When you think about the coolest anime character archetype, assassins have to be high up on the list (exclusive to two-dimensional fictional characters only.) Oftentimes, their characterization is so beautifully executed that you can’t help but be intrigued about their villain origin stories, and what exactly it was that led them down to the path of killing. From tragic backstories to killing just being the easiest way of income, there are diverse reasons behind their hunt for blood.
Moreover, their method of killing also factors into their popularity. While some go the conventional route and use knives and snipers, some can tear you apart by speed and strength alone. But being cunning is the bare minimum requirement, and it’s thrilling to see their strategies come into play after targets have been analyzed and the assassination is to be carried out.
An assassin’s job description in the anime world might as well be, “Killing is an artform, and they are artistic.” With that, here are some of the most skilled anime assassins of all time:
10Rob Lucci (One Piece)
Rob Lucci is the epitome of what every government institution would desire in an assassin and why wouldn’t he be? Trained by the World Government since he was at least eight years old, Lucci has been steeped in the assassin life for nearly his entire life and perfected the job. At the bare age of thirteen, Lucci was willing and able to slaughter an entire pirate crew as well as the five hundred soldiers that they were keeping hostage.
He was formerly an agent of Cipher Pol 9 and was also stated to be one of the deadliest assassins in its history. Before the two-year time skip where the Straw Hat crew underwent considerable development, Rob Lucci was undeniably one of their most formidable foes.
9Yor Forger (Spy x Family)
Yor Forger, with her deceptive appearance, is a unique blend of deadly assassin and clumsy, lovable personality. She operates in secrecy, away from her peers and makeshift family. Her strength and agility are unmatched, with a kick that can send a grown man flying and a speed that can overwhelm even Loid, perfectly suitable for the ‘Thorn Princess.’ Her experience in cleaning up bloodied scenes is evident in her skill at tidying up, leaving the Forger household spotless.
Yor’s skills as an assassin are matched only by her clumsiness in the kitchen and her inability to hold her liquor. Her lovable, hilarious personality makes her hilariously endearing. Despite her profession, she manages to maintain a balance, living her secret life without endangering her loved ones. Working for the enigmatic Garden organization, she swiftly eliminates her targets with her unparalleled speed, reflexes, and superhuman strength.
8Akame (Akame ga Kill)
Akame, despite her seemingly innocent appearance, is a force to be reckoned with. Raised by the Empire and elite assassins since childhood, she has honed her skills to become a deadly killer, always ready to seize an opportunity. Before her pivotal role in Night Raid, Akame used her assassin abilities to eliminate countless enemies of the Empire, earning the title of the nation’s best assassin. Her strength and skills make her one of the most formidable members of the rebel group, Night Raid.
Akame’s was sold by her parents to the Empire as a child, but she eventually switched allegiances to the revolutionary army and began fighting to overthrow the monarchy. Her incredible speed, reflexes, and impressive strength, coupled with her exceptional swordsmanship, make her a versatile and deadly opponent. Akame routinely takes out even the most intimidating foes with little effort, showcasing her ability to always kill her targets whether wielding a sword, a firearm, or fighting hand-to-hand.
7Claire ‘Vino’ Stanfield (Bacanno!)
Claire, a standout in a show with superhuman characters, is not defined by explicit supernatural powers. Instead, he is celebrated as the best assassin in the world, a reputation that draws the envy of hitmen from all corners who aspire to defeat him and make a name for themselves. His enigmatic personality and solipsist mindset, where he believes he is the center of the world, further add to his allure.
Despite being an assassin who isn’t afraid to use violent ways of execution, he has a distinct sense of justice. He strives to keep innocent people safe and only targets those who endanger others. Furthermore, he is extraordinarily powerful and capable of performing practically any physical activity he sets his mind to.
Claire, who was trained as an acrobat in a circus, applies his skills to his new job with impressive agility, flowing fluidly in any area and simply taking out his targets. Although he is a formidable and cruel assassin who mutilates his victims beyond recognition, he is also remarkably heroic, killing only other potential killers.
6Hei (Darker than Black)
Hei, known as one of the deadliest assassins, detested the idea of killing. However, driven by the need to protect his sister, he joined the Syndicate, an underground organization, and was trained as an assassin. His exceptional skills in both martial arts and weaponry, coupled with his incredible agility, earned him the moniker ‘Black Reaper’ during his hitman days.
