Best Dual-Wielding Anime Characters

The world of anime has a lot of characters that wield one or more weapons. Some of these weapons seem practical and easy to use. Then there are a few that might make some fans scratch their heads because it just doesn’t seem possible to even lift them. Either way, it can’t be denied that the characters look cool when using them.

These characters have become pretty iconic for dual-wielding their weapons of choice. A few of them might use more than two weapons, and sometimes they’ll even use one, but dual-wielding is their main choice for combat. Let’s take a look at the best anime dual-wielding characters.

Updated March 5, 2025 by Mark Sammut: A unique fighting style can set a character apart from the crowd, and dual-wielders have an edge since they are fairly uncommon. The best anime characters who dual-wield weapons are usually powerful, aggressive, and incredibly cool. Two more characters have been added, one from Shangri-La Frontier and the other from Ranma 1/2.

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Special Mention: Annette And Her Dual Swords

Can Fight Up Close Or Far Away Thanks To Her Magic

Technically, Castlevania: Nocturne is not an anime, just inspired by it.

Annette has a very unique fighting style thanks to her magic. Being a descendant of the god Ogun, Annette can control metal. When fighting, Annette uses her swords for both close and mid-range combat. Up close, she is able to hold her own against powerful enemies like Drolta. She is very proficient and moves with ease while wielding them.

If her enemies are out of her reach, Annette can throw her swords at them. Thanks to her powers, she can control them telepathically and attack from far away or have her swords come back to her.

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Nyanta & His Dual Rapiers

A Feline Gentleman Needs An Elegant Yet Strong Weapon

Having been part of Debauchery Tea Party, one of the most powerful guilds before disbanding, it only makes sense that Nyanta is a strong fighter. As a Swashbuckler, Nyanta uses two rapiers in combat and can do about nine strikes in two seconds. His strikes aren’t meant to be powerful but to weaken his opponents’ stats. The more he strikes, the weaker they become. Because he’s able to strike faster, he’s able to execute more combos than anyone else.

It’s thanks to this speed that he’s able to weaken his opponents to the point they can’t fight anymore. If this doesn’t make him sound like a fearsome opponent, he has an attack that interrupts anybody trying to cast spells. Nyanta might have the most strength, but he has a lot of tricks up his sleeve that make him a formidable fighter.

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Soshiro Hoshina And His Custom Twin Swords

One Of The Best Swordsman In The Defense Force

Soshiro is the vice-captain of the Third Division and is known throughout the whole Defense Force for his swordsmanship. Though he struggles against larger kaiju, Soshiro is the best when it comes to killing small to mid-sized kaiju. Not even Gen Narumi, who is the best in the Force, is as proficient as Soshiro. Soichiro, Soshiro’s brother and captain of the Sixth Division, has said that Soshiro is the best warrior their family has ever produced. This shows his strength since the Hoshina Family has been fighting kaiju for generations.

His attacks are swift and very precise. Sometimes his enemies don’t know when they’ve been hit. Even in the middle of a fight, Soshiro can create new forms of fighting depending on what he’s up against.

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Claudia Enfield & Her Twin Swords, Pan-Dora

A Student Council President Needs Strong Weapons To Fight

Being the student council president since middle school, it’s only fitting that Claudia has very powerful weapons by her side. Pan-Dora gives her the ability to see up to 300 seconds into the future. While this is a great ability to have, it comes at the cost of Claudia having nightmares of her experiencing a different death every time she sleeps. Despite this, Claudia still refers to Pan-Dora as her “little darling” and is the only student to ever use the weapon.

Claudia effortlessly wields these swords in combat with great confidence and skill. Being the second top-ranking fighter in the academy, very few can defeat her in battle and her skill is said to be equal to Ayato, the number one top-ranking student.

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Shampoo & Her Twin Chuis (Maces)

More often than not, dual-wielding anime characters prefer to stick to light weapons designed to promote speed and dexterity. Fortunately, Ranma ½ is not like most other shows, so Shampoo shows up to kill the gender-swapping protagonist with a pair of massive maces. She swings them around with reckless abandon, proving herself to be a powerhouse who could squash most martial artists without breaking a sweat.

Shampoo does not always rely on her weapons to get the job done, but she does generally prefer to have them by her side whenever she either wants to kill Ranma or sets her sights on one of his other love interests. Like all of this show’s characters, Shampoo is a violent delight.

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Kohaku & Her Twin Knives

Moving Quickly Requires Light Weapons

Kohaku is a girl that excels in using her speed in combat so she needs weapons that won’t slow her down. These primitive-looking knives are perfect for her, and Kohaku is very skilled at using them. What she lacks in strength and technique, she makes up for with quick reflexes and great combat instincts.

