Facebook
Reddit
Email
Discover the 10 anime prodigies like Yoriichi Tsugikuni in Demon Slayer, who possess unrivalled mastery of swordsmanship.
While talking about the greatest swordsmen in anime to ever exist, the name of Demon Slayer‘s Yoriichi Tsugikuni certainly comes to mind. As the first person to create the Breathing Styles, Yoriichi is entirely in a league of his own. He was so overwhelmingly powerful that even Muzan Kibutsuji, the fearsome Demon King, had PTSD for hundreds of years after fighting him.
There’s no arguing that Yoriichi Tsugikuni was the strongest character in Demon Slayer, that too, by a considerable margin. Even today, he remains one of the best representations of “The Strongest” in anime, whose existence did not hinder the narrative in any way. Instead, he is a gold standard that few characters can measure up to.
While Yoriichi may certainly be the pinnacle of strength in his universe, he’s not the only one who has mastered the art of the sword. In fact, the vast world of anime is filled with prodigies and warriors who have honed their swordsmanship to an exceptional degree. With that in mind, let us look at the 10 anime prodigies who, in their own ways, rival Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s masterful swordsmanship in Demon Slayer.
10 Anime Prodigies Like Yoriichi Tsugikuni in Demon Slayer Who Are Expert Swordsmen
1) Gintoki Sakata (Gintama)
On the surface, Gintoki Sakata from Gintama is a complete goofball. Most of the time, he comes off as lazy, unserious, and more interested in stuffing his face with sweets than fighting. However, when he gets serious, it becomes clear why he was once feared as the White Yaksha. Underneath his carefree demeanor lies a nigh-invincible warrior who grew up on the battlefield.
In the past, Gintoki used to be a Joui Rebel who fought valiantly alongside his allies in the Joui War. However, after suffering a crushing defeat and losing his mentor, Gintoki abandoned the samurai life. After retiring from the battlefield, he went around doing odd jobs for the people in his town.
That said, his sword skills did not decline in the slightest, even after remaining inactive in combat for a long time. His movements and reflexes were as unpredictable and razor sharp as they used to be in his prime. Moreover, his raw talent, inhuman strength, and countless years of experience on the battlefield make him a dangerous opponent for just about anyone. He’s definitely not the kind of book you want to judge by his cover.
2) Atomic Samurai (One Punch Man)
Kamikaze, better known as the Hero Association’s Atomic Samurai, is exactly what he sounds like – an absolute monster with a blade. He is a master swordsman and one of the top-ranked S-Class Heroes.
As his name suggests, he wields an unrivalled mastery of a sword and is capable of slicing his opponent into atoms before they even realize what happened. If there’s any swordsman on this list who could match Yoriichi Tsugikuni in terms of speed, it’s Atomic Samurai. Moreover, he is capable of performing over 100 quick slashes with his sword within one second, and when armed with the Sun Blade, he’s nearly unstoppable in combat.
3) Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach)
Although Ichigo Kurosaki started off the series as an untrained swordsman, his growth throughout the series is astonishing to say the least. Before becoming a Soul Reaper, Ichigo was an expert at hand-to-hand combat. As for his swordsmanship skills, he developed it by engaging in battles rather than by following a training regimen.
Ichigo’s natural affinity for wielding Zangetsu is similar to Yoriichi’s swordsmanship – it’s almost as if the blade was meant for him. As mentioned before, Ichigo becomes stronger by adapting and learning from his battles, making him the worst possible person to have a rematch with.
4) Levi Ackerman (Attack on Titan)
The man revered as Humanity’s Strongest Soldier in the Attack on Titan universe certainly needs no introduction. While he may not use a traditional sword in his fights, his mastery of the ODM gear and his dual blades is unrivalled. His movements are so fluid and gravity-defying, they seem almost supernatural. He effortlessly flips through the air at impossible angles and cuts down Titans in the blink of an eye.
Due to his Ackerman lineage, Levi is essentially tailor-made for the battlefield. In fact, there is a significant gap in strength, speed, mobility, reflexes, and overall skill level between Levi and the rest of his fellow soldiers. As such, for the majority of the series, Levi was humanity’s last and strongest hope against the despair brought about by the Titans.
