The best battle harem anime have often withstood the test of time. There are many series that have grown more popular over the years, and some have even gone as far as to completely redefine the genre.
This specific type of anime, as the name itself suggests, is a subgenre of the harem trope. It shows some of the core harem characteristics of a narrative that is centered around a protagonist who is surrounded by women.
They either usually end up becoming his love interests, his rivals, or just there to represent a form of “hyperbolic gender dynamic”. Some parts of the story can often be crass, with lewd and suggestive themes centered around fanservice.
However, these thematic moments are often represented in a way that makes them vital to the plot. The narrative is oftentimes rather ridiculous and based on a nonsensical premise. But it’s this approach to storytelling that makes harem anime perfect for the more casual audience.
The battle harem trope in particular has a genre-defining characteristic. The women here aren’t powerless like seen in most romance harems, and they come with a variety of combat abilities.
But that does not necessarily mean that the male protagonist takes the backseat. He is often the catalyst behind their powers, and even if he is not strong himself, he is the enabler that helps the rest of his party become the best demon slayers they can be.
Below is a list of some of the best battle harem anime that you can binge on right now.
The 5 best battle harem anime you should not be sleeping on
5) The Eminence in the Shadow
The Eminence in the Shadow is one of the best Isekai anime that perfectly encapsulates the battle harem genre. While the MC, Cid Kagenou, is extremely overpowered, his harem of female warriors is not too far behind in power-scaling.
In most battle harems where the protagonist is OP, his group of warriors often falls short of expectations when up against a difficult foe. These are moments when the MC comes to the rescue, and his harem is sidelined to becoming more of a supporting act.
That is not the case in The Eminence in the Shadow. Although the members of Shadow Garden are awe-struck by Cid’s display of magical prowess, each of them is still a very skilled warrior.
They can hold their own against some of the toughest foes. With much of the narrative being driven by their investigations into the Cult of Diablos, it is Shadow Garden who pushes the story forward.
Cid usually plays the supporting cast who barely has any idea of what is going on around him. This creates a beautiful contrast with Shadow Garden, who eventually grows to be a group of lethal strategists.
4) High School DxD
Not many harem anime have been able to reach the level of fanservice that High School DxD brings to the table. Over the years it has grown to be a very popular series which many consider to be one of the best in the battle harem genre.
The narrative of High School DxD follows Issei Hyoudou who plays the role of a perverted high schooler. He is very proud of who is and is often vocal about his desire to have his own harem. Issei is seen to indulge in lewd fantasies and he makes no effort to hide his innate desires.
Despite his perverted nature, Issei is courageous and very determined to protect those who are dear to him. However, he is still one of the weakest members of his group. In terms of combat experience, he is outdone by almost everyone on the team.
He usually takes up the role of the enabler during an encounter. But there are moments when he can channel his inner capabilities. Especially when he is determined to protect those he loves.
Issei eventually grows to be a reliable fighter, but till then he is overshadowed by the rest of the powerful women in his “so-called” harem. While he might be the weakest Red Dragon emperor, Issei is also the kindest among his predecessors.
Unlike most battle harem MCs he is not power-hungry, which is why he never succumbed to the curse of the Boosted Gear.
3) Saber Marionette J
Saber Marionette J is a classic not just as a battle harem anime. It combines a lot of the other tropes that were popular at the time ranging from mecha to even comedy.
It’s one of the earliest shows that defined the genre to an extent. However, unlike most modern-day series around the trope, Sabior Marionette J has a rather deep plot. There are profound philosophical intimations that set it apart from most other works of the genre.
Hence, it’s not too surprising why it’s still considered to be one of the best battle harem anime, even today.
The narrative takes place on a colonized planet away from Earth. Women are represented as Marionettes here or androids. This is because an expedition had led to the extinction of all women kind from the colony.
Marionettes are usually considered to be emotionless dolls in the colony. However, protagonist Otaru Mamiya stumbles upon three unique androids who show signs of empathy as well as the capacity for human emotion.
The story follows Otaru’s journey with his Marionettes as he teaches them what it means to be human.
Compared to the super-human Maionettes, Otaru has zero combat abilities. The Marionettes do the fighting for their masters and the series does boast some incredible fight scenes for its time.
2) Date A Live
For a battel harem anime Date A Live has quite a unique setting. The Story follows Shidou Itsuka who inhabits a world where mass destruction is an everyday affair.
These events are caused by a “special quake” which is a phenomenon caused by Spirits. They are extraterrestrial beings who have a hard time keeping their powers in check. Every time they overflow with power, there is a new calamity.
To exterminate them, the secret government of the world is preparing a task force. However, our protagonist does not join the force to hunt down the Spirits. This is because Shidou soon realizes that to contain the overwhelming power of the beings, all he has to do is make them fall in love with him.
While their powers are contained by love, they still possess access to a fair number of their abilities. They fight alongside Shidou who often works as a catalyst to amplify their potential.
As his harem grows, so does the Spirits’ competition for his attention. Although the plot has a fair bit of harem shenanigans, it’s still an amazing action anime in its own right. Especially later in the plot, the fight scenes are taken up a notch.
Date-A-Live does make a great entry-level series for those who are new to the battle harem genre.
1) Ranma ½
Ranma ½ can be easily considered an anime classic that has shaped the battle harem genre into what it is today. But what actually sets it apart from its contemporaries is how it breaks away from the mold.
In Ranma ½ the titular protagonist can turn into a woman or a man due to a curse that was inflicted after taking a dip in the wrong sacred spring. When Ranma pours cold water over himself he turns into a woman, while hot water turns him back to his original self.
The series is a hilarious entry in the genre, chalk-filled with some of the most memorable harem shenanigans in anime history. The situations that Ranma finds himself in will leave you gasping for air. Ranma ½ is indeed the most lighthearted and comic entry that we have on our list today.
However, what makes it one of the best battle harem anime is the combat. Apart from the humorous plotline, Ranma ½ has well-choreographed fight scenes. Most of the main characters, including the MC are adept fighters. Not a single episode goes by where Ranma is forced to defend himself due to a confusing situation created by his curse.
This concludes our list of the best battle harem anime of all time. For a similar list of some of the best anime out there, here are a few related topics you can check out:
Best anime like Delicious in Dungeon | Best Isekai anime protagonists | Best anime where MC starts weak but gets OP | Best anime like Solo Leveling | Best anime like the Unwanted Undead Adventurer | Best anime like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End | Anime characters who became more popular than the protagonist
