Some anime battles are so legendary that they transcend their respective series and become a staple of anime communities, setting new expectations and raising the bar. These fights often blend jaw-dropping animation, intense power, clever strategies, and raw emotion. Whether they stem from a drive to protect, win, or seek retribution, some clashes redefine what anime is capable of achieving.
From golden-age classics to modern hits, these anime confrontations show off anime at some of its best moments, proving why these series are unforgettable. Every battle comes with its own stakes and stands as a defining moment for the series or a character. The sheer scale or determination behind these battles gives audiences chills every single time.
Monkey D. Luffy vs. Kaido (One Piece)
One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy, a young pirate who dreams of becoming the Pirate King, and his crew of Straw Hat Pirates as they travel the Grand Line in search of the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. Along their journey, they battle against rivaling pirates and the World Government in pursuit of their dreams.
The series’s longest arc, the Wano Country Arc, features some of One Piece’s most memorable battles and an iconic transformation. As Luffy faces off against Kaido, who is the Governor-General of the Beast Pirates and known as the world’s Strongest Creature, he awakens Gear Five. This form turns him into a near-mythical force, allowing him to bend reality itself.
This cartoonish form amplifies Luffy’s strength and speed, altering his appearance and enhancing the battle’s visual spectacle and raw intensity. It’s a visually stunning showdown as well as a satisfying moment that rewards Luffy’s growth throughout the series and fans’ investment in his growth.
Sung Jinwoo vs. The Ant King (Solo Leveling)
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jinwoo, once the weakest hunter in a world filled with deadly dungeons, who gains the power to level up after a near-death experience. Granted the System, he becomes the Player and can complete quests and defeat monsters to grow in power, ultimately leading to him becoming the Shadow Monarch and the strongest hunter.
In Season 2 of Solo Leveling, Jinwoo arrives at Jeju Island, an island where an S-rank gate failed to be sealed. Protecting other S-ranks, he takes on the Ant King, one of the deadliest monsters his world has ever faced, and he does so with overwhelming strength, defeating it single-handedly in a battle that is visually spectacular and monumentally thrilling.
Katsuki Bakugo vs. All For One (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born in a world where most of the population has a unique power known as a quirk. Despite being born quirkless, he inherits the power of the world’s strongest hero, All Might, and begins training to become a hero at U.A. High with his peers, including Katsuki Bakugo.
During the Final War Arc, Bakugo gained a triumphant return, reviving from death itself in the nick of time. Working alongside Deku, he manages to stop one of the series’ greatest villains, All For One, before he kills their mentor. Despite his wounds, Bakugo bravely fights the villain, using his explosive quirk to its fullest in a jaw-dropping display.
His fight against All For One was not only immensely epic but also served as the culmination of his character arc and growth throughout the series. The fight stands out as the best in My Hero Academia so far due to its intensity and symbolism, offering viewers a deeply rewarding payoff after nearly a decade of buildup.
Chainsaw Man vs. Bomb Devil (Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc)
Chainsaw Man centers on Denji, a young man burdened by debt and poverty, whose life changes drastically when he fuses with his pet devil, Pochita, after a deadly encounter with the Zombie Devil. Now a human-devil hybrid, Denji is recruited by the Public Safety Devil Hunters and begins hunting down devils.
Taking place after the first season, Reze Arc follows the tragic romance between Denji, Chainsaw Man, and Reze, the Bomb Devil, ultimately leading to an explosive clash between the two. The battle rips through the city, filled with emotional turmoil and intense stakes. Despite its recent release, the Reze Arc has become the fastest anime film to surpass $100 million.
Saber vs. Rider (Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel III)
Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel III is the film that concludes the Heaven’s Feel trilogy, centering around Shirou Emiya’s desperate attempt to save Sakura Matou from the corrupting influence of the Holy Grail. The series takes place in a world where mages collide with powerful servants in a battle to win the Holy Grail in exchange for a wish.
