From Goku vs. Jiren to Tanjiro vs. Rui, these legendary battles hit harder every rewatch.
Some anime fights aren’t just action — they’re pure adrenaline wrapped in emotion, animation wizardry, and character-defining moments. Whether it’s a punch that breaks time itself or a sword swing backed by years of pain, the best anime fights stick with us long after the final blow.
Here are 10 anime battles that still get our hearts racing — even on the 5th (or 50th) rewatch.
10. Rock Lee vs. Gaara (Naruto)
Studio: Pierrot | Episode: Naruto Ep. 48-50
The moment Lee dropped those ankle weights? Chills. This fight was pure willpower versus unrelenting force, and it showed fans that even a side character could steal the entire arc. Still iconic nearly 20 years later.
9. Eren vs. Warhammer Titan (Attack on Titan: Final Season)
Studio: MAPPA | Episode: S4 Ep. 6
This wasn’t just a fight — it was a declaration. Eren storming Marley with surgical rage, facing off against one of the most broken Titans in the series, set the tone for AOT’s darker final arc. Bonus points for Levi’s mic-drop entrance.
8. Tanjiro & Nezuko vs. Rui (Demon Slayer)
Studio: Ufotable | Episode: Ep. 19
This fight made Demon Slayer a household name. Ufotable flexed their animation muscle here, and the emotional payoff — Tanjiro’s will to protect, Nezuko’s Blood Art awakening — brought many of us to tears.
7. Gon vs. Pitou (Hunter x Hunter)
Studio: Madhouse | Episode: Ep. 131
This wasn’t just a fight. It was a breakdown. Watching Gon trade his future for a burst of vengeance was haunting, tragic, and unforgettable. It’s one of the most emotionally complex “fights” in shonen history.
6. Todoroki vs. Deku (My Hero Academia)
Studio: Bones | Episode: Season 2, Ep. 10
This fight wasn’t about winning — it was about unlocking your identity. Deku pushed Todoroki to accept his fire side, and the explosive result made for one of the most satisfying battles in UA’s history.
5. Saitama vs. Boros (One Punch Man)
Studio: Madhouse | Episode: Ep. 12
Saitama’s final clash with Boros was anime fireworks. The scale, the pacing, the COLORS — it showed that even a “joke” hero could deliver god-tier fights. The animation still holds up as a gold standard.
4. Goku vs. Jiren (Dragon Ball Super)
Studio: Toei Animation | Episode: Ep. 130
The birth of Ultra Instinct wasn’t just a power-up — it was a global moment. Goku versus Jiren was peak Dragon Ball spectacle, and it cemented DBS as more than just a nostalgic follow-up.
3. Luffy vs. Lucci (One Piece)
Studio: Toei Animation | Episode: Ep. 302–309
CP9’s final clash against Luffy remains the emotional heart of pre-time-skip One Piece. Luffy’s “Gear Second” moments against Lucci were raw, fast-paced, and brutally satisfying. Also: “I want to live!” hits different.
2. Mob vs. Koyama (Mob Psycho 100)
Studio: Bones | Episode: Ep. 5
Mob snapping after seeing his brother attacked felt like a dam breaking. The unique art style only made the power feel more… unhinged. It’s a fan-favorite for a reason.
1. Ichigo vs. Ulquiorra (Bleach: Hueco Mundo Arc)
Studio: Pierrot | Episodes: 266–272
When Ichigo’s Hollow form fully took over? Goosebumps. Bleach always nailed aesthetics, but this battle mixed horror, heartbreak, and high-stakes perfectly. It defined what Bleach fights could truly be.
🎮 Final Thoughts:
Anime is full of iconic battles, but these 10? They’re the ones that still rattle around in your brain days (or years) later. What fight gave you chills? Hit us up in the comments or tag us @NerdSnack on social.
