20 Best Fight Scenes in Anime History (2024)

One of the best parts about watching a good action series is seeing a great fight. A struggle of wills between the protagonist and the antagonist can get viewers pumped, especially if the story leading up to the conflict is told properly. These fights can even be cathartic, allowing the hero to finally triumph over the villain.

Naturally, because there are so many great shonen anime series, many come with incredible fight scenes. Some of them stand above the others in terms of being iconic, remembered years after the anime has finished by everyone who watched.

Updated on February 5th, 2024 by Louis Kemner: This is a list showcasing the best anime fights of all time and has been updated to adhere to CBR's current publication standards.

20 Naruto & Sasuke vs. Momoshiki Revived Interest In Boruto

Boruto

TV-14

Son of Naruto Uzumaki, Boruto, follows his father's footsteps along with his friends to become great ninja. Throughout all their adventures, Boruto is determined to make his mark in the ninja world and live outside of his father's shadow.

Release Date

April 5, 2017

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

26

Studio

Pierrot

Franchise

Naruto

Writers

Masashi Kishimoto

Number of Episodes

297

By now, everyone knows Boruto: Naruto Next Generations doesn’t have the best track record. One thing that brought eyes to the series again, though, was Naruto and Sasuke’s fight against the villain Momoshiki Otsutsuki. After several seasons of focusing strictly on Boruto, this fight allowed the main characters of the original season a chance to cut loose. The choreography in this episode is on point, and the episode balances well done martial arts scenes with Naruto and Sasuke’s powerful jutsu to create one of Boruto’s most unforgettable experiences.

That said, many fans would say that not even Boruto's top battles compare to what the original Naruto did, and skeptical anime fans might say that Boruto has a "been there, done that" feel to it. Boruto's best fights aren't shonen history in the making, so this fight ranks low among the most iconic fights in all of anime. Still, dedicated fans of Boruto loved this fight, and it's evidence that this time-honored franchise still has plenty to give after all these years.

19 All Might vs. Nomu Showed All Might's Refusal To Surrender

My Hero Academia (2016)

Action

Superhero

Animation

Izuku has dreamt of being a hero all his life—a lofty goal for anyone, but especially challenging for a kid with no superpowers. That’s right, in a world where eighty percent of the population has some kind of super-powered “quirk,” Izuku was unlucky enough to be born completely normal. But that’s not enough to stop him from enrolling in one of the world’s most prestigious hero academies.

Release Date

April 3, 2016

Cast

Aoi Yuki , Ayane Sakura , Christopher R. Sabat , Yûki Kaji , Nobuhiko Okamoto , Luci Christian , David Matranga , Justin Briner , Kenta Miyake , Clifford Chapin , Daiki Yamashita

Main Genre

Anime

Rating

TV-14

Seasons

7

The end of My Hero Academia's first season still sticks out in fans’ minds, largely because of this fight. The League of Villains' successful assault on U.A. High left Class 1-A defenseless against a group of villains, but none were more dangerous than Nomu, a being specifically designed to fight against All Might.

Nomu’s incredible strength and ability to resist high-impact blows should’ve pummeled an All Might whose powers were fading fast. Instead, All Might took a decisive victory by relying on an unrelenting attack against the Nomu. All Might, as the symbol of peace, set an excellent example of what happens when a pro hero must overcome all obstacles and go Plus Ultra to save the day when all seems lost. Even though All Might was injured and past his prime, he still had something left in the tank, teaching the villains a hard lesson about underestimating his heroic resolve.

18 Takamura vs. Hawk Showed The Effort Required To Become A Champion

Fighting Spirit

TV-PG

Ippo, a teenage boy with a pure heart and unrelenting determination, discovers a passion for boxing after veteran fighter Takamura saves him from bullies.

Release Date

October 3, 2000

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

3

Number of Episodes

127

It isn’t often that the most iconic fight in an anime doesn’t involve the main character. However, the Middleweight Champion fight between Takamura Mamoru and Bryan Hawk is one of the most memorable fights of all time.

It’s not realistic by any means—characters take dozens of punches directly to the face, the counts are far too slow, and the referee doesn’t seem to care about doing his job. However, this battle trades realism for pure hype, as the two fighters trade momentum back and forth with one another. The result is an absolutely brutal fight between two evenly matched opponents...with the victor being the one who simply wants it more.

