Anime has long embraced swordsmanship, which may stem from the important role of the samurai in Japanese history. As a result, many sword-wielding characters with lightning-fast reflexes and deadly weapon skills have appeared in various series.
While in anime, men often wield swords, that doesn’t mean women stand idly by. Many of the fastest fighters in anime feature swordswomen who utilize their incredible speed to defeat their opponents.
While some embrace noble causes, others serve darker ends. Regardless of their moral code, these women threaten any opponent unfortunate enough to encounter them.
Who are your favorite swordswomen? Check out the following to see if there’s a female swordsman anime you fancy!
Shura Kirigakure
Shura is a swordswoman anime character who can cast out demons and a teacher. He raised her and taught her how to become a Meister as a Knight. His name is Hachirotaro. Tasuko, her relative, was a ninja from the Iga clan.
Shura’s sword skills are based on those of the famous Japanese monster Yamata no Orochi. This person is a knight, and her fighting skills are based on those of the famous Japanese monster Yamata no Orochi.
She knows a lot about cursed weapons and has much experience with them. She also wields the demon-slaying sword Kurikara. Her mother taught her to fight with a monster blade, and she learned it from her mother.
Hikaru Shidou (Magic Knight Rayearth)
One of the main characters in the old magical girl show Magic Knight Rayearth is Hikaru Shidou. Hikaru is, without question, the strongest of the Legendary Magic Knights. She may be the cutest and smallest of the three. Her family owns Hikaru’s school, so she is very good with a sword even before she meets Cephiro.
When Hikaru gets the Magic Knights’ power, no one can beat her. Hikaru’s favorite tool is a sword that was made just for her. It gives her the magical power of Rayearth. Along with her fire magic, this blade makes Hikaru a powerful enemy that can’t be stopped. It helps her beat even the toughest foes.
Youko Nakajima
Juuni Kokuki is a normal, cute girl living in a strict, traditional family. You can’t let her play sports, argue with her parents, or fight in any way.
Then, all of a sudden, she is dragged into a different version of the “Twelve Kingdom,” where she changes into a 16-year-old queen trying to stay alive.
Youko changes as a person and as a leader. She becomes strong, caring, and willing to listen to her people. Cutting devils for breakfast is her best job when she’s with a sword. She’s also smart, which gives her political power. The way she changes into a badass cartoon swordswoman is really interesting.
Asuna (Sword Art Online)
Asuna from Sword Art Online isn’t the most well-known character, but she’s good at what she does. Fans can tell she’s good with swords from how she’s introduced. She’s way ahead of everyone else in the series, even at the beginning.
Most shonen heroines are much weaker than their male versions, but Asuna is just as strong as Kirito. They’re equal in Sword Art Online, which makes her feel like a real partner to Kirito instead of just a pretty girl he needs to save. Asuna is a good character, and this shows how good she is with a sword.
Mikasa Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
One perfect cartoon swordswoman anime is Mikasa Ackerman. She is brave, tough, and never gives up. As one of the main characters in Attack on Titan, Mikasa is very good with a sword. She is very dangerous on the battlefield because she has a very sharp sense and is very agile.
Mikasa’s cold and emotionless exterior may seem off-putting initially, but her unshakable love and loyalty to her friends make her likable. She seems tough on the outside, but her heart is soft and loving, ready to protect the people she cares about.
Kuina(One Piece)
In the anime show One Piece, Kuina is Koushirou’s daughterwasas the Roronoa Zoro’s childhood friend and foe. She wanted to be the best swordswoman, but she died before she got there because she fell down some stairs.
Kuina was stronger than most adults in her school, even though she was young and cute. Her “Wado Ichimonji” sword is one of the 21 great-grade swords, which means she is very good with swords.
Kuina beat Zoro in a real-life sword duel for the 2000th time. Zoro is one of the best cartoon sword fighters.
Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Fullmetal Alchemist: The Brotherhood has a lot of great fighters, but Olivier Mira Armstrong, better known as Major General Armstrong, is the most beautiful and skilled. Olivier carries herself with power, honor, and beauty as the heir to the famous Armstrong family.
