Best Anime Swords

Key Takeaways

• Anime is full of iconic swords, from the flamboyant Excalibur to the oversized Dragon Slayer, inspiring memorable battles and characters alike.
• Rurouni Kenshin’s Sakabato is not just a blade; it’s a symbol of a vow against killing, showcasing the power of redemption and inner strength.
• Swords in anime go beyond mere weapons, embodying character growth, history, and even sentience, making them essential elements in storytelling.

Swords are arguably the most represented form of weaponry in all fiction, besides maybe guns. Various societies from across human history used swords in some form, and in modern pop culture, they have developed an undeniable cool factor. From samurai to knights, all manner of warriors are often depicted with a sword at their hilt.

Anime is well known for its fantasy stories, and swords thrive best in a fantasy environment. Due to this, anime is flooded with many swords and sword-wielders. Among them, though, some blades have managed to etch themselves into the minds of viewers as instantly recognizable and exceptionally cool weapons.

Updated on November 3, 2024, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: When it comes to various forms of fiction, swords remain widely portrayed as works of art. Whether it be in medieval Japan where sword-wielding Samurai are portrayed or the sci-fi sword weaponry of technologically advanced futures, swords have evolved across genres but remain ever timeless. Over time, several swords have become iconic with their distinct and cool aesthetic. Swords function as more than weapons for murder but as unique crafts that tell a story. Swords like Excalibur are well known for their relation to knights, while more lore-related ones like Enma, which resonates with the depths of hell, tell a story about its wielder and add to the story in which it is portrayed. With this, each sword has a unique presence, and some have set themselves as icons through the companions they accompany and the roles they play in their respective series.

26 Lostvayne

A Sacred Treasure That Produces Clones Of Its Wielder

Meliodas initially debuted in The Seven Deadly Sins with a broken sword. The Dragon Sin of Wrath wreaked havoc with that sword but eventually came to be more recognized for his sacred treasure, Lostvayne.

This sword’s special ability allows Meliodas to create up to six clones of himself, and each clone would possess a fraction of his power. If only one clone is summoned, said clone would have up to 50% of Meliodas’ full power, which is enough to overpower many countries. On the contrary, the clones themselves are not the biggest threat when Meliodas is using Lostvayne, but the fact that they can each use full counter at full power.

25 Enma

A Cursed Blade Synonymous With The King Of Hell

Wado Ichimonji is undoubtedly Zoro’s most iconic sword, but in recent times, particularly with the Wano arc, the legendary sword Enma has risen as a worthy competitor. Enma was previously owned by Kozuki Oden, and its eerie aura suits Zoro to a large extent.

Known as the King of Hell, Enma is known to suck out Haki and, by extension, life force from those who wield it. This makes wielding it a tough prospect even for the Straw Hat’s swordsman; however, mastering the sword despite the challenge it poses is one challenge that Zoro would take on anytime, and the benefits make the challenge even more worth it.

24 Arthur’s Excalibur

A Sword Of Plasma Brought About By Imagination And Conviction

The sword name Excalibur is highly pronounced in the world of anime, and even Arthur of Fire Force uses one. However, Arthur’s Excalibur stands out as it is a bladeless sword. Arthur condenses the energy blade from his pyrokinetic abilities, making the blade out of plasma.

Excalibur’s hilt is cross-shaped and made from a special carbon material to conduct Arthur’s abilities. With his Excalibur, Arthur has cut down a plethora of enemies, and the more he feels like a medieval sword-wielding knight, the more powerful he and Excalibur by extension become. Because his sword’s blade is channeled through his abilities, Arthur can also increase and decrease the length and volume of his sword.

23 Flesh Katana

A Sword Made From The Flesh And Blood Of A Demon

The Upper-Rank One demon has maintained his spot over countless years for a reason. He was a former human swordsman, and more interestingly, the brother of Yoriichi Tsugikuni. On turning to a demon named Kokushibo, his sword skills became even more powerful and more refined.

After becoming a demon, Kokushibo got a befitting sword that allowed him to practice his techniques to their full potential. Rather than a normal Nichirin blade, Kokushibo’s sword is a katana made from his flesh with the ability to increase in size. While it might have looked like a normal blade during its debut in the Demon Slayer anime series, Kokushibo’s sword is anything but that. Its blade is blood red with various eyes all over it.

22 Sakabato

Forged By Master Swordsmith Arai Shakku

Rurouni Kenshin is easily one of the most underrated anime around. It’s a fun series that focuses on the life of a wandering swordsman who left his previous life as an assassin and promised never to kill anyone else again. The sword he wields personifies this mindset, with Himura using a blade from a reputed swordmaster whose weapons are notorious for having a dreaded killing edge.

