Saitama’s actions during the “Monster Association” arc in One-Punch Man have finally drawn the attention of some of the world’s most formidable heroes and villains.
Although the full extent of his nearly limitless strength remains a mystery to most, even those within his inner circle, his recent victories over Garo and his battle with Terrible Tornado have not gone unnoticed.
A core comedic element of One-Punch Man revolves around the fact that hardly anyone comprehends Saitama’s true strength.
The mystery of Saitama’s limitless power continues to baffle everyone (Photo: One Punch Man/Madhouse)As that aspect of the story begins to fade, an important question arises: how many individuals, excluding those who perished after realizing the truth, recognize that Saitama is far beyond the level of an ordinary A-Class hero?
Ranging from minor heroes with only brief encounters to the highest ranks of the Hero Association, a number of characters have varying levels of awareness regarding Saitama’s capabilities.
Which Characters in One-Punch Man Recognize Saitama’s True Strength?
Despite the growing number of individuals acknowledging that Saitama’s power far surpasses the norm, most still fail to grasp the full extent of his abilities. Even those who are relatively close to him hold misconceptions. Hellish Blizzard, for instance, believes he is near the top of the S-Class but still warns him not to provoke her sister, assuming he might be at risk.
Similarly, Speed-o’-Sound Sonic continuously challenges Saitama, only to suffer crushing defeats time and time again. Among the S-Class heroes, Flashy Flash and Metal Knight have seen some of Saitama’s astonishing feats, yet their own self-assurance or lack of concrete data prevents them from fully understanding his abilities.
Some minor heroes and villains who have crossed paths with Saitama also recognize his strength, though they haven’t witnessed enough to comprehend its depth. Examples include Glasses, a B-Class hero who once drew inspiration from Saitama, and Forte, an A-Class hero who observed Saitama’s recent clash with Terrible Tornado.
Everyone within this category acknowledges that Saitama is far beyond the standard hero, though they have yet to grasp that he completely transcends the ranking system.
Characters Who Understand Saitama Is Unmatched in Strength
Certain individuals have either spent considerable time with Saitama or witnessed moments so extraordinary that they recognize him as being at the pinnacle of One-Punch Man’s hierarchy. One such figure is Bang, the third-ranked S-Class martial artist, who was present when Saitama obliterated a meteor nearly the size of a city.
Astonished by what he saw, Bang immediately concluded that Saitama was exponentially stronger than himself—a belief that only solidified the more he observed him. Terrible Tornado, known as the strongest active hero, also joins this group following her encounter with Saitama.
Initially thrilled at the prospect of finally unleashing a substantial portion of her power against an opponent, Tornado’s excitement quickly turned to frustration. As she pushed deeper into her psychic reserves, it became evident that Saitama’s limits were far beyond hers.
However, while these heroes acknowledge Saitama’s superiority, their reactions don’t reflect the realization that they are in the presence of someone akin to a god. Although they have accepted his overwhelming strength, they haven’t fully grasped that he is incomparable to any other hero.
Who Fully Understands That Saitama Has No Limits?
Although Zombieman was skeptical of Genos’ claims about Saitama, his encounter with Dr. Genus served as a reminder of the theory surrounding the removal of one’s limiter.
S-Class heroes witness Saitama’s feats but still can’t comprehend him (Photo: One Punch Man/Madhouse)While Zombieman has yet to reach a definitive understanding of Saitama’s infinite power, it seems only a matter of time before he pieces it together. Dr. Genus, having hypothesized that Saitama has broken free of any constraints, stands among the very few who truly comprehend what makes him exceptional.
Those closest to Saitama, such as Genos and King, also belong to this exclusive group. King, despite benefiting from unearned fame, knows exactly what Saitama is capable of and never hesitates to rely on him when danger arises.
Genos, who firmly believes Saitama could defeat even a god, likely has no doubts about his master’s boundless power. The battle with Garo would have only reinforced that conviction.
Two of the strongest individuals in One-Punch Man, Garo and S-Class Rank 1 hero Blast, likely hold an understanding of Saitama’s true abilities. However, due to the timeline reset, Garo no longer retains any memory of their cosmic battle, leaving him with little recollection of Saitama’s strength.
Blast, on the other hand, possesses powers related to time and space manipulation, which could mean he retains knowledge of the alternate timeline. If that is the case, he may be one of the few who realizes that Saitama is a force capable of planetary-level destruction.