The legendary Black Swordsman, Kirito aka Kirigaya Kazuto is undeniably a beast in the verse of Sword Art Online. He has faced countless challenges and has always come out on top. His skills with the sword are second to none and his lethal dual-wielding ability has made him pretty much the most overpowered character to ever exist in the world of SAO.
Despite brushing against the claws of death over and over again, Kirito has always found a way out, whether it be through his dazzling sword arts or through the tenacity of his sheer will power. Finding foes who can actually give Kirito a run for his money is hard, but it isn't impossible.
10 Stronger: Dracule Mihwak (One Piece) Is A Top Tier Pirate
The strongest swordsman in the world of One Piece, Dracule "Hawk-Eyes" Mihawk is a character whose expertise in battle is matched by very few people. His skill and abilities with the sword have made him one of the strongest pirates ever to roam the seas.
His sword, Yoru has slain countless foes with nothing but a single slash. And to top it off he has insane speed and durability that helped him come out unscathed during the Marineford War. Against one of the strongest, if not the strongest swordsman in all of anime history, Kirito will have no choice but to yield or be pummeled.
9 Weaker: Ikki Kurogane (Chivalry of a Failed Knight) Lacks The Power To Push Him
Despite being labeled the "Worst One", Ikki Kurogane has shown time and time again that he is anything but that. Having one of the weakest abilities didn't stop this young swordsman from achieving his dreams and overcoming the odds that were stacked against him. His mastery of the sword has even allowed him to copy the style of his opponents during the battle.
And to top it off, he has his trump card, the Itto Rastesu, which helps him defeat warriors stronger than him. Despite being a master of the sword, Ikki still lacks the attack power that can push Kirito to the utter limit. Kirito, with his superior strength and speed, would come out as the victor in the bout.
8 Stronger: Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail) Can Defeat Armies Solo
The S-Class Mage is one of the strongest mages of the guild Fairy Tail. Armed with the ability "The Knight", Erza has the power to defeat massive armies all by herself. She has a large number of armors in her arsenal, with each armor possessing unique abilities and powers. These abilities coupled with her keen battle sense and unyielding passion for victory make her one of the strongest warriors within the entire verse.
Kirito, with his dual-wielding swords, might hold on for some time against Erza, but the latter has numerous armors in her possession which gives her a distinct advantage over the Black Swordsman.
7 Weaker: Renji Abarai (Bleach) Would Fall Short
The lieutenant of the 6th Division, Renji Abarai is a fearsome warrior who's known for battle prowess. He has massive reserves of Spiritual Powers and his speed is also nothing to scoff at. His Zanpakuto, Zabimaru has helped him defeat countless foes, and his Shikai and Bankai have helped him elevate his powers to the next level.
Despite being a skilled and powerful swordsman, he still would fall short in a battle against Kirito. Kirito has the ability to release massive attacks that can level mountains and with his superior sword skills, he would defeat the Shinigami, in what would be a very close battle.
6 Stronger: Saber (Fate Series) Would Be Too Much For Him
The legendary King of Knights wields the Excalibur, a weapon capable of reducing any and all foes to dust. Arturia has long been hailed as one of the strongest warriors to ever exist, and this is evident by the countless feats of destruction that she has left in her wake.
She also has the ability to heal herself and in turn save herself from any life-threatening injury, thanks to her Nobel Phantasm Avalon. Saber with her superior destructive capabilities and powers would be too much for Kirito to handle.
5 Weaker: Tomioka Giyu (Kimetsu No Yaiba) Lacks The Abilities Needed To Win
Tomioka Giyu is a powerful demon slayer who's also the current water hashira. He is a master swordsman who's proficient in the art of Water Breathing. He has mastered the entire art of water breathing and has also gone so far as to create his own form, the Eleventh Form of Dead Calm.
Despite being a cold-blooded demon slayer and a fearsome swordsman, Tomioka Giyu still doesn't have the necessary abilities to push Kirito to his limit and ultimately come out as the victor. The latter has superior speed and destructive capabilities, resulting in what would be an easy victory for Kirito.
4 Stronger: Yami Sukehiro (Black Clover) Would Decimate Him
The Captain of the Black Bull Squad, Yami Sukehiro is an absolute powerhouse. He uses a Katana coated with Black Magic. His mastery over Ki gives him superior senses and speed. His control over Mana Zone has helped him create horrifying spells that can slash down even the mightiest of foes. And he has also shown the ability to cut through dimensions, something that has helped him to elevate his powers even further.
Kirito, in a battle against this monstrous captain, will find himself well out of his league. He falls short in nearly all aspects, resulting in an utter loss for the young swordsman.
3 Weaker: Rin Okumura (Blue Exorcist) Would Be At A Disadvantage
The Son of Satan, Rin Okumura is on a journey to get stronger and defeat his father. He has the access to the Flames of Satan and also has a demon form that gives him superior speed and strength. He also has regenerative capabilities that help him heal from extreme injuries. His blade Kurikara has been his trusted companion throughout his journey and has also helped him become a formidable swordsman.
Kirito, in a battle against Rin, would undeniably have a clear advantage. The former has better sword skills and enhanced capabilities, allowing him to emerge as the victor.
2 Stronger: Zaraki Kenpachi (Bleach) Would Outclass Him
The Captain of the 11th Division, Zaraki Kenpachi is arguably one of the strongest Shinigami to ever exist. He is completely battle crazy and has always searched for stronger and stronger foes. He has insane durability and strength, and his Bankai is capable of cutting down even the strongest of warriors.
As a monster with inconceivable strength and battle prowess, Zaraki Kenpachi has very few foes who could be called his match. Kirito would find himself completely outclassed against the Shinigami and would have no chance to come out as the victor.
1 Weaker: Goblin Slayer (Goblin Slayer) Would Inevitably Fall Short
Goblin Slayer is an experienced warrior who is on a hunt to kill all the goblins that are ravaging his lands. He has an amazing intellect and is usually proficient in trapping and killing his foes. He has amazing durability and always carries enough equipment and potions with him to carry out various contingency plans. He is also a proficient swordsman but mainly relies on his intellect to defeat his enemies.
Goblin Slayer, in a battle against Kirito, will definitely try to trap the latter in one of his many traps. But all his gimmicks would inevitably fall short in front of Kiritos superior battle capabilities and sword skills.