I still remember the first time I saw Bao Zakeruga burst from Zatch’s mouth in a blinding flash of lightning. That massive electric dragon completely blew my mind as a kid, and honestly? It still gives me chills today. The Mamodo battle in Zatch Bell was peak anime for me, with its unique power system tied directly to the emotional bonds between Mamodo and their human partners.
What made Zatch Bell so special wasn’t just the variety of elemental powers, but how the spell books evolved throughout the series. From basic attacks all the way to those mind-blowing Shin-class ultimate spells, each element had its standout champion. So which Mamodo truly had the strongest spell book in each element? Let’s rank them!
1. Lightning: Zatch Bell
Zatch’s Bao Zakeruga evolved from an uncontrolled lightning dragon to the multi-headed Shin Beruwan Bao Zakeruga that could counter even Clear Note’s annihilation power.
The lightning crown comes down to a sibling rivalry - Zatch versus Zeno Bell. While Zeno initially dominated with his incredible control and devastating Jigadirasu Uru Zakeruga (that lightning goddess that nearly wiped everyone out), Zatch ultimately proves to have the superior lightning spell book.
What makes Zatch’s red book special is his incredible growth throughout the series. Starting from a simple “Zaker” mouth blast, he eventually unlocks the true potential of Bao Zakeruga, the lightning dragon inherited from his father. This signature spell evolves as Kiyo’s heart energy grows stronger, eventually becoming powerful enough to overpower Zeno’s ultimate attack.
The Bao Zakeruga power scaling is insane - from wild, barely controlled lightning beast to a refined weapon capable of taking down major threats like Faudo. Its unique ability to absorb negative emotions makes it the perfect counter to Zeno’s hatred-fueled attacks.
But the true peak comes with the Golden Book - a temporary power-up that allows him to cast Shin Beruwan Bao Zakeruga, a colossal multi-headed dragon representing the combined will of his allies. This form is what finally enables him to defeat Clear Note and eventually Brago, securing the crown.
2. Gravity: Brago
Brago was the only Mamodo to master two distinct Shin-level spells: Shin Baberuga Gurabidon for widespread gravity control and Nyuuborutsu Shin Gurabirei for concentrated destruction.
If we’re talking pure destructive capability without any special power-ups, Brago’s black spell book is possibly the most terrifying in the entire series. As the sole master of gravity manipulation, Brago doesn’t just dish out damage - he controls the battlefield itself.
What starts as simple gravity balls (Reis) evolves into city-block crushing force. His signature spell, Baberuga Gurabidon, creates a massive gravity field capable of flattening buildings and crushing multiple opponents simultaneously.
But what truly sets Brago apart is that he achieves not one but TWO distinct Shin-level spells - an incredibly rare feat. Shin Baberuga Gurabidon is an enhanced gravity field that’s basically inescapable, while Nyuuborutsu Shin Gurabirei creates a dual-layered gravity sphere designed to implode anything caught inside.
In the Brago vs Zatch power debate, Brago has the more consistently devastating power, but Zatch reaches a higher ceiling when empowered by the Golden Book. In a straight one-on-one fight without the Golden Book, many fans believe Brago might have actually won.
3. Annihilation: Clear Note
Clear Note’s Shin Kuria Seunousu wasn’t just destructive - it was designed to erase existence itself, making him the most terrifying final antagonist in the tournament.
While most Mamodo fight to become king, Clear Note enters with a much more sinister goal: the annihilation of the Mamodo world itself. His transparent spell book is in a category all its own, focusing on pure, existential erasure.
Clear Note’s basic spells like Radisu and Supurifo are already terrifying - designed not just to defeat opponents but to completely disintegrate them. But it’s his ultimate technique, Shin Kuria Seunousu, that makes him arguably the most dangerous entity in the series. This Shin-class spell has multiple forms, each designed to erase existence on an increasingly large scale.
What makes the Clear Note vs Zatch Bell confrontation so compelling is the fundamental contrast between their powers. Zatch’s lightning is about connection - the Bao dragon representing bonds with others. Clear Note’s annihilation is the opposite - the severing of all bonds, the erasure of connection itself.
The fact that it took the combined power of Zatch’s Golden Book to counter Clear Note speaks volumes about just how overwhelming his annihilation power truly was. Had he reached his final form, it’s implied he could have wiped out the entire Mamodo world.
4. Illusion: Kanchomé
From comic relief to mind-bending reality warper - Kanchomé’s Shin Poruku is an illusion so powerful it can convince opponents that devastating attacks simply don’t exist.
If you had told me early in the series that Kanchomé would end up with one of the most broken abilities in the entire Mamodo battle, I would have laughed in your face. This duck-billed goofball starts off as pure comic relief, with seemingly useless transformation spells.