17 Bell Cranel vs. Minotaur Displayed Bell's Desire To Become A True Adventurer

Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

In the city of Orario, where adventurers hunt monsters in a place called Dungeon, Bell Cranel's life was saved by a swordswoman, who has then become the source of Bell's determination to get stronger.

Genre

Romance, Adventure, Fantasy

Number of Seasons

2

Debut Date

April 4, 2015

Studio

J.C. Staff

It's hard to believe even a great harem series could have not only great character development, but great fight scenes as well. Yet Bell Cranel vs. the Minotaur is often the scene that sells people on DanMachi as a show.

After a humiliating first episode where Bell is forced to flee from a minotaur and be saved by a better adventurer, Bell finds himself in the opposite situation. Unable to run, and needing to save a companion he brought into the dungeon, Bell stands his ground against a powerful minotaur. The fight tested everything he’d mastered over the season—his speed, his durability, his combat knowledge, and his magical abilities. By the end, though, Bell stands as a successful, conquering adventurer.

16 Tanjiro & Nezuko Kamado vs. Rui Took Demon Slayer To Another Level

Demon Slayer

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

When Tanjiro Kamado returns home to find his family was attacked and killed by demons, he discovers his younger sister Nezuko was the only survivor. As Nezuko slowly becomes a demon, Tanjiro sets out to find a cure for her and become a demon slayer so he can avenge his family.

Release Date

April 6, 2019

Cast

Zach Aguilar , Abby Trott , Aleks Le , Bryce Papenbrook , Brianna Knickerbocker , Zeno Robinson , Johnny Yong Bosch , Erika Harlacher , Ray Chase , Kira Buckland

Seasons

3

When protagonist Tanjiro Kamado and his friends entered the demon-infested forest at Mt. Natagumo, they realized they were in over their heads, and so were the "redshirt" demon slayers who were also present. In particular, Rui was a deadly foe for Tanjiro's trio, proving why he earned the rank Lower Moon 5. He was tougher than any demon Tanjiro had faced until that point, and not even the best Water Breathing moves could take him down.

With his back to the wall, Tanjiro recalled his family's traditions about Hinokami Kagura, and that, combined with Nezuko's aid, changed everything. Demon Slayer fans were blown away when Tanjiro performed the fiery Hinokami Kagura, an all-new move that nearly slew Rui. It was an exciting reversal in a hopeless fight, and the visuals set a new standard for anime action scenes. Even author Koyohuru Gotouge was reportedly driven to happy tears at the sight of it.

15 Gilgamesh vs. Shirou Emiya Shows The Danger In Overconfidence

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

A group of seven mages gets chosen to become masters of seven classes of heroic spirits, in order to fight and win the Holy Grail.

Genre

Action

Language

English, Japanese

Number of Seasons

2

Debut Date

October 12, 2014

Studio

Ufotable

Fate: Unlimited Blade Works' Gilgamesh vs. Shirou is still one of the best and most gorgeous fights in the Fate franchise. After spending an entire series feeling like more of a hindrance thanks to his lack of mana and experience, Shirou has his best moment at the perfect time.

By this point, Gilgamesh had already established himself as the ultimate Servant thanks to his role as the King of Heroes. However, it’s that very status as King that leads to his downfall. Shirou’s Unlimited Blade Works is tested against Gilgamesh’s Gate of Babylon, and Gilgamesh’s inexperience with all of his weapons makes them roughly even. Shirou’s determination leads to his victory over Gilgamesh, and winning the Holy Grail War. Such an exciting victory makes this one of the best anime fights of all time, a fight no Fate fan will forget anytime soon. However, even Fate's best battles don't really compare to the fights found in the shonen "big three," so for all its greatness, the Gilgamesh vs Shirou fight ranks modestly among the best fights of all time.

14 Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra Schiffer Features Ichigo Tapping Into His True Power

Bleach

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Bleachrevolves around Kurosaki Ichigo, a regular always-grouchy high-schooler who for some strange reason is able to see the souls of the dead around him.

Release Date

October 5, 2004

Cast

Masakazu Morita , Fumiko Orikasa , Hiroki Yasumoto , Yuki Matsuoka , Noriaki Sugiyama , Kentarô Itô , Shinichirô Miki , Hisayoshi Suganuma

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

17 Seasons

Creator

Tite Kubo

​​​​​Every shonen hero needs a moment, where, to tap into their true power, they have to lose control. For Bleach protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki, that instance came against the 4th Espada, Ulquiorra Schiffer. Until then, Ichigo had done well with his hollow mask, even defeating the mighty 6th Espada, Grimmjow. Then Ichigo fought Ulquiorra a final time, and when Ulquiorra released his zanpakuto, Murcielago, a nightmare scenario unfolded.

