. If Samus isn't careful, a move like this would be enough for Gene to end the fight immediately.

7 Spike Spiegel's Wit & Skill Can Help Him Hang In With Samus (Cowboy Bebop)

Spike Spiegel (Cowboy Bebop)

At first glance, it might be hard to believe that Cowboy Bebop's iconic bounty hunter would give Samus Aran a run for her money, but Spike is more than superhuman than he appears to be. Spike has dodged everything from bullets to lasers, and once outran an explosion. He is even strong enough to dent steel with a punch.

RELATED: Cowboy Bebop: 5 Fun Anime Episodes Unlikely To Appear in the Netflix Adaptation

What truly makes Spike Spiegel a threat to Samus are his martial arts, marksmanship, and wits. Spike is a practitioner of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, can shoot people in between the eyes, and often comes up with strategies on the spot to get himself out of the stickiest of situations.

6 Akame's Is Too Quick For Samus (Akame ga Kill)

Akame Attacking With Her Sword In Akame Ga Kill Anime

When she's not taking direct orders from Najenda, Akame Ga Kill's main character, Akame, opens herself as an assassin for hire. Akame can move faster than the eye can see and dodge lightning. Her speed and agility would make it difficult for Samus to tag.

Akame's ace in the hole is her Murasame, a sword that poisons anyone it cuts. If Akame can break through Samus' suit, the fight will end then and there. Since Akame can trade blows with Esdeath, the strongest character in Akame Ga Kill, she should have the strength to break through that suit.

5 Kakuzu Is Too Powerful for Samus to Handle (Naruto)

Kakuzu Akatsuki

Before he joined the world's deadliest group of shinobi, the Akatsuki, Kakuzu was a feared bounty hunter in the world of Naruto. In the past, Kakuzu got hit with a Tailed Beast Bomb, an attack powerful enough to destroy entire mountains and is packing more firepower than Samus' bombs. Kakuzu can fight on par with Kakashi Hatake, one of Naruto's strongest allies, and his numerous hearts give him many ways to outnumber Samus and overwhelm her.

4 Dandy Is Deceptively Stronger Than Samus (Space Dandy)

Dandy from space dandy

Despite Space Dandy's more comedic nature, Dandy is not a bounty hunter to underestimate. Dandy is a universal constant that exists in all universes simultaneously and his godlike powers would be enough to give Samus a good fight. Dandy also has a space cruiser called the Little Aloha that can transform into a giant mecha.

The Little Aloha has superhuman strength and speed and can take down monsters bigger and stronger than Samus herself. Dandy's goofball nature would probably lead to Samus underestimating him, which is the last thing she would want to do.

3 Zoro's Skill And Power Can Take On Samus (One Piece)

Zoro Vs Mr. 5 in One Piece

Samus has fought a variety of enemies, but she's never faced someone as monstrous as One Piece's Zoro. Zoro is strong enough to lift and throw buildings with ease and even sliced a kaiju-sized Pica into pieces. His speed is also nothing to scoff at since he can dodge attacks that move at light speed. His best advantage over Samus would be his endurance and swordsmanship.

Zoro's proved time and time again that he can shrug off some pretty nasty blows like it was nothing and keep fighting, like when he was stabbed in the chest by Mihawk. Zoro's Kenbunshoku Haki is an ability that lets sense and predicts upcoming attacks, making it hard for Samus to get the drop on him.

2 D Is Too Monstrous For Samus (Vampire Hunter D)

Vampire Hunter D

Vampire Hunter D is one of the best series ever created, so it's no surprise that its main character, D, can give Samus a run for her money. His half-vampiric lineage grants him special abilities that make the fight an uphill one for Samus. He can devour her soul, warp reality, and even erase her out of existence itself. Even if Samus were to overcome D's ridiculous powers, his strength and speed easily surpass her, and his regeneration and resurrections would make it nigh impossible for Samus to put him down for good.

1 Alita's Martial Arts And Cybernetics Would Overwhelm Samus (Battle Angel Alita)

gally alita

Battle Angel's Alita is one of anime's deadliest cyborgs and is someone who can take on Samus without issues. With her fighting style called Panzer Kunst, Alita has defeated her fair share of enemies more skilled than Samus in hand-to-hand.

Her best advantage over Samus is her hacking, which she can use to dismantle Samus' Power Suit at any point, forcing her to fight back in her Zero Suit State. Without her suit, Alita's superior strength, speed, hand-to-hand, and regenerative ability would put Samus in a tight corner she has little way of escaping.

NEXT: The 5 Scariest in the Metroid Series