The Strongest Ki Manipulation Techniques in Anime

Anime is full of powerful world-breaking abilities that protagonists and antagonists use to overwhelm their opponents. A main character's special attack often comes from his inner energy, such as Ki or Nen. When a character has obtained the ability to manipulate their Ki efficiently, it opens them up to learning devastating abilities that can cause explosive damage to whatever they unleash it upon.

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Ki is a prominent trope in the majority of anime that is used to explain a specific power or life force that has a heavier meaning in Japanese culture. These special techniques have been fan-favorite catchphrases and flamboyant poses that viewers practice or imitate when no one is looking. Through numerous anime series, these Attacks become trademarks of characters and a sign that the fight is being taken to another level. Here are some of the strongest Ki manipulation techniques in anime.

Updated on February 4, 2025, by C.M Edwards: A special attack in an anime is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle when it comes to a main character. This attack will live in the minds of fans for years after they initially watch the series and may take on a life of its own similar to Dragon Ball Z or Bleach. Action is a vital part of anime, and in the vast array of shonen, seinen, and isekai series that have been released, there is always a power system either primarily or partially based around the use of inner energy, or Ki. Regardless of the definite term used, characters in the show or manga harness this power to increase their own strength or empower their abilities, such as durability, speed, etc. The most powerful attacks in anime have to have flash, capability, and impact to make them stand out among the rest. These attacks vary from character to character but always leave a big impact on the series itself. A character's main attack makes just as much of a difference to the show as it does in battle, and not all techniques are created equal. Included in this update are more of the most powerful Ki techniques in anime.

23 Alkehestory

An Eastern Variant Of Alchemy

• First Appearance: Fullmetal Alchemist Episode 15

Alchemy in Full Metal Alchemist is the primary power structure used throughout the series and is the foundation of society. However, further along in the anime it is discovered that a foreign nation called Xing also utilizes Alchemy but in a different manner. Alchemy is used by taking advantage of the earth's tectonic plates to manipulate matter; Alkehestory has a different foundation to accomplish similar effects.

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Instead of a tectonic focus, Alkehestory focuses on something called the Dragon Pulse. Using this pulse, Xing Alkehistory users use the life force of the Earth, known as Chi or Ki, to empower their ability. Both Alchemy and Alkehestory are capable of highly potent effects, as seen by May Chang, who primarily uses Alkehestory for healing but can also go on the offensive.

22 Yoki

Harness The Power Of Demons

• First Appearance: Claymore Episode 1

Claymore is an anime where genetically modified female warriors take on powerful monsters called Yoma. A group of highly trained femme fatales harness a dark power in order to protect humanity from shapeshifting demons utilizing a technique called Yoki.

Yoki is a demonic energy that Claymores and Yoma use to provide themselves with an immense power-up. This energy increases their strength, speed, and reflexes, making them on par with their Yoma enemies. Unfortunately, Yoki is a very dangerous technique that can permanently change Claymore warriors into demons if they are not careful with how much they use it.

21 Phoenix Wings Rise

Key Move Of The Strongest Saint

• First Appearance: Chapter 1: The Sanctuary

Knights of the Zodiac is an anime that follows god-chosen warriors who are charged with protecting the universe from evil threats. Overseen by Athena, each warrior falls into a faction based on the material their cloth is made of. While power levels vary, Bronze Cloth saints can be particularly powerful. One of the most powerful saints in the anime is Bronze Cloth Phoenix Ikki, a centuries-old saint and master of combat.

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Ikki uses a move called Phonenix Wings Rise, which manipulates the ki of the universe as he powers up and releases an incinerating flame blast that resembles a burning phoenix. This attack can lay waste to a single target or a group of foes and leave them entirely overwhelmed by his tremendous power.

20 Special Beam Cannon

Pierced Two Reinforced Saiyans In A Single Shot

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z Episode 04

Dragon Ball is one of the few remaining franchises with amazing abilities that reach planetary-destruction levels of powers. While a large majority of the techniques in the Dragon Ball universe are massive attacks, there are a select few that were crafted for precision instead of impact by the late, great Akira Toriyama.

