Maybe you’ve got a test to ace, a job interview to nail, or a race to win — sometimes, a mortal needs to go beast mode. Even if you can’t summon your own crackling blue lightning, these epic anime scenes will get you all hyped up and ready to fight.
Pick your stakes, cue up the episode, and fast-forward to the timestamp we’ve provided to arrive at the perfect clip. Just make sure you cover up that bulging vein on your forehead before you leave the house.
Vegeta finally goes Super Saiyan 3
Season 1, Episode 12, “True Strength” (14:04–17:19)
Of all the canonical Saiyan transformations, Super Saiyan 3 is unique, with that long golden hair crackling with blue lightning. When Goku first unveiled it during his fight against Majin Buu in Dragon Ball Z, Vegeta was crushed to realize his rival had been holding back in their earlier fight. For years, fans had hoped that Vegeta might attain that power himself someday, and Dragon Ball DAIMA finally delivered. Even though he’s still stuck being a kid (thanks to the inciting incident of DAIMA), Vegeta finally reaching Super Saiyan 3 to defeat an armored alien guardian will definitely get you hyped.
Frieren reveals the secret of her power
Season 1, Episode 10, “A Powerful Mage” (19:23–22:56)
The first thing we learn about Frieren the elf mage is that she was part of the adventuring party that slew the Demon King years before. But as the series progresses, we learn plenty of powerful demons are still alive and wreaking havoc on humanity. Is Frieren capable of defeating them without her old friends? The demons don’t think so, and their new leader, Aura the Guillotine, moves in for the kill, hoping to conquer the nearest human city. That’s when Frieren reveals her secret: the humble magician has spent centuries learning how to suppress her powers so her enemies wouldn’t know the extent of her abilities. Once her full power is revealed, Frieren overwhelms Aura’s mind with one simple command: “Kill yourself.” Against the flashbacks that show the years of work Frieren put in to make this reveal possible, watching her once again save humanity from demonic killers will make you stand up and cheer.
Hawkeye tricks Envy
Season 5, Episode 2, “Beyond the Inferno” (4:04–6:51)
“I lied.” We all love romantic ships, don’t we? Particularly with characters like Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang, who clearly care for each other but hate talking about their feelings — especially for each other. Rarely do we get to see such characters weaponize our fantasies about them, but that’s what makes Hawkeye so special. When the shapeshifting Envy infiltrates the heroes’ ranks, it’s unclear whose form the wily homunculus has taken. Pointing a gun at Mustang’s head, Hawkeye claims that if it were really him, he would call her “Riza” while they were alone. Envy admits defeat and unveils its disguise, only for Hawkeye to reveal that it was just a ploy to expose Envy. It’s an awesome moment, especially because it’s immediately followed by Envy getting shot dozens of times and then lit on fire by the real Mustang.
Itsuki goes all-in
Season 1, Episode 11, “The Woman Who Bets Her Life” (7:21–20:06)
In Kakegurui, making a big bet can feel as tense as a blow-for-blow fight. But while the protagonist, Yumeko Jabami, gambles for the thrill of it, other characters have more personal reasons for playing. Itsuki Sumeragi, for example, wants to regain her self-confidence after losing her seat on the student council. So she teams up with Yumeko against Kaede Manyūda, an arrogant elitist who acts like everyone’s beneath him. Inspired by Yumeko’s confidence, Itsuki pushes past her fears and goes for broke. Just try not to feel something while they put Kaede in his place.
Rock Lee lets loose
Season 2, Episode 22, “Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!” (11:30–15:33)
We all restrain ourselves sometimes, whether for politeness or humility. But sometimes we’re meant to break free — just look at Rock Lee in his fight against Gaara. At first, Lee relies on physical moves, which are no match for Gaara’s magic sand. But then Lee reveals he’s been wearing weights around his ankles — and they aren’t light. The booming sound of the constraints crashing to the floor, followed by the sight of Lee fighting even faster than Gaara’s sand can move, is the ultimate power-up.
The first human’s last stand
Season 1, Episode 8, “Grace Abounding” (10:52–16:08)
At first glance, a fighting tournament between gods and mortals for the sake of human survival doesn’t sound fair. Even when the original human, Adam, enters the fray in Round 2, it seems impossible for him to challenge the might of Zeus. As Adam uses his Divine Replication ability to mimic Zeus’s cosmic punches, the thunder god keeps unleashing new levels of power. It’s a fight Adam can’t win, but his refusal to give up becomes an inspiration to every human watching — especially those of us on the other side of the screen.
Aang brings justice to the Fire Lord
Season 3, Episode 16, “Sozin’s Comet” (1:12:08–1:23:00)
Throughout Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Fire Lord looms as the greatest threat to world peace. But we don’t really see Ozai in action until it’s time for his climactic confrontation with Aang. Armed with the full fire-boosting power of Sozin’s Comet, Ozai seems like an unstoppable force until the Avatar shows up and uses everything he’s learned over the series to bring the genocidal dictator down to Earth. There are few things more exciting than watching Aang, surrounded by all four elements, telling Ozai that his time has come — except maybe for the worse-than-death punishment he then metes out.
