In battle shonen, it is a common trope for the most influential and powerful characters in a series to have unknown kill counts. This is often due to the immense damage they have caused throughout the story, making them enigmatic antagonists who are generally dangerous individuals.
Additionally, the charisma and on-screen presence of characters such as Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ryomen Sukuna and Hunter X Hunter’s Hisoka greatly contribute to their intentional development. As a result, all of the characters featured on this list, in no specific ranking, are not only immensely formidable and hazardous, but have also gained significant popularity among their respective fan bases.
This article has spoilers for all the shows mentioned in this list.
Anime Characters with Unknown Kill Counts
Retsu/Yachiru Unohana from Bleach
For the majority of Bleach, Unohana was recognized as Retsu and held the position of captain for the 4th Division of the Gotei 13. She was highly skilled in healing techniques and provided essential medical aid to the Shinigami. However, in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, it was uncovered that her true name was Yachiru. She was the original Kenpachi and a crucial member of the Gotei 13 who vanquished Yhwach a thousand years ago. Furthermore, she was considered the most notorious criminal in the entire history of Soul Society.
Unohana is one of the most prominent anime characters known for her extensive kill count. Her intense thirst for blood often drove her to actively seek out and engage in battles that ultimately resulted in the death of her opponents, as seen in a flashback during her fight with Zaraki Kenpachi. It should also be noted that she had already committed numerous homicides even before the establishment of the Gotei 13.
Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan)
At the beginning, Eren was a young man determined to liberate the people of Paradis from the Titans and break free from the walls that confined them. However, as the events of Attack on Titan unfolded, Eren’s personality underwent a drastic change, ultimately resulting in him causing the death of 80% of humanity by the conclusion of the series.
After gaining the ability of the Founding Titan, Eren triggered the Rumbling, which brought back the Titans within the walls. These Titans rampaged, obliterating everything in their path and causing destruction to buildings, plants, and the lives of both animals and humans. Through his manipulation of these Titans, Eren single-handedly wiped out 80% of the world’s population, solidifying his place as one of the most lethal characters in the anime realm, although the precise number of deaths remains unconfirmed.
Griffith (Berserk)
After starting as a commoner, Griffith established the Band of the Hawk and achieved royalty through their exceptional military prowess. However, his involvement with Princess Charlotte of the Kingdom of Midland led to a year of intense torture, causing him to teeter on the brink of madness and death. In desperation, he struck a deal with the Godhand, a malevolent being, sacrificing the lives of his soldiers and transforming into the wicked deity known as Femto.
In the end, Griffith made his way back to the mortal world. With the help of the apostle Ganishka and the Skull Knight, he successfully created a pathway for the magical realm to cross over into human territory. As a result, this led to the death of countless individuals at the hands of dangerous creatures. Griffith’s ultimate goal was to use his army of apostles to defeat these creatures and gain the support of the people, ultimately fulfilling his dream of becoming the ruler of the kingdom.
Griffith is renowned as not only one of the greatest villains in the medium, but also as an anime character with an immeasurable number of kills. As a human warrior, he shed blood in battle and betrayed others for personal gain in the political sphere. His sacrifices to the Godhand and actions during the Fantasia arc resulted in countless more lives lost. It is safe to say that his kill count is truly staggering.
Ryomen Sukuna: The Notorious Demon King (Jujutsu Kaisen)
Ryomen Sukuna gained a reputation as the most formidable sorcerer in history due to his actions during the Heian era many centuries ago. Not only was he known for defeating his enemies, but also for consuming them. Throughout the series, Sukuna has proven his strength by defeating numerous powerful sorcerers, solidifying his status as one of the most iconic anime antagonists in recent times.
Despite being a prominent character in the Jujutsu Kaisen series, his kill counts remain a mystery as the series has never disclosed the exact number of lives he has taken. Nevertheless, it has been revealed that during the Shibuya Incident arc, he was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. This, along with the entities he has slain, suggests a staggering and unsettling death toll.
