By Emma Singer
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The Digimon anime isn't especially well-known for its fights. While every season of the franchise has an abundance of memorable and exciting moments, extended fight sequences aren't especially common. The main exceptions to this rule are when it comes time for the heroes to face the main villain of a storyline.
Many of the best arcs in the Digimon anime conclude with outstanding final battles, especially in the iconic first five seasons. From the DigiDestined's fight against Devimon in Digimon Adventure to DATS' showdown with King Drasil in Digimon Data Squad, the series has always found ways to keep its climaxes fresh, thrilling, and emotional. Apart from the television series, the Digimon movies contain some of the best final fights in the franchise, as would be expected with their higher animation budgets.
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10 The DigiDestined and Leomon vs Devimon is the Franchise's First Major Climax
Digimon Adventure Episode 13, "The Legend of the Digi-Destined"

Devimon was the first main villain of the Digimon anime and, even after six of the DigiDestined had successfully Digivolved their partners to Champion-level, he still appeared to be unstoppable. Atop Infinity Mountain, the previously separated heroes, including the noble Leomon, throw everything they have at him, but fail to phase the monster. As the tension builds, all the pressure to save the Digital World lands on the tiny shoulders of T.K. and Patamon.
With T.K. in danger, and Patamon's guilty over his inability to Digivolve, the circumstances are created for Patamon to Digivolve into Angemon. The mighty angel looks cooler than any Digimon in the series before him as he destroys the cruel devil, seemingly fulfilling the prophecy the DigiDestined were meant to fulfill. It's satisfying to see the underdogs be the ones to step up and save the day, and tragic as Angemon's decisive victory costs him his life, forcing him to say goodbye to T.K.
9 The DigiDestined vs Piedmon Sees the Birth of MagnaAngemon
Digimon Adventure Episodes 51 and 52

As the leader of the Dark Master, Piedmon appeared to be the final villain the original DigiDestined needed to beat in order to save the Digital World. Fittingly, he proved to be an even greater challenge for the heroes than even his fellow Mega-level Digimon. Whereas WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon were able to destroy MetalSeadramon, Puppetmon, and Machindramon, they're turned into key chains by the Dark Master as easily as the rest of the Digimon partners.
Mirroring the end of Digimon Adventure's first arc, T.K. and Patamon are once again the ones to outshine the rest of their friends. Patamon attaining his Ultimate-level form was a long-time coming, but his awe-inspiring transformation into MagnaAngemon makes the wait more than worth it. Piedmon is a terrifying presence for most of this battle, but the second MagnaAngemon appears on the battlefield, the threat he poses is immediately nullified by the incredibly named Gate of Destiny.
8 DATS vs King Drasil Closes Out an Era with a Bang
Digimon Data Squad Episodes 47 and 48

The final episodes of Digimon Data Squad see Marcus Damon and the rest of DATS unite to take on the misguided ruler of the Digitial World, King Drasil. Rather than simply being an epic battle between good and evil, this showdown is a bit more complex, and Drasil holds a personal connection to Marcus. Drasil's desire to destroy and restart the Human and Digital Worlds isn't born from malice, but from the atrocities committed by Dr. Kurata, and Marcus doesn't just seek to defeat him to save the universe, but to avenge his fallen father.
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The last fight against Drasil comes immediately after a distinctly different fight against him, which only featured Marcus, Spencer Damon, BanchoLeomon, and the king himself. With Spencer and BanchoLeomon now dead, Data Squad builds off this dramatic momentum, and has Marcus team up with Thomas, Yoshi, Keenan, and the rest of their allies for one last push against Drasil. As cool as all the Burst Mode Digimon are in this season, it's appropriate that the final villain of the anime's classic era is defeated by an Agumon and his human partner.
7 Takuya and Koji vs Cherubimon is the Culmination of Everything Before It
Digimon Frontier Episodes 35, 36, and 37

