20 Best Swordsmen In Anime, Ranked

Swordsmen and women are an iconic staple of shonen anime, and these are some of the finest blade wielders ever animated.


The epic battles of vengeance, competition, and power played a major part in defining the Japanese anime landscape that fans know today. A focal point for most of that action is the anime swordsman — fighters of a special, mid-range martial art that itself has come to be defined by Kurosawa-esque noble warriors, epic clashes, and ridiculous displays of power.
Yet, it is these simple weapons that make sword-wielding anime characters so engaging and innately stoic. They have honed their craft and their mind to become the best swordsmen possible. That said, anime swordsmen are in an entirely different league because of one simple reason: many of them have supernatural power.

Swordsmen always rank among the coolest and most popular characters in anime, and anime fans are eager to know who's the best sword-slinger of all. These characters take swordplay to the next level, often employing advanced tactics, incredible techniques, and even supernatural abilities to slash their foes apart time and again. As such, we've updated this list with some more information.

20
Kento Nanami Combines His Powerful Cursed Technique With A Blunt Sword

Jujutsu Kaisen

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Ratio Technique
Episode 8 "Boring"
Kenjiro Tsuda
David Vincent
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Jujutsu Kaisen's Kento Nanami combines his powerful cursed technique with a blunt sword that can cut through anything, even with its cover still attached. The sword works particularly well with his Ratio Technique since, once he has pinpointed his target's weakest spot, the blade allows him to cut them down easily. In fact, Nanami's Innate Technique gives him a huge advantage when it comes to battle.
Even if he has to create multiple weak points by wearing his opponent down, Nanami's accuracy and precision never fail him. Nanami can cut through moving targets with immense speed and impressive precision. As a grade 1 sorcerer, it is clear why people in the Jujutsu Sorcery industry respect Nanami so much. All things considered, however, Nanami just doesn't have the raw power to be higher on this list.

Jujutsu Kaisen

TV-MA
A boy swallows a cursed talisman - the finger of a demon - and becomes cursed himself. He enters a shaman's school to be able to locate the demon's other body parts and thus exorcise himself.
Release Date
October 2, 2020
Cast
Junya Enoki , Yuma Uchida , Yuichi Nakamura , Adam McArthur , Asami Seto
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
3
Studio
MAPPA
Creator
Gege Akutami
Number of Episodes
47 Episodes
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Amazon Prime Video

19
Yato Battles Spirits With His Dual-Bladed Yukine

Noragami

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Sunder
Episode 1 "A Housecat, a Stray God, and a Tail"
Hiroshi Kamiya
Jason Liebrecht
Yato is a lowly god from Noragami trying to regain followers to get back up to his once esteemed reputation. To do this, he rebrands himself as a delivery god, but paths are not always easy when they are lined with spirits. To combat them, Yato enlists the help of his new regalia, Yukine, who becomes a wrapped-hilt katana. Though Yato and Yukine have trouble cooperating at first, the pair eventually bond so much that Yukine transforms into dual blades.
With his new weapons, Yato becomes one of the best anime swordsmen and a nearly unstoppable force against those who would wish him or his beloved Hiyori Ikki harm. Some of the special techniques used by Yato are Rend, Sunder, Cloudburst, and Crimson Bloom, each of which is more effective than the previous one.

Noragami (2014)

TV-14ActionAdventure
A minor god seeking to gain widespread worship teams up with a human girl he saved to gain fame, recognition and at least one shrine dedicated to him.
Release Date
January 5, 2014
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
2 Seasons
Creator
Deko Akao
Production Company
Bones
Number of Episodes
29 Episodes

18
Stain Employs His Bloordcurdle Quirk In Conjunction With His Swordsmanship

My Hero Academia

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Bloodcurdle
Episode 24 "Fight on, Ida"
Go Inoue
Robert McCollum
Hero Killer: Stain from My Hero Academia has cut down countless heroes with his paralyzing Quirk in combination with his peerless swordsmanship. A villain with a strong moral compass, Stain wants nothing more than to see false heroes who only care about fame and fortune fade away from society's consciousness. As such, he attacks heroes like Ingenium.
Stain's Quirk requires him to cut somebody and then take a lick of their blood to paralyze them. The duration of the paralysis depends on someone's blood type. Regardless, without such a long katana, Stain's Quirk would be pretty much unusable in most fights. Unfortunately, Stain has already been killed at this point in the MHA manga, with his Bloodcurdle stolen by the villainous All For One.

