For most the strongest Digimon in the franchise, like Gallantmon and Beelzemon, are part of these classifications, further proving why they are so popular.

Yet, the series has another interesting team of creatures that are incredibly powerful and rule over everyone else: The Olympos XII. These creatures are heavily inspired by the mythology behind Greek and Roman culture as ones who maintain the peace of the Iliad, an alternate version of the Digital World. They are also about to become more important than ever, as the franchise is hinting at their story being relevant in projects.

Who Are the Olympos XII, and Where Have They Been?

These Deities Represent the Law in the Digital World: Iliad

Native to the wild and dangerous Digital World: Iliad, the Olympos XII is a group of Mega Level Digimon inspired by Roman deities. Unlike the dimension most anime fans are familiar with, the Olympos' home universe is filled with strong uncontrollable creatures who usually wreak chaos and attempt to kill one another in an endless search for power. Tired of seeing their comrades fall, these Digimon ed forces to become the enforcers of justice in their world. With the wisdom of their leader, Jupitermon, they created a more civilized home where they could protect the weak and dismantle those who would attempt to thwart their newfound peace.

Each member of this imposing group is directly inspired by one of the main Roman deities. Their abilities and designs heavily correlate to the depictions of their relative deities from temples and archaic myths. They are said to have the same power level as the Royal Knights, which is a probable reason why the original justice fighters would not have intervened in their world, despite the turmoil that previously plagued them. While not as prevalent as iconic characters like the original group of partner Digimon, they are a core part of the franchise, being vital for the development of the Digital World as a whole.

Anime Fans Already Know Some of Their

Mercurymon, Apollomon, and Mervamon Are Already Cherished Characters

Indeed, the Olympos XII may not have received as much attention as other beloved Digimon characters, but anime viewers are familiar with three of their . The first one who played a major role in the series is Mercurymon, one of the main antagonists in Digimon Data Squad. He used to be Keenan’s mentor and a defender of humanity, but after seeing the destruction humans could cause, he began looking for a way to exterminate the species. Even though his measures were extreme, his quest for peace and justice shows the ideals his fellow Olympos XII follow.

The second and significantly more popular member is Mervamon, an alternate version of Minervamon, and one of Nene’s partner Digimon during the Fusion series. She is a strong and determined fighter, always trying to protect the innocent and punish evil. She quickly became popular among fans for her amazing concept art, considered by many fans as one of the best Digimon designs. Alongside her, the show also introduced Apollomon, one of the fiercest heroes in the Fusion season, who perfectly embodied the moral code of his team.

The Olympos XII Will Become More Relevant Than Ever Soon

Bandai Has Been Refocusing Their Efforts on the Digimon Franchise

Even though many fans already consider the ancient deities to be a key piece of the Digimon franchise, there is no denying that the group has often been ignored, or their presence was often undermined due to the overarching narrative. This is soon to change as Bandai, the company in charge of the series, has confirmed that 2025 will be a year dedicated to expanding the story behind the Olympos XII.

Thanks to the recent PlayStation State of Play event that was hosted in early February, not only was it revealed that the long-awaited game, Digimon Story: Time Stranger would be released at the end of the year, but a short description of the title confirms that the narrative would take place in the Iliad world. The franchise may be preparing to give the team more focus on projects, such as anime or manga series.