Top 10 Fatal Mistakes By Anime Characters

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Fatal Mistakes Made by Anime Characters.

For this list, we'll be looking at the moments in anime where heroes and villains committed mistakes which led to their own defeats, as well as those which resulted in people getting injured or killed. As we will be mentioning key plot points, please be aware that a spoiler alert is in effect.

Which anime decision do you think has too great of a cost? Let us know in the comments below!

“Akame ga Kill” (2014)

Along with her assassination skills and the ability to transform into virtually any living creature using her Teigu, Chelsea is extremely confident in her abilities. However, that overconfidence proved to be her undoing. After tracking down and killing Bols, a member of Wild Hunt, Chelsea uses his appearance to get close to the necromancer Kurome and inflict a seemingly fatal blow. Thinking herself victorious, Chelsea fails to confirm Kurome's death, allowing her undead puppets to launch a surprise attack and kill her. While her time with Night Raid was short, Chelsea’s horrific demise proves heartbreaking to her fellow members, especially Tatsumi.

“KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!” (2016-17)

Unlike most isekai protagonists who heroically sacrifice themselves, Kazuma’s decision to give his life to save a girl from an incoming truck was his biggest mistake. Not only was the girl he saved never in any real danger, the belief that he thought he was going to die was so traumatic, that he wets himself and dies of shock. While his efforts did get him sent to a fantasy world, he is paired with a useless goddess and frequently suffers from rather unpleasant, and downright traumatizing situations. If only, Kazuma had the power to reverse time.

“Talentless Nana” (2020)

Despite being born talentless in a world filled with superpowered youths known as the “Talented,” the cute, yet deadly Nana is not one to be underestimated. A fact that Tsunekichi learns the hard way. After using his power of psychic photography to predict Nana killing him, as well as discovering her identity as an assassin, Tsunekichi tries to blackmail her into becoming his girlfriend. While it initially seems that Tsunekichi has Nana cornered, she instead proves herself to be one step ahead of him. By taking advantage of his arrogance, Nana outsmarts and poisons him to death. Bottom line, don’t mess with Nana.

“Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious” (2019)

While being cautious isn’t a bad trait for heroes to have, Seiya takes it to a whole new level. However, there is a reason behind his madness. During his first isekai adventure, Seiya constantly rushed into fights against opponents whose levels were vastly superior. This reckless behavior later proves fatal during his fight against a demon lord. After resurrecting itself, the demon’s second coming results in the deaths of his comrades, including his pregnant lover, Tiana. Even though Seiya learns his lesson during his second adventure, the price paid was far too great.

“Death Note” (2006-07)

They say keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but for L this decision proved to be his undoing. Even though L suspects Light of being the mass-murderer Kira, he still makes fatal mistakes such as revealing his identity and inviting Light to join his investigation. What’s even worse is that even after learning of the Death Note and the existence of Shinigami, L’s carelessness allows Light to recover it, along with his memories of being Kira, effectively sealing L’s fate. If the detective had been more cautious, then he may have been able to turn the tables on Light, rather than become one of his victims.

“Goblin Slayer” (2018)

Even though goblins are the weakest of monsters, this does not mean that they aren’t dangerous. A fact that Priestess and her party learned the hard way. After teaming up with a group of rookie adventurers to kill some goblins, they believe that their mission will be a walk in the park. Unfortunately, things quickly take a dark turn when the group's lack of proper equipment, supplies and preparedness for goblin warfare causes them to suffer brutal fatalities and a fate far worse than death. While Priestess is fortunate enough to be saved by the titular Goblins Slayer, these casualties could have been avoided if they had thought things through.

“Devilman Crybaby” (2018)

With the world literally going to hell and humans turning on each other, you would think that Akira would keep his love interest Miki by his side at all costs. Unfortunately, rather than stay with Miki to ensure her safety, Akira leaves her in the care of Wamu and his gang, while he tries searching for his friend Ryo; the one responsible for exposing him as Devilman and plunging the world into chaos. By leaving Miki’s side, Akira dooms her to die at the hands of an angry mob, losing both her and his humanity in the process.

“Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” (2009-10)

From the peak of godhood to the brink of defeat, the oldest Homunculus known as Father does not take his fall from grace very well. Originally strong enough to wipe out a small army with just a wave of his hand, the relentless onslaught from Edward and his allies, proves too overwhelming for Father to handle. In his desperation, Father attacks Greed, the only other Homunculus still standing, and absorbs his Philosopher's Stone. However, instead of becoming stronger, Greed reverses his ultimate shield, turning Father’s body into a crumbling mess, and allowing Edward to deliver the final blow.

“Higurashi: When They Cry – Gou” (2020-21)

Who knew that such an innocent request could lead to so much suffering? After Rika convinces Akasaka to stay with her during the Hinamizawa festival in order to help her, she could not have been happier. However, that joy soon turns to despair as this decision leads to a future where Akasaka develops the Hinamizawa Syndrome. Driven by paranoia and the desire to rid his and Rika’s bodies of the dreaded parasites, he butchers her and then proceeds to burn them both alive. To call this whole scene unsettling, is a major understatement.

“Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006-08)

All it takes is a single mistake to reduce all of one’s hard earned efforts to ash. In his quest to defeat Britannia, one of Lelouch’s biggest mistakes was Geassing his half-sister Euphemia. While he initially agrees to stop his rebellion in favor of supporting Euphemia’s vision for the future of Japan and its citizens, Lelouch accidentally catches her in the Geass’ gaze. All while joking about how he could force her to kill the entire Japanese people. As a result, Lelouch is powerless to stop Euphemia from committing genocide against the very people she fought so hard to protect, forcing him to put an end to her rampage by killing her.