If there’s one thing that’s always fascinated me about Claymore, it’s the terrifying balancing act every warrior performs. These silver-eyed women aren’t just fighting monsters – they’re fighting the monster inside themselves every single day. That internal struggle is perfectly captured in the concept of Yoki release (or Yoma power release), the demonic energy that makes them superhuman but threatens to consume their humanity.
I’ve spent way too many hours debating with friends about which Claymore has the best control over their Yoma power. The Organization might assign them numbers based on raw strength, but that’s only part of the story. True mastery isn’t just about how much power you can unleash – it’s about control, efficiency, and knowing exactly how far you can push before crossing that terrifying threshold of awakening.
So forget the simple Organization rankings. Here’s my breakdown of the most impressive Claymore warriors based specifically on their Yoki release mastery – who can draw the most power from their demonic half while keeping their humanity intact.
1. Teresa of the Faint Smile
The strongest Number One Claymore in history, Teresa could dominate opponents using only 10% of her Yoki while others needed 30-50%, thanks to her unparalleled ability to read and predict Yoki flow.
There’s a reason Teresa is a legend. While other warriors are desperately pushing 50% or 70% of their Yoki release just to stand a chance against tough opponents, Teresa casually dominated everyone – including Awakened Beings – while barely hitting 10% release. That’s not just impressive; it’s absurd.
What makes Teresa’s control truly special isn’t raw power but her incredible efficiency and perception. Her Yoki sensing abilities were so refined that she could essentially read minds and predict movements before they happened. She could “see” the tiny flows of Yoki inside her opponents’ bodies, anticipating their every move with such precision that it looked like precognition. Why unleash a hurricane of power when you can win with a precisely placed whisper?
The scary part? We never even saw Teresa pushed to her limits. In the infamous Teresa vs Priscilla strength showdown, Teresa was casually handling Priscilla even when the latter was approaching 80% release – all without breaking a sweat. The manga creator once hinted that an awakened Teresa would’ve been more powerful than any of the Abyssal Ones, which is a terrifying thought considering what she could do while remaining perfectly human.
Teresa represents the absolute pinnacle of Yoki control – not because she could release more than anyone else, but because she needed to release so little to achieve so much. When everyone else is screaming at the top of their lungs, true power is being able to whisper and still be heard. That was Teresa’s gift.
2. Irene (Quicksword)
Former Rank 3, Irene achieved the seemingly impossible by selectively awakening only her sword arm, creating a technique of such blinding speed it could overpower enemies far stronger than herself.
Irene doesn’t get enough credit for what might be the most impressive feat of Yoki control in the entire series. While most warriors live in fear of crossing that 80% threshold and losing themselves to awakening, Irene figured out how to selectively awaken just her sword arm while keeping the rest of her body and mind completely human.
This localized awakening allowed her to create the legendary “Quicksword” technique – a blindingly fast draw and strike that moved faster than the human eye could follow. The technique was so demanding that it required absolute focus and exceptional Yoki control; Irene had to channel massive amounts of Yoki specifically into her arm without letting it spread to the rest of her body.
What’s fascinating is how Irene essentially hacked the awakening system. Rather than seeing the 80% threshold as a point of no return, she treated it as a resource to be selectively tapped. Her defeat of the unstable but powerful Ophelia (Rank 4) demonstrates just how effective this controlled partial awakening could be against even higher-ranked opponents.
When she later grafted her arm onto Clare to pass on the technique, it wasn’t just a physical transfer but a lesson in the most sophisticated form of Yoki control possible. Irene showed that with enough precision and understanding, even the most dangerous aspect of a Claymore’s power could be turned into an advantage rather than a liability.
3. Galatea (God Eye)
As the Organization’s ‘God Eye,’ Galatea could not only sense Yoki over vast distances but could actually manipulate other beings’ Yoki flow, subtly redirecting attacks or influencing movements without her targets realizing.
