Mohsin Lag
Today, we will be checking out the most awesome anime characters who master the art of sword fighting. Whether they’re guys or girls, we will only features those strong sword fighters, who come from different anime series that showcase the power of blades and katanas.
Swords have played a significant role in human history, shaping societies and leaving a mark on our development. In Japan and in anime, the katana, or sword, holds special importance and is a symbol of its rich history, especially during the samurai era. The unique fighting style of the samurai is truly something to behold.
So, let’s not waste any more time! Here’s a list of the top 20 anime characters who are absolute expert swords users.
20. Sasaki Kojiro
Let’s start our list of super strong anime sword users with Sasaki Kojirou, also known as Assassin in the Fate series. He’s not a regular Servant and can finish battles with just one powerful strike. His instincts are so sharp that he can easily sense his enemy’s abilities, giving him a perfect chance to make a quick and sure kill. In Fate/stay night, he serves as the Assassin-class Servant of Medea in the Fifth Holy Grail War. It’s a bit odd because he’s not supposed to exist according to the rules, but Medea’s special summoning twists things up.
In the Heaven’s Feel route, the true Servant, one of the Hassan-i-Sabbah, shows up as True Assassin. Ritsuka Fujimaru summons him as a Servant in Fate/Grand Order, where he appears both as Assassin and a Saber-class Servant called Nameless Saber. In a duel with Miyamoto Musashi, he takes on the Saber role. In the “After” world of Fate/Requiem, he becomes the Servant of Makki and goes by the name Tsuda.
19. Kirito
Kazuto Kirigaya is a tough anime character, especially when it comes to using swords. He’s not real but is the main character in the Sword Art Online series written by Reki Kawahara. People usually call him Kirito, a mix of his name, and that’s also his username in the Sword Art Online video game where a big part of the series happens.
Kirito is a teenager who got chosen as one of the 1,000 beta testers for a new virtual reality game called Sword Art Online. When the game opens to everyone, him and the other 10,000 players realize they can’t log out, and they’re stuck in the game until they manage to finish it.
18. Erza Scarlet
Erza Scarlet is a gorgeous and tough female anime character. She’s not only beautiful but also a skilled sword expert. She belongs to the Fairy Tail Guild and is part of Team Natsu. At one point, she even became the 7th Guild Master when Makarov wasn’t around. Erza is amazing with a sword.
Her swordsmanship skills are top-notch, making her one of the best in the game. She can use a variety of weapons, thanks to her Requip ability, like swords, short swords, axes, lances, and staffs. This, combined with her incredible power, makes her one of the best Sword Anime Fighting Characters out there.
17. Ryuko Matoi
Our next best anime sword user is Ryuko Matoi, the strong main female character in Kill la Kill series. She joined Honnoji Academy to find the other half of her red Scissor Blade and the person who used it to kill her father, Isshin Matoi. Ryūko is not your average human—she’s super strong, fast, and has extraordinary abilities. It turns out she’s Ragyō Kiryūin’s second youngest child, and her body has been fused with Life Fibers. Ryūko’s go-to weapon is a giant pair of scissors, and she uses it like a one-handed, single-edged longsword. This unique blade can cut Life Fibers, which are usually indestructible.
16. Asta
Asta, an orphan from Hage, receives a special grimoire with Anti Magic at the age of 15. Joining the Black Bull squad, he becomes a skilled Magic Knight. Asta’s unique magic ability allows him to summon Anti Magic-infused swords from his grimoire, which can nullify magic and cut through spells.
His skills with swords include the Demon-Slayer Sword, which can deflect spells and be remotely controlled; the Demon-Dweller Sword, capable of releasing slashes from a distance and borrowing magic properties; the Demon-Destroyer Sword, with Causality Break to absorb spell after effects; and the Demon-Slasher Katana, coated in Anti Magic for selective cutting. Asta’s sword skills make him a great opponent against magic users.
15. Saber
Saber or Artoria Pendragon, also known as Arturia, is a powerful and iconic sword female anime fighter. As the Saber-class Servant in Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night, she serves Kiritsugu Emiya and later Shirou Emiya in the Holy Grail Wars. In Fate/Labyrinth, she becomes the Servant of Norma Goodfellow.
Additionally, in Fate/Grand Order, she appears as one of the Heroic Spirits summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru. Saber excels in sword techniques, defense, and agility, using magical energy to enhance her combat skills. Despite her naturally frail physique, she wields a large sword with the strength and style of a great and powerful fighter.
14. Yato
Yato, a standout anime sword wielder and the main protagonist in Noragami, is an enigmatic Lord aspiring to attain the status of a Lord of Fortune, having previously been recognized as a Lord of Calamity. With unique abilities, Yato sets himself apart in the supernatural realm. His teleportation skill allows him to move swiftly between locations on the Near Shore through a simple phone call. Additionally, Yato can possess humans with whom he has established connections, showcasing a divine form of possession.
