Top 15 Strongest Swords Users In Anime Ranked!

Amidst the many flashy, whimsical, and over-the-top powers in anime, sword users seem to pale in comparison. After all, how can a sword hold a candle to unimaginable powers that can rip through the fabric of space and time itself?

Even so, many of our favorite sword-wielding characters like Roronoa Zoro have proved themselves to be just as strong as the powerhouses that surround them– even without things like flamboyant Devil Fruit powers.

I think some long-overdue appreciation is in order. So, here are 15 of the strongest sword users in anime:

(You might find that some of your favorite swordsmen like Yami Sukehiro or Rengoku are missing. Badass as these two may be, their powers are what make them so strong rather than their swordsmanship.)

15. Akame Of The Demon Sword Murasame (Akame Ga Kill!)

I’ve killed a lot of people. Their grief, sorrow, anger, and hatred, the lives I’ve taken, Murasame remembers it all.

True to her epithet, Akame carries the One Cut Killer, the Murasame, which can one-shot anybody with a single scratch from its poison-coated blade.

Although the cursed katana Akame wields is one of her defining characteristics, she isn’t one to be underestimated even without it.

The assassin turned rebel was one of the Empire’s deadliest assassins and one of the strongest members of the Night Raid. Although she lacks brute strength, Akame makes up for it with incredible agility, speed, and precision.

14. Mugen (Samurai Champloo)

I don’t believe in anyone but me and what I can do. See ya.

Mugen, the unhinged protagonist of Samurai Champloo, is undoubtedly the most unorthodox swordsman on this list. Unlike other swordsmen known for the blades they wield, Mugen is infamous for his unique fighting style, a mixture of tidbits from several martial art styles and breakdancing.

Yes. You read that right– breakdancing. Mugen is an unpredictable force of nature who isn’t afraid to use dirty tricks when the situation calls for it. You can also count on him to bring you the coolest moves you’ve ever seen.

13. Gintoki Sakata aka The White Yaksha (Gintama)

A samurai doesn’t need a reason to take action. If something needs saving, all you have to do is grab your sword.

With how much of a clown Gintoki is, it’s often easy to forget that he’s a legendary samurai who earned the fearsome reputation as a white demon.

Gintoki’s speed, intellect, and strength often make it hard to believe that he’s an ordinary human being who fights with a wooden sword.

Even without any biological advantages or flashy powers, Gintoki could keep up with some of the strongest, like King Housen, Kamui, and Oboro. He also single-handedly took down a handful of the Harusame and hundreds of Amanto using pure swordsmanship alone.

12. Arturia Pendragon/Saber (Fate/Stay Night)

Saber’s swordsmanship is far from the most impressive thing about her. Regardless, Saber is an extremely proficient swordsman and has held her own against mythical, legendary figures like Heracles using her Noble Phantasm Excalibur.

Even without her legendary sword, Saber has instincts that border on precognition, incomprehensible speed, and a good amount of experience.

Saber’s stats are well balanced overall, and although she might not resort to dirty tricks because of the chivalric code she follows as a knight, I don’t think she needs any cheap shots to give her the edge on the battlefield.

11. Yu Mira, aka Witch Of The West (The God Of High School)

I have to protect my Family’s sword! Have you ever had that kind of responsibility?

Even surrounded by martial art prodigies and insane supernatural powers, Yu Mira holds her own as one of the series’s strongest women and sword users with her distinctive Moonlight Sword Style.

Although she only awakened her sword’s true power halfway through the anime, Mira made it far in the tournament— which is a testament to the discipline, dedication, and devotion to her family’s heirloom sword and fighting style.

Sadly, the anime left off before Mira’s strength really got a chance to shine. Mira’s on a whole other level in the Webtoon and would easily take the #1 spot.

10. Tie: Kei Tachikawa and Yūichi Jin (World Trigger)

If victory was decided by the strength of a person’s emotions… There’s no way I’d ever be No. 1.

Kei

In the tenth spot, we have friends cum rivals Jin and Tachikawa with their deadly triggers.

Even without his precognition ability, Jin is a formidable opponent who has truly mastered using the Fujin– a blade that can slash through anything he can see. On the other hand, Tachikawa is known as the #1 attacker who wields the Kogetsu– a katana that can cut through even thick walls of cement like warm butter.

Jin and Tachikawa are both incredibly skilled with their triggers and have sparred and kept up with each other on numerous occasions.

Although we don’t know how a serious fight between the two would pan out, it’s safe to assume the battle would be an interesting one since they’re almost evenly matched.

9. King Bradley alias Wrath (Fullmetal Alchemist)

As one of the primary antagonists of the series, King Bradley, the leader of Amestris, is a menacing foe and undoubtedly the most skilled swordsman in the series.

Although he lacks regenerative powers like his other Homunculi brethren, King Bradley still possesses superhuman strength, speed, and agility. His years of training to be the next Fürher are evident in his lethal swordsmanship.

Did I mention he single-handedly destroyed an entire tank with just a sword and a grenade and wiped out entire rebel armies? I don’t think I even need to mention his Ultimate Eye with feats like that because he’s just as dangerous without its hax powers.

8. Hyakkimaru (Dororo)

Hyakkimaru is one of the most bizarre swordsmen you’ll ever come across in the sense that his arms are literally swords.

After demons took his body parts away, Hyakkimaru was given prosthetics by Jukai, who took him in, raised him, and taught him swordplay. Hyakkimaru was later given swords in place of prosthetic arms, which took his swordsmanship to unimaginable levels.

Demonic powers and heightened senses aside, Hyakkimaru is just as skilled, even using his bare hands to hold his swords and can cut down samurai and demons alike like stalks of wheat.