Galatea represents a completely different but equally impressive form of Yoki mastery. While most warriors focus on channeling their Yoki for physical enhancement, Galatea developed the rare ability to manipulate the Yoki of others – a skill so sophisticated it’s almost like magic in the Claymore universe.
As the Organization’s primary “Eye,” her sensory abilities were unmatched except by Teresa. She could detect Yoki signatures, thoughts, and emotions over vast distances, giving her incredible tactical awareness. But what truly sets her apart is her Yoki manipulation technique – the ability to subtly alter the flow of Yoki within other beings, allowing her to deflect attacks or disrupt movements without the opponent even realizing what’s happening.
We saw this in action when she helped Clare against the Awakened Being Dauf, subtly redirecting Clare’s arm to guide her attacks. Later, she used similar techniques to help calm and control the unstable Miata. This demonstrates a level of finesse that goes beyond simple power output – it’s like being a conductor of a demonic energy orchestra.
The claymore eye color ranking often reflects power, and Galatea’s extraordinary abilities earned her the title “God Eye” – a reference to both her perceptive abilities and her nearly divine level of control. Even after deserting the Organization and blinding herself to hide among humans, she maintained her abilities, showing that her mastery transcended mere physical sight.
4. Alicia & Beth
The Organization’s ultimate weapons, these twins achieved what was thought impossible: controlled awakening. Alicia could fully transform while Beth maintained a psychic link to preserve her sister’s human consciousness.
If we’re talking about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Yoki release, we can’t ignore the twisted achievement that was Alicia and Beth. These identical twins were the culmination of the Organization’s most ambitious experiment – creating warriors who could fully awaken and access that monstrous power while still remaining under control.
Through the “Soul Link” technique, Alicia could fully transform into an Awakened Being, unleashing power on par with the Abyssal Ones, while Beth maintained her human consciousness and remotely controlled her sister’s awakened form. This symbiotic system effectively created a controllable Awakened Being – the Organization’s holy grail.
What’s both impressive and disturbing about their Yoki control is that it wasn’t achieved through individual mastery like Teresa or Irene, but through a lifetime of brutal conditioning and mental synchronization. The twins were raised from childhood to function as two bodies with one mind, sacrificing their individual identities in the process.
Their rank on this list reflects the technical achievement of what they could do – harnessing the full power of awakening without permanent loss of control – rather than their personal mastery. Their system was ultimately vulnerable, as shown when their link was broken during their battle with Priscilla, but they represent perhaps the most extreme example of controlled Yoki release in the series, even if that control was systemically enforced rather than individually developed.
5. Miria (Phantom)
Known as ‘Phantom Miria,’ her technique involved precise, explosive bursts of Yoki that created after-images, confusing opponents. After surviving partial awakening, she could push beyond the 80% threshold safely, reaching near-Abyssal speed.
Miria earned her nickname “Phantom” through her mastery of short, explosive bursts of Yoki release. Her signature technique involved momentarily pumping huge amounts of Yoki into her muscles to achieve bursts of incredible speed, leaving tangible afterimages that confused opponents. This required precise timing and control – release too much for too long, and she risked awakening; release too little, and the technique would fail.
What elevated Miria from skilled to exceptional was her experience in the Northern Campaign. As one of the survivors who experienced partial awakening, she gained the ability to safely push beyond the normal 80% limit that would cause most warriors to lose control. This “half-awakened” state gave her access to power approaching that of Awakened Beings while maintaining her humanity.
Her leadership of the Northern survivors and later the rebellion against the Organization speaks to her exceptional mental discipline – a crucial component of Yoki control that’s often overlooked. Managing the psychological strain of pushing close to awakening requires immense willpower, especially when doing it repeatedly in combat situations.
