One of the main reasons Death Note has remained one of the most popular thriller anime of all time, is the intense and complex relationship between Kira and his nemesis, Detective L. Both characters are true geniuses whose mind games are at a level most people cannot even fathom. The best arcs for most fans Death Note there are those who focus on the ideological battle between Light and L because it made them think hard about morality and truth.
While L is definitely an amazing detective who could uncover Light's secrets given enough time, there is no denying that there are many others in the anime industry who have many advantages over the man. Whether it's superhuman analytical powers or actually supernatural abilities, these anime detectives would probably do better by going after Light for his crimes.
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10
Futa de la Stella – Katekyo Hitman Reborn
At first glance, Futa may seem like an ordinary child whose love of books is a little more extreme than usual, given that she is always seen carrying a massive tome. Yet behind his kind smile and innocent attitude lies a power so unique and valuable that several mafia families have died trying to obtain it. Futa is among the best and most powerful psychics ever, able to assess anything that exists.
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His powers give him knowledge on almost any subject, and the results of his predictions are frighteningly accurate. As seen during the future arc Katekyo Hitman Reborn! anime, one of the best Shonen in history, Futa often used this power to gain as much information as possible about the target. This means the boy won't have to risk his life to go after Light as he could reveal his identity simply by lining up people who are most likely Kira.
9
Shinichi Kudo – Case closed
Concealment in plain sight is often the perfect weapon for a detective, as it allows them to move without alerting the target. Combined with seemingly superhuman cognitive abilities, a perfect memory and excellent tools, the investigator becomes capable of solving even the most difficult cases. No one knows this better than Shinichi Kudo, also known as the famous Detective Conan, one of the best investigators in anime history.
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In addition to his amazing mind, Conan was also gifted with a keen eye that could spot even the smallest of inconsistencies. His abilities have shocked fans for decades and he has solved over 1000 cases with nothing but his intellect and intuition. While the idea of magic will likely be a bit of an obstacle for Shinichi at first, there's no denying that he'll somehow find a way to connect Light to Kira's murders, as he's been able to do since his classic anime began in the 90s.
8
Victorique de Blois – Gosick
Coming from an ancient legacy of intellectuals, Victorique is a girl who grew up surrounded by mystery novels and encyclopedias. Her childhood was spent absorbing as much knowledge as possible, culminating in an intellectual level that can only be described as superhuman. When the time came for her to debut as a detective, she shocked the world by solving even the toughest cases, all while engaging in one of the best historical romances in anime.
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Although Victorique has great intuitive powers, the real threat to Light and his plans would be her almost supernatural intellect. Her ability to piece evidence of a crime together like pieces of a puzzle makes her not only one of the best female detectives of all time, but also a thorn in Kira's side. She would be able to quickly learn the nature of Light's killing, as well as the means by which he does it.
7
Akise Aru – Diary of the Future
Although it can be argued that hate Diary of the future doesn't get everything it deserves, it can't be denied that it lacks in many ways. However, one aspect in which he does an amazing job is as the brilliant detective Akise Aru, whose skills seem to be enough to fool fate itself. Despite living in a world where terrorists and criminals often gain access to knowledge of the future, Aru was always ready to thwart their plans.
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Much of his success can be attributed to his almost uncanny ability to predict the next move a target will make simply by looking at their previous actions and finding a pattern. Light's arrogant attitude and massive ego often made him mock his opponents, making it easy for Akise to find him. As someone familiar with supernatural entities, he wouldn't dismiss the Death Note as a possibility.
6
Ranpo Edogawa – Bungo Stray Dogs
Known to many as the most important member of the Armed Detective Agency, Ranpo is a man with deductive powers so impressive that he even believed they were unnatural. For most of his career, this charismatic man was able to solve cases that would have baffled even the most experienced investigators. He achieved this feat by using his ability, Super Deduction.
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This skill is said to have given him superhuman deductive powers and helped him reach conclusions with little or no evidence. Later in life, however, Ranpo discovered that he never had any powers to begin with; he was simply the most naturally intelligent man in his universe. Abilities like Ranpon's would be enough to quickly capture Kira, as Light wouldn't even have time to think about a counter-strategy.
5
Saitou Yakumo – Psychic Detective Yakumo
For most pop culture sleuths, solving a murder case is usually the hardest challenge because anyone who would know all the details of the crime has been silenced as a precaution. Saitou Yakumo, a talented detective and one of the best ghost hunters in anime, doesn't struggle with this problem because he was born with the perfect tool to quickly solve any murder mystery.
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Thanks to his red eye, this man is able not only to see, but also to communicate and speak with spirits. He's shown to be an incredible detective even without his supernatural powers, but there's no doubt that his ability would be a great tool against Kira. By talking to the ghosts of the characters that almost caught Light as Kira, he would be sure to bring the killer to justice.
4
Sherlock Holmes – Moriarty Patriot
Arguably the most famous detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes is a brilliant man whose crime-solving abilities might seem supernatural to many. The version contained in Moriarty Patriotone of the best anime set in the Victorian era, it has all the skills and magic needed to solve even the most bizarre cases.
Holmes has an impressive ability to deduce everything he can about a person with a single glance, being able to deduce their origin, personality and even their secrets within seconds. He's also not bound by the law if it means catching a criminal, preferring to break a few rules now and then. As such, light can do little against one of the smartest detectives anime has ever seen.
3
Oreki Houtarou – Hyouka
While the vast majority of detectives prefer never to rely on luck, some often hope for a little help from luck itself to make their job easier. Then there's Hotarou, a prodigious genius whose own laziness and boredom make him think that all of his deductive abilities come purely by chance.
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Objectively, one of the smartest protagonists alive, Oreki is able to find clues where most other investigators would never even look. He has an uncanny ability to connect two seemingly unrelated pieces of evidence that usually end up being the key to solving a case. As such, this encounter would end with Kira being defeated by one of the best child detectives in anime.
2
Ron Kamonohashi – Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions
Once the Blue Academy's most famous aspiring detective, Ron is an extremely intelligent individual who seemingly inherited the skills of his late ancestor, Sherlock Holmes. His mind works in ways no ordinary human can comprehend, able to see patterns and clues in even the most humble of places. Unfortunately, he cannot perform his duties because his license has been revoked.
As such, he works through his friend and assistant Totomaru, a hard-working but somewhat unintelligent detective who uses Ron's insights to solve cases. Kamonohashi would most likely be able to defeat Kira quickly using his extremely powerful detective skills. However, his true power would come in the form of anonymity, as Light would never know that Totomaru wasn't a real threat to his plans.
1
Kyoko Kirigiri – Danganronpa: The Animation
Peak's Hope Academy is a school where only the best of the best can apply, at least before it became the setting for one of the best dystopian anime ever. It is therefore no surprise that the girl admitted to this prestigious institution for her detective skills is among the most talented of all time. Kyoko Kirigiri, also known as the Ultimate Detective, is the descendant of a long line of successful investigators.
Kyoko had been trained since childhood to find clues in the most unusual places, and in every case she found the missing link just by examining the scene. Her abilities are such that she can deduce even the most improbable solutions to a problem, making her an extremely dangerous threat to a character like Kira. Kyoko could almost magically reveal the rules of the Death Note and use them to her advantage to overthrow Kira's reign of terror.
