Water is a strong element. It rushes and flows. It corrodes and soothes. Water can rise as high as a mountain or be as simple as a drizzle. Whatever the conditions, water is a versatile element — especially when used in anime.
While there aren't as many water users in anime, the characters who wield it are forces to be reckoned with. Their strength and fluidity in their craft are unmatched. Whether they conjure the water themselves, or just control it, water users in anime are some of the toughest opponents to face.
14 Isaac McDougal Is The Freezing Alchemist (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is full of powerful characters, including the State Alchemists of the Amestrian Military. These Alchemists typically have a chosen specialty they use in combat. Isaac McDougal's is ice and water.
Although he only briefly appeared in the anime, Isaac made an impact with the strength of his power. Able to create both ice and boiling water, his power was versatile and devastating. The fact Isaac could hold his own against the Elric Brothers and Roy Mustang said a lot about the strength of his abilities.
13 Jinbe Utilizes Fish-Man Karate (One Piece)
One of anime's great water users comes from the biggest shonen of all time, One Piece. Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea is part of the Fishman race. Ten times stronger than a normal man, the Fishmen possess supernatural abilities related to water.
Jinbe can't generate water, but he can do a myriad of incredible things with it thanks to Fish-Man Karate. He's a real tough customer and can fight just about anyone. Jinbe goes toe-to-toe with Big Mom, manipulates water-like cloth, and can attack enemies from a distance by using the water particles in the air.
12 Juvia Lockser Conjures Water Magic (Fairy Tail)
Juvia Lockser is a mage from the hit anime Fairy Tail. Using classic magic to manipulate water, she's both powerful and versatile. She can turn her body to water, create water blades to slice through metal, shoot beams of boiling water, suffocate people with water bubbles, and much more.
Juvia is impervious to damage because she can turn into water. Additionally, her water magic melds perfectly with the love of her life, Grey, who's magic is dependent on ice. Juvia's powers are impressive in the Fairy Tail universe and anime in general.
11 Sailor Mercury Fights For Love And Intelligence (Sailor Moon)
The Sailor Scouts in Sailor Moon all have unique powers based on the planets they're named after. In Japanese, the name for Mercury is Suisei. Beginning with the kanji for water, it hints at Sailor Mercury's water powers.
Not only does Sailor Mercury use her water powers to transform, but she can also shoot bubble blasts and pointed water bursts at her opponents. She can even freeze enemies at will. Her heightened intelligence and incredible power make her an invaluable member of the Sailor Scouts.
10 Kisame Hoshigaki Is The Monster Of The Hidden Mist (Naruto)
Kisame's ability to manipulate water comes from his reliance on magic. Jutsu in the Naruto, Naruto: Shippuden, and Boruto franchises is magic that uses an internal energy source called Chakra. Kisame, the Monster of the Hidden Mist, has had an abnormally high amount of chakra since he was born, making him a nearly unbeatable force.
Because he can fuse with his sword and gain the ability to breathe underwater, Kisame often creates a gigantic dome of water around him and his opponents, forcing them to hold their breath. Additionally, Kisame wields an immense amount of water-based Jutsu he primarily uses to suffocate people. Summoning shark-shaped projectiles, he'll even create environments for his sharks to fight in.
9 Lucy Heartfilia's Star Dress Summons Aquarius (Fairy Tail)
Although Lucy Heartfilia isn't technically a water power user, she's a summoner who can call Celestial Spirits. One such spirit is Aquarius. Lucy accesses Aquarius after she acquires the Star Dress from the Spirit King. When she puts it on, she takes on the Aquarius Form and channels the Zodiac's power.
Aquarius isn't Lucy's favorite spirit to summon, but the aggravation is worth the result and grants her the incredible ability to summon torrents of water and sweep enemies away. When Lucy calls on Aquarius, there's no stopping her.
8 Suigetsu Hozuki Is A Water Prodigy (Naruto: Shippuden)
Suigestsu is a child prodigy in the world of Naruto Shippuden. He has mastery over his clan's secret water release technique, which allows him to become water itself. This ability has several uses such as enlarging himself. He can also avoid most damage using this power.
