Top 10 Most Badass Anime Characters of All Time

One of the first and most classic examles of an anime-style badass. When I consider the simplicity and consistancy of his character development, paired with his badassery, it always puts a smile on my face. Roronoa Zoro can go get bent for all I care. In fact, posted an article on ScrewAttack about why I think Zoro is a prime example of the worst character archetype in all of fiction. If you're curious, it's called "Roronoa Zoro... isn't that great."
It may be hammy, but DBZ for the win!

I don't think anyone can overtake vegeta's badassery. To be honest all the other badass male character are usually molded to look like Vegeta's. But his character is a genuine alpha male. Unlike other male characters who look like 12 year olds trying to look tough. He looks like a man. Plus his English voice over gives him an edge over the others.

Vegeta is very badass, but nowhere near as badass as Simon and his mecha Gurren Lagann, Simon is the size of a planet or star while Gurren Lagann is the size of a galaxy and grows bigger than our Universe, You should see Gurren Lagann, Watch it on Netflix, iTunes or YouTube.

Vegeta is the most badass Anime character of the most badass and best Anime ever! He and Dragonball Z are the best thing about Anime ever! Vegeta is proud, arrogant, powerful, determined, short-tempered and hardcore. No Anime character beats him when it comes to badassary!

Guts don't need no plot armor. He's already got the most powerful set of armor in all of manga, and maybe even fiction. He was holding swords in his teeth before Zoro was even a thing. Not to mention that every night for two years he fought dozens of demons, killing everyone that came to him. He also doesn't care about what kind of power you claim to serve or have, if you get in his way he will not hold back his sword swing. He shall cut you in half all the same without a second thought. Take away Ki, Chakra, Haki, or whatever from any of the others and Guts could stomp them out easy. Period.

Literally nicknamed "the struggler" by an undead 1000 year old former war king / skeleton, Guts personifies what being a badass is. No pride in him, no desire for power or money. He just wants revenge. He's not some grand alien king or a ninja-esque character that uses multiple swords or some shtick like that, he just wants revenge and will go to any lengths to get it. He should have never been alive. He's been fighting the odds since before he was born, which, by the way, was in a puddle of his own birth mother's blood after she was hanged. For more info read the manga, especially the eclipse part or one of his fights against the apostles (Zodd on sword hill, Rosine, slug count).

If berserk was as well known as Naruto or one piece, no one would vote any human above guts. Even before he got his signature gear he was like a human kenpachi zaraki. But once he loses an arm and eye, and gains the berserker armor, dragonslayer, and his sweet canon arm, he is capable of killing gods. The berserker armor enqble s Guts to be able to take entire armies singlehandedly, be they demons or humans. His will is so strong, he even denied his fate and escaped a demonic ceremony, granted with some help. Unfortunately people will usually side with who they know over obviously more qualified candidates.

Guts deserves to be number 1, He is insanely powerful even without his berserker armor, and yet he is still just a mere human. A human who challenges the impossible, and he casually murders countless demons on a daily basis as if they were ants. How badass is that? Guts has had definitely more than a dozen near death encounters and yet he still comes out the victor in every single battle he has been in.

Honestly, Zoro should be at the top. Having watch both DBZ and One Piece (Legit all of it, I know One Piece is still going on), Zoro is more badass then Vegeta because first off Vegeta is too black and white in my opinion. Zoro has a immense character development and Vegeta, well he hasn't really changed since his first appearance. I mean, come on! Who can pull off green hair, and carry 3 swords? He gets super lost which I find cute and funny, and not to mention he's actually pretty hot. And his sacrifices just for Luffy? And his loyalty! Not to mention his epic quotes that he says at the perfect times

This guy is the definition of badass. I would start with some examples (spoilers of One Piece ahead! )- 1) The scene where he cuts Monet. For people unfamiliar with One Piece, Monet was a woman made of snow and only a special ability called Haki could be used to cut people like her (otherwise she could just reintegrate her body parts). Zoro knew this ability but being the badass that he is, he walked up to her while giving an awesome speech about "Have you ever seen an animal that doesn't bite" and cuts her in half without using Haki. But guess what? She is so scared at this point that she can't even move or reintegrate herself, which is actually very easy for people with her ability.

