15 Popular Anime Weapons & What Makes Them So Special

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Anime expert Richard Moore shares his favorite anime weapons

Co-authored by Richard Moore and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: June 17, 2026 Fact Checked

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Best Anime Weapons

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Where to Buy Replicas

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What Makes Anime Weapons So Special

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Anime has a host of iconic, unique weapons that set it apart from other creative mediums. From katanas that can split a person’s soul to swords that disintegrate the heads of demons, these weapons do things that a swordsman can only dream of. We partnered with anime experts to help us break down 15 of the most iconic anime weapons, explain where to buy replicas, and dive into what makes them special, all so you can up your anime weapon game and learn more about the genre!

Most Iconic Anime Weapons

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An image of 15 different iconic anime weapons.

Anime expert Richard Moore says that some of the most iconic anime weapons include the Zangetsu in Bleach, Dragon Slayer in Berserk, and Tessaiga in Inuyasha. Other iconic anime weapons include:

The Death Note from Death Note
The Inverted Spear of Heaven from Jujutsu Kaisen
The Executioner’s Sword from Jujutsu Kaisen
Samehada from Naruto
Nichirin Swords from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

Section 1 of 3:

Best Anime Weapons

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The Death Note from Death Note This lethal book is arguably the most iconic weapon in anime. It isn’t your traditional anime weapon that slices and dices any enemy it comes into contact with. Instead, it’s a supernatural notebook with the power to kill anyone whose name you write into it. You can even specify how they die, making it one of the most dangerous weapons in anime.^{[1]
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- You must know a person’s first and last name to be able to use the Death Note on them.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Richard Moore is an anime expert, rapper, and content creator based in Dayton, Ohio. As @ohayokage, his social media content has over 386K followers.

Nicole Favarelli is an anime expert who’s well-versed in shows like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen and the weapons used in them.
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Zanpakuto from Bleach In Bleach, a Zanpakuto is a specific type of sword that’s linked to a Shinigami (Soul Reaper)’s soul. When the user’s soul is imprinted into the Zanpakuto, it is reborn as a weapon that’s specific to them, reflecting their will, power, and personality. The Zanpakuto can also be evolved into a Bankai, which materializes its spirit and grants the wielder incredible power.^{[2]
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- Zanpakutos are beloved by anime fans, as they serve as a physical manifestation of a character’s soul and power, making for exciting, unique abilities.
- Moore names Zangetsu as one of the most iconic Zanpakuto in the series.^{[3]
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Nichirin Swords from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Nichirin swords are the swords wielded by members of the Demon Slayer Corps in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Forged from Scarlet Crimson Iron Sand and Scarlet Crimson Ore, Nichirin swords constantly absorb sunlight, making them the only weapons capable of decapitating and permanently killing demons.^{[4]
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- When paired with a user’s breathing technique, Nichirin swords can be used for sleek, sharp slashes that deal lethal damage.
In One Piece, Enma is one of the 12 Supreme Grade swords and the most powerful blade in Zoro’s arsenal. It’s carved from a demonic, mystical tree and absorbs the willpower of their user and uses it to cut anything at the expense of their Haki. Not only is a powerful weapon, but it’s also a test of discipline, as Zoro must be able to restrain himself so his Haki isn’t drained.^{[5]
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Samehada from Naruto Samehada is a unique, monstrous sword from Naruto that’s initially wielded by the evil Kisame Hoshigaki. This strange sword is literally alive, meaning it has feelings and desires of its own. It is primarily used to eat the chakra of opponents and use it against them, but is also extremely strong on its own. It can even merge with its user to become stronger.^{[6]
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- Due to its sentience, Samehada can reject the wielder if it doesn’t like them, sending spikes out through the handle to force them to let it go.
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Satellite Orbital Laser from Akira The Satellite Orbital Laser from Akira is an iconic space-weapon that changes the stakes of the series. When Tetsuo uses his powers to wreak havoc on Neo-Tokyo, the Colonel decides to launch the Satellite Orbital Laser to stop him. While it doesn’t kill him, it ends up destroying his arm and severely decimating the landscape around him, showing its raw power.
- After the laser blows off Tetsuo’s arm, he is able to regrow a mecha-organic version of it. This arm ends up sealing his fate, though, as it kicks off an uncontrollable mutation that nearly consumes him.
The Sword Cutlass is a dual-wield, customized pair of Beretta 92F Inox pistols. Wielded by Revy Lee, this duel-wield pair of pistols is especially lethal in her hands, earning her the nickname Two-Hands for her skills. She uses her agility and reflexes to effortlessly take down enemies with these pistols, making Lee someone you don’t ever want to cross.^{[7]
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Quirk-destroying Bullets from My Hero Academia In My Hero Academia, Quirk-destroying bullets are an early catalyst for the fall of the heroes, as it shows that they’re not untouchable. With one shot, a person’s ability to use their Quirk is hindered, taking away a crucial part of themselves and making for tragic, character-shaping moments.^{[8]
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- Want to find out which Quirk you’d have? Check out wikiHow’s My Hero Academia Quirk Generator!
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Inverted Spear of Heaven from Jujutsu Kaisen According to anime expert Nicole Favarelli, the Inverted Spear of Heaven is an iconic special grade cursed tool from Jujutsu Kaisen that has the ability to nullify any cursed technique it comes into contact with. It’s wielded by Toji Fushiguro, who uses it to break through Satoru Gojo’s Infinity technique and stab him. Gojo was thought to be untouchable until then, showing the caliber of this cursed tool.^{[9]
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- Favarelli says that the Inverted Spear of Heaven is the strongest weapon in Jujutsu Kaisen.^{[10]
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The Split Soul Katana is another iconic Jujutsu Kaisen cursed tool with the unique power of being able to cut directly through an opponent’s soul. On top of its ability to cut through a target’s soul, it also enhances the strength of the wielder, making it one of the most fatal weapons in the series.^{[11]
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In Jujutsu Kaisen, the Executioner’s Sword is a unique cursed tool wielded by Hiromi Higuruma. It’s linked to his cursed technique, as it’s actually the gavel granted to him through the technique. Once he activates his domain expansion, however, the gavel transforms into the Executioner’s Sword, a powerful sword that severs the soul in a single, fatal slash.^{[12]
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This is another iconic anime weapon, says Moore.^{[13]
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Richard Moore
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Expert Interview} In Berserk, the Dragon Slayer is a massive sword wielded by the main character, Guts. It stands tall at just over 6 feet (1.83 meters) and weighs over 200 pounds. Every time Guts uses it, he ends up slicing away at someone or something. Not only is it a representation of his power, but it also shows his willingness to survive, as he uses it to take down those hunting him.^{[14]
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Thorfinn’s Daggers from Vinland Saga While Thorfinn’s daggers aren’t a spiritually powered, mystical pair of weapons like some of the other weapons on this list, they still hold a lot of weight in the series for their lethality and the lore behind them. They were a parting gift from his father and Thorfinn’s main weapons, saving him from the likes of Thorkell and countless other Vikings.
- One of the daggers was gifted to Thorfinn by his late father, the almighty warrior Thors, serving as a parting gift after Thors was killed. The daggers also set Thorfinn on a long path of revenge and redemption.
According to Moore, Tessaiga is one of the most iconic anime weapons.^{[15]
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Richard Moore
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Expert Interview} It is a powerful yokai sword (blade with demonic powers) wielded by Inuyasha. The blade was forged from the fangs of Inuyasha’s father and is said to have the ability to kill one hundred demons with a single stroke. Known as “the sword of destruction,” Tessaiga possesses a mind of its own, and has helped guide Inuyasha in various situations.^{[16]
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EVAs, also known as Evagelion, are giant artificial humans with incredible power. They’re born from samples of the very first Angel, Adam, and are piloted by people who use their power to take on the Angel threat. They’re often mistaken for mechanical suits due to their bodies being covered in metal plating.^{[17]
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Section 2 of 3:

