Summary

  • Bethesda's games feature powerful characters who can defeat gods, with NPCs also possessing significant power.
  • Characters like the Mysterious Stranger, Lone Wanderer, Sole Survivor, and Dragonborn showcase immense strength in combat.
  • As players progress, protagonists in Bethesda games become nearly unstoppable, transforming into legendary figures with unmatched power.

Bethesda's games usually let players enjoy a power fantasy for the ages, transforming from weaklings into ridiculously powerful characters who can decimate the gods themselves. Of course, other NPCs also boast a ridiculous amount of power, making them either fearsome foes or valuable allies.

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Either way, fans will find several strong characters in Bethesda games who use their might for good or evil. Their accomplishments in their respective games speak volumes about the sheer amount of power they bring to the table.

8 Mysterious Stranger

Appears And Disappears At A Moment's Notice

  • Appears in every Fallout game, including Fallout 3 & Fallout 4

While the actual strength of the Mysterious Stranger hasn't been documented, most people assume that this mystical figure boasts some kind of supernatural power. After all, there's no other explanation for the way he just magically appears in combat and blasts the protagonist's enemies to smithereens.

Fans have hotly debated the true nature of this figure's existence, making it clear that he's one of the most interesting characters in the Fallout series. It's entirely possible that he can take on the entire wasteland by himself if he decides to get serious, but this is mere speculation at this point.

7 The Lone Wanderer

This Protagonist Can Transform Into One Of The Most Powerful Characters In The Wasteland

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Fallout 3 Tag Page Cover Art
Fallout 3
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Released
October 28, 2008
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
Genre(s)
Action RPG

From the moment players step into the hostile world of Fallout 3 after living a comfortable life as a Vault Dweller, it's clear that they'll be in for a rough time. They'll barely take a few steps before being ambushed and obliterated by a powerful foe.

It takes a while for the Lone Wanderer to gain enough levels to deal with powerful foes like Deathclaws and Radscorpions. Eventually, they'll reach a point where even the explosion of a mini-nuke isn't enough to stop them, even if it'll cause substantial damage.

6 The Sole Survivor

The Robust Perk System Can Help This Vault Dewller Become Unstoppable

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Fallout 4
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9 /10
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Released
November 10, 2015
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M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
Genre(s)
RPG, Action

The perk system of Fallout 4 was criticized for making the game a bit too easy. Bethesda intentionally made this change to appeal to mainstream audiences instead of hardcore RPG fans; in that regard, they were successful.

However, this also means that the Sole Survivor can become the strongest Fallout protagonist by a country mile. After all, this character could take on a Deathclaw right after being thawed, making it clear that their strength knows no bounds.

5 Almalexia

A Villainous God Who Tries To Manipulate The Nerevarine

  • Appears in The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind & The Elder Scrolls Online

The Elder Scrolls features some of the strongest and most revered gods in video game history. This includes Almalexia, the Patron Mother, who was supposed to be a tender-hearted god.

However, instead of looking out for her subjects, Almalexia was thirsting for power and had manipulated the Nerevarine to get her way. Her treachery is eventually uncovered, and the hero takes out this power-hungry god after a hellacious battle.

4 The Dragonborn

A Ridiculously Powerful Hero Who Summon The Power Of Dragons By Shouting

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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
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9 /10
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Released
November 11, 2011
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Genre(s)
RPG, Action, Adventure
Oblivion Remastered Players Return to Skyrim

The Dragonborn has some of the most diverse powers in Elder Scrolls history, able to use both Shouts and magic, among other attacks, to take out their enemies. As most people would expect, the protagonist's powers are lacking early on, making it easy for a giant to send them flying with his club.

Eventually, players will acquire numerous abilities, powers, and high-level equipment to even the playing field. This will turn most of the threats in Skyrim into a complete joke, including the legendary Alduin himself.

3 Vivec

A Powerful God Revered As A Warrior-Poet

  • Appears in The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind & The Elder Scrolls Online

Vivec is a revered god who had a city built and named after him. He's clearly one of the most powerful divine figures in the series and is a crucial character during Nerevarine's adventures in Morrowind.

Vivec is lauded as a Warrior-Poet, making it clear that his combat prowess is in a class of its own. Watching him make an appearance in The Elder Scrolls Online was a treat for many fans.

2 The Nerevarine

This Protagonist Becomes Powerful Enough To Kill Gods Casually

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The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
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Released
May 1, 2002
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T For Teen due to Blood, Violence
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It's impressive just how weak the hero is when they get off the boat and enter Seyda Neen. Morrowind's lack of level scaling means that lowly bandits can cut players down if they aren't careful during their adventures.

As the story progresses, the hero becomes strong enough to survive a deadly disease and can even kill gods in one-on-one battles. This feat of strength alone is enough to establish the Nerevarine as one of the strongest Bethesda characters of all time.

1 The Hero Of Kvatch

After The Shivering Isles, The Hero Becomes Lord Sheogorath, A Powerful Daedric Prince

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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
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Released
April 22, 2025
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
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The strength of the Hero of Kvatch depends on whether players complete The Shivering Isles expansion for Oblivion. Before this DLC, the protagonist was pretty competent, but most people would still rank him lower than other protagonists in The Elder Scrolls.

However, by the end of The Shivering Isles, the hero can free Jyggalag from the cycle of repeating the Greymarch. This turns the Hero of Kvatch into the Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath, which is an impressive reward after the deadly adventures that the player endures in this lauded expansion.

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