My Hero Academia

TV-14ActionAdventure
Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That’s right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that’s not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies.
Release Date
May 5, 2018
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
6
Production Company
Bones
Number of Episodes
145

17
Aki Hayakawa Only Uses His Sword As A Last Resort

Chainsaw Man

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
None
Episode 2 "Arrival in Tokyo"
Shogo Sakata
Reagan Murdock
Most anime swordsmen can use their weapon of choice without any repercussions, but that is not the case for Chainsaw Man's Aki Hayakawa. He can only use his sword as a last resort since it shortens his life span. Aki has a contract with the Curse Devil and has a sword that resembles a nail. To use the contract, Aki has to point the nail at his target and then say "fire."
The Curse Devil's hand will flick the nail at wherever Aki aimed the sword. After three stabs from the nail, Aki can then summon the Curse Devil to either permanently injure them or kill them. Although he also has a contract with the Fox Devil, he loses this connection after battling Katana Man. That said, Aki completely failed to do anything against the Snake Devil, proving that even his powers have limitations.

Chainsaw Man

TV-MAAnimeActionAdventure
Following a betrayal, a young man left for dead is reborn as a powerful devil-human hybrid after merging with his pet devil and is soon enlisted into an organization dedicated to hunting devils. When his father died, Denji was stuck with a huge debt and no way to pay it back.
Release Date
October 11, 2022
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
1
Studio
MAPPA
Creator
Tatsuki Fujimoto
Number of Episodes
12
Network
Crunchyroll
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu

16
Levi Ackerman Has Reinvented The Art Of Swordsmanship

Attack On Titan

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Vertical Maneuvering
Episode 4 "The Night of the Closing Ceremony: Humanity's Comeback, Part 2"
Hiroshi Kamiya
Matthew Mercer
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Humanity's Last Hope: A Beginner's Guide to Attack on Titan

Attack on Titan's Survey Corp members have, in many ways, reinvented how sword fighting works. Sword fights typically involve close-quarter fights with finesse. In the story, however, that same skill is combined with explosive and exhilarating speed as the swordsmen launch themselves at their targets to cut them down. In Attack on Titan's horrifying world, there are few as respected and feared as Levi Ackerman.
Though he is far smaller than both the Titans and his compatriots, Levi's tactical mind and skill with a blade can more than level the playing field. Even the Beast Titan himself was no match for this overpowered character. Although he's rightly known as humanity's strongest soldier, there's only so much Levi can do against superpowered villains.

Attack On Titan

TV-MAActionAdventure
Original title: Shingeki no Kyojin.
After his hometown is destroyed and his mother is killed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction in Attack on Titan.
Release Date
September 28, 2013
Cast
Bryce Papenbrook , Yûki Kaji , Marina Inoue , Hiro Shimono , Takehito Koyasu , Jessie James Grelle
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
4 Seasons
Studio
Wit Studios, MAPPA
Creator
Hajime Isayama

15
Tanjiro Kamado Has Not Yet Reached His Full Potential In The Anime

Demon Slayer

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Hinokami Kagura
Episode 1 "Cruelty"
Natsuki Hanae
Zach Aguilar
A fresh, loveable face within the world of animated swordsmen, Demon Slayer's Tanjiro Kamado has quickly won the world over during his adventures. Besides having his series break all manner of sales records, Tanjiro is a humble, aspiring underdog who has surprised and inspired everyone with his fights against horrific evils.
It helps that Tanjiro has trained to test his sword against many fantastical, demonic dangers. With grace and power to hype up any shonen faithful, Tanjiro has become a swordsman for everyone. His Water Breathing technique has improved considerably, and it's going to become even stronger before the story ends. In the anime, however, he can't easily access the Hinokami Kagura technique, explaining his ranking among his peers.

