Written by Meruem is one of the strongest characters in Hunter x Hunter, but the JoJo heroes have abilities that make this matchup much less simple.
In this ranking, we are considering only characters who appeared as the main protagonist in anime or anime spin-offs, excluding manga and light novel main characters. With that said, here is how every JoJo main character would fare against the Chimera Ant King.
8. Jonathan Joestar Has Almost No Answer For Meruem
Jonathan Joestar from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. | Credits: David Production
Jonathan is a powerful Hamon user, but this is simply the wrong kind of fight for him. During the Phantom Blood arc, he proves that he can take incredible punishment and fight enemies far stronger than ordinary humans. His battle with Dio shows his courage and physical strength, but Meruem is on another level entirely.
The biggest problem is that Jonathan has no real way to deal with Meruem’s speed and durability. Meruem survived Netero’s thousands of attacks and even remained alive after the Zero Hand during the Chimera Ant arc. Jonathan simply does not have enough tricks to bridge that gap, which puts him at No. 8.
7. Josuke Has Power But Not Enough To Win
Josuke Higashikata from a still. | Credits: David Production
Josuke has a much better chance than Jonathan because Crazy Diamond is an extremely strong and useful Stand. During the Diamond Is Unbreakable arc, he regularly uses it in creative ways, such as breaking and repairing objects to trap enemies or change the battlefield. It can also heal other people, although it cannot heal Josuke himself.
That last weakness matters a lot here. Meruem only needs one clean hit, and Josuke cannot simply repair his own injuries afterward. Crazy Diamond could help him escape or create a clever trap, but a long fight would almost certainly favor Meruem. Josuke ranks above Jonathan because he has more ways to react, but neither has a reliable answer to the King.
6. Jolyne Can Fight Back But Faces A Huge Gap
Jolyne using her string abilities. | Credits: David Production
Jolyne has one of the most flexible abilities on this list. Stone Free allows her to turn parts of her body into string, giving her extra reach and letting her create traps, move around obstacles, and defend herself in unusual ways.
That flexibility could help her survive longer than Josuke. She could use the environment, keep her distance, and avoid fighting Meruem head-on. However, once Meruem understands how Stone Free works, the problem becomes much bigger. She ranks above Josuke because she has better survival tools, but she still lacks the power to stop him.
5. Joseph’s Best Weapon Is His Clever Mind
Joseph Joestar from a still. | Credits: David Production
Joseph is not winning a strength contest against Meruem. He mostly survives by tricking opponents rather than overpowering them. His final fight with Kars is the best example.
Against Meruem, Joseph might use clever strategy: running, setting traps, reading his opponent, and looking for one strange way out. Still, Meruem is far smarter than most of Joseph’s enemies. That keeps Joseph below the Stand users with abilities that can directly change the fight.
4. Jotaro Can Survive With His Time-Stop Ability
Jotaro Kujo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure series. | Credits: David Production
Jotaro is where things become much more interesting. Star Platinum is already incredibly fast, precise, and powerful, but Star Platinum: The World gives him the ability to stop time. At his peak, Jotaro can stop time for up to five seconds. That gives him something most of the lower-ranked characters lack: a reliable way to escape a dangerous moment.
If Meruem attacks, Jotaro can stop time, move away, change his position, or attempt a counterattack. The problem is that surviving and defeating Meruem are two different things. Star Platinum is powerful, but there is no clear canon evidence that Jotaro’s punches could break through Meruem’s incredible durability. So while time stop keeps him alive longer, it does not guarantee a victory.
3. Rohan Can Win If Heaven’s Door Works First
Rohan Kishibe from a still. | Credits: David Production
Rohan may look like an easy target compared with Jotaro, but Heaven’s Door makes him one of the most dangerous characters in this matchup. The Stand can turn a person into a book, allowing Rohan to read information about them and write commands into their body and mind. That creates a very simple question in this fight: can Rohan activate Heaven’s Door before Meruem reaches him? If the answer is yes, Rohan could potentially write a command that prevents Meruem from attacking.
However, it is not guaranteed. Meruem is extraordinarily fast and intelligent, and there is no canon fight showing Heaven’s Door being used on someone with Meruem’s Nen and biology. That uncertainty keeps Rohan below the next two entries.
Spoiler Alert !!!Johnny Joestar section contains major story spoilers for abilities that have not yet been animated in the Steel Ball Run anime adaptation.
2. Johnny Joestar Has A Deadly Trump Card
Johnny from the latest Steel Ball Run anime has perhaps the most frightening attack here outside of Giorno. Tusk ACT4 uses the Infinite Rotation created through the Golden Spin. That is exactly why Meruem’s durability may not save him. The King is incredibly tough, but Tusk ACT4 is not simply another powerful punch.
However, Johnny’s weakness is the setup. He needs Slow Dancer and the correct Golden Spin conditions to bring out ACT4, and the process is difficult to complete if someone is attacking him. Against Meruem, that could be a huge problem. Still, if Johnny gets his shot, he has one of the best chances on this list.
1. Giorno Giovanna Can Shut Meruem Down Completely
Giorno Giovanna from a still. | Credits: David Production
Giorno is the clear No. 1 because Gold Experience Requiem gives him the most direct answer to Meruem. GER can nullify an opponent’s actions and will, preventing those actions from reaching their intended result. It even overpowered King Crimson during the final battle of Golden Wind.
Meruem can be faster, stronger, smarter, and tougher, but none of those things matter much if GER can return his actions to zero. Johnny needs time to set up Tusk ACT4, and Rohan needs Heaven’s Door to activate first. Giorno has the safest overall answer, making him the only JoJo protagonist with the best overall survival odds against the Chimera Ant King.
Now the big question: Do you agree with this ranking, or is there another JoJo hero you think could actually survive Meruem? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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