The Top 19 Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Anime For Adventurers
Francesco Buffa
Tops & Rankings
Swords and magic are the bread and butter of fantasy anime and a big subgenre that has been well explored in the last decades.
This includes magic guilds or organizations with adventurers where travelers can embark on new journeys. As the name suggests, you won’t see melee fights alone but also sorcery and witchcraft used by characters.
Technically, magic is not required to define an anime as swords and sorcery but adventures and heroism are.
This listicle features the best sword & sorcery fantasy anime, according to our experience and personal taste.
Table of Contents
19. Black Clover
This anime tells the story of Asta and Yuno, 2 orphans that have been abandoned at the same church on the same day so they grew up as brothers.
Since they were little they decided that they will compete for the title of ‘Wizard King’ the strongest mage in the kingdom.
As they grow up the differences between them become evident. Yuno is able to easily wield magic while Asta cannot do it despite the constant training.
At age 15 Yuno is given a Grimoire with a four-leaf clover while Asta receives nothing. Soon Yuno is attacked by a mysterious figure and Asta is then able to unleash his inner strength and is able to fend off the attacker.
The two of them will head into the world seeking to become the next ‘Wizard King’. It’s an anime that falls perfectly in the fantasy genre and since it displays many of its tropes.
18. The Irregular at Magic School
The Irregular at Magic School is an anime aired in 2014. The plot is set in the late 21st century, in a future where magic has become commonplace and had merged with technology.
The events follow the lives of a group of boys attending a school where magic is taught and where the students are divided into courses based on their talent.
One of the main characters called Tatsuya is relegated to the Second Course, the one for less talented magicians. But despite that, he will prove to possess extraordinary technical knowledge and physical combat capabilities.
If you like anime with magical elements this is the one for you. The show is inspired by a light novel and it all revolves around magic and how the main cast deals with it.
The irregular at Magic School mixes magic with Sci-Fi elements in a well-crafted product that you shouldn’t miss on.
17. Utawarerumono
This anime premiered in 2006 and it begins with a girl called Eruruu who rescues an injured man and welcomes him into her house. He doesn’t even remember his name so he begins to be called Hakuoro.
Everybody in the village has large ears and tails so they all notice that the new guy doesn’t but instead wears a mask that cannot be removed.
Hakuoro starts to get used to his new life but soon a conflict strikes the village and he is forced to protect the people he loves and also unveil the mysteries of his past.
Sword and sorcery are a staple of this show, especially in the first half. The sci-fi elements are also very present all throughout the story of Utawarerumono, making it a perfect entry for this list.
This franchise was born from a videogame so many characters engage in combat with swords and powerful abilities that are carried into the anime adaptation
It is a very good adaptation and you should watch it, especially if you played the games.
16. The Seven Deadly Sins
The Seven Deadly Sins is a popular anime aired between 2014 and 2015.
The plot is set in Britain where Elizabeth, daughter of the King, sets out on a journey to find the Seven Deadly Sins, intending to recruit them and take back her recently fallen kingdom due to a coup.
The titular Seven Deadly Sins are 7 extremely powerful warriors, masters of magic, and capable of great things if brought together.
The protagonist Elizabeth will find out to be the reincarnation of a high-ranked member of the Goddess Clan, who was cursed to reincarnate as a human and lose her memories.
Even in this case, the medieval fantasy vibe is pretty obvious. The setting, the characters and even elements like magic are a strong presence all throughout the show.
15. Grimgar
This anime features Haruhiro, a boy who wakes up together with twelve other people in a fantasy world called Grimgar.
None of them have any memory of their past, and in order to survive in the world, they recruit themselves as soldiers of the Volunteer Army of the border town Alterna.
Haruhiro is a member of a group led by the leader Manato. Unfortunately, during one mission Manato dies leaving the group shaken and without a leader. He will decide to pick up Manato’s mantle and lead the group in his memory.
Being set in a fantasy world, the anime includes a lot of magical elements and powers that the main characters can use. These powers are also linked to their weapons and armor that give off a medieval vibe throughout the whole series.
This anime starts off a bit slow but if you don’t mind the pacing of the first few episodes you will be in for a treat.
14. Fairy Tail
The plot of this anime show focuses on Lucy Heartphilia, a girl whose dream is to become a powerful mage and join the famous guild of magicians called Fairy Tail.