Where to Buy Replicas of Anime Weapons

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Specialized Anime Weapon Websites There are many websites across the internet that specialize in selling specific anime weapon replicas. On these websites, you can get practically any anime weapon you can think of, from replica shurikens from Naruto to replica versions of the Nichirin swords from Demon Slayer. Some of these websites include:
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Etsy Cosplayer Friso Stokman says that if you’re looking for specific weapons or parts, you can reach out to makers on Etsy. For example, if you’re cosplaying a character from My Hero Academia who uses support items, you can reach out to creators who 3D print or foamsmith the items themselves.^{[18]
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- You may need to do a hard search to find what you’re looking for, but Etsy is a great place if you’re looking for unique, specific weapons.
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Amazon Amazon has plenty of anime weapon replicas, you just have to know what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for general weapon replicas and nothing in particular, searching for anime weapons will present you with everything you need. If you want a specific weapon, though, search it by name and study the results to see which one best suits your needs.
- For example, if you want to buy a Nichirin sword from Demon Slayer, type “Nichirin sword” into the search bar and look through the results to see which one works for you.
- If you’re looking for a character’s specific item, put the character’s name in front of the weapon’s name. For example, if you’re doing a Tanjiro cosplay, search “Tanjiro Nichirin sword.”
- Some specific weapons may not be available on Amazon, so don’t be afraid to expand your search to specialized anime weapon websites.

Section 3 of 3:

What Makes Anime Weapons So Special

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They’re often imbued with unique, story-shifting abilities. Whereas weapons in standard movies and TV shows often follow the conventions of regular real-world weapons, weapons in anime are often imbued with unique powers and abilities that can change the stakes and themes of a story. Whether it’s the soul-powered Zanpakuto from Bleach or Jujutsu Kaisen’s cursed tools from Jujutsu Kaisen, these weapons are special parts of the story that can hold just as much weight as characters.^{[19]
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- On top of the weight they hold, anime weapons are also just plain cool! Where else can you find a sword that has the power to cut through meteors, or a laser that shoots explosive power from space?