For the majority of Digimon Frontier, Cherubimon appears to be the big bad. While there's a tragedy to his backstory, fans nonetheless become invested in seeing him go down after learning of his betrayal of Ofanimon and Seraphimon, his corruption of the Darkness, Water, Wood, Steel, and Earth Spirits, and his brainwashing of Koichi Kimura. But, even after unlocking the power of Aldamon and BeoWolfmon, Takuya Kanbara and Koji Minamoto lack the strength to defeat the Mega-level archangel.
Nice as it would have been to see J.P., Zoey, Tommy, and Koichi reach Ultimate-level, the weaker DigiDestined find an alternative way to help their friends, giving their powers to Takuya and Koji, and allowing them to Digivolve into EmperorGreymon and MagnaGarurumon. The fight has its highs and lows, and an odd interruption by IceDevimon, but it always keeps things interesting, and allows Takuya and Koji to show off their new abilities, without diminishing Cherubimon. By the end of the fight, Cherubimon becomes bigger and stronger than ever, requiring the former rivals to implement a genuinely clever strategy to finally defeat him.
6 Magnamon vs Kimeramon Displays a True Clash of Titans
Digimon Adventure 02 Episode 21, "The Crest of Kindness"

The entire third act of the Digimon Emperor arc is phenomenal. It's tense, it's unpredictable, the DigiDestined wage war with strategy, rather than brute force, and the combination of Ken Ichijouji's crumbling mental state, and the growing threat of Kimeramon, cause the sense of danger to constantly escalate. With Kimeramon being an unbeatable monstrosity set to destroy everything in its path, the only hope to stop it, and to save Ken from himself, comes when Davis and Veemon are given the Digi-Egg of Miracles, and the power to create Magnamon.
Magnamon vs Kimeramon is far and away the most substantial fight of the Adventure era, at least as far as the television series goes. Rather than being a brief clash that's ultimately ended by a single attack, fans get to enjoy plenty of the two Mega-level Digimon trading blows, and at an early point in the series too. The fight also has a sense of novelty, as it's the only point in Digimon Adventure 02 where Magnamon makes an appearance.
5 Susanoomon vs Lucemon Provides Digimon Fans With a Battle Between Two of the Strongest Digimon Ever
Digimon Frontier Episodes 49 and 50

While the Royal Knights arc of Digimon Frontier is a drag, things instantly pick back up when the final battle against Lucemon arrives. Before the true fight even begins, Lucemon enters his Chaos Form, destroys what little remains of the Digital World, and kills Koichi. It's only in the wake of Koichi's death that the other DigiDestined find the inner strength to combine all 10 Legendary Spirits, and fuse themselves together to form Susanoomon.
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Susanoomon and Lucemon are two of the most powerful Digimon of all time, and their mutual strength can be felt as they fight over the fate of two worlds. Both fighters have impressive signature attacks, and things only get more intense when Lucemon enters his Shadowlord Mode. The pacing of the battle is perfect and, with them having been stuck on the sidelines for so long, it's nice to see J.P., Zoey, and Tommy back in action.
4 DATS vs Kurata and Belphemon Has a Cathartic Conclusion
Digimon Data Squad Episodes 36, 37, and 38

