20 Strongest Pre Workout Supplements for Stim Heads (Aug 2023)

If you’re looking for the strongest pre-workout supplements, you’ve come to the right place.

These are the pre-workout supplements you won’t find on other lists. Don’t believe us? Go check the other lists – go on, we’ll wait.

If you’re in a rush, here are our five strongest pre-workouts at the moment.

Here are the top three new pre-workouts that stim junkies are enjoying!

Looking for a hardcore pre-workout with some exotic stims?

We have dedicated lists of the best DMAA pre-workouts and DMHA pre-workouts.

Do you want 600 mg of caffeine to the face?

We’ve got a pre-workout for that! Enjoy Hooligan.

What about a pre-workout with a euphoric head buzz?

Check out Wild Fire Pre-Workout or Flame Pre-Workout.

Or maybe you just want something strong, but without any banned ingredients?

For that, you need Kaged Elite Pre-Workout or Bulk Black Pre-Workout.

The point is that we’ve tried just about everything. If it’s on this list, it’s great. Period.

Whether you want high stim energy, intense focus and euphoria, or simply hardcore intensity and aggression in the gym, we have something for you.

As any grizzled pre-workout veteran will attest, strong pre-workouts have their own unique effects that aren’t fully captured on the ingredient label.

This round-up is for the stim junkies, the true pre-workout connoisseurs.

This list is updated monthly to ensure you’re getting the latest and strongest pre-workouts available.

Here is the full list of the strongest pre-workout supplements available and their effects.

The Strongest Pre-Workout Supplements in 2023

1. Assassin Pre-Workout
2. Crack Pre-Workout
3. Pre-Kaged Elite Pre-workout
4. Flame Pre-Workout
5. Hooligan Pre-Workout
6. Crack Reloaded Pre-Workout
7. El Jefe Pre-Workout
8. Wild Fire Pre-Workout

Each of the pre workouts below is unique in their own special way. They’re all strong pre workouts, but the one that is “right” for you depends on what you’re looking for. Any of these can be used as a successful tool in your health journey.

If you’re looking to cut down on your caffeine consumption, I recommend checking our list of the best pre workouts without caffeine.

If you’re 18 or under, I recommend checking out our list of the best pre-workouts for teens.

Assassin Pre Workout (Most Intense Pre Workout)

Assassin pre workout is a powerful, rage inducing hardcore supplement from Apollon Nutrition. It is for going full beast mode. When I think of the most intense pre workouts, Assassin is the first thing that comes to my mind. This is definitely “stim junkie” approved.

I take Assassin on my heaviest lifting days, which usually means squats or deadlifts. Even taking 3/4 scoop fills me with an all-encompassing feeling of energy, focus, and purpose. These things blend together to form an overall aggression and desire to rip into heavy weights.

Could you take this for a bodybuilding style pump workout? Sure – absolutely.

Could you take it and go for a long run? Yes.

But what I really want to do when I take Assassin is hit a PR squat. That is it’s time to shine. It is built for RPE 10 sets.

I’m not going to break down the ingredient label line by line (I do that in my full Assassin pre workout review), but I’ll note a few highlights.

In each serving of Assassin, you’ll get the following ingredients:

• 500 mg caffeine anhydrous + 133 mg dicaffeine malate = 600 mg caffeine
• 300 mg Eria Jarensis
• 1,500 mg L-Tyrosine
• 300 mg Theacrine
• 3.5 Beta Alanine

One of the reason I love Apollon Nutrition products is that they rarely skimp on ingredient dosages. If they include an ingredient, you can expect it to be fully dosed. They don’t believe in including ingredients just so they can slap it on the label for marketing purposes.

Crack Pre Workout (Energy + Pumps)

Crack is an insanely strong pre workout that has a fully dosed stimulant and pump ingredient portfolio. It’s the flagship pre-workout of Dark Labs that started it all.

