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10 Unfair Anime Fights (& How The Hero Won Anyway) | CBR

When it comes to depicting epic fights, anime has the method down to a science. Anime manages to use dynamic animation and music to portray drama and suspense in a way that has the audience sitting at the edge of their seats.

RELATED: 10 Longest Fights In Shonen Anime, Ranked By Number Of Episodes

In series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball Z, and Naruto, watching heroes triumph over evil is part of what makes these shows great. However, there are times when a fight is too easily won, times when the heroes should lose but they somehow manage to win anyway. Whether it’s because of a sudden power-up, tricks, or a helping hand, the element of surprise often leaves luck on the hero’s side. 

10 Midoriya & Bakugo Beat All Might With Team Work (My Hero Academia)

Deku And All Might Stand Proud In My Hero Academia

The number one hero from My Hero Academia against two teenagers barely a few months into their first year of hero school is the definition of an unfair fight. Midoriya and Bakugo both have powerful Quirks. However, that pales in comparison to the raw power and experience All Might has.

All Might was handicapped with leg and arm braces but, he still overpowered them. Luckily for Midoriya and Bakugo, they didn’t need to beat All Might to win. Bakugo and Midoriya needed to cross the finish line All Might was protecting. All Might should have won but, Midoriya and Bakugo took home the victory by passing the exercise.

9 Sakura Couldn’t Protect Naruto & Sasuke Without Help (Naruto)

sakura tree climbing

By the time the Chunin Exams arrived in Naruto‘s Episode 20, Naruto and Sasuke were well-equipped to take on any challenge. Sakura, who often stood on the sidelines and has no special technique of her own, lacks the fighting experience of her two teammates.

RELATED: 9 Long-Running Shonen Anime With The Least Filler, Ranked

When confronted by the three-man team from the Sound Village, she was clearly out of her depth. Although this is portrayed as a moment of triumph for Sakura, she didn’t do much fighting herself. Had it not been for the interference of others from her village, including Sasuke, she would have been killed.

8 Kurama Beat Gama Hands-Free (Yu Yu Hakusho)

Collage of Kurama's Rose Whip Hair and Gama's battered form

As the most intelligent member of team Urameshi from Yu Yu Hakusho, it’s almost impossible for anyone to outsmart the demon fox Kurama. In the Dark Tournament’s second fight, Gama nearly managed it. By taking advantage of Kurama’s habit of studying his opponents, Gama placed a seal on Kurama’s limbs that made it impossible for him to move.

With no way of defending himself or fighting back, Kurama would have surely lost. However, at the last moment, Kurama managed to produce his technique, the rose whip. By attaching the whip to his long red hair, Kurama was able to attack Gama and win the match.

7 Tanjiro Used His Father’s Technique To Defeat Rui (Demon Slayer)

As soon as the fight started, it was clear Tanjiro wouldn’t stand a chance against Rui, one of the twelve Kizuki in Demon Slayer. Even with Nezuko’s assistance, Tanjiro could barely defend himself. Once Rui used his ultimate attack, cutting thread cage, which surrounds his opponents in razor-sharp threads, it looked like Tanjiro and Nezuko would die.

Luckily, Tanjiro was able to remember his father’s fire technique, Hinokami Kagura. Using this technique gave Tanjiro more time to defend himself and his sister, allowing Giyuu to come and save them.

6 Ichigo Defeated Kenpachi Thanks To His Zanpakuto (Bleach)

Zaraki with his shikai

During the Soul Society arc in Bleach, Ichigo faced a number of powerful opponents. He struggled against Ikkaku Madarame and barely managed to beat Renji Abarai. When Ichigo first came across the captain of squad 11, Kenpachi Zaraki, the power differences between them were clear.

RELATED: 5 Merciful Anime Heroes (& 5 That Show No Mercy)

Kenpachi’s spiritual pressure was so overwhelming, Ichigo’s first instinct was to run away, and when they first went toe-to-toe, Ichigo’s sword couldn’t cut Kenpachi. Ichigo’s defeat was clear until he accepted his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, as an equal partner. Their combined spiritual pressure gave Ichigo just enough strength to beat Kenpachi and win.

5 Aang Wins Thanks To The Avatar State & The Lion Turtle (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Fighting a firebender when they are at their most powerful is hard enough, but on top of that, Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s protagonist, Aang, only had one summer to train for it. Even with the best bending masters, Aang only had three bending styles mastered by summer’s end, and he had lost his connection with the avatar state.

Luckily, Aang was able to regain his connection to the avatar state during the fight. Once Aang regained control of the fight, he was able to take Ozai’s bending away, completely eliminating Ozai as a threat.

4 One For All Saves Midoriya Izuku’s Life (My Hero Academia)

Deku Vs Muscular In My Hero Academia

Muscular is one of the most powerful villains in the Vanguard Action Squad of My Hero Academia. His Quirk grants him strength, durability, and speed. Muscular also has a bloodlust that causes him to thirst for destruction. As a first-year hero student, Midoriya was no match for him.

RELATED: 10 Strongest Human Villains In Anime, Ranked

Muscular was responsible for several hero deaths already, including Kota Izumi’s parents, the Water Hose heroes. Even though it looked like Midoriya was done for, he was able to call on the power of his Quirk, One for All. Midoriya pushed past 100% of his Quirk’s limit and took Muscular down.

3 Yusuke’s Half-Demon Ancestry Helps Him Defeat Sensui (Yu Yu Hakusho)

In Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Chapter Black Saga, Yusuke was completely outclassed by Sensui. With decades of more experience under his belt, Sensui could easily read Yusuke’s moves and tactics. Sensui also had multiple personalities who could utilize different attacks and strategies.

One of Sensui’s personalities, Kazuya, even replaced his hand with a gun. Once Sensui activated his sacred energy, losing was inevitable, until Yusuke was resurrected as a half-demon. With his Mazoku form, Yusuke took control of the fight. It wasn’t how Yusuke wanted the fight to end, but without the Mazoku power taking over, Yusuke would have lost.

2 Itachi Was Defeated By His Illness (Naruto)

In the Naruto series, a fight between Sasuke and his older brother, Itachi, was inevitable. By Naruto Shippuden,’s Episode 134, Sasuke had grown a lot. However, victory against one of the strongest members of the Akatsuki still seemed unlikely.

Luckily for Sasuke, Itachi had been greatly overusing his Sharingan for years. He was also gravely ill by the time Itachi and Sasuke went head-to-head. Even though the fight with Itachi was hard-won, Itachi’s physical weakness gave Sasuke a major advantage, leading to Sasuke’s victory.

1 Korra Won By Exposing The Truth About Amon (The Legend of Korra)

Amon unmasked

In The Legend of Korra‘s season finale, Korra’s bending had been taken away by Amon, leaving her with nothing to defend herself. It was unlikely Kora would win against Amon’s bloodbending skills. Even Mako, who managed to hit Amon with a lighting attack, was ultimately unsuccessful.

Luckily for Korra, not all of her bending was taken away. While defending Mako, Korra’s airbending activated. Not only was she able to use airbending to fight back against Amon, but by exposing Amon to the public as a fraud, Korra won the moral war.

NEXT: 10 Anime Underdogs Who Ended Up Overpowered

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