The wondrous world of anime has revolutionized storytelling, with many different series often reimagining what we thought we knew about their narratives. While it may be a sentimentally endearing idea that the heroes always win the day, this is not necessarily so.

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Oftentimes, the most rewarding victories are only after brutal defeats, with the villains needing a pivotal win to continue the plot. By analyzing the most grueling defeats that the heroes have ever suffered, we can appreciate just how strong the malignant forces they contend with really are and to the true depths of their resolve.

10 Heathcliff's Duel (Sword Art Online)

Heathcliff striking Kirito in Sword Art Online.

When Kirito sought to be with Asuna permanently, this involved her creating space from her guild. Needless to say, its master, Heathcliff, was not thrilled by this prospect and would challenge the Black Swordsman to determine whether or not she would leave. If he lost, he would be forced to join them as well.

Their duel drew a massive audience, culminating with Kirito's loss and embarrassment. With how many people had gathered to watch, it forced them to question whether or not the youth's legacy as an undefeatable force of nature was actually well deserved.

9 Bradley Versus Greed (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Bradley vs green fma

While most of Father's homunculus served him well, Greed's personal ambitions lead to a clash with Fuhrer King Bradley. Their battle would occur in a sewer, with the swordsman using his superior agility, speed, and tactical knowledge to slice apart his brother before he could use his ultimate shield.

If Greed had actually defeated the King in this conflict, it would necessitate a new leader for Amestris, one that would not be associated with Father's plan. This would enable the state alchemists to look into the peculiarities around the country and save it before the final alchemist circle was complete.

8 Shigechi Exposes Kira (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

Yoshikage Kira reveals Killer Queen to Shigechi - JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable

Having concealed his identity up until that point, Shigechi was the first to uncover Yoshikage Kira's murderous intentions - by complete accident, no less. This resulted in a fight between the two of them in which the young boy had the upper hand.

However, Kira was able to capitalize on his hesitation and would use a projectile explosion to defeat his adversary. Should Shigechi have survived to tell the tale, Yoshikage's reign of terror would have ended long before the final battle with Josuke Higashikata and Jotaro Kujo.

7 Light's Move (Death Note)

Light from Death Note grinning evilly.

On the cusp of definitively proving Light's identity, L had long awaited his chance to expose the murderer before the task force. This compelled Yagami to take a desperate (though necessary) bid to procure his safety and freedom.

He would arrange the situation so that Misa was irrefutably incriminated. The only way to prevent her from being imprisoned was if her shinigami, Ren, was willing to interfere on her behalf. Light correctly predicted that the death god's love would make her take the ultimate sacrifice for her master, simultaneously eliminating his greatest threat.

6 Hiruzen's Demise (Naruto)

Hiruzen Sarutobi dying from his injuries (Naruto)

Sarutobi Hiruzen was the third hokage of the Leaf village and its acting ruler during Orochimaru's attack. Though he fought admirably and was able to temporarily disable the fallen Sannin's arms, he nonetheless met his demise to his former student.

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Should he have actually triumphed in this battle, it would have saved more then Konoha. Additionally, his victory would have meant that Sasuke had nowhere to deviate from the path laid out for him, thus saving the shinobi world from unspeakable pain.

5 Zoro's Defeat (One Piece)

Zoro mihawk

During Don Krieg's siege on Sanji's restaurant, Mihawk had providentially arrived amidst the battle without conclusively favoring either side. Though his assistance was desperately needed, Roronoa Zoro decided it would be a sterling opportunity for his skills to be known, as defeating the rival swordsman would prove his worth.

Unfortunately, not only was the battle extremely lopsided, it would give Zoro a scar across his chest that he would live with for the rest of his life. The injury he sustained would also almost spell his death in his subsequent fight against Arlong when the fish man sought to exploit his wound.

4 Nana Shimura's Failure (My Hero Academia)

Nana shimura death (My Hero Academia)

Nana Shimura was the mentor of All Might and the symbol of peace in her era. As the inheritor of One For All, she was obligated to attempt defeating All For One, a task where none of her predecessors had succeeded - and neither would she.

It was perhaps the most emotionally devastating moment of her student's entire life. If she had succeeded against the criminal mastermind, Shigaraki never would have fallen victim to his insidious whispers, sparing Deku and his friends much of the suffering they would encounter in the series.

3 Kite's Sacrifice (Hunter X Hunter)

Neferpitou with kite's head

During the expedition into NGL territory, Kite anticipated that a royal guard might be near. Surely enough, Neferpitou had soon arrived, and the hunter demanded that his allies flee the battle immediately before their showdown.

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If Kite had defeated the royal guard instead, this would have drastically altered the tone of the arc. Not only would it have entailed that Meruem's henchmen were much easier to overcome, it would have given Gon no reason to lose control and therefore no impetus for the subsequent healing arc.

2 Stopping Aizen (Bleach)

Ichigo vs aizen in Bleach

When Aizen's treachery to the Soul Society had been revealed, Renji and Ichigo teamed up to bring the traitor to justice. The latter had sought to avenge the  pain dealt to his dear friend, Rukia, and extract his punishment from the rogue captain's skull.

However, Aizen was able to completely humiliate both of them, catching their weapons between his fingers and shrugging off the paltry attacks. Should Ichigo have managed to defeat him before he fled, he could not have rallied the Espada in Las Noches and made a bid to destroy his former home.

1 Estarossa's Triumph (Seven Deadly Sins)

Estarossa 2

After Meliodas had decimated Galand in Seven Deadly Sins , he felt good about his odds in defeating the rest of the Ten Commandments. What he didn't expect is that they would all arrive to confront him at once, resulting in a battle between himself and Estarossa that would inevitably bring about his demise.

While this would not spell the true "death" of the captain, it would bring him closer to becoming the heartless demon prince that his former allies had once known. Were it not for this pivotal failure, he may have avoided losing control later in the series.

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