In anime, some artifacts are more than just weapons. They can manipulate life and death, break laws once thought unchangeable, or even rewrite reality on a cosmic scale. Here are five of the most iconic artifacts, ranked by their power and influence over the worlds they exist in.
1. Death Note
Death Note is one of the most terrifying artifacts thanks to its ability to end a person’s life without direct confrontation.
Given to the human world by the Shinigami Ryuk, this notebook allows its user to kill anyone by knowing their exact name and face. Instead of approaching or attacking the target, the user can cause death by heart attack or orchestrate circumstances leading to death under specific rules.
What makes Death Note so dangerous is that it bypasses physical strength, distance, and typical defenses. No matter how powerful someone is, they are vulnerable if they don’t understand how the notebook works.
However, Death Note has limits. It mainly affects humans and requires certain conditions to be met by the user. While terrifying on a human level, it struggles to compete with artifacts that impact the entire universe.
2. Philosopher’s Stone, Fullmetal Alchemist
In Fullmetal Alchemist, the Philosopher’s Stone is an artifact that breaks the limits of alchemy.
According to the Law of Equivalent Exchange, alchemists must pay a price to transform matter. The Philosopher’s Stone provides immense energy, allowing users to perform alchemy beyond normal boundaries.
Its powers are diverse: from creating matter and healing injuries to large-scale transformations. Homunculi who possess the Stone can even regenerate multiple times, making them extremely difficult to destroy.
Still, the Philosopher’s Stone is not an infinite energy source. Its power comes from souls trapped inside, meaning its energy can eventually run out.
3. Spear of Longinus, Neon Genesis Evangelion
The Spear of Longinus from Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most unique weapons in anime history. This massive red spear originates from an ancient alien civilization and can pierce the A.T. Field, the special defense barrier of Angels and Evangelions.
This makes the Spear terrifying because it can neutralize one of the most crucial defenses of supernatural beings in Evangelion. When used, it can suppress creatures powerful enough to cause planetary-scale disasters.
The Spear also plays a key role in Instrumentality, the event involving the merging of all human consciousness. It is not just a weapon but a tool that directly influences humanity’s fate.
4. World Items, Overlord
While Death Note and the Philosopher’s Stone push power beyond normal limits, World Items in Overlord can even break the world’s rules.
Originating from Yggdrasil, World Items are special artifacts with powers far beyond typical gear. Each item has unique abilities, from influencing minds and boosting strength to manipulating the laws of magic.
Notably, holders of World Items are protected from the effects of other World Items and Wild Magic. This creates a conceptual form of defense, giving the owner a huge advantage over opponents without similar artifacts.
Their rule-breaking abilities make World Items some of the most fearsome objects in the Overlord universe.
5. Super Dragon Balls, Dragon Ball Super
Topping the list are the Super Dragon Balls, artifacts capable of manipulating reality across multiple universes.
Created by the Dragon God Zalama, the Super Dragon Balls exist in Universe 6 and Universe 7. Each is enormous, over 37,000 kilometers in diameter. When gathered, they summon Super Shenron, a dragon with immense power.
Unlike regular Dragon Balls, which are limited by their creator’s power, the Super Dragon Balls have almost no restrictions on wishes. They can grant requests on a scale far beyond a planet or individual.
In Dragon Ball Super, their power was used to restore universes erased after the Tournament of Power.
This makes the Super Dragon Balls like a “reset button” for reality. Without fighting, their owner can change outcomes of events on a scale larger than any battle.