Miria’s victory over Hysteria the Elegant (a resurrected former Number 1 known for her speed) showcases just how far her control developed. By combining her enhanced Phantom technique with tactical brilliance, she could defeat opponents with theoretically superior raw power. Miria exemplifies how technical mastery, mental fortitude, and strategic application can elevate Yoki control beyond simple power metrics.
6. Priscilla
Priscilla possessed possibly the highest raw potential of any Claymore, capable of fighting effectively with no visible Yoki release and surpassing 80% without immediately awakening – a feat thought impossible until her catastrophic loss of control.
Priscilla represents the ultimate “what could have been” in the Claymore universe. As a human-form warrior, her potential was possibly unmatched – she could actually fight effectively without releasing any detectable Yoki at all, completely masking her presence from other warriors’ senses. She reached the Number 2 rank almost immediately after joining the Organization, a testament to her natural ability.
What makes Priscilla so fascinating from a Yoki control perspective is that she could temporarily surpass the supposed 80% limit without immediately awakening – something that should have been biologically impossible. This suggests she had the potential for control beyond even what Teresa demonstrated.
But potential isn’t the same as mastery, and that’s where Priscilla’s ranking becomes complicated. For all her innate talent, her mental stability was her Achilles’ heel. When pushed to her limits against Teresa, her control shattered catastrophically. The rage and desperation from being effortlessly outclassed triggered her awakening, resulting in perhaps the most powerful Awakened Being in the series’ history.
Her ranking at #6 might seem low given her raw power, but true Yoki mastery must include mental fortitude and consistent control under pressure. Priscilla’s story is a tragic reminder that natural talent without emotional stability can lead to disaster. Her pre-awakened state showed glimpses of unprecedented control, but her ultimate failure to maintain that control when it mattered most prevents her from ranking higher.
7. Clare
Beginning as the lowest-ranked warrior (#47), Clare’s unique composition (1/4 Yoma rather than 1/2) limited her raw power but eventually allowed her to pioneer techniques like controlled partial awakening without losing her mind.
Clare’s journey with Yoki control is perhaps the most interesting development arc in the entire series. Starting as the lowest-ranked Claymore (#47) with only 1/4 Yoma flesh (compared to the standard 1/2), her baseline abilities were severely limited. Yet by the end of the series, she achieves feats of Yoki control that rival or surpass many single-digit warriors.
What makes Clare’s development so remarkable is that she had to overcome her natural limitations through sheer determination and adaptability. She inherited a fraction of Teresa’s Yoki sensing ability, allowing her to read opponent’s movements with increasing accuracy. She mastered Irene’s Quicksword technique despite lacking the innate control it typically required. Most impressively, she pioneered the technique of controlled partial awakening – deliberately pushing specific body parts beyond the awakening threshold while maintaining her human consciousness.
Clare’s control wasn’t without struggles – she nearly lost herself to awakening multiple times, saved only by external interventions like Jean’s sacrifice or Raki’s presence. This inconsistency keeps her from ranking higher, but also makes her achievements more impressive. She didn’t have Teresa’s natural talent or the twins’ systematic training; she fought for every inch of progress.
By combining Teresa’s flesh, Irene’s arm, and eventually techniques developed from consuming Awakened Being flesh, Clare created a hybrid approach to Yoki control unlike any other warrior. Her ranking reflects both her impressive growth and the occasional control issues that came with pushing her unique physiology to its limits.
8. Rafaela
Former Rank 5, Rafaela specialized in Yoki suppression so complete she could appear invisible to other warriors’ senses. This stealth ability, combined with her combat prowess, made her the Organization’s perfect assassin against rogue Claymores.
Rafaela’s mastery of Yoki might be less flashy than some others on this list, but it’s no less impressive. Her specialty lay in Yoki suppression and concealment – the ability to completely mask her presence, making her essentially invisible to the sensory abilities of other warriors. This required incredibly precise control, as even the slightest leak of Yoki would give away her position.
