Demon Slayer is a smash-hit shonen action anime series starring the young hero Tanjiro Kamado, and he’ll slay any demon he must before confronting Muzan Kibutsuji to restore Nezuko’s humanity and rid humanity of the threat of demonkind. Tanjiro has a long way to go, though, with villains like Enmu, Daki, and Akaza standing in his way.
Akaza made his big debut during the climax of the Mugen Train story arc, the Upper Moon three demon who loves fighting for its own sake. He is a dedicated warrior who finds validation in fighting the strongest of foes. He may be brutal, but he also has a sense of honor and discipline as well, reminding Demon Slayer fans of many similar anime characters, too.
10 Grimmjow Loves A Good Challenge (Bleach)
Grimmjow Jaegerjaques has a lot in common with Akaza, with the main difference being that Grimmjow has a sword while Akaza always fights barehanded. Akaza and Grimmjow are both powerful villains who belong to an elite group of antagonists, the Twelve Moons and the Espadas respectively.
Grimmjow, like Akaza, defines himself mainly through combat and challenges, and his life only has a purpose if he can defeat the strongest in battle, hence his feud with Ichigo. Similarly, Akaza now nurses a grudge against Tanjiro after killing Kyojuro Rengoku in single combat.
9 Aoi Todo Can’t Wait To Fight (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Aoi Todo the jujutsu sorcerer is a protagonist, while Akaza is a villain, but the two characters are still rather similar. Both of them are ferocious melee fighters who are much faster than their enemies might expect, and they show great enthusiasm during their fights.
Aoi Todo, like Akaza, is determined to fight only the strongest, and he is bitterly disappointed anytime his opponent shows a lack of resolve or enthusiasm for the fight. If anyone proves themselves worthy, they will be Aoi Todo’s “brother” for all time.
8 Hyoga Won’t Hesitate To Fight (Dr. Stone)
Hyoga may not be a demon, sorcerer, or Arrancar, but he is still a formidable fighter who is more than a challenge for the heroes – in this case, the brilliant Senku Ishigami and his Kingdom of Science allies. Even Kinro, Kohaku, and Magma are no match for him.
Hyoga is an aggressive and confident villain, like Akaza, and he serves as an elite agent for his boss, Tsukasa Shishio, just the way Akaza loyally follows Muzan. Hyoga won’t fight barehanded, though, as he likes to use a spear in battle, even rotating it to confuse his enemies.
7 Kimimaro Fought & Died For Orochimaru (Naruto)
Kimimaro Kaguya temporarily joined the Sound Four squad, and he was stronger than any of the existing members with his formidable bone-based kekkei genkai. With this unique fighting style, Kimimaro can create bone swords, fire finger bones like bullets, and even use his spine like a whip.
Akaza can’t use bones like that, but all the same, he and Kimimaro are both among the strongest fighters of their respective bosses, and the most loyal, too. The first time each of them appeared, they seemed downright invincible, and protagonists Naruto Uzumaki and Tanjiro Kamado failed to defeat them.
6 Thorkell Demands A Real Fight (Vinland Saga)
Thorkell is a powerful Viking warrior in the medieval anime series Vinland Saga, a huge and powerful fellow who often wields two battle axes at once in combat. Just like Akaza, Thorkell loves a proper challenge, and weak or cowardly foes will quickly bore him.
Thorkell isn’t totally evil deep down, but he does have a cold disregard for human life and will kill anyone he must during a fight. Bodies will soon pile up around him, and Thorkell will keep demanding more. Maybe Thorfinn can give him an exciting challenge.
5 Nosferatu Zodd Is Griffith’s Bodyguard (Berserk)
In most versions of the classic seinen franchise Berserk, the ambitious villain Griffith is seen in the company of a certain Nosferatu Zodd, who has a dark reputation for being an invincible warrior who has wandered from one battlefield to another across the centuries.
Zodd is to Griffith what Akaza is to Muzan, a scarily powerful and confident fighter who will faithfully do anything and everything for his boss’s sake. Zodd has crossed swords with Guts more than once, and unlike Akaza, he can sprout wings and take flight.
4 Bacchus Groh Throws A Mean Punch (Fairy Tail)
Bacchus Groh might have been an antagonist in the lengthy Grand Magic Games story arc as a member of the Quatro Cerberus wizard guild, but he’s not a true villain. Bacchus was a strong contender in the tournament as a martial artist wizard who augmented his combat prowess with his magic.
Aside from his theme of constant drinking, Bacchus was the Akaza of the Grand Magic Games story arc, an enthusiastic and deadly scrapper who pushed Elfman Strauss to the limit in their fight. It was a miracle Elfman won that fight.
3 Charon Is A Villainous Brute (Fire Force)
Charon is a high-ranking member of the Cult of the Ashen Flame, being one of several cultists who’s like Fire Force‘s version of the Twelve Demon Moons. Similar to Akaza, Charon faithfully serves a mysterious and ancient boss – in this case, the enigmatic Evangelist.
Charon is a ferocious melee fighter, just like Akaza is, and he is faster than he looks. He gets the edge on most fire soldiers by using his second-generation ignition ability to absorb the enemy’s heat energy and use it himself, and he can absorb incredible amounts of energy this way.
2 Muscular Can Pummel Any Hero Into A Pulp (My Hero Academia)
Many pro heroes and villains alike fight with their bare hands or with kicks, and their Quirks help them push their melee abilities to the next level. Eijiro Kirishima and Tenya Iida are heroic melee fighters, while the monstrous Muscular is a villainous one.
Muscular is the Akaza of the League of Villains, a brutal scrapper who loves a good challenge, and he’s not satisfied until blood has been spilled. Izuku had to face him one on one, and only with a 1,000,000% Smash did Izuku narrowly claim victory.
1 Galand Loves To Fight (The Seven Deadly Sins)
Galand was one of the Ten Commandments, powerful demons who faithfully served the mighty Demon King himself. They are the Demon Moons of The Seven Deadly Sins, and Galand was one of the first to appear. He couldn’t wait to fight Meliodas and the others.
Galand is an aggressive and bloodthirsty warrior who recklessly charged right in to fight Meliodas’ crew, and he had the strength to back it up, too. He could even perform Critical Over to boost his strength even further if he’s got a real challenge on his hands.
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