The Best Anime Tournament Arcs, Ranked

Tournament arcs are a staple in most anime. It’s one of the best and cleanest ways to pit two great fighters in a battle against each other, usually with a spectacular end result. There are several anime that have used tournament arcs to great effect, giving side characters some much-needed exposure while also letting these fighters develop their character extensively. In some instances, these tournaments are so great that they easily become one of the best parts of the entire show.

It’s a monumental achievement, with many anime showing how to execute a tournament arc properly. The fights featured in these arcs are in a class of their own and show why these tournaments are one of the most effective settings for any anime, shonen or otherwise, to excel on multiple fronts. Suffice it to say, fans who check out these arcs will completely understand why the tournament format is so common across most anime.

Updated on September 7th, 2024, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: Anime sure has a way of capturing viewers’ attention. One particular method anime uses to capture attention is through the presence of a tournament arc, and it has become a staple in anime, especially shonen anime. These arcs are very thrilling, offering high-stakes battles and intense character development. Most protagonists end their tournament arc stronger than they started it, pushing themselves and going beyond their limits. There are so many anime with great tournament arcs that leave viewers on the edge of their seats. These arcs are pivotal to the storyline of the anime as they prepare the protagonist for a greater battle ahead, like the Crown Game Arc in Tower of God.

25 63rd National High School Sensha-dō Tournament

Girls und Panzer

While most girls are known to partake in sports like basketball, volleyball, track, cheerleading, and so on, the girls in Girls und Panzer partake in a different, more unconventional sport: Sensha-dō. Sensha-dō is a girls-only sport that involves using a war tank to compete in elimination-based matches.

The 63rd National High School Sensha-dō Tournament is the main tournament in this anime, and the protagonist, Miho, overcomes her trauma caused by this sport and leads her teammates to victory in the tournament. This tournament brings together different teams from across the country to compete for the title of champion. In order for a team to be tagged as the champion, they have to capture as many flags as possible. Once a team’s flag has been captured, they are eliminated from the tournament.

24 All Japan Rookie King Tournament

Hajime No Ippo

It is quite safe to say that boxing saved Ippo’s life. Through boxing, he went from being a timid kid who was a prime target for bullies to having one of the most successful boxing careers in Japan for a new and upcoming fighter. Getting into this world was not easy, but with enough practice and plenty of sleepless nights, Ippo adjusted.

After winning the title of East Japan Rookie King, Ippo went on to participate in the All Japan Rookie King Tournament. During this tournament arc, Ippo undergoes significant character development, as he now has more courage in himself and his career. He faces an obstacle that allows him to withdraw from the tournament, but after some medical advice, he decides to train his fists and muscles for his upcoming match. Things were not easy for Ippo during this arc, but he did not give up, and in the end, he emerged victorious and went home as the All Japan Rookie King.

23 Crown Game

Tower Of God

Everyone has that one thing they truly desire, be it wealth, fame, or something more personal. In Tower of God, individuals get the chance to have their desires granted as long as they can make it to the top of the tower, a mysterious structure that summons people to try to reach for the top. The protagonist of this anime, Bam, decides to go after his one and only friend, Rachel, after she is summoned by the tower. Since Bam was not summoned, he is tagged as an irregular, and his journey is exceedingly tough, but he perseveres in hopes of seeing his friend again one day.

The Crown Game is an arc that starts early in the anime, introducing the protagonist to the challenges that the tower has to offer. The crown game involves various teams battling to seize and defend a crown, with one member sitting on a throne across multiple rounds to win the game. This game involves strategic thinking, and it is during this game that Bam discovers he has powers. As the anime progresses, he understands more about himself and his mysterious abilities.

22 The Corpse Carnival

Deadman Wonderland

In Deadman Wonderland, the titular facility is a privately owned prison where the protagonist, Ganta Igarashi, is waiting for his death sentence. Ganta’s world is not as it used to be as he goes from a middle school teacher to a Deadman, who is someone who can control blood. In Deadman Wonderland, the prisoners partake in deadly and dangerous activities to entertain the visitors.

