Top 15 Most Unfair Anime Battles Ever

Certain anime battles feel incredibly one-sided from the start, due to factors like injuries, uneven numbers, restrictive rules, or opponents with unbelievable powers. This list highlights fights where the circumstances, abilities, or initial setup created a significant imbalance, meaning the outcome depended on a clear advantage rather than a fair fight. You’ll see everything from massive, overwhelming victories to duels decided by trickery, poison, or even characters who are gods. Anime titles are in single quotes to help you easily find and rewatch the relevant episodes.

Saitama vs. Genos — ‘One-Punch Man’

This practice match was set up for Genos to collect data on Saitama, not for a genuine fight. Saitama doesn’t try hard, quickly surpassing Genos with incredible speed that creates visible afterimages. He stops the fight by holding back a powerful punch just before it hits Genos, creating a large canyon with the force of the stopped blow. The match highlights that Genos is really just studying Saitama, and how much stronger and more controlled Saitama is.

Madara Uchiha vs. Allied Shinobi Forces — ‘Naruto Shippuden’

Brought back to life with a powerful technique, Madara arrives on the battlefield possessing incredible abilities – including the Rinnegan and Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and a massive, overwhelming Susanoo. He easily overpowers thousands of opponents, summons meteorites, and ignores most attacks due to his regenerative abilities. Even when the Five Kage work together with a coordinated strategy, they struggle against his Perfect Susanoo and combined eye powers. The fight highlights the vast difference between Madara’s ultimate techniques and the standard skills of his enemies.

Sōsuke Aizen vs. the Gotei 13 in Fake Karakura Town — ‘Bleach’

Watching Aizen after he merged with the Hōgyoku was terrifying. His Kyōka Suigetsu wasn’t just about sight – it completely hijacked all your senses, making you believe whatever he wanted. It was awful seeing Captains and Visoreds charge into battle, so confident in their plans, only to realize they were fighting ghosts! They’d pour all their energy and power into illusions, leaving themselves wide open. Even the strongest attacks, like powerful kidō spells and bankai releases, barely seemed to scratch him – he just kept regenerating and evolving. The battlefield itself felt like a trap, layered with so much deception that any attempt at a coordinated strategy just fell apart. It was like nothing anyone did could actually *land* a hit.

Isaac Netero vs. Meruem — ‘Hunter x Hunter’

Netero attacks with incredible speed using his 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, but Meruem quickly learns to anticipate his moves. Realizing he can’t seriously harm the Chimera Ant King with his usual attacks, Netero activates a hidden failsafe: a tiny bomb implanted in his own body. The bomb explodes when Netero dies, severely injuring Meruem despite his greater strength and resilience. The fight is less about a fair match and more about Netero’s careful planning, preparation, and use of a desperate weapon.

Kurapika vs. Uvogin — ‘Hunter x Hunter’

I’m absolutely fascinated by Kurapika’s Chain Jail! It’s incredible how he specifically designed it to work *only* on the Phantom Troupe – it makes it unbelievably powerful against them. When he captures someone like Uvogin, it completely shuts down their nen, meaning all of Uvogin’s strength and defenses are useless. And then there’s Emperor Time, which takes Kurapika’s control to another level, letting him use those chains with deadly accuracy. What really strikes me is how Kurapika essentially sets the rules of the fight *before* it even begins, with all the conditions and agreements built into his abilities. It’s a brilliant strategy!

Sakazuki (Akainu) vs. Portgas D. Ace — ‘One Piece’

During the battle at Marineford, Akainu’s magma powers proved stronger against Ace’s fire abilities. Ace, instead of escaping, rushed to save Luffy from a deadly attack, leaving him vulnerable. Akainu took advantage of this, along with the confusion of the battle, to deliver the final blows. The outcome wasn’t just about power; Akainu’s strategic position, the naval forces’ support, and how his powers countered Ace’s all played a crucial role.

Levi Ackerman vs. the Beast Titan — ‘Attack on Titan’

Levi skillfully approaches the Beast Titan while hidden by smoke and rubble, using his 3D maneuver gear to avoid its attacks. He quickly and precisely cuts off the Titan’s arms, then strikes a fatal blow to its neck, defeating Zeke before anyone else can intervene. His success isn’t about overpowering the Titan, but about careful planning, speed, and using the environment to his advantage. This happens as part of a larger strategy designed to distract the enemy and allow Levi to get close undetected.