As part of the Organization’s internal enforcement, Rafaela was trained specifically as an anti-Claymore asset. Her control was so refined that she could approach high-ranking warriors undetected – a crucial advantage when tasked with hunting down rogue Claymores or those who were at risk of awakening.
Her personal history adds another layer to her Yoki mastery. Rafaela was part of the initial, failed Soul Link experiment with her non-identical sister, Luciela. When Luciela lost control and awakened to become the Abyssal One of the South, Rafaela was tasked with hunting her down – a mission she eventually completed, despite Luciela’s immense power.
Perhaps most impressive was her ability to merge with Luciela after defeating her, eventually resulting in the creation of “The Destroyer” – a being of immense power outside the normal awakening process. While this fusion was ultimately destructive, it hints at Rafaela’s unique ability to manipulate and control Yoki in ways beyond standard combat applications, earning her a respected place in this ranking.
9. Jean (Drill Sword)
Rank 9 Jean’s ‘Drill Sword’ technique required exceptional Yoki control to create devastating rotational force. Even more impressive was her final act – after being awakened against her will, she maintained enough control to help Clare revert from awakening before dying.
Jean deserves special recognition for two distinct aspects of her Yoki control. First, her signature “Drill Sword” technique – a devastatingly powerful thrust achieved by channeling Yoki to coil and then release her sword arm with immense rotational force. Even Galatea noted the impressive speed and power of this technique, which required precise Yoki manipulation to execute properly.
But what truly sets Jean apart, earning her place on this list despite her relatively short time in the series, was her extraordinary display of willpower in her final moments. After being captured and forcibly awakened through torture by Riful, Jean managed something thought impossible – while mortally wounded and in her awakened state, she focused her remaining strength to help Clare revert from her own impending awakening after the fight with Rigaldo.
This act of sacrificial control demonstrates perhaps the greatest mental fortitude shown by any Claymore. Even after physically awakening – the point where most warriors lose their humanity completely – Jean maintained enough of her human consciousness and Yoki control to not only resist the awakened state herself but to actively help another warrior resist it as well.
Jean’s relatively lower rank in the Organization (#9) and limited screen time might make her easy to overlook, but that final display of control in the face of both awakening and death marks her as one of the most mentally disciplined warriors in the series, deserving recognition for her mastery over the psychological aspects of Yoki control.
10. Helen & Deneve
The survivors of the Northern Campaign, Helen (Rank 22) and Deneve (Rank 15) each mastered unique applications of Yoki after partial awakening. Helen’s limb stretching and Deneve’s regeneration became significantly more powerful while remaining under control.
I’m pairing Helen and Deneve together because they represent two different but complementary aspects of successful Yoki control after experiencing partial awakening during the Northern Campaign.
Helen’s unique ability was her elasticity – using Yoki to stretch her limbs to extreme lengths, a technique that became significantly enhanced after her partial awakening. What makes her control impressive is how she later integrated this stretching ability with the rotational force of Jean’s Drill Sword technique, creating a devastating long-range attack. This fusion of techniques demonstrates sophisticated Yoki manipulation, adapting and combining different applications in ways that shouldn’t normally be possible.
Deneve, designated as a Defensive Type, specialized in regeneration. While all Claymores can heal faster than humans, Deneve’s regenerative capabilities were exceptional, allowing her to recover from wounds that would incapacitate most warriors. After her partial awakening, this ability was further enhanced, approaching the regenerative capacity of Awakened Beings while still maintaining human form and consciousness.
What both warriors share is their successful integration of the partially awakened state into their fighting styles. Unlike Clare, who sometimes struggled with control, Helen and Deneve achieved a remarkably stable balance post-timeskip, using their enhanced abilities consistently without risking further awakening. Their resilience and adaptability, combined with their specialized Yoki applications, make them excellent examples of mid-tier warriors who maximized their potential through technique and control rather than raw power alone.
Claymore Yoma Power FAQ
How does the Yoma power percentage system work?
