Some of the sword-fighting anime shows have moments that will make your heart race. Here is a gathered list of samurai anime series featuring memorable sword-fighting bouts, amazing fight choreography, and epic confrontations if you enjoy fighting and favour the use of a sword. This collection includes some excellent sword anime as well as a couple of over-the-top ones.
Sword Of The Stranger
Kotaro meets Nanashi, a wandering swordsman while seeking refuge in an abandoned temple. But they are discovered by a search party of two Ming warriors accompanied by Akaike soldiers. Nanashi kills a Ming warrior who attacks the two, but Tobimaru is injured by a poisoned dagger. Kotaro employs Nanashi as a bodyguard and brings Tobimaru to a veterinarian for treatment. Meanwhile, Akaike soldiers kidnap the second Ming, Tu-Si, and torture him to reveal the purpose of the altar. Tu-Si discloses that they are on a mission from the Ming Emperor to manufacture Xian Medicine, an elixir of immortality. The blood of a prophesied child, the boy Kotaro, who can only be sacrificed at particular times, is required. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Ninja Scroll
A Mochizuki Kga ninja team is massacred by the Devils while investigating the deaths. The only survivor, kunoichi Kagero, is kidnapped by a Devil named Tessai, who attempts to rape her. Kibagami Jubei, a mercenary ex-Yamashiro ninja, saves her and fights and eventually kills Tessai. Tokugawa spy Dakuan blackmails Jubei into assisting him in killing the remaining Devils. Dakuan stabs Jubei with a poisoned shuriken and promises to give him an antidote once the mission is completed. Jubei learns from Dakuan that the Devil’s leader is Himuro Gemma, the former Yamashiro ninja leader. He ordered his team members to kill each other five years ago to conceal the location of the goldmine. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Gintama
Gintama is the story of a handyman named Gintoki, a samurai who has no regard for the rules imposed by the invaders and is willing to take any job to survive. He and his gang, on the other hand, are among the few who have not forgotten the morale of a swordsman. Everywhere they go, all they do is cause havoc. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Samurai Champloo
Fuu, a young woman working as a waitress in a tea shop, is harassed by a band of samurai. Mugen, a mysterious rogue, and Jin, a young ronin, save her. Mugen attacks Jin after he proves to be a worthy opponent, and they begin fighting, inadvertently killing Shibui Tomonoshina, the magistrate’s son. They will be executed for this crime. With the help, they escape, though Fuu insists on accompanying them to find “the samurai who smells of sunflowers.” They agree to accompany her, with Fuu stipulating that they do not duel each other until the journey is completed. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Berserk
This anime focuses on a man named Guts, who was born from a hanged corpse and raised by his adoptive father as a mercenary. His adoptive father, Gambino, was forced to kill in self-defense. Guts were noticed by the Band of the Hawk. He forced him to join the group after defeating him in a battle. There’s so much more to this and I don’t want to spoil it for you. So go ahead and watch it. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Bleach
Bleach is an anime with a little bit of everything. It’s a well-known adventure, action, thriller, and supernatural fictional manga. The story focuses on an impulsive teen named Ichigo Kurosaki, whose parents were attacked by a corrupt spirit. If was then he meets a soul reaper, Rukia Kuchiki. While protecting his family the reaper got injured and at that moment Ichigo accepted Rukia’s offer and become a reaper as a result. The boy then sets out on a quest to protect his family and save his friends. Will he be able to do so? It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Dororo
Hyakkimaru saves a young thief named Dororo from a gang of men who attempted to rob him. They journey through the countryside together in search of the demons who possess Hyakkimaru’s parts. They encounter a slew of monsters and ghosts on their journey. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Drifters
The Drifters are a group of legendary warriors from all over history. They include samurai Shimazu Toyohisa, ninja Nasu, a World War 2 pilot, an Imperial Japanese naval officer, and a slew of others. They have been summoned to an alternate Earth to fight and destroy the Ends. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Kimetsu No Yaiba
A family is attacked by demons, and only Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko survive. She is slowly turning into a demon. Tanjiro decides to become a demon slayer to avenge his family and heal his sister. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works
Shirou Emiya is a hardworking and honest teenager who reluctantly enters the fifth iteration of the Holy Grail War. A battle royale in which combatants fight with magic and Heroes from throughout history for the chance to have their wishes granted. Shirou was orphaned as a child and the sole survivor of a massive fire in Fuyuki City. He was taken in by a retired magus named Kiritsugu Emiya, who died a few years later. Shirou’s sense of responsibility for those who died. As well as his salvation through his father, instilled in him a strong desire for justice and peace. As a result, he works hard to train his body and minuscule magical ability to help others. It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Rurouni Kenshin
During the revolutionary Meiji period, Japan underwent tremendous political changes. This is a time when vagrants and terrorists will use every method to prevent their country from being modernized, even if it means trampling on the innocent in the process. At that time, Himura Kenshin, a wandering samurai, dedicated his life to protecting the weak. However, Kenshin has a dark past that threatens to destroy the values he fights for. He meets his new friends, Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Yahiko. And he tries to build a peaceful life with them, but events plot against him. Will Kenshin defeat the demons inside and out and finally ensure the peaceful future that Japan deserves? It is one of the Top Sword based Anime.