Based on a visual novel, Heaven’s Feel follows the Heaven’s Feel story route, one of the three routes in the original game, with the other two routes covered in the original Fate/Stay Night and Unlimited Blade Works. The final film in Heaven’s Feel features a battle between Saber Alter, the corrupt version of Saber, and Rider, the servant of Iskandar.
The battle is made with fluid animation, powerful attacks, and incredibly high stakes that emphasize the route’s cruelty. It’s an emotionally charged battle filled with tension that can be felt through the screen, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats until the final attack.
Tanjiro Kamado and Giyu Tomioka vs. Akaza (Demon Slayer)
Demon Slayer centers on Tanjiro Kamado, a young boy whose family is slaughtered by demons, leaving his sole surviving sister transformed into one. Determined to find a cure and avenge his family, Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps to put an end to Muzan Kibutsuji, the progenitor of demons, once and for all.
Near the series’s finale, the stakes reach their highest point yet, with the Demon Slayers falling into the Infinity Castle. There, Tanjiro teams up with Giyu Tomioka to face Akaza, Upper Rank Three, in the series’s most visually stunning, emotional, and thrilling battles yet. From the sound design to the fight choreography, Akaza’s final battle redefined what anime can achieve.
Levi Ackerman vs. Beast Titan (Attack on Titan)
Attack on Titan takes place in a world where humanity survives behind towering walls that protect citizens from giant, man-eating Titans. The story centers on Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlert after a Colossal Titan breaches the outer wall of their hometown, leading to numerous casualties, including Eren’s mother.
The three join the Scout Regiment to fight against the Titans and explore beyond the walls, ultimately leading to major twists and revelations about the truth behind the Titans and sparking a conflict that exceeds anyone’s expectations. One of these battles involved the Beast Titan, capable of killing the Scout Regiment from a distance by hurling chunks of massive stone.
Levi Ackerman, Humanity’s Strongest Soldier, takes on the Beast Titan while the Scout Regiment launches a suicide charge to distract it. The moment is intense, visceral, and devastating, with Levi’s skill and precision on full display, proving once again that he truly is the greatest soldier in Attack on Titan.
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood follows Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers who pay a terrible price after attempting human transmutation to resurrect their mother. Edward loses an arm and a leg, while Alphonse loses his entire body. In order to restore themselves, they set out in search of the Philosopher’s Stone, leading them to a much larger conspiracy.
Artificial beings known as Homunculi threaten the entire country and pose a danger to society and the military. Roy Mustang, a high-ranking officer, confronts one of these beings, Lust, after a comrade is gravely wounded. Using his flame alchemy, he breaks down her regenerative ability with ruthless efficiency again and again, creating a heart-pounding moment that encapsulates his simmering resentment.
Rock Lee vs. Gaara (Naruto)
Naruto follows the titular character, a young ninja outcast by his village after a powerful demon was sealed inside him. Determined to gain respect and recognition, he relentlessly trains to become the Hokage, the village leader. Along his journey, he takes part in the Chunin Exams alongside his peers and other ninjas from other villages.
During the third stage of the exam, Rock Lee and Gaara face each other in a one-on-one battle that immediately captures the audience’s attention. The battle is intense, fast-paced, and packed with sheer skill and willpower. Lee and Gaara’s battle may have been one of the series’ earliest, but it still stands out as one of the best fights in Naruto.
Goku vs. Frieza (Dragon Ball Z)
Dragon Ball Z continues the story of Son Goku, a Saiyan warrior from Earth, as he takes on increasingly powerful adversaries. Early on in the series, as threats emerge from across the universe, Goku and his friends must train relentlessly to revive their fallen comrades, leading them to Planet Namek. There, the Z-fighters must face Frieza, a powerful galactic tyrant.
The battle has become one of the most legendary in anime, featuring Goku’s transformation into a Super Saiyan and forever redefining the Dragon Ball franchise as well as all of shōnen. The fight is intense, with everything on the line as Goku faces one of the universe’s most fearsome threats, effectively creating a legacy that continues to influence anime today.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
