Some of the most awe-inspiring and unforgettable moments in anime come down to a single fight. Not just because of the animation or the spectacle, but because of everything that leads up to that fight. There is tension, buildup, and character arcs clashing into each other. And when it all clicks, it’s magic. It’s like you’re watching a cool scene that actually matters too.
The 2020s have been packed with fights like that in anime. Studios are going all in, blending top-tier animation with storytelling that shocks and moves. You’ve got cursed spirits battling in abandoned train stations and shadow monarchs clashing with ancient knights in glowing rooms. Shows like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Solo Leveling remind us of what anime can look like at its best. And it’s not even the looks, really. These fights are the best because they are tied to the real emotions of the characters we’ve come to care about.
So, here are the 10 best anime fights of the 2020s so far.
Gabimaru vs Zhu Jin
‘Hell’s Paradise’ (2023)
This fight kicks off in Episode 9, and it is the first time Gabimaru really looks like he might not make it. Up until now, he’s been tearing through enemies with icy precision, but Zhu Jin is a whole different beast. They’re one of the Tensen, these immortal, godlike guardians of the island, and their regenerative powers are just absurd. Gabimaru throws everything at them. Fame, strength, strategy. And it still feels like he’s punching water.
The moment Zhu Jin shifts into their Kishikai form, the fight flips genres and goes from gritty ninja action to full-on body horror. What makes this fight stick isn’t just the animation (which is wild), but how it messes with Gabimaru’s head. He’s supposed to be an emotionless killer, but here, he is panicking, adapting, and slowly unraveling. Hell’s Paradise thrives on this tension between beauty and brutality, and this fight nails that balance.
Ichigo Kurosaki vs Yhwach
‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’ (2024)
This one has been brewing for years. Literally. Ichigo vs Yhwach is the final showdown of Thousand-Year Blood War, and it is everything longtime fans of the anime hoped for. Yhwach has this power called “The Almighty,” which lets him see and rewrite the future, so fighting him feels pointless. But Ichigo’s never been one about logic. He is about heart, instinct, and sheer stubbornness.
The fight itself is a blur of slashes, energy blasts, and reality-warping madness, with Aizen and Uryū jumping in to tip the scales. It is chaotic, but it works, because the stakes are personal and cosmic all at once. What’s cool is how this fight ties together Ichigo’s whole identity. He is no longer a Soul Reaper. He is part Quincy, part Hollow, part human, and this fight forces him to use every part of himself. Yhwach is the perfect final boss in that he’s convinced he’s untouchable, but Ichigo’s final strike, with help from Uryū’s silver arrow, lands to win.
Asta & Yami vs Dante
‘Black Clover’ (2021)
Episode 167 of Black Clover doesn’t waste time at all. The moment Dante of the Dark Triad starts tossing around gravity magic like it’s nothing, you know things are about to get ugly. Yami steps in first, and it’s clear that he’s the only one keeping Dante from turning the battlefield into a crater. But it’s when Asta joins in that the fight really takes off. He is still recovering, still figuring out how to use his devil’s power, and yet he throws himself into the fray.
The teamwork here is tight. Yami tossing his katana to Asta mid-fight is one of those blink-and-you-miss-it moments, and even then, Dante just keeps regenerating, laughing, and taunting. It also flips the usual dynamic, and we see Yami, the mentor, relying on Asta, the underdog, to land the final blow. The animation goes all in, especially during the anti-magic shields and gravity distortions. It’s one of those battles where the stakes, the pacing, and the payoff all line up perfectly.
Luffy (Gear 5) vs Kaido
‘One Piece’ (2023)
One Piece is one of the longest-running anime of all time, and by the time episode 1071 rolls around, Luffy has been knocked out, crushed, and humiliated by Kaido more times than fans can count. But then comes Gear 5, and suddenly, there is a jarring shift in tone. Luffy’s awakened Devil Fruit turns him into a rubbery force of chaos. He’s bending reality with Looney Tunes logic and god-tier strength. Kaido, still in his Flame Dragon Torch form, is stunned by how absurd it all looks.
The fight becomes a spectacle of Luffy bouncing lightning bolts, inflating like a balloon, and laughing through it all. It is ridiculous, but it’s also glorious. What makes it unforgettable is the animation (which is wild, even by One Piece standards) and how it redefines Luffy’s role in the story. He has become the embodiment of freedom, joy, and unpredictability. And when Kaido, the “strongest creature,” is finally pushed to his limit, even he starts to crack under the weight of Luffy’s sheer will.
Thorfinn vs Snake
‘Vinland Saga’ (2023)
The epic clash between Thorfinn and Snake in Vinland Saga is a raw, precise hand-to-hand combat between two men who have lived very different lives. In episode 17 of Season 2, Thorfinn faces Snake, the leader of Ketil’s farm guards, after tensions rise over Gardar’s escape. It starts as a confrontation but escalates into a test of skill. Thorfinn, now committed to a path of non-violence, dodges every strike with surgical calm and refuses to retaliate even when Snake pushes hard.
The choreography is tight and grounded, with MAPPA’s animation capturing every twitch and breath. It’s easily one of the best anime fights of the 2020s because it reflects Thorfinn’s growth. Season 1 was all rage and revenge; Season 2 is about redemption. Snake, a pragmatic warrior, is just doing his job. And the tension is not in who will land the next blow, but whether Thorfinn will break his vow. And he doesn’t.
