While most other series would be hindered by having such a blatantly overpowered main character, The Eminence in Shadow uses Shadow to stand out and produce some truly incredible fights. It's a great series known for well-animated battles, a compelling world filled with interesting characters, and many hilarious moments. When the show is serious, however, it's filled with jaw-dropping action with great abilities and gripping stakes.

Shadow is the leader of Shadow Garden, a covert organization looking to take down the nefarious Cult of Diablos. If Shadow isn't involved in a stellar fight, one of his Seven Shadows probably is, flying around the battlefield in a stylish jet-black slime suit. The Eminence in Shadow is at its best when Shadow is showcasing his broken abilities, using his I Am Atomic set of moves to blow his opponents apart at the molecular level.

10 Shadow Garden vs. Grease

Grease Was No Match for Shadow Garden

Shadow Garden vs. Viscount Grease is an early fight in the series that showcases the Seven Shadows' lethality and Shadow's overwhelmingly good luck. Grease had just abducted Cid's sister Claire for the Cult of Diablos. He was planning on using her for experiments before the Seven Shadows arrived, killing his men in an instant. While he was able to escape them, he ran into their leader, Shadow.

The Eminence in Shadow is a serious series for every character other than Shadow himself. While he thinks that he's just playing a game, everything he says turns out to be true. The Cult of Diablos he made up really did abduct his sister, and the bandit he runs into in the sewer turns out to be Grease himself. While the fight itself is entertaining, the ridiculousness behind the coincidences is hilarious and a big strength ing the show.

9 Shadow vs. Olivier

The Elf Hero Put Up a Good Fight

One of anime's best elf heroes, Olivier, is one of the Three Heroes from ancient times who defeated the Demon King Diablos. In reality, Olivier was used by the Cult for their experiments. She was very strong in her prime though, using her Holy Sword to sever Diablos's hand. When she's trapped in Sanctuary, she's operating at a fraction of her previous strength, but it's more than enough to land some powerful attacks on Shadow. She's one of the few characters in the series to actually hurt the leader of Shadow Garden, but it was all part of his plan.

Shadow then fights dozens of Oliviers at once. He then uses the All-Range Atomic to destroy the Oliviers, the Cult Follower, and the chain holding Aurora back all at once. Shadow shows a vulnerable side of himself, only to trick the Cult into healing himself and destroying their entire operation in the process.

8 Shadow Garden Saves Princess Oriana

Shadow Garden's Explosive Entrance

Princess Oriana has been saved by Shadow Garden on a few different occasions. To her credit, they usually come after she's already resolved herself to death, showcasing just how committed to her cause she is. Terrorists had taken over her school, and before they were able to defeat her in battle, Shadow and the rest of Shadow Garden came and saved the day. They crashed through the ceiling and fought back against the terrorists in stunning fashion.

It feels great to see Shadow swoop in and save the day, especially after the terrorists so unfairly trapped the students in the school. Shadow is even smooth enough to compliment Oriana before taking out a few bad guys by himself. The Eminence in Shadow is at its best when Shadow is showcasing his near omnipotence, and his last minute move to save Orianna and the rest of the students is a great example of it.

7 Alpha vs. John Smith

Alpha Doesn't Understand

Cid Kagenou has a lot of identities. He's Cid, a student at the Academy, Shadow, leader of the covert group Shadow Garden, Mundane Mann, an anonymous Bushin Festival entrant, and finally, John Smith. John Smith dresses professionally and uses a white mask to conceal his identity. Cid used this identity when he wanted some time away from Shadow Garden, but Alpha caught him before he could get away. Cid's fight against his longest-serving member is fairly emotional in a series that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Alpha is desperate to understand what's going on, and Shadow is confident she'll figure it out in time. It's a rare moment in the series, as Shadow rarely has to fight his own . While Alpha is easily his strongest subordinate, she's no match for her boss. He narrates the fight like usual, taking Alpha down and leaving her wishing she understood more.

6 Shadow vs. Zenon

One of the Best Atomics in the Series

Zenon Griffey was a candidate to become one of the Knights of the Rounds and a secret member of the Cult of Diablos. He was an evil character who used the people around him to achieve his goals. When Shadow found out about his plot, his days were numbered. Like most characters in The Eminence in Shadow, Zenon doubted that Shadow could fight him. He was wrong, forcing Zenon into taking dangerous pills to borrow additional strength.