2) He once accidentally got on a pirate ship, thinking it was a fishing ship. A little while after the pirate ship submerges (yeah, that can happen in One Piece) it emerges out of the sea. But to everyone's surprise it had been cut at various places from one end to the other. It was actually ...more

"If you can't even protect your captain, then your ambition is worthless"

For Zoro his ambition worth more than his life and he discards his ambition to save his captain. Making his sacrifice by far the greatest.

When He first encounter Mihawk (World's greatest swordsman) he immediately challenged him, Before that he had never lost a single fight but this time he loses and loses pretty bad...When Mihawk put a knife in his chest Zoro wouldn't withdraw back when mihawk asks do you wish to get knife through your heart why aren't you withdrawing... His response...oh man that has set the tone for the most badass character that anime will ever see.

When he realises he has no lost to Mihawk and two of his katana(swords) get broken he stands up turn around open his arms and give way to mihawk to attack on his bare chest...Mihawk asks what now, Zoro says it's a shame for a swordsman to attack on back.

The most bad ass character is Vegeta... But Roronoa Zoro is the only person who can be more bad ass than vegeta..

1) Created his own sword style to surpass his childhood rival and does everything to make the promise he made come true.
2) Has his pride as a swordsman, let's himself been cut by Mihawk because he lost a fight and because he doesn't want a cut on his back, cause that's a shame for a swordsman.
3) He cried because he lost a fight and promised Monkey D. Luffy that he's never going to loose until he defeated Mihawk.
4) Creating his own techniques like: Tatsumaki (the strike with his three swords can make a tornado) and more.
5) Wants to give his own life away to his Captain.

L is the kind of man you would underestimate at first glance because of his unique appearance and habits, but you'd be sorry that you did. He can blow your mind with his intellectual ways better than Light can because coming from L if you didn't know he was the famous detective, you would never have expected it.

Death note itself is a kinda screwed up show. Give a person power and then he goes on a wild rampage killing everything. And on that note, may I have your names, Dragon ball fanboys?

Wait! It's on second? Have any of these guys ever watched this show?

If they had, it would have been on the first!

Why tf is this guy above guts... Hell why are any of the people on this list above guts? No ones had a rougher life than guts and continues to keep fighting.

It's really a shame a character like Itachi had to get stuck in an anime like Naruto. Naruto is mediocre at best, and I found myself forcing my way through it a lot of the time. But whenever Itachi was on-screen, I was completely hooked. I don't wanna harp on too long about them because I'm sure I won't say anything that hasn't already been said, so... yeah. The guy's awesome. One of my favorite anime characters to date.

Itachi takes the metaphorical cake on badassery. While doing things that appear to have one effect, he is able to set plans for days, months, or years in the future. Even when faced with unexpected results he forges on ahead. And hell, how can you be a badass without looking out for your brother and joining a deadly organization?

Itachi should come at least in the first top 5 or 3 because the guy is lit, the people who have watched naruto will understand. Naruto is a brilliant and amazing anime with itachi in it and the way itachi is they should consider him at first top 3 or at least 5

Are you kidding me the way he slaughtered his entire family and clan to save his little brother. While, having his little brother to hate him so that his brother would get stronger is amazing.

How can he not be number 1?! He can wreck all the titans before mikasa can say "Eren" again! He is the number 1 KING of badasses AND humanity strongest soldier! Plus he also has that I don't care personality and his cleaning obsession which just intrigues the audience. But he gets 2 percent for the votes?! He doesn't have ANY superpowers but he can destroy the female titan and beast titan.

Human Strongest Soldier yet he don't think he's invulnerable. Talk bout Badass ...no ones like him. Don't care about his superior officers. The way he introduce himself to the survey corps and the way he talk to others..

He should at least be in the top 5. He has amazing major character development, is a great leader and father figure to everyone and looks out for his comrades. Why the hell is he only #9?!?!

MUST BE NUMBER 1, he is only human, no superpowers, and still so badass. I mean he can turn into a Beyblade while fighting! Also when you search badass, Google says: 'Did you mean Levi Ackerman? '

All the others characters had teamed up to defeat Frieza, which took about 20 episodes. All Trunks needs to kill him is ONE slice from his sword, and he did it alone - while killing his henchmen and King Cold (who is more powerful than Frieza? ) at the same time.