Her dreams will become reality when she meets Natsu, a boy who travels around the world and is a member of the guild. He will bring her in and so Lucy will end up teaming up with the other members in their travels and quests.
Being a fantasy anime, Fairy Tale has plenty of magical elements. Natsu and Lucy are great examples of magic users, whereas Erza excels in swordplay.
We are not big fans of this anime due to its simple plot and because it’s too cliché but it still deserves to be featured in this list.
13. Little Witch Academia
Little Witch Academia is a fairly recent anime consisting of 25 episodes aired in 2017.
The plot tells the story of the protagonist named Akko, a young girl who as a child witnesses the witch Shiny Chariot’s magic show.
From that moment on decides to follow in her footsteps by enrolling in the Luna Nova Academy for Little Witches.
The magical gimmick is used masterfully in this show where Akko, together with her friends Lotte and Sucy, will overcome every challenge that her time at Luna Nova will throw at her.
There are no swords whatsoever but the magical element truly takes the center of the stage during the events of the show.
It is a cheerful and colorful show that is also much more light than many other entries on this list.
12. Konosuba! – This Wonderful World
The story of KonoSuba features Kazuma Satou, a hikikomori lover of anime, manga, and videogames, who dies following a car accident while trying to save a girl.
Upon arriving in the afterlife, he is welcomed by a goddess named Aqua, who offers to reincarnate him in an alternate world where he will face the Demon King.
He will be granted the ability to carry an item, skill or anything of his liking to use as an aid in his journey.
The protagonist’s choice reflects the comic nature of the entire series: Kazuma will choose to take the goddess herself with him.
In this anime, the afterlife is treated as a magical place where the main character has to prove himself using abilities he didn’t have in the real world.
It is a fun and light Isekai and you should enjoy it if you’re into this kind of thing.
11. Slayers
The main character Lina Inverse is a young sorceress who is very greedy for treasure with an irritable temper.
After performing another one of her heists, something goes wrong and she is attacked by survivors of the gang she has just struck.
Just as she is about to effortlessly dispose of them with one of her powerful spells, she is rescued by a skilled swordsman who defeats the rogues in an instant.
She sees him as a prince charming who has come to rescue her so Lina pretends to be a helpless maiden. Then, Lina will discover that she is dealing with a handsome fellow as skilled with a sword as he is dumb.
This unusual couple represents the 2 main elements of the story which can be found in magic and swordsmanship. The two will embark on an adventure where the stakes will grow higher as the plot goes on.
If you like the fantasy medieval setting this will be right up your alley. The writing is also great and the characters are interesting.
10. Rising of the Shield Hero
Originating as a light novel and later adapted into an anime, The Rising of the Shield Hero is an isekai fantasy.
After being transported to a fantasy world through a book, young college student Naofumi Iwatani will be chosen as one of four heroes entrusted with a legendary weapon.
Magic is a very important part of the story. Even the most powerful weapons have to be summoned by people who are given the title of Legendary Hero.
The fantasy inclination is present every step of the way, making this show a hidden gem of the genre.
The art style is very good but the main reason you should watch this show is the characters and their relationship.
9. Claymore
A 26-episode anime set in a medieval fantasy-themed world where the inhabitants are forced to fight the threat of monstrous creatures that feed on humans.
Fighting these creatures, called the Yomi, are the Claymore, warriors with enormous power who can counter the terrible monsters with their swords.
The protagonist of the story is Claire, a low-level Claymore who will increase her fighting power over time as she discovers the deceptions behind the Yomi and the society in which she lives.
The swords used by Claymore are a pretty important element of the story. They are mythical double-edged swords that are implied to be indestructible and that are unique to every warrior.
Each one has its owner’s personal symbol engraved just above the handle.
There are many reasons why you should watch Claymore. From the plot to the soundtrack everything comes together to make a great product that you will definitely enjoy.
8. Re: Zero
This anime aired in 2016 revolves around Subaru, a hikikomori who ends up in the mysterious magical world of Lugnica.
Here he will meet Emilia, a half-elf with whom he falls in love with from the start. Following an unfortunate accident in which they will both lose their lives, the protagonist will realize that he can come back to life, much like a respawn in video games.
The entire story revolves around magic and the heroic adventure of the main character. Sorcery is divided by elements and most characters can master only one of them.
Although there are powerful entities that can use more than one element and cast many different spells.