On the focus and energy side, you’ll get the following ingredients per serving:

• 400 mg of caffeine anhydrous
• 120 mg of DMAA
• 500 mg of choline bitartrate

Even though it’s a short stimulant profile, it’s a powerful combination for endurance and intense energy.

On the pump and blood flow side, you’ll get the following ingredients per serving:

• 8 grams of citrulline malate
• 1.5 grams of agmatine sulfate
• 1 gram of arginine silicate
• 1 gram of beet root powder
• 300 mg of VASO6

This is a fully loaded, powerful pump supplement formula.

The 3 grams of CarnoSyn branded beta alanine will deliver all the tingles you want, too.

Thought it only has 20 full servings in a tub, I would wager that 1 scoop, which equates to 40 servings, would be plenty for most lifters.

Pre-Kaged Elite – Kaged

Pre-Kaged Elite is one of the best pre-workouts without any illicit stimulants on this list. It’s another entry in the “overloaded ingredient label” pre-workout category, joining the likes of Hooligan and Ryse Godzilla.

Pre-Kaged Elite is an effective alternative to Hooligan, which contains a hefty 600 mg dose of caffeine per serving. Most of the time that’s just too much caffeine, leading people to take a half or 3/4 serving, which cuts down on the doses of the pump ingredients.

Because Pre-Kaged Elite contains a more manageable 400 mg dose of caffeine, taking a full serving is less daunting task. This lets you enjoy the full serving of pump ingredients, which are worth calling out.

In a full serving of Pre-Kaged Elite there is 8,000 mg of l-citrulline, 2,500 mg of betaine anhydrous, and 500 mg of coconut fruit water powder for pumps, power, and hydration. And that’s really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the full ingredient list.

Not to mention that it’s also one of the best tasting pre-workouts on this list. I highly recommend the strawberry lemonade flavor!

Flame Pre-Workout

Flame Pre-Workout is one of the best pre-workouts from Dark Labs. It’s most unique feature is that it does not contain any pump pre-workout ingredients. Instead, it only contains powerful stimulants like DMHA and eria jarensis. So while it’s not going to help you get a pump, it’ll keep you in the gym for hours at a time.

The formula has gone a few iterations over the years, with the most recent (v3) being released in 2023. This one goes back to the original feel of Flame, giving hours of feel-good energy and buzz.

Flame is absolutely not a beginner pre-workout. Unless you have been taking pre-workout for several years I recommend you stay way from this one. Only experienced users should partake in this one.

Hooligan Pre Workout (Long Lasting Energy)

Hooligan pre workout is the second supplement from Apollon Nutrition on this list.

Like its sister, Assassin, Hooligan really earns the designation of a fully dosed pre workout and is truly one of the strongest hardcore pre workout supplements. This label is a bit simpler and includes fewer stimulants, but it is no less serious – it’s just different.

In fact, both products are included on my list of the best pre workout supplements.

Hooligan is excellent for folks looking for an intense pre workout that delivers long lasting energy and skin ripping pumps. If you’re seeking endurance, then be sure to check out Hooligan.

A few highlights from the Hooligan ingredient label, per serving:

• 450 mg caffeine anhydrous + 150 mg dicaffeine malate = 600 mg caffeine
• 300 mg Alpha GPC
• 200 mg Theobromine
• 3,000 mg Betaine Anhydrous

When it comes to pre-workout ingredients, Hooligan checks every single box.

Of course you’re getting 6 grams of L-Citrulline for pumps and blood flow and 3.2 grams of Beta Alanine for power output (and tingles).

Hooligan is overflowing with powerful ingredients to fuel even the most grueling workouts. In terms of feeling, Hooligan is predominantly an energy-focused pre workout, with the normal feelings of mood elevation and motivation associated with caffeine. It doesn’t make you feel crazy or aggressive, but it’ll help you do that last set (and then some).

The 133 mg of di-caffeine malate (yielding an effective dose of 100 mg of caffeine) is an “extended release” version of caffeine, which helps negate any negative “crash” effects resulting from the strong 600 mg dose of caffeine anhydrous.