The Yoma power (Yoki) percentage system in Claymore refers to how much of their demonic energy a warrior releases during combat. The Organization quantifies it in distinct thresholds that mark both power increases and escalating risk:
At 0%, a Claymore appears completely human with silver eyes and normal features. This is their resting state.
Around 10% release, their eyes shift from silver to gold – the first visible sign of Yoki usage. Teresa rarely needed to go beyond this level, showing how efficient she was.
At 30% release, demonic features begin to appear on the warrior’s face, making them look more monstrous. Most warriors use this level for serious combat situations.
By 50% release, physical distortion becomes more pronounced as the warrior’s body begins to visibly change, reflecting the growing Yoma influence.
The 70-80% range is considered the danger zone – approaching the “Point of No Return.” Control becomes increasingly difficult as the pleasure of release tempts warriors to let go completely.
Beyond 80% typically triggers awakening – the irreversible transformation into an Awakened Being where the warrior loses their humanity and becomes a super-Yoma with a unique monstrous form.
What makes this system fascinating is how it creates constant tension. Every battle becomes a psychological struggle as warriors must decide how much power to risk using. More Yoki means better chances of survival in the moment, but greater risk of losing their humanity forever. The warriors who rank highest in Yoki control are those who can maximize their effective power while minimizing this existential risk.
Who is stronger: Teresa or Priscilla?
The Teresa vs Priscilla strength debate is probably the most discussed power comparison in the entire series, and it’s complicated!
In their human forms, Teresa was clearly superior. During their confrontation, Priscilla pushed herself to nearly 80% release – approaching the awakening threshold – and Teresa still defeated her with minimal effort while barely releasing any Yoki herself. This wasn’t just a matter of experience; Teresa’s ability to read Yoki flow gave her an insurmountable advantage against Priscilla’s techniques.
However, Awakened Priscilla is almost certainly more powerful than human-form Teresa. After her transformation, Priscilla became arguably the most powerful entity in the Claymore universe, easily defeating Abyssal Ones and developing seemingly limitless regenerative abilities. Her power was so immense that it took multiple top-tier warriors working together just to challenge her.
The real question fans debate is: what if Teresa had awakened? The series creator Norihiro Yagi once suggested that an awakened Teresa would have been even more powerful than awakened Priscilla. Given how strong Teresa was while still maintaining perfect control over her humanity, it’s reasonable to assume her awakened form would have been absolutely devastating.
So the full answer depends on which forms we’re comparing:
- Human Teresa beats human Priscilla decisively
- Awakened Priscilla beats human Teresa (though Teresa was only defeated through a surprise attack when she thought the fight was over)
- Theoretical awakened Teresa likely beats everyone in the series
Since Teresa never actually awakened, this particular power comparison remains one of anime’s great “what ifs.”
What do the different eye colors mean in Claymore?
The claymore eye color ranking system serves as an immediate visual indicator of a warrior’s Yoki release state. It’s one of the most distinctive visual elements of the series and tells you exactly what’s happening with a warrior’s power level:
Silver eyes are the default for warriors at rest (0% Yoma power release). This distinctive color is why Claymores are known as “silver-eyed witches” by many humans. The silver coloration comes from the Yoma flesh and blood infused into their bodies during their creation ceremony.
As warriors begin releasing their Yoki, their eyes shift from silver to gold. This transformation starts around 10% release and becomes more intense as they release more power. By the time a warrior reaches around 50% release, their eyes are usually bright gold and often develop slit pupils similar to cats or reptiles.
When a warrior approaches awakening (70-80% and beyond), their eyes often develop more complex patterns. Many show distinctive markings or even color shifts to yellow-green or amber, signaling the imminent danger of losing control.
Fully awakened beings typically retain gold eyes, though some show unique variations. The most powerful entities, like Priscilla after her awakening, can develop unusual eye patterns that reflect their immense power.
