The right tool for the right job can go a long way. Anime has as many powerful and iconic weapons as there are characters, each with its own unique, sometimes strange, and destructive capabilities. Every good character needs a good weapon, and anime has been able to deliver on that time and time again.
Though in truth it seems like the sword is the popular standout among the vast arsenal of weapons, with so many famous variations on the popular blade. However, across many different genres and series, anime has given birth to plenty of powerful weapons that aren't swords and are just as famous.
10 The Punisher (Trigun)
There's overkill and then there's Nicholas D. Wolfwood's weapon, "The Punisher." This ginormous cross-shaped gun has a machine gun, a rocket launcher, and plenty of other sidearms stored inside to mow down enemies with. It's pretty clear to see that the Punisher has enough firepower to make Wolfwood a one-man army if need be.
Evidently, there are other Punisher's in Trigun aside from Wolfwood's, though there are only ten in existence. It takes a lot of strength in more ways than one to wield a Punisher, because this gun puts the "heavy" in "heavy weapons."
9 X-Gloves (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!)
At the beginning of Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Tsuna could use the power of the "Dying Will Bullets" to channel his flames of desperation into power, but it was a wild flame that needed to be tempered and controlled. That's where the "X-Gloves" came in. While they may look like a pair of ordinary mittens at first, they can transform into gauntlets with the use of Tsuna's Dying Will Flames, which increases his strength, speed, and maneuverability.
The gloves also give Tsuna the ability to use his flames for offensive moves in addition to increasing his physical capabilities. As the series went on, Tsuna's X-Gloves would be upgraded a number of times and got new fiery attacks and shields for defense.
8 Soul "Eater" Evans (Soul Eater)
While Death Weapon Meister Academy has many pairs, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more capable duo than Maka Albarn and her weapon partner, Soul "Eater" Evans. As a Demon Weapon, Soul can turn into a scythe for Maka to wield in battle and his weapon form is tough enough to easily cut through most enemies.
Together, Maka and Soul were able to defeat tons of foes, and eventually, Soul even became a Death Scythe with even more powerful attacks and the ability to fly. With Soul Resonance and Black Blood Armor, their power increases even further, to the point where their strongest attack, "Kishin Hunter," can purge all evil from a target.
7 Dominators (Psycho-Pass)
Psycho-Pass's Dominators may not be a firearm as huge and imposing as the previously mentioned Punisher, but it is proof that big things can come in small packages. This futuristic gun is the go-to weapon for Inspectors and Enforcers of the Public Safety Bureau and can scan a target to be evaluated by the Sibyl System, in order to deal out the appropriate punishment.
The moral greyness of the Sibyl System aside, the Dominators are very versatile weapons that are capable of either stunning the target or vaporizing them depending on their "Crime Coefficient." The highest setting of this weapon can even destroy half a car in a single shot. There's even an "Assault Dominator," a larger version that's able to hit targets from even farther away.
6 Spirit Spear Chastiefol (The Seven Deadly Sins)
The legendary knights "The Seven Deadly Sins," have a lot of strong members, each with their own signature abilities and weapons to compliment them. In the case of King, the current Fairy King, his weapon is the shapeshifting "Spirit Spear Chastiefol." Chastiefol is able to levitate and attack King's enemies without him even touching it himself, and able to take on a variety of forms.
Chastiefol can become a swarm of knives, a barrier, a suit of armor, an attack teddy bear, and a giant sunflower cannon. Chastiefol can switch between its forms seamlessly and whenever King needs it to, along with its upgraded versions "True Spirit Spear" and "New True Spirit Spear."
5 Naofumi's Shield (The Rising of the Shield Hero)
Though the most discriminated and looked down on of the legendary four Cardinal Weapons, Naofumi's shield would end up becoming the envy of the other three heroes. While at first, it's not the best for attacking, Naofumi refined his shield with each battle little by little till it was more than just a defense weapon.
Naofumi can change the shield into a variety of different forms that each have their own special uses ranging from defense, mobility, and even some impressive offense and summons via the "Curse Series." In this case, the weapon is only as good as its master and Naofumi definitely unlocked the shield's hidden potential.
4 Divine Axe Rhitta (The Seven Deadly Sins)
Escanor's physical might is already impressive enough on its own, so what kind of weapon would the Seven Deadly Sins' "Lion Sin of Pride" need? Turns out his Sacred Treasure, Rhitta is the perfect fit for the Sins' heavy hitter. Escanor can channel his magical power into Rhitta and release it at a moment's notice to pull off devasting special attacks.
Rhitta can release Rhitta's power to light up the sky, which allows him to assume his day form even when it's nighttime. The intense heat Rhitta can produce from absorbing Escanor's might is like the surface of the sun and it can burn pretty much anything in the area.
3 Ainz Ooal Gown's Staff (Overlord)
The Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown was the treasure that represented the Great Tomb of Nazarick and Momonga's guild back in Yggdrasil. Brought to the new world, Monga (now calling himself Ainz Ooal Gown) was finally able to take it out for a spin. Ainz is the only one capable of using the staff, and the powerful spells that can be channeled through the seven magical gemstones.
The staff is able to do many things such as summoning elemental spirits, splitting apart the ground, revive fallen allies, and so much more. It's a powerful staff for any spellcaster would envy and the perfect weapon for the Sorcerer King.
2 Silence Glaive (Sailor Moon)
The Sailor Senshi have many tools and abilities to help them fight the forces of evil, but Sailor Saturn's "Silence Glaive" is on a level all it's own. This scythe is a force of pure destruction, and with it, Sailor Saturn is capable of destroying an entire planet or even erasing her target from existence.
The Silence Glaive can bring entire civilizations to their knees with just a single swing, containing devasting power that's almost unfathomable. This comes with a price, however, as the Glaive requires the sacrifice of its user's life to perform its most powerful attacks.
1 The Death Note (Death Note)
If one is looking for the most deadly items in anime, it'd be tough to find one more iconic than the Death Note. While a Death Note in itself is not inherently a weapon, the ways in which Light Yagami was able to utilize it made it one. If the name of someone is written in this Death God's notebook while their face is in the writer's mind, they will die, simple as that.
The writer can even make death more specific, adding times, locations, and methods to the execution. This notebook's slayings are absolute and fast-acting once a name is written. While there are many rules contained inside the Death Note, an intelligent user can work around them or even use those rules to their advantage, such as Light who used it in his quest to become the god of a new world.