Isekai anime protagonists have the unique opportunity to start a new life in a new world. Most of them keep their memories from their past lives as well, giving them a distinct intellectual head start on everyone around them. While not every isekai protagonist is smart or uses their intelligence to their advantage, the few that do stand above the rest.

By using their intelligence, many main characters can get out of major problems entirely. In Subaru's case in Re:Zero, using his brain is the only way he can survive.

If an isekai protagonist is summoned to their new world, it's usually to help the kingdom they are summoned into. Luckily for a few kingdoms, there are hyper-intelligent isekai protagonists out there who can solve most problems without picking up a sword, wand, or really, anything.

10 Kazuma Satou – Konosuba

Getting Out of Work Takes a Certain Type of Intelligence

Kazuma Satou wouldn't be the first person to win an intelligence contest, mainly because he wouldn't even show up. Kazuma is easily the smartest isekai protagonist at getting out of trouble. He's constantly finding new ways to avoid work, relax, and just enjoy himself. When he is forced to do something, however, Kazuma puts his brain to the test effectively. As someone who doesn't like doing anything extra, Kazuma always knows the best way to get something done right the first time.

Kazuma's greatest strength comes from his willingness to use the people around him. Sure, he cares deeply for Aqua, Darkness, and Megumin, but if he can just sacrifice one of them to a horde of monsters to save himself, everything will probably work out in the end. If it doesn't, Kazuma will figure it out.

9 Rimuru Tempest – That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Leading a Budding Nation Takes Skill

Rimuru Tempest has had a lot thrown on his shoulders. He came to his new world as nothing more than a blind slime. Over time, however, he gained powers and allies even the strongest Demon Lords would be jealous of. Rimuru is a forward-thinker before anything else. All he wants is to see a world where monsters and humans can coexist, and he's willing to go to great lengths to make it happen. As the leader of Tempest, he has an entire country behind him. Luckily for Rimuru, his friends are some of the smartest and most comionate people in That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.

If Rimuru doesn't have the answer, one of his friends probably does. He's smart enough to know when he's not smart enough. He's also humble enough to it it, asking his First Secretary Shion for advice whenever he needs it.

8 Natsuki Subaru – Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World

Subaru Learns From His Deaths

Other isekai characters gain their smarts through studying, by going to class, or living long lives before they get taken to their new world. Natsuki Subaru doesn't. Instead, he learns from countless deaths. His Return by Death ability might be more of a curse than a blessing, but it does allow Subaru to come back to his world knowing about the horrors that await him. While most protagonists might have their psyche broken by this level of trauma, Subaru's dedication to his friends gives him the courage to always find a way through.

He's a smart guy too. In the events of Sanctuary, with Roswaal, Garfiel, and Elsa all standing in his way, Subaru finds a way to lineup all the pieces perfectly. He was able to save the citizens of Sanctuary from the Great Rabbit, convince Garfiel to defend him from Elsa, and work towards waking Rem.

7 Tanya van Degurechaff – The Saga of Tanya the Evil

An Incredible Military Mind in a Vicious Young Girl

Tanya von Degurechaff is a military prodigy. At just 9 years old, Tanya ed the Empire's mage troops and was immediately promoted to second lieutenant. She even graduated from War College as one of 12 Knights, earning her "von" title. Tanya is vicious on the battlefield, thanks in no small part to her intelligence. She's always one step ahead of her enemies and a big reason why her friends are still alive to this day. There's nobody better at fighting midair than Tanya. She can even save her allies while she fights her enemies, all at just 12-years old.

While Being X is a god, it doesn't matter to Tanya. She's cold, calculated, and ruthless, and if it keeps getting in her way, she might have to do something about it. Being X has tried to kill Tanya on multiple occasions, but she outwits it at every turn.

6 Rudeus Greyrat – Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation

Rudeus Got To Keep His Old Life's Memories

Rudeus Greyrat is an isekai protagonist who was allowed to keep his memories from his past life. While this might be a little problematic in his love life, his intelligence is one of his greatest strengths in Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. Rudy is head-and-shoulders smarter than everyone around him. Even when he was a baby, he was able to cast spells most other high-level mages would have trouble with. As he grows up, he gains new intelligence from his new world that supplements the knowledge he already has.

