10 most iconic finishing moves in anime, ranked

The most iconic finishing moves in anime are the ones that sit in the back of the minds of fans, ready to be triggered as soon as their anime series or a character related to them is mentioned.

Most fans consider nostalgia to play a key role in declaring finishing moves in anime as "iconic," but new anime series could also have some finishing moves that became popular so fast that they became some of the best ones.

In this article, 10 of the most iconic finishing moves in anime will be compiled and ranked according to their popularity amongst the fandom. Be it the classic finishing moves from the depths of nostalgia or some new ones that took the internet by storm as soon as they were aired.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

Kamehameha, Full Counter, and 8 of the most iconic finishing moves in anime, ranked

10) 100% release - Mob Psycho 100

Kageyama as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

A release of psychic energy at its maximum after storing it till 100%, the 100% release is the finishing move of Kageyama Shigeo, the main protagonist of Mob Psycho 100. Despite being an amazing esper, Shigeo considers it bad to use his psychic powers to bullet others.

So, he keeps storing it in his consciousness. As everything has a limit, the limit to storing psychic energy is also 100% and it is related to Shigeo's emotions, which he hardly express. Once 100% is hit, one of Shigeo's emotions explodes, which is either anger, rejection, sadness or any other, alongside the release of tremendous psychic energy.

9) Hinokami Kagura - Demon Slayer

Tanjiro as seen in the anime (Image via Ufotable)

One of the most iconic finishing moves in anime from the magnum opus of Studio Ufotable, Hinokami Kagura is the breathing technique taught only to the family of the protagonist, the Kamado family. The technique is closely related to the breathing technique of the Flame Hashira, Sun Breathing.

Hinokami Kagura is passed down as a legacy and was passed from Tanjuro Kamado, Tanjiro's father, to the protagonist. It is used through a ritual dance that Tanjiro witnessed his father doing once deep in the forests.

8) Domain Expansion - Jujutsu Kaisen

Sukuna (left) and Gojo (right) as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

One of the newest finishing moves in anime that became iconic due to its unique hand signs, Domain Expansion is the trademark finishing move in Jujutsu Kaisen, which only the strongest sorcerers can do.

Be it Satoru Gojo's Infinite Void or Ryomen Sukuna's Malevolent Shrine, Domain Expansion is simple. It involves the sorcerer restricting a certain area, marking it as his domain, and inside this domain, the cursed technique of the caster is a sure-hit technique. This makes Domain Expansion a technique that only the strongest sorcerers can achieve, like Gojo Satoru, Yuta Okkotsu, and many others.

7) Spirit Gun - Yu Yu Hakusho

Yusuke as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

One of the classic finishing moves in anime and one of the oldest ones too, Spirit Gun is the finishing move of Yusuke Urameshi, the protagonist of Yu Yu Hakusho. He used it first in the direction of the God who resurrected him, Koenma.

The name of this finishing move comes from the first time it was used as the protagonist made a gun sign with his hands while throwing a beam of spirit energy from his fingertip. The size of this beam got bigger with time but its name remained the same.

6) Smash - My Hero Academia

All Might (left) and Deku (right) as seen in the anime (Image via Bones)

Be it All Might's United States of Smash or Izuku Midoriya's Delaware Detriot Smash, Smash is the trademark move of the quirk One for All in My Hero Academia. It is one of the most iconic finishing moves in anime and can only be performed by characters that have the One for All quirk.

The concept of this finishing move revolves around the destructive power of One for All, but it needs to be used with caution and a limited percentage. Midoriya has broken his limbs several times due to using an excessive percentage of One for All in his attacks.

5) Gomu Gomu no Pistol - One Piece

Monkey D Luffy as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Gomu Gomu no Pistol is one of the finishing moves of the Gum-Gum Devil Fruit (real name: Human-Human devil fruit, Model: Nika). It is one of the most iconic finishing moves in anime.

It is also the first move Luffy, the protagonist, used when he left for the Grand Line to look for a pirate crew and become the Pirate King in the One Piece anime. The finishing move involves Luffy extending his hand and punching his opponent with his fist.

4) Rasengan - Naruto

Naruto (left) and Minato (right) as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

One of the famous finishing moves in anime and a technique developed by the Fourth Hokage, Rasengan is one of the most iconic finishing moves in anime, getting its reputation from the user Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of Naruto.

It is also one of the hardest finishing moves in anime as learning it involves going through three learning classes: learning how to rotate the chakra, increasing its volume, and combining the first two steps and holding the resulting chakra in a contained form. This makes Rasengan a ball of chakra that certainly packs a punch.

3) Full Counter - The Seven Deadly Sins

Meliodas as seen in the anime (Image via A-1 Pictures)

One of the most iconic finishing moves in anime that lost its flare soon due to its anime's poor animation, Full Counter is a finishing move used by Meliodas, the protagonist, and Estarossa, one of the main antagonists, of The Seven Deadly Sins.

Although the working principle behind this move is still unknown, it simply revolves around reflecting an opponent's attack with a more powerful force than the original. Meliodas can reflect magical attacks whereas Estarossa can reflect physical attacks.

2) Bankai - Bleach

Tensa Zangetsu (left) and Sóó Zabimaru (left) as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

The final form of a Zanpakuto, Bankai is the most famous finishing move in Bleach and one of the strongest finishing moves in anime. To awaken this form of a Zanpakuto, a sword, the user needs to enter the inner world of their Zanpakuto and materialize their sword into the real world, which takes 10 or more years to master, not to mention the experience the user needs as a swordsman.

Keisuke Uraraha, one of the supporting protagonists, and Ichigo Kurosaki, the main protagonist, are the only swordsmen who have awakened their Bankai in mere days instead of years. Be it Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu, Yamamoto's Zanka no Tachi, or anyone else's bankai, this technique has been one of the most popular finishing moves in anime since the early days.

1) Kamehameha - Dragon Ball

Goku as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

The most iconic finishing move in anime that sits in the hearts of every anime fan, Kamehameha is the best gift Akira Toriyama gave to the anime fandom before passing away. Named by the wife of the author of the Dragon Ball franchise, every anime fan has a vivid memory of performing this technique in their childhood.

The finishing move involves curling one's hand into a cupped shape and concentrating ki between them. After concentrating the ki, the user pushes his arms forward, sending the concentrating ki forward like a blast. In the world of anime, Kamehameha stands as the eternal legacy of the late Toriyama sensei.

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Edited by Meenakshi Ajith