Top 10 Lightning Users in Anime

“My Hero Academia” (2016-)

He’s the wannabe hero whose Quirk is almost as uncontrollable as his terrible luck with the ladies. While his power of Electrification can certainly bring the pain thanks to the vast amount of volts he can exude from his body, it also has the unfortunate side effect of short circuiting his brain in the process. However, time, experience and a costume change have allowed this lad to slowly overcome his hilarious malfunctions by using gadgets to channel his shocks into concentrated bursts. There’s little doubt the Stun Gun Hero: Chargebolt will make a name for himself sooner or later.

“The Seven Deadly Sins” (2014-)

There’s a reason that the Holy Knights of Britannia used to be feared, and it’s all down to this handsome chap who can turn everything he touches into a thunderbolt of doom. Back during his time as a pseudo-villain, Gilthunder was able to hold his own against the majority of the Sins, channelling lightning magic into his weapons to such a degree that even Meliodas was getting kicked around. Would have been cool to seem him bring that savagery back when the Ten Commandments invaded, but what can you do?

“One Piece” (1999-)

Playing the part of a wrathful god, this Devil Fruit user had built his own little paradise in the floating haven of Skypiea, all the while smiting those who objected to his will thanks to his ability to unleash millions of volts of electricity through anyone he touched. While it certainly allowed him to dispatch regular combatants like pre-time skip Zoro rather easily, Enel’s reign as a thunderous deity ended abruptly when he was introduced to Luffy and the pure, unrelenting, insulating power of rubber!

“Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings” (2009-10)

It wasn’t enough that he’s a badass ronin exile whose preferred method of fighting involved him using six swords at once, no he just had to throw in a little elemental oomph into the mix be being able to channel a miniature thunderstorm into each of his blades. As a result, Masamune is practically an army onto himself, able to unleash monstrous techniques that make other shounen protagonists quiver by comparison. No wonder he was able to bring down a superpowered Oda Nobunaga.

“Black Clover” (2017-)

He lives for battle, never stops smiling and if you aren’t careful he’ll fry you up faster than he can make a joke at Magna’s expense. Not only is he proficient in lightning magic, but he’s also not one to stand back and rain down destruction from afar. No, Luck like to get up close and personal with his targets, preferable after shrouded his body in electricity to allow him to shock and slice his way through any unprepared enemy in an instant. Throw in his animalistic instincts, and this member of the Black Bulls is just one big, smiling storm of death.

“Darker than Black” (2007-09)

If you’re career is that of a masked assassin who spends his nights taking out superpowered members of a sinister syndicate, then you need the right tools for the job. Luckily in the case of the Black Reaper, he’s got his trusted knife/grappling device, which happens to work wonders as a conductor when he lets loose his electricity manipulation. Whether he wants to short circuit an obstacle or fry the head off an enemy Contractor, Hei and his molecular massacring hit their mark every time.

“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)

Before he even became a hunter, this little assassin was plucking out people’s hearts and wrapping them in doggy bags before they could blink. And then he mastered Nen, which promptly launched him to legendary status. With his newfound mastery of Transmutation, Killua soon found himself able to turn into a human lightning bolt, with the quickness and power to match. Not even a Chimera Ant Royal Guard like Youpi was able to stand up to the ferocity of his Whirlwind and Speed of Lightning techniques.

“A Certain Magical Index” franchise (2007-)

As if someone with the moniker of Railgun wasn’t going to pack a punch. As one of the few Level 5 Espers in Academy City, Mikoto is an absolute beast when it comes to blasting away anyone and anything that steps to her short stature. Nowhere is this more evident than in her spin-off series, wherein the Electromaster has succeeded in sniping down robots, rival espers and a budding education day with nothing more than the flip of a coin.

“Fairy Tail” (2009-19)

From delivering an electric headbutt to Hades’ face to wiping out all of Raven Tail with his Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic, the bad boy of the Fairy Tail Guild has proven time and time again there’s nothing that he can’t zap. Even Natsu has been left fried after suffering one too many of his voltaic punches. With an affinity for close quarters combat, every blow that Laxus throws is as fierce as a bolt from the heavens, and for everything else left standing, there’s always his electrifying roars.

“Naruto” franchise (2002-)

While he’s known far and wide as the Copy Ninja, when it comes to all things lightning, the Sixth Hokage remains the OG. The dude invented the Chidori and Raikiri, created a Susanoo fuelled by lightning that could damage the likes of Kaguya, and has continued to develop new jutsu that provide the literal shock factor to his opponent, even when he’s supposed to be retired. He may not be as spry as he used to be, but that’s not going to stop him dishing out the Purple Lightning when Boruto steps out of line.