Proficient in armed combat, Yato adapts quickly to various weapons, demonstrating his versatility in battle. Wielding a shinki, he employs techniques such as Rend to destroy ayakashi and Sunder to sever ties between individuals. With Rekki, Yato unleashes powerful moves like “Cloudburst,” creating a scattershot of arrowheads, and “Crimson Bloom,” generating delayed explosions with a wide-ranging impact. These powerful abilities contribute to Yato’s reputation as one of the most overpowered sword users in anime.
13. Kurosaki Ichigo
Next we have Ichigo Kurosaki, a human and substitute Shinigami, is part of the Kurosaki family, with Isshin and Masaki as his parents and Karin and Yuzu as his younger siblings. Ichigo stands out as one of the most powerful anime characters, excelling not only as a skilled sword user but also boasting a human body that becomes more strong with each battle.
His exceptional abilities enable him to hold his own against accomplished sword masters, showcasing his prowess in combat. While typically favoring his right hand in battle, Ichigo demonstrates ambidextrous skills, proficiently wielding Zangetsu with his left hand when needed. Since acquiring the true form of Zangetsu, Ichigo exhibits impressive dual-blade proficiency, effortlessly handling both blades simultaneously during fights.
12. Akame
Akame, also known as Akame of the Demon Sword Murasame, takes the spotlight as the main heroine in the manga and anime series Akame ga Kill! and its prequel Akame ga Kill! Zero. She plays a significant role as the lead anti-heroine alongside Tatsumi. Initially sold to the Empire with her sister Kurome to undergo assassin training, Akame’s story takes a turn when she defects to the rebels.
This decision arises when she is assigned to assassinate General Najenda, the leader of Night Raid, prompting her to join the rebels in their mission to overthrow the corrupt monarchy. In Hinowa ga Yuku!, Akame assumes a supporting role as Hinata’s personal swordsmanship tutor and Elder’s Class combat instructor. Renowned as one of the strongest members of Night Raid, Akame possesses exceptional swordsmanship skills, effortlessly taking down the mightiest foes with minimal effort.
11. Tanjirou Kamado
Tanjiro Kamado is the main character in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. He’s a member of the Demon Slayer Corps and joined them to find a cure for his sister, Nezuko Kamado, who turned into a demon. His goal is to hunt down and defeat demons, and he later swears to defeat Muzan Kibutsuji, the King of Demons, to prevent others from suffering the same fate.
Tanjiro is a popular and skilled sword anime fighter with a natural talent for combat, especially in swordsmanship. He possesses above-average human abilities, including sharp senses, a keen sense of smell, strong willpower, and great intellect.
10. Aki
Aki Hayakawa is an iconic character in the Chainsaw Man series, he works as a Devil Hunter under Makima’s special squad, dealing with various devils. Aki has contracts with the Curse Devil, Future Devil, and the Fox Devil, giving him unique powers. Apart from his devil contracts, Aki is also a highly skilled swordsman, making him one of the best sword users in anime history.
He primarily uses a sword in battles against devils. Thanks to a special sword crafted by the Angel Devil, Aki can even harm and defeat usually intangible beings like ghosts. His sword skills are so advanced that he can take down multiple zombies and hold his own against physically stronger opponents, including Hybrids, all thanks to his Devil contracts.
9. King Bradley
King Bradley is a major bad guy in the Fullmetal Alchemist series, serving as one of the seven Homunculi. He used to be the original leader, known as the Führer, of Amestris. In the manga and the 2009 anime, he’s named Wrath, the last homunculus created by Father. However, in the 2003 anime, he becomes Pride, created by the ancient alchemist Dante.
Regardless of the version, Bradley is the head honcho of Amestris and possesses almost superhuman sword skills. He’s a strong anime character who loves using swords. Thanks to his unique abilities and a lifetime of training, he can even handle five blades at once. Bradley is already an expert swordsman and martial artist, and his Ultimate Eye, hidden behind a distinctive eye patch, makes him even more lethal.
8. Gintoki Sakata
Gintoki Sakata is a popular character in the Gintama manga and anime created by Hideaki Sorachi. He’s not just the protagonist but also the founder and president of Yorozuya Gin-Chan, a highly skilled samurai who fought in the Joui War. During the war, he earned the nickname white demon due to his powerful sword fighting style, making him feared and respected.
Gintoki is known as The Ace for his ability to turn the tide of any battle. His merciless skills and savage swordsmanship on the battlefield were so notorious that his name struck fear in the hearts of every Amanto. Despite being self-taught, his swordplay is far from unrefined, noted by shinobi and samurai who fought with him. Gintoki wields full-length katanas and bokutos with unpredictable style, making him a formidable force.
7. Levi Ackerman
Attack On Titan’s Levi Ackerman, often called Captain Levi, is the tough leader of the Special Operations Squad in the Survey Corps, and known as humanity’s strongest soldier. He’s known for being badass, cold, and possessing strong physical powers and cleverness, making him always feared by his opponents and respected by his mates. Levi has a unique fighting stance where he holds his right sword backhanded, with the blade facing outward and behind him instead of in front.
This technique allows him to cut in a “circle” around him, making spinning and rotating attacks possible. This style grants him incredible speed and agility in fights, helping him conserve energy and fight for longer periods without wasting stamina. Levi may have learned this reverse-grip technique from Kenny Ackerman’s lessons on knife-wielding during his youth.
