When one imagines an anime warrior, one can see a brave fighter punching their way to victory or clashing blades with a rival. However, with the popularity of anime such asShield Hero, otaku are starting to see more anime characters take the shield as their weapon of choice - becomingshield heroesin their respective stories.
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Compared to the typical martial artist or swordsman, these shield heroes use the might of their shield to protect their loved ones or bash their way to victory. With such an unconventional approach to their choice of weapon, one must wonder who are thebest shield heroes in animewho constantly prove their superiority with this defensive equipment.
10Dragon Shiryu (Saint Seiya)
Across theSaint Seiyafranchise andamong Pegasus Seiya’s companions, the calm and reservedDragon Shiryuis among the strongest. Although a rookie possessing the Dragon Bronze Cloth, Shiryu’s determination and keen martial sense would eventually make him worthy of the Libra Gold Cloth. However, what makes Dragon Shiryu among the best shield users in anime is mainly due to how theSaint Seiyafranchise contradicts its lore - in that, despite having the Cloth with the best protective qualities, the Dragon Cloth’s defenses are constantly challenged in Shiryu’s duels.
As a fighter, Shiryu’s martial arts allow him to best his enemies, especially with techniques like the energy-blasting Lushan One Hundred Dragon Lords or the immensely sharp Excalibur.
However, the Dragon Bronze Cloth is considered a legend among all Cloths due to its supposedly nigh-impenetrable left-arm buckle. Even among the Cloths with arm shields, the Dragon Bronze Cloth’s buckle remains the most detailed. Moreover, despite Shiryu’s more challenging duels, the Dragon Bronze Cloth remains praised for its defenses even when compared with rarer Silver Cloths and more legendary Gold Cloths.
9Shield Liger (Zoids: Chaotic Century)
While not wielding a “shield” per se,Shield LigerfromZoids: Chaotic Centuryis by all means a shield user. Thanks to its Energy Shield, the Shield Liger would become one of the most iconic Zoids in its period and across the entireZoidsfranchise. Granted, Van Flyheight’s signature Zoid would prove lackluster compared to modern Zoids machines, but the Shield Liger remains one of the more well-rounded Zoids in existence and among the most versatile inChaotic Century.
Although the Shield Liger will eventually evolve into the more badass sideblade-toting Blade Liger, the former still holds a lot of accolades to its name. First, the Shield Liger is the first Zoid to use the front-facing Energy Shield, making it impervious to most attacks. Van is also the first to tinker with the Energy Shield’s mechanics, realizing that its forward-facing nature can transform the Shield Liger into a battering ram. Although there are other mecha in other franchises that prominently feature shield-like mechanics, the Shield Liger being the only one animal mecha to demonstrate this compared to other humanoid mecha makes it all the more iconic.
8Pearl (One Piece)
Who better to represent shield users in anime thanPearl, aOne Piecevillain that uses shields for armor? Considered one of the main antagonists in the anime’s Baratie Arc, Pearl the Iron Wall’s claim to fame is his leadership of the Krieg Pirates’ second unit and the infamy of using even dirty tactics at his disposal to secure victory. However, what makes Pearl quite the interesting combatant is the unique way he uses his shield-and-pearl arsenal to match thewackiness of powers inOne Piece.
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In combat, Pearl heavily relies on brute force to smash enemies with his powerful shields and depends on the same equipment to protect himself from bullets and even cannonballs. Pearl can use friction to ignite his armor in protective fire, which he can then use to ignite pearls and spread them across the battlefield. Despite his fear of being injured and defeat at the hands of Gin, Pearl proves the efficiency of the best defense is a good offense.
7Ko Murakami (World Trigger)
Although the slow growth of Osamu Mikumo makes him an admirable shield user inWorld Trigger, the terrifying adaptability of Ko Murakami makes him the user of the more competent armament. Thanks to his ability to absorb things he’s experienced with a short nap, Murakami can quickly turn the tide of battle by dual-wielding Kogetsu (katana) and Raygust (blade/shield), freely switching tools depending on what the situation needs from him.
Although Raygust has a default blade mode that can transform into a shield, Murakami continues to impress users with his creative use of the defensive implement. While other users just tank damage with the shield, Murakami knows the Raygust shield to such an extent that he can dodge or even redirect attacks by subtly changing its angle. Moreover, he can capitalize on the shield’s manifestation sequence to generate distance between attacks or force enemies into uncomfortable positions.
6Heathcliff (Sword Art Online)
Kirito as a protagonist may have wowed audiences with his unique dual-wielding proficiency inSword Art Online. Still, his main foil in the anime’s first season came in the form of Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of the eponymous death game who also served as the MMO’s surprise shield-toting final boss. Taking the in-game nameHeathcliff, Kayaba is revealed to have been observing things behind the scenes as the leader of the Knights of the Blood,Sword Art Online’s most prestigious guild.
