From humble beginnings as Tamagotchi-style pets to anime icons, the Digimon franchise has proven itself time and time again to be more than just a clone of its rival, Pokémon. While it may not be as far-reaching as its aforementioned competitor, Digimon has been able to tackle many things that Pokémon hasn't, such as swapping out its main characters almost every season.
This move has lead to the series being able to experiment with different character types and dynamics, and also showing off all the different partner Digimon. There have been many Digimon partners over the many seasons of this franchise, and some are a shining example of Digimon's strongest.
10 Veemon (Digimon Adventure 02)
The DigiDestined of Digimon Adventure 02 may have achieved forms that the previous DigiDestined couldn't (like "DNA" and "Armor Digivolution"), but they were often beat by the common Champion, Ultimate, and Mega Level Digimon. Despite this, Davis and his partner Veemon were able to even up the score pretty frequently.
Veemon's Armor and DNA Digivolution forms were reached heights in the Mega Level that his allies weren't able to (as Magnamon and Imperialdramon). Veemon and Davis were able to consistently break through their limits and take down enemies that seemed undefeatable.
9 Renamon (Digimon Tamers)
As one of the more experienced fighters in Digimon Tamers' lineup, Renamon and Rika were busting rogue Digimon before the season's plot started up. Consistently mysterious, swift, and cool, Renamon was capable of taking on most foes in her Rookie Level in the beginning. Thanks to Rika's emotional growth, she became stronger and stronger as the season went on.
In Champion and Ultimate Level, Renamon was able to achieve feats similar to her allies, and "Biomerging" with Rika as Sakuyamon gave her a wide array of new skills such as impenetrable barriers and the ability to purify and exorcise evil spirits. A quintessential member of the Tamers team.
8 Gabumon (Digimon Adventure)
In the original Digimon Adventure line up, many of the partner Digimon never went higher than Ultimate Level, but there were two among the DigiDestined that did, and one of them was Matt's partner Gabumon. Gabumon and all his evolutions are not just tough but surprisingly versatile going from a ferocious beast as Garurumon, to a skilled hand-to-hand fighter as WereGarurumon, and finally, a war machine decked out in tons of freezing weapons as MetalGarurumon.
As MetalGarurumon, Gabumon was able to defeat the Dark Master, Puppetmon, and go toe-to-toe with WarGreymon, who is often seen as his equal. He makes up one half of the powerful Omnimon.
7 Agumon (Digimon Adventure)
The partner of Tai, the original "Gogglehead", and the second of the original Digimon Adventure gang to reach Mega Level (along with Gabumon), Agumon became the face of the franchise for a reason. Boasting savage strength and high durability as both Greymon and MetalGreymon, Agumon has helped Tai and the rest of the DigiDestined take on and beat many foes.
As WarGreymon, Agumon's most impressive feats begin to show. WarGreymon defeated two of the four Dark Masters (MetalSeadramon and Machinedramon), fought evenly with MetalGarurumon, and took on BlackWarGreymon. With MetalGarurumon, he's also one half of Omnimon.
6 Terriermon (Digimon Tamers)
Terriermon may look cute and cuddly in his rookie form, but he's packing heat in more ways than one. Henry's partner in Digimon Tamers, Terriermon is full of raw power across its evolutions and as Rapidmon, Terriermon also gets wicked speed to match it. However, it's when Terriermon Biomerges with Henry that Terriermon's at his strongest.
While MegaGargomon loses Rapidmon's speed, it makes up for it with overwhelming size, armor, and even more firepower. MegaGargomon was also capable of injuring Zhuqiaomon, a Digimon Sovereign who helped create much of the Digital World.
5 Gaomon (Digimon Savers)
Thomas H. Norstein was one of DATS' best recruits, thanks to his high intelligence and success rate on missions. Every good agent needs a good partner, and Gaomon is the best that Thomas could've hoped for. Simply put, Gaomon is incredibly strong and fast which is only matched by his stoic and loyal personality.
Together with Thomas, Gaomon's been able to take down enemy Digimon with devastating powers, and thanks to "Burst Mode," he was able to go beyond the Mega Level – to the point where he could take down members of the Royal Knights without much trouble.
4 Guilmon (Digimon Tamers)
Guilmon of Digimon Tamers is the wide-eyed innocent of the group, but underneath his child-like behavior, he's a beast in battle. Much like his allies, Guilmon was capable of overpowering Champion Level Digimon in his Rookie form and his feats only become more impressive from there.
In his Champion and Ultimate forms, Guilmon has been able to pull off some impressive wins with brute strength and help from his Tamer Takato. In the Mega Level, Guilmon's sheer power becomes even more apparent. As the savage Megidramon, his presence actually destabilized the Digital World, and Biomerged as Gallantmon he could easily take down other Mega Level Digimon. He and Takato even went beyond the Mega Level thanks to Gallantmon's Crimson Mode, which is apparently capable of breaking down enemies into electrons.
3 Agumon (Digimon Savers)
Originally Agumon was an escapee Digimon that was being hunted by DATS, until he met and became Marcus' partner who would join DATS with him. While this Agumon may look similar to the original, Digimon Savers' Agumon is on a whole other level thanks to Marcus' raw power and tenacity.
As ShineGreymon, Agumon was able to battle MirageGaogamon evenly and take on other Megas with similar strength. Much like his allies, ShineGreymon was able to go beyond with Bust Mode which was capable of defeating Belphemon, a Digimon that could tear reality apart. Together, Marcus and Agumon even achieved another Burst Mode for Agumon's Rookie Level that ended up being able to beat Yggdrasil, the "God of the Digital World."
2 Shoutmon (Digimon Xros Wars)
The main partner of Mikey and the center of all of their fusion forms, Shoutmon's aspirations to become the Digimon King brought him to incredible heights that some can only dream of. Over the course of Digimon Xros Wars, Shoutmon ends up taking a variety of different forms, between his many fusions with other Digimon and his own evolution as OmniShoutmon. Though it's his final form as Shoutmon X7F Superior Mode that really sends him over the top.
OmniShoutmon was already imbued with the power of Omnimon, and X7F Superior Mode goes far beyond that, combining that strength along with the power of countless other Digimon across the Digital World. Shoutmon truly earned the title of Digimon King.
1 Patamon (Digimon Adventure)
Patamon is another example of "looks can be deceiving." Behind those big adorable eyes and wing-ears is an extremely powerful Digimon. In the original Digimon Adventure, Patamon and his partner T.K. were the Wild Card, the last DigiDestined to Digivolve to new forms but always being a game-changer.
As Angemon and MagnaAngemon, he was able to defeat Devimon and Piedmon, enemies that the other DigiDestined couldn't even leave a scratch on. As his Mega form, Seraphimon, he's capable of resisting reality-altering events and channeling the force of a Big Bang by using his own life force, an attack capable of covering the entire Digital World itself. Patamon may be a late bloomer, but that doesn't make him weak in the slightest.