Anomander Rake is perhaps the central pivotal character of the Malazan universe. Here is an incomplete list of his abilities and characteristics:

• he is regarded as being the greatest sword fighter in all the known realms
• he carries with him the sword Dragnipur – which, upon a strike against a being, transports them to a universe of immortal servitude.
• he is among the mightiest High Mages in the world, having traded blows evenly with Tayschrenn.
• he can shapeshift into a dragon. (having drunk the blood of the original queen of dragons herself – and being himself an elder, he is certainly among the mightiest dragons in the world).