In combat,Heathcliff possesses the Holy Sword skill, where he can use his Liberator tower shield to tackle foes or to protect himself near-instantaneously. Although Kirito’s character-unique Dual Blades skill outpaced Heathcliff’s defenses, most other characters can’t make a dent in Heathcliff’s nigh-invulnerable toolkit. In a game where swords are the main weapons, it’s befitting for the MMO’s creator and final boss to bypass this rule with a sword and shield combo.
5Tooru Kokonoe (Absolute Duo)
All students enrolled in Koryo Academy train as fighters to become part of the world’s future peacekeepers. InAbsolute Duo, these students manifest their wills through weapons called Blaze and they’re assigned a Duo (hence the name) to train with during their stay in school. Thing is, protagonistTooru Kokonieis deemed an “Irregular” in the Academy when his Blaze turns out to be a shield - a manifestation of his desire to protect others as a peacekeeper after the death of his younger sister.
Although bullied for his non-offensive Blaze, Tooru is quick to compensate through hard work and perseverance. He develops proficiency in martial arts to complement his shield with powerful force attacks. Such is his ferocity in battle that he’s nicknamed “Thor,” with his shockwave punch being dubbed “Mjolnir.” When using his shield, Tooru is able to become nigh-impervious to damage based on his mental energy - an ability that extends into Aegis Desire that lets him create barriers to protect him and his friends.
4Mash Kyrielight (Fate/Grand Order)
Despite gaining popularity in theFate/Grand Ordermobile game,Mash Kyrielighthas captured the hearts of viewers inFate/Grand Orderanime movies due to her loyalty to her Master Ritsuka Fujimaru and Chaldea Organization’s quest to fix the series’ various timelines. While at first introduced as a research assistant, an accident in Chaldea HQ will reveal Mash’s true nature as Chaldea’s version of a Holy Grail Servant, a Demi-Servant bearing the classification Shielder.
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InFate/Grand Ordergameplay,leveling up Mash will result in one of the best defensive characters in the gacha game. Her protective capabilities are immense and she can singlehandedly boost the survivability of the entire team with her defensive buffs. In the lore, she possesses two Noble Phantasms or ultimate abilities - one during her early days, and one after discovering her true nature. Unlike other Servants whose growth is locked within their progress in their lifetimes, Mash being a “living” Demi-Servant can grow exponentially to the point that her power may make her a full-fledged Servant or Heroic Spirit.
3Naofumi Iwatani (The Rising Of The Shield Hero)
When it comes to tragic heroes in an isekai series, it’sNaofumi IwataniofThe Rising of the Shield Herowho probably had the worst luck at the story’s onset. Although transported to a fantasy world to protect it from inter-dimensional threats, a false assault accusation and being the victim of thievery would have almost everyone ostracize Naofumi. And while new companions such as Raphtalia would end Naofumi’s solo training, the eponymous Shield Hero will eventually prove his defensive-leaning Legendary Shield is more than a protective instrument.
Throughout his adventures inThe Rising of the Shield Hero, Naofumi discovers the hidden power of his Legendary Shield that emphasizes boosting the stats of other weapons. On top of his shield-intensive combat style,Naofumi’s Legendary Shieldcan transform into different shield types with various buffs and skills. The flexible nature of his Shield allows Naofumi to live up to his potential as the quick-witted Shield Hero, where he proves more adaptable in combat versus his other Hero counterparts.
2Maple (BOFURI: I Don’t Want To Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense)
Although protagonist Kaede Honjou doesn’t get trapped in NewWorld Online, her in-game characterMaplegets worldwide notoriety inBOFURI: I Don’t Want To Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defensecourtesy of her ridiculous focus on defense. Much of this odd premise is due to her friend Risa Shiramine (Sally) insisting that Kaede try NewWorld, even if she doesn’t know anything about MMOs. Such is Maple’s fear of getting hurt and hurting others that she’s done nothing but boost her defense.
However,Kaede’s all-defense route inBOFURIhas resulted in quite a kerfuffle throughout the anime. While sluggish due to nonexistent AGI, her ridiculously-high DEF makes her nigh-impenetrable against most damage. Not only that, she’s maxed out other defensive stats such as VIT, and gained special abilities, such as a one-hit counter-attack. Other skills she’s acquired are also defensive, with anything resembling an offensive ability often caused by accident - such as a skill that summons monsters to fight on her behalf.
1Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)
Introduced first as a rather cold and emotionless Magical Girl inPuella Magi Madoka Magica, the enigmaticHomura Akemiwill grow to become one of the most important among Madoka’s eventual companions in the story. However, aside fromHomura’s integral role inMadoka’sstory, Homura also remains one of the most competent Magical Girls in existence. Aside from her usual magical abilities, she uses a pistol and a buckler as her default set of weaponry, making her quite a standout among the other girls.
However, what’s more, interesting about Homura is the nature of the buckler itself. Although powerful enough to defend Homura against most attacks, her shield’s ability shines when imbued with magical energy. When activated, Homura’s shield can teleport, create energy projectiles, and even create portals where she can steal firearms from Japanese military bases. Not only that, her shield is a sand timer that not only lets her stop time but allows her to rewind time as far as a month ago. When Madoka and her peers discover Homura’s unique shield ability, many of the anime’s mysteries unravel.