But Kanchomé’s yellow spell book contains perhaps the most dramatic power evolution in the series. After gaining the ability to create tangible clones with Dima Buruku, he unlocks increasingly potent mind-manipulation abilities like Fo Suporuku, which can erase his presence from enemies’ perception.
The true game-changer is his Shin-class spell: Shin Poruku. This elevates his illusions to reality-warping levels, granting him control over the target’s entire perception of reality. He can create vast, convincing worlds, trap opponents in mental loops, and even negate powerful attacks by convincing the user they don’t exist. This ability allowed him to single-handedly defeat the powerful Mamodo Gorm.
What makes Kanchomé’s book so fascinating is that it represents a completely different kind of power. He doesn’t overpower his opponents - he hacks their perception of reality itself. In theory, his Shin Poruku could counter almost any attack, including Bao Zakeruga, by simply making the opponent believe the spell failed.
5. Shield/Healing: Tia
Tia’s Chajiru Seshirudon grows stronger with her will to protect, eventually becoming powerful enough to block Zeno’s ultimate attack and even temporarily halt Clear Note’s annihilation spell.
Not all power is measured in destruction. Tia’s vermillion spell book proves that defensive magic, when pushed to its limits, can be just as impressive as any offensive blast.
Tia’s spell progression goes from basic shields like Seoshi and Ma Seshield to her healing sword Saifojio. But it’s her ultimate defensive spell, Chajiru Seshirudon, that earns her a place among the Shin-tier Mamodo. This massive shield’s strength is directly proportional to Tia’s will to protect her friends, visualized through reflected memories.
How powerful is this shield? Powerful enough to block Zeno’s Jigadirasu Uru Zakeruga - an attack that would have wiped out everyone present. Even more impressively, an enhanced version called Rima Chaajiru Seshirudon was capable of temporarily holding back Clear Note’s Shin-level annihilation spell.
Complementing her defense is Shin Saifojio, a Shin-class healing spell that represents the pinnacle of restorative magic. Together, these abilities earned Tia 5th place overall in the tournament despite having minimal offensive capabilities.
6. Fire: Ashron
As one of the four prodigies alongside Zeno, Brago, and Elzador, Ashron’s Shin Feiarugu could create dragon fire so powerful and fast it allowed for intercontinental travel.
When it comes to pure fire manipulation, no Mamodo command the flames quite like Ashron. While characters like Ponygon incorporate fire as a secondary element, Ashron’s entire being is centered around his draconic fire abilities.
Ashron’s status as one of the four Mamodo prodigies (alongside Zeno, Brago, and Elzador) immediately places him in elite company. These prodigies were known for their ability to defeat adult Mamodo even while young.
His ultimate fire spell, Shin Feiarugu, creates an incredibly fast and powerful dragon fire manifestation - fast enough for intercontinental travel. This Shin-level spell demonstrates that fire, when pushed to its limits, can rival the speed and destructive capability of any element.
What makes Ashron particularly impressive is that he was able to fight on par with early forms of Clear Note. While we don’t see as much of Ashron as other major characters, his demonstrated feats place him firmly among the upper echelon of Mamodo.
7. Enhancement: Bari & Ponygon
Bari and Ponygon represent different approaches to enhancement: Bari focuses on destructive power with his Shin Doruzonisu drill, while Ponygon’s Shin Shudoruku grants him overwhelming physical capabilities.
The enhancement category features two different approaches to amplifying physical combat: Vincent Bari with his vortex/drill abilities and Ponygon with his armor transformations.
Bari’s cobalt blue spell book specializes in generating destructive vortex energy through his hands. His progression from basic Zonis punches to the devastating Shin Doruzonisu drill attack showcases increasingly concentrated destructive power. What makes Bari noteworthy is his victory over Elzador - one of the four prodigies mentioned alongside Zeno and Brago.
Ponygon takes a different approach with his light orange book. His Shudoruku spells focus purely on transformative armor that enhances his speed, strength, and durability. His ultimate Shin Shudoruku represents the absolute pinnacle of physical enhancement, granting him Shin-tier mobility and power.
It’s hard to rank one above the other since they represent different philosophies of enhancement - concentrated destructive output versus balanced physical enhancement. Both reach Shin-tier in their specialties, making them dual masters of enhancement magic.
8. Other Elements: Water, Crystal & Explosion
Penny’s So Giaku water dragon, Cherish’s precise crystal control, and Zofis’s explosive ‘death ball’ Dioga Teoradomu represent powerful but ultimately mid-tier elemental mastery.