The best episode of DBZ is the one where he shows up and completely destroys Frieza.

Look at it like the young viewer you used to be. He had a freaking sword in DBZ!

Trunks was always a badass but long hair trunks was something else.

He is the definition of badass! He is fearless of any opponent and loves blood, he's Vlad the Impaler! Dracula! Duel wielding 16kg (351bs) pistols with the length at 39cm (16 inches) even his gun has a badass engraving mocking Fathers words saying "Jesus Christ is in Heaven Now" He likes to mock and intimidating his opponents before brutally killing them. He has no remorse for anyone. Kills cause he likes it. The more blood the better for him. He absorbs the whole of England's people's blood just for a treat... Dare I say more?

How the hell is Alucard not at the top. You guys must be crazy. Alucard fights curb-stomp battles with everyone he goes against, and even taunts them to get them to fight all out. He has a badass look and he can survive almost anything. Not only that, but he is Dracula. Vlad The Impaler. The history alone makes him a badass, and then he goes and defies any rules about vampires ever heard of. Seriously, bring him up.

Alucard is pretty much the most badass character in existence. He is cool and sly. He is practically invincible. He literally lets people shoot him to pieces before he puts himself back together right in front of them and devours them. And his guns are awesome as well.

Can't see why this isn't mentioned yet, come on Alucard makes badass seem like wimps, Alucard is the ultimate Badass in the anime world, he is insane, he is a vampire (Very old one at that), and he enjoys good fights where he can go all out... Whats not to like?!

I'm not scared of any of the other guys. Maybe Alucard slightly, the rest? Nah. But Revy...that is one girl that I never want to cross. Her combination of amazing fighting skill, not caring attitude, and absolute joy she takes in her work makes her the definition of badass.

She is the one person you don't want to piss off, and she gets pissed really easily. Revy is basically a walking bomb about to explode at any second.

One of my all time favorites, Revy combines her fighting skills with hilarious comments and a very interesting character.

Before I discovered Black Lagoon, I had lost hope to find a really Badass women. But then everything changed...

Spike knows how a man should dress. Blue leisure suit, yellow shirt, and black skinny tie is the most badass thing he could wear. He doesn't care about his physical health. He smokes, drinks, and gets shot on a regular basis. If that's not badass, I don't know what is. And he was in an organized crime syndicate. How many characters can you say that about on this list?

Dude. The guy lived through DEATH. He has an eye that sees the past, and one that sees the present.
And what's even better, he's not a damn stupid whiney brat about it.
That is why Spike is the best Anime Badass.

Power alone does not make a badass. True most other characters on this list could probably beat him, but the way he acts makes him twice the badass.

Piss Spike off and he'll beat the living hell from you, just like he did to basically everyone else in the story. He sees both past and present, making him ultra badass. Don't even think about running, he'll just shoot the crap out of you till there's nothing left. Hide bitch hide is your only chance

This man is a combination of Jesus Christ, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, and Son Goku in one body. He could eviscerate you in one punch. You heard of One Punch Man? Nah son, my boy Kenshiro is the REAL one punch man.

This should be number 1 not vegeta!

Kenshiro obliterares all characthers on his universe, always behave like badass, there's no chance for tears in someone like him.

One minute he's a goffy dumbass monkey that says and does stupid things, and then boom! He becomes this awesome badass, that says deep stuff and inspires awe. Kinda like Sakata Gintoki

Total badass, so powerful he handicaps himself to make the fights last longer so he can have at least a little fun. Fights his way to acceptance. Still, when he finally loses, instead of rage quitting or getting depressed he decides to learn from the experience and gets even stronger. Total total badass.

This man may isn't the strongest charachter, but he is the definition of badass you can't argue with that he should be #1 how can it that he is so low in this list. Its absurd!

I don't know how you people think. Diffinetly Zaraki, Allucard, and Levie should be in the top ten. And, I agree with the previous comment, if they are not in the top, this list is bad.

He put bells in his hair so his enemies can track him because he is bored of kicking so much ass.

