Assassins in anime are formidable and unpredictable identities. Not only do they possess an assortment of skills well suited to perform discrete killings on high-profile targets, but many are also accomplished fighters who do not shy away from direct confrontation. They are deadly executioners who take pride in their craft and will go to great lengths to ensure success in their missions.
Despite the nature of their bloodstained profession, many of these individuals are extremely memorable. More often than not, they leave a lasting impression on their audience, and some of them even end up being fan favorites. Not all of these characters have stayed on the path of assassination, as they either reformed or vowed to never again take a life. Nonetheless, they remain skilled in the art of assassination and will always be remembered for what they do best.
Updated on February 6th, 2023, by Emedo Destiny: From their sharp precision and cunning to their unique skills and motivations, these assassins are known for their skillful approach to killing their targets. Even though they may differ in the means they use to reach their goals, they are some of the most unforgettable characters in the world of anime, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. Their stories are filled with suspense, intrigue, and exhilaration that keep fans at the edge of their seats. Every assassin on this list has something special to offer, whether it be their special abilities or the way they go about their business, earning them their place among the most iconic assassins of anime.
15 Tao Pai Pai – Dragon Ball
Tao Pai Pai is the assassin who nearly succeeded at taking the life of Goku, the great fighter at the heart of the Dragon Ball series. Tao charges a great price for his service because he’s good at delivering results. Although his job is to kill, he derives pleasure from the process, even if the victim is merely a child.
He’s widely feared by people and he likes it that way, taking pride in his work. In his match with General Blue, Tao showed that he packs one of the most unusual but deadly weapons in his arsenal—his tongue.
14 Kufa Vampir – Assassin's Pride
Kufa Vampir from Assassin's Pride belongs to a rare kind of species. Owing to his sad past involving the loss of his mother, he works with the Jack Raven guild as an assassin, fighting with his long katana.
Although he was given the task of killing Melida Angel if she had no potential for powers, 17-year-old Kufa decides to train her instead, abandoning his task as an assassin. This decision leads to him needing to fight off other assassins to protect Melida, who he continues to grow fond of.
13 Golgo 13 – Golgo 13
Duke Togo, otherwise known as Golgo 13, is the enigmatic titular character of this action-packed anime. The details of his past remain largely unknown and shrouded in mystery, only adding to the intrigue of his character. As an assassin for hire, he is known for his efficiency and professionalism, never wavering from his chosen path.
He is equipped with a custom-made M16 assault rifle, crafted to his specifications, with which he disposes of his targets with remarkable accuracy. With his unerring sense of duty and loyalty, Duke Togo is a force to be reckoned with.
12 Illumi Zoldyck – Hunter x Hunter
The protective older brother of Killua Zoldyck, Illumi Zoldyck is an assassin trained from a young age to kill people with ease and perfection. He is known for his ruthless and efficient methods, using needles crafted for specific purposes and infused with Nen, a form of manipulation that gives him power over bodies and minds.
His fighting ability is first-rate, and he has a secondary strength in his family's wealth and power, with the name 'Zoldyck' striking fear into the hearts of those who dare to cross him. He is a master of his craft and will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, no matter what the cost may be.
11 Train Heartnet – Black Cat
Black Cat’s protagonist Train Heartnet is as cold-hearted as they come. His signature phrase, “I've come to deliver some bad luck", is an apt description of the destruction he creates.
Once a heartless assassin working with Chronos to take down his targets, he is reformed by the influence of Saya Minatsuki, a Sweeper (or bounty hunter as the show refers to them) who lives her life according to her own desires. He is a symbol of strength and determination and a reminder that even the darkest of hearts can be redeemed.
10 Hei – Darker Than Black
In the Darker Than Black series, there are special individuals known as Contractors. They have unique abilities granted to them by distortions of space that appeared on the earth ten years prior to the beginning of the anime. Due to their condition, they also have an improved mental capacity and operate without unnecessary emotions that would serve to hinder their actions.
Hei is one such Contractor. In addition to his special power that allows him to discharge electricity, he has impressive physical capabilities that give him an edge over other Contractors. He is able to act under different personas for different missions, and he is known for wearing a mask on many occasions. He also prefers to use a knife in combat, with which he can channel electricity through and deliver fatal shocks to his adversaries.
9 Claire Stanfield – Baccano!
In a show with multiple superhuman characters, Claire stands out despite not having any explicit supernatural powers on his own. However, he is widely regarded as the best assassin in the world, and other hitmen from far and wide dream of defeating him just to make a name for themselves. He also has a somewhat enigmatic personality and a solipsist mindset, as he truly believes he is the center of the world.
Despite being an assassin not averse to brutal methods of killing, he holds a unique sense of justice and does his best to keep innocent people out of harm's way. Furthermore, he is extremely powerful and is capable of performing almost any physical activity as long as he sets his mind to it.
