【Blade of the Immortal】Strength ranking announced! Of course the strongest person is that person?

This time, I’d like to announce my own personal ranking of the strongest characters in Blade of the Immortal.
Of course, the undisputed strongest character is that person!

【Blade of the Immortal】Strength Ranking Announcement! The strongest is, of course, that person!

Now, let’s move on to the ranking!
I’ll also explain the reasons for each ranking, so please be aware that there will be significant spoilers.

Let’s start with number 5!

【Blade of the Immortal】Strength Ranking – 5th Place: Shira

5th Place: Shira

Shira ranks in at number five, widely recognized as one of the most psychopathic characters in the series.

In terms of battle record, he initially rampages through low-ranking Itto-ryu members as part of the Mugai-ryu. However, his excessive brutality leads Manji to cut off one of his arms.

When he reappears later, he encounters Manji, who is accompanied by Itto-ryu’s Kyō. Strangely, Shira, who originally had black hair, is now white-haired. According to him, this transformation occurred due to the unbearable pain he endured when he modified his severed arm—filing down the exposed bone into a sharp, weaponized point.

If insanity alone were the ranking criteria, Shira would undoubtedly be number one. However, he ultimately loses to Kyō, who is driven by revenge, and falls into a ravine, marking his first defeat.

After disappearing for a while, he is captured by Habaki Kagimura and forcibly subjected to the same immortality experiments as Manji. Now possessing a body similar to Manji’s, he returns as a vengeful demon. Moreover, having suffered a severe head injury from his fall, he also loses the ability to feel pain. With both regenerative abilities and pain immunity, he appears to have become an unstoppable force. However, his adaptation to the kessen-chū (bloodworms) is inferior to Manji’s, leading to his second defeat.

The fate of the series’ most deranged character is as gruesome as expected—he is devoured by a pack of stray dogs. Given his countless atrocities, it’s hard to feel sympathy for him.

While his official battle record is one win and two losses, he overwhelms opponents with sheer brutality at various points in the story. It’s safe to assume that an ordinary swordsman would stand no chance against him.

Taking into account his psychopathic nature and incredible toughness, ranking him in fifth place feels justified.

【Blade of the Immortal】Strength Ranking – 4th Place: Sōsuke Abayama

4th Place: Sōsuke Abayama

Ranking in at number four is Sōsuke Abayama, the vice leader of the Itto-ryu and a mentor-like figure who has watched over Anotsu Kagehisa since childhood.

His strength is best showcased in his battle against the Mugai-ryu’s Giichi (though he has had minor skirmishes as well). In this intense fight, he pushes the monstrously strong Giichi to the brink, engaging in a near-perfect balance of offense and defense, only to suffer a narrow defeat. The fact that he was able to bring Giichi to such a desperate struggle alone justifies his ranking.

Moreover, Giichi’s victory was largely due to his own unique abilities. If any other character had faced Abayama under the same circumstances, most swordsmen would have been completely overwhelmed and defeated.

One of Abayama’s most remarkable qualities is his deceptive fighting style—he lures his opponents into a false sense of security with his one-armed appearance, only to reveal an incredibly long and deadly weapon hidden beneath his kimono. This move, combined with his sheer presence, cements his status as both a refined older warrior and an absolute powerhouse.

Since his strength is mainly gauged in comparison to Giichi, I personally wish we had seen more of Abayama’s intense battles throughout the series.

Honestly, I would have loved to see a showdown between him and Shira!

【Blade of the Immortal】Strength Ranking – 3rd Place: Giichi

Strength Ranking – 3rd Place: Giichi

Giichi, one of the top swordsmen of the Mugai-ryu, ranks in at number three.

In addition to his earlier battle with Sōsuke Abayama, his overall battle record is impressive, with a significant win rate that justifies this ranking. Many readers will likely agree that his numerous victories back this position.

Notably, Giichi, along with Habaki Kagimura, pretends to host the Itto-ryu members, only to poison them and, along with Habaki, massacre the swordsmen who were paralyzed by the poison. According to Abayama’s post-fight commentary, even though the swordsmen were weakened, the fact that Giichi and Habaki wiped out nearly all of them with just the two of them highlights their incredible strength.

Giichi is also known for his remarkable fights against the immortal Manji, where he holds his own, and for easily defeating other Itto-ryu swordsmen. His strength is undeniably extraordinary, and this ranking is well deserved.

Known for his tricky and unconventional weapon, which appears to have low lethality but is actually deadly, Giichi is the ultimate hitman with a seemingly low-kill weapon that can surprise opponents on first encounter.

【Blade of the Immortal】Strength Ranking – 2nd Place (Tied): Habaki Kagimura ≒ Anotsu Kagehisa

Strength Ranking – 2nd Place (Tied): Habaki Kagimura ≒ Anotsu Kagehisa

The leader of the Itto-ryu, Anotsu Kagehisa, and the boss of the Mugai-ryu, Habaki Kagimura, are undoubtedly equals when it comes to their final battle, where their exchange of blows leaves little room for doubt about their parity.

Moreover, no swordsman besides the number one ranked character (who we’ll discuss later) can match the level of combat skill demonstrated in their fierce exchange. This suggests that there is an invisible barrier at this rank, indicating that the fighters from second place and above are almost beyond human limits (their movements are almost superhuman).

Even with immortal bodies or the ability to feel no pain, they would be helpless if their limbs were severed. Therefore, no swordsman could possibly match the swordsmanship of these two. This is why Habaki Kagimura and Anotsu Kagehisa are tied for second place.

【Blade of the Immortal】Strength Ranking – 1st Place: Ototachibana Makie

Yes, she is truly in a class of her own.
The well-deserved 1st place in the “Blade of the Immortal” strength ranking goes to Ototachibana Makie. This is a fact that cannot be disputed.

The reasons supporting this ranking are clear:

• Upon her first appearance, she easily dominated Manji in battle. Had it not been for Makie’s whim, Manji would have been torn apart, and the story would have ended right there.
• She also effortlessly defeated multiple disciples of the Shingata Karō-ryu without a scratch.
• Next, she faced three skilled swordsmen, two from another country under Habaki Kagimura’s command, and one of Habaki’s aides, and defeated them without taking a single hit. She knocked them out while fending off attacks from three directions (including ranged attacks) without a scratch.
• Moreover, she was the only swordsman whom the genius Anotsu Kagehisa admired. He reportedly felt fear from her swordsmanship.
• Lastly, her overwhelming power caused Habaki Kagimura to shudder in fear, forcing him to withdraw several dozen of his own soldiers.

Just the reasons listed here should make you understand why she deserves the top spot in the strength ranking.

Honestly, if it weren’t for her incurable disease and the time limit on her life, none of the swordsmen who made it onto this ranking would stand a chance against her. Without that time bomb ticking, I believe even all the swordsmen from Blade of the Immortal would struggle to defeat her if they all teamed up.

summary

So, with that, I have presented my personal “Blade of the Immortal” strength ranking. I understand there may be differing opinions, but I believe the rankings from 4th place and above will be largely agreeable to most.

There are certainly other strong swordsmen in the story, like Umaji Yumi, who didn’t have much of a strength showcase but were still formidable. However, I excluded them from this ranking.

Unfortunately, the protagonist, Manji, didn’t make the list. But let’s be honest—he’s immortal, but he’s not particularly strong, right??