Olivier is often taken because she is small and looks girly, but she is much more than that. She can beat some of FMA’s strongest enemies. She is very good at sword fighting and is proud to use the blade that belonged to her family. Because she is fast, strong, and clever, Major General Armstrong is much stronger than most people, even her brother Alex.
Makie Otono-Tachibana
Makie Otono-Tachibana was born into a famous samurai family and took on their famous ability. She wanted to be a swordswoman from a young age, but her mother told her she shouldn’t be. She finally decides to use the sword to get back at her mother for what she did.
Makie is, without a doubt, the best swordswoman anime in the anime series and is likely the best duelist. Not a single drop of blood hits her because she is so good with a sword. She prefers a stick called “Haru-no-Okina” (Old Man of Spring) with two blades and three sections. She moves very quickly and is very good with her sword.
Rukia Kuchiki (Bleach)
Rukia is one of the most beloved Bleach characters and one of the most iconic swordswoman anime. As captain of the 13th division of the Soul Society, it’s safe to say that she’s highly skilled at what she does.
Rukia has spent most of her life training with the blade; now, few can match her power. She’s quick-witted and fast on her feet, and her attacks can cause frightful amounts of damage. Along with her incredible swordsmanship, Rukia also has some impressive combat skills and amazing spiritual power that takes her fighting abilities to the next level.
Akame (Akame Ga Kill!)
Akame is the fierce and powerful titular protagonist of the iconic series Akame ga Kill!. Though young, she has the cold and fearsome demeanor of a true assassin, and few can match her skills in combat.
Akame wields the Murasame, a poisonous blade so potent that all it takes is one cut, and an opponent will die in mere seconds. With such fearsome power, Akame’s sword has been dubbed the “One-Cut Killer,” an appropriate name for such a deadly weapon. With this amazing blade and her other great skills, Akame is almost impossible to beat. Few people can beat her in a fight because she is fast and has a tactical mind.
Balsa Yonsa（Guardian Of The Spirit）
The lead character of the anime series Guardian Of The Sacred Spirit, which is set in the Middle Ages. She has a lot of depth, beauty, toughness, and pride in who she is.
She learns how to fight and works as a protection for different people to make a living. She becomes the prince’s “bodyguard” when his family and others try to kill him. In a fight to the death, her skills, knowledge, maturity, and determination would help her. That woman can wield a sword.
Saeko Busujima（Highschool Of The Dead）
The “Guardian of Japan” family gives her this power, and she lives by the Samurai code. In a world where zombies have taken over, she is the president of the Kendo Club and a live human weapon. Saeko is the best fighter among her friends because she is very good at close fighting. I’m not going to talk about how she looks. Check her out.
Saeko is a strong fighter and one of Takashi’s most deadly team members. She would be a great female fighter in a zombie apocalypse.
She first uses a bokken, a wooden sword, and a katana. She is just as cool and collected in battle as when using a sword. Saeko is responsible, smart, sharp, and brave. Saeko knows how to fight. She’s also nice. But she has a bad side. Saeko enjoys killing bad people. She wants to kill even more of them.
Clare (Claymore)
In her younger years, Clare, the protagonist of the dark fantasy series Claymore, struggled as one of the weakest members of her race. As a Claymore, she combines part-human, part-Yoma traits (a formidable humanoid race that preys on people). However, Clare’s DNA sets her apart from her peers, comprising three-quarters human instead of half.
Rather than letting her lack of Yoma DNA hold her back, Clare uses this shortcoming as motivation to surpass her limitations and outperform the adversaries she faces in Claymore. By focusing her energy on her limbs, she achieves faster speeds than most fully realized Yoma, showcasing her resilience and determination.
Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)
Only a few cartoon swordswomen are as strong and useful as Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail. You can find Erza in the Fairy Tail Guild. She is not only a great fighter but also a kind leader. She is very good at Requip magic, which lets her change between 200 weapons and 100 armor sets. What a difference in clothes!