Zenon was another character all too confident against the strongest character in the series. Shadow ends the fight using one of his I Am Atomic abilities in a flash of beautiful blue and purple light. The Eminence in Shadow does a great job of highlighting the difference between Shadow's strength and his opponent's, and this fight is a great example.

5 Shadow vs. Aurora

Shadow Appreciated Aurora's Skill

When Shadow snuck into the Sanctuary, it summoned someone equal to him in strength. Sanctuary summoned Aurora, the Witch of Calamity and a character better known as the Demon King Diablos. She was the most powerful character in the world before Shadow came, and their fight highlights why she was at the top. Aurora immediately uses a flurry of Blood Magic attacks to put Shadow on the defensive, forcing him to fly around to come up with a strategy.

It's a great fight in the series because it's one of the few times Shadow gets to fight an equal. While he notes that Aurora is much weaker in this state than she was in real life, he's still able to have a good "conversation" through their exchange. Shadow expresses himself through battle and with Aurora, he finally got to let loose.

4 Stylish Ruffian Slayer vs. Kidnappers

Before Minoru Became Shadow

Minoru Kagenou was a vigilante. He studied martial arts and used crowbars to defeat bad guys where he could find them. He went by the name "Stylish Ruffian Slayer" and was pretty good at what he did. When he found a young girl tied up, helpless at the hands of a bunch of kidnappers, he knew he had to help her. He lept in through the roof and beat multiple enemies by himself, all before was isekai'd and granted a host of powers.

The first bad guy pulls a gun on Minoru, but his movements are too slow and Minoru is able to throw a knife at his hand first. He narrates through the fight in classic The Eminence in Shadow fashion, beating his opponents while he tells them what they're doing wrong. This fight is a great introduction to Shadow before he becomes Shadow, proving that his personality goes well beyond his powers.

3 Iris vs. Mundane Mann

Iris Couldn't Even Picture Victory

Iris. vs. Mundane Mann is one of the most unique fights in anime because the pair never really fight. When Iris goes to visualize a way to beat Mundane Mann, all she can see and feel is her own death. She keeps looking for a way to attack him but only sees herself getting hurt. It's a fresh way of showing how dominant a character is without making that character move a muscle. After summoning all of her courage, Iris charges.

Mundane Mann quickly sidesteps her attack and strikes her down with a single blow. Iris can't help but look up in shock at her opponent. While the fight is technically a single attack, Mundane Mann's ability to get in Iris's head before she can swing a sword is great to watch. Shadow, as Mundane Mann, is easily the strongest characters in the series and fights like this one are a great way of showing it.

2 Shadow vs. Iris and Beatrix

Two-On-One Isn't Fair... For Iris and Beatrix

Mundane Mann had just wiped the floor with Iris. He beat her so brutally, she couldn't even imagine a means of victory. When he was done with their match, he flew towards Princess Oriana, saving her from herself and some assassins. He transforms into Shadow in the process, incurring the wrath of Beatrix, the War Goddess, and Iris once again. Their fight is one of the best in the series for a couple of reasons. It's the first time Beatrix's fighting abilites are shown, and while they're impressive, they're nothing compared to Shadow's.

Shadow disappears and reappears like a magic trick. He's clearly going easy on the pair of them while they're doing all they can to survive. The fight ends with Shadow laughing at the pair for thinking he's going to run. He shows the range of his Atomic ability and beats their spirits, letting them know just how much stronger than them he is.

1 Shadow vs. Ragnarok

Shadow Can't Be Stopped

The Eminence in Shadow is great at making a character feel confident only to have their self-belief swept out from under them like a rug. When Mordred used the Black Rose to summon Ragnarök, Grand Ruler of the Fourth Realm, he thought his victory was assured. Ragnarök came into the world and started to destroy it before Shadow cut off one of its arms in an instant. Ragnarök howled in pain before regenerating his arms and summoning an army of demons.

Shadow Garden is exciting every time they're on-screen, and nothing is cooler than seeing Shadow wave his hands to summon them in an instant. They fly at the smaller demons so that their boss can have a one-on-one with the main villain. Shadow narrates his way through the battle in classic Shadow fashion. He gets a good punch in before catching Ragnarök in his strings, dicing the Grand Ruler up without breaking a sweat.