To Be Hero X stands as one of anime's most ingenious creations, masterfully blending absurdist parody with pulse-pounding action and surprisingly profound storytelling. What begins as a seemingly ridiculous premise about unlikely heroes evolves into a complex narrative that explores themes of responsibility, sacrifice, and what it truly means to be heroic. The series' unique animation style switches seamlessly between comedic exaggeration and stunning action sequences, creating an experience unlike any other in the anime landscape.
At the heart of To Be Hero X lies the fascinating concept of Trust Value - a mystical measurement that determines not only a hero's raw power but their standing in society. Unlike traditional power scaling systems, Trust Value fluctuates based on public perception, personal growth, and the hero's ability to inspire others. This innovative system creates dynamic character development where strength isn't just about physical prowess, but about earning and maintaining the faith of those you protect.
Let's dive into our definitive ranking of the strongest heroes in To Be Hero X, examining how Trust Value shapes their abilities and legacy in this extraordinary series.
Background: Initially hailed as the "perfect hero" in the public eye, Nice represents the complex relationship between image and reality in heroism. His story explores themes of identity crisis and the pressure of living up to impossible expectations while harboring deep imposter syndrome.
Powers and Abilities:
Exceptional combat prowess with well-rounded fighting capabilities
Enhanced physical strength and agility
Charismatic presence that naturally inspires confidence in others
Ability to adapt his fighting style to match any opponent
Trust Value: 8.0/10 - High public approval initially, though complicated by his internal struggles with authenticity
Why He Deserves This Ranking: Nice's placement at #10 reflects the tragic irony of his character - blessed with incredible abilities yet cursed with self-doubt. While his powers are formidable, his internal conflicts prevent him from reaching his true potential. His Trust Value remains solid due to his public image, but those who know him personally see the cracks in his perfect facade.
Memorable Moment: The revelation scene where Nice breaks down during a press conference, admitting he doesn't feel worthy of the title "perfect hero," showing the human cost of impossible expectations.
Iconic Quote: "Everyone sees the perfect hero they want me to be, but what happens when I can't even see myself clearly?"
Background: As the successor to the original E-Soul, Yang Cheng carries the weight of a legendary name while forging his own heroic path. His journey represents themes of legacy, inheritance of power, and finding one's own identity within established traditions.
Powers and Abilities:
Advanced electrokinesis with precise electrical control
Superhuman speed enhanced by electrical current manipulation
Machine interface and control capabilities
Electrical barrier creation and lightning-based combat techniques
Trust Value: 8.2/10 - Benefits from the positive legacy of the original E-Soul while building his own reputation
Why He Deserves This Ranking: Yang Cheng's electrical powers make him incredibly versatile in modern combat scenarios. His ability to interface with technology gives him unique advantages in urban environments. His Trust Value is boosted by inheriting the goodwill associated with the E-Soul name, though he works hard to prove himself worthy of the title.
Memorable Moment: During the cyber-villain arc, Yang Cheng single-handedly prevented a city-wide blackout while simultaneously battling digital enemies in cyberspace, proving his worth as the new E-Soul.
Iconic Quote: "I'm not trying to replace the original E-Soul - I'm trying to become the E-Soul this generation needs."
Background: A loyal Shar-Pei dog who gained human speech and shapeshifting abilities through his unwavering devotion to becoming a hero for his young owner. Ahu's story represents pure, unconditional loyalty and the idea that heroism transcends species barriers.
Powers and Abilities:
Human speech and advanced intelligence
Shapeshifting abilities allowing various forms
Enhanced canine senses (smell, hearing, instincts)
Unwavering loyalty that grants him resilience in battle
Trust Value: 8.4/10 - His genuine nature and visible devotion to protecting his owner earn widespread affection
Why He Deserves This Ranking: Ahu's ranking reflects the unique emotional connection he creates with both characters and audiences. While not the most powerful physically, his shapeshifting versatility and enhanced senses make him valuable in reconnaissance and support roles. His Trust Value is exceptionally high because his motivations are completely transparent and pure.
Memorable Moment: Transforming into various forms to distract villains while evacuating a school, all while maintaining constant communication with his young owner to ensure her safety throughout the crisis.
Iconic Quote: "A good dog protects his family, but a hero dog protects everyone's family."