Zeno (Dragon Ball Super)
Zeno, the ruler of all universes in Dragon Ball, is an excellent example of an anime character whose kill counts remain unknown. He is infamous for his ability to destroy multiple realities with ease, as demonstrated during the Goku Black arc where he obliterates the timeline of Future Trunks.
Moreover, the Tournament of Power arc has verified that he has annihilated multiple universes in the past, further emphasizing the fact that he is responsible for the deaths of millions.
In addition, Zeno has become a highly controversial figure among anime fans in the past decade due to his ability to obliterate entire universes at his whim. This was illustrated during the Goku Black arc, when he effortlessly resolved the predicament for Goku and his companions.
Obito Uchiha (Naruto)
Obito Uchiha’s initial motivation was to become Hokage and use his skills as a ninja to help others. However, his encounter with Madara Uchiha, who saved him on a mission, gradually led to his corruption and adoption of distorted values. The death of his childhood friend Rin during the war further pushed Obito to madness, causing him to obsess over executing the Eye of the Moon Plan for many years.
Obito is often cited as having one of the highest body counts in Naruto, as a result of the numerous lives he took throughout the ninja world and his involvement in orchestrating numerous murders, including those carried out by the Akatsuki. Additionally, his actions and eventual redemption in the series have made him one of the most polarizing characters in the anime community.
Hisoka Morow (Hunter X Hunter)
Throughout Hunter X Hunter, Hisoka remains shrouded in enigma, with only glimpses of his true nature revealed. What is certain is his penchant for murder and his unbridled obsession with combat. His constant desire to face formidable opponents leads him to extreme measures, such as aiding the protagonist, Gon, in his quest for strength. Hisoka’s relentless pursuit of the ultimate battle knows no bounds.
Hisoka is a popular anime character with an unknown but undoubtedly high kill count. He engages in fights to the death and is not afraid to end the lives of others if it means achieving his goals. This aspect of his character has been highlighted in the manga’s most recent chapters.
Muzan Kibutsuji – Main Antagonist of Demon Slayer
Muzan, the very first demon introduced in the Demon Slayer series, has caused countless deaths due to his need to consume humans in order to sustain himself and create more beings like himself using his own blood. This has resulted in a long-standing epidemic of death and destruction spanning centuries. Throughout his existence, Muzan has always mercilessly killed anyone who dared to challenge him, leaving a lasting impact on those who have faced him, including Yoriichi, the only person who was able to defeat him and scarred him for life.
Despite facing criticism for his story of being an ordinary man turned demon, Muzan remains one of the most infamous anime characters for his merciless killings throughout centuries in Demon Slayer. He is unafraid to get his hands dirty, having taken countless lives without hesitation.
Johan Liebert (Monster Anime)
Johan was a notorious mass murderer who derived immense pleasure from taking the lives of numerous people. He serves as the primary antagonist in Monster and is rarely seen in the series, yet his powerful and intimidating presence is deeply felt.
Although Johan’s character in the series is that of a serial killer, he is still one of the anime characters with a high kill count. Despite the show’s main focus being on solving murder cases, Johan’s number of kills has never been officially confirmed.
Giorno Giovanna (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Despite being a prominent character in the anime JoJo’s Golden Wind, Giorno Giovanna’s kill count remains a mystery due to the way his story concludes. After acquiring the Requiem Arrow and unlocking the powerful Stand Gold Experience Requiem, Giorno uses it to punish the villain Diavolo by trapping him in an endless cycle of death.
Hence, it can be concluded that Giorno’s tally of kills knows no bounds and continues to increase repeatedly. This solidifies his position as one of the most lethal anime characters ever and showcases one of the harshest penalties a villain has faced in all of literature.
Personal Reflections
Among the most popular anime characters, there are several with high kill counts. These characters are also highly influential in their series, often portraying powerful and significant threats.
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