AceShowbiz - The Boys Season 5 has just kicked off with its first two episodes, and the series is already ramping up the tension toward a major clash between the titular team and the formidable Homelander. This moment is an ideal opportunity to evaluate the strongest characters currently active in the Prime Video universe of The Boys. Over the show’s run, as well as its spinoff Gen V, the hierarchy of power has shifted significantly. Characters often meet grim fates, while others gain new or enhanced abilities, reshaping the battlefield. Fans should note that this analysis contains spoilers for Season 5, Episodes 1 and 2.

With notable supes like Stormlight, Victoria Neuman, and Queen Maeve either eliminated or stripped of powers, the list of top contenders has evolved. The death of A-Train in the Season 5 premiere also leaves a void among the strongest characters. Taking these developments into account, here is a full breakdown of the seven most powerful characters currently in The Boys, setting the stage for the intense confrontations expected this season.

7) Starlight

Few characters have transformed as much as Starlight since the series began. Early in the show, her abilities were relatively limited, and she wouldn’t have stood a chance against Homelander. However, by Season 5, she has dramatically evolved. Now capable of flight, enhanced energy manipulation, and improved physical durability, Starlight can confront Homelander directly—something she could never have done before. While she likely wouldn’t win in a one-on-one battle against The Seven’s leader, her ability to disarm him in the recent episodes signals her growth. Added to her power advancements is a newfound ruthlessness, which increases her threat level. Although she may not possess the brute strength of other supes tailored for combat, Starlight is well-equipped to hold her own in fights against many opponents.

6) Cindy

Cindy might not be as central in the storyline as others on this list, but she is undeniably dangerous. Her telekinetic powers allow her to crush nearly anything or anyone from a distance, a capability that becomes terrifyingly clear during the attempted prison break at Vought’s freedom camps. This ability forced Starlight to back down by the end of Season 4, underscoring Cindy’s considerable power. However, her reliance on using her hands to activate her telekinesis introduces vulnerabilities, especially against opponents like Butcher or Marie Moreau. Although she can endure damage, she lacks the overwhelming strength and near-invulnerability that characterize Homelander and his lineage. Consequently, while fierce, Cindy ranks near the lower end of this top-seven list.

5) Ryan Butcher

As the first naturally born supe and Homelander’s son, Ryan Butcher possesses immense raw power. He shares many of his father’s traits—super strength, flight, resilience, and laser vision—making him one of the most powerful supes on screen. His strength is such that he can dangerously lose control and cause accidental deaths. Despite this, Ryan is still inexperienced compared to seasoned fighters like Butcher, Soldier Boy, and even his own father. If Ryan continues to develop, he has the potential to ascend even higher on this list. He already represents one of the greatest threats to Homelander, with their shared abilities giving Ryan a unique chance to surpass his father in time.

4) Billy Butcher

Before gaining powers, Butcher was notable for his resilience and tactical mind, frequently surviving encounters with supes far stronger than himself. Now, after taking Compound V, he has become one of the most formidable characters in The Boys. Season 5 showcases his bulletproof skin, enhanced speed, and impressive strength, allowing him to engage with even the toughest opponents. Butcher’s unique advantage lies in the tentacles that protrude from his abdomen, enabling him to attack from a distance, subdue foes, and execute kills remotely. This ability proved decisive against characters like Cindy and Victoria Neuman, the latter previously regarded as one of the strongest players in the series. Butcher’s combination of physical prowess and these tentacles makes him a deadly adversary.

3) Soldier Boy

While Butcher has become immensely powerful, he still trails behind some of the franchise’s most legendary supes. Soldier Boy, portrayed by Jensen Ackles, is the supe whose genetic material was instrumental in creating Homelander. He hails from the original strain of Compound V, granting him agelessness—a trait even Homelander lacks. Soldier Boy matches Homelander in speed, strength, and durability, making him a formidable opponent in both close and long-range combat. Instead of laser vision, he wields deadly radiation blasts. His resilience is so great that he survived a supe virus that proved lethal to others, requiring him to be frozen to neutralize him. Though Homelander is generally considered slightly stronger, Soldier Boy is arguably the only supe who might stand a chance against him, making their potential clash a key point of interest.

2) Marie Moreau

Following the developments in Gen V Season 2, Marie Moreau has risen to become one of the strongest supes in the entire franchise, rivaling Homelander himself. Her blood manipulation powers have always made her a dangerous fighter, but she has mastered them to a new degree. Marie can now heal others and even bring them back from the dead, abilities which make her invaluable on the battlefield. While these healing powers don’t increase her offensive combat skills, they certainly contribute to her strategic advantage. Beyond healing, Marie’s capacity to alter blood inside the body can be weaponized, as shown in her confrontation with Victoria Neuman. She is also physically robust and durable. Although she may not match Soldier Boy or Homelander in raw strength, her unique powers can halt even the strongest foes. As a Project Odessa baby like Homelander, Marie’s rise to prominence as one of the most powerful characters is no surprise.

1) Homelander

Despite the growing strength of other characters, Homelander remains the undisputed most powerful supe in The Boys universe. His overwhelming abilities make him a near-invincible force, with unmatched speed and strength that few can hope to counter. In the Season 5 premiere, he even kept pace with the now-deceased A-Train, known for his incredible speed. Homelander’s heat vision provides a fast, lethal weapon capable of destroying nearly anything in his path. Combined with his influence over the U.S. government and Vought, and aided by the smartest supe working under him, he maintains an almost unchallenged dominance. While Marie Moreau’s blood powers and Ryan Butcher’s emerging abilities might pose potential threats, even those remain uncertain. Homelander’s greatest danger likely comes from his own volatility and unpredictability.

As The Boys Season 5 progresses, the battles between these powerful characters will intensify, reshaping the power dynamics once again. Fans can expect thrilling confrontations as these supes clash, with the ultimate question remaining: who will rise to the top and who will fall?

Which characters do you believe are the strongest in The Boys universe? Share your thoughts and predictions as the season unfolds.