Be it classic samurai or swordsmen with ties to the supernatural, anime loves its sword-fighters. Along with paying tribute to one of Japan’s most recognizable archetypes, these characters often produce nail-biting fights that showcase masterful skill while also leaving a lot of room for frantic action. Swordsmen frequently manage to come across as simultaneously graceful and extremely vicious. It is a fun dichotomy.
There have been countless anime swordsmen over the years, some of which are among the medium's most popular characters ever. That said, which are the most iconic?
Honorable mentions go to Bleach's Ichigo Kurosaki, Claymore's Clare, Sword Art Online's Kirito, and Sword of the Stranger's Nanashi. There are simply too many famous swordsmen in anime.
10 Mugen & Jin (Samurai Champloo)
As an argument can be made for both Samurai Champloo's swordsmen being iconic, it seems only fair to dedicate an entry to Jin and Mugen. The latter is a brash fighter who seems to exist simply to challenge the established norm; conversely, the former adheres closely to a traditional rōnin blueprint.
They do not always get along and their fighting styles could not be more different, but Jin and Mugen become the ultimate partners as they guide a young girl in her journey to find a specific samurai.
9 Afro Samurai (Afro Samurai)
Afro Samurai only needed five episodes and a film to leave a long-lasting impression, and quite a lot of that can be credited to the anime's strong English dub and Gonzo's stellar animation. Blending feudal Japan iconography with modern sensibilities, Afro Samurai succeeds in being both familiar and unique, which also extends to its titular swordsman.
Afro's quest for revenge is not the most original, but the character's unforgettable design, enigmatic aura, and fierce sword skills help set him apart.
8 Sakata Gintoki (Gintama)
Gintama's comedic and over-the-top nature allows room for many facets of Gintoki to shine. Depending on the situation, Gintoki can be a coward, unbelievably brave, self-centered, or the most self-sacrificing character ever. Regardless of the mask worn, the White Demon's expertise with a sword is beyond question.
As great of a samurai as Gintoki is, his iconic status comes down to his impeccable ability to make audiences laugh. He is nearly untouchable in that department.
7 Hiei (YuYu Hakusho)
Along with gunslingers, ninjas, and Saiyans, shounen has produced more than its share of iconic swordsmen. YuYu Hakusho's Hiei serves as a prime example of how to properly transition a villain into an anti-hero role, with the Upper S ranked demon being arguably the franchise's most popular character. That is by no means an easy feat.
Hiei is unforgiving and approaches every fight with the intention of destroying his opponents. As a result, Hiei has been apart of some of the greatest battles in shounen history.
6 Hyakkimaru (Dororo)
Dororo originated as a manga in 1967 and went on to spawn a 1969 anime adaptation. Even though the anime has naturally aged, Dororo was fantastic for its era. In recent years, the series was remade into a modern manga and anime, introducing Hyakkimaru to a whole new generation.
Hyakkimaru is on a mission to retrieve parts of his body that were sacrificed to demons by his father, resulting in a journey that is bloody, exhausting, and often heartbreaking.
5 Goemon Ishikawa XIII (Lupin The Third)
Alongside the loud Lupin and the rough Jigen, the reserved and traditional Goemon Ishikawa XIII can seem like an odd companion. Be that as it may, Goemon's calm nature juxtapositions splendidly with the rest of the cast's more extreme personalities; more importantly, Goemon also stars in some of the most incredible fight scenes in the anime's long history.
Goemon etched his name into anime history thanks to Lupin the Third's decade-spanning run, although 2017's The Blood Spray of Goemon Ishikawa might have been the samurai's peak.
4 Saber (Fate Franchise)
Female sword-fighters are relatively rare, with some of the more noteworthy ones being gender-bent historical figures. Inspired by King Arthur, Fate's Saber comfortably ranks among the most popular anime characters of the 2010s, with several later shows trying to replicate her design or archetype.
Noble but conflicted, independent despite taking her role as a servant seriously, and humanized without coming across as vulnerable; Saber is almost perfect.
3 Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)
The master of the Santoryu style, Roronoa Zoro overwhelms opponents by attacking with three swords simultaneously. As One Piece has progressed throughout the last two decades, the Straw Hat Pirates' first mate has developed into a proper monster capable of slashing Kaiju-sized enemies in half.
While not the strongest swordsman in One Piece, Zoro is the most iconic. Be it his cool character design, stoic demeanor, horrible sense of direction, or his sacrifice during the Thriller Bark Arc, everything about Zoro is on-point.
2 Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
The Wandering Samurai has a successful manga, a (mostly) great anime, and a trilogy of effective live-action movies under his belt. Rurouni Kenshin's Himura Kenshin is anime's quintessential swordsman, at least, when it comes to more traditional archetypes.
Despite his brutal history, Kenshin's journey to try and make amends for the blood he spilled as the Hitokiri Battousai makes him quite a sympathetic character. His unrivaled sword skills and humble nature make him likable. All these things combine to create one iconic swordsman.
1 Guts (Berserk)
Admittedly, it is slightly difficult to credit Guts' iconic reputation to any of the anime adaptations, as the character's popularity is entirely due to Kentaro Miura's manga. For better or worse, every release adds to the Berserk brand, and the Black Swordsman has amassed one incredible legacy.
There is a lot to love about Guts, but his longevity as a character comes down to his continuous and organic growth. Guts changes a lot throughout the manga's run, all of which add to his allure and brilliance.