10 Amazing Anime Tournaments With The Best Fight Choreography, Ranked

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The Dragon Ball Cell Games Features One of The Best Fights of All Time

The Cell Games is a standout tournament arc in Dragon Ball Z, and is widely considered one of the best. Once Cell reaches his most powerful form, he challenges the entire world, declaring that if no one can beat him, he’ll destroy the Earth. While the idea is over-the-top, the incredibly high stakes immediately grab your attention.

Although the Cell Games tournament is relatively short, it showcases the best fight choreography in all of Dragon Ball Z. The battle between Goku and Perfect Cell is arguably one of the greatest, focusing primarily on intense hand-to-hand combat. The main drawback is that the tournament itself consists of only a few fights, unlike some other, more extensive tournaments in the series.

Vivid Strike Winter Cup Tournament Proves Magical Girls Can Fight

Many anime fans know Vivid Strike only for a single, shocking scene of a girl defeating her bullies. However, it’s actually a spin-off of the popular 2000s magical girl series, Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha. In this story, magical girls grow up and use their powers in mixed martial arts competitions. It might sound strange, but this change in genre actually works really well.

The Winter Cup tournament brings together key characters from Nanoha ViVid, pitting them against each other in high-stakes battles focused on skill and pride. While the fights aren’t life-or-death, the series emphasizes the characters’ rigorous training, making each match feel significant. Seven Arcs crafts battles that are both strategically engaging and emotionally resonant, and Vivid Strike even surprises viewers with the eventual tournament champion.

Flame of Recca’s Tournament Copied the Best Parts of the Dark Tournament

The second big story arc in Flame of Recca is the Ura Batou Satsujin, a large tournament featuring skilled martial artists who fight with special ninja weapons called Madougu. It feels a lot like the Dark Tournament from Yu Yu Hakusho, and that’s a good thing, considering how amazing that tournament was. Like the Dark Tournament, the characters in Flame of Recca mostly improve their skills by fighting in the Ura Batou Satsujin, becoming stronger as the story goes on.

This tournament stands out from typical anime fights because it combines martial arts with a diverse range of weapons. You might see a monk trying to mentor the hero, or kids battling with transforming, puzzle-like weapons. Overall, fans of action anime – particularly those who enjoy shows from the 1990s – should really enjoy this tournament.

Gun Gale Online Blends Gunfire With Anime Tournament Madness

Even though skillfully choreographed gunplay is still just choreography, that’s what made ‘gun-fu’ so popular in the 2000s. Considering this, it’s hard to ignore the exciting battle royale tournaments in Gun Gale Online. These frequent ‘Squad Jams’ are chaotic free-for-alls where many players compete to be the last team remaining.

The second Squad Jam was a high point for the series, delivering some of the most exciting fight scenes in all of Sword Art Online. The main antagonist, Pitohui, is truly terrifying and her battles are brutal but captivating. On the other hand, LLENN is incredibly cute, yet her speed and smart fighting style make her fights consistently fun to watch. It’s no surprise that Gun Gale Online continues to be a fan favorite.

Gundam’s Gunpla Battle Japan Tournament Redefines Teamwork

Once it gets started, Gundam Build Fighters Try primarily follows a tournament to determine the champion of Gunpla Battle Japan. This series differs from the first Gundam Build Fighters by focusing entirely on 3-on-3 team battles, making teamwork crucial. Winning isn’t just about individual skill; it often depends on how well the team members work together.

While Gundam Build Fighters Try isn’t a traditional martial arts series, it definitely features close-quarters combat. The main character, Sekai Kamiki, is skilled in Jigen Hao Ryu, a fighting style inspired by Domon Kasshu from G Gundam. The show is most exciting when characters directly challenge Sekai’s martial arts, leading to some truly memorable Gundam battles.

The Gundam Fight Offers The Best Elements Of Shonen Battles…With Giant Robots

Most anime fans don’t immediately picture tournaments or amazing fight choreography when they think of giant robots. However, that’s exactly what sets G Gundam apart and makes it one of the greatest mecha anime ever created. Unlike earlier Gundam series set in the Universal Century, G Gundam centers around a huge competition called the Gundam Fight.

The world of Gundam features pilots representing different nations who battle each other in intense, close-range combat to determine the ultimate champion. This allows the show to showcase diverse fighting styles from around the world – all fought with massive robots! It’s easy to see why this exciting premise made it such a hit anime in the early 2000s.

Tournament of Power Is An Extended Battle Royale Showcase

The Tournament of Power in Dragon Ball Super was a truly original tournament format. Instead of multiple matches, it was one long, all-out battle where fighters were eliminated only by being knocked out of the arena. Many fans consider this arc to be the best in Dragon Ball Super, and it’s definitely the most over-the-top.

Though Dragon Ball Z is famous for its energy blasts, the Tournament of Power features some truly exciting fight scenes. A standout moment involves Gohan and Frieza working together to take on the incredibly fast Dyspo, resulting in one of Gohan’s best battles in Super. And the final fight against Jiren, where everyone teams up, is still a popular topic among Dragon Ball fans almost ten years later.

Naruto Peaked Early With the Chunin Exams

Many fans consider the Chunin Exams to be one of the most memorable parts of Naruto. The series had spent a long time establishing how important ranking up was for ninjas, and the Exams finally gave the main characters a chance to do just that. Although the Exams had several stages, the tournament itself was definitely the highlight.

The Chuunin Exams feature surprisingly good fight scenes, even with such a diverse group of fighters. Highlights include the intense battle between Neji and his cousin Hinata, and Rock Lee’s energetic fight with Gaara after removing his weights. Even characters not typically known for their fighting skills, like Sakura and Ino, delivered entertaining battles, focusing solely on hand-to-hand combat.

Yu Yu Hakusho’s Iconic Dark Tournament is One of the Best Anime Sequences

Even after over 30 years, Yu Yu Hakusho remains a top shonen anime, largely thanks to the incredible Dark Tournament arc. When a powerful former champion, Toguro, threatens them, Yusuke and his friends are forced to compete in the tournament—or face deadly consequences. The setup is fantastic, drawing inspiration from classic martial arts movies.

The Dark Tournament is packed with memorable moments, starting with the intense battle between Yusuke and Chu. Unlike other arcs, there’s no dedicated training period – we see the characters grow and adapt directly through each fight and the increasingly strong opponents they face. While it’s arguably the best tournament arc in the series, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Dragon Ball.

The 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament is The Best Dragon Ball Tournament Arc

The World Martial Arts tournaments in Dragon Ball are consistently well-choreographed and exciting. Despite the series featuring several tournament arcs, each one feels unique. While all are great, the 22nd tournament stands out because its competitors are more evenly matched, and the outcome feels less predictable than in the 23rd tournament.

Dragon Ball truly marks a high point for the series, and many fans would enjoy it more if they simply watched it. While energy blasts and special moves are becoming more frequent, especially around the 22nd tournament, the show still delivers fantastic martial arts action. Tien’s fights are particularly memorable, like his battles against Master Roshi and Goku.

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2025-11-01 01:14