The main reason why you should watch this anime is the storytelling and how the plot develops given Subaru’s power.
7. Magic Knight Rayearth
A 1994 anime that features three girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fu, who during a school trip to Tokyo Tower are teleported to the fantasy world of Cefiro.
Upon arriving in this new reality, the three realize that the world is in grave danger and decide to fight for its salvation as Magic Knights, using magical powers. They were summoned to Cefiro by Princess Emeraude to fulfill their destinies as Magic Knights.
The three girls form a magical guild that is tasked with fighting to save the Princess from the evil High Priest Zagato.
Magic Knight Rayearth is a bit old at this point but the writing is solid and the characters are very good, you should give it a chance.
6. Ancient Magus Bride
The protagonist of the story is young Chise Hatori, a girl who, after losing her entire family, decides to sell herself off at an auction to change her life and find some light in her life after many years of suffering.
She will then be purchased by a man who stands out mainly because of his tall height and head shaped like a canine skull to make her a magician.
The relationships between the characters will be the real focus of the work, with great seriousness and realism to the various emotional developments.
Magic is crucial and explained in extreme detail. Magical users can bend natural laws to their will but they have to meet many strict requirements to use this power.
This series is really a hidden gem. It’s enough to say that, even being released quite recently, we already consider it one of the best fantasy anime.
5. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works
Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is the anime adaptation of the homonym Visual Novel, in particular of the “Rin route”.
The plot features magical summoners, called Masters, who through the summoning of spirits fight to conquer the Holy Grail.
The interesting part is that all these spirits are heroic personalities or mythological entities of the past. This results in a lot of interesting cultural references, even if they aren’t always that faithful to the original source.
An interesting concept that has been expanded in various series and different medias, with a wide range of genre covered.
If you like a plot with dark undertones, this is the ideal choice. The Fate franchise is actually quite big and can boast a lot of content across videogames and anime.
4. Yona of the Dawn
In a story about treason and revenge, the main character Princess Yona is betrayed and gets banished from her kingdom.
She will do everything in her power to reclaim her place, as shown by her resolute nature. The story is set in a fictional kingdom that takes inspiration from the Three Kingdoms period of Korea, around 57 BC to 668 AD.
She lives a pampered life before being forced to flee from her home, the Hyriuu Castle. This will change her life and she will begin to learn all sorts of combat techniques from Hak, including archery and swordsmanship.
The plot is compelling and stars an interesting protagonist, one of the best female MC in fantasy anime, that will go through extensive character development after all the drama she will experience.
3. Mushoku Tensei
The plot of this anime revolves around an anonymous 34-year-old unemployed Japanese guy who’s evicted from his apartment and realizes the futility of his life.
One day he finds himself saving some high school students who were about to be hit by a truck, thus losing his life.
What may seem the end for him is in fact a new beginning. After his death he is reborn in a fantasy world of “sword and sorcery”, where he decides to make a new and fresh life for himself.
The plot tells a story of redemption where magic is the tool used by the main character to quite literally be reborn, and in fact, we consider it as one of the best magic anime in recent years.
Mushoku Tensei is about a great adventure, it’s well-animated and it may surprise you even if you’re not really into this genre.
2. Records of Lodoss War
This anime from the early ’90s is set in Lodoss, a kingdom haunted by war for thousands of years. When finally a fragile peace becomes possible, an evil witch makes her appearance.
This evil presence wants to create a political imbalance and foster conflict over the land to avoid any kingdom from getting central control over Lodoss.
At this point, a group of 6 young champions from all over Lodoss is tasked with defeating the witch and finally bringing peace to the land.
This is a story set in an alternate fantasy universe during medieval times so magic is the norm and every character is equipped with some kind of power that makes him stand out.
There aren’t many other works that can match this one due to the complexity of its characters and for starring 2 incredible personalities: Gatsu and Griffith.
This work has irreversibly influenced every media outlet that has approached fantasy and magical elements from a horror perspective.
The sword called the Dragon Slayer is a legendary weapon wielded by the protagonist Gatsu throughout the whole show. He uses this massive weapon to obliterate his foes and it also becomes a metaphor for his sheer power and raw strength.
There are many reasons why Berserk is considered a masterpiece, the compelling plot is just one of them.
While the manga is unfinished and the 1997 anime only covers a small bit of the story, it’s still a great introduction to dark fantasy.