Ichigo has the most resolve of any anime character ever. He will grow in power as the situation needs, unlike Goku who just toys with his opponents to see how strong they are Ichigo doesn't even know his power until it grows in him to beat stronger and stronger opponents. This guy is the definition of badass.

Wait, Sasuke a baddass, he whines more than a dog I didn't give the leftovers to. In Bleach, Ichigo gets strong enough to beat the he11 out of most of the other guys in the first 30 episodes, sasuke almost dies, he's arrogant and I wished he died almost 10 episodes into the anime

Has Sasuke or Gaara or Zoro ever beaten the main villain without even trying in their final battle, like Ichigo did? I highly doubt it.

Whenever needed, he is practically invincible and can beat anyone, doesn't matter if it is strongest villain of the series.

He is a smart, calculative, military genius who may come out as just being heartless. But its that type of deceptive and hidden personality that makes him such a badass. Just when you think you have figured him out... BAM he surprises you with something unexpected. This guy gives up his life so people can feel good about themselves, maybe even to the point that he knew that his bloodline and special power would not only be dangerous, it would also mean his very existence would make him a feared outcast. I don't care what anyone says about this guy. It takes 100% badassness to sacrifice yourself for the world. I dunno about you, but I'd hate to die with a bad reputation amongst majority of the world.

Lelouch is the kind of guy who can handle any kind of situation, it is a military genius, and political manipulation. He makes brilliant plans and predicts the movement of opponents even in worst case scenarios.

He plans and stomps through the whole anime with surprises and he does not feel apologetic for the people he kills because he knows it's necessary.

and also, SPOILERS: He willingly dies for the sake of his people.

He is the ONLY one with brain among all those people in that list. Although he commit many evil deed, he never denied them, and act for the best of the world

Now I realize that people are dumb.

WHY IS HE THIS LOW? Has no one here seen Brotherhood? Does no one here remember how he had to be forced by several other heroes NOT to murder one of the most powerful beings in the series, after completely destroying its body with the snap of his fingers? When Envy turns into a massive figure in the shape of a draconian hellbeast, he doesn't so much as flinch. All he says is, 'you've made yourself a bigger target,' and proceeds to explode Envy's eyes. No one here remember how he ripped out Lust's heart with his bare hands, was then gored by Lust, and then, with that injury, burned the wound closed and then single handedly destroyed the near-immortal homunculus? He was rendered blind, and just kept roasting his enemies. He defeated two Homunculi single handedly, more than any other character. Literally every other homunculus in the series was either beaten by several people, another homunculus, or after being severely weakened. But not here. Not one of them stood any kind of chance ...more

To be honest he should be in the top 10 at least laugh out loud. He killed 2 immortals and the one took the pain so badly that they actually killed them selves. After episode 19 Roy becomes my most favorite character in fmab and what makes him good. He can use pinpoint aiming so his flames don't go all over the place like fire lord ozai's in avatar. he can actually control his flames. also if roy had a philosopher stone the world would be doomed to burn.

The guy seared his wound shut with his alchemy. He engulfed Lust and Envy in flames and burned Envy's eyeballs while they were in their sockets.

The guy can also start huge fires by snapping. Seriously.

Uhh how is Roy only number 16 like seriously he can kill immortals in one shot with just snapping. SNAPPING.

When you're badass, you can kick butt and look awesome while doing it. If you can kick but, look awesome, have the coolest anime power PERIOD, and are capable of doing all that by only moving your hands, then badass doesn't even BEGIN to cover it.

Plus no eyebrows, BONUS POINTS!

Gaara has been one of my favourite badass characters in many years. I just knew I was going to like him when I first saw him.

And he gets the most character development of all Naruto characters

Gaara could kill 1001 people just by covering their bodies with sand that will crush them, and he controls the sand with his mind! 100% Badass

He was badass when he was a kid but once he grew up... he is no longer badass.
His brother is though! Kankuro asked Gaara to do the Hidden Sand Samba. That takes guts.

How is Madara this low he drops a rock on an army the first hour he comes back from the dead and chops a mountain in half then he revives himself I mean think about that, who revives themself. It is also revealed that everything that happened in Shippuden was his plan that was set into motion like a hundred years before the series takes place.