Ulquiorra's first and second releases tore Ichigo apart and outright killed him before Orihime's eyes. Then, Ichigo's half-other power brought him back to life in a monstrous new form, a Vasto Lorde with long horns and longer hair. A shocked Ulquiorra fought a losing battle against Ichigo's horrific new form, and when Ichigo regained control of himself, he actually felt bad about it, showing what an honest and fair-minded fighter he was. But what made this fight truly iconic was the sight of Ulquiorra crumbling away just as he reached out to see and understand Orihime's heart for real. Ulquiorra was slightly redeemed just in time to meet his fate, making it a bittersweet victory for Ichigo's team.

13 All Might vs. All For One Shows The Sad Final Victory Of The Symbol Of Peace

During the Kamino ward rescue arc, All Might led a team of pro heroes to rescue Katsuki Bakugo from the League of Villains, and all was well until the symbol of evil, All For One, showed up. All For One tore through the pro heroes until he reached All Might, leading to a brutal rematch between the ultimate superhero and supervillain. Everyone watched in horror as All Might took a savage beating, and for a moment, all seemed lost -- until All Might went Plus Ultra for the final time.

All Might, knowing what was at stake, scraped together all that remained of One For All's power to perform this greatest move, the United States of Smash. As he said goodby to his power and hero career, All Might delivered the knockout blow, proving one more time that a hero's resolve in the face of certain defeat should never be underestimated. Once he won that symbolic victory, All Might allowed himself to enter his skinny form, all while pointing at Deku as the next symbol of peace to step up to bat.

12 Gohan vs. Cell Sees Gohan Finally Standing Up For Himself

Dragon Ball Z (1989)

TV-PG

Anime

Action

Adventure

With the help of the powerful Dragonballs, a team of fighters led by the saiyan warrior Goku defend the planet earth from extraterrestrial enemies.

Release Date

September 30, 1996

Cast

Sean Schemmel , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

9

Though it took some ridiculous leaps to get there, Gohan vs. Cell is the culmination of three arcs' worth of build up in Dragon Ball Z. Gohan spent years training under both Piccolo and Goku, fighting against some of the deadliest warriors in the galaxy. Until the Cell Games, it was never all on his shoulders alone.

After taking a brutal beating from Cell, an inspired speech from Android 16 reminds Gohan of the need to fight for things worth protecting. Seeing Gohan become the first person to reach Super Saiyan 2 is immensely satisfying, right down to having him one-shot the Cell Jrs. And while getting overconfident did cost him Goku, it also lead to the Father-Son Kamehameha, which might be the most hype moment in anime history.

11 King Bradley Vs. Scar Allows Scar To Get Revenge Against The Man Who Destroyed His People

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Original title: Hagane no renkinjutsushi.
When a failed alchemical ritual leaves brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric with severely damaged bodies, they begin searching for the one thing that can save them: the fabled philosopher's stone.

Release Date

April 9, 2009

Cast

Romi Pak , Rie Kugimiya , Shinichirô Miki , Fumiko Orikasa

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood has plenty of incredible fight scenes, but King Bradley vs. Scar had both the emotional weight and the hype behind it to make it a standout. In the episodes leading up to this battle, King Bradley established himself as one of the most dangerous fighters in the show, even destroying a tank to reclaim his base.

Confronting Scar was a new challenge for King Bradley, as he was the representation of the Military's sins returning for vengeance. Despite Bradley's might, his arrogance and a chance mistake cost him his life, providing probably the only chance anyone had of stopping him. Most interestingly, Wrath died a peaceful, comfortable death, knowing that his lifelong duty was finally over. Also, Bradley savored the fact that he had been allowed to choose his own wife, the only free decision he was ever allowed to make in his strange lifetime. That was a fine example of how the seven homunculi died ironic deaths that subverted their symbolic sins.

10 Monkey D. Luffy Vs. Rob Lucci Sees Luffy Achieve Gear Second

One Piece

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

Super Power

Follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew in order to find the greatest treasure ever left by the legendary Pirate, Gold Roger. The famous mystery treasure named "One Piece".

