13 Strongest Rurouni Kenshin Characters

Kaoru is a highly disciplined person who likes to maintain her sense of duty toward her craft and the dojo.

She excels exclusively in the martial arts, specifically in the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu style of kenjutsu.

As the temporary master of this style, her swordsmanship is widely respected among the several dojos in Tokyo.

However, her combat abilities may not match those of Kenshin or Sanosuke, it is stated that her skills are on par with or even surpass those of a national-level champion.

Kaoru understands the basics of swordplay and has taught Yahiko, who remains her only student.

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A former Buddhist monk, Yukyuzan is a large man, who is known for his technique called Futae no Kiwami or Double Layer Limit.

With this technique, he can rapidly strike an object, leaving mere milliseconds between each attack.

By using this method, he obliterates the target completely.

The initial strike eliminates the object’s inherent resistance, while the next strike capitalizes on its weakened state to deliver the final blow.

Meanwhile, Yukyuzan has developed new techniques from Futae no Kiwami and they are Distant Hit and Extremity Release.

In the beginning, he was a peace-loving monk who believed that violence is a pointless exercise.

Nevertheless, a profound transformation overtook his belief system when his temple was reduced to ashes and the children he held dear were mercilessly killed by the imperialists.

In the wake of this tragedy, his heart was consumed by bitterness, hatred, and rage.

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Yahiko, practically raised by the Tanishi yakuza, honed remarkable pickpocketing skills during his youth.

His sleight of hand is so great that he manages to pilfer Kenshin’s wallet during their initial meeting.

However, he hates his criminal past and makes honest efforts to break free from it.

But, his adeptness from the past proves valuable multiple times throughout the series.

Credit: Liden Films

Under Kaoru’s tutelage, Yahiko kickstarts his martial arts training and shows a greater affinity for kenjutsu.

Although his training commences gradually, he swiftly grasps core principles and effortlessly applies them during dangerous encounters faced by the Kenshin-gumi.

Astoundingly, within six months, Yahiko transcends from a novice to a level that astonishes his sensei.

At just 15, he attains the status of the national champion swordsman, striking fear and admiration in Tokyo as The Catcher of a Thousand Blades.

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Udo, the main villain of the Tokyo arc, enjoys killing, which led to him becoming an assassin.

He is a highly proficient assassin and swordsman and a master of the Nikaido Heiho style.

His expertise enables him to effortlessly wield his sword with both hands, skillfully alternating between them to disorient his adversaries.

He even manages to destabilize Kenshin, who possesses exceptional judgment, by exploiting his superior combat skills and creating opportunities for attack.

However, his most formidable attack is a technique called Shin no Ippo.

By channeling his chi through his eyes, he can mesmerize his opponents completely.

He typically employs this technique to immobilize his targets, rendering them incapable of movement.

He has the ability to manipulate the intensity of its effects and can even employ it on himself, fueling a belief of invincibility and significantly augmenting his power.

The youngest member of Oniwabanshu, Misao meets Kenshin and joins forces with him.

Misao has received training in the formidable Oniwaban-Ryu fighting style.

In battle, she predominantly employs kunai as her weapon of choice.

Additionally, she possesses exceptional skills in the Kenpo aspect of the style, showcasing her expertise in hand-to-hand fights.

It is worth mentioning that Misao’s abilities in this field were taught to her by the famous Hannya.

Aoshi is the young and dynamic leader of the Oniwabanshu onmitsu. He possesses an intellect and analytical prowess that is nearly unparalleled.

His senses are incredibly sharp, allowing him to calculate distances with remarkable precision.

His acute hearing is sensitive enough that noises several feet away can affect him.

He favors using the kodachi and uses it primarily for defensive purposes.

Meanwhile, he relies on Kenpo for his offensive techniques. He also possesses a lethal ultimate technique called Kaiten Kenbu.

Following his defeat at the hands of Kenshin, Aoshi, adopts the dual kodachi technique, a method employed by the former Oniwaban Commander.

