The Greatest Anime Swordsmen, Ranked

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 powers.

Updated on March 13, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: 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

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.

19 Yato Battles Spirits With His Dual-Bladed Yukine

Noragami

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.

18 Stain Employs His Bloordcurdle Quirk In Conjunction With His Swordsmanship

My Hero Academia

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.

17 Aki Hayakawa Only Uses His Sword As A Last Resort

Chainsaw Man

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.

16 Levi Ackerman Has Reinvented The Art Of Swordsmanship

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.

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

Demon Slayer

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.

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

Kill La Kill

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.

13 Akame Can Kill Any Living Being With A Single Cut

Akame Ga Kill!

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.

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

Fairy Tail

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.

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

Afro Samurai

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

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.

9 Sakata Gintoki Has Single-Handedly Wiped Out Amanto Hordes

Gintama

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.

8 Clare Uses Her Wits And Profound Ingenuity While Sword Fighting

Claymore

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.

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

The Fate Series

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.

6 Mugen’s Unpredictable Moves Make Him An Exceptional Swordsman

Samurai Champloo

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.

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

Dororo

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.

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

Bleach

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.

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

Berserk

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.

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

Rurouni Kenshin

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.

1 Dracule Mihawk Is The Greatest Swordsman In His World

One Piece

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.