Near vs Mello: who is smarter?

The two are built as opposites. Near works alone, slowly, with toys and patience, and lets evidence accumulate. Mello acts, takes risks, and works with criminals when he has to. The orphanage that trained L named both as candidates to succeed him, and neither could match L alone.

Mello's biggest moves are bold ones: he takes real risks that produce real information, including the kidnapping that gets the story unstuck. But he pays for them, and much of what he gets is used by others. Near lets other people take the risks and then picks up the result.

The last act tips the balance. Near's decisive move is a substitution trick built on patient study of his opponent, the kind of plan that rewards a long preparation. It is a stronger demonstration of intelligence than any single stroke from Mello, which is why we rate Near about ten points higher.

Near

• Having Mikami followed (Death Note, Near arc)
• Spotting the decoy notebook (Death Note, run-up to the final confrontation)
• The replica in the vault (Death Note, final confrontation)

Full Near profile

Mello

• Kidnapping Sayu for a notebook (Death Note, Mello arc)
• Grabbing Takada (Death Note, Mello and Takada)

Full Mello profile