Mushoku Tensei: 10 Best Characters, Ranked

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation is often referred to as the grandfather of modern isekai. It popularized a lot of the tropes we’ve seen in the genre, and with a stellar anime adaptation, it is considered one of the best isekai of all time. It tells the story of a 34-year-old NEET who dies saving a group of teenagers from a speeding truck and finds himself reborn as Rudeus Greyrat, the son of two adventurers in a fantasy world. Feeling like he wasted most of his previous life, Rudeus is determined he won’t waste this second chance he was given.

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Part of the reason Mushoku Tensei is so highly regarded is the depth of its vast array of characters. From humans to elves to demons to beastfolk, Rudeus’ adventures introduce us to all sorts of colorful characters, and many have become fan favorites.

10 Aisha Greyrat

Aisha is Rudeus’ half-sister, born from his father’s affair with their maid Lilia. Through Rudeus’ intervention, the family was able to reconcile, and Aisha grew up loved and cared for in the Greyrat household. However, Aisha only ever heard stories about Rudeus from her mother, having grown up away from him due to Rudeus’ teaching job and the displacement incident, and only met him when he rescued her from the Shirone kingdom.

Despite her age, Aisha is extremely intelligent and enterprising. Having only heard stories about her brother, she’s not so naïve as to take her mother’s words without a little investigation of her own. She comes to appreciate his clumsy but caring nature and chooses to inherit her mother’s duties as a maid of her own volition. Fans quickly fell in love with her cheerful but shrewd personality.

9 Zenith Greyrat

As a former adventurer, Zenith is beyond thrilled when her son, Rudeus, shows an aptitude for magic. Before she was an adventurer, however, Zenith belonged to a noble household but ran and eventually joined up with Paul’s adventure party as their healer. When she had Rudeus, both of them settled down in Buena village, where she worked at the local clinic.

Zenith is the picture of a caring mother, and the way she and Paul raised Rudeus played a big part in helping him overcome the trauma he carried from his past life. Although devastated by Paul’s affair, she still finds it in her heart to accept Lilia and helps raise Aisha as one of her own. The search for her after the displacement incident drives much of the anime’s second cour, making many fans anxious about her predicament.

8 Paul Greyrat

In the beginning, Paul was one of the most hated characters in the series. He himself admits that he has been an inadequate husband and father and is racked by the guilt of his womanizing ways and his affair with Lilia. Even so, Paul genuinely cares about his family and goes to extraordinary lengths for them, especially in the latter half of the series.

After the displacement incident and being separated from his family, Paul is the one who takes the lead in finding and rescuing the people of Buena village while he desperately searches for Rudeus, Aisha, Lilia, and Zenith. His less-than-perfect reunion with his son, followed by a touching moment between the two, is one of the highlights of the first season.

7 Orsted

Orsted is still a figure shrouded in mystery. In terms of strength, he ranks at the very top as the Dragon God and one of the Seven Great Powers. Afflicted with a curse that compels any living being that sees him as their mortal enemy, Orsted invites fear and hostility from every creature native to this world.

It’s not a stretch to say that he is considered one of the strongest villains in this world. His cold, merciless gaze and overwhelming strength certainly fit the bill, but Orsted is unconcerned with anything but his target – the Man-God. He nearly kills Rudeus for his connection to the Man-God but is stopped when Nanahoshi persuades him to spare Rudeus’ life. Enigmatic and dangerous as he is, he has quite evidently left a deep impression on fans.

6 Ghislaine Dedoldia

Ghislaine is the first beastfolk we are introduced to in the series. She was once an adventurer in Paul’s party before taking on the job of a bodyguard and sword instructor at the Boreas household. During Rudeus’ stay there, she becomes his sword instructor as well, while he, in turn, teaches her things like magic, math, and reading.

Ghislaine plays a vital role in Eris’ life, at first akin to that of a mentor and older sister, and later accompanying her to the Sword God’s sanctuary. After the displacement incident and learning of the scheme that put Sauros to death, she vows she will hunt down those responsible and kill them. Ghislaine’s muscular form, strength (ranked as a Sword King), and simplicity were an instant hit with fans, who admired her for her strong warrior spirit.

5 Ruijerd Superdia

Like all the Superd tribe, Ruijerd has green hair and a gem on his forehead. These features make known to all that he is from the hated Superd demon tribe that every parent warns their children about. Having once served the Demon God Laplace until they were betrayed, the Superd have a notorious reputation. As one of its sole surviving members, Ruijerd travels the world trying to restore its reputation.

Ruijerd meets Rudeus and Eris after the displacement incident teleports the two to the demon continent. He decides to protect and escort them back to their homes, and his impressive strength saves them on many occasions. His tragic backstory, readiness to help, and a strong desire to protect children, having lost his own son, struck a chord with many viewers.

4 Sylphiette

Sylphiette is Rudeus’ childhood friend from Buena village. Because of her green hair and elvish features, she was frequently bullied as a child until Rudeus saved her, following which the two became fast friends. Not long after, she studied magic under Rudeus, who noted her natural aptitude for it and even learned how to perform silent spell casting.

Sylphie’s gentle, timid personality and childlike innocence quickly grew on many fans. She and Rudeus share a strong bond, both being each other’s first real friends. When Rudeus expressed his desire to go to the Ranoa Magic Academy, he even asked to take Sylphie with him, offering to pay for her tuition as well. As of the anime’s first season, her whereabouts post the displacement incident are unknown, and searching for her is one of Rudeus’ top priorities.

3 Eris Boreas Greyrat

When Eris first appeared on-screen, she drew significant dislike from viewers. Her first impression was that of a violent, stubborn brat, but that changed over the course of her tutelage under Rudeus, and the displacement incident, which sees them both teleported to the Demon Continent.

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Although born to a noble family, Eris lacks the grace of high society. Instead, she takes great delight in her swordsmanship, for which she has a natural aptitude. Over the course of her adventures, her fiery personality, and initial dislike turn to fierce loyalty for Rudeus, and her desperate struggle to save him from Orsted changed many fans from haters to ardent supporters.

2 Rudeus Greyrat

The protagonist of the story, Rudeus, was once a 34-year-old Japanese NEET who was kicked out by his family and died while saving a group of teenagers from a speeding truck. Reborn in a fantasy world to loving parents, Rudeus is determined not to waste his second chance at life, resolving to change his ways and put his best foot forward in this one.

Rudeus is one of the more unconventional protagonists in anime. Because of the bullying he suffered that led him to become a NEET, he begins the story as a deeply flawed character that initially puts off viewers. However, over the course of the anime, his earnest efforts to grow as a person received widespread appreciation, and fans connected with his genuine and quirky personality.

1 Roxy Migurdia

Roxy is a demon from the Migurd tribe who is known for their ability to communicate telepathically. However, Roxy was born without this ability, and feeling isolated, she ran away and became an adventurer before going on to study at the Ranoa Magic Academy and finally becoming a traveling tutor. She is hired by Rudeus’s parents to teach him magic, which is how the two first meet.

Roxy’s calm, collected personality and occasionally clumsy nature became a huge hit with fans. Her gentle guidance plays a pivotal role in helping Rudeus overcome the trauma he carried from his past life, for which he practically worships her. After the displacement incident, she ends up meeting Paul and learns of Rudeus’ disappearance, following which she sets out for the demon continent to search for him.

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