But don’t let the caffeine content scare you aware. The 1,500 mg of tyrosine helps smooth out your experience as well and reduce any negative side effects from the hefty caffeine dosage. You also, of course, don’t have to take a full scoop. I usually don’t!

Overall, Hooligan is very thoughtfully crafted supplement; they didn’t just throw a bunch of stimulant ingredients in a tub and call it a day.

Crack Reloaded Pre-Workout

Crack Reloaded was the first Dark Labs pre-workout to not contain illicit pre-workout ingredients like DMHA or DMAA. As a result, some people were afraid it wouldn’t be worth using.

Boy were they wrong.

Crack Reloaded contains a whopping 500 mg of caffeine in a full serving, making it one of the most caffeinated pre-workouts on this list (right behind Hooligan and Assassin).

I actually prefer Crack Reloaded, as I don’t want to be ingesting DMAA and DMHA most of the time. Crack Reloaded gives me a massive jolt of long-lasting energy without needing to take any grey-area stimulants.

El Jefe Pre Workout (Energy + Mood Elevation)

El Jefe from ACS Supplements is a DMHA (Juglans Regia Extract) propriety blend pre workout designed for the stim junkies.

I don’t usually like supplements that use a proprietary blend because I think transparency is important, especially when it comes to stuff you’re putting into your body, but it’s hard to argue with the effects.

From what I can tell from the ingredient list, El Jefe contains DMHA, two types of caffeine, eria jarensis, hordenine hcl, and alpha yohimbine, most notably.

El Jefe hits really nicely, providing smooth mood enhancement and a solid energy boost. It finds a sweet spot between stimmed out pre workouts that have negative side effects and ordinary daily driver pre workouts. 

I feel great when I take El Jefe, mostly happy and productive, and don’t have a wicked crash afterward. It also works pretty well at a half dose (1 scoop) for days when you don’t need to go full tilt. 

Even though its a proprietary blend, I’d definitely recommend El Jefe for those looking for a “happy pre workout” that doesn’t totally burn you out.

Wild Fire Pre-Workout (Euphoria and Long-Lasting Energy)

Wild Fire Pre-Workout is another newcomer with DMAA and DMHA on its label. While we can’t confirm if this is true, it earned a five star review from us after we used it. Not only is it euphoric, but it’s also a powerful thermogenic pre-workout.

Wild Fire really dials up your focus, helping you build that mind-muscle connection during your reps. It’s long-lasting too, giving over five hours of energy and focus in our experience.

While it’s definitely not for beginners, it’s something worth checking out for experienced users.

Ingredients Found in the Strongest Pre Workout Supplements

Here are a few ingredients that you’ll want to pay attention to when buying a hardcore pre workout.

Caffeine Anhydrous

Caffeine anhydrous is the classic form of the caffeine known for energy, motivation, and focus.

I usually look for supplements that has between 400 mg and 500 mg of caffeine in them, though some, like Hooligan or Assassin, have 600 mg of caffeine (when counting both caffeine anhydrous and dicaffeine malate, discussed below).

Caffeine is included on our list of the best pre-workout ingredients.

Di-Caffeine Malate

Di-caffeine malate is the extended release version of caffeine. I like to see this ingredient included in pre workout because it helps the pre workout last longer and it helps smooth out “crash” effects that can occur from high doses of caffeine anhydrous.

100 mg to 133 mg of dicaffeine malate is a good amount to look for.

Tip: Dicaffeine malate yields 75% caffeine, so if you see 100 mg of dicaffeine malate on the label, that means it is equivalent to 75 mg of caffeine. The other 25% is malic acid.

DMAA

DMAA is a stimulant that provides energy, focus, and euphoric feelings by increasing the concentration of dopamine and epinephrine. DMAA made a comeback in 2019 after disappearing from the pre workout scene for a few years. There are now several different pre workouts with DMAA.

Honestly, the amount of DMAA on an ingredients label is usually pretty unreliable, which is why it is so important to read pre workout reviews to understand what the true effects are.