Demon Slayer

TV-MAAnimeActionAdventure
When Tanjiro Kamado returns home to find his family was attacked and killed by demons, he discovers his younger sister Nezuko was the only survivor. As Nezuko slowly becomes a demon, Tanjiro sets out to find a cure for her and become a demon slayer so he can avenge his family.
Release Date
April 6, 2019
Cast
Natsuki Hanae , Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
3
Studio
ufotable
Creator
Koyoharu Gotouge
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu , Amazon Prime Video , Netflix

14
Ryuko Matoi Wields One Half Of A Pair Of Giant Scissors

Kill La Kill

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Decapitation Mode
Episode 1 "If Only I Had Thorns Like a Thistle..."
Ami Koshimizu
Erica Mendez
Ryuko Matoi is a woman on a mission to destroy the villain who killed her dad in the anime Kill la Kill. All she has is a giant scissor half and a sentient uniform, but she is ready to pounce. With her Kamui Senketsu and her scissor blade, Ryuko becomes a force of nature. She even beat the more experienced members of Satsuki Kiryuin's Elite Four.
Though Ryuko's sword skills are a tad unpolished at the beginning, she eventually learns to work with Senketsu to control her power and use it to her advantage. With Senketsu, her scissor blade, and help from her friends, Ryuko finally finds the justice she craves. Then again, she has a long way to go before she can fight on par with the strongest anime swordsmen out there.

Kill la Kill

A young girl arrives at a school of superhumans to find out the truth behind her father's murder.
Release Date
October 4, 2013
Cast
Eric Mendez , Matthew Mercer , David Vincent , Christine Marie Cabanos , Carrie Keranen , Patrick Seitz
Main Genre
Action
Studio
Studio Trigger
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu

13
Akame Can Kill Any Living Being With A Single Cut

Akame Ga Kill!

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
One-Cut Kill
Episode 1 "Kill the Darkness"
Sora Amamiya
Molly Searcy
Akame is the titular, deadly assassin from Akame Ga Kill! Her special ability allows her to kill any living being with a single cut. With her blade Murasame, she can inject a lethal curse that can quickly infect anyone she slices. However, even without the aforementioned curse, her opponents still would not live to tell the tale.
This is because Akame herself is a talented, super-soldier capable of defeating all manner of beasts and weapons with her agility and decisive strikes. In fact, Akame mostly relies on unarmed combat, which includes kicks and punches. If anything, Murasame is a blessing that keeps her enemies from seeing just how deadly she can be. Akame can also exploit a special performance enhancer called Little War Horn, which augments her strength.

Akame ga Kill!

TV-MAActionAdventure
A countryside boy named Tatsumi sets out on a journey to The Capital to make a name for himself and meets a seemingly dangerous group of Assassins known as Night Raid. Their journey begins.
Release Date
July 7, 2014
Cast
Soma Saito , Sora Amamiya , Yukari Tamura , Christina Kelly , Corey Hartzog , Molly Searcy
Main Genre
Anime

12
Erza Scarlet's Swordsmanship Is Enough To Handle The World's Strongest Fighters

Fairy Tail

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Requip: The Knight
Episode 4 "DEAR KABY"
Sayaka Ohara
Colleen Clinkenbeard
RELATED

A Fairy Tail Ending: Do Natsu & Lucy End Up Together?

Some Fairy Tail fans believe Natsu Dragneel is the main character. Others think it is Lucy Heartfilia. However, going by pure hype, everybody knows that the real star of Fairy Tail is none other than Titania herself, Erza Scarlet. Erza is certainly more than a master of the sword, as viewers learn almost immediately. She also has complete control over her magical ability, known as Requip: The Knight.
Furthermore, Ezra is proficient with all manner of weapons meant to beat down rogue wizards and demons. However, Erza has proven repeatedly that she is talented and powerful with a blade. Sometimes, she does not even need to wear a single piece of armor. Her sword skills are more than enough to handle some of her world's toughest fighters, but anime swordsmen are a different ball game.

Fairy Tail

TV-14Action
Lucy, an aspiring Celestial Wizard, becomes a friend and ally to powerful wizards Natsu, Gray, and Erza, who are part of the (in)famous wizard guild, Fairy Tail.
Release Date
October 12, 2009
Cast
Cherami Leigh , Todd Haberkorn , Tia Lynn Ballard , Colleen Clinkenbeard , Newton Pittman , Brittney Karbowski , Monical Rial , Brina Palencia
Main Genre
Action
Seasons
9

11
Afro Is One Of The Best Anime Samurai Of All Time

Afro Samurai

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
None
Episode 1 "Revenge"
None
Samuel L. Jackson
While many people fondly remember Afro Samurai as that one anime that has Samuel L. Jackson, the sheer amount of action it contains should never be underestimated. Colder than the blade he wields and more powerful than Sam Jackson's voice, Afro is a brilliant and vengeful samurai looking to avenge his father and become the best fighter in the world.
It does not help that everyone else is looking to dethrone him to claim the title as well. With plenty of opportunities to show just how deadly he is, there is very little question why Afro is one of the best samurai in all of anime. He can actually destroy bullets with his blade, demonstrating his speed. Although Afro is unquestionably great, the lack of supernatural power puts him at a disadvantage when it comes to anime swordsmen.