Release Date

October 20, 1999

Cast

Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Akemi Okamura , Kappei Yamaguchi , Hiroaki Hirata , Ikue Ôtani , Yuriko Yamaguchi , Kazuki Yao , Chō

Main Genre

Action

Seasons

20

It's difficult to pin down any single fight in One Piece as the most iconic when most fans call the entire series peak fiction. That said, Luffy's battle against Rob Lucci during the Water 7 Saga is certainly near the top. With the Straw Hats needing to rescue their ally, Nico Robin, Luffy finds himself confronted with the incredibly powerful Rob Lucci in his were-cheetah form.

The battle saw Luffy introduce the power of Gear Second and go beyond his limits once again to show off the power of Gear 3. Despite Rob Lucci seeming invincible, the power of Luffy's Jet Gatling ability put him down for the count. It was a major step forward in Luffy's personal development as a shonen warrior, and even if Gears 2 and 3 now pale in comparison to Gear 5, it was still solid proof that Luffy was ready for incredible growth. That makes Luffy's battle against Rob Lucci the tenth most iconic anime fight overall.

9 Naruto Uzumaki Vs. Sasuke Uchiha Is The Perfect Blow-Off To A Rivalry Built Over An Entire Series

Naruto

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.

Release Date

September 10, 2002

Cast

Junko Takeuchi , Maile Flanagan , Kate Higgins

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Creator

Masashi Kishimoto

Production Company

Pierrot, Staralis Film Company

Number of Episodes

220

Like with One Piece, there are plenty of incredible fights to choose from with Naruto, but the battle between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End is remembered fondly even by some of Naruto's biggest critics. When Sasuke's eagerness to take revenge for his family caused him to abandon the village, several of Konoha's most talented new genin battled Orochimaru's soldiers to bring him back.

By the end, it was clear that Sasuke didn't want to return and Naruto's attempt to force him back led to their first serious fight. The tension that had been bubbling since the beginning of the series between the two exploded in a fierce battle, leading to the best fight in the original Naruto anime.

8 Netero Vs. Meruem Shows The Limits Of Human Creativity

Hunter x Hunter

Gon Freecss aspires to become a Hunter, an exceptional being capable of greatness. With his friends and his potential, he seeks out his father, who left him when he was younger.

Genre

Adventure, Fantasy, Martial Arts

Language

English, Japanese

Number of Seasons

6

Debut Date

October 2, 2011

Studio

Madhouse, Shueisha

Though it has some of the best fight scenes in shonen anime, Hunter x Hunter battles rarely go the way anyone thinks they should. When the Chimera Ant King appeared, the only person even close to fighting on his level was the Hunter Association's Chairman, Isaac Netero. Despite his age, the wizened Chairman proved to be the only person possibly capable of challenging Meruem.

Still, the battle turned into a slow inevitability after a while, as Netero realized he wouldn't be able to down Meruem on his own power. His victory over Meruem proved the lengths of human creativity and desperation.

7 Ichigo Kurosaki Vs. Byakuya Kuchiki Shows An Experienced Ace Against An Unconventional Genius

When it comes to Bleach, there are two fight scenes that stick out the most for Ichigo Kurosaki. While his eventual defeat of Sosuke Aizen is a cathartic moment, it doesn't quite have the impact his battle against Captain Byakuya Kuchiki did.

A well-respected Captain of the Gotei 13 and a master of his Zanpakuto, Byakuya felt like an impenetrable wall for Ichigo. Still, thanks to Urahara's dangerous yet profitable training, Ichigo was able to master his Bankai and fight on the same level as Byakuya. Still, the power of the Senbonzakura and Byakuya's centuries of experience made this Ichigo's toughest battle. It was a personal feud over Rukia's fate, friendship vs duty, and friendship won out. Ichigo didn't just defeat Byakuya physically -- he convinced Byakuya to embrace his foster sister and value her life over the law, setting the stage for Byakuya's and Rukia's reconciliation as family.

6 Spike Vs. Vicious Forces Spike To Deal With His Past

Cowboy Bebop (1998)

TV-14

Animation

Action

Adventure

Sci-Fi

The futuristic misadventures and tragedies of an easygoing bounty hunter and his partners.

Release Date

September 2, 2001

Cast

Koichi Yamadera , Unshô Ishizuka , Megumi Hayashibara , Steve Blum , Beau Billingslea

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

1

Not every anime fight has to be between people with superpowers. In Cowboy Bebop, Spike was forced to confront the very past he'd been running away from when Vicious revealed he'd kidnapped his ally, Faye Valentine. This battle isn't just good from a hype perspective; it's shot beautifully, too.