Rudeus might be a complicated character who makes questionable decisions, but he's smart. He knows how to handle himself both on and off the battlefield and is a serious threat because of it. Hitogami, the Man God, is another god who had better know what he's doing if he plans on getting in Rudeus' way.

5 Ainz Ooal Gown – Overlord

Equal Measures Cunning and Quick-Witted

Ainz Ooal Gown is the last remaining Supreme Being in Overlord. All of his friends and former guild mates logged off from the game Yggdrasil, leaving Momonga on his own. Unfortunately, Momonga was stuck in the game permanently. While this may seem like a scary situation for most people, it wasn't for the Overlord himself. Momonga claimed his guild's name as his own and set out to dominate the entire world. He's not the smartest character in isekai, but he's smart enough to use his power effectively and where it's needed most.

The smartest thing Ainz does is listen to his advisors. Demiurge is especially one of the smartest characters in Overlord, constantly giving Ainz advice he didn't know he needed. His other advisors also give him advice and help him tackle new problems, even if they think he's had them handled the entire time.

4 Kazuya Souma – How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom

A Real, Practical Intelligence in a Fantasy World

Kazuya Souma had one of the most unique isekai scenarios of anyone. While most isekai protagonists are sent to another world through death, usually after getting hit by a Japanese Kei truck, Kazuya Souma was summoned as a form of payment. The Kingdom of Elfrieden was going to sell him to the Gran Chaos Empire, but he convinced them not to. In an instant, Kazuya convinced the king to let him handle Elfrieden's affairs, essentially making himself king. The plan worked, and Kazuya became the decision-maker for a nation right as he arrived.

He's a great pick to be king. Before he was isekai'd to his new world, Kazuya was in college studying to be a civil servant. While there isn't technically a degree for being king, learning how to best serve your people have to be a close second.

3 Myne – Ascendance of a Bookworm

The Smartest Five-Year-Old in Ehrenfest

Myne must be the smartest 5-year-old in her new world. She's reborn into a new body while retaining all the memories of her previous life as a 22-year-old college student. As a child, Myne is an inventor, explorer, and entrepreneur. She wants to read and collect books more than anything, but in a world without books, she's going to have to make some things happen. Myne starts her conquest by "inventing" products from her old world into the new world.

She starts with a simple shampoo and nearly crashes the market. Thankfully, Myne has found friends that can help her in the world of market economics. While she might not be the best economist ever, she's a genius inventor who won't be stopped just because she has a life-threatening disease. If there's a way out of a problem, Myne will probably find it.

2 Senku Ishigami – Dr. Stone

Senku Is Almost Too Smart for His Petrified World

Senku Ishigami is so smart that it's absurd. While his isekai situation is a little different from others, he finds himself in a new world, albeit with the same rules as before. Senku's goal is to essentially rebuild civilization from scratch and find out who petrified humanity. He has nothing more than the tools around him, his friends to help him, and his own genius-level intellect to guide him. Dr. Stone hinges on Senku's brilliance. If he was even a bit less smart than he currently is, he might not be able to make any progress in his new Stone World.

Instead, Senku has used his intelligence at every corner to gain the upper hand in an unforgiving prehistoric-esque world. Dr. Stone is a great series for this very reason. Because of Senku's massive intelligence and ambition, humanity might just have a chance.

1 Shiro and Sora – No Game No Life

The Step-Siblings Are as Smart as Gods

Shiro and Sora are so smart that it bores them. Before they were transported to the magical world of Disboard, they spent their time playing online games as "Blank". As Blank, the pair hold the top score in over 280 different video games and have never been defeated. They're at their strongest when they're together, but individually, they're both geniuses. Shiro is a master of chess and has never lost a game. She can speak 18 different languages fluently and even mastered Immanity's language in less than 15 minutes.

If Shiro is the logical one of the two, Sora is the emotion. He knows how to beat his opponents from the inside out. While his sister is making expert-level calculations as to her opponent's next move, Sora is judging their behavior. He can find the perfect counter without really understanding the game so long as he can read the person in front of him.