Record of Ragnarok’s premise remains one of the boldest hooks in anime: thirteen humans against thirteen gods, one-on-one, with humanity’s continued existence on the line. Since this ranking was first put together, Season 3 has fully released on Netflix, adding a new confirmed battle to the record and shifting the tournament’s overall score. Here’s the complete, updated ranking of every fight so far — including the one that was previously listed as unconfirmed.
Jack the Ripper vs. Hercules remains the top-ranked fight for its emotional complexity, but the tournament has moved on since — Season 3 (released December 10, 2025) delivered Round 9, Leonidas vs. Apollo, which the gods won, putting the overall score at 5-4 in the gods’ favor with four rounds left.
If there’s one anime that perfectly captures humanity’s unbreakable will, it’s Record of Ragnarok (Shūmatsu no Valkyrie). The premise is simple yet epic — the gods have decided to wipe out humankind for their sins, but the Valkyries plead for a final chance. Thus begins Ragnarök: thirteen humans versus thirteen gods in one-on-one duels that decide the fate of our species.
The show exploded on Netflix thanks to its myth-meets-history concept and larger-than-life matchups. Where else will you see Zeus fight Adam, or Jack the Ripper face Hercules?
How We Ranked the Battles
Each fight is judged on three factors:
- Intensity (how brutal and high-stakes the combat felt)
- Animation (visual quality, choreography, and impact)
- Emotional weight (the story and stakes behind the punches).
Let’s rank every Record of Ragnarok fight so far, from the least impactful to the absolute peak of storytelling, animation, and emotion.
#9. Raiden Tameemon vs. Shiva (Round 5) — Winner: Shiva
A duel of raw muscle and fiery spirit. Raiden, humanity’s mightiest sumo wrestler, challenges the Hindu god of destruction directly. The fight opens strong but sags in the middle before recovering for a solid finale. It ranks lowest for feeling more like a power showcase than an emotionally resonant duel — visually competent, but the one fight on this list that doesn’t fully earn its stakes.
Why it’s ranked lowest: It felt more like a power showcase than a heart-stirring duel. Visually solid but uneven in momentum. A pure power slugfest that lacked emotional pull.
Scores: Intensity 6 | Animation 7 | Emotion 5
#8. Kojiro Sasaki vs. Poseidon (Round 3) — Winner: Kojiro Sasaki
Humanity’s first victory in Ragnarok. Kojiro, a swordsman who spent his life never winning yet never stopping improving, faces down Poseidon in a clash of arrogance versus relentless evolution. Poseidon’s sudden, silent death gave the series its emotional foundation, even if the animation here is a step behind later fights.
Why it’s here: Beautifully choreographed and meaningful, though the animation wasn’t as refined as later fights.
Scores: Intensity 8 | Animation 7 | Emotion 6
#7. Nikola Tesla vs. Beelzebub (Round 8) — Winner: Beelzebub
The genius inventor against the Lord of Flies this is what only ragnarok can offer. Tesla’s Superconductive Quantum Suit delivers some of the show’s best sci-fi visual design, while Beelzebub’s dark energy manipulation brings gothic chaos to the arena. The tragedy underneath it all — both men obsessed with creation and destruction as mirror images of each other — gives the fight real thematic weight, even if it leans more technical than heart-wrenching.
Why it stands out: Brilliant concept and top-tier visuals. Innovative and stylish, but more technical than emotional.
Scores: Intensity 8 | Animation 8 | Emotion 7
#6. Leonidas vs. Apollo (Round 9) — Winner: Apollo
Now confirmed as part of Ragnarok Season 3’s actual release, this fight lives up to its billing. Leonidas, unwilling to accept anything less than a first- or last-round matchup, ultimately agrees to fight specifically because only he believes he can beat Apollo. The battle pushes both fighters to genuine collapse, ending with a rare moment of mutual respect — Apollo calling his wounds proof he fought against a great man, Leonidas returning the compliment in his own blunt way. It’s a fight defined by pride on both sides rather than pure spectacle, which earns it a solid mid-table spot.
Scores: Intensity 8 | Animation 8 | Emotion 8
#5. Adam vs. Zeus (Round 2) — Winner: Zeus
The Father of Mankind against the King of Gods. Adam’s Divine Reflection ability, mirroring divine attacks back at their source, makes this one of the Ragnarok series’ most visually symbolic fights. He fights not from hatred but from love for his children — humanity itself — and keeps swinging even after death, earning Zeus’s own admission that it was the most honorable fight he’s ever had.