Everything from the muted color palette to Mai Yamane's gravelly voice singing "Rain" sets the mood for a dangerous battle that the protagonist isn't guaranteed to win. Indeed, after shooting his way through all of Vicious' mafia members, Spike found himself on the losing end of what would be his first fight in the series against Vicious. However, his narrow escape ensured there would be a rematch in the future.

5 Goku Vs. Vegeta Started Vegeta's Obsession With Defeating Goku

Some Dragon Ball Z fans will say the series actually peaked with the Saiyan Saga. While that's debatable, what isn't debatable is just how iconic the final battle was. After learning of his alien heritage, Goku was confronted with the knowledge that he was a low-born Saiyan and the battles ahead would see him facing the Saiyan Elite – Vegeta.

With his friends gone and the fate of the planet on the line, Goku proved that with enough training, it was possible to defeat even the Prince of All Saiyans. Thanks to the power of the new techniques he'd learned from King Kai, even Vegeta's Giant Ape form wasn't enough to defeat him. While the fight's story is amazing, it's the film-quality animation that elevates Goku and Vegeta's iconic showdown, and it also meanas this fight is one of the most iconic and best anime fights of all time, though four other fights are even greater.

4 Yusuke Vs. Toguro Represents The High Point In Yu Yu Hakusho

Yu Yu Hakusho

TV-14

After a teenage delinquent is killed while saving a child's life from an approaching car, the rulers of the underworld send him back to become an "Underworld Detective" investigating demons apparitions in the human world.

Release Date

October 10, 1992

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

4

Studio

Pierrot

Number of Episodes

112

Toguro proved himself the ultimate test for Yusuke Urameshi. After several arcs where Yusuke was a fearless fighter, Toguro's might brought him to his knees. Over the course of the greatest tournament arc ever in the Dark Tournament, Yusuke faced gradually stronger opponents, all while the ultimate challenge waited for him at the end.

The fight is long by Yu Yu Hakusho standards — four episodes —but Yusuke finally proves he's willing to put his all into something for the sake of what he cares about. Despite the Dark Tournament having a ton of memorable fights, this last battle stands at the top.

3 Jotaro Kujo Vs. DIO Features Two Titans In The JoJo Universe Finally Colliding

One of the most hyped fights in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure even before the television adaptation, the battle between Jotaro Kujo and DIO lived up to the original OVA version and then some. After spending an entire series antagonizing the Joestar family, it was finally time for one of anime's best villains, Dio Brando, to get his comeuppance at the end of the series.

However, beating DIO was no easy feat. As it turned out, Jotaro's stand, The World, has an ability no one was aware of: the power to stop time. Though Jotaro developing a similar ability might have felt contrived, it didn't detract from how awesome it was to see these two titans throwing everything at each other. This excellent anime fight also featured some of the most memorable dialogue ever seen in the medium, most of all DIO's and Jotaro's taunts towards one another. Lines like "Oh? You're approaching me?" are still quoted to this day.

2 Rock Lee vs. Gaara Represents The Ultimate Battle Of Talent Vs. Hard Work

The Naruto fanbase is confident of two things: Sasuke’s plot armor, and their love of Rock Lee. People wondering where that comes from should look no further than Rock Lee’s battle against Gaara during the Chunin Exams.

In the battle of the hardworking underdog against the talented prodigy with the One-Tail, the outcome of this fight is obvious from the start. However, it’s impossible not to root for Rock Lee no matter how little a chance he has at victory. Still, this fight makes Rock Lee look like an absolute champ, with some of the most hype moments in original Naruto like Rock Lee dropping his weights and his first time opening the Gates. It was an excellent example of raw talent vs hard work, and in a way, Rock Lee's struggle resonated with fans than anything Naruto Uzumaki himself did in the story.

1 Goku Vs. Frieza Is Goku's Greatest Victory

As much as Dragon Ball Z built up Vegeta, Frieza was made to look like a threat that no one could defeat. Goku used all his experience and every trick he had to match up against Frieza's might, but no trick was good enough.

Frieza always had some new level of power he was waiting to unveil that could top Goku's tricks, from Kaioken to the Spirit Bomb. However, every DBZ fan remembers when Frieza finally pushed Goku too far, causing him to go Super Saiyan for the very first time. This fight isn't just iconic but groundbreaking within battle shonen. Going forward, every protagonist had to have some kind of transformation or super mode, all to try and capture the feeling of Goku's Super Saiyan form. This is why Goku's legendary battle against the villainous Frieza is the single most iconic anime fight of all time.