Despite not having any formal training in using her knives, Kohaku can perform a lot of quick strikes when attacking. Anyone who fights against her will either have to be stronger, smarter, or quicker to win.

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Asuma Sarutobi & His Chakra Blades

His Chakra Blades Could Cut Through Just About Anything

Asuma was a well-known shinobi when he was alive, and it’s easy to see why. Not only was he observant of those around him, but he was a capable fighter with his chakra blades. He would infuse custom-made trench knives with his chakra, and this made his close-range combat all the more lethal. With these blades, he could cut through just about anything from wood to rocks and even metal.

Thanks to his skill with these blades, Asuma was one of the best fighters in close combat. Plus, he could also extend the blades several feet with his chakra and force his enemies to dodge his attacks even if they weren’t close to him.

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Sally & Her Unique Daggers

Her Daggers Are Perfect For Her Fighting Style

Sally is a girl who is quick on her feet and needs weapons that won’t slow her down. Thankfully, she has two unique daggers to help her out. She can slash through enemies quickly and has taken out several players or NPCs with little issue. Her daggers give a boost to her strength, dexterity, and intelligence.

She might not have the highest strength, defense, and HP, but Sally knows her strengths and weaknesses. She knows how to work well with her guild and her methods of doing things can be just as unorthodox as Maple’s.

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Rakuro Hizutome & His Various Dual Weapons

Constantly Upgrading Dual Weapons While Taking Part In Awesome Fights

Another anime set in a game, Shangri-La Frontier follows Rakuro, a highly-talented gamer who is used to playing broken titles. However, he decided to take his expertise into a god game named Shangri-La Frontier, where he fairly quickly powers up and even ends up unlocking a rare quest. Now, Rakuro uses quite a few different weapons throughout his time in Shangri-La Frontier, and he is constantly looking to upgrade to something new. Except for a few early items that were discarded quickly, the protagonist mostly uses dual weapons, be they daggers, blades, or swords.

Shangri-La Frontier is filled to the brim with fantastic action sequences that are specifically designed to allow Rakurou to showcase his fast-paced fighting style that caters to dual weapons. Although taking creative liberties, the anime tries to present a somewhat realistic take on an MMORPG, including pushing Rakurou to maximize his skills and strategies.

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Yukio Okumura & His Dragoon Handguns

His Skill With His Guns Makes Up For His Lack Of Blue Flames

Having not received the same Blue Flames as his brother Rin, Yukio was trained at a young age to become an exorcist to protect him. He trained to become a Doctor and a Dragoon, becoming the youngest student to pass the exam at thirteen years old. With Dragoon being his offensive Meister, Yukio dual-wields handguns for mid and long-range combat.

Thanks to his flame resistance, Yukio can use guns and ammunition that would harm most wielders because of their magical properties. If that doesn’t make him sound deadly, he can keep up with those who specialize in close-range combat like Shura Kirigakure, who is known as a great swordswoman.

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Aria Holmes Kanzaki & Her Two Colt Pistols And Short Swords (Aria the Scarlet Ammo)

Long Or Close-Ranged Combat, She’s Prepared For Both

No one should be fooled by her small stature as Aria is a deadly force. She has two Colt pistols that she can use in both close and long-range combat. Her accuracy is pretty spot-on, so her enemies will either be hit or disarmed if she fires at them.

If anyone thinks she’s helpless without her guns, Aria also carries two short swords with her. She’s just as deadly with them as she is with her firearms and uses them for quick, strong strikes. Aria might not look big and intimidating, but she uses her small size to her advantage and opponents should be careful when fighting her.

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Shunsui Kyoraku & His Dual Swords

The 1st Division Captain Is A Deadly Force In the Soul Society Thanks To His Swords

One of the best swordsmen in the Soul Society, Shunsui has earned his spot as a Captain of the 1st Division and Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. With his two swords, Shunsui is a master at close-range combat, and it helps that he’s ambidextrous. Though it seems like he’s a bit stronger using his left hand, his strength with his right hand is just as good.

With his swords and a strategist mind, Shunsui is one of the best warriors in the Bleach universe. Anyone who fights him is going to have a tough fight on their hands and very few will make it out unscathed.

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Yato & His Blessed Vessel, Yukine

Proof That Yato And Yukine’s Bond Is Powerful

This god might not seem like much, but Yato is a lot stronger than what his fellow gods give him credit for. Yato had his regalia and shiki Yukine as a single sword for a long time until Yukine was cut in half by Bishamon. After this, Yukine transformed into a blessed vessel and became two swords that Yato now wields. Yato quickly adapted to using two blades and has become quite skilled at doing so.

