Popular action anime series are filled with iconic special moves. These stem from an underlying power system that particular franchises use. Special moves are also signifiers and traits that help various characters in a series stand out in their unique ways.
Iconic moves are also the reason why tropes and discussions around the most powerful anime characters exist. Constant arguments and power scaling on the internet about which anime character can be who.
In the following list, we take a look at the most iconic special moves in all of anime.
Special Moves in Anime That Are Iconic
Rasengan (Naruto)
There have been several modified versions of the rasengan, making it exceptionally powerful over the years. But the most memorable and iconic version will always be the base rasengan. Naruto worked really hard to learn the ability to use it.
Originally, Naruto’s father, Minato came up with the idea to create this ability. He called it “Halo Frozen Dessert Hair Whorl Jiraiya Twin Formula Sphere” which was deemed too long. So both his wife and Jiraya shortened it to rasengan.
The rasengan is a jutsu in Naruto that involves the user creating a spinning ball of energy using their chakra. Initially, Naruto found it very difficult to successfully create something like this. But eventually, he found a clever way to use it with the help of his clones.
Spirit Bomb (Dragon Ball Z)
Technically, the kamehameha should be the most iconic move ever conceived in Dragon Ball franchise. But the novelty wears off when you realize that most of the characters in the show were able to use it.
Executing the spirit bomb, on the other hand, always seemed hard-earned. It is always used as the last resort when all else fails. This is why we think that Goku’s spirit bomb is the most iconic special move in all of anime.
The idea of spirit bomb is fairly simple, but in use, it’s one of the most destructive special moves ever. It’s an incredibly concentrated ball of energy that is gathered from all living beings in the universe.
Spirit Gun (Yu Yu Hakusho)
Here is another special move with ‘spirit’ in the name, but it comes from a completely different show. The spirit gun is one of the most iconic special moves among retro anime. It is definitely up there with moves such as the kamehameha and rasengan.
The spirit gun originates from the classic anime, Yu Yu Hakusho. Written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi, who is also known for the HunterxHunter series.
Protagonist Yusuke Urameshi is the user of the spirit gun. In practicality, it is a large and concentrated shot of one’s spirit energy in the form of a gun but with bare hands. The spirit gun can reach up to an undefined range and can be very powerful depending on the user’s spirit energy.
Getsuga Tensho (Bleach)
The Bleach anime series has many memorable special moves that look visually stunning and are powerful. But the most iconic special move has to be the protagonist, Ichigo’s getsuga tensho.
A lot of the special moves in anime involve utilizing the spirit energy of living veins. The getsuga tensho is no different, although it requires Ichigo’s Zanpakutou. The zanpaktou absorbs the user’s reiatsu, which is then sent out in an exploding wave.
Ichigo isn’t the only character in Bleach who is able to utilize the getsugo tensho move. His father Isshin Kurosaki can also use it, but it looks different in form and composition.
Za Warudo (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure)
It’s hard to narrow down any particular special move from the Jojo’s Bizzare Adventure series. Since there’s so much history in this long-running franchise, with so many characters over the years.
But we have narrowed it down to one iconic move that is definitely a fan favorite. It’s Dio’s Za Warudo, or ‘The World’ in English, which allows him to stop time.
Za Warudo is so popular that it has been referenced countless times in other media as a parody. It has also been a meme on the internet for years now. This iconic move also helped catapult the Jojo anime series into popularity.
Serious punch (One Punch Man)
Originally written as a web comic by One, the One Punch Man anime franchise shot into popularity when it got picked up by Yusuke Murata. This is a weird series to include in this list, because Saitama, the protagonist, technically doesn’t have any special move.
Saitama’s main gimmick in the franchise is that he is able to beat almost all his enemies using a single punch. The show is a comic deconstruction of powerscaling in the superhero genre.
Although there are times when Saitama has had to face enemies who didn’t go down with a single punch. That is when we have seen some of his iconic moves show up, especially the serious punch.
Saitiama is seen using the serious punch move only at times when he wants to give his power an extra oomph. This move is heavily destructive for the environment and can send shockwaves that split through nature in half.
Black Flash (Jujutsu Kaisen)
The original source material was written and illustrated by manga creator Gege Akutami. As soon as the animated series was produced by studio MAPPA, Jujutsu Kaisen was a hit. It might as well be one of the most popular shows currently.
Set in modern times but with action, power fantasy elements. Jujutsu Kaisen is no different from a lot of the shows in this list. It deals with a cast of characters and their supernatural abilities.
The most iconic movie in this anime has to be the black flash, which the protagonist Yuji Itadori mastered. A lot of the supernatural abilities in the show utilize cursed powers as opposed to spiritual energy.
Black flash is a bout applying an exorbitant amount of cursed energy to physical attacks. The specialty of this is that it has to be applied at the very fraction of a second.
Detroit Smash (My Hero Academia)
My Hero Academia is a brilliant take on the superhero genre from the perspective of anime culture. The story is set in a modern world where superheroes are abundant and their powers are called quirks.
The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya wasn’t born with any quirk. But due to his nature and perseverance, the hero All Might bestowed upon him his quirk. This obviously meant he got access to some of his iconic special moves.
The most famous one has to be All Might’s detroit smash. It is a signature punch move that concentrates the user’s stockpiled power into their fist to perform a devastating blow. Much like the other punch moves on this list, it is very destructive and capable of immobilizing enemies.
Gomu Gomu no Pistol (One Piece)
One Piece is set in a fantasy world with pirates and seafarers, where more land is submerged under water than one can imagine. The power system in the anime is very interesting in nature. Users consume the devil fruits, which give them weird and wonderful abilities.
Our main character, Luffy ate the gum gum fruit, which turned him into a rubber man. This gave him access to an arsenal of devastating and stretchy moves.
The most iconic move has to be Luffy’s gomu gomu no pistol shot. It is also known as a gum gun pistol in English. It allows him to send a stretched-out powerful punch at his enemies.
Although there are a lot of iconic moves that Luffy can use, the gum gum pistol is special. It’s the one move that he can always go back to, no matter how much experience he gains.
Hokuto Hyakuretsu Ken (Fist of the Northstar)
Fist of the Northstar is considered as one of the earliest precursors of shounen anime, which solidified some of the tropes. These include the most important of all, i.e., iconic special moves.
The franchise follows the adventures of Kenshiro in a dystopian, barren setting from the future. He has a lot of destructive special moves in his arsenal. Abilities that allow him to trigger particular pressure points in his enemies, killing them.
Kenshiro’s most iconic move has to be the hokuto hyakuretsu ken, or hundred crack fist in english. He throws a flurry of violent punches at his enemy’s pressure points, making them explode to death.
The iconic move is quite popular and has been referenced in other media, such as the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure series. It is also constantly brought up in parodies and in internet meme subcultures.