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The Special Beam Cannon was originally crafted by Piccolo with the specific intent of killing Goku, and it succeeded in just that. The first time the move was used, it took out both Goku and Raditz in a single blow, but hasn't seen much screen time since. However, in the recent Dragon Ball Super Hero movie, Gohan has adapted the technique along with his new transformation.

19 Chidori

Split A LIghting Bolt In Two

• First Appearance: Naruto Episode 67

In the Naruto anime series, the Chidori was a powerful attack that Kakashi Hatake unleashed in a last-ditch effort to protect Kakashi from Orochimaru. The Chidori is a powerful use of electrical chakra that has a nearly endless upper limit of destructive capabilities as long as the user is able to control it.

The technique would be passed to Sauske and become one of the main abilities that he would master. The Chidori is known for its cutting and piercing power; in the hands of the White Fang, he used it to slice a lightning bolt down the middle.

18 Jajanken: Rock

Completely Devastates A Body On Contact

• First Appearance: Hunter x Hunter Episode 65

The Hunter x Hunter universe is a strange combination of world-destroying individuals who developed some of the most dangerous and destructive techniques in all of anime. Following the main character, Gon, who wields an incredibly powerful striking technique that unnerves even some of the strongest Nen users, Jajanken: Rock possesses the potential to end a fight in a single blow.

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The user of this technique concentrates their Nen into their fist and decreases their defensive abilities for an all-out attack. Of all the times that Gon has unleashed this attack, the most deadly is when he used it against Pitou after he gives into his rage and negative emotions, which increases the potency of the technique substantially.

17 Rasengan

Overwhelms Anything In Its Path

• First Appearance: Naruto Episode 86

Naruto has many Jutsu that pack a punch, but like his father before him, he has a unique aptitude for the Rasengan. After learning the technique from Jiraiya after being accepted as his pupil, Naruto worked tirelessly to perfect the technique and made it his own.

Because of the overwhelming amount of chakra Naruto is able to supply to the Jutsu, it can send any target flying or completely overload a chakra absorption device. The Rasengan has been a more than capable Jutsu in all the hands of shinobi that have decided to make it a part of their armory.

16 Final Flash

Easily Destroys Planets If Aimed Poorly

• First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z Episode 162

Vegeta possesses a number of devastating attacks that can cause unimaginable calamity on his target and the surrounding areas. Perhaps his most powerful technique, with the ability to wipe an entire planet off of the map is the Final Flash.

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First being used against Perfect Cell, Vegeta goaded the parasitic android into standing still, so he could unleash this move with full power. The amount of energy this attack unleashed could be felt among the entire planet.

15 X Burner Air

Can Incinerate Nearly Anything It Touches

• First Appearance: REBORN! Episode 107

Tsunayoshi Sawada’s X Burner from REBORN! Is an immensely destructive attack that incinerates everything in front and possibly behind the user. Tsuna fires off a soft flame blast behind him to absorb the recoil of the massive wave of Hard Sky Flames he sends forward to obliterate anything in its path.

In REBORN!, this attack is said to have broken the energy level twice and has one-shot many enemies on the wrong end. Tsuna constantly tweaks this ability making it more powerful, accurate, and destructive throughout the anime.

14 Spirit Gun

The Strongest Attack Of Condensed Spirit Energy

• First Appearance: Yu Yu Hakusho Episode 6

Yusuke Urameshi’s staple attack that he learned from Genkai is one of the most powerful in the YuYu Hakusho series. Spirit Gun has laid waste to numerous foes in a single shot. The Spirit Gun gathers spirit energy into the user's hand and exits out of one of their fingers.

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Normally, when Yusuke uses the spirit gun, it is enough power to level an arena; But he has pushed this technique even further and mixed demon chakra into the technique, which caused an atomic-level explosion.