Background: An orphan whose supernatural luck powers manifested as a survival mechanism, Cyan's journey from street survival to idol hero represents the power of hope and the complex relationship between fame and genuine heroism.
Powers and Abilities:
Supernatural luck manipulation affecting probability
Ability to inspire hope and positive emotions in others
Powers that strengthen based on public faith and support
Luck-based prediction and danger avoidance
Trust Value: 8.6/10 - Her idol status and genuinely lucky presence make her beloved by fans
Why She Deserves This Ranking: Cyan's luck powers make her unpredictable and surprisingly effective in combat situations. Her dual role as both hero and idol creates unique opportunities to inspire people on multiple levels. Her Trust Value benefits greatly from her media presence, though her powers literally grow stronger the more people believe in her.
Memorable Moment: During a massive earthquake, Cyan's luck powers guided rescue teams to exactly the right locations at the right times, saving hundreds of lives through a series of "coincidences."
Iconic Quote: "Luck isn't just about good things happening to you - it's about being in the right place to help when good things need to happen for others."
Background: A brilliant engineer who refuses to let physical appearance define her capabilities, Loli builds her own high-tech suits and gadgets. Her character challenges stereotypes about both heroes and engineers while proving that intellect can triumph over preconceptions.
Powers and Abilities:
Genius-level intellect and engineering prowess
Custom-built power suits with various specialized functions
Advanced technological gadgets and weapons
Strategic analysis and tactical planning abilities
Trust Value: 8.7/10 - Earns respect through demonstrated competence and innovative problem-solving
Why She Deserves This Ranking: Loli's technological approach to heroism sets her apart from power-based heroes. Her suits and inventions often provide crucial advantages in battles, and her engineering solutions frequently save the day in non-combat situations. Her Trust Value grows as people recognize her genuine contributions beyond surface appearances.
Memorable Moment: Constructing an emergency evacuation system in under an hour using only available materials when a chemical plant threatened to explode, showcasing both her technical skills and heroic dedication.
Iconic Quote: "Heroes come in all sizes, but it's the size of your determination that really matters."
Background: This unique duo represents the power of teamwork and complementary abilities. Their partnership shows how different strengths can combine to create something greater than the sum of their parts.
Powers and Abilities:
Little Johnny: Animal communication and coordination abilities
Big Johnny: Shapeshifting into various monster forms with unique traits
Perfect synchronization and teamwork in combat
Ability to adapt their strategy based on available wildlife and situation needs
Trust Value: 8.8/10 - Their teamwork and reliability make them highly trusted by both civilians and fellow heroes
Why They Deserve This Ranking: The Johnnies' combined abilities make them incredibly versatile. Little Johnny's animal communication provides unmatched reconnaissance and support, while Big Johnny's shapeshifting offers adaptable combat solutions. Their Trust Value reflects their consistent teamwork and the visible care they show for each other and civilians.
Memorable Moment: Coordinating with an entire city's worth of animals to locate survivors after a building collapse, while Big Johnny took on multiple forms to safely extract people from dangerous situations.
Iconic Quote: "Two heads are better than one, but two hearts working as one is unstoppable."
Background: A former assassin turned hero, Wang Yi struggles with his dark past while trying to use his lethal skills for protection rather than destruction. His character explores themes of redemption, the weight of past actions, and finding new purpose.
Powers and Abilities:
Master-level combat skills and stealth techniques
Supernatural speed and agility
Blade-based combat expertise with ghostly weapon manifestation
Ability to become nearly invisible and move through shadows
Trust Value: 7.9/10 - His effectiveness is undeniable, but his mysterious nature and past create some public uncertainty
Why He Deserves This Ranking: Ghostblade's combat skills are among the most refined in the series, and his stealth abilities make him invaluable for certain missions. However, his Trust Value is slightly lower due to his secretive nature and the public's awareness of his darker past. His ranking reflects his struggle between tremendous ability and the challenge of earning complete trust.
Memorable Moment: Infiltrating a villain's compound and systematically disabling their entire operation without killing a single person, proving his commitment to his new heroic path despite his lethal capabilities.
Iconic Quote: "A blade can take life or protect it - the choice isn't in the weapon, it's in the hand that wields it."
Background: A former delinquent whose troubled past shaped him into a hero who grows stronger through adversity. His character represents resilience, the power of turning negative experiences into strength, and finding redemption through heroism.
