Who do you think is the best swordsman from fiction?

[Dark_Phoenix_Zaetyk]

No magic.

She has no magic,she basically uses sword techniques that are fast.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

She has no magic,she basically uses sword techniques that are fast.

Ok.

 

[Navillus]

No sword intent either. As I mentioned in the original post, no magical or near magical ability.

Well even then by the end of the story he is the strongest being in existence… he erases the entirety of the top 100 or so with a wave of his hand… and I’m pretty sure that were erased from the moment rather than any magic intent or Qi… so if he struck with his sword with only his skill and physical strength he’d still cut the entire Omniverse in two at the minimum… and skill wise he might be out done by a good few others… but that doesn’t mean jack in a competition of who’s the strongest-nyah.

 

[Worthy39]

I've seen a good number of OP swordsman, and I'd say that Zoro is a bit overrated. Skill? He's probably way up there. In terms of just sheer power though? I'd say Kenpachi Zaraki is probably physically one of the strongest swordsman you'll ever find. Another one is Shulk, though I don't think he takes the top spot, he definitely belongs in the discussion with his true Monado, though you could argue that's his sword, not the swordsman, but that's a whole other discussion. Another I can recommend is Kirito specifically from the OS movie, but again, you can argue that it's the sword, not the swordsman. And the last one I can think of, if he counts, is future Trunks. No explanation needed.


Edit: just saw the limitations about it, so I guess Shulk and Kirito don't count, but I still think Kenpachi belongs on the list, at least. Technically spiritual pressure is a energy, but excluding him for that feels like excluding a human for being born with muscles, since he was either born with, or when he died, gained a ridiculous amount. Plus, spiritual pressure is really just presence rather than an actual ability, especially for Kenpachi.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I've seen a good number of OP swordsman, and I'd say that Zoro is a bit overrated. Skill? He's probably way up there. In terms of just sheer power though? I'd say Kenpachi Zaraki is probably physically one of the strongest swordsman you'll ever find. Another one is Shulk, though I don't think he takes the top spot, he definitely belongs in the discussion with his true Monado, though you could argue that's his sword, not the swordsman, but that's a whole other discussion. Another I can recommend is Kirito specifically from the OS movie, but again, you can argue that it's the sword, not the swordsman. And the last one I can think of, if he counts, is future Trunks. No explanation needed.


Edit: just saw the limitations about it, so I guess Shulk and Kirito don't count, but I still think Kenpachi belongs on the list, at least. Technically spiritual pressure is a energy, but excluding him for that feels like excluding a human for being born with muscles, since he was either born with, or when he died, gained a ridiculous amount. Plus, spiritual pressure is really just presence rather than an actual ability, especially for Kenpachi.

I still think Kenpachi doesn't count. Same as how I replied to Zoro mentioned by Paul. If we use logic of being super strong we can say Luke Cage is the strongest swordsman, simply because he is super strong and his skin is impenetrable. While you can say Luke Cage gained his powers instead of being born with them, I can say Kenpachi isn't a human but a shinigami.

Now, if you think he is strongest even without spirit pressure, that's a different topic and I won't say anything against it.

 

[Worthy39]

I still think Kenpachi doesn't count. Same as how I replied to Zoro mentioned by Paul. If we use logic of being super strong we can say Luke Cage is the strongest swordsman, simply because he is super strong and his skin is impenetrable. While you can say Luke Cage gained his powers instead of being born with them, I can say Kenpachi isn't a human but a shinigami.

Now, if you think he is strongest even without spirit pressure, that's a different topic and I won't say anything against it.

That's fair, I guess. In that case, I'd say that the strongest fictional swordsman in my opinion that doesn't rely on any sort of super natural power, or even if they do and are just the strongest even without it, would be someone like Seiya Ryuuguin, though he is from a series where characters get levels, but I didn't see it on your list of what doesn't count. He does use magic, but even without it, assuming sword techniques don't count as magic, he was still going faster than the sound barrier pretty easily. He definitely would be stronger with magic, but even without it he's good. And then I guess I can also throw in Will from Wistoria. He does show that he has some weird magic absorbing ability, but he himself doesn't rely on or use magic, so in a straight sword fight he's clean, and is definitely a solid swordsman as long as he has a sword of decent quality.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I'm back with another entry. Does Beowulf count? If not, does the dragon sword guy from rezero count?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I'm back with another entry. Does Beowulf count? If not, does the dragon sword guy from rezero count?