DMHA

DMHA is also a stimulant that behaves in a fashion similar to DMAA: energy, euphoria, focus, etc. It grew in popularity over the last several years as many pre workout manufacturers shied away from using DMAA, creating DMHA pre workout supplements instead.

DMHA is frequently included in dosages ranging from 100 mg to 200 mg.

It can also be labeled as juglans regia extract, 2-aminoisoheptane, octodrine, 1,5-dimethylhexylamine, and 2-amino-6-methylheptane. 

Eria Jarensis

Eria Jarensis is a stimulant that is becoming a popular alternative to DMAA or DMHA. Sometimes you’ll see those ingredients combined, like with Pre Phase. It increases levels of dopamine and noradrenaline in the user and can enhance mood, increase motivation, and dial in concentration.

A solid dose of Eria Jarensis usually ranges between 150 mg and 250 mg, with 200 mg being quite common.

L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that increases the synthesis of dopamine and helps improve concentration and memory during stressful situations. It can help balance the effects of high caffeine doses by “smoothing out” some of the jittery effects. Since the strongest pre workouts often contain a lot of stimulants, it is important to balance them out with L-Tyrosine.

I like to see at least 500 mg of L-Tyrosine in a pre workout, with the top-tier

ones usually including between 1,000 mg and 1,500 mg.

While other ingredients like L-Citrulline and Beta Alanine are important, most high quality workout supplements will get these right.

A “Strong Pre Workout” Is Not Always Optimal

I, like many people, assumed for a while that what I needed for my workouts was the most powerful pre workout. This turned out to be a false assumption.

If you’re relatively new to pre workout, check out my list of the recommended pre workout supplements for beginners. I include pre workouts with over 300 mg of caffeine on that list, so you might be surprised by my definition of beginner. 😉

It’s always a good idea to save your strongest supplements for special occasions, not every training session. I take these kinds of pre workouts about once a week, maybe twice a week at most.

My favorite pre workouts for regular, daily usage are Lean Pre-Workout and Kaged Pre-Workout. If you are new to taking pre workout, I’d recommend checking those out first. That way you’re not needlessly increasing your caffeine tolerance, exposing yourself to potent stimulants, and potentially building unhealthy habits.

Closing Thoughts

There you have it – the strongest pre workouts currently available. You can’t go wrong with any of the above, it just depends on what you’re looking for.

I tend to use Hooligan the most, followed by Assassin and El Jefe.

I stay away from Excelsior these days, but it truly is an extraordinary experience for those seeking a high stim pre workout. The choice is yours.

Pre Workouts That Didn’t Make the Cut

The pre workout supplements listed above were proven to be the strongest after extensive testing. Here are some pre workouts that were tried but did not make the final list:

• Transparent Labs – Bulk 
• Transparent Labs – Lean
• Beyond Raw – Lit
• Ronnie Coleman Signature Series – Yeah Buddy
• Bucked Up – Woke AF
• Pro Supps – Mr. Hyde NitroX
• Kaged Muscle – Pre-Kaged
• Old School Labs – Vintage Blast
• EVLution Nutrition – ENGN
• GAT Sport – Nitraflex
• Man Sports – Gameday
• Legion Athletics – Pulse
• Ghost – Legend
• RSP Nutrition – DyNO

How to Make Any Pre Workout “Hardcore”

If you don’t want to be ingesting a hardcore pre workout all the time, another option is to add your own DMAA or DMHA. These can be found online from vendors like Bulk Stimulants or ELV Bio.

This has the advantage of allowing you to fine tune exactly how frequently you’re taking these ingredients and adjust the dosage.

Learn more: Where to Buy DMAA Powder and DMHA Powder Online

Frequently Asked Questions

About Kyle Risley

Kyle Risley founded Lift Vault in 2016 to make finding great powerlifting programs easier. Since then, the site has grown to include hundreds of programs for strength, bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, and more. He currently lives in Massachusetts and continues to compete in powerlifting.