In comparison, the Sakabato seems like a run-of-the-mill katana and doesn’t look all that impressive to behold. The blade is forged on the opposite end solely to discourage killing, with Himura’s skills being downright necessary to make the most of this katana and ensure that a life isn’t taken while using it.

21 Ea

The Strongest Noble Phantasm In The Gate Of Babylon

Gilgamesh is one of the strongest Servants in Fate/stay Night who makes his presence known time and time again by summoning a wealth of powerful weaponry to overwhelm anyone who crosses his path. However, even in this vast arsenal, there’s one sword he prefers over the rest that can completely decimate foes with no warning.

Ea is the most powerful Noble Phantasm in the Gate of Babylon that Gilgamesh summons. It’s a sword that is unique to him, with its power being impossible to fathom, making it a pain to deal with. The sword looks extremely unique and is one of the few items brought out during the Holy Grail War that has never existed in any timeline, further adding to its allure as one of the strongest blades in the series.

20 Ragnarok

The Demon Sword And Crona’s Weapon Master

A regular weapon that was melted and merged with the blood of its master to become something special, Ragnarok is a sentient weapon from Soul Eater. The power of the Black Blood helps this weapon whip out a bunch of devastating moves that can take out most enemies with ease.

The fact that this weapon can scream at such a pitch that it starts vibrating to emulate an electric cutting saw goes a long way in showing just how powerful Ragnarok really is. Any foe unlucky enough to face this blade in battle will find themselves praying for dear life as its offense becomes too much to bear.

19 Kurikara

A Unique Maken Created By Mephisto Pheles

A demon blade that takes on the shape of a katana, the Kurikara is a powerful blade that has played a major role in the events of Blue Exorcist. It’s one of the most underrated shonen anime that fans should check out if they want to enjoy solid storytelling and great action scenes.

The blade was used to seal Rin Okumura’s Demon heart, setting the stage for an incredible moment when this power simply couldn’t be held in the sword after a point. The importance this blade holds in Blue Exorcist can’t be stated enough, making it one of the best parts of this underappreciated anime.

18 Samehada

A Sentient Sword That Eats Chakra

Kisame is one of the best villains in Naruto, with his shark-like powers being pretty destructive in their own right. The sword he wields, Samehada, looks ridiculous, and it’s revealed later on that this weapon is a sentient, living being.

Samehada loves to feed on chakra and has some intelligence of its own, given how it fooled Killer B into thinking that he’d switched allegiances. This powerful sword can be tricky to deal with, and its blades are sure to cause some serious damage if they make direct contact.

17 Murasame

A Lethal Blade That Awakens A User’s Power With A Curse And Poisons Foes

A cursed sword with a long and bloody history, Murasame in Akame ga Kill! is certainly a unique weapon that foes should be wary of. The blade is coated in a poison that can destroy opponents with a single cut, and the only way to negate its effects is to amputate the area that is damaged as soon as possible.

Akame ga Kill! may have had an anime run that ended way too quickly with its pacing being all over the place, but the alluring nature of the Murasame still shone through. Fans can always check out the manga for a better-paced and more engaging version of the story that explores the history and abilities of the Murasame in more detail.

16 Spirit Sword

A Sword Made Of Spirit Energy

The Spirit Sword isn’t technically a physical blade that anyone can pick up in YuYu Hakusho. Rather, it’s an extension of Kuwabara himself, being able to use the powers of this sword to slice through his enemies and gain the upper hand whenever required. Of course, given how goofy Kuwabara is, there are times when he actively works against himself while using this blade.

Kuwabara’s Spirit Sword may not look like anything special, but it’s how this comic relief character uses this blade that makes it such a force to be reckoned with. It helps that Kuwabara’s latent spirit energy allows him to enhance the power of this sword and help it reach new heights, which is very much required in a series where demons and humans alike reach immense heights of power in record time.

15 Claymores

A Massive Blade Wielded By Enhanced Warriors

It’s a shame that the anime adaptation of Claymore ended prematurely, with the original ending being far from what the scope of the anime was. Still, this gave people an excuse to check out a manga with some of the most awe-inspiring art fans can check out, despite the story going completely off the rails.

Claymores are human-demon hybrids that essentially serve as monster slayers, using their eponymous swords to slice demons to bits. These swords may not seem all that iconic, but it’s the people who wield these blades that make them such an enduring part of the series.