Erza has faced many dangerous enemies because she is determined and doesn’t give up. Her unique mix of class, sexiness, and pure badass makes her a figure that people will remember. Even though she can be mean and strict sometimes, she has a soft side that makes her even cuter. Erza is the perfect mix of beauty, brains, and strength. Her heart is as strong as her sword.
Saber (Fate/stay night)
Saber, the legendary King of Knights, is one of the most famous cartoon swordwomen ever. Saber is the main character of the Fate/Stay Night series. He is a strong and mysterious fighter. She is very good with swords and very good at planning strategies, which makes her a very dangerous enemy in the Holy Grail War.
Saber is a complicated person who mixes loyalty, bravery, and stoicism. She seems tough on the outside, but she has a weak side that comes out throughout the game. Saber is a memorable and likable character because she is always true to her beliefs and wants to protect the people she cares about.
Satsuki Kiryuin (Kill la Kill)
Bold, powerful, and undeniably stylish, Satsuki Kiryuin from Kill la Kill is a swordswoman who commands attention. As the president of Honnouji Academy’s student council, Satsuki wields the powerful Bakuzan, a katana that can cut through Goku Uniforms like butter. Her unwavering determination and ambition make her a formidable adversary in the series.
Satsuki’s character is a blend of pride, intelligence, and a strong sense of justice. Beneath her cold and calculating exterior lies a caring and protective nature, which is revealed as the series progresses.
Tae Shimura (Gintama)
Though she may not be a conventional swordswoman, Tae Shimura from Gintama is a fierce and determined character who knows her way around a sword. As the older sister of Shinpachi Shimura and a close friend to the series’ protagonist, Gintoki Sakata, Tae is not afraid to stand up for herself or her loved ones, often wielding a naginata with surprising proficiency.
Tae’s character is a blend of humor, strength, and resilience. Her fierce loyalty and unwavering determination to protect those she cares for make her an endearing character in the Gintama universe.
Maka Albarn(Soul Eater)
First, we have the main character of the anime show Soul Eater. Maka enjoys killing scary monsters and witches. She is a wild animal on the battlefield, and her scythe is dangerous. On the other hand, Maka is a sensitive girl who gets angry easily. She always tries to do the right thing and has a strong sense of right and wrong.
Maka is very good with weapons and fights with a huge scythe. She trained to be good at many advanced fighting skills, but her brain is her best secret tool. She is a smart girl who beats her enemies with her heads.
Shiki Ryougi（The Garden Of Sinners）
Shiki is just outside the top five. She is a very good cartoon swordswoman and the heir to a family business called “Demon Hunter Organization.” Shiki has trained her whole life to fight ghosts and other magical beings, making her a little crazy.
Shiki’s fake arm is amazing and lets her catch things far away. She hypnotizes herself to get better at what she does physically.
They also have the “Eye of the Mind.” It allows her to see and cut the “lines of a target’s death.” That person can be killed if she cuts the right one.
She can naturally see through danger and avoid it thanks to a sixth sense, intuition, or foresight. Besides that, Shiki can handle a lot of pain. That makes her a terrible fighter.
Shiki is holding a Japanese katana called “Kanesada Kuji.” It is five hundred years old and has a lot of mystery surrounding it. With a knife, she can hit someone from 3 meters (9 feet) away; with a katana, she can hit someone from 9 meters (27 feet) away. It would be very unfair for Shiki’s opponents because she would win easily.
Conclusion
In the twilight of her journey, the swordswoman stands on the precipice of her destiny. Through trials and courage, she has come to this pivotal moment.
With unwavering determination, she faces her ultimate adversary, a force of evil that threatens the kingdom. The clash of steel and the dance of power begins an awesome feast of skill and determination.
Ultimately, she strikes decisively, defeating her foe and reclaiming peace for the land.
So, who is your favorite swordsman anime?
Come along and join the discussion!
Tanya L Bressette