5 Strongest Anime Characters Who Can Manipulate Time, Ranked

In most fantasy anime, the ability to manipulate time often defines the peak of power scaling. After all, what can anyone do if the opponent can just go back in time, change the past, or reverse the entire universe? However, not all time manipulation abilities are equal.

Some are restricted by scope, some by preconditions, while others are so broken that the concept of time itself loses meaning. Measured by their range, control, and sheer reality-warping impact, these characters stand in a league of their own.

5 Whis’s Ability to Manipulate Time Is the Most Limited

Whis from Dragon Ball | Credit: Toei Animation

Whis, just like any other angel in Dragon Ball, can use the ability called Temporal Do-Over, which allows him to manipulate the time of his surroundings. Once, Beerus accidentally destroyed two suns, and Whis was able to revert time to make it so it never happened.

That shows that the spatial scope of his ability is huge. However, he can only revert it for 3 minutes, and as an angel, he is bound by strict divine laws that forbid him from casually altering historical events or interfering with the natural order. Hence, while he is insanely strong in his own franchise, he ranks low.

4 Julius Novachrono: Master of Deadly Combat Time Magic

Julius from Black Clover | Credit: Studio Pierrot

Julius Novachrono from Black Clover uses his rare Time Magic directly in combat. Using his coverless grimoire, Julius steals and stores time from others, using it to freeze attacks, trap foes in inescapable temporal loops, or age targets into dust instantly.

He can also reverse time on his own body to heal fatal wounds or resurrect himself. This combination of combat magic and self-restoration makes his temporal control far more lethal and reliable, making him rank higher than Whis.

3 Kurumi Tokisaki – The Most Versatile Time Manipulator

Tokisaki Kurumi from Date a Live | Credit: Geek Toys

Tokisaki Kurumi from Date a Live can manipulate time in the most creative ways. She has a flintlock pistol and a musket that can both shoot special bullets that can cause a number of different time-related effects on the target. The effects range from accelerating time, sending the target back in time, and even seeing the future.

There are a total of twelve effects, which makes her insanely powerful. While this ability takes her life force, it can be replenished using the City of Devouring Time, which allows her to steal the life force of people in a large area. Furthermore, she has her clones (temporal copies of her past selves) to aid her in combat, which is why she ranks above Julius.

2 Saiki Kusuo Can Rewind the Entire Planet

Saiki from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. | Credit: J.C. Staff, Egg Firm

Saiki Kusuo, who is often called the most powerful psychic in anime, can revert the time of the entire world. As revealed by the end of the story, Saiki has lived his high school years multiple times, not for more strength, but simply to buy time to prevent a catastrophic volcanic eruption from wiping out Japan without destroying the island himself.

At his base, he can rewind time for objects by 24 hours, an ability he can scale up globally to roll the world’s calendar back year after year. He can also jump into the future, escaping the normal flow of time. However, anomalies, like extreme fatigue, high fevers, or damaged limiters, can accidentally cause time slips, which is why he ranks second.

1 Homura Akemi Is Above Time Itself

It’s not that Homura can control time; it’s simply that she can manipulate the entire reality where time is nothing more than a simple variable. Homura from Puella Magi Madoka Magica started as a fairly strong character who was able to rewind her own timeline by roughly one month to try to protect Madoka. However, by shattering universal boundaries, she transcends into a conceptual entity that rules over reality itself.

With that, she can make new realities out of nowhere and manipulate them as she wishes. Unlike Saiki, she has proper control over her powers, and she can still grow stronger. This absolute control over “everything” is what makes her rank at the top.

If we get rid of time manipulation, who do you think will come out on top? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.