6. Mugen
Mugen is one of the main characters in the samurai anime series Samurai Champloo, hailing from the Ryukyu Islands. He’s a vagrant outlaw with self-taught sword techniques, shaped by a tough and solitary life since childhood. He harbors a deep mistrust of authority and lives for challenging opponents in battle. Watanabe, the creator, envisioned Mugen as young and somewhat stupid, intentionally contrasting him with Cowboy Bebop’s Spike Spiegel. Mugen represents a rapper’s ideal of self-expression in Watanabe’s view.
Mugen’s sword fighting style is a unique blend of traditional kendo, various martial arts, breakdancing, and improvised elements, making it incredibly unpredictable. After rigorous training, Mugen gained the ability to unleash waves of Ki through his sword, although he has only used this technique once against another Ki user. Mugen wields a Double-Edged Tsurugi Sword as his main weapon in fights. Additionally, he keeps a concealed short sword, deploying it as a last resort to surprise his enemies.
5. Dracule Mihawk
One of the coolest sword users in anime is Dracule Mihawk from One Piece. Also known as Hawk-Eye Mihawk, he was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and holds the title of the strongest swordsman globally. Mihawk has a unique appearance, being a pale-skinned man who travels in a boat shaped like a coffin. His main weapon is a Grosse Messer, featuring a black blade named Yoru.
Zoro, another character in the series, aspires to defeat Mihawk someday. Surprisingly, Mihawk decides to train Zoro for two years, acknowledging that Zoro would only set aside his pride and seek guidance in swordsmanship if it meant improving. After the Warlord system’s abolition, Mihawk joins the Cross Guild along with Crocodile, becoming a wanted criminal once again and taking on a prominent role as one of its chief officers.
4. Kenshin Himura
Himura Kenshin is the main character in the Rurouni Kenshin series, and he’s a powerful anime character known for his exceptional sword skills. His story is set in a made-up version of Japan during the Meiji period. Kenshin used to be a renowned assassin called Himura Battosai during the Bakumatsu. After that tumultuous time, he becomes a wandering swordsman, wielding a sakabatō—a katana designed not to kill.
Kenshin travels across Japan, offering help and protection to those in need as a way of making amends for his past crimes. In Tokyo, he crosses paths with Kamiya Kaoru, a young woman who invites him to live in her dojo, despite knowing about Kenshin’s dark history. As the series unfolds, Kenshin forms lasting connections with various people, even former enemies, all while facing both new and old adversaries.
3. Roronoa Zoro
Roronoa Zoro, also known as Pirate Hunter Zoro, is a famous character in the manga series One Piece created by Eiichiro Oda. He’s the first person to join Monkey D. Luffy’s pirate crew after Luffy saves him from execution. Zoro is a super skilled swordsman and the crew’s main fighter. Despite his awesome sword skills, he’s famously bad at finding his way around, which is a recurring joke in the series. People often see Zoro as the biggest threat and most dangerous member of the crew, and some even think he could be the true captain.
Zoro’s dream is to become the world’s greatest swordsman, and he’s determined to achieve it. He’s part of a group of twelve pirates known as the Worst Generation, and many believe he’ll go down as the best swordsman in One Piece history. Zoro is usually serious, who tends to keep a tough and focused look when facing a strong opponent, showing his love for a good battle.
2. Kenpachi Zaraki
Kenpachi Zaraki is a super-strong male character in the anime and manga series Bleach, created by Tite Kubo. He holds the position of captain in the 11th Division of the Gotei 13, with Yachiru Kusajishi as his lieutenant. Kenpachi is well-known for his immense strength and fierce sword skills. He absolutely loves fighting and considers it the best thing in the world. Kenpachi goes all out in battles and takes great pleasure in a good, challenging fight. He purposely holds back to make the battles last longer and be more enjoyable.
Kenpachi has a unique belief that getting hurt or even dying in a fight is a small price to pay for the thrill of combat. Despite leading the most aggressive squad in the Gotei 13, Kenpachi and his division follow their own code of ethics, different from Soul Society’s rules. He’s portrayed as a free spirit who values fun over strict rules. Even though he’s known for his violent nature, Kenpachi would end a fight if his opponent is too injured to continue, believing it’s no longer enjoyable.
1. Guts
Often wielding nothing but a sword, Guts from Berserk is a badass anime character who can take on any challenge. He is a soldier who moves from group to group, looking for company. After a fight with Griffith, he’s defeated and forced to join the Band of the Hawk because Griffith claims to own him. There is a complex relationship between Guts and Griffith, who leads the Band of the Hawk. After the Eclipse events, where he loses his left forearm and right eye, Guts wants revenge on Griffith.
Guts is incredibly strong, and he’s been using big swords since he was six years old. This has made him super strong and skilled with a sword. Even though he’s big, Guts is quick and nimble in fights, able to dodge and counter fast attacks. He’s smart in battles, using any chance he gets to overcome enemies. He’s even tricked skilled fighters like Silat and Serpico with his adaptability and combat skills.
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