Sanosuke’s tall and lean physique conceals his tremendous strength and extraordinary resilience.

However, his untamed spiky brown hair unmistakably reveals his spirited nature.

Following his defeat by Saito Hajime, he realizes that his strength alone will be insufficient against upcoming adversaries.

Determined to enhance his combat effectiveness, he learns the fundamentals of Futae no Kiwami from Yukyuzan.

Using this technique, he develops the power to pulverize matter entirely.

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Hajime is a special agent working for the Department of Internal Affairs in the Meiji government.

Due to his high position in the government, he holds exceptional command over matters of combat.

Additionally, his past role as a unit commander in the famous Shinsengumi demonstrates his great expertise.

Renowned for his extraordinary combat abilities, Hajime is regarded as one of the most powerful fighters in Rurouni Kenshin.

His ongoing rivalry and frequent battles on equal footing with Kenshin stand as a testament to his exceptional skills, resulting in their encounters often concluding without a definitive victor.

Like Hajime, Uonuma was also associated with the government and was seen using a regular katana.

Later, he changes his weapon of choice after his battle against Shishio.

He also has a unique ability called the Mind’s Eye that he acquired during a battle against Shishio.

This extraordinary power allows him to perceive movements and emotions solely through his hearing.

To exploit this skill, he employs a specific technique in combat.

He initiates by using a shield to deflect the enemy’s attack, ensuring it obstructs their field of vision.

By rendering them temporarily blind, he capitalizes on their vulnerability and swiftly hits them with a spear.

Considered one of the most ruthless and sadistic characters in this historical anime series, Shishio is a strong believer in Darwinism and thinks the weak exist for feeding the strong.

He has unparalleled combat prowess making him one of the most dangerous characters in the series.

A masterful swordsman, his strikes with the blade are executed with exceptional precision.

He has demonstrated his laser-sharp skills by quickly unsheathing and sheathing his sword, cutting down one of his own soldiers.

As the rightful heir to the legacy of the Hitokiri Battosai, his fighting moves rival those of Kenshin himself.

The younger sibling of Tomoe Yukishiro, Enishi is the main villain of the Jinchu arc.

Enishi has attained mastery over Watojutsu, a self-taught sword style.

This unique approach combines the fast and slashing techniques of kenjutsu with the strength and flexibility found in traditional Chinese sword arts.

He wields the Wato, a Chinese-made Japanese tachi, in tandem with his Watojutsu style.

Notably, his combat style gives more importance to offense and power while disregarding defense.

Instead of relying on blocking, he goes for counter-attacks to leverage his superior offensive capabilities.

With his exceptional height and speed advantage, he effectively counters many of the techniques employed in Kenshin’s Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, showcasing the potency of his Watojutsu.

The main protagonist of Rurouni Kenshin is one of the best warriors in the series and has even gone past his mentor, Hiko Seijuro XIII.

Possessing the hereditary Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu sword style, Kenshin’s prodigious skills at the age of 14 catapulted him to become an elite government assassin.

Central to his swordplay is the ability to unleash his Godspeed to its maximum potential.

This extraordinary capability enables him to execute lightning-fast movements. He can swiftly strike and maneuver at terrifyingly high speeds.

Kenshin is known to outpace human perception, and his agility is top-class, allowing him to even evade Gatling gunfire with ease.

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He is the 12th successor of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu and Kenshin’s sensei.

Considered the strongest fighter in Rurouni Kenshin, he is incredibly powerful and fast.

However, he is known to deliberately conceal his true powers under a 90-kilogram cloak.

During one of Kenshin’s training sessions with him, Kenshin channels his entire being into a strike, pouring his all into the attack.

However, he only manages to graze one of Seijuro’s bracers.

The impact of his effort is such that Kenshin exhausts himself and collapses afterward, highlighting the immense skill and defense Seijuro has.

This incredibly versatile swordsman has a wide array of attack modes and stances at his disposal.