10
Kirito Applies His Real-World Kendo Training Inside A Video Game

Sword Art Online

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Horizontal Arc
Episode 1 "The World of Swords"
Matsuoka Yoshitsugu
Bryce Papenbrook
Sword Art Online's Kirito showed just how cool fighting in fantasy video game worlds could be when he applied his real-world kendo training. Despite being trapped in the video game world, Kirito never faltered and let his sword skills do the talking. He has used numerous named swords throughout Sword Art Online, each with differing stats.
Kirito dominated the ranks, gained exclusive abilities, and took on boss-level nightmares like the Gleam Eyes. He has also quickly disposed of some of the gaming community's worst. Kirito has mastered numerous sword skills in the show, including one-handed swordsmanship and the use of dual blades. And yet, Kirito would be crushed by some of the other strongest anime swordsmen.

Sword Art Online

TV-14AnimationActionAdventure
In the year 2022, thousands of people get trapped in a new virtual MMORPG and the lone wolf player, Kirito, works to escape.
Release Date
July 8, 2012
Creator(s)
Reki Kawahara
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
4
Production Company
A-1 Pictures, ASCII Mediaworks, Aniplex, Bandai Namco Games, Genco
Number of Episodes
100

9
Sakata Gintoki Has Single-Handedly Wiped Out Amanto Hordes

Gintama

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
None
Episode 1-2 "You bastards!! Do you even have a silver soul!"
Tomokazu Sugita
Michael Daingerfield
As much of a great comedic romp as Gintama is, viewers should not forget the legend that is Sakata Gintoki. His own "White Yaksha" moniker was earned on the battlefields of the Joi War, as he single-handedly wiped out Amanto hordes in a brutal fashion. As a testament to his devastating abilities, Gintoki earned the name Shiroyasha, or White Demon.
Though he has hung up the steel blade, Gin still manages to be incredibly powerful with his wooden Lake Toya sword. Using it, he somehow takes on the steel of the Shinsengumi and slashes through entire giant robots. That's not even mentioning his epic battles against Yato King Hosen, Oboro, or Takasugi. Parody characters are generally overpowered, but Gin makes his battles look so casual and easy.

Gintama

TV-14ActionComedy
In an era where aliens have invaded and taken over feudal Tokyo, an unemployed samurai finds work however he can.
Release Date
April 4, 2006
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
8 Seasons
Creator
Hideaki Sorachi
Production Company
Bandai Namco Pictures (BNP), Bandai Namco, Dentsu, Sunrise, TV Tokyo
Number of Episodes
375 Episodes

8
Clare Uses Her Wits And Profound Ingenuity While Sword Fighting

Claymore

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Quicksword
Episode 1 "Great Sword"
Houko Kuwashima
Stephanie Young
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Clare is part of an elite group of demon-hunting knights solely comprised of women. These characters are simply known as the titular Claymore. These knights are put through harsh training and imbued with Yoma blood so that they can partake of the superhuman feats necessary for slaying ravenous Yoma threats to humanity.
Raised as the successor of the number one Claymore, Teresa, Clare is a cold, calculating Claymore who uses her wits and profound ingenuity to take on monsters way above her level. She can also increase her speed by using a technique known as Quicksword, which comes with a few drawbacks. Despite this, Clare has still walked alongside and battled against some of the world's leading Claymores, proving that rank isn't everything.

Claymore

TV-MA
In a world plagued by deadly creatures called "youma," a young silver-eyed girl, Clare, works on behalf of an organization that trains female youma half-breeds to become warriors.
Release Date
April 4, 2007
Cast
Stephanie Young , Cherami Leigh , Christine Auten , Brina Palencia , Monica Rial , Caitlin Glass , Jamie Marchi
Main Genre
Action
Seasons
1
Creator
Norihiro Yagi

7
Saber's Peerless Swordsmanship Is Bolstered By The Almighty Excalibur

The Fate Series

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Mana Burst
Episode 1 "The First Day"
Ayako Kawasumi
Kari Wahlgren
Artoria Pendragon, better known as Saber, is one of the best sword fighters in the entire realm of Japanese anime. Wielding the almighty Excalibur, she has undergone profound training to rival some of history's best. Saber has proven time and again to be a favorite pick for the Holy Grail War in the Fate franchise. Beyond just her sword fighting, Saber is a major player, given her long experience.
Artoria possesses the great battle acumen and strategic mind necessary to take on an enemy, even off the battlefield. An all-around noble warrior, Saber has truly earned the title of "Saber." At one point, she manages to defeat a monstrous dragon even after he successfully weakens her holy sword. Artoria summons the courage and willpower to inspire her allies, eventually leading to the downfall of Vortigern.

