If you’re fascinated by magical creatures and mythical beasts, you’ve probably wondered what the most powerful beings are. Perhaps you’ve even debated with your friends who would win if a dragon got into a fight with a stone troll. Of course, power comes in the form of both strength and magic, so this can be a more complex question than it appears. Let’s explore the top seven most powerful mythical beasts.

1. Dragons

Dragons have both of the attributes that we associate with power: strength and magic. Not only are they often depicted as huge, muscular beings, they also have the ability to breathe fire (in Western culture) or control nature (in Asian culture). One thing is for certain: if you ever saw dragons live, you’d be lucky to escape in one piece!

2. Trolls

Trolls are large, formidable creatures that live in caves or mountainous regions. Although often depicted as slow witted, they are extremely strong and can be vicious. In Norse mythology, trolls have magical abilities such as shape-shifting, controlling elements or casting spells. This would make them a daunting enemy.

3. Griffins

The griffin is a hybrid creature, with the head, talons and wings of an eagle and the body, back legs and tail of a lion. It combines two of the strongest animals in the mammal and bird kingdoms, symbolising courage, ferocity and power. Griffins are said to have superhuman strength, and in medieval times their feathers were thought to cure blindness. Having a griffin on your side during a quest would be very handy.

4. Basilisks

This terrifying reptile is known as the ‘king of the serpents’. It’s said to be created when the egg of a serpent or toad is hatched by a cockerel. In medieval folklore, basilisks were thought to have some characteristics of a cockerel, such as feathers. They have a lethal gaze, killing any human or animal that looks directly into their eyes. They also have breath that can wither landscapes.

5. Hydra

In Greek mythology, one of the tasks faced by the hero Heracles is killing the hydra. This massive nine-headed monster is immortal and has amazing regenerative powers: anyone attempting to kill it by beheading it will find that two more heads emerge from the wound. The beast also has poisonous blood.

6. Unicorns

Unicorns might look delicate, but they are powerful creatures with both strength and magic on their side. Stronger than horses, they are notoriously difficult to catch and their horns have a host of healing properties. A unicorn horn is said to be able to heal wounds, purify water and protect against poison.

7. Amaroks

In Inuit folklore, Amaroks are gigantic wolves that hunt alone. Their size means they have super-strength and exceptional endurance - and they will devour anyone foolish enough to hunt by themselves at night. One story endows amaroks with the ability to take a human’s soul from their body.

If you love magical creatures and would like to see a mythical beast up close, don’t miss Dragons and Mythical Beasts Live, coming soon to a theatre near you!