Swordsmen are prevalent in most action-packed anime, with everything from small katanas to massive greatswords being wielded by the most iconic anime characters around. These characters engage in intense sword fights with a lot at stake.
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Some of the most powerful anime swordsmen of all time are in a class of their own. They're either cool from the get-go or start pretty weak before eventually becoming stronger than ever before.
8 Ichigo Kurosaki
The Substitute Shinigami Reaches Ridiculous Levels Of Power
Bleach
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- 2004 - 2012-00-00
- Network
- TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC, BS TV Tokyo
- Showrunner
- Tite Kubo
Ichigo is a protagonist that fans either love or hate. Sure, some of his power-ups may be completely unjustified, but that should take nothing away from how powerful he really is when things get serious.
He unlocks his Bankai in no time, trains so much that he bodies Aizen in no time, and gains immense power (after losing it in the Aizen fight) to take on Yhwach himself. He's no joke and is comfortably one of Bleach's strongest characters by the end of the series.
7 Levi Ackerman
One Of The Most Talented Members Of The Survey Corps
Attack On Titan
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- 2013 - 2023-00-00
Levi Ackerman is one of the coolest aura farmers in anime history. His skills with the ODM gear are unmatched, with Mikasa being the only one who can compete at his level.
His battle against Kenny, coupled with his ruthless mauling of the Beast Titan, should make it clear why Levi Ackerman's swordsmanship skills are off the charts. He may only be a human, but even Titans fear his wrath.
6 Stain
A Disturbing Villain Who Licks The Blood Of His Enemies From His Sword To Paralyze Them
My Hero Academia
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- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- TBS, MBS, Nippon TV
My Hero Academia is no stranger to its fair share of savage villains, with Stain being no exception. This villain is a nightmare to behold and makes it clear that he's not to be messed with.
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He uses the Quirk Bloodcurdle to paralyze foes by licking their blood. He usually harms them by cutting them with a deadly sword and can hold his own against multiple heroes, showing just how chilling a swordsman he is.
5 Tanjiro Kamado
The Sun Breathing User Becomes Strong Enough To Take On Muzan
Demon Slayer
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- April 6, 2019
- Network
- Adult Swim
Tanjiro is a great protagonist who embodies all the traits a shonen hero needs. He starts from the lowest rung on the ladder after his family is murdered, before eventually learning the art of Water Breathing and taking out the many demons who stand in their way.
He eventually learns of his natural inclination toward Sun Breathing and becomes more powerful than ever. By the end of the series, he's able to use all of his power and chain multiple Sun Breathing attacks to defeat the Demon King Muzan, which is no mean feat.
4 Clare
Transforms From The Weakest Claymore Into One Of The Strongest
Claymore
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- 2007 - 2007
Claymore is an excellent adaptation that could've reached even greater heights had it followed the manga closely. As things stand, it's still fun to see Clare ascend from being the weakest Claymore in the series to one of the strongest, using the abilities of her friends to become stronger.
She honors Teresa's spirit and is eventually able to take on tough foes like Priscilla. Her skills with a sword reach immense heights and allow her to become one of the deadliest yoma slayers in the series.
3 Saber
The Iconic Swordswoman From The Fate/Stay Series
Fate/stay night
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- January 7, 2006
The Fate/stay series is convoluted to get into, but there's one anchor that fans recognize in every single adaptation. This feminized version of King Arthur is a powerful swordsman who appears during the Holy Grail War to save her master every single time.
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Her skills with Excalibur make her one of the best swordsmen in anime history, who can bring the heat to anyone. Her immense power makes her one of the strongest characters in the series, allowing her to match the might of tough opponents like Gilgamesh.
2 Roronoa Zoro
Everyone Loves This Beloved Swordwielding Character From One Piece
One Piece
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- October 20, 1999
- Network
- Fuji TV
One Piece is full of incredible characters that fans love, and Zoro is no different. This blade-crazy pirate uses every single appendage of his to wield a blade, which looks both cool and highly impractical.
However, Zoro makes his combat style work and acquires various powerful katana throughout his adventures as trophies, becoming deadlier than ever. His incredible skill in battle is off the charts and makes him one of the best anime swordsmen of all time.
1 Guts
This Dragon Slayer Is One Of The Most Iconic Anime Blades Of All Time
Berserk
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- October 8, 1997
Guts is one of the most complex fictional characters of all time, which is not something fans could've said after the manga's first arc, which was a bit too gratuitous for its own good. However, once the Golden Age arc kicks it into high gear, fans witness the birth of something special.
Seeing Guts finally get over his trauma and find a place where he belongs, only for Griffith to tear down his happiness, makes for a brutal sight. The Black Swordsman has been bringing the patented Dragon Slayer into battle ever since and uses this massive blade to cleave through foes without a care in the world.
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