Becoming a blessed vessel wasn’t just giving Yato and Yukine a power boost, but it also symbolized just how strong their bond was. Very few shiki become blessed vessels for the god they’re serving, and Yukine’s transformation shows that he’s extremely loyal to Yato and is willing to sacrifice his own life to keep him safe.

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Imai Nobume & Her Dual Katanas

Goes For The Kill With Every Strike

A very powerful woman who was raised as an assassin. Nobume uses two swords when fighting and she’s considered one of the deadliest warriors around. During her childhood, she was able to kill other adult rival assassins and didn’t get any injuries from doing so. Plus, she can keep up with some of the strongest characters in the series and is a very opponent to face.

Even Kondo Isao has commented on her abilities and says that every strike from her is lethal and is meant to be a killing blow. Her swords are incredibly durable and have sliced through concrete with ease, proving that it’ll take a lot to break them.

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Archer & His Dual Swords, Kanshou And Bakuya

An Archer Who Prefers Fighting With Swords

Ironically, Archer’s preferred weapons are the two swords, Kanshou and Bakuya. He’s quite skilled at melee combat and prefers fighting in close-range combat to throw his opponents off. He often uses both blades at the same time and is such a formidable opponent that he was able to defeat Berserker six times.

What Archer lacks in strength, he makes up for it with his unorthodox tactics and techniques. Should he lose one or both swords in combat, he can use his Projection magic to create new ones. His versatility and adaptability make him one of the most unique and strongest Servants in the series.

15

Asta & His Anti-Magic Swords

Uses His Swords To Even The Playing Field

Having been born with no magic, Asta wields Anti-magic Swords to help even the playing field. These swords help nullify and cut through magic. Asta doesn’t suffer the consequences of using these swords since he has no mana for them to deplete. With his Demon-Slayer Sword, he’s able to extend the Anti-magic around the edges of the blade and can use the flat side of his sword to deflect spells.

His Demon-Dweller Sword allows him to release projectiles of Anti-magic from long distances that can cut through magic. It can also use the magic of those around him to imbue these slashes with their properties. Thanks to his training and experience, Asta can wield these swords with no problem. His style is a little rough compared to most swordsmen, but no one can deny his strength and skills.

14

Thorfinn & His Two Blades

His Weapons Make It Easy For Quick Strikes

Relying on speed and agility is the way that Thorfinn prefers to fight and these two blades are his most trusted weapons. To make up for his lack of brute strength, Thorfinn uses these blades for quick and precise strikes and has taken out opponents far above his level. His agility is so high that he can avoid platoons of soldiers in seconds and also has great reflexes.

He specifically targets his opponent’s weak points and uses his speed to avoid attacks. Thorfinn does get stronger as he gets older, but his speed is still his greatest asset and these blades just fit perfectly with his fighting style.

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Yor Forger & Her Elegant Stiletto Daggers

The Thorn Princess Needs Something Elegant And Sharp To Match Her Title

Yor has only been around the anime scene for a short time, but she’s already become pretty iconic for a lot of reasons. Her look when she’s out doing a job looks deadly yet elegant and her stiletto daggers match perfectly with it. Yor uses these daggers with ease and can take on multiple people at once when using them.

She can use them for close-range, which she normally does, or she can throw them at people who are far away. She might not use them a lot, but Yor looks elegant every time she wields them. They might look delicate, but these daggers are very sharp and deadly, especially with such a strong woman wielding them with expertise.

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Tengen Uzui & His Flashy Nichirin Cleavers

A Flashy Man Needs Flashy Weapons

A flashy man like Tengen needs an equally flashy weapon and he uses two of them. His cleavers are heavier than the average Nichirin sword and they have explosive power in them. In Tengen’s hands, these cleavers are some of the deadliest weapons in the series. With the chain connecting them, he uses them almost like nunchucks and wields them effortlessly.

Even after Gyutaro cut off his left hand, Tengen had no trouble using them and was able to fight the Upper Six Kizuki on equal grounds. He might’ve retired after the battle, but Tengen is pretty iconic because of his flashiness and amazing strength.

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Riza Hawkeye & Her Dual Handguns

Her Skills And Quick Reactions Keep Her And Mustang Alive

She might not use alchemy, but this doesn’t mean Hawkeye is weak. She usually keeps her trusty dual handguns on her person and is quick to pull them out when danger is near. It also helps that she has amazing reflexes and can keep up with some pretty tough enemies. Plus, she has pretty good aim and is one of the best firearms specialists in the military.

Mustang should consider himself lucky that he has a pretty strong and smart woman watching his back. Hawkeye has saved his life a few times thanks to her quick reactions, and she isn’t afraid to point out his weaknesses at the time (usually when it’s raining or his gloves get wet).