One of the most amazing things about martial arts or fighting-based anime are the different styles that can be incorporated. Some are magical and mystical, while others have a foundation in real-world martial art forms.
Even though there are many styles, Needle Mastery, sometimes called, Senbonjutsu, blurs the line of believability. The art of using needles in anime is quite unique, which is why there are only a few characters who have truly mastered this unusual weapon proficiency.
10 Ryoko Hakubi From Tenchi Muyo! Hardens Her Hair To Produce Needles
Ryoko Hakubi is a somewhat reformed space pirate who's in love with Tenchi Muyo's main protagonist, Tenchi Masaki. Ryoko’s abilities vary across the different Tenchi Muyo! series, but throughout them all, she is incredibly powerful as she is the daughter of a Goddess.
Among her many abilities, she is able to harden her hair and use the strands as needles for both offense and defense. However, they aren't very strong, as she’s unable to use them to stop the jewel in her wrist from being taken.
9 Illumi Zoldyck From Hunter X Hunter Has Three Different Needle Types
As he was raised to believe the only way he’d find happiness was through the death of others, Illumi Zoldyck has no problem with using his skills to kill people. In fact, he has three specific needles to do the job.
Illumi's typical yellow needles with round heads allow him to change his or someone else’s appearance when infused with his Nen. His second type of needle can brainwash someone when implanted into their head. The third type, when embedded into the skull of a target, transforms them into a Needle Person – placing them under his control.
8 Himiko Toga From My Hero Academia Utilizes Needles To Extract Blood From Her Opponents
As a major antagonist in My Hero Academia and a member of the League of Villains, audiences expect nothing less than evil from Himiko Toga. Not only is she a master of stealth, disguise, hand-to-hand combat, and infiltration, her quirk allows her to shapeshift – making her one difficult villain to fight.
One piece of equipment Toga is known for is her blood-sucking machine. When she hits a target with one of her needles, it drains and stores their blood. When Toga drinks the blood later, her Quirk lets her transform into the person it came from.
7 Tsumugu Kinagase From Kill La Kill Has A Gun That Shoots Needles That Can Pierce Life Fibers
Tsumugu Kinagase is a member of Nudist Beach, a rebel organization that aims to stop REVOCS Corporation's goal of gaining control of the world through the will of the Life Fibers. As an anti-hero, his goal is to rid the world of these fibers after an incident that killed his sister.
Tsumugu's weapon of choice is a gun that’s similar to a sewing machine, but it fires needles. Because life fibers are sewn into clothing, these needles can pierce the Life Fibers and remove them from the humans that they’re consuming.
6 Oboro From Gintama Is A Deadly Assassin Who Uses Poisoned Needles
Oboro, the Messenger of the Heaven Yatagarasu, is a formidable assassin and a major antagonist in Gintama. He was the leader of the Tensho School, dedicated to training assassins, where he learned acupuncture points and how to use poisoned needles. Combining these two skills together allows Oboro to take down his enemies with ease.
5 Bookman From D.Gray-Man Uses Needle-Based Innocence Items For Offense And Defense
Bookman is the head of the Bookman Clan, a group dedicated to recording the world’s history. Even though he’s one of the older characters in D. Gray-Man, Bookman is skilled in languages, martial arts, and acupuncture.
With that in mind, Bookman's Innocence is the Compass of Spells: North Crime. From a spell, a compass-like object appears and several needles are created. These needles can then be used to attack and immobilize enemies. In addition to this, Bookman also has the Innocence Needles of Divine Protection: East Crime, which can be used for protection.
4 Danjo Koga From Basilisk Is A Master In The Art Of Needles And Can Spit Them From His Mouth
Danjo Koga is an elderly man and the leader of the Kōga Manjidani Clan, one of the two ninja clans. Despite his old age, Danjo is a scary yet impressive warrior with his proficiency in Senbonjutsu.
Danjo is able to throw these needles with incredible force and accuracy – so much so that his needles are capable of penetrating armor. Like Oboro, Danjo sometimes uses poisoned needles to increase his kill potential. For stealthy attacks, he’s able to spit needles from his mouth with the same precision and speed.
3 Gladius From One Piece Expands His Hair To Spray Needles At His Opponents
Gladius is an officer with the Donquixote Pirates, the main protagonists of the Dressrosa Arc in One Piece. Gladius gained his officer position by being incredibly powerful.
Gladius is both sturdy and agile, and when he eats the Devil's Fruit, he is able to make his body explode, damaging everything around him excluding himself. Because of this ability, he can expand his hair into needle-like spikes, which he can then release in a spray to puncture his targets.
2 Nullpudding From Fairy Tail Becomes Similar To A Pufferfish With His Needle Magic
In order to become the number one guild again, the members of Fairy Tail compete in the Grand Magic Games. This is where they meet Nullpudding of the Raven Tail Guild. Besides his enhanced abilities in perception, speed, strength, and hand-to-hand combat, Nullpudding is an advanced Needle Magic user. He takes on a form similar to a pufferfish which causes spikes to protrude from his skin. With these spikes, he’s able to perform Needle Blast, which turns those needles into projectile weapons.
1 Chelsea From Akame Ga Kill Is An Assassin Who Changes Her Appearance And Uses Needles To Kill
As a member of Night Raid, a group used to kill members within the Empire, Chelsea is a skilled and unsuspecting assassin. With the use of her teigu Gaea Foundation, she is able to change her appearance at will.
When Chelsea is hired to assassinate someone, she can easily change her appearance and get close enough to to stab them with her needles. In addition to close combat use, she can hurl the needles at her target with incredible precision.