Shonen anime is famous among other things for having some of the best and most exciting battles in the industry. While these thrilling fights are often performed by unarmed opponents, e.g Dragon BallUZ Fighters use of weapons is not that uncommon. Swords in particular are often used to add a dash of tension to these scenes, creating beautifully visual and memorable moments.
Over the years, Shonen has become home to a large number of talented and deadly swordsmen who have wowed fans with their impressive moves and the power of their strikes. While there is no shortage of amazingly powerful sword users in anime, there are also those who prove to be far superior. This may be because their technique is flawless, their special abilities give them a great advantage, or simply because they have mastered their craft like no one else can.
19 of the strongest swords in anime
Powerful swords are an essential accessory for any anime hero. These swords are the strongest that have appeared in the anime series.
Dracule Mihawk – One Piece
He hailed across the sea One piece the world's strongest swordsman, Mihawk is a perfect example of how power and grace don't have to be opposites. During his first ever appearance, the former sea warrior defeated Zoro, one of the strongest characters in the One piecewithout drawing his sword. Since then, he has only increased his power and no one has ever come close to taking the title away from him.
Despite living in a world where Devil Fruit users run rampant, each possessing abilities beyond human imagination, Mihawk remains one of the strongest characters in his world, even without special powers. In addition to his incredible strength and abilities, Mihawk also has access to armor and observation Haki, making his defenses much stronger than those of a normal fighter. Zoro may surpass his idol in the future, but for now, no one stands above Dracula One pieceworld.
Hiko Seijuro – Rurouni Kenshin
A master of the Mitsurugi-Ryu sword style and mentor to the titular hero Kenshin, Hiko is a fighter who can go up against almost every skilled swordsman in the anime and still come out on top. His decades of experience have given him near-superhuman strength, allowing him to fight with his pupil at full power while wearing a weight that suppresses his reflexes and movements. In addition to his incredible physique, Hiko is also an agile opponent with almost no visible weaknesses.
Even more impressive of all, his reflexes are several times more effective than those of a normal human. Hiko is a true monster, able to change the direction of a building-destroying sword with one hand and without taking any damage. Even though he doesn't have any real special abilities or magic behind his powers, there's no denying that Hiko is the strongest character in Rurouni Kenshinas well as one of the best and most impressive fighters of all time.
Guess the anime from emoticons.
Start
Guess the anime from emoticons.
Easy (120s) Medium (90s) Hard (60s)
Kisuke Urahara – Bleach
While it is often the case that superhuman strength and broken otherworldly abilities can help a fighter overcome almost anyone in his universe, technique and mastery are not to be underestimated. Urahara, former captain of Soul Society's 12thThursday division and one of the best mentors in Bleachis living proof of this phenomenon. Kisuke cannot be called weak by any means, as he is much stronger than most of the regular Shinigami in the series, but he is by no means the strongest.
What Urahara lacks in raw power, he more than makes up for in both skill and experience. Not only has he spent decades perfecting his craft, but he is also naturally talented as a fighter. Urahara is also a master strategist, able to analyze an opponent and find weaknesses in their style within seconds, giving him a great advantage against less experienced fighters. His star pupil, Ichigo, may surpass his mentor in terms of strength, but his technique is not refined enough to gain an advantage during one-on-one combat.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni – Demon Slayer
Muzan Kibutsuji, the strongest and most ruthless villain in Demon Slayerhe is a character that could strike fear into anyone who just heard his name. There was only one person in history who faced this hideous creature and not only survived but humiliated it. This is none other than the most powerful swordsman in the history of the series, Yoriichi. This impressive warrior, the creator of the sun breathing form and the father of all other sword techniques, was a force of nature that became human.
Even Muzan, who prided himself on his strength, was unable to harm Yoriichi during their brief duel. Tsugikuni proved that he was not only better than the demon leader, but also established himself as the strongest demon slayer in history. It's unfortunate that the information given about Yoriichi's true power is limited, as he was born long before the start of the series. Still, his accomplishments during his active life were the stuff of legend, giving fans a hint of just how powerful he really is.
Gintoki Sakata – Gintama
World Gintama is without a doubt one of the weirdest and most chaotic in anime history, mainly due to the comedy aspect of this hilarious show. However, from time to time the series decided to abandon the jokes and focus on stellar action scenes featuring the protagonist and hero Gintoki. His background as a soldier and his wealth of experience as a swordsman give Sakata an edge over almost all opponents, human or otherwise. His exceptional strength was such that his mere wooden sword could cut through pure metal.
Unlike most other swordsmen in anime, who tend to shine for their stunning techniques and mastery over craft, Gintoki preferred an unpredictable and relentless style. His opponents would easily get confused during the battle because they couldn't predict what the wild man would come up with next. Although by no means one of the smartest anime characters, Gintoki was no fool, able to quickly come up with ingenious strategies to outsmart stronger opponents and find an opening that would allow him to deliver the finishing blow.
Erza Scarlet – Fairy Tail
In a world where magic and superhuman abilities are commonplace, as in the case Fairy Tailfighting with traditional weapons may not be the best choice. Yet Erza Scarlet, also known as one of the most powerful mages in the titular guild, found a way to rise to the top even with these limitations. This comes not only from her unique magical abilities that give her access to a huge variety of armor, but also from intense training and determination.
No matter what enemy Erza faced, she did so without fear, trusting in her strength and her tools to accomplish the task. However, it's also important to point out that Ezra was also a skilled user of Sword Magic, allowing her to manipulate weapons without even touching them, giving her a pretty big advantage over many other sword users in the anime.
Hiei – Yu Yu Hakusho
It's common in Shonen anime for a character to specialize in a single form of combat that they will develop as the series goes on. For example, the heroes of Dragon Ballone of the best Shonen in history, they are all hand-to-hand experts but rarely ever use a weapon to fight. Hiei, a stoic and ruthless warrior from Yu Yu Hakushois the exception to the rule in the best possible way. Before the evil eye master was a great swordsman, he was a skilled martial artist.
10 things Yu Yu Hakusho does better than Hunter X Hunter
Although Hunter x Hunter is a great anime, there are certain things that Yu Yu Hakusho does better.
His speed and physical abilities alone put him above the vast majority of strong shonen protagonists introduced over the years, with his weapons training only helping him progress. In Hiei's hands, the blade is more than a simple weapon; it becomes a death sentence for anyone who might be his opponent. If overpowering and outspeeding his opponents wasn't enough, he was also able to cover his weapon with demonic fire and use this element to attack from a distance or inflict mortal wounds on even the most imposing of monsters.
Yami Sukehiro – Black Clover
The Black Bull guild is one of the most powerful in the entire Clover Kingdom, and this is largely due to the leadership and experience of Yami, their captain. Hailing from the Land of the Sun, a land with a deep history of sword magic, Sukehiro has been trained since childhood to become a master of the art. Despite his muscular build, Yami was able to move in a fluid and almost imperceptible manner, making it nearly impossible for common opponents to defend against.
If speed wasn't enough, Captain Black Bull often relied on his impressive technique and superhuman strength, turning simple yet elegant moves into unstoppable attacks that could challenge even the most powerful wizards. If all else fails, Yami has also been a prominent user of the Dimension Slash technique, which can cut through dimensions to reach its target.