Escanor vs. Estarossa — ‘The Seven Deadly Sins’

Escanor’s power grows stronger as the sun rises, reaching its peak at noon when he transforms into ‘The One.’ While Estarossa uses dark powers and Commandments, Escanor’s increasing physical strength and fiery aura give him an advantage. The time of day dramatically affects the fight, with Escanor consistently gaining power as it gets closer to midday. The way their abilities work means Escanor naturally becomes more powerful as the battle progresses towards noon.

All Might vs. Nomu (USJ) — ‘My Hero Academia’

Nomu was specifically created to be All Might’s match, possessing abilities like shock absorption, rapid healing, and enhanced strength – all designed to counter him. Because All Might is already weakened from past battles, he has a limited time to fight effectively. The battle boils down to whether All Might can push past Nomu’s engineered defenses with attacks that are fast and powerful enough to break through the shock absorption. Every move is influenced by Nomu’s constructed abilities, artificial quirks, and the fact that All Might is fighting against the clock.

Tengen Uzui, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke vs. Gyutaro and Daki — ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba’

I was absolutely captivated by the fight with Upper Rank Six! It wasn’t just one demon, but two – Gyutaro and Daki – linked together, meaning the Demon Slayers had to strike at exactly the right moment to sever both their heads. What made it even more terrifying was Gyutaro’s ability to poison anyone he touched, and even while poisoned, Rengoku was fighting with incredible strength! The whole battle felt like a frantic dance, with the slayers needing to work perfectly as a team, protect the people in the entertainment district, and constantly adjust to where the demons were attacking. Their combined power and the constant threat of poison made it feel like so much more than a typical one-on-one fight; it was a truly overwhelming challenge.

Yhwach vs. Genryūsai Yamamoto — ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’

Yhwach’s army uses trickery, specifically Royd Lloyd’s ability to copy others, to get Yamamoto to reveal his full strength and fighting style. Once Yamamoto uses his powerful Zanka no Tachi, with its intense heat and sealing abilities, the real Yhwach appears, ready to exploit the knowledge gained and strike at the perfect moment. The Quincy’s organized structure and skillful battlefield control weaken Yamamoto’s advantage. This highlights how good leadership and having more information can be crucial in winning a fight.

Guts and the Band of the Hawk vs. the Apostles — ‘Berserk’

During the Eclipse, the God Hand begins a ritual sacrifice, turning the area into a demonic realm filled with powerful apostles. The Band of the Hawk, a group of human soldiers, finds itself trapped and relentlessly hunted with no way to escape. Griffith’s transformation into Femto drastically tips the scales of power, and the apostles’ supernatural strength makes normal weapons ineffective. This isn’t a fair fight; it’s a brutal hunt where the soldiers are completely outmatched.

Satoru Gojo vs. Jogo — ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’

Gojo’s unique ability, Limitless, creates a sort of infinite barrier that stops attacks before they can even touch him, making Jogo’s usual close-range fighting style ineffective. When Gojo expands his domain, Unlimited Void, he overwhelms Jogo with endless information, completely disabling him within the barrier. This fight clearly shows the difference in power between a top-level sorcerer’s technique and a powerful curse that relies on heat. Ultimately, the winner is decided by how well techniques interact, who controls the battlefield, and who can dictate the distance of the fight.

Beerus vs. the Z Fighters — ‘Dragon Ball Super’

Beerus, a supremely powerful god, shows up looking for a legendary warrior called the Super Saiyan God. He easily displays the ability to destroy planets without much effort. Fighters like Vegeta try to challenge him, but their attacks barely make a dent, and Beerus controls how the fight goes. Eventually, Goku unlocks a new level of power through a special ritual, allowing him to actually fight Beerus, though Beerus still holds back. The battle clearly shows the massive difference in power between gods and mortals, a difference that’s built into who they are.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki vs. Team 7 — ‘Naruto Shippuden’

Kaguya, brought back to life by the Infinite Tsukuyomi, possesses immense chakra and can manipulate space and time. She uses incredibly powerful attacks, like the Expansive Truth-Seeking Ball, that are difficult to counter with normal fighting. Naruto and Sasuke need the power of the Six Paths and a special sealing technique just to contain her, as they can’t simply defeat her with brute force. The fight takes place in constantly changing, harsh environments, forcing them to adapt to unpredictable gravity, landscapes, and draining chakra. Ultimately, they must work together to seal her and overcome her ability to warp reality, rather than relying on traditional combat.

Share which battles you’d add to the list in the comments!

2025-10-20 03:51