Not every element reaches the Shin-tier level of power, but several still demonstrate impressive mastery. Three standouts are Penny (Water), Cherish (Crystal), and Zofis (Explosion).
Penny’s orange spell book offers remarkable versatility within the Water element. Her ultimate water dragon, So Giaku, is powerful enough to be classified around Dioga-level. While ultimately defeated by Zatch’s Bao Zakeruga, Penny’s water magic shows impressive range and adaptability.
Cherish wields crystal-based magic with a combination of raw power and precise control. Her Dioga Kofardon delivers substantial impact, while her unique Gurado Ma Kofaru transforms her arm into a sniper rifle firing highly accurate crystal bullets. This precision allowed her to damage even Zeno Bell.
Zofis commands explosion magic from his dark magenta book. His ultimate Dioga Teoradomu “death ball” is capable of causing devastating impact and potential volcanic eruptions. While his individual power is capped at Dioga-level, his cunning intellect and control over an army of Ancient Mamodo made him one of the most threatening opponents.
Other elements like Earth (Goren of the Stone), Wind (Hyde), and Plant (Sugino) have their masters, but none reach the heights achieved by the top-tier elements in our ranking.
Zatch Bell Spell Book FAQ
What makes a Mamodo spell powerful in Zatch Bell?
The power of a Mamodo spell goes beyond just the incantation itself. Two crucial factors determine how effective a spell will be: Heart Power and Heart Energy.
Heart Power is your spiritual stamina - the fuel needed to cast spells. It comes directly from the emotional bond between the Mamodo and their human partner. A stronger connection means a deeper reservoir of Heart Power. But it’s finite; cast too many spells and you’ll run out.
Heart Energy determines how intense each spell is when cast. This is where emotions like determination, anger, love, or protective instinct come into play. A partner pouring strong emotions into the spell book can dramatically amplify a spell’s effect. This is why Zatch’s Bao Zakeruga varies so much in power throughout the series.
The naming system also indicates a spell’s relative power. Basic spells have no prefix. “Gigano” spells are significantly stronger, “Dioga” spells represent high-level power, and “Shin” (meaning “True” or “Supreme”) marks the absolute peak of what a spell book can achieve.
What makes this system clever is that it mechanizes the “power of friendship” trope. It’s not just a theme - it’s literally how the power system works! A stronger emotional connection gives you more casting endurance and higher spell intensity.
How powerful is Bao Zakeruga compared to other ultimate spells?
Bao Zakeruga is fascinating because its power isn’t static - it evolves dramatically throughout the series based on Kiyo’s heart energy and Zatch’s growing control.
Early on, Bao is wild and unpredictable. When Zatch first uses it against Penny’s water dragon, it’s powerful but somewhat erratic. What makes Bao special isn’t just raw power, but its unique ability to absorb negative emotions - this is why it was the perfect counter to Zeno’s hatred-fueled Jigadirasu Uru Zakeruga.
At its peak, especially when enhanced by the Golden Book to become Shin Beruwan Bao Zakeruga (the multi-headed dragon form), it’s arguably the strongest single spell in the series - powerful enough to counter Clear Note’s annihilation spells and ultimately defeat Brago.
But Bao Zakeruga is powerful in a different way than Brago’s gravity spells or Kanchomé’s reality-warping illusions. Brago’s Shin Baberuga Gurabidon might actually be more consistently destructive, and Kanchomé’s Shin Poruku could theoretically counter Bao by making the target believe it doesn’t exist.
What makes Bao Zakeruga special isn’t just its destructive output, but what it represents - power born from genuine bonds rather than hatred or ambition.
Who would win in a fight: Brago or Zatch?
The Brago vs Zatch power debate is one of the most hotly contested topics among fans, and for good reason - they’re both incredibly powerful but in different ways.
If we’re talking about the final battle as it happened in the manga, we know Zatch won. But that victory came after Brago had already fought against Clear Note and Zatch had access to the Golden Book powers.
Brago’s advantages are significant. He has two distinct Shin-level spells compared to Zatch’s one (pre-Golden Book). His gravity manipulation gives him incredible battlefield control, and he’s more naturally talented, being one of the four prodigies capable of defeating adult Mamodo.
Zatch has the wild card that is Bao Zakeruga, which scales dramatically with Kiyo’s heart energy and has the unique property of absorbing negative emotions.
It comes down to a simple question: Are we talking about Zatch with or without the Golden Book? Without it, Brago would likely win through his superior control and dual Shin spells. With the Golden Book, Zatch has the clear advantage since he can call upon multiple ultimate spells.
Their matchup reflects the series’ central theme. Brago represents raw talent, discipline, and individual power. Zatch represents growth, bonds, and collective strength.