For a series that is always sending the player on solo sneaking missions, there are plenty of heroes in the Metal Gear Solid games. Solid Snake, Big Boss, and Raiden are always backed up by a full support team, and they tend to meet noble figures during their adventures, too.

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The honorable individuals come in all shapes and sizes, from intellectual scientists to powerful warriors. It's the latter that will be examined for this list, as we've ranked the 10 strongest heroes in the series (including Rising: Revengeance). These heroes have been chosen not only based on their physical strength, but their ability to use that strength in combat.

10 Jonathan

Jonathan is a member of Meryl’s Rat Patrol Team from MGS4. When the squad fights their way through Advent Palace, he showcases his excellent combat abilities (with the help of nanomachines and the SOP system).

However, Jonathan isn't on this list just because he's a good marksman; he's also huge and very strong. And if he’d been allowed to show off his power against more impressive opponents, he may have ended up higher in these rankings.

9 Olga Gurlukovich

Cyborg ninjas are some of the best warriors in the Metal Gear universe. Olga Gurlukovich is one of them during the Plant chapter of the second game.

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She isn't as strong as the other cyborg ninjas as she lacks all of their cybernetic enhancements, but she does still have exceptional agility. Plus, Olga proves that she's a capable soldier during a duel with Solid Snake, which is before she even puts on the powered suit.

8 Blade Wolf

Blade Wolf (aka LQ-84i) is a highly advanced AI machine who, as the name suggests, resembles a wolf. Raiden fights and then joins forces with the powerful cyborg during the events of Metal Gear Rising.

The Wolf loses to Raiden in their battle but still manages to give him a real challenge. This is no surprise as the machine is equipped with several different weapons, including throwing knives, claws, and a chainsaw (albeit only in his original form). He is also extremely durable and fast.

7 Gray Fox

Metal Gear Solid Grey Fox

Gray Fox is the first cyborg ninja to appear in the Metal Gear Solid games. While he initially seems like an antagonist in the first MGS, he quickly proves himself to be a hero when he saves Solid Snake from Metal Gear Rex.

It's during his battle with Rex where he displays his extraordinary strength by stopping the giant machine from stomping on Snake. He even holds his own against the Metal Gear for a little while. Before all that, though, Gray Fox goes toe to toe with Solid Snake. However, even with all his cybernetically-enhanced power, Gray Fox can't win, which is why he is not ranked higher.

6 Quiet

Quiet MGS V phantom pain on mother base

Her outfit might be controversial, but Quiet is a badass throughout Phantom Pain. There are multiple times in the game when she uses her superhuman strength, speed, and agility to incapacitate groups of soldiers with ease. And if she isn't beating them up, she is taking them out with her fantastic sniper skills.

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She does have a major weakness, though, as she can only use her superhuman abilities if she has enough water and sunlight. But when she has those things, only the best can stop her.

5 The Boss

Metal Gear Solid 3 Screenshot Of The Boss Firing Weapon

It takes an extremely strong individual to strike fear into the intimidating Volgin, but The Boss does just that in MGS3. Volgin fears her because she has a reputation for being one of the greatest soldiers ever.

Even her protégé Naked Snake, who spends a lot of the third game beating some of the most powerful warriors around, is easily bested by The Boss in most of their encounters. However, the future Big Boss does eventually surpass her and kills her in one-on-one combat. At least the game's twist ending reveals that The Boss died a true hero.

4 Venom Snake

Phantom Pain Venom Snake in the helicopter

As he only features in two games (with this identity) in the series, Venom Snake doesn't have as many impressive victories as those above him in this list. However, he does take down Quiet and the Metal Gear, Sahelanthropus, in Phantom Pain.

Venom Snake's abilities are virtually equal to that of the original Big Boss, which makes him a master of CQC with the added bonus of having a powerful bionic arm.

3 Big Boss

Metal Gear Solid 3 Screenshot Of Naked Snake

Big Boss might not remain a hero throughout the series, but he once was one, so he's eligible for this list. There is no doubt that he is one of the strongest characters in the series.

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In MGS3, he manages to survive in the jungle mostly with supplies he scavenges himself while defeating the remaining members of the legendary Cobra Unit in the process. And a little later in life, he destroys multiple Metal Gears on his own. Even when he's past his prime, he gives Solid Snake a tough fight, although his opponent does start the battle unarmed.

2 Solid Snake

Metal Gear Solid 2 Screenshot Of Snake and Raiden With Guns

During the series, Solid Snake defeats four of the individuals on this list (Olga, Gray Fox, Venom Snake, and Big Boss), which alone proves his credentials for being one of the strongest heroes in the Metal Gear universe.

Although, his greatest achievement might be taking down every member of the mighty Beauty and the Beast unit despite his accelerated aging. Whether young or old, Solid Snake's strength and endurance far exceed the capabilities of a normal human being.

1 Raiden

Metal Gear Solid Rising Revengeance Screenshot Of Raiden In Full Armor Holding Sword

While Solid Snake and Big Boss might be the most popular main protagonists of the series, no hero comes close to Raiden in terms of power.

In Metal Gear Rising, not only does he destroy a Metal Gear with a sword, but he also picks the war machine up and throws it into the air. It's one of the many incredible feats of strength Raiden pulls off after he is transformed into a cyborg ninja. Along with his super strength, the ninja has lightning speed, unbelievable agility, and his durability is second to none.

NEXT: Metal Gear: Every Villain, Ranked According To Strength