20 Best “Last-Stand” Moments In Anime

Anime is full of incredibly intense moments where characters push themselves to their absolute limit – fighting with everything they have, even when defeat seems certain. These desperate final battles appear in both long-running TV shows and movies, ranging from giant robot fights to action-packed adventures and serious historical dramas. Here are twenty of the most memorable last stands, focusing on the specific details shown on screen: where they take place, who’s fighting, and how the story builds up to that final, desperate defense.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023) – The Survey Corps’ charge at Shiganshina

During the operation to reclaim Shiganshina, the Survey Corps divided their forces to retake Wall Maria. Commander Erwin Smith led a risky cavalry charge to distract the Beast Titan, giving Levi an opening to attack its weak spot. The episode showed quick cuts between rooftop battles, powerful attacks, and the Colossal Titan’s steam defense as it protected the area. This strategy created a path for a final, close-range attack and ultimately led to the discovery of secrets hidden in the basement of Eren’s childhood home.

‘Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train’ (2020) – Rengoku’s stand against Akaza

The story centers on Tanjiro and his friends as they journey on the Infinity Train, working to keep passengers safe from demons. Once the immediate danger is dealt with, a powerful demon named Akaza appears, and Kyojuro Rengoku, the Flame Hashira, bravely fights him alone to protect others. Their fast-paced battle takes place on and around the train tracks as the sun begins to rise. The result of this fight is crucial, impacting the spirits of the demon slayers and setting the stage for what happens next in the story.

‘Naruto Shippūden’ (2007–2017) – Jiraiya’s final battle in Amegakure

Jiraiya goes undercover in the Rain Village to find out who Pain really is and collect information for Konoha. He uses his toad summoning technique and enters Sage Mode, battling several of Pain’s bodies throughout the village’s canals and buildings. Even though he’s badly wounded, Jiraiya manages to send a vital message to Fukasaku detailing Pain’s powers. This information proves critical in helping Konoha prepare for the upcoming attack.

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ (2009–2010) – The Central command showdown with Father

The story reaches its peak as alchemists, soldiers, and allies unite under Central City. “Father” initiates a massive magical array that threatens the entire country, prompting a unified attack from the heroes. Hohenheim uses the souls stored within his Philosopher’s Stone to weaken Father, while Edward and Alphonse Elric execute a final, desperate plan. This climactic battle concludes the storyline surrounding the Promised Day and finally defeats the homunculi and their long-held scheme.

‘Gurren Lagann’ (2007) – Team Dai-Gurren’s final fight against the Anti-Spiral

As the series goes on, things get huge – we’re talking galaxy-spanning battles! Simon and the crew basically turn Spiral Power into a weapon and pilot the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann through these incredible fights to save Nia and stop the universe from freezing. The climax is just mind-blowing – drills are appearing everywhere, even across different dimensions, and they’re going straight for the Anti-Spiral’s base. Honestly, the outcome of this fight decides the fate of all life that evolves through the spiral, and who’s going to lead Earth after everything. It’s epic!

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (1995–1996) – Unit-01’s desperate clash with Zeruel

Tokyo-3 is badly damaged when Zeruel breaks through its defenses. Shinji pilots Unit-01, but the Evangelion runs out of power and then unexpectedly comes back online, operating erratically. The battle shows Unit-01’s AT Field easily defeating Zeruel, followed by a devastating attack from within the Angel itself. This event forces NERV to depend even more on Unit-01 and hints at the dangerous path towards Human Instrumentality.

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999) – Spike’s raid on the Red Dragon Syndicate

The series finale centers on Spike as he faces off against Julia and Vicious, dealing with unresolved issues from their shared history. Following a shootout at Annie’s shop, Spike takes on the entire Syndicate headquarters by himself, fighting his way up floor by floor. The scene relies heavily on action – gunfire, explosions, and intense close-combat – with very little conversation. The final showdown with Vicious on the roof brings the Syndicate’s internal conflict to a brutal end.

‘Vinland Saga’ (2019–present) – Thors’ hold-the-line on the fjord

During an ambush led by Askeladd, Thors prioritizes protecting his crew, choosing to fight without weapons or using non-lethal blows to subdue enemies. He skillfully takes down opponents on the enemy ship, even while under attack from archers. The fight ends when Thorfinn is captured, forcing a surrender to protect the villagers and mercenaries Thors is responsible for. This event solidifies Thors’s strong reputation and significantly impacts Thorfinn’s path in the following episodes.

‘Bleach’ (2004–2012) – Ichigo’s Final Getsuga Tenshō against Aizen

Aizen marches toward Karakura Town, and neither the Gotei 13 nor the Visoreds can stop him from growing stronger. Ichigo trains in a special realm called the Dangai, learning a powerful but ultimately temporary technique that risks his powers as a Soul Reaper. When they finally fight, this technique, called Mugetsu, negates Aizen’s strengths and allows Ichigo to win. However, using Mugetsu comes at a great cost, essentially resetting everything to how it was before, setting the stage for future events.

‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ (2020–present) – Nanami’s last stand in Shibuya

During the Shibuya Incident, both ordinary people and sorcerers found themselves trapped by mysterious barriers as powerful, dangerous creatures appeared. Despite being injured, Nanami continued to rescue people while fighting humans who had been transformed. This led to a direct attack by Mahito, which caused Yuji Itadori to rush into action. These events significantly increased the number of casualties and set the stage for the intense fights that followed.

‘Hunter x Hunter’ (2011–2014) – Netero versus Meruem at the palace

When Hunters invade the Chimera Ant King’s palace, they split up to cover different levels. To protect others, Chairman Netero traps Meruem in a special arena. He quickly uses his powerful Guanyin Bodhisattva technique, and when that doesn’t finish the job, he activates a final, desperate measure linked to his own life force. The resulting explosion and its consequences shift the story’s focus to the King’s Royal Guards and Meruem’s evolving point of view.

‘Berserk’ (1997–1998) – Guts’ fight through the Eclipse

During the Eclipse, Griffith’s transformation begins, pulling the Band of the Hawk into a terrifying otherworldly realm. As apostles gather, Guts fights desperately to reach Casca, facing impossible odds. The scene shows brutal injuries, captives, and the ominous presence of the God Hand overseeing the dark ritual. Those who survive are forever changed, setting the stage for the events following the Golden Age.

‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989–1996) – Vegeta’s sacrifice against Majin Buu

When Earth was in danger, Vegeta knocked out Goku and decided to fight the villain Buu by himself. He used a powerful self-destruct attack hoping to destroy Buu and save his family. While the explosion caused massive destruction, it didn’t completely defeat Buu, who was able to heal. However, Vegeta’s sacrifice changed the course of the battle, setting the stage for a fusion and a final showdown with a more primal form of Buu.

‘Fate/Zero’ (2011–2012) – Rider’s last charge at the Ionian Hetairoi’s end

In the Fourth Holy Grail War, powerful Servants and their Masters battle for the ultimate prize in modern-day Fuyuki. A clash between Iskandar and Archer on a highway leads to Iskandar summoning his army using a special ability. Gilgamesh retaliates, pushing Rider into a desperate final attack that is ultimately defeated by Gilgamesh’s overwhelming power. This loss eliminates one competitor and sets the stage for the final battles.

‘Made in Abyss: Dawn of the Deep Soul’ (2020) – Bondrewd’s relentless exchange at Idofront

The story intensifies as Riko, Reg, and Nanachi arrive at a facility in the Fifth Layer. Their enemy, Bondrewd, keeps coming back from defeat by using powerful relics and altering bodies. The fight takes place across underground tunnels, a strange network called the Zoaholic system, and a dangerous arena surrounded by shadowy hands. Ultimately, the battle allows the trio to move deeper into the abyss and finally gives Nanachi closure on their past.

‘Akame ga Kill!’ (2014) – Night Raid’s capital assault

With the Revolutionary Army closing in, Night Raid focuses on taking down the Prime Minister and his government in the capital city. Members of Night Raid face off against skilled assassins called Jaegers and other imperial forces in battles throughout the city’s squares and on its walls. When the Emperor unleashes a powerful weapon called the Shikoutazer, the final, decisive battles begin, determining who will control the city. The resulting changes completely alter the political landscape seen throughout the series.

‘One Piece’ (1999–present) – Oden’s hour of legends in Wano

During a flashback set in Wano, Kozuki Oden bravely protected his followers during their public execution. He held them safely above boiling oil, even standing inside the cauldron himself to meet a deadline. This allowed the Nine Red Scabbards to escape, but ultimately led to Oden’s death, which sparked the rebellion we see later in the story. We learn about this event through stories and historical records within the Wano Country arc.

‘My Hero Academia’ (2016–present) – All Might’s final battle in Kamino Ward

The League of Villains’ attacks bring Pro Heroes rushing to the scene for rescue efforts. All Might faces off against All For One amongst the ruins of destroyed buildings, while people are being evacuated. In a long and difficult battle, All Might uses the last of his power, One For All, to finally defeat his enemy. The fight is broadcast to the public, ultimately leading to a shift in how hero society is organized and led.

‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’ (2012–present) – Caesar Zeppeli’s last ripple against Wamuu

While Joseph and Lisa Lisa continued fighting the Pillar Men, Caesar went off on his own to face Wamuu inside a heavily protected hotel. He cleverly used bubbles powered by Ripple energy to get past the hotel’s defenses and steal the antidote ring. In a desperate final attack, Caesar created a message written in blood before passing the ring to Joseph. Joseph and Lisa Lisa later found Caesar and recovered the antidote, preparing them for their next battle.

‘Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion’ (1997) – Asuka’s EVA-02 stand against the JSSDF and MP Evas

After an attack on NERV by JSSDF forces, Asuka revives EVA-02 from underwater and jumps back into battle. She quickly defeats the standard military units, then faces off against the Mass Production Evangelions, which are piloted by Dummy Plugs. Despite a weak power source and the presence of copies of the Lance of Longinus, a fierce aerial fight ensues. The outcome of this battle sets in motion the final stage of the Human Instrumentality Project.

Tell us about your most memorable final battles or heroic last stands in the comments! We’d also love to hear which scenes you’d like us to take another look at.

2025-11-06 09:17