Mob vs Dimple
‘Mob Psycho 100 III’ (2022)
In Episodes 5 and 6 of Season 3 of Mob Psycho 100, Mob’s confrontation with Dimple under the Divine Tree is less about power and more about heartbreak. Dimple, now fused with the Tree and posing as the founder of the Psycho Helmet cult, has brainwashed the city and even Mob’s closest friends. And Mob comes in confused, hurt, and trying to talk things out. The fight escalates slowly, with surreal visuals and psychic blasts.
The catch here is that Mob doesn’t even want to fight Dimple. He just wants his friend back. So it essentially flips the usual Mob Psycho formula. Mob’s powers are overwhelming, but here, he’s holding back. Dimple, despite his godlike form, is desperate for validation. It ends with Mob’s anger going to 100% and shattering Dimple’s defenses, but the animation is fluid, trippy, and peak Studio Bones. Mob collapsing from exhaustion, Dimple carrying him home, the Divine Tree fading away, it’s all etched in eternal memory.
Sung Jinwoo vs Igris
‘Solo Leveling’ (2024)
Episode 11, “A Knight Who Defends an Empty Throne,” drops Sung Jinwoo into one of his most defining battles yet. Up until this point, Jinwoo has been leveling up through brutal dungeons and near-death experiences, but facing Igris, the Blood-Red Commander guarding the throne room, is different. Igris is strong, elegant, composed, and relentless. The right is a blur of shadow magic and swordplay, and Jinwoo is barely keeping up.
It is the first time Jinwoo is forced to rely on pure instinct and strategy rather than brute force, and the tension builds with every clash, making the duel feel like a dance between predator and prey. Except it’s never clear who’s who. In the end, Jinwoo finally wins. And it’s not just a victory, because then he earns Igris as a loyal shadow, but more importantly, he proves he’s ready for something bigger. It’s one of the cleanest, most satisfying duels in the series so far.
Denji vs Katana Man
‘Chainsaw Man’ (2022)
In the high-octane world of Chainsaw Man, Episode 12 wraps up the Katana Man arc with a fight that is equal parts brutal and ridiculous in the best way. Denji, fresh off a string of losses and betrayals, finally gets his rematch against Katana Man, the Gun Devil-affiliated hybrid who has been slicing through Public Safety like paper. The fight starts on a speeding train and spills into the city, with Denji going full Chainsaw mode. But the best part is his Chainsaw leg, which is dumb and unexpected and it’s exactly the kind of chaos the anime thrives on.
This one stands out for the way it balances gore with comedy. Denji isn’t fighting to win, but to prove a point. And when he finally takes Katana Man down, he sets up a “nut-kicking contest” with Aki. It is a juvenile move, but it is weirdly cathartic. Chainsaw Man isn’t your typical shounen, and Denji isn’t your typical hero. Both lean into the absurdity of the world, and this fight is the perfect example.
Yuji Itadori vs Choso
‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2023)
Dropped right into the insanity of the Shibuya Incident arc, episode 13 of Season 2 (Jujutsu Kaisen episode 37 overall) throws Yuji into a brutal one-on-one against Choso, the eldest of the Death Painting Wombs. What starts in the underground corridors of Shibuya Station turns into a blood-soaked brawl, with Choso’s Blood Manipulation techniques pushing Yuji to his absolute limit. Piercing Blood, Flowing Red Scale, and Supernova all come into play, and the choreography is relentless. Yuji barely gets a moment to breathe.
Unlike other fast and unforgiving fights in Jujutsu Kaisen, this one stands out because Choso isn’t just another cursed spirit. He is grieving, angry, and convinced that Yuji killed his brothers. Yuji, meanwhile, is still reeling from everything that’s happened, and this fight breaks him down physically and emotionally. There’s a moment where he’s bleeding out in a bathroom stall, and Choso hesitates. That pause, that flicker of doubt, is so good. Plus, the animation team goes all out to make every impact feel like it hurts.
Tengen Uzui & Tanjiro vs Gyutaro & Daki
‘Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc’ (2022)
The final stretch of the Entertainment District Arc (Episodes 37 to 43) is where Demon Slayer goes full throttle, and the battle between Tengen Uzui, Tanjiro, and the Upper Rank Six siblings Gyutaro and Daki is at the center of it all. It is a multi-layered fight that plays out across rooftops, alleyways, and collapsing buildings, with Sound Breathing clashing against Gyutaro’s blood blades and Daki’s sash attacks.
Ufotable’s animation is jaw-dropping, and it turns every frame into a painting. Tanjiro’s Hinokami Kagura sequences, Zenitsu’s Thunderclap, and Inosuke’s Beast Breathing, they are all woven into one beautifully orchestrated showdown. There’s desperation in the fight, too. Tengen loses an eye and a hand, Tanjiro’s body is wrecked, and the team is barely holding it together. But they keep pushing. Gyutaro and Daki, for all their cruelty, are tragic as siblings bound by trayma. And when their heads finally fall, it’s almost said. A visual masterpiece, undoubtedly.
