Few shōnen series manage to balance brutal horror, high-octane action, and deeply flawed, compelling characters the way Chainsaw Man does. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga-turned-anime delivers an unpredictable ride where devil hunters clash with grotesque devils, moral lines blur, and every fight leaves a lasting impression. Its distinct style and inventive battles set it apart from the typical action fare.
Since its debut, Chainsaw Man has pushed the boundaries of what a shōnen series can be, combining shocking violence with dark humor and intricate character dynamics. From Denji’s tragic rise to the rise of Asa Mitaka and the War Devil, each saga ratchets up the stakes, offering fights that are as emotionally charged as they are visually stunning.
10
Asa vs. Fire Devil
Chainsaw Man returned in Summer 2022 with the Academy Saga, featuring a new protagonist, Asa Mitaka, inhabited by Yoru, the War Devil, and a member of the Four Horsemen. What’s unique about Asa is that she’s technically the War Fiend host.
Yet, she retains her personality in tandem with Yoru’s, quickly being taken over to showcase her skills against a spiteful class president mistakenly believing to have a contract with the Justice Devil. Readers are treated to a glorious show of Yoru’s visceral talents, making grotesque weapons out of anything she touches, including the spinal cord of her teacher.
9
Denji and Asa vs. the Falling and Justice Devils
A prevailing critique about Chainsaw Man’s Academy Saga is that the direction is inconsistent, yet it’s moments like these that readers are reminded that Fujimoto is still in control. This entire fight includes intense moments where Asa begs for Chainsaw Man’s cooperation, and readers are treated to a gourmand persona for the Falling Devil as she tries to fashion Asa and Denji into a devilish feast.
Despite a glorious scene involving a transforming chainsaw bike, the most amusing part of this fight is how Nayuta saves Denji from the Falling Devil, even if its presence hits at something more sinister.
8
Denji and Quanxi vs. Santa Claus
The Doll Devil is a terrifying concept in Chainsaw Man. In a fascinating twist, Santa Claus is perhaps even more mysterious and ominous a being, posing quite a threat to Denji and Quanxi. Santa eventually counts the Doll, Hell, Curse, and Darkness Devils in their repertoire of tricks, including monstrous doll constructs creating pure nightmare fuel and a frightening handle on darkness itself.
However, Denji places Santa on his naughty list and uses some creative methods to expel the darkness, with one of Quanxi’s girlfriends laying a decisive, creative final blow.
7
Denji vs. Bat Devil
One of the best fights from the Chainsaw Man anime, this fight comes directly after Power betrays Denji, where she tries to barter to get her cat, Meowy, back. The Bat Devil, as it turns out, is not so benevolent, trying to eat her, but Denji wasn’t about to let this happen.
His motives are far from noble, yet they’re simple, and what ensues is a spectacular clash as Denji, still untrained, gives a ferocious show of raw strength, letting nothing stand between him and a reward prized by many adolescents worldwide; technically, two rewards.
6
Asa vs. Yoshida
Alongside a growing plot involving Fami and the Death Devil, which involves the War Devil’s stake alongside Chainsaw Man’s, Asa is about to be confronted by Public Safety. Asa concocts a pretty daring scheme with Yoru to get out of a dicey situation, and her execution in chapter #148 is immaculate.
As Yoshida gets in, attempting to use his Octopus Devil contract to subdue Asa, she conjures a weapon out of Room 606, a massive sword construct she uses to break free from Yoshida, showing her abilities beginning to grow, an enticing prospect for readers.
5
Quanxi vs. Everyone
Quanxi and her Bow Devil counterpart are far from finished in Chainsaw Man, and her role in the series’ world is complicated, being more adversarial than outright villainous, unlike other antagonist characters. But perhaps her most terrifying showcase of power against everything from Santa’s dolls to Aki and Angel is how she can instantly carve through dozens of human or doll constructs, most notably in chapter #60.
That she can outfox and defeat even Kishibe should indicate how Quanxi’s survived so long as the mightiest devil hunter, among the strongest female characters in Chainsaw Man.
4
Denji vs. Katana Man
Katana Man was notably the first real adversary to pose a challenge to Denji in his Chainsaw Man alter ego. But with training from Kishibe, Denji becomes a fierce and shrewd fighter, capable of shrugging off debilitating injuries with the knowledge that he’ll recover easily.
Instead he focused on forcing Katana Man into making predictable moves. Denji uses this to exploit a vulnerable point, resulting in a spectacular finish brought wonderfully to life in the 2022 anime.
3
Denji vs. Makima
Denji’s main battle with Makima features two fights near the end of Chainsaw Man’s Public Safety Saga, with its most compelling parts in chapter #90, where the true Chainsaw Devil’s form gets some key aid at the eleventh hour.
The surprise twist is that the blood Denji drank from Power proves handy in this battle, saving his life. However, in the second part of this fight, Denji conjures up a brilliant scheme with Pochita to leave Makima vulnerable to a decisive blow, with this being Denji’s greatest, most tragic victory yet.
2
Denji vs. Reze
The Reze Arc is the subject of Chainsaw Man’s sequel film. For manga readers, it’s clear why a mere episodic treatment isn’t enough to do it justice, featuring an appearance from the Shark and Typhoon Devils and a wildly cinematic climax.
Denji’s clash with Reze isn’t the last with her, yet it’s a spectacular flurry of action with the Bomb Devil from the Soviet Union. This fight also serves as Denji’s first real heartbreak, with Reze charming her way into Denji’s heart, however disingenuously, a strong example of the potency of Chainsaw Man’s more personal fights.
1
Denji vs. Gun Fiend
Chainsaw Man does well to illustrate the danger of its world, such as in Part 2 with the claim that Devil attacks kill seven out of every twenty people. So, when the US Government conjures a portion of the Gun Devil, Makima sends her strongest assets, resulting in the Gun Devil cruelly inhabiting Aki to attack Denji at his home.
Here, Aki’s character arc is filled with sacrifice, compromise, and insurmountable loss at the hands of his greatest enemy, which then turns his body into a weapon, surely the worst death possible for him. However, this also serves as the setup for an incredibly sad and emotional fight against Denji, which also brings to light all the past trauma Aki lived through. Due to its stakes and emotional weight, this stands out as the best fight in Chainsaw Man.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
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Takeru Sato
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Tomori Kusunoki
Makima (voice)