How badass he is? He crushed the five kage at once, summon meteorites, make a perfect susanoo, capturing all the tailed beasts at once, awakened the rinnegan, absorbed Hashirama Senju's power, came back to life by forcing obito to do the rinne tensei on him, even though it was for a short time, he fought vs. the entire alliance and tailed beasts BLIND! Not to mention he's extremelly intelligent, powerful and wise and he knows how to use them in combat

Why the hell is he so low in this list. he's the most badass character I have ever seen. Madara is a true god. Everything that happened in Naruto shippuden was played on his hand. I demand a repoll for this list!

Madara is the no. 1 God? This is list is the worst list ever! It doesn't have anything that is important.. No offense.. Truth is always bitter!

How is he not the top badass? He has the grace of the moon and every move ever made him was precise and calculated. Feared by all and revered by none. He bears the mark of the first born with the crescent moon on his forehead and his ever so perfectly jagged edges. His remarks are on point and he's followed by his mothers pelt. He's the definition on perfection from his beautiful silver locks to his one of a kind hakama and don't even get me started talking on the sheer glory of his manhood!
Looking for best of the best? Sesshoumaru is the way to go

The strongest and most unstoppable force of nature in the anime world. I'm sure others would argue, and I would concede that Goku may beat him in a fight. But Goku has never faced an opponent as analytically smart, strong, immune, and badass as Sesshoumaru. Easily beats the series antagonist Naraku by himself! And it only got easier when he got the sword Bakusaiga.

He should have towered over Itachi. He's the definition of badass. His powers are at no limits and no one could ever stop him from the moment he obtained Tokijin and even more stronger when he got Bakusaiga and a newly regenerated left arm.

This super strong demon is the real badass of anime!

People should have more respect to Piccolo. He's one of the wisest and most ass-kicking characters in the franchise. This guy almost defeated Goku. Not only that, but he also killed BOTH Goku AND Raditz in one shot. He's also the one who trained not only Gohan, but also Gotenks and Trunks to be tough, strong badasses themselves. Even Vegeta would admit that he has surpassed his power level.

Not to mention he has that Lone Wolf additude about him.

Hell, even Vegeta respects Piccolo (He also seems to seems to be a bit afraid of him at times). Everything's badass with the horned green guy with a large cape, who can take on Cooler's minions (who are stronger than Saiyans), and the Cell Jr's, and make Vegeta look like a quitter.

Yeah, Vegeta can sit down and let a REAL badass get to work. This man went from being as evil as Frieza to being a better father to Goku's son than Goku.He's still at least in the top five strongest on earth and not many people can say they put second form Frieza on the ropes without much effort.

Way better than Vegeta, In one story arch, he beat him.

Sanji is not just strong, he is also really smart and is always one step ahead of everyone else. He always saves people, more so than anyone else. Plus his main role in the crew is a COOK and he is the only one who doesn't use a weapon or devil fruit. Yet in spite of that, Sanji is still one of the top 3 fighters in the crew, with extreme speed and the ability to fly and create fire with his legs. If that isn't badass, I wonder what is.

He is not only a strong fighter, but he is also pretty smart, so he always fnd a way to get the Strawhats out of a situation by coming up with something awesome that no one else even thought of, before they even have the time to realize they are in trouble. He also saves more people than anyone and has some epic entrance!

All right, so he's not the most badass when it comes to fighting skills. BUT, you can not deny that he looks cool when he's just chilling, hands in pocket, eyes closed and with cigarette hanging from his mouth. Sometimes you can't help but go WOW!

Many characters are badass in Anime, but Sanji's character has much more dept than most and I think that makes those badass moments stand out even more.

I know he may not be as badass as Gaara or Kakashi, but he was always a badass. Protecting his friends from anyone even if it's a big guy who's stronger than himself. That, ladies and gentlemen, is badass. Not to mention he is a rebel and a loner.

Naruto is badass why is he this low like he is the strongest character in the series and he has surpass all the hokages and never gives up he one of a kind not like the others that don't do anything Plus he is the main point in the Naruto&Naruto Shippuden series!

Naruto NEVER gave up. He also knows some epic jutsus that can surprise his enemies at any time. Plus, he kicked Oruchimaru's ass

Wait... why is Naruto so low?

Can't be stopped, can be stumped but only for a little while.