Beowulf counts I guess? I honestly not sure how real he was. I don't know who dragon sword guy from rezero is.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Beowulf counts I guess? I honestly not sure how real he was. I don't know who dragon sword guy from rezero is.

Beowulf was more of a fictional hero from real-ish history. He could hold his breath for 9 days underwater, but that doesn't mean much for a swordsman.

Reid Astrea

Reid Astrea (レイド・アストレア) was the first Sword Saint and a key figure in the sealing of the Witch of Envy 400 years ago. Mentioned throughout the series, he formally debuted in Arc 6 as a secondary antagonist. Throughout Arc 6, his soul acted as the overseer of the second trial of the Pleiades...

rezero.fandom.com

 

[SwordSong]

She has no magic,she basically uses sword techniques that are fast.

Don't Claymores gain their powers from getting infused with Yoma, though? so their techniques and abilities have supernatural origins.

if not for that restriction, I'd also go with Teresa

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Talon from The Sword and the Sorcerer. What makes the bestestest swordsman? Someone who has a sword that functions like a gun!

 

[RepresentingPride]

Talon from The Sword and the Sorcerer. What makes the bestestest swordsman? Someone who has a sword that functions like a gun!

basically Squall huh

I still believe Zoro shouldn't be on any top swordman, same for Zaraki Kenpachi, guys the Bruh princess want you to take your character and limit it as a normal human being, so no hyper strength, no magic, no level, no nothing, just pure skill with a sword in hand, just in the Cultivation stories there tons of guys who lived 1 billion years, being slave of their swords for their entire life, they just on another level when it come to pure skill.

 

[Hoshino]

Shiki Ryougi from garden of sinners.

 

[Alski]

Don't Claymores gain their powers from getting infused with Yoma, though? so their techniques and abilities have supernatural origins.

if not for that restriction, I'd also go with Teresa

Yea claymores are definitly out, just the fact that they are infused with yoma makes their base form stronger than a human. Teresa may be at the top of the claymores for skill with a blade but her base stats from her superior yoki means we never reeally get to see her upperlimits because she is just bullying other claymores with her superior base stats.

 

[Dark_Phoenix_Zaetyk]

Don't Claymores gain their powers from getting infused with Yoma, though? so their techniques and abilities have supernatural origins.

if not for that restriction, I'd also go with Teresa

Damn i forgot claymores are mutant humans due to yoma infusion.

Yea claymores are definitly out, just the fact that they are infused with yoma makes their base form stronger than a human. Teresa may be at the top of the claymores for skill with a blade but her base stats from her superior yoki means we never reeally get to see her upperlimits because she is just bullying other claymores with her superior base stats.

Yeah i forgot this,due to yoma infusion claymores are basically half human where supernatural was involved,so teresa is out.

 

[BearlyAlive]

Shiki Ryougi from garden of sinners.

Pretty sure that one doesn't count. The 'no supernatural powers' rule hits almost everything in the Nasuverse; otherwise, the Shikis would be up a pretty good contenders.

Any game character where you can get said character to 100% evade/parry and 100% counterattack. Can't kill what you can't hit after all ? but I guess leveling counts supernatural stuff as well.

Any character who got to the pinnacle of their respective supernatural setting by swordsmanship alone, while denying the supernatural. There are always a few of those around to serve as a skill check for the protagonists after all.

 

[Worthy39]

Hang on. So supernatural beings and superhuman are out. But if there was a regular dinosaur or animal that could use a sword, does that count? (I don't know any, just figured I'd ask so others could use that if it does) And without supernatural abilities, I'd still say one of the contenders should be Will from Wistoria. As long as the fight is strictly between swords, he wouldn't have any magic, so if it was a battle to decide the strongest swordsman, Will can only cheat with magic as much as his opponent does.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

But if there was a regular dinosaur or animal that could use a sword, does that count?

I did not expect a question like this in a thread about swordsman.

 

[Worthy39]

I did not expect a question like this in a thread about swordsman.

Is that a no...?

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Is that a no...?

I don't know myself.