7. Guts The One-Hundred Manslayer (Berserk)

My sword has gotten very dull. However, it’s three times as thick and does three times the damage of a normal sword. You better pray you die quickly, or this could be painful.

Despite what many may say, Guts does count as a swordsman, even if his sword

is more of a misshapen lance than a sword. If anything, the fact that Guts can wield the inch-thick iron slab he calls a sword with such ease and dexterity is a testament to his freakish strength.

Guts’ aggressiveness and ferocity mask the perceptive and cunning strategist he really is. He possesses years of valuable experience from his time as a mercenary.

It’s often easy to forget that Guts is just an ordinary human being when neither human armies nor demon hordes can stand before him and his gigantic broadsword Dragonslayer.

6. Yamamoto/Ichigo (Bleach)

Why, precisely, do you think I have served as captain-commander of the Gotei 13 for a thousand years? Because in all those thousand years, no shinigami was born to rival me in strength.

This list would be incomplete without Yamamoto, the commander of Gotei 13 and Soul Society’s strongest combatant, and Ichigo, the series’ protagonist and biggest powerhouse who only gets stronger with every fight.

Ichigo´s True Zanpakuto - Animation

Even without their insane Bankai powers, both Yamamoto and Ichigo are swordsmen of excellent caliber despite being worlds apart in combat experience.

Yamamoto has spent nearly two millennia training and fighting. He possesses one of the oldest, most powerful, and destructive Zanpakuto in Soul Society, the Ryūjin Jakka, which can reduce anything to ashes.

On the other hand, Ichigo has mostly picked up swordplay on the go but is no less than a prodigy. Ichigo’s skill improves with every opponent he faces, while his sharp instincts, adaptability, and his ability to deftly use Zangetsu with both his hands compensate for his inexperience.

5. Yhwach (Bleach)

If you do come after me, I will honor that spirit by granting you a glorious death.

Bleach is brimming with expert swordsmen, and I’m afraid I’m compelled to talk about one more of them.

Yhwach is pretty much the final boss of the series and undoubtedly one of its strongest characters. He possesses ground-shattering strength and a plethora of abilities that leave him all but invincible.

As for his swordsmanship, Yhwach is exceptionally proficient with his Reishi sword and can easily cut an opponent in half without a second thought.

4. Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)

Nothing happened.

You might’ve heard of a swordsman using two swords, but what about three? As far as iconic fighting styles go, nothing tops Zoro’s Three-Sword Style.

Zoro has managed to stand out in a world where Devil Fruit powers were the be-all-end-all for the longest time through sheer tenacity alone. He constantly strives to be the best and pushes past his limits trying to surpass his limits.

Zoro vs Killer(Kamazou) Beast Mode, three-sword style! Rengoku Onigiri! | One Piece[Eng Sub]

It doesn’t matter what legendary swords Zoro wields because he’s just as fearsome of an opponent either way who can cut through anything, including pure steel, if he puts his mind to it.

3. Hawkeye Mihawk (One Piece)

Is it your courage or your ignorance that causes you to raise a sword against me?

As one of the infamous warlords of the sea, and the current title-holder of the Strongest Swordsman In The World, it should come as no surprise that Mihawk is ranked so high.

Mihawk’s skill with a sword is unparalleled. His blows are precise and powerful and can cut through anything from steel to entire battleships and massive icebergs. Even without his sword, Yoru, Mihawk easily outmatched even skilled samurai like Zoro, who he overpowered with a mere dagger.

His insurmountable feats only add to his notoriety– which he lives up to with his versatile, elegant swordplay and an air of confidence.

2. Hiko Seijūrō XIII (Rurouni Kenshin)

My sword is guided by the reasoning of Hiten Mitsurugi, but when all is said, a sword is a tool for destruction, not salvation.

You know not to mess with a samurai when he wears a 200-pound coat to hold himself back and still manages to be untouchable.

If there’s anyone just as legendary as Himura Kenshin, it’s his sensei Hiko Seijūrō. Speed, power, strength, tactical intellect– Seijūrō has it all.

Seijūrō is the twelfth successor of the Hiten Mitsurugi– a style of kenjutsu among the oldest and strongest in Japan. Unlike the other users of the style, Seijūrō has mastered every technique, has overcome its physically straining side-effects, and can use it regularly. He has truly surpassed the limits of the legendary style, and coming within reach of his sword is to ensure your defeat.

1. Himura Kenshin alias Hitokiri Battōsai (Rurouni Kenshin)

Defeat isn’t an option for the sword that protects others.

Himura Kenshin is the strongest sword user in anime. The legendary former assassin hasn’t lost a single battle despite fighting with the blunt end of his blade. His signature technique, the Battōjutsu, can defeat any foe with a single blow. Kenshin can wield two swords and is proficient in the Hiten Mitsurugi style taught to him by Hiko Seijūrō XIII himself.

Once known as the legendary assassin Hitokiri Battōsai, Himura was a master swordsman who single-handedly ended a war.

Although he’s a pacifist who vowed not to kill Kenshin is still incredibly powerful, even using the back end of his sword. He earned the moniker Battōsai due to his ability to defeat anyone with a single slash using his iconic Battōjutsu.

Kenshin is incredibly agile, can use a variety of techniques, and possesses insane battle instincts. He can also cut through steel, sever limbs so cleanly that they can be reattached, and move at speeds faster than the human eye can comprehend using Hiten Mitsurugi.

Trust me, you don’t want to get on Kenshin’s lousy side because once he goes back into Hitokiri Battōsai mode, there’s no stopping him!