5) Yuta Okkotsu (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Jujutsu Kaisen‘s Yuta Okkotsu isn’t simply an expert swordsman – he is a cursed one. Unlike most characters on this list, his true power doesn’t completely lie in his blade but in his cursed technique – Copy. It essentially gives him the terrifying ability to store and mimic his others’ innate techniques, making him a force to be reckoned with.
However, that doesn’t undermine Yuta’s swordsmanship in the slightest. In fact, his sword is his primary weapon, and he is pretty skilled at using it too. Like Yoriichi, Yuta’s potential is limitless. He’s an unrivalled prodigy who rose to the rank of a Special Grade sorcerer within a few months. Yuta also doesn’t entirely rely on his raw power or vast reserves of cursed energy – he fights his opponents with intelligence, tactics, and mastery over both sword and jujutsu sorcery.
6) Guts (Berserk)
People who are familiar with the character know without a shadow of a doubt, that Guts is a “grandmaster swordsman” of no ordinary skill level. In fact, if Yoriichi was born as a God of the Sword, it’s the opposite for Guts – he’s a man who became one through sheer pain and perseverance.
Hailed as one of the most tragically written main characters in all of fiction, Guts was born under extremely cursed circumstances. He even had to fight for his life from childhood. Through relentless hard work and struggle, Guts eventually forged himself into an unstoppable force of nature. Moreover, he defies all logic of skill and raw strength, given that he casually swings around the absurdly massive Dragonslayer to cut down his enemies in one fell swoop.
7) Hyakkimaru (Dororo)
Apart from possessing demonic strength and power, Hyakkimaru has prosthetic swords hidden in his arms, which he uses to swiftly and effortlessly cut down his enemies. Given that he learned swordsmanship when he was a child, Hyakkimaru has unparalleled mastery of the blades in his arms.
Throughout the series, Hyakkimaru fights against demons to regain the body parts that were taken from him during his childhood. Unlike Demon Slayer‘s Yoriichi, who was born perfect, Hyakkimaru becomes perfect through countless battles and struggles.
8) Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)
If dedication to the art of swordsmanship is taken into account, Roronoa Zoro from One Piece is easily among the best. Unlike most traditional swordsmen, Zoro wields three swords, and he does it with unnatural precision and efficiency. However, this inhuman power came from hard work and intense training – not natural talent. This sets him apart from Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who had a natural affinity for swordsmanship.
What makes Zoro truly special is undoubtedly his discipline and mentality. No matter how broken or beat-up his body is, he absolutely refuses to fall. In fact, he takes pain that would kill normal men and just keeps standing. Overall, his unwavering determination and dedication to perfecting his sword skills easily make him one of the strongest swordsmen in anime.
9) Himura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
Himura Kenshin from the Rurouni Kenshin series is widely considered to be one of the strongest swordsmen in anime, and for good reason. He is a living legend revered throughout Japan for his surreal mastery of the sword, who also became an elite assassin for the government at the age of 14. Additionally, his mastery of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, an ancient sword art, allows him to perform exceptionally fast and precise attacks.
That said, what sets Kenshin apart from the rest of the characters on this list,is his philosophy. He is a pacifist who took a vow never to kill anyone, even though no one could stop him from doing it. This level of restraint, coupled with his inhuman speed and skill level, makes him one of the most disciplined swordsmen on this list.
10) Seiya Ryuuguuin (Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious)
Seiya Ryuuguuin isn’t simply a powerful swordsman. Rather, he’s an overpowered perfectionist. Unlike most swordsmen, he hones his craft through extreme levels of preparation instead of practical experience in battles. In fact, he won’t even engage in a fight unless he’s absolutely sure that he can win, doing proper justice to the title of the series.
It goes without saying that Seiya’s swordsmanship is flawless – not because he was naturally gifted or has countless years of experience in fights, but because he trained himself to an inhuman level. He not only perfects his every movement and attack but also his every strategy, to the point that even gods fear him. Moreover, he never underestimates his opponents, no matter how weak they are or how strong he himself is.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the aforementioned 10 anime characters stand as unparalleled swordmasters of their respective universes. While they might not have much in common with Yoriichi Tsugikuni from Demon Slayer, they do share a single trait that matters the most – absolute mastery of the sword.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!
- The First Descendant Guides
- Baldur’s Gate 3 Guides
- Destiny 2 Guides
- Dragon Age: The Veilguard Guides