Fate/stay night

TV-14ActionAdventure
Amateur mage Shirou Emiya gets involved in a fight between mages using mythological heroes.
Release Date
January 7, 2006
Main Genre
Animation
Creator
Takuya Satō
Producer
John Ledford, Tetsuo Genshô
Production Company
CREi, Fate Project, Frontier Works, Geneon Entertainment, Notes, Studio DEEN, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS)
Number of Episodes
24 Episodes

6
Mugen's Unpredictable Moves Make Him An Exceptional Swordsman

Samurai Champloo

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Champloo Kendo
Episode 1 "Tempestuous Temperaments"
Kazuya Nakai
Steve Blum
Samurai Champloo's Mugen is an incredible example of someone with a savage style that is as great for evading enemy attacks as it is for dishing out unpredictable moves of his own. Bringing the dirty, sleazy style of a true vagabond with modern flair, this greasy hero somehow manages to fuse a variety of martial arts and swordplay with hip-hop breakdancing. This technique is eponymously referred to as Champloo Kendo.
Mugen constantly showcases some of the coolest moves ever seen on both the battlefield and the dance floor. Combined with his nerve-racking demeanor and tendency to use a few dirty tricks, Mugen is easily one of the most dangerous samurai out there. He could take down all but a few select anime swordsmen, especially with his Ki Manipulation ability.

Samurai Champloo

TV-MAAction
Fuu, a waitress who works in a teahouse, rescues two master swordsmen, Mugen and Jin, from their execution to help her find the "samurai who smells of sunflowers."
Release Date
May 20, 2004
Main Genre
Action
Seasons
1
Creator
Manglobe, Masaru Gotsubo

5
Hyakkimaru's Blades Often Behave As Extensions Of His Body

Dororo

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Soul Sight
Episode 1 "The Story of Daigo"
Hiroki Suzuki
Adam Gibbs
Hyakkimaru was essentially a sacrificial lamb for his father's ambitions to bring prosperity and power to the land. At an early age, he was robbed of several limbs and organs that were sacrificed to various demons. Given new life by a wandering prosthetist, Hyakkimaru traveled the land in search of the demons who took his body.
Hyakkimaru uses his innate ability to see people's true nature and the heightened senses that go with it. As such, he performs at a superhuman level when it comes to sword fighting. For a time, even his blades were part of his prosthetic limbs, allowing him to attack from a wide variety of angles. Having taken on samurai and demons alike, there is a trail of bodies left in Hyakkimaru's wake. Then again, the top anime swordsmen on this list are above Hyakkimaru's level.

Dororo (2019)

AnimeActionAdventure
A father in pursuit of power gives parts of his new-born son to a host of demons. Years later, the son battles those demons to regain what is rightfully his.
Release Date
January 6, 2019
Main Genre
Anime
Studio
MAPPA, Tezuka Productions
Main Cast
Rio Suzuki, Hiroki Suzuki, Chaney Moore and Adam Gibbs

4
Ichigo Kurosaki Becomes Virtually Invincible By The End Of The Series

Bleach

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Getsuga Tensho
Episode 1 "The Day I Became a Shinigami"
Masakazu Morita
Johnny Yong Bosch
RELATED

How Well Does the Bleach Anime Hold Up in 2024?

Bleach's Ichigo Kurosaki is just one of the series' illustrious swordsmen, but few others are as skilled as him. Ichigo has trained for years as a Soul Reaper and became virtually invincible by the end of the series. Further, Ichigo's Bankai gifted him immense agility and a serious upper hand in every battle, especially after he unlocks the secret behind his heritage and obtains two distinct and equally powerful swords.
Ichigo is the ultimate cool guy that most Shonen protagonists strive to become. His unparalleled swordsmanship on top of his tough-guy attitude is more than enough to make fans fall in love with him. Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho technique is probably the most memorable, but he doesn't really need special abilities to defeat the bad guy. There aren't many anime swordsmen at Ichigo's level.

