Alice In Borderland: 10 Characters, Ranked By Intelligence

It’s impossible to survive Alice in Borderland’s twisted games without a bit of luck, a few friends and, of course, some quick thinking. Only the smartest players can collect enough points to keep their visas active and avoid getting killed in the process.

The most intelligent characters in the Japanese survival series often display their cleverness in the last few moments of each difficult game. They save others or sometimes just themselves in the nick of time, keeping audiences at the edge of their seats in the process.

10 Chōta Segawa

When Chōta is first introduced, most fans likely thought he would be the funny supporting character on the show. However, his life story turned out to be darker than anyone expected.

His tumultuous past with religion affects his judgment, which is underscored when he finds himself being easily manipulated by Shibuki. Instead of trusting his old friends, his insecurity leads him into the arms of a complete stranger. He causes a rift between their tight-knit group right before a harrowing game of hearts, which is definitely the worst time to start doubting one’s friends.

9 Daikichi Karube

Karube portrays all the characteristics fans would expect from the trope of the protagonist’s best friend being reckless, carefree, and loud. He always has Arisu’s back and he can be helpful when it comes to activities that require strength.

The way he evades and defeats the masked tagger suggests he can be strategic during fights. That said, he doesn’t do much to show he’s smart in the few episodes he’s featured in. He usually relies on Arisu for solutions, but at least he doesn’t get in the way as Chōta does.

8 Saori Shibuki

If there are any ways Shibuki shows that she’s a smart competitor, it’s through her cruelty and manipulative actions. She reveals how she only cares about her own survival from the get-go, as she doesn’t seem to care about other players’ lives in the “Dead or Alive” game.

Her deviousness is highlighted again when she turns Chōta against his own friends. She doesn’t actually care about his fate, but she understands the competition enough to know that she needs allies she can count on. Her schemes don’t get her through to the end, though, as being cunning can only get players so far in the deadly games.

7 Hikari Kuina

There’s an increasing number of great shows with LGBTQ+ representation, and Alice in Borderland is among them. Kuina’s story is the most moving one in the series. Her past proves that not only is she bright enough to pick up complex martial arts moves, but she’s also incredibly brave.

She has experienced hardships with her family because of her gender identity, which has given her the strength and confidence necessary for surviving the life or death games. She does tend to rely on others like Chishiya to solve the extremely tough puzzles, but she has proven that she’s clever enough to draw on her own skills when she needs a boost.

6 Aguni Morizono

Aguni’s most memorable moment in the series is when he rejects his role as a villain and becomes a hero during a crucial time. He’s initially portrayed as a heartless and violent antagonist who has a group of loyal followers in the Beach.

After a few episodes, viewers learn about his complicated past with his best friend, Hatter. The series underscores how, at least in this one aspect, Aguni is more mature and level-headed than the Beach’s leader. He’s also ambitious and clever enough to fake a rivalry with Hatter in order to keep players under control. The only thing that holds him back is his own internal struggle with carrying on in the competition after killing his friend in self-defense. His inability to overcome his own guilt and rationalize his actions causes his downfall.

5 Takeru Danma (Hatter)

The Hatter is one of those charming horror villains who are either simply really lucky to be in their position or exceptionally resourceful. In his case, it’s a little bit of both.

The circumstances that lead to his creation of the Beach form the perfect storm that encourages his misguided goals. He brilliantly manufactures a fake story about how collecting all the cards can free at least one of them from the fatal contest. The fact that he might actually be right is just another testament to how his actions are often a mix of both cleverness and pure luck. It’s disappointing that viewers never actually see him win a game.

4 Yuzuha Usagi

One of the first things viewers learn about Usagi is that she’s agile and athletic, but she has shown that she’s much more than that. Usagi is intelligent when it comes to practical survival skills.

Thanks to her extensive outdoor experience with her dad, she knows how to survive in the bleak urban landscape where the games are held. She even teaches Arisu how to hunt and set up a proper shelter. She has fewer clever tricks during the games, but she does occasionally show that she can think fast like when she scales the building in the game of tag.

3 Ann Rizuna

The members of the executive board in the Beach have to be the best of the best, particularly when it comes to intelligence. This is why it’s not surprising that Ann is one of their most valuable members.

She’s able to solve games through investigation and deduction, such as when she uses her forensic knowledge to check for fingerprints during the witch hunt game. When she tests Arisu during the light bulb round, she figures out the answer to the question within the first few minutes. That said, these are the only main bright moves that are highlighted by the show, so there’s no telling exactly how much smarter she can be in other situations.

2 Shuntarō Chishiya

Chishiya could very well be the most intelligent character on the show, but fans haven’t had the chance to see his full potential. Instead of charging headfirst into every challenge, he chooses to hang back and observe until the last few minutes. It’s a clever strategy that has kept him alive long enough to devise a plan to steal the Hatter’s deck of cards.

While everyone else is busy trying to survive every single day, Chishiya chooses to look at the bigger picture. This unique focus also highlights how he’s confident about winning all the games without even trying too hard. Until he proves how brilliant he can be in games, though, he won’t take the top spot as the smartest character on the show so far.

1 Ryōhei Arisu

It’s not just Arisu’s photographic memory that makes him so brilliant. It’s also how he’s able to apply everything he remembers to overcome challenges, such as how he’s able to compute the exact length of a building through a car he briefly sees by the entrance.

In one way or another, Arisu is able to come up with solutions to even the most mind-bending games. He rarely needs anyone else’s help to complete the levels, but he’s empathetic enough to at least try to save other players’ lives. It’s exciting to see him turn his attention to collecting all of the face cards, not only to escape but also to defeat the gamemasters and end the brutal competition once and for all.

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