Summary
Tournament arcs area staple in most anime. It’s one of the best and cleanest ways to pit two great fighters in a battle against each other, usually with a spectacular result. There are several anime that have used tournament arcs to great effect, giving side characters some much-needed exposure while also letting these fighters develop their character extensively. In some instances, these tournaments are so great that they easily become one of the best parts of the entire show.
It’s a monumental achievement, with many anime showing how to execute a tournament arc properly. The fights featured in these arcs are in a class of their own and show why these tournaments are one of the most effective settings for any anime, shonen or otherwise, to excel on multiple fronts. Suffice it to say that fans who check out these arcs will completely understand why the tournament format is so common across most anime.
Updated June 28, 2025 by Oluwatokiloba Folami:In anime, arcs are connected episodes that focus on a particular event or conflict. Tournament arcs focus on high-stakes battles and fights between the protagonist and the antagonist. These arcs are well loved, particularly because of the high-stakes fight between the heroes, villains, rivals, basically participants of the tournaments, and the intensity that comes with it.
Regardless of the tournament, be it aschool martial arts eventor a clash between gods, these arcs push characters to their limits, test relationships and reputation as fan-favorite characters face off,underdogs rise against the odds, and unique power systems are explored in controlled environments.
The fate of humanity lies in this event. TheRagnaroktournament is a battle between the gods and humans, in which they have thirteen players each, and the first team to win seven matches wins. If humans win, they get to live for a thousand years, butif the gods win, humanity is done for as the gods will wipe them away.
This is one of the best tournament arcs because of the stakes and tension, especially with the scores matching each other as each fight ends, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as they anxiously wait to seewhich side will emerge victorious.
The Mahora Academy School Festival is quite grand. It is a three-day event that showcases the talents and creativity of its students from nursery to university. This festival is packed with so many activities, parades, food, games, and entertainment that people from all over the world come to attend.
This festival, although very fun and exciting, has a deeper meaning. Throughout the festival, the use of magical and non-magical elements reflects the anime’s blend of everyday school life with the hidden world of magic. The festival also acts as a backdrop for significant character development and plot progression, as students navigate both the festivities and underlying challenges.
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TheGreat Heaven-Challenging Olympic Tournamentis a martial arts competitionthat takes place in theSakigake!! Otokojuku. This tournament serves as a platform for intense battles and showcases the diverse fighting techniques of the participating students, who are trained to military standards.
The tournament is structured to test each participant’s skills, endurance, and strategic abilities while placing focus on honor, camaraderie, andthe relentless pursuit of strength. It provides a stage for character development as fighters confront their limitations, forge deeper bonds with their comrades, and uphold the values instilled by their respective schools.
Soma loves cooking. It is in his blood as his father has a restaurant and Soma dreams of surpassing his father’s culinary skills. Ready for the task ahead and with his supportive father,Soma finds himself enrolled in an elite culinary school, Tōtsuki Academy. In this academy, Soma faces obstacles and fierce competition, and he realizes that cooking might seem like an everyday task, but in actuality, there is a lot that goes into it.
Just like most schools,this culinary school holds its annual tournament, albeit cooking. The Tōtsuki Autumn Election is an annual cooking tournament that happens in Totsuki Academy where first-year students come to showcase their talents and winning increases the participant’s chance of becoming an elite chef. Soma, the protagonist competes in the 43rd Annual Tōtsuki Autumn Election and he goes up against extraordinary talents despite the high stakes and fierce competition, he comes in second place.
With his mother in danger, Jin is helpless, but before she saves him from the blood-hungry Ogre that is after him, she orders him to go meet his grandfather to receive training so that he can conquer the Ogre when it strikes again. Jin meets his grandfather, who trains him rigorously and he is ready to face the Ogre that killed his mother.
However, to get the attention of the Ogre, Jin’s grandfather organizes the King of Iron Fist Tournament, where the world’s greatest fighters compete. During this arc in the anime,Jin learns about his family history, discovers his strength, and confronts his inner darkness.
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Blade Dance of the Elementalersfollows Kamito Kazehaya, the only known male Elementalist in a world where only maidens can form contracts with spirits. After accidentally bonding with the powerful spirit Restia Ashdoll, Kamito is drawn into the prestigious Areishia Spirit Academy, where young girls train to become Elementalists.
The Blade Dance Tournament is a competition where Elementalists battle using their contracted spirits to prove their strength and earn a wish from the Elemental Lords. Kamito competes in this tournament, where he faces fierce rivals and uncovers conspiracies tied to his past. The tournament becomes a battleground for Kamito to reclaim his identity, protect his allies, and confront his destiny.
Whilemost girls are known to partake in sportslike basketball, volleyball, track, cheerleading, and so on,the girls inGirls und Panzerpartake in a different, more unconventional sport: Sensha-dō. Sensha-dō is a girls-only sport that involves using a war tank to compete in elimination-based matches.
The 63rd National High School Sensha-dō Tournament is the main tournament in this anime, and the protagonist, Miho, overcomes her trauma caused by this sport and leads her teammates to victory in the tournament. This tournament brings together different teams from across the country to compete for the title of champion. For a team to be tagged as the champion, they have tocapture as many flags as possible.Once a team’s flag has been captured, they are eliminated from the tournament.
It is quite safe to saythat boxing saved Ippo’s life.Through boxing, he went from being a timid kid who was a prime target for bullies to having one of the most successful boxing careers in Japan as a new and upcoming fighter. Getting into this world was not easy, but with enough practice and plenty of sleepless nights, Ippo adjusted.
After winning the title of East Japan Rookie King, Ippo went on to participate in the All Japan Rookie King Tournament. During this tournament arc, Ippo undergoes significant character development, as he now has more courage in himself and his career. He faces an obstacle that allows him to withdraw from the tournament, butafter some medical advice, he decides to train his fists and muscles for his upcoming match. Things were not easy for Ippo during this arc, but he did not give up, and in the end, he emerged victorious and went home as the All Japan Rookie King.
Everyone has that one thing they truly desire, be it wealth, fame, or something more personal. InTower of God,individuals get the chance to have their desires granted as long as they can make it to the top of the tower,a mysterious structurethat summons people to try to reach for the top. The protagonist of this anime, Bam, decides to go afterhis one and only friend, Rachel,after she is summoned by the tower. Since Bam was not summoned, he is tagged as an irregular, and his journey is exceedingly tough, but he perseveres in hopes of seeing his friend again one day.
The Crown Gameis an arc that starts early in the anime, introducing the protagonist to the challenges that the tower has to offer. The crown game involves various teams battling to seize and defend a crown, with one member sitting on a throne across multiple rounds to win the game.This game involves strategic thinking, and it is during this game that Bam discovers he has powers. As the anime progresses, he understands more about himself and his mysterious abilities.
InDeadman Wonderland, the titular facility is a privately owned prison where the protagonist, Ganta Igarashi, is waiting for his death sentence. Ganta’s world is not as it used to be. He goes from being a middle school teacher to a deadman, who is someone who can control blood.InDeadman Wonderland, the prisoners partake in deadly and dangerous activities to entertain the visitors.
The Corpse Carnival is a brutal event similar to the gladiators’ battle that took place in ancient Rome, but in this case, the Deadmen in the prison have to compete with one another. The loser of this game will have to undergo surgery without any form of anesthesia, in which a part of their body will be removed.