Why it’s iconic: Emotionally legendary and beautifully symbolic, but slightly chaotic in animation pacing.
Scores: Intensity 8 | Animation 8 | Emotion 9
#4. Qin Shi Huang vs. Hades (Round 7) — Winner: Qin Shi Huang
The undefeated Chinese emperor against the ruler of the Underworld, both fighting as much for legacy as for victory. Qin’s strategic brilliance and mirror-like armor make him a standout human fighter, while Hades brings a regal menace that turns this into more of a cerebral chess match than a brute-force slugfest — a defining showcase of Ragnarok Season 3’s improved tactical storytelling.
Why it ranks high: Tactical brilliance and emotional weight — a cerebral clash that defines Season 3.
Scores: Intensity 8 | Animation 9 | Emotion 9
#3. Lü Bu vs. Thor (Round 1) — Winner: Thor
The fight that set the tone for the entire Ragnarok series. Lü Bu, China’s strongest warrior, goes toe-to-toe with the Norse god of thunder in a battle of brute force against divine lightning. Every exchange feels seismic, and Lü Bu’s refusal to yield even as his body breaks established exactly what kind of show this was going to be from episode one.
Why it hits hard: Iconic, raw, and unforgettable — a perfect opener that defined the tone of the entire series.
Scores: Intensity 9 | Animation 9 | Emotion 9
#2. Buddha vs. Zerofuku/Hajun (Round 6) — Winner: Buddha
Enlightenment against despair incarnate. This fight explores human suffering, compassion, and redemption on a level the series hadn’t attempted before, and Zerofuku’s transformation into Hajun turns the whole encounter into a genuine psychological rollercoaster. Buddha’s calm defiance against overwhelming darkness makes this one of the most thematically rich duels in ragnarok.
Why it’s near the top: A perfect blend of philosophy, chaos, and beauty — easily one of the series’ most memorable duels.
Scores: Intensity 10 | Animation 9 | Emotion 9
#1. Jack the Ripper vs. Hercules (Round 4) — Winner: Jack the Ripper
Still the Ragnarok series’ emotional peak. Jack, representing humanity’s darker instincts, turns London’s streets themselves into weapons, while Hercules — the god of justice — fights out of compassion rather than hatred. It’s the only battle on this list that leaves you genuinely mourning both the winner and the loser, anchored by a theme that cuts deeper than any other matchup so far: that true strength lies in understanding, not domination.
Why it’s #1: The emotional complexity, flawless music, and a theme that cuts deep — “True strength lies in understanding.”
Scores: Intensity 10 | Animation 9 | Emotion 10
📺 Season 1
Round 1: Lü Bu vs. Thor
Round 2: Adam vs. Zeus
Round 3: Kojiro Sasaki vs. Poseidon
📺 Season 2
Round 4: Jack the Ripper vs. Heracles
Round 5: Raiden Tameemon vs. Shiva
Round 6: Buddha vs. Zerofuku / Hajun
📺 Season 3
Round 7: Qin Shi Huang vs. Hades
Round 8: Nikola Tesla vs. Beelzebub
Round 9: King Leonidas vs. Apollo
Where the Tournament Stands Now
With Ragnarok Season 3 complete, the overall score sits at 5 wins for the gods against 4 for humanity, following Apollo’s victory over Leonidas. That means humanity needs to win the majority of the remaining four rounds to survive, and the confirmed human fighters still waiting to enter the arena include Soji Okita, Michael Nostradamus, Sakata Kintoki, and Simo Häyhä — a lineup that promises at least a few more genuinely unpredictable matchups. No Season 4 has been officially confirmed yet to bring these fighters to screen.
| Round | Matchup | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Qin Shi Huang vs. Hades | Humanity |
| 8 | Nikola Tesla vs. Beelzebub | Gods |
| 9 (New) | Leonidas vs. Apollo | Gods (5-4 overall) |
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Conclusion: Humanity’s Spirit Will Never Fall
Jack the Ripper versus Hercules remains the high-water mark for Record of Ragnarok’s blend of spectacle and genuine emotional weight, but the tournament itself has kept moving. With the gods now ahead 5-4 after Apollo’s win over Leonidas, humanity’s margin for error has effectively disappeared heading into the final stretch of confirmed matchups.
Which fight do you think deserves the top spot, and who do you want to see finally turn the Ragnarok tournament back in humanity’s favor? Let us know in the comments.
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