Overall, one of the best anime archetypes that the shonen genre has introduced is that of the brawler. In essence, the brawler can be defined as someone who simply loves to fight, with the general pursuit of strength being central to their entire journey. To get even more specific, the brawler is someone who essentially lives for battle and revels in violence.
Throughout the Shonen genre, there have been many characters that fit into this category, though there are only a few that stand above the others as the strongest and the most iconic. These are some of best brawlers in shonen anime, though its up to the fans to truly decide who can claim the top spot.
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7
Baki Just Wants to Surpass His Father
Anime: Baki Hanma
Baki serves as the titular protagonist of one of the most over-the-top anime of all time. In this series that’s completely dedicated to fighting, Baki has the singular goal of defeating his father after he murdered his mother, the man who sports the title of the World’s Strongest Creature, Yujiro Hanma. From the start of the series, Baki has had to fight his way to the top to eventually get to his father’s level, which just goes to show how integral fighting is to this story as it is the main aspect that defines the protagonist.
6
Kashimo Got Reincarnated Just to Fight the Strongest
Anime: Jujutsu Kaisen
Kashimo is one of the most interesting characters in Jujutsu Kaisen. Known as the strongest sorcerer of the Edo Period, Kashimo grew incredibly bored with his life since his strength was so far above everyone else’s, leading to him making a deal to be reincarnated after many centuries just so he could fight Sukuna, the man known as the strongest sorcerer of all time. His nature as a brawler is seen through his Cursed Technique, Mythical Beast Amber, which makes him much stronger but coats his body in electric Cursed Energy that tears it apart, meaning that it’s only a one-time-use technique.
5
Zoro’s Goal Is to Become the World’s Greatest Swordsman
Anime: One Piece
Zoro has always been the resident stoic warrior of the Straw Hat Pirates, and he personifies the brawler mentality better than anyone else. From the beginning, his goal has been to become the world’s greatest swordsman, a title that he can only call his own after defeating legendary swordsmen such as Dracule Mihawk. Because of this, Zoro has honed his Haki to be some of the most potent in the series, to the point where he is now one of One Piece’s strongest characters. By fighting exceptionally powerful adversaries and growing exponentially in strength, Zoro has become a fierce warrior.
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4
Might Guy Almost Killed a God Through Taijutsu Alone
Anime: Naruto
Throughout his entire life, Might Guy was always mocked for his lack of fancy jutsu abilities, which led to him solely relying on his Taijutsu, or hand-to-hand, skills alone. However, the fruits of this labor paid off in his battle against Madara’s strongest form, where he proved his unrivaled power with the Eight Gates against the strongest character in the entire Naruto series. In this fight, Guy singlehandedly brought Madara close to death numerous times, proving himself to be a brawling fighter who perfected his own path to power. In this battle, which many call the series’ best, Kakashi realized that Guy had surpassed him and Madara himself acknowledged Guy as the strongest.
3
Kenpachi Lives Just to Fight
Anime: Bleach
When one thinks of a brawler in anime, chances are they may immediately visualize Kenpachi Zaraki from Bleach before anyone else. The reason for this is that Kenpachi lives for battle, as can be seen with his eyepatch that he keeps on, which subdues his power somewhat so he doesn’t end fights too quickly. Even then, most enemies are far too weak to deal with him. Kenpachi’s lust for battle is perfectly mirrored in his Bankai, which allows him to release massive waves of spiritual energy that can topple entire buildings, which, coupled with his natural strength and exceptional swordsmanship, make him the quintessential brawler.
2
Garou Has the Incredible Power to Adapt
Anime: One Punch Man
Although Saitama himself only ever wants to fight someone strong enough to battle him, Garou personifies the brawler mindset much better. Ever since his introduction, Garou has fought against some of the strongest foes in the series, and despite many of these altercations almost killing him, his adaptation ability lets him come back even stronger. Plus, he often comes back using his enemies’ techniques as part of his own arsenal. The pinnacle of Garou’s power was shown with his Cosmic Garou state, which was unlocked after his monsterization reached its pinnacle, finally birthing an enemy strong enough to contend with Saitama.
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1
Vegeta Is the Strongest Brawler Ever
Anime: Dragon Ball
There are few anime franchises, if any, that place as much of a focus on fighting and the pursuit of strength as Dragon Ball, with Vegeta being a shining example of this himself. Unlike his rival, who places more of a focus on martial prowess and technique, Vegeta is all about strength and offense in his fighting style, seeking to deal as much damage as he can through sheer, oppressive force. While he has always been like this, his latest state, Ultra Ego, is the perfect example of his brawler mindset, since it throws all technique to the wayside and invites damage, as it grows stronger with the more it takes.