8 Risotto Nero – JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Risotto Nero was not only the main assassin of the powerful gang Passione but also one of the strongest members overall. He was in charge of the main organization's assassin group, La Squadra Esecuzioni, but they all eventually defected.
His stand, Metallica, gave him powers of magnetism and allowed him to control iron at a short range. He could also manipulate iron within his opponents' bloodstream and could conjure dangerous objects like razors and needles to cause severe internal bleeding. The stand is extremely suited for assassination as it allows him to control several objects, camouflage, and do much more.
7 Rob Lucci – One Piece
Prior to the two-year time skip where the Straw Hat crew underwent considerable development, Rob Lucci was arguably one of their most deadly foes. He was formerly an agent of Cipher Pol 9 and was also stated to be one of the deadliest assassins in its history. He was recruited at a very young age, and even at thirteen, he was strong enough to kill five hundred of a Kingdom's soldiers.
As an agent of the World Government, he acts with the interests of the organization in mind and sets out to punish all who oppose them. He despises weakness and enjoys fighting with strong opponents, showing an extreme lust for violence. His Zoan-type devil fruit further adds to his threat level, granting him the appearance of an anthropomorphic leopard with enhanced physical capabilities.
6 Akame – Akame ga Kill!
Akame is one of the strongest members of the rebel group Night Raid. She is a skilled assassin and is aided by a Teigu capable of executing her targets with a single cut named Murasame. In contrast to the general nature of assassins, Akame is very caring, especially with regard to her friends, but she is adept at concealing her emotions.
She was bought by the empire while she was still a child, and it was then she acquired her profound skills. She eventually switched allegiances to the revolutionary army and began fighting to overthrow the monarchy. She has incredible speed and reflexes, impressive strength, and is an extremely skilled swordswoman.
5 Itachi Uchiha – Naruto
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Responsible for slaughtering his entire clan and setting his brother on a relentless quest for vengeance, Itachi is one of the most memorable characters on this list. He was a former shinobi of the Konoha village and was recruited into its Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, Anbu, at just 11 years of age. He ascended to the rank of captain just one year later, and shortly after defecting from the village, he joined the Akatsuki, going on to be one of their strongest members.
Despite his seemingly cold exterior and treacherous nature, Itachi deeply cared for both his village and his brother. His actions were revealed to be performed out of necessity as he only ever wished for true peace. He was a truly layered character who was loyal till the very end.
4 Himura Kenshin – Rurouni Kenshin
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Apart from being the titular protagonist of the Rurouni Kenshin series, Himura Kenshin is also one of the strongest. He is a legendary hitokiri, a swordsman assassin who made his name during the Meiji revolution, killing over a hundred people in his first six months. Eventually, however, he grew tired of the seemingly endless bloodshed and resolved to live a life where he spent his time protecting others.
He has a calm, reserved, and collected personality, possessing a selfless demeanor while being determined to help others however he can. Following his dissociation from the violent lifestyle, he became a wandering swordsman and settled in the Kamiya Dōjō, only to later leave in order to defeat the powerful Shishio Makoto.
3 Yor Forger – Spy x Family
Nicknamed the Thorn Princess, Yor Forger is a deadly assassin who operates in secret away from her peers and her makeshift family. Since the Spy X Family anime is focused heavily on slice-of-life elements, not much is seen of her lethal exploits, but a lot can be implied from how she goes about her daily life.
She is extremely strong and agile, possessing a kick powerful enough to send a grown man flying while also being quick enough to overwhelm Loid. Presumably, due to her experience tidying up bloodied scenes, she is skilled at cleaning and generally leaves the Forger household spotless. She is not the best cook, however, and is an even worse drunk, but all these interesting personality traits are part of what makes her so loved.
2 Korosensei – Assassination Classroom
While Korosensei will always be remembered as the enigmatic and upbeat homeroom teacher of Class 3-E, he was formerly reputed as one of the world's greatest assassins. He had killed over a thousand people and was well-rounded in all the necessary attributes needed to be a proficient executioner. After his transformation into an alien-like entity and the death of Aguri Yukimura, however, he decided to become a teacher and help the children Aguri treasured so dearly.
He deeply cared for his students and would be visibly incensed whenever any of them was put in harm's way. Despite their mission to assassinate him, his students also grew fond of him, and they each formed a bond between teacher and student, which most of them had hardly ever experienced before.
1 Killua Zoldyck – Hunter x Hunter
When assassination runs in the family, it is likely to have an effect on each member of the household. Killua Zoldyck, hailing from a family of assassins, is one such example. He is a young boy who was put through gruesome training when he was even younger and had been participating in dangerous espionage activities since he was three. He is an extremely skilled combatant, and his parents believe he has the most talent of all assassins in their family’s history.
Despite his cruel upbringing, he has a genuinely kind heart. This fact becomes more apparent as he spends more time with Gon since he considers the cheerful protagonist his best friend. Furthermore, after removing the manipulative needle implanted into him by his brother Illumi, he gained complete freedom over his actions, becoming an even better friend and fighter.