There are some fascinating exceptions to this system that hint at exceptional control. Teresa’s eyes barely changed color even when she was fighting seriously, reflecting her immense control. Galatea, known for her Yoki manipulation abilities, could use her power while keeping her eyes silver, helping her disguise herself as a human later in the series.
These visual cues not only serve the audience but are crucial in-universe. Warriors can gauge each other’s power output and potential risk of awakening just by observing these changes, making eye color an important tactical consideration in battles.
What are Awakened Beings and how do they relate to Claymores?
Awakened Beings are the dark secret of the Claymore world and represent the ultimate failure of Yoki control. When a warrior releases too much Yoki (typically beyond 80%) and loses control, they undergo a permanent transformation into a monstrous entity – essentially a super-Yoma with intelligence and memories of their human life.
The Organization publicly claims these creatures are just very old Yoma, but the truth is that every Awakened Being was once a Claymore who crossed the threshold. This is why the warriors are taught to fear awakening above all else – it means becoming the very thing they were created to destroy.
The transformation process is described as intensely pleasurable, similar to sexual climax. This ecstatic sensation proved particularly problematic for male Claymores, who were more susceptible to its allure, leading the Organization to eventually create only female warriors who demonstrated greater resistance to this temptation.
Awakened Beings retain their human intelligence and memories, but their personality often becomes twisted, dominated by predatory instincts and sadistic tendencies. They develop unique monstrous forms that often reflect aspects of their former fighting styles or personalities. Some maintain more of their humanity than others – the Abyssal Ones (former #1 ranked warriors who awakened) retained considerable mental clarity and strategic thinking.
The awakened beings power levels vary widely but are generally far beyond normal Yoma and most active Claymores. Their strength typically correlates with how powerful they were as human warriors, with former single-digits becoming particularly formidable threats. The Organization deploys special hunting parties of multiple warriors to deal with these threats, as a single Claymore rarely stands a chance against a fully awakened former comrade.
What makes Awakened Beings particularly tragic is that they represent not just monsters but fallen heroes – warriors who once fought to protect humanity before succumbing to the very power that made them effective protectors.
What are the Abyssal Ones in Claymore?
The Abyssal Ones represent the absolute pinnacle of awakened beings in the Claymore universe. These three entities were all former #1 ranked warriors who awakened, becoming so immensely powerful that they carved out and maintained vast territories across the land.
Isley of the North, also known as the “Silver King,” controlled the northern territories. His awakened form resembled a centaur that could transform parts of his body into various weapons. Among the Abyssal Ones, he was known for his tactical brilliance and charismatic leadership, commanding an army of lesser awakened beings. His strategy and intelligence made him perhaps the most successful of the three at building and maintaining power.
Riful of the West, the “Empress of the West,” ruled the western lands. In human form, she appeared as a young girl, but her awakened state took the form of ribbon-like tentacles capable of both delicate manipulation and devastating destruction. Her childlike appearance masked a deeply sadistic nature, and she actively sought to create more powerful awakened beings to strengthen her position.
Luciela of the South controlled the southern territories until her death. Her awakened form was feline in nature, granting her tremendous speed and power. Her background is particularly tragic, as she was part of the Organization’s first failed attempt at the Soul Link experiment with her sister Rafaela. Their eventual merger created “The Destroyer,” an entity of unprecedented destructive capability outside the normal awakening process.
These three maintained a balance of power for generations until the arrival of Priscilla, whose awakened form surpassed even their immense power. The confrontations between the Abyssal Ones and Priscilla form some of the most epic power struggles in the series, highlighting just how devastating uncontrolled Yoki can become when wielded by former #1 warriors.
What makes the Abyssal Ones fascinating is that they retained far more of their human intelligence and personality than typical awakened beings, suggesting that exceptional mental discipline carries over even after awakening. This allowed them to build territories, form alliances, and develop long-term strategies rather than simply hunting humans like standard awakened beings.