The world of anime is defined through the sacrifices made by its heroes (and sometimes even its villains). Through stunning acts of courage and selflessness, they demonstrate their integrity and occasionally even fundamentally alter the course of the story. It often serves to create many of the most memorable and emotionally charged scenes in their respective stories.

RELATED: 10 Of The Dumbest Lies In Anime (That Actually Worked)

However, this is not exclusively true. For every meaningful sacrifice, there is another martyr whose actions ultimately amounted to little. That means that these poor heroes often died for nothing.

10 Caesar's Gift Would Have Been Won Anyway (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Caesar zeppeli waving in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure

Impatient to defeat the villainous Pillar Men, Caesar forayed into their base and confronted Wamuu. Though their battle was close, it ultimately resulted in the hero's defeat. It wasn't without purpose; in spite of his loss, he gave Joseph his foe's lip ring antidote and what Hamon he had left.

However, Joestar was nowhere near the expiration date of his poison and would not reference the power that Zeppeli imbued him with again. Moreover, he would seldom use Hamon in his later ventures during Stardust Crusaders.

9 Leone Got Careless & Died Unnecessarily (Akame Ga Kill!)

Leone from Akame Ga Kill!.

Leone managed to confront Minister Honest before he could abscond from the battlefield. Given her vast physical strength, she should have easily been able to overpower him. However, since the Night Raid huntress got careless, her Imperial Arms was broken by his own.

Instead of fleeing the scene and avoiding being harmed now that her healing factor was diminished, she foraged on, bashing in the villain's skull despite incurring mortal injury. If she had approached the advisor with less pageantry and gone for his throat from the start, she would have survived easily.

8 Fu's Attempt To Destroy Bradley Was Pointless (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Fu from Fullmetal Alchemist.

Fu was the servant of Ling Yao and a participant in the battle to take Amestris' castle. Acknowledging Bradley's peerless speed and skill, he ignited a sash of explosives and attempted himself detonate on the homunculus.

However, the king would extinguish his attack with a sweep of his sword. Buccaneer's follow-up blow was equally futile, and his opponent managed to grievously harm Fu before retreating to safety. Though this would properly incentivize Ling (and Greed) to defeat the diabolical monarch, he met his demise to Scar instead.

7 Neji Could Have Saved Naruto Without Throwing His Life Away (Naruto)

neji blocking an attack

During the Fourth Great Ninja war, the Allied Shinobi Forces confronted the Gedo Statue and its many insidious creations. The battlefield produced dozens of hazards, many of which were protected by Naruto through his donated chakra.

RELATED: Naruto: 5 Characters Neji Could Defeat (& 5 He'd Lose To)

Neji was able to identify two stray spears that were destined to pierce the unprepared Jinchuriki's chest. However, instead of attempting to deflect the attacks, he pivoted and blocked it with his back instead. Though this was a sterling example of heroism, it boded unfavorably of his intelligence.

6 Eren's Stalling Cheapened His Mother's Death (Attack On Titan)

Carla Yeager crying out in Attack On Titan.

During the first attack on Shiganshina initiated by Reiner and Bertholdt, the Smiling Titan attacked the Yeager homestead. Carla was its most convenient victim, and as she was whisked into the titan's clutches, she begged Eren to run.

Instead, he could only gawk as his mother was ripped in half and refused to leave her side in spite of Mikasa's insistence. This forced Hannes to physically seize him and carry him off, reducing much of the time Carla's demise should have purchased them.

5 Asuna's Death Was Pointless Since Kirito Would Lose Moments Later (Sword Art Online)

Asuna's death sao

After Heathcliff's identity had been exposed, he and Kirito were soon at each other's throats. Given his vast experience both as a player and programmer, he gained the upper hand against the Black Swordsman - only for Asuna to sacrifice herself in his stead.

Regrettably, her death would be meaningless. Not only would everyone soon be liberated from the simulation (including her), Kirito reached zero health a second time, only to impale Kayaba through the chest. Therefore, the result would have been the same even if she remained perfectly still.

4 Eri Would Have Been Better Off If Mirio Didn't Jump In Front Of Her (My Hero Academia)

Mirio Gets Hit With Quirk-Erasing Bullet In My Hero Academia

During the assault on Chisaki's bunker, Mirio thrust himself in the path of a bullet that one of Overhaul's henchmen shot at Eri. However, it wasn't a projectile intended to kill or even damage its target - instead, it would only deny them their quirk.

RELATED: My Hero Academia: Mirio's 10 Best Character Traits, Ranked

If Mirio had allowed Eri to get hit instead of putting himself in the way, it would have removed the quirk she was unable to control and ruined Chisaki's use for her. Further, it would have allowed the hero to defeat her captors since he would still have his power.

3 Colt's Sister Was Eaten By Chimera Ants Anyway (Hunter X Hunter)

Colt Hunter X Hunter

Colt was a former boy from the NGL who was turned into a Chimera Ant during one of the monsters' invasions. Loyal to the end, he told his sister to run and that he would buy her time for however long he could hold the beasts off.

Not only would this procure his demise, but it was also later uncovered that his sibling was eaten and converted regardless of his heroism. This entails that he may have been better off simply trying to run away.

2 Sho Would Be Taken By The White Clad Regardless Of Shinra's Efforts (Fire Force)

Sho from Fire Force

The battle between Sho and Shinra was palpably one-sided. Since the Company Eight hero did not want to harm his brother, he would spend most of the confrontation attempting to reason with him, even sharing disembodied memories to win his favor.

However, after the Evangelist's servants had arrived at the scene, they managed to dominate the young boy's will and force him to abscond with them from the Nether. This left Shinra hospitalized and with little to show for his efforts.

1 Genzo Couldn't Stop Arlong From Taking Nami (One Piece)

Genzo from One Piece

When the Arlong pirates invaded Nami's village, Genzo refused to relinquish her for her navigational prowess. Valiantly, he stood his ground against a superior physical opponent and attempted to route the fish-men from his village.

Predictably, this would result in disaster. The pirates decimated his rebellion and punished him for having incited it. The scars Arlong dealt to him would last for the rest of his life, and he would claim the young girl regardless of her failed savior's protests.

NEXT: One Piece: 10 Strongest Characters In The Arlong Park Arc, Ranked