The most memorable finishing moves in anime are often ingrained in the minds of fans, waiting to be conjured up at the mere mention of their favorite anime series or associated character.
Many fans believe that nostalgia plays a significant role in labeling finishing moves in anime as “iconic.”However, even new anime series can have finishing moves that quickly gain popularity and become some of the best ones.
In this article, we will compile and rank the top 10 most iconic finishing moves in anime based on their popularity among the fandom. These moves may range from nostalgic classics to new ones that quickly gained attention from viewers when they were first introduced.
The author is solely responsible for any opinions expressed in this article.
Top 8 Iconic Finishing Moves in Anime
10) 100% Release of Mob Psycho 100
Kageyama Shigeo, the main protagonist of Mob Psycho 100, is known for his powerful psychic abilities. However, he only unleashes his powers at their maximum potential when they are fully charged at 100%. This ultimate release of psychic energy is considered Shigeo’s finishing move. Despite his impressive abilities, Shigeo believes it is wrong to use his powers to harm others.
As a result, he continues to store it in his consciousness. Like all things, there is a maximum limit to the amount of psychic energy he can hold, and this limit is directly linked to Shigeo’s emotions, which he rarely shows. When this limit is reached, one of Shigeo’s emotions will erupt, whether it be anger, denial, sadness, or any other, accompanied by a massive release of psychic energy.
Hinokami Kagura from Demon Slayer
One of the most iconic finishing moves in anime comes from Studio Ufotable’s magnum opus, Hinokami Kagura. This powerful technique is exclusive to the Kamado family, the protagonist’s bloodline, and is closely tied to the Flame Hashira’s Sun Breathing technique.
The legacy of Hinokami Kagura was inherited by the protagonist from Tanjuro Kamado, Tanjiro’s father. This ritual dance was passed down through generations and Tanjiro had the opportunity to witness his father performing it deep in the forests.
8) Expanding the World of Jujutsu Kaisen
Domain Expansion, a finishing move in anime recognized for its distinct hand signs, has quickly gained popularity for its uniqueness. This trademark finishing move is exclusive to the strongest sorcerers in Jujutsu Kaisen.
Whether it is Satoru Gojo’s Infinite Void or Ryomen Sukuna’s Malevolent Shrine, the concept of Domain Expansion remains uncomplicated. The sorcerer must simply restrict a designated area and claim it as their domain, allowing their cursed technique to become a guaranteed hit within this space. As such, Domain Expansion is a skill that can only be mastered by the most formidable sorcerers, including Gojo Satoru, Yuta Okkotsu, and numerous others.
7) Spirit Gun from Yu Yu Hakusho
The Spirit Gun is a well-known finishing move in anime and has been around for a long time. It is the trademark move of Yusuke Urameshi, the main character of Yu Yu Hakusho. He famously used it against Koenma, the God who brought him back to life.
The finishing move’s name derives from its initial use, when the protagonist formed a gun gesture with his hands and emitted a beam of spiritual energy from his fingertip. Although the size of the beam increased over time, its name remained unchanged.
6) Smash – My Hero Academia Fighting Game
The trademark move of the One for All quirk in My Hero Academia is Smash, whether it be All Might’s United States of Smash or Izuku Midoriya’s Delaware Detriot Smash. This finishing move is renowned in the world of anime and is exclusive to those with the One for All quirk.
The principle of this finishing move centers on the immense destructive force of One for All, but it must be wielded with care and restraint. Midoriya has sustained multiple injuries from pushing his body beyond its limits by utilizing too high a percentage of One for All in his attacks.
Gum Gum no Pistol – One Piece
The Gum-Gum Devil Fruit (also known as the Human-Human Devil Fruit, Model: Nika) has a finishing move called Gomu Gomu no Pistol, which is widely recognized as one of the most iconic finishing moves in anime.
It was also the initial technique that the protagonist, Luffy, utilized upon embarking on his journey to the Grand Line in search of a pirate crew and the title of Pirate King in the One Piece anime. This final attack consists of Luffy extending his hand and delivering a powerful punch to his adversary.
Rasengan
The Fourth Hokage created Rasengan, a renowned finishing move in anime, which gained its reputation from being used by Naruto Uzumaki, the main character of the series.
The Rasengan is considered one of the most challenging finishing moves in anime, as mastering it requires completing three levels of training. These include learning how to manipulate and rotate chakra, increasing its intensity, and ultimately combining the first two steps to contain the chakra in a condensed form. As a result, the Rasengan becomes a powerful ball of chakra with a significant impact.
Full Counter – The Seven Deadly Sins
Despite being one of the most iconic finishing moves in anime, Full Counter lost its impact due to the poor animation of its corresponding anime. This powerful move is utilized by both Meliodas, the protagonist, and Estarossa, one of the main antagonists, in The Seven Deadly Sins.
Despite the fact that the exact mechanism of this technique remains a mystery, it essentially involves countering an enemy’s attack with an even stronger force. Meliodas possesses the ability to reflect magical attacks, while Estarossa is able to reflect physical ones.
2) Ultimate Form – Bleach
To unlock the ultimate form of a Zanpakuto, known as Bankai, is considered to be one of the most iconic and powerful finishing moves in the anime Bleach. Achieving this level of mastery requires the user to enter their Zanpakuto’s inner world and physically manifest their sword in the real world, a process that can take over a decade to perfect, in addition to extensive swordsmanship experience.
Keisuke Uraraha and Ichigo Kurosaki, the main protagonists, are the only two swordsmen who have mastered their Bankai in a matter of days instead of years. Whether it’s Ichigo’s Tensa Zangetsu, Yamamoto’s Zanka no Tachi, or any other character’s Bankai, this powerful technique has been a fan favorite and a widely used finishing move in anime since the beginning.
Kamehameha Wave – Dragon Ball
Kamehameha, the beloved and legendary finishing move in anime that holds a special place in the hearts of every fan, is a precious gift from Akira Toriyama to the anime community. This technique, named by the wife of the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, is etched in the childhood memories of every anime fan who has excitedly imitated it.
The final technique requires the user to curl their hand into a cup and focus their ki energy between them. Once the ki is concentrated, the user can push their arms forward, unleashing the concentrated energy in a blast. In the world of anime, the Kamehameha is a lasting legacy of the late Toriyama sensei.
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