The Corpse Carnival is a brutal event similar to the gladiators’ battle that took place in ancient Rome, but in this case, the Deadmen in the prison have to compete with one another. The loser of this game will have to undergo surgery without any form of anesthesia, in which a part of their body will be removed.

21 The Inter High Tournament

Yowamushi Pedal

Onoda’s only friend is his city bicycle. He has been finding it hard to make new friends, particularly those who share the same interests as him. Onada is a die-hard fan of anime and manga; in other words, an otaku. Going into high school, Onada’s plan was to join an anime club and make friends, but his dreams were quickly crushed when he found out that his new school does not have an anime club anymore.

However, Onada’s love for cycling catches the attention of Naruko, who encourages him to join their school’s bicycle racing club. The Inter High is a yearly cycling event where all the schools in Japan with cycling clubs come to compete for the title of champion, and since Onoda joined Sohoku’s cycling club, he has been participating in this event. During the 43rd Inter High tournament, Onoda becomes the captain of the cycling team at his school.

20 Maximum Tournament Saga

Baki The Grappler

Baki The Grappler has a simple storyline, follwing a young boy aiming to overtake his father as the strongest man in their world. This anime is filled with men training every muscle in their body. From an early age, Baki starts learning every technique martial arts has to offer under his mother’s guidance. After he realizes he needs more than what martial arts have to offer, he leaves to seek other types of strength.

The Maximum Tournament Saga is a martial arts tournament where different fighters come to show their strength and get the title of champion and a Pankration belt. Baki attends and participates in this tournament. He was initially disregarded because of his height, but that turns out to be a great mistake as Baki enters the ring and shows everyone he is the boss. He wins the tournament and leaves as the Champion of the Underground Arena.

19 Duelist Kingdom

Yu-Gi-Oh!

There’s no denying that the Duelist Kingdom arc might not hold up on a rewatch. However, there’s something special about this arc that got many fans into the spirit of dueling in Yu-Gi-Oh!

The fact that this tournament was arranged by the devilishly entertaining Maximillion Pegasus made things even more engaging. All in all, Duelist Kingdom is a great watch that displays what Yu-Gi-Oh is all about.

18 Kengan Annihilation Tournament

Kengan Ashura

The entirety of Kengan Ashura is one big tournament with a few breaks in between. This makes for a fun, mature thrill ride as viewers immerse themselves in the world of underground gladiatorial bouts, with Ohma Tokita at the helm.

The fights in the series are fantastic, and show the vice of greed and how heinous human beings can be. The show has way more depth than what meets the eye, even if the animation can be hard to watch at times.

17 U.A. Sports Festival

My Hero Academia

The Sports Festival in My Hero Academia was a great celebration that helped all the students in the series showcase their powers brilliantly. After some preliminary competitions, the arc ended with a bunch of one-on-one fights in a tournament.

The highlight of this arc was easily Midoriya’s fight against Todoroki, which helped the latter embrace the full extent of his powers. It was a great clash, although the fact that it happened in the semifinals did take the wind out of the sails in the finals when Todoroki and Bakugo faced off.

16 Universe 6 Tournament

Dragon Ball Super

Dragon Ball Super brought the Dragon Ball franchise back from the grave, after many people felt like Toriyama had stopped working on the series, barring a few one-shots. Battle of Gods was a great addition to the lore of Dragon Ball, with Resurrection F bringing back the legendary Frieza too. Following these arcs, the first original story adapted in Dragon Ball Super was a tournament between Universe 6 and 7.

This made for some great moments as the concept of parallel universes allowed for some unique fights to take place. Vegeta became a mentor to Cabba, and Frost appeared as a unique version of Frieza who was just as conniving. Goku brought back the legendary Kaioken for an amazing moment that still stands strong as one of Super’s best highlights…despite the poor animation that this show was riddled with.

15 The Grand Magic Games

Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail is a popular shonen series, although it might not be the most groundbreaking one. However, there are moments when this anime shines. The Grand Magic Games are a great example.