Afro Samurai: Resurrection
Afro visits a gambling establishment after having his rusted sword reforged. There the last surviving member of the Empty Seven Clan, Brother 3, challenges him to a dice game to determine the identity of Number 2. He discovers Brother 3 cheating and forces him to reveal that ronin Shichigoro now owns Number 2. Afro saves Shichigoro’s adopted son Kotaro unknowingly. But then murders the swordsman in front of him, leaving Kotaro to mourn his father and vow vengeance. Afro goes on to destroy three cyborg warriors, who turn out to be Sio’s foster brothers and sisters, after claiming the Number 2 headband. Sio resurrects Rokutaro using forbidden science, transforming him into a soulless warrior.
Noragami
Hiyori Iki was a typical middle school student until she was in a bus accident while attempting to protect a stranger. This incident causes her soul to frequently leave her body. Which makes her more aware of the existence of two parallel worlds. The Near Shore is populated by regular humans and creatures. The Far Shore is populated by phantoms (demonic beasts) and human souls. Yato, the strange, nameless god without a shrine, appears to her through her soul. Yato is determined to make a name for himself by fulfilling any wish for 5 yen coins, including Hiyori’s wish to repair her body. The trio, along with Yato’s Regalia, Yukine/Yuki, go through many adventures as they struggle with their friendship, identity, and pasts.
Sword Art Online
The anime plot follows the exploits of Kazuto “Kirito” Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki. They are two players trapped in the virtual world of “Sword Art Online” (SAO). To be released from the game, they must clear all 100 Floors and defeat the final boss.
Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis
Mistarcia is a magical realm where humans, gods, and demons coexist. In the past, the black-and-silver-winged demon beast Bahamut threatened to destroy the land, but humans, gods, and demons worked together to defeat it and seal its power.
Katanagatari
Following the rebellion that shook Japan twenty years earlier. Togame Hida, chief executive, and military strategist is looking for 12 “deviant blades”. It was created by swordfish master Shikizaki Kiki to help increase the stability and security of the Bakufu government. To help in this endeavor, he seeks the help of Yasuri Mutsune, the headmaster of the Kyoto-Ryu school and the protagonist of the rebellion. But when he arrives on the island where he lives in exile, he finds him dead and is succeeded by his gifted but somewhat stupid son, Shichik. Undaunted, the two set off from the island in search of swords, armed only with Togami’s sharp strategic mind and the mighty swordless Kyotou-Ryu Shichiki.
The Twelve Kingdoms
The anime portrays Yoko Nakajima as the primary character, a Japanese girl who is unexpectedly transported to another planet and learns that she is the Empress of the Kingdom of Kei; however, in the novels, Yoko is merely one of many key characters, and her tale is told in only two novels.
