Summary
Knightsare very popular characters inanimethat shine bright alongside or even as the main character of a series. Swords, shields, and spears in these characters' hands cut through battlefields with grace and honor and leave fans in awe of their skill.
Medieval fantasy anime has had a significant increase in releases in the past years, and an abundance of new knights have hit the scene in fan-favorite seriessuch asSword Art OnlineandSevenDeadly Sins. Some of these characters have become iconic as the fan favorites of their show and key components in the story.
Updated on Jun 04, 2025, By C.M. Edwards:Anime is home to many different types of archetypes that embody certain ideals, virtues, and vices. One of the archetypes that break out and shine brighter than the rest is knights in shining armor. Knights have been littered through history and fantastical tales, fighting against injustice, wielding swords with dire precision, and wearing armor to showcase their accomplishments. Anime also features countless knights throughout various series that capture the attention of thousands of fans and leave strong impressions.
At first glance, Meliodas is a half-pint rascal with a million-dollar smile, but behind his cheery disposition lies a secret of unimaginable proportions. Meliodas is the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins.
While not themost powerful of the Seven Deadly Sins, Meliodas is near unbeatable when giving it his all. As the offspring of the demon king, Meliodas has a wide range of abilities, both magical and darkness-inclined.
The main story ofThe Seven Deadly Sinshas come to a close, and the spin-off series,The Four Knights of the Apocalypse, has sprung into high gear and unveiled its second season. This series takes place years after the original series and introduces a slew of new characters, one of which is Lancelot.
Lancelot is the son of Bang and Elaine and has risen to his father’s reputation and become a holy knight and one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Lancelot is a cool-headed and stoic person with a short fuse for dishonest people.
Among all the knights that serve Athena in the great war, charged with protecting the galaxy from evil, none other knight stands out like Seiya. Seiya’s story is unconventional; as the main character ofKnights of the Zodiac, he pledges his loyalty to Athena and takes up the mantle, being granted the Pegasus cloth.
Over time, Seiya has become one of thestrongest knights in the ranksand has retained his kind and honest personality. Seiya has faced grave threats but never for a moment allowed his conviction to waver.
Record of Lodoss Waris a classic within anime history that grew popular during the late 90s anime boom. The story follows a group of adventurers who must face off against an evil power to protect the land of Lodoss before its engulfed by chaos. Parn is the leader and the knight of the party; the sole responsibility to lead his friends to victory rests on his shoulders.
Parn is the child of a famously disgraced knight, which drove him to become one himself to redeem his family name. Parn is a very compassionate individual who believes in being on the right side of things and isn’t afraid to speak his mind. In addition, he is an expert fighter, having gained insurmountable experience during several wars, earning him a fair amount of respect.
Skull Knight serves as the immortal constant enemy of the God Hand withintheBerserkuniverse; not much is known about his history, only that he is a victim of the eclipse. Surviving, he has devoted his life to destroying the members of the God Hand.
Skull Knight is also the savior of Guts and Casca, rescuing them from the God Hand’s demonic realm during the last eclipse and treating Guts as a makeshift successor to his cause. Skull Knight has bestowed his knowledge of the God Hand on Guts and aids him in battle when necessary. This knight is an immensely powerful foe, able to travel to different dimensions and even fight on equal terms with Zod.
Claymoreis another classic anime that paved the way for visceral and bloody series likeGoblin SlayerandAttack on Titan. The series takes place in a world where an organization of female half-demon warriors engages in battle against demonic foes called Youma.
Clare is the series' main protagonist and stands out as a mighty warrior and devout comrade. On the surface, she is a cold and efficient slayer of demons, or “Youma;” however, under the surface, she is as human as the people she saves every day. Clare’s journey to put a stop to the demon menace takes turns she does not expect, and her growth is substantial.
Suzaku draws much respect as the character who rose up from nothing to become one of the most valiant knights within theCode Geassuniverse. Born in a world where Japanese descent is discriminated against, Suzaku faces a giant wall to prove that he and the Japanese people are admirable human beings.
Along the way, Suzaku loses himself after he has obtained everything he wants, which makes for one of the most interesting character developments. Suzaku stayed true to the oaths he swore as a knight even while scrutinized and became known asthe White Grim reaperon the battlefield. Suzaku is a noble and strong-willed fighter who will stop at nothing to punish those who seek to cause chaos.
Skeleton Knight in Another Worldintroduces Arc as an armor-clad warrior who wields powerful magic and a long sword that cleaves trees in two. Underneath the armor, Arc is a NEET who was transported to another world after falling asleep playing his favorite game.
Arc adopted the persona of a chivalrous knight and portrayed the trope well, saving countless lives on his first day and earning the respect of all who encountered him. Arc can utilize strong magic spells like teleportation and Wyvern Slash that take out opponents in the blink of an eye. This, along with his incredibly powerful attributes, makes him an iconic knight who stands out among the crowd.
Arthur Boyle is the self-proclaimed king of knights in theFire Forceanime; he is a member of theSpecial Fire Force Company 8along with Shinra. Arthur is a very odd individual to his peers, resembling a teenager with what’s known as Chunibyo, a victim of grandiose delusions that he believes to be real.
His fantasies have pushed him to adopt the persona of a knight of old that is to put a stop to the infernal menace that plagues the world. Arthur utilizes a heat sword that he uses in combination with his third-generation pyrokinetic abilities. He is skilled enough to go one-on-one with Shinra at his strongest and not become overwhelmed.
Fate/stay nightisfilled with powerful characters, but none are as noble or dedicated as Saber. From her first appearance after being summoned by Emiya, Saber portrayed an elegance and confidence that raised her above the common servants in the series.
In history, Saber was the once-great king, Arthur, who led the Knights of the Round Table and is arguably the greatest knight in existence. Saber usesthe legendary sword Excaliburto battle against rival servants and protect the mages in her charge. She has often stepped on the battlefield against impossible odds and walked off triumphantly. With a great sense of justice and strength, she is one of the most iconic knights in anime.
