Anime is home to a large variety of weapons inspired by locations all over the world. Typically, swords, spears, and hand-to-hand combat, as well as magic, spirit energy, and ninja-oriented attacks are the staple of most anime. However, as the medium borrowed from varying cultures, guns made an appearance. The unique spin anime places on guns transforms them from just firing tools.
The weapons become iconic firearms that channel special abilities, achieve sentience, launch unique attacks, look aesthetically intimidating and intricate, and in some instances, serve as the perfect accompaniment to a cool wielder. When brandished, these guns are certain to capture the imagination, be it due to their function, wielder, or aesthetics.
10 Bleach: Lilnette
Coyote Starrk is the Primera Espada in Bleach and is so powerful that his soul split into two. This was to combat the loneliness that resulted from all creatures who approached him dying due to his immense spiritual pressure. His offshoot, Lilnette Gingerbuck, takes the form of a pair of ornamental pistols in his Resurreccion.
Lilnette can speak through the guns, which seemingly house her body and consciousness. The amplification of Starrk's power is significant while wielding Lilnette. He can use Cero Metralleta, which fires infinite Cero that can change direction mid-firing and make them extremely difficult to avoid.
9 Soul Eater: Demon Twin Guns
Death the Kid is the doting son of the Grim Reaper in Soul Eater. A young man addicted to the concept of symmetry being the ultimate aesthetic, his choice to shun the typical scythe is understandable. Wielding two silver-themed Beretta M9 pistols with black handle grips, Death the Kid's guns are legendary.
The guns perform various techniques to devastating effects. The death cannon, sanzu river shot, sanzu death cannon, sanzu falls shot, and the parent's seven rays are part of Death's vast array of special gun abilities. The guns do not fire regular bullets but the compressed wavelength of their wielders.
8 Neon Genesis Evangelion: Experimental Positron Cannon
Neon Genesis Evangelion takes place in a world where Angels are the antagonists. Evangelion are giant cybernetic humans who are controlled by the organization NERV to combat the monstrous Angels. Ramiel, the Fifth Angel, proves too strong for normal combat due to it having the strongest A.T. Field.
Misato hatched a plan that entailed using an experimental positron cannon. By colliding a positron with a normal electron, annihilation occurs, and a laser beam of gamma-ray photons is fired. Approximately 1 terawatt was needed to do this, leading to a blackout in Japan. The unbelievable stakes etched this gun into fans' minds.
7 Owari No Seraph: Byakkomaru
-Cropped.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Byakkomaru, the name of Shinya's cursed gear in Owari no Seraph, is a high-ranked manifestation-type demon that takes the form of a black rifle with a bayonet at the end and green stripes adorning the side. Aside from Shinya's cool catchphrase when firing, the form of Byakkomaru's bullets are pretty cool.
Once fired, the bullets morph and take on the form of a white tiger with black stripes, aka the god Byakko. The abilities of Byakkomaru are quite powerful. It can appear behind a target, split into two and pursue independent targets, as well as manipulate its wielder's dreams. A roaring gun is quite the gem.
6 Date-A-Live: Zaphkiel
Arguably the gun with the most broken abilities, Zaphkiel is a gun that manipulates time n twelve different ways in Date-a-Live. Taking the form of a large clock and two flintlock guns, Zaphkiel, which is an angel spirit, has a unique time ability based on each number on the clock dial.
The twelve bullets can be fired to accelerate, decelerate, age, rewind, glimpse the future, transfer consciousness, freeze, clone, share senses, glimpse into the past, travel to the past, and travel to the future. Combined with Kurumi's intellect, the gun has devastating effects on its opponents, and Zaphkiel steals the show every time it's brandished.
5 Black Lagoon: Revy's Berettas
A normal gun with an invigorating user and beautiful design, Revy's modified twin Beretta 92FS in Black Lagoon are breathtaking. The guns have extended barrels at 5.9 inches and are threaded to accommodate muzzle breaks and compensators. They are engraved with "9mm Sword Cutlass" on both sides and inlaid with the Jolly Roger skull from Calico Jack on their ivory grips.
The guns are made out of stainless steel, giving them a clean finish. Given Revy's ambidextrous and well-honed marksmanship, the guns that grant her the nickname "Two Hands" are easily the coolest and most recognizable guns in anime.
4 Hellsing: Alucard's Casull 454 and Jackal
The Hellsing Organization is a secret branch of the British government charged with fighting supernatural threats. Its lead vampire exterminator Alucard is a creature of the night himself, with guns as his trusty aide. The Casull is a semi-automatic magnum pistol with a magazine capacity of six and a weight of six kilograms when loaded.
The Casull is most defined by its 10-inch barrel and the titanium nitride finish that gives it a uniquely gold color. The Jackal is a humongous pistol using 13mm steel jacketed explosive bullets, weighing 16kg and 39cm in length. It carries the inscription "Jesus Christ is in Heaven now." In Alucard's own words, nothing he shoots ever gets back up again. Definitely not with those guns.
3 Psycho-Pass: Assault Dominator
-Cropped.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Psycho-Pass is set in a dystopian future where law enforcement is strictly regulated and crime can be nipped in the bud by monitoring a person's psychological criminal proclivity known as their psycho-pass. The Assault Dominator is the upgraded version of the Dominator. The beautifully crafted gun transformation aside, the weapon has various modes.
Non-lethal Paralyzer stuns the target via electromagnetic waves, stunning the target and allowing them to be brought into custody. The Lethal Eliminator mode shoots a large amount of energy at the target, which destroys all organic and inorganic matter in a bloody explosion. The final mode, Destroy Decomposer, packs a punch big enough to counter bombs.
2 Fate/Zero: Thompson Contender With Origin Rounds
Emiya Kiritsugu, the protagonist of Fate/Zero, is notoriously known as the Mage Killer. Having received training as an assassin, he possesses a knowledge of weaponry that is unrivaled. Emiya possesses a mystic code in the form of a Thompson Contender. Emiya uses it in conjunction with his Origin Bullets.
The gun is 17 inches long and weighs 4.4 pounds. Chosen due to its ability to deal the maximum physical damage possible, the Contender is able to fully transfer the effect of its origin bullets to the target – necrosis in the shot area. The Contender severs and binds when it hits, reflecting Kiritsugu's dual attributes of fire and earth.
1 Trigun: The Punisher
Trigun is a beloved space-bounty anime that aired in the '90s. Consistent with the theme, it has one of the most iconic guns in anime. The Punisher is a large cross-shaped gun and is only wielded by the best members of the Eye of Michael. It has one machine gun in the front and a rocket launcher in the back.
The Punishers typically weigh 300 pounds and stand at 5.7 feet. Some modified Punishers have storage bins in the side arms of the cross that host four Grader 2043 pistols on each side for a total of eight extra firearms. The Punisher's destructive capacity is as ludicrous as its portability, and quite the cool weapon for an enhanced human.