Top 10 Most Emotional Anime Fights Ever

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we are counting down our picks for the Top 10 Emotional Anime Fights.

For this list, we’re going to be looking at the battles in anime that had some major emotional weight behind them. Which blow to the face left you with the feels? Let us know in the comments and be aware of spoilers!

“Trigun” (1998)

In spite of having the largest bounty ever, the red-coasted gunslinger is about as pacifistic as you can get. Not that he hasn’t been brought to the edge of relinquishing his no-killing policy before. Hunted by Monev the Gale and his walking armoury, Vash chooses to flee rather than fight. This proves to be a deadly decision for the surrounding citizens, with Monev mowing them down in an effort to get the Humanoid Typhoon to duke it out with him. After killing so many innocents, he soon finds himself at the end of Vash’s gun. Thus begins a harrowing scene where Vash must convince himself not to kill.

“Afro Samurai” (2007)

For the sake of vengeance, there was nothing this badass, Samuel L Jackson-sounding ronin wouldn’t do. And that can make you a few enemies along the way. As a result of his obsession to obtain the number one headband, Afro took the lives of many killers and innocents alike, including that of a swordsman who trained him as a student. This comes back to bite him when his former sword-buddy returns, now a half-cyborg in a bear mask, ready to slay Afro for his betrayal. It’s flashy and fun, but there’s also real weight in the way Afro, up until the last second, refuses to draw his sword, acknowledging what his revenge has cost.

“My Hero Academia” (2016-)

Leave it to a tournament arc to bring out both the best and the worst in people. Determined to save the tortured youth from his own isolation, Midoriya pushes Todoroki beyond his limits, forcing him to accept both sides of his Quirk. Seems to work a little too well, with the two of them going Plus Ultra to the extent that their final attacks nearly destroy the stadium and themselves. The battle itself may be fire, but the real draw is witnessing both future heroes take one step further towards maturity.

“Megalo Box 2: Nomad” (2021)

This second season may focus on Joe’s fall from grace and gradual redemption, but let’s be honest, the true star is Chief. A charming, aged boxer fighting for both the memory of his son, as well as the safety of his people. In order to ensure that the immigrant population can afford to keep the land they’ve come to call home, Chief takes on the geared-up, loud and prejudiced Mamiya in the final match of the tournament. It’s a true slugfest, but one that Chief succeeds in overcoming thanks to the love of his people as well as Joe’s insight.

“Cowboy Bebop” (1998-99)

It’s the space cowboy’s final shootdown. While we had been eagerly anticipating the moment where Spike would be about to outshoot the likes of his former partner, their actual confrontation is riddled with sadness. With his beloved Julia dead, Spike and his king-sized deathwish take on the might of the Red Dragon Syndicate, leaving him worse for wear as he and Vicious prepare to rip each other apart. Spike’s ultimate fate may be up in the air, but at the very least he went out with one hell of a bang.

“Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai” (2020-)

Bad enough that the Dragon Legion Commander happened to be the strongest foe that Dai and the gang had ever faced, but the fact he’s also a Dragon Knight AND Dai’s father is just putting salt in the wound. The clash between these two isn’t only one of the series’ longest, but continues to become more tragic with each passing bout, with Baran walking the line between a sympathetic man who lost everything he held dear, as well as a monster willing to erase his own son’s memories. These two are going to need so much counselling!

“Gintama” (2006-18)

It may not shy away from slapstick humour and fourth wall breaks, but that doesn’t mean Odd Jobs Gin can’t pull off hard hitting drama melded with top tier action. With Otose apparently killed by an old acquaintance, Gintoki spirals into a rage, trading in his goofy demeanour to that of the White Demon. It’s a brutal and uncompromising display of rage, only for him to be matched by Jirocho’s superior swordsmanship. The fact this anime can deliver on such a voracious scene such as this and still be classed as a comedy is colossal flex.

“One Piece” (1999-)

And you thought it was bad when Luffy and Ussop had their little falling out. Infiltrating Big Mom’s island in the hopes of getting their crewmate back, the Straw Hat Captain is met with fierce resistance as Sanji turns on him, resigned to his fate to be a pawn of his corrupt family. With neither willing to back down, we’re greeted to the harrowing sight of Luffy getting his face kicked in by Sanji’s flaming footwork, who in turn refuses to fight back against his friend, no matter how badly he’s pummeled.

“Hunter x Hunter” (2011-14)

Even the purest heart can be corrupted when exposed to absolute misery, and that’s what happened when Gon discovered that the Chimera Ant had lied about bringing his friend back from the dead. With Kite’s demise laid bare before him, Gon gives into his inner malice, exchanging his life force for an aged-up body and one hell of a right hook. Watching Pitou get their nine lives demolished may have made for an animated spectacle, but it’s impossible to separate the hype from the pain of knowing what Gon gave up for the sake of revenge.

“Naruto: Shippuden” (2007-17)

This battle does so many things right, it’s tricky to know where to start. It’s the conclusion of Kakashi’s personal arc as he and his thought-dead comrade engage in a blistering fight to the death, all with such fluid and fast-paced animation that it’s easily a highlight of not only the Fourth Great Ninja War but anything under the Naruto banner. The seamlessness of the animation is further complemented with intersperses of flashbacks that show just how far the two shinobi have come since their early days, and the regret they now feel as adult