Anime spawned myriads of iconic weapons wielded by its characters. They range from cool-looking yet unpractical giant swords, such as the massive Dragon Slayer Guts carries around in Berserk, to fascinatingly complex machinery, like Attack on Titan's Thunder Spears and ODM gear.

RELATED: ODM Gear & 9 Other Awesome Technology In Anime (That Aren't Mecha)

The variety of creative, unique weapons in anime might be astounding. Yet the most common types of ammunition still go back to Japanese culture, with most characters relying on a trusty katana or a wakizashi, a short Japanese sword. However, Japan's history has some less conventional weapons that occasionally appear in anime. Tessen, the Japanese war fan, is a traditional accessory modernized for warfare, and some anime characters mastered the elegant yet deadly art of wielding this unorthodox weapon.

10 Mai Shiranui Uses Beauty As A Deadly Weapon (Fatal Fury)

Mai Shiranui Fatal Fury anime

On top of being a powerful pyrokinesis user, the happy-go-lucky ninja from Fatal Fury, Mai Shiranui, is an exceptional fan wielder. Her official nickname is The Alluring Ninja Girl, yet, a foe that falls under Mai's temperamental charm is almost guaranteed to meet his demise.

Her flirty and airheaded personality might confuse some into thinking of Mai as an easy target. But underestimating her fighting abilities would be a deadly mistake. In Mai Shiranui, traditional, if a bit showy, Japanese beauty combines with exceptional strength, vigor, and devotion.

9 Yukiko Amagi's Fan Is A Representation Of Her Free Spirit (Persona 4: The Animation)

Yukiko Amagi Persona 4

Much like in the original games, Persona 4: The Animation gives its characters not only powerful spiritual manifestations, Personas, to fight, but also a variety of martial weapons. In the case of Yukiko Amagi, throwing fans become her weapon of choice, thematically and aesthetically suiting her character.

Being the heiress of the historical Amagi Inn, Yukiko's biggest fear is being chained down by the expectations of her traditionalist, sophisticated family. So, a powerful, wind-based weapon, which ties to traditional Japanese culture, encapsulates her personality well.

8 Temari Nara Can Overpower Any Enemy With Her Wind Release Techniques (Naruto)

Temari Riding Her Giant Folding Fan

In Naruto, ninjutsu can take myriads of diverse forms and require a wide range of supplementary devices to perform. Temari Nara, a former kunoichi of Sunagakure's Kazekage clan, uses a giant iron fan in combination with her Wind Release nature manipulation.

As a master of long-range combat, Temari has outstanding control over the winds she creates, capable of manifesting deadly tornados and using her fan as a transportation device. Her impressive abilities and impeccable strategic thinking make Temari the most talented and powerful Wind Release user in the entire show.

7 A Dance Fan Enhances Kagura's Wind-Bending Abilities (InuYasha)

Kagura from Inuyasha wields her dance fan.

As a weapon, a fan is often associated with wind powers, so it was a perfect object to enhance the abilities of Kagura, the deadly Wind Sorceress from InuYasha.

RELATED: 10 Anime To Watch If You Love InuYasha

As one of Naraku's strongest incarnations, Kagura can be a challenging foe, despite vigorously resenting her creator. Her attacks are always precise and calculated, and, as a master of aerokinesis, she can deflect almost every airborne strike. Her stunning traditional dance fan can even summon a giant tornado and proves effective in both defense and offense.

6 Karura Hiogi Uses Powerful Fan-Wielding Techniques To Kidnap Her Beloved (Yuuna And The Haunted Hot Springs)

Karura Hiogi Yuuna san

Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs is an anime filled with peculiar supernatural beings, all of which reside in an alarmingly cheap boarding house alongside Fuyuzora Kogarashi, a broke, homeless exorcist.

Karura Hiogi, a manipulative and cunning fan-wielding tengu, is first introduced as a dangerous antagonist, kidnapping Kogarashi and defeating Yuuna and the rest of the girls with her powerful wind techniques. However, Karura's intentions weren't antagonistic, just a bit disturbing, as she simply wanted Kogarashi to marry her. Despite declining the offer, Kogarashi forgives Karura, establishing a friendly relationship with the obsessive fan-wielder.

5 Nie Huaisang Can Rarely Be Seen Without His Iconic Hand Fan (Mo Dao Zu Shi)

Nie Huaisang MDZS

A fan wielder doesn't have to be a vicious fighter to rock this multifunctional accessory in the case of Nie Huaisang, a timid leader of the Qinghe Nie Clan from Mo Dao Zu Shi. Despite his intellectual brilliance, Nie Huaisang was a poor student, preferring to focus his attention only on things that sparked his interest, which did not include academics or martial arts.

Instead of perfecting his saber work, Nie Huaisang devoted himself to paining fans, and he remained faithful to this iconic accessory throughout his life.

4 Tasuki's Fan Has Unconventional Fire Powers (Fushigi Yuugi)

Fushigi Yuugi Tasuki

Despite being released over two decades ago, Fushigi Yuugi still holds up as one of the most engaging fighting anime in the medium's history, featuring a variety of creative martial arts styles and memorable characters. Tasuki is one of the most powerful additions to the Suzaku celestial warriors, wielding a traditional paper fan that possesses fire abilities.

As the only rightful heir of this unique weapon, Tasuki holds exclusive ownership of his tessen, which complements his fierce personality. No other person can activate its deadly powers.

3 Hagorome Gitsune's War Fan Is Not Meant To Be Pretty (Nura: Rise Of The Yokai Clan)

Hagorome Gitsune

A fan doesn't have to be delicate and elegant to be an effective weapon, as proven by Hagorome Gitsune from Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, who wields a giant iron fan.

RELATED: Shonen Jump: 10 Manga That Never Got Complete Anime Adaptations

Hagorome Gitsune is a demon fox who believes herself to be a rightful queen of all yokai, making her disrespectful and hateful of all humans, caring only for her subordinates. She effectively uses her Iron Fan of the Two Tails to prove her superiority, staying cocky and arrogant even while wielding her massive metal weapon.

2 Shi Qingxuan's Spiritual Device Reflects His Quirky Personality (Heaven Official's Blessing)

Shi Qingxuan Tian Guan Ci Fu

Staying true to his name, the Wind Master Shi Qingxuan from Heaven Official's Blessing has an airheaded, eccentric personality and chooses a delicate fan as his prime accessory. Charismatic and playful, he also hides a more compassionate, loyal, and courageous side, which comes out in times of need and despair.

In trying situations, Shi Qingxuan's trusty Wind Master Fan, an extremely formidable and rare spiritual artifact, comes in handy, creating powerful storms and tornados and even blowing away the essence of evil. In its closed form, Wind Master Fan can also be used as a sword.

1 Despite His Delicate Appearance, Kalluto Zoldryck Is An Incredibly Skilled Assassin (Hunter X Hunter)

Hunter-X-Hunter Kalluto-Zoldyck

As the youngest child in the infamous assassin family, Kalluto Zoldyck from Hunter x Hunter was trained to be a ruthless and efficient killer from the day she was born. His weapon of choice is a delicate paper fan that suits his elegant, feminine appearance. Yet, when infused with Kalluto's Shu, it can turn into a fearsome weapon, capable of cutting through steel with no resistance.

As a Manipulator, Kalluto can also use his fan to activate his Dance of the Serpent's Bite ability, which shreds the opponent into pieces with tiny paper confetti, moved through the air with a graceful wave of a fan.