Blade of the Immortal
Manji is a ruthless swordsman. However, he has been cursed with eternal life. He’s fed up with having to live with all of the deaths he’s caused. He also has no ability or skill other than murder, so he devises a scheme to reclaim his life: he must murder a hundred wicked guys for every nice person he has killed. Manji’s plan is accepted by the elderly witch who cursed him with eternal life, and Manji embarks on his quest to murder a thousand bad men. During his journey, he meets Rin, a young girl who is seeking vengeance against the sword school. Rin’s family was murdered by members of this school. As a result, Rin and Manji embark on a journey together, both hoping to achieve some sort of serenity.
Sengoku Basara
The anime story depicts Japan in turmoil once more, with Ishida Mitsunari, a former subordinate of Hideyoshi, wreaking havoc across the country to exact his revenge, while the other leaders rally for a new era of peace. Masamune and Yukimura must defeat Mitsunari to restore peace to the country, as something strange is going on behind the scenes.
Juni Taisen: Zodiac War
Twelve of the deadliest warriors with the names and attributes of the Chinese zodiac animals are pitted against each other in the twelfth Zodiac Tournament, which takes place every twelve years in a city of half a million people who have all been removed. Each warrior is asked to swallow one of twelve crystallized poison jewels known as Beast Gems (Juseki) during this rendition, which will kill each warrior after twelve hours. To be granted any one wish, the winner must collect all of the crystals from the other eleven competitors before the deadline (midnight, December 12). It turns into a ruthless battle for survival by any means necessary.
Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion
The terrifying great king has arrived from the other side of the sea… This historical anime depicts the “Genkou” incident that originally shook medieval Japan, as well as the beginning of the Samurai!
The Heroic Legend of Arslan
It is the year 320. The Kingdom of Pars is at war with the neighboring empire, Lusitania, under the rule of the belligerent King Andragoras III. Arslan, the young prince, sets out to prove his valor on the battlefield for the first time, despite being very different from his father in many ways. However, when one of the king’s most trusted officials betrays him, the Parsian army is decimated and the capital city of Ecbatana is besieged. With his army in shambles and the Lusitanians after his head, Arslan is forced to flee. Arslan soon embarks on a journey in search of allies to help him reclaim his homeland, accompanied by a respected general, Daryun.
Joran The Princess of Snow and Blood
Joran is set in an alternate historical Japan, the 64th year of the Meiji era, in which the shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu continues to rule over Japan rather than handing power over to a Prime Minister. Within its borders, Japan discovered the “Dragon Vein,” a unique energy source that allowed Japan to dramatically increase its technological progress during the Edo period. Despite this unexpected prosperity, the government faces a threat from an insurgent group known as “Kuchinawa,” which despises Tokugawa’s isolationist policies and seeks to overthrow the Shogunate. As a result, the Tokugawa government established “Nue,” a secret police organization dedicated to tracking down Kuchinawa. Sawa Yukimura is orphaned after Kuchinawa murders her family.
Brave 10
The story takes place around a year before the Battle of Sekigahara, during the Warring States period. Kirigakure Saizou, an Iga Ninja on the hunt for his life’s purpose, comes across Isanami, a shrine maiden who is being attacked by assassins. Isanami, who survived the Temple’s burning by Tokugawa Ieyasu’s forces, is on his way to Shinshuu to seek refuge with Sanada Yukimura. Simultaneously, Sanada Yukimura is gathering ten subjects of extraordinary bravery, the Sanada Ten Braves, whose combined strength will allow them to change the course of history. The mysterious power hidden within Isanami will soon awaken during the ongoing battles…
Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom
In 1864 Japan, a young woman named Chizuru Yukimura is looking for her missing father, Koudou, a doctor whose work frequently takes him away from home. But, after months of silence, Chizuru disguises herself as a man and travels to Kyoto in search of him. She tries to hide after attracting the attention of a ronin and ends up witnessing a horrifying sight: the ronin being brutally murdered by crazed white-haired men. In an unexpected turn of events, Shinsengumi members arrive to dispatch the creatures. But Chizuru’s safety is short-lived, as this group of men ties her up and takes her back to their headquarters, undecided whether to let her live or permanently silence her.
That’s all folks! These were the Top 25 Sword-based Anime. If you know any more awesome sword anime do mention them in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!
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