Anime is full of over-the-top combat and larger-than-life battles. That type of thing has basically become common place in today’s landscape of Japanese animation. However, even among a saturated landscape, some anime fights are so iconic that they stand out as pretty much required viewing for any fan of anime.
In some cases, having a broader understanding of the context of the conflict can add to the enjoyment of an iconic anime fight. It’s not necessarily required though as anime’s greatest battles can often be enjoyed simply for their surface-level entertainment value alone. Whether due to the amazing animation and fight choreography, or just simply because the characters are historic in their own right, there are some fights that every anime fan just has to see at least once.
10 Kakashi vs Obito (Naruto Shippuden)
Kakashi and Obito’s clash is one of the most emotional in Naruto: Shippuden, and also one of the best choreographed. As childhood friends turned bitter enemies, Kakasho and Obito actually parallel Naruto and Sasuke in many ways.
One of the core themes of Naruto has always been that anyone can find redemption, no matter how far removed from the path they may be. With that in mind, each kick and punch thrown between two old friends holds ideological weight, and that fact is particularly true between Kakashi and Obito. While the incredible martial arts skills and deadly attacks employed by both parties make this fight beautiful to watch, the somber background score and steady childhood flashbacks make it equally tragic to witness.
9 Deku vs Overhaul (My Hero Academia)
Deku’s fight against Overhaul was easily the most powerful up to that point in a series that was already full of emotionally charged fight scenes. While Deku and Overhaul were the main combatants of the fight, the true star of the show was really Eri.
Despite her traumas, Eri was forced to overcome innumerable psychological obstacles just to provide Deku with a glimmer of hope in fighting back against the overwhelming destructive power of Overhaul. Of course, she never would have been able to do that without Deku’s unwavering support. No matter how much Overhaul tore down, Deku set out to show Eri that she can always put things back together again.
8 Future Trunks vs Frieza and King Cold (Dragon Ball Z)
While Goku’s original battle with Frieza is likely the most iconic and important shonen fight of all time, that fact only makes Future Trunks’ fight with Frieza and King Cold that much more awesome. After fans had just witnessed the overwhelming powers of Goku and Frieza literally destroy a planet, Trunk’s casual Super Saiyan transformation was nothing short of shocking.
Future Trunks’ swift and decisive victory over Frieza is perhaps still the closest thing anime has to Mortal Kombat’s notion of “Flawless Victory”. While some of Dragon Ball Z’s greatest fight scenes can come off as a bit slower paced or dragged out in comparison to more modern series, that’s anything but the case with Future Trunks’ first introduction into the series.
7 Rengoku vs Akaza (Demon Slayer)
The Demon Slayer anime has only been ongoing for a few years, but it is already one of the most popular and successful anime series of all time. An integral part of that success is due to the Mugen Train movie which was the highest grossing anime film of all time, and really helped solidify the show’s legacy as anime royalty.
Of course, the most memorable part of that film by far is the fight between Rengoku and the Upper Moon Three demon, Akaza. Demon Slayer has become well-known for its superb animation and high-stakes Hashira battles, and Mugen Train is the pinnacle of that.
6 Netero vs Meruem (Hunter X Hunter)
Netero’s fight against the terrifying monster Meruem is one of the most iconic fights in anime history for multiple reasons. For one, It is just an awesome fight in terms of sheer action and combat. Second, it shows off the true strength of one of Hunter X Hunter’s most interesting and enigmatic characters up to that point.
Perhaps most importantly, it gives the main villain space to learn from his opponent and grow even as the fight of both of their lives is going on. Meruem was already too smart for his own good, but witnessing Netero’s resolve in the face of death showed him what it truly means to be human. In this way, Netero and Meruem’s fight is a masterclass of shonen anime combat, storytelling, and character development all at once.
5 Ichigo vs Byakuya (Bleach)
Ichigo’s fight against Aizen is often cited as one of the greatest fights in shonen history simply due to its place in the story, powerful feats and overall stakes. However, Ichigo’s fight against Byakuya is at least comparable in excitement and sheer shonen battle shenanigans.
After Ichigo’s training with Yoruichi allowed him to access his bankai, his power levels skyrocketed to a point no one thought possible. Still, he would need everything in his potential arsenal if he wanted to stand on equal footing with Byakuya. This fight proved to be a turning point for both characters, and one of the definitive moments in Bleach.
4 Luffy vs Kaido (One Piece)
Throughout One Piece‘s long history as an animated series, there have been highs and lows in terms of overall production quality for the show. However, Luffy’s battle with Kaido is full of the best visual moments in the entire series.
On his journey to become king of the Pirates, Luffy has faced many powerful enemies, but they utterly pale in comparison to Kaido, who was aptly named the world’s strongest being. Anime fans seem to either love or hate One Piece, but it’s hard to remain part of the latter camp after witnessing Luffy’s historic clash with Kaido.
3 Ash vs Leon (Pokémon)
Pokémon pulled out all the stops for Ash’s big moment, and it led to easily one of the best battles in the anime. Not only is Ash’s championship victory an iconic moment for anime due to the show’s history, it’s also just an awesome fight scene in general thanks to its great animation.
It would be hard for fans of the original Pokémon anime not to feel nostalgic while watching Ash’s Pikachu in a battle for the championship set to the original OP’s theme song. However, whether for fans of the Pokémon series at large or just anime fights in general, Ash’s long-awaited victory is a must-see.
2 Naruto vs Sasuke (Naruto)
Naruto and Sasuke have technically met multiple times on the battlefield. However, their fight at the end of the original Naruto series is arguably their best and most iconic. The context of their fight added weight to every punch, making it both thrilling and heartbreaking to watch.
The Naruto series generally started out as a more light-hearted shonen battle series, but Naruto‘s battle with Sasuke really set the stage for the darker atmosphere of its follow-up. Before their final meeting in Shippuden brought the conflict between them to a close, Naruto and Sasuke’s first meeting in the Final Valley has become like a rite of passage that all anime fans need to see.
1 Goku vs Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z)
Goku and Vegeta’s first fight in Dragon Ball Z defined shonen anime forever. While Goku’s fight with Frieza and Gohan’s bout with Cell have equally entered the canon of the greatest anime fights of all time, the succinctness and overall quality of the choreography in Goku and Vegeta’s battle during the Saiyan Saga still holds up today.
This is a fight that not only introduced the greatest rivalry in anime history, it was also one of unprecedented stakes at the time. Goku’s last fight with Raditz had already established that DBZ was not afraid to kill off its main character, and Vegeta was a greater threat than any Goku had faced before.
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