Dr. Kurata is far and away the most loathsome villain in the Digimon anime. A human man with an obsessive hatred for Digimon, Kurata performs all manner of cruel acts in the name of gaining the power to wipe out the entire species. While far from the worst thing about him, Kurata even proves to be a hypocrite, as he attempts to use a Digimon, Belphemon, to enact his goals, and even fuses with it once he's backed into a corner by the DATS agents.
Because of the type of show Digimon is, Marucs, Thomas, Yoshi, and Keenan wouldn't have been able to give him the death he deserves but, thanks to him becoming a Digimon, everything is fair game. While all the DATS agents participate in the fight against Belphemon, both before and after Kurata fuses with it, Marcus and ShineGreymon steal the show by unlocking Burst Mode. ShineGreymon Burst Mode is stunning to watch in action, hyping up the new transformation that the other main characters will eventually unlock, and it's as joyful as it should be to see Kurata get cut down.
3 Tai and Matt vs Diaboromon Features the First Appearance of Omnimon
Digimon Adventure: Our War Game!
The DNA Digivolution of WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon, Omnimon, is one of the most iconic Digimon ever. While part of this comes from him being the fusion of Tai Yagami and Matt Ishida's Mega-level partners, it also helps that he debuted in a glorious fashion in Digimon: Our War Game!. There isn't much nuance or drama around Omnimon's clash with Diaboromon, but it absolutely shines with its visuals, and the hype it's able to create.
Our War Game! has a distinct and gorgeous art style, and the fight between Omnimon and Diaboromon looks outstanding because of it. The choreography, direction, atmosphere and cinematography are all top-notch, and this not only makes for an unforgettable sequence, but works to sell Omnimon as leagues more powerful than WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon. Tai and Matt standing atop Omnimon's shoulders is an iconic image, and their presence in the middle of the action keeps the fight personal and intimate, even as it technically has the highest stakes in the anime franchise, up until this point.
2 Everyone vs the D-Reaper is an All Out War
Digimon Tamers Episodes 43 Through 51
The final fights in each of the first three arcs of Digimon Tamers are nothing too special overall. However, the battle against the D-Reaper more than makes up for this, as it takes up the vast majority of the fourth and final arc of the anime. A rogue program designed only to delete everything in its path, the D-Reaper is a menace unlike any other, and one which requires the Tamers, along with all their allies, to throw everything they have at it, and to implement a number of different strategies.
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While Gallantmon, Sakuyamon, MegaGargomon, Justimon, and Beelzemon do most of the hands-on fighting, they're joined by Yamaki, the Monster Makers, Calumon, Dobermon, the Digimon Sovereigns, many other Digimon in the Digitial World, and eventually Jeri Katou in their struggle against the other-worldly monstrosity that is the D-Reaper. While there are some superb individual bits of fighting, what makes this fight special are the horror of the situation, the amount of unique approaches needed to tackle a threat like this, and all the small character moments and development that much of the cast is treated to. It's also notable for having one of the most tragic endings to any fight in the series, as the D-Reaper isn't defeated by brute strength or the power of friendship, but by a father betraying his son's trust, destroying their relationship forever.
1 Tai and Matt vs Menoa Bellucci and Eosmon Stands as the Final Battle For the Original DigiDestined
Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna
Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna features the most emotional, and the most lovingly animated, fight of Tai Kamiya and Matt Ishida's lives. To stop former DigiDestined Menoa Bellucci from using her artificial partner, Eosmon, from trapping every DigiDestined and their partner in an endless dream, Tai and Matt are forced not only to form Omnimon, but to combat their own fears of growing up.
The first portion of the fight, which sees Omnimon trying and failing to defeat Eosmon, makes it painful both to see the legendary figure be demolished, and to see Tai and Matt continue to fight, despite knowing what the consequences for themselves will be by choosing to do so. Agumon and Gabumon becoming Agumon (Bond of Bravery) and Gabumon (Bond of Friendship) is completely unexpected, but thematically appropriate, and their final assault on Eosmon is the single greatest piece of action in the franchise. This battle has personal stakes, choreography, direction, scoring, and visuals that no other Digimon fight can match.

Digimon
A group of young teens is unexpectedly sent to the mysterious Digital World and paired up with their own powerful, morphing monster called the Digimon. Together the entire group set out on an adventure to fight evil and save the world.
- Created by
- Akiyoshi Hongo
- First Film
- Digimon: The Movie
- Latest Film
- Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning
- First TV Show
- Digimon Adventure
- First Episode Air Date
- March 7, 1999
- Anime
- Digimon
- anime
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