14 Wooden Katana

Gintoki’s Comical Toyako Bokuto Is Surprisingly Effective

Gintama is one of the funniest shonen anime that anyone can check out, even if it can take a while for this show to click for viewers. The adventures of Gintoki and his friends end up being hilarious pretty much every time, but the show knows when to pull out its serious moments and get fans hooked on certain arcs that are built up brilliantly.

The best thing about Gintama is how the series’ protagonist is such a skillful swordsman that a simple wooden katana is all he needs to take out even the strongest opponents around. The fact that this silver-haired character never tries to take the life of a sentient being is proof enough of just how well-written and likable he is.

13 Future Trunks’ Sword

A Blade Used In Some Of The Show’s Most Iconic Moments

In the world of Dragon Ball, where most fights are bare-knuckle brawls or ranged ki shootouts, Future Trunks has always stood out due to his use of a sword. While the sword would later not see as much use, it played a vital role in making Trunks’ first appearance in the series as iconic as it is.

It’s a rather simple weapon design-wise but is extremely strong, being able to slice Frieza clean in half. While it is damaged by Android 18, Future Trunks is later seen wielding it against Zamasu, where he is able to infuse it with ki and make it into an energy blade.

12 Elucidator And Dark Repulser

Kirito’s Two Overpowered Swords

Despite a somewhat controversial reputation in the anime community, Sword Art Online was undoubtedly a powerhouse of popularity in the mid-2010s. It was hard to attend an anime convention without seeing a small army of Kirito cosplayers, and often on their backs, they would carry Elucidator and Dark Repulser.

These swords are obtained separately by Kirito, and while he ends up leaving them behind eventually, they are still his best-known weapons. The blades themselves are high-value gear and are dual-wielded by Kirito to great effect.

11 Excalibur

A Sentient And Holy Sword

The sword Excalibur originally comes from the story of King Arthur and has appeared in many forms of media. When it showed up in Soul Eater, it was fittingly known as the most powerful weapon in existence and was capable of being wielded by almost anyone.

However, weapons in Soul Eater have personalities, and Excalibur’s is completely insufferable. In its non-weapon form, it appears as a bizarre, pure white creature who talks incessantly. Wielding him requires adherence to his many, often contradictory rules, a requirement so undesirable that only few can even stand to be around him long enough to etch themselves into history.

10 Rengoku’s Nichirin Blade

The Flame Hashira’s Visually Stunning Katana

Demon Slayer is full of cool and memorable weapons, with the nichirin blades easily being the most recognizable. When selecting which of them is most recognizable, the easy choice would be Tanjiro’s sword, which is a sleek, black blade with a circular, wheel-like guard.

However, due to being regularly replaced, the sword hasn’t reached its most unique form, which is a shame. As such, the Flame Hashira, Rengoku’s blade, with its distinct fire-patterned blade and the flame-shaped guard is arguably more iconic, although this statement is a bit controversial.

9 Tessaiga

A Demon Blade That Gets Stronger With Each Battle

Inuyasha is a legendary anime that needs no introduction. It may be pretty dated by this point, but the adventures of Inuyasha and Kagome are still pretty nostalgic for viewers who had the pleasure of enjoying this anime’s story during their childhood.

The show still holds up even now, despite some aspects of the title feeling a bit dated. Regardless, fans will love it whenever Inuyasha whips out the iconic Tessaiga in combat, with its sentience and ability to learn new attacks making it a powerful sword that elevates the show in its own way.

8 Anti-Titan Blades

Blades Made Specifically To Cut The Nape Of A Titan’s Neck

While not a specific sword, the standard issue swords of Attack on Titan’s anti-titan military are instantly recognizable and cool weapons. Wielded by almost every major character in the series, these swords play a vital role in humanity’s war against the Titans.

The swords are similar to snap-off knives, with several sections that can be broken off individually. Each soldier also carries several sets of blades, as they can be released from the grip to refresh the blades and stay on the offensive. Later on, these blades are combined with guns to let the Survey Corps alternate between fighting Titans and humans at a moment’s notice.

7 Demon Dweller Sword

An Ancient Anti-Magic Weapon

Despite Black Clover’s relative infancy, it managed to carve out a respectable spot in the anime world, partially due to its distinct aesthetics. Asta’s demon dweller sword benefits from this, being easily recognizable even in the sword-laden anime landscape.

The sword is a perfect fit for Asta, as it helps with his magic-countering fighting style. The sword can absorb magic and send it back out as an attack. It is also said to passively drain magic from whoever it touches, which is beneficial due to Asta’s lack of magic.