Suigestsu has all the skills and techniques of a well-trained Shinobi coupled with a body that can easily avoid harm. Paired with his refined abilities, his affinity for blades combined with his malicious impulses make Suigetsu a formidable opponent.
7 Giyu Tomioka Is The Water Hashira
Demon Slayer has many powerful slayers in its arsenal of characters, but the strongest of all are the Hashira. Each Hashira has a different element, animal, or concept they can control. One of the strongest among them is the Water Hashira: Giyu Tomioka.
As the Water Hashira, Giyu uses water breathing techniques to dispatch demons. He even has his own special style of Water Breathing that only he has mastered. Beyond his water powers, Giyu is a compassionate person who convinces Tanjiro Kamado to become a Demon Slayer and protects Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko when they're attacked by another Hashira.
6 Tier Harribel The Espada Controls An Element (Bleach)
The characters in Bleach greatly differ in their abilities. Some can turn their swords into giant dragon puppets, while others turn them into a million different flower petals. However, there aren't too many who control an element. Tier Harribel, an Arrancar who eventually becomes the leader of Purgatory known as Hueco Mundo, isn't as evil as the other Espada.
Harribel's Zanpakuto is where her water abilities begin to show. Her sword takes the shape of a giant shark tooth with gills. Harribel already displays immense strength before this, but once she unleashes her blade with the "Destroy" command, she becomes unstoppable.
5 Kota Izumi Is A Future Water Hero (My Hero Academia)
Surprisingly, there haven't been many characters with water Quirks in My Hero Academia. Although a hero named Backdraft is seen using water in the first episode, there are only three other named characters who wield water powers.
Kota Izumi is the child of the famous hero team Water-Hose. With his parents gone, Kota is now the sole water Quirk user. Since he is a child, Kota's Water Gun Quirk isn't very powerful, but he still uses it when he sees Izuku Midoriya is in trouble. With proper training and guidance, Kota can become the next great hero.
4 Aqua's Goddess Powers Shine (KonoSuba)
Aqua's water abilities are a cut above the rest. As one of the main characters in the hilarious series KonoSuba, Aqua is constantly bombarded with tasks that require her to use her powers as a goddess to complete quests. Far from a perfect character, she displays her god-like powers at any opportunity.
As a goddess pulled down to the mortal plane, Aqua's abilities are overpowered, especially where water is concerned. She creates floods, purifies the undead, casts a myriad of support spells, performs party tricks, and controls water from a distance.
3 Penny Uses Water Combat (Zatch Bell)
A severely underrated show from the early 2000s, Zatch Bell presents a myriad of colorful and adorable characters among all the puppet-like Demons (known as Mamodo's) that pop up in the quest to become Demon King. Penney (or Pattie depending on the version) is especially powerful and obsessed with Zatch.
Penny wields tons of water-combat spells ranging from Water Dragons to claws, and even a shield made from water. Although she begins as an enemy, Penny later becomes a powerful force for good. With Penny's abilities at the ready, few can stop her.
2 Katara Is A Waterbending Master (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Avatar: The Last Airbender focuses heavily on Aang's journey as he works toward mastering all styles of element bending. However, a special mention goes to his friend and eventual wife Katara for her knowledge of Waterbending. Not only does she become one of the greatest benders within the Avatar franchise, but she mostly accomplishes it on her own.
As the only Waterbender in her tribe, much of Katara's basic knowledge came from trial and error until she found a Waterbending scroll. Even when she trained with Grand Master Paku in the Northern Water Tribe, Katara had to fight her way in. Katara's prowess with water abilities grew so much throughout the series that she quickly cemented her reputation as one of the best.
1 Noelle Silva Arms Herself With Water (Black Clover)
In Black Clover, Noelle Silva is a noble who uses water power bestowed upon her by the spirit of water, Undine. About halfway through the story, Noelle discovers Undine's Valkyrie Form — a suit of armor made of water that increases all of her base statistics and allows her to fly.
Due to her status, Noelle can don this armor and launch spells with little to no consequences thanks to her immense mana reserves. Despite her power, Noelle is standoffish, especially with new acquaintances. She doesn't take criticism well and is often reluctant to admit she's wrong. However, she's still a powerful ally to have in a fight.