The Rising of the Shield Hero
AnimeJapanese animation traditions and grammar.This show: 10/10High fantasyInvented worlds with magic and rules of their own.This show: 9/10Outsider leadA misfit or newcomer as our way into the world.This show: 8/10Deep worldbuildingDense lore that rewards immersion.This show: 7/10Found familyUnrelated people slowly becoming each other's family.This show: 7/10SerializedContinuous arcs where every episode builds on the last.This show: 7/10
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Starring
Kaito IshikawaAsami SetoRina HidakaMaaya UchidaStephen FuYoshitsugu Matsuoka
Written by
Aneko Yusagi
Starring
Kaito IshikawaAsami SetoRina HidakaMaaya UchidaStephen FuYoshitsugu Matsuoka
Written by
Aneko Yusagi
Ratings per Episode
Votes per Episode
The Rising of the Shield Hero Episode Ratings Heatmap
| Avg | E1 | E2 | E3 | E4 | E5 | E6 | E7 | E8 | E9 | E10 | E11 | E12 | E13 | E14 | E15 | E16 | E17 | E18 | E19 | E20 | E21 | E22 | E23 | E24 | E25 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | 8.1 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 8.9 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 8.4 | 8.4 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 8.3 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 8.4 | |
| S2 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 5.6 | |||||||||||||
| S3 | 7.3 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.1 | ||||||||||||||
| S4 | 7.0 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 7.3 | 7.0 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 7.7 |
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About
"A grudge-fueled climb from betrayal to earned trust"
Four teens are summoned from modern Japan into a fantasy world as legendary Heroes, each bound to a weapon. Naofumi draws the shield, the least flashy of the four, and is almost immediately betrayed and humiliated, leaving him to survive on cunning and defense alone. What follows is a slow-build power fantasy about clawing back respect, gathering unlikely allies, and learning who to trust again. The opening arc is genuinely grim, but the show settles into steadier, more