Powers and Abilities:
Power amplification when injured or under stress
Enhanced physical abilities that scale with adversity faced
Draconic energy manifestation during peak emotional states
Incredible pain tolerance and battle endurance
Trust Value: 8.9/10 - His visible growth and determination in the face of hardship earn widespread respect
Why He Deserves This Ranking: Dragon Boy's unique power system makes him incredibly dangerous to underestimate - the more difficult the situation, the stronger he becomes. His delinquent background initially hurt his Trust Value, but his consistent heroic actions and visible personal growth have earned him tremendous respect from both peers and the public.
Memorable Moment: Single-handedly holding off an entire villain army while severely injured, getting stronger with each wound until he turned the tide of the entire battle, embodying his core theme of strength through adversity.
Iconic Quote: "Every scar tells a story of surviving something that was supposed to break me - and I'm still here."
Background: A prodigious heroine wielding ancient spear techniques, Queen represents the drive for systematic change and reform. Her character embodies leadership, the courage to challenge established systems, and the vision to create a better future for heroism.
Powers and Abilities:
Master-level spear combat with ancient techniques
Strategic brilliance and natural leadership abilities
Energy manipulation focused through her spear weapon
Ability to inspire and coordinate large groups of heroes
Trust Value: 9.2/10 - Her leadership qualities and reform efforts earn her tremendous respect across all levels of society
Why She Deserves This Ranking: Queen's combination of personal power and systemic thinking makes her invaluable to the hero community. Her spear techniques are devastatingly effective, but more importantly, her efforts to reform the hero system show a commitment to long-term positive change. Her high Trust Value reflects recognition of both her immediate contributions and her vision for the future.
Memorable Moment: Leading a coalition of heroes to restructure the hero ranking system to be more fair and transparent, proving that her strength extends beyond combat into meaningful social change.
Iconic Quote: "A true queen doesn't just rule over her domain - she makes it a better place for everyone who lives there."
Background: The enigmatic #1 hero whose identity remains shrouded in mystery. X represents the pinnacle of heroic achievement while embodying themes about the nature of true power, the burden of ultimate responsibility, and the idea that the greatest heroes often work from the shadows.
Powers and Abilities:
Reality and space manipulation on a massive scale
Ability to alter fundamental aspects of existence
Omnipresent awareness and intervention capabilities
Powers that seem to operate beyond normal physical laws
Trust Value: 9.8/10 - The highest recorded Trust Value, earned through countless unseen acts of protection
Why He Deserves This Ranking: X's position at #1 in our To Be Hero X character rankings represents not just overwhelming power, but the ultimate expression of heroic responsibility. His reality manipulation abilities make him capable of solving problems other heroes can't even comprehend, while his mysterious nature allows him to work without the constraints of public expectation. His Trust Value is the highest in the series because his actions consistently protect everyone, even when no one knows he's responsible.
Memorable Moment: Subtly preventing multiple timeline catastrophes without anyone realizing the world was ever in danger, showing that the greatest heroic acts are often the ones that ensure nothing bad happens at all.
Iconic Quote: "The strongest heroes are the ones whose victories look like coincidences, whose battles end before anyone knows they began."
This ranking of the top 10 anime heroes list from To Be Hero X demonstrates the series' unique approach to power scaling through Trust Value in To Be Hero X. Unlike traditional anime where strength is often determined by training montages or power-ups, this series shows us that true heroic strength comes from the bonds we forge and the trust we earn through our actions.
Each of these To Be Hero X heroes represents different aspects of heroism - from Nice's struggle with authenticity to X's ultimate responsibility. Their Trust Values fluctuate based not just on their victories in battle, but on their daily interactions with the people they've sworn to protect and their commitment to genuine heroic ideals.
What do you think of our ranking? Do you agree that X deserves the top spot among the strongest heroes in To Be Hero X, or do you think Queen's leadership and reform efforts should put her at #1? Maybe Dragon Boy's growth-through-adversity resonates more with you?
Share your thoughts in the comments below! Tell us:
Which hero would you rank differently and why?
What moments from the series influenced your opinion?
How do you think Trust Value should factor into hero rankings?
Do you prefer heroes with mysterious backgrounds like X and Ghostblade, or more transparent heroes like Ahu and the Johnnies?