Hei’s special power to discharge electricity, coupled with his impressive physical capabilities, gives him a significant advantage in combat. He prefers to use a knife, which he can channel electricity through to deliver fatal shocks. His power extends beyond this, allowing him to manipulate matter, short out entire buildings, and even destroy a huge portion of South America.
Hei’s resourcefulness in combat, his ability to improvise plans and adapt to any situation, is a testament to his tactical brilliance.
5Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
Once a legendary hitokiri, Himura Kenshin, a swordsman assassin who carved his name during the Meiji Revolution, now strives to live a life of a peaceful warrior, even resorting to a blade that cannot harm. Rescued at a young age by a talented swordsman, Kenshin was trained in the art of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, a sword style that is both gentle and devastating.
Despite his master being peaceful, Kenshin left to fight in the war, driven by a sense of duty and a desire to protect those he cared about. However, this decision led him down a path of violence and death, and he became a famous assassin. He even earned the name “Battosai the Slasher” after killing over a hundred people in his first six months. Continuing that legacy throughout the war, Kenshin certainly became an assassin deserving of severe atonement.
4Itachi Uchiha (Naruto)
Itachi is one of the most notable characters on our list. His actions, such as the tragic event of killing his entire clan and setting his brother on a path of vengeance, have left an indelible mark on the series. Recruited into Konoha’s Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, Anbu, at the age of 11, he swiftly rose to the rank of captain within a year.
His defection from the village and subsequent joining of the Akatsuki, where he became one of their most powerful members, further solidified his impact on the series.
Despite his seemingly cold exterior and treacherous nature, Itachi’s deep care for his village and brother was evident. His actions, revealed to be performed out of necessity, were driven by his love and concern for his brother, and his sole wish for true peace. Itachi’s loyalty and love for his brother made him a truly layered character who remained loyal till the very end.
3Toji Fushiguro (Jujutsu Kaisen)
The strongest sorcerer in the world, Gojo Satoru, was almost killed by an assassin with zero cursed energy and no cursed technique. What does that tell you about the assassin? Toji Fushiguro, formerly a Zen’in, was disrespected for his lack of cursed energy.
This resulted in his warped personality, further enabling Toji to be an extremely ruthless assassin, a unique approach in the world of Jujutsu sorcerers. His lack of cursed energy and absurd physical prowess due to the heavenly restriction make him an extremely effective assassin, especially against Jujutsu sorcerers, which is why he earned the nickname “Sorcerer Killer.”
Toji has been shown to use conventional weapons, such as guns and katana. However, when he is on a mission to kill a Jujutsu sorcerer, he employs a range of cursed weapons instead.
These cursed weapons, infused with cursed energy, are stored inside a cursed spirit that can shrink to the size of a coin, allowing Toji to carry a variety of weapons without being encumbered. He might not have had that much screen time but he managed to destroy an entire generation of sorcerers in just that.
2Koro-Sensei (Assassination Classroom)
Apart from being the quirky teacher of class 3-E, Korosensei was once regarded as one of the world’s best assassins, going by “The Reaper.” He’d killed over a thousand people and possessed all of the qualities required of a skilled executioner.
Koro-Sensei is regarded as the world’s best assassin, even in his human form, as seen by his ease in countering assassination attempts with his experience and observational skills. Koro-Sensei kept all of his abilities from his previous incarnation, and moreover, as a result of human experiments, he developed several superhuman skills, including exceptional senses, reflexes, and speed that exceeded even the fastest known aircraft.
Having spent most of his life as a killer, Koro-sensei was both respected and feared by his mercenary peers. Despite never using his abilities against his students, he became even more powerful after government experiments. He used this newfound strength to exact vengeance on the lab that had tortured him and cost him the life of his close friend.
1Killua Zoldyck (Hunter x Hunter)
Born into an infamous family of assassins, Killua’s talent is noted from his childhood, with him mastering various killing techniques early on in his life. He was put through gruesome training when he was young and had been participating in dangerous espionage activities since he was three. He is an extremely skilled combatant, and his parents believe he has the most talent of all assassins in their family’s history.
Despite his elite assassin training, Killua eventually grows weary of this life, opting to become a Hunter alongside his friend, Gon. Even though he leaves his assassin role behind, he retains the skills he honed, such as stealth, tracking, agility, stamina, and resistance to various forms of poison, pain, and electricity. Moreover, he incorporated his assassination techniques when fighting before finding new weapons and learning about Nen.
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