Mythology, Religion & Legend — Power Ranking TOP 100
I wrote a book ranking the most powerful gods, monsters, and heroes from world mythology, religion, and legend! The ranking is heavily influenced by my own perspective, but every placement is grounded in the actual lore and episodes from each mythology, so I think it makes for a satisfying read.
In this post, I’d like to introduce some of the characters featured in the ranking. There are many more beyond the ones mentioned here, so if you’re interested in mythology, religion, or legend, I think you’ll enjoy it!
Rank 97: Lancelot (Western Legend / Arthurian Legend)
Overview
Lancelot is one of the Knights of the Round Table from the Western legend of “King Arthur” and is considered the greatest knight among them.
Even among the heroic assembly of the Round Table, his valor stands out — he was undefeated in domestic jousting tournaments, and there are many scenes throughout the tales where he single-handedly overwhelms other Round Table knights. While some may be later additions, there are also numerous stories of him slaying monsters including dragons and giants.
The “sword Arondight” that Lancelot wields is, despite its fame, not given much detail in the legends regarding its origin or special powers. However, there is a story that it crossed blades with King Arthur’s Excalibur, which confirms beyond doubt that it is a sword capable of matching Excalibur.
There are many episodes that demonstrate Lancelot’s strength. In the siege of the “Castle of Dolorous Garde,” he single-handedly broke through the large number of knights defending the castle, displaying overwhelming power. When Queen Guinevere was about to be burned at the stake, Lancelot charged single-handedly into King Arthur’s knights to rescue her, and in that battle he struck down many Knights of the Round Table, including Gareth and Gaheris, who were supposed to be his equals.
Furthermore, in the subsequent war against King Arthur, Lancelot fought a one-on-one duel with Gawain, one of the strongest knights of the Round Table. Gawain possessed the special ability of having his strength tripled at noon, but Lancelot endured Gawain’s enhanced attacks and struck him down once that power faded. This battle stands as the definitive episode proving that Lancelot was a warrior superior to anyone else at the Round Table.
Reason for This Ranking
Lancelot is the strongest among the Knights of the Round Table, and in terms of pure combat power he is said to surpass all other Round Table knights including King Arthur himself (and there are numerous episodes where he actually defeats them). On the battlefield he is described as going on one-man rampages against multiple armies — without question he possesses genuine heroic power.
However, he has no particular immortality, and there are no legends demonstrating superhuman feats beyond the bounds of reason, so his capabilities are considered to fall within the range of a conventionally powerful human hero.
For that reason, I consider this position in the ranking to be appropriate.