Bleach

TV-14
Bleach revolves around Kurosaki Ichigo, a regular always-grouchy high-schooler who for some strange reason is able to see the souls of the dead around him.
Release Date
October 5, 2004
Main Genre
Anime
Seasons
17 Seasons
Creator
Tite Kubo
Production Company
TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Pierrot
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu , Prime Video

3
Guts' Dragon Slayer Is One Of The Most Iconic Anime Weapons

Berserk

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Dragon Slayer
Episode 1 "The Black Swordsman"
Nobutoshi Canna
Marc Diraison
Even without the Berserker armor or demon blood fueling his anger, Berserk's Guts was a mighty, unholy force to be reckoned with from day one. Never being one to show off, Guts bears his gigantic broadsword at all times, swinging it wildly if even a fly so much as passes him. Called the Dragon Slayer, Gut's iconic weapon is arguably one of the most powerful anime swords.
Guts constantly channels all the angst of living in the medieval nightmare of Berserk's world. As a result, he has torn man, steal, and beast alike into tiny pieces and is known to do so against massive waves of them for long periods. With the added benefit of his heavy metal armor, Guts is even a threat to the Gods of his world, showing everyone around him who truly has the biggest sword. Not even an anime army can survive an onslaught from Guts.

Berserk

Guts, a wandering mercenary, joins the Band of the Hawk after being defeated in a duel by Griffith, the group's leader and founder. Together, they dominate every battle, but something menacing lurks in the shadows.
Created by
Kentaro Miura
First Film
Berserk: The Golden Age Arc 1: The Egg of the King
First TV Show
Berserk
Where to watch
Crunchyroll
Manga Volumes
42
Where to Stream
Crunchyroll

2
Himura Kenshin Employs A Blend Of Elegant Technique And Superhuman Perception

Rurouni Kenshin

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu
Episode 1 "The Handsome Swordsman of Legend: A Man who Fights for Love"
Mayo Suzukaze
Richard Cansino
Rurouni Kenshin's Himura was once a tool of death and destruction. He now wanders the land as a rurouni, trying to find some way to redeem his past sins and protect the land. However, despite his polite demeanor and passiveness, Kenshin should not be underestimated. He has risen through the samurai ranks at a tender age, eventually pulling off some of the most iconic feats known to anime.
These include lightning-fast slashes, dicing limbs so cleanly that they can be reattached, and, of course, cutting through pure steel. Kenshin uses Battojutsu, a technique that revolves around drawing and sheathing a blade at lightning speed. However, he doesn't need to rely on a single ability. On the contrary, he regularly makes use of his surrounding landscape and slight physicality to maintain his razor-sharp edge over any opponent.

Rurouni Kenshin

ActionAdventureAnimation
The adventures of a young wandering swordsman who stumbles upon a struggling martial arts school in Meiji era Japan.
Release Date
January 10, 1996
Studio
Gallop and Studio Deen
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll
Main Cast
Mayo Suzukare, Miki Fujitani, Richard Cansino and Dorothy Elias-Fahn

1
Dracule Mihawk Is The Greatest Swordsman In His World

One Piece

Signature Ability
Debut
Japanese VA
English VA
Kokuto Issen
Episode 23 "Protect Baratie! The Great Pirate: Zeff the Red Leg"
Hirohiko Kakegawa
Wayne Grayson
Dracule Mihawk isn't called the greatest swordsman in the world for no reason. While there are plenty of talented sword fighters within One Piece's world, Mihawk's insurmountable feats and illustrious status make him top-tier. It is clear why Zoro wants to steal his title so badly, even if he's still not reached that level as of the Egghead Arc.
Mihawk does not even need all that big or powerful of a sword to take on his enemies. A simple dagger is more than sufficient for him to take on well-trained samurai warriors. However, when he does pull out his overpowered Yoru, Mihawk can elegantly fight and wave the heaping piece of steel as if it were a natural extension of his arm. As such, Dracule Mihawk has earned the right to be considered the best swordsman in anime.

One Piece

TV-14AnimationActionAdventure
Follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew in order to find the greatest treasure ever left by the legendary Pirate, Gold Roger. The famous mystery treasure named "One Piece".
Release Date
October 20, 1999
Creator(s)
Eiichiro Oda
Main Genre
Animation
Studio
Toei Animation
Creator
Eiichirô Oda
Number of Episodes
1K+
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Hulu , Funimation , Adult Swim , Pluto TV , Netflix