The trope of the hero showing mercy to the villain and choosing not to kill them is a common one in fiction. It functions to not only further distinguish the hero from the villain but also to illustrate the hero's dedication to their morals and personal philosophies.
In doing this, the hero appears more righteous, incorruptible, and altogether heroic. While there are plenty of anti-heroes and deuteragonists that do put an end to the villains they face, there is something about a true hero that values all lives and can rise above the villain's treachery that stands the test of time.
10 Aang Struggles To Find A Way Not To Kill Ozai In Avatar: The Last Airbender
What makes the final conflict of Avatar: The Last Airbender so difficult for Aang is his connection to the Air Nomad ways. He does not want to resort to killing Fire Lord Ozai because of his reverence for life. However, he has a duty as the Avatar to stop Ozai.
While this conflict does play into the villain-saving trope, this show puts a new spin on it by showing the evolution of Aang's struggle with the duties of being the Avatar and the final reconciliation when he learns energybending.
9 Sailor Moon Tries To Save Her Nemesis, Galaxia
The power Sailor Galaxia wields is supposed to outrival any other, but when she has her final confrontation with Sailor Moon and the other Senshi, she is in over her head. Usagi did not want to kill Galaxia, even if she was controlled by Chaos.
Instead, Usagi refuses to fight until Chaos is finally purified by Usagi's love. While the two did not have a traditional battle, Sailor Moon (as Princess Serenity) could have fought and possibly killed Galaxia. Instead, she decides to save Galaxia from Chaos' clutches.
8 Deku Does The Right Thing And Hands Overhaul To The Authorities In My Hero Academia
There was not much worry that Deku would kill Overhaul, as, like Aang, Deku is a character with strong principles and a drive to do the right thing. However, if Deku wanted to, he certainly has the ability to do so.
With the way Overhaul treated Eri, Lemillion, and Nighteye, it would not have been a stretch for him to have wanted to avenge his comrades. Fortunately, Deku is committed to his hero persona so much that emotions did not cloud his judgment during the intense altercation.
7 In Yu Yu Hakusho, Kuwabara Lets Seaman Live
Seaman, also known as Kiyoshi Mitarai, begins as a villain and later becomes an ally to the protagonists. Seaman attacks Kuwabara, but Kuwabara develops a new skill at the eleventh hour and defeats Seaman.
However, instead of killing Seaman, Kuwabara rescues him, and this shakes Seaman to the point of altering his worldview. After being saved another time by Botan, he decides to help the team and eventually retires to live a relatively normal life. Sometimes, saving the enemy means gaining a friend.
6 The Hokage Lets Orochimaru Get Away In Naruto
The Third Hokage lets Orochimaru escape the Hidden Leaf Village, and, eventually, this leads to Orochimaru killing him. However, the Third had such a hard time confronting his former student that he leaves his successors to deal with the consequences.
Orochimaru is still around by the time Naruto becomes the Seventh Hokage in Boruto. It seems the various Hokage have found Orochimaru either too much of a pain or too useful to kill. Naruto could definitely kill him if he wanted, but Orochimaru is still skulking around.
5 Goku Shows Mercy To Vegeta In Dragon Ball Z
Vegeta's fight with Goku is one of the most iconic showdowns in anime history, and it is pretty good that Goku did not kill his counterpart because Vegeta becomes a valuable member of the team in future arcs.
While many argue that Goku should have killed Vegeta, it is undeniable that Goku is one of the most powerful and beloved characters in anime. So, when he spares Vegeta and gains a new ally, fans gain a powerful onscreen duo.
4 Hyakkimaru Allows One Demon To Live In Dororo
Throughout Dororo, Hyakkimaru hunts down demons and kills them to gain back his missing body parts. While he usually does not allow a demon to go free, there is one demon he decides not to kill.
Jorogumo, a spider demon, disguises herself as a woman named Ohagi and falls in love with a human named Yajiro. Since Jorogumo has changed due to her relationship with Yajiro, Hyakkimaru no longer perceives her as a demonic threat, and he, therefore, allows the couple to live.
3 Black Clover's Asta Makes Ladros Apologize Instead Of Killing Him
After Asta defeats Ladros, he tells Ladros that he will let him live, but that he must apologize for his wrongdoings. Asta's sheer power impressed Ladros, as he was able to barrel through attacks Ladros previously thought were unstoppable.
However, in true anime fashion, Asta does just that, and Ladros is forced to rethink his former opinions. Ladros learns from Asta the importance of companions to growing stronger and keeping oneself on the right path.
2 In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zuko Chooses Not To Kill Azula, Despite Her Cruelty
Zuko and his sister, Azula, have a storied past. She spent most of their youth bullying him, and she psychologically tortured him throughout the series. When Zuko and Azula finally have their Agni Kai, the two can finally resolve their issues.
Azula loses, and Zuko decides not to kill her, just as Aang decided not to kill Zuko's father, Fire Lord Ozai. As with Aang, Zuko's decision not to kill Azula is monumental. Unlike Aang, however, Zuko refraining from killing Azula is a marker of his character growth, stepping away from hatred and vengeance.
1 In Naruto, Kakashi Lets Zabuza Take Out Haku's Death On Gato And His Men Instead Of Killing Him
The masked Kakashi is just about to kill Zabuza before he let him live. As Kakashi is about to land his final blow, Haku steps in front of Zabuza to protect him. Because of this, Haku dies, and Zabuza is torn. While Kakashi could have killed Zabuza there, he decides not to.
Zabuza instead turns his anger toward Gato and his men, killing many of them. Zabuza is eventually overpowered and killed, too. In the end, Kakashi's choice not to kill Zabuza allowed Zabuza to both redeem himself, avenge Haku, and take care of a thorn in Team 7's side.