This was the moment when the Fairy Tail guild would finally prove its worth. The battles in this arc are amazing, and the final fight between the Dragon Slayers is a thing of pure beauty.

14 Battle City

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Duelist Kingdom may be a wild ride, but many fans agree that a lot of moments in this tournament arc came out of nowhere. This made for some weird moments when viewers watch it without their nostalgia-tinted glasses. Thankfully, Yu-Gi-Oh! fans were treated to a better tournament arc that learned from its past mistakes to make for an excellent experience from start to end.

Battle City set up many important things that would influence the rest of the series, and it helped that the arc was better structured and had great pacing too. This made for an enjoyable tournament arc that didn’t have too many unexplained powerups and made for a better watch as fights had more logical and entertaining conclusions.

13 The Royal Knights Selection Exam

Black Clover

Black Clover got off to a slow start, prompting many people to drop the show before it got good . However, after a long wait, Black Clover finally showed why it’s worth all the hype.

This was especially prevalent during the Royal Knight’s Selection Exam, where the most intimidating fighters around tried to get into this powerful group and defeat the Eye of the Midnight Sun. The matchups in this arc are great and set the stage for Black Clover to become even more riveting to watch.

12 The Interhigh Volleyball Tournament

Haikyu!!

Sports anime can be a hard sell for many people. However, shows like Haikyu!! prove why these shows are worth a watch. The Interhigh Volleyball Tournament is a major highlight of this series.

The emotions during this arc run high. The volleyball team’s struggle to even get into this tournament keeps the stakes as high as possible. Karasuno High’s team is one to root for, and the other groups alre quite likable as well.

11 B-Rank Wars

World Trigger

World Trigger is a decent shonen series that fans can binge through if they want to check out some quality material that is simple to get into. In a bid to fight against the monsters called Neighbors, an organization called Border decides to step up to the task, employing the services of people who can use Triggers to attain an edge in battle.

These squads participate in tournaments to decide their superiority, with the top squads being selected for important missions. This is the premise for the B-Rank Wars arc, as the top two teams in this tier are selected for the Away Team.

10 Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event

Jujutsu Kaisen

Jujutsu Kaisen is easily one of the most popular anime these days. Such is the case with the Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event, which takes on the guise of a friendly tournament before turning into something else altogether.

This arc introduces many great characters, including fan-favorite Aoi Todo. There are many highlights in this arc, such as Itadori learning Black Flash and the Zenin sisters facing off in an emotional battle.

9 Tournament Of Power

Dragon Ball Super

It would be impossible to talk about tournament arcs in anime without mentioning Dragon Ball. After all, the various Martial Arts Tournaments that take place in this series have already become the stuff of legends.

The Tournament of Power is the final arc of Dragon Ball Super, and it’s brilliant in every way. However, the Tournament of Power does place style over substance, which is why it still doesn’t reach the lofty heights set by the other arcs in the series.

8 Corrida Colosseum

One Piece

The Dressrosa arc is one of the best arcs in One Piece. The Corrida Colosseum is just a small part of this story arc, yet easily feels like one of its more important segments.

The cast of new and returning characters that appear are all memorable in their own right. It sets the stage for what’s about to come in the Dressrosa arc and does so in brilliant fashion.

7 Heaven’s Arena

Hunter X Hunter

Hunter X Hunter is one of the best shonen anime of all time, featuring the brilliance of Yoshihiro Togashi at its very best. Heaven’s Arena is a great tournament arc in an anime that’s infinitely watchable.

The fact that Heaven’s Arena isn’t even the best arc in the series shows how high the quality of this series is. Gon and Killua take their time learning the basics of Nen before facing off against Hisoka once again.

6 The Survival Game

Future Diary

Future Diary is a riveting series in which twelve people receive diaries that allow them to see into the future in unique ways, before pitting them against each other in a battle to become the next god. This, coupled with the riveting duo of Yuki and Yuno, makes this show quite a blast.

Future Diary doesn’t pull punches when it comes to showing just how low humanity can sink to become a divine figure. It’s an incredible watch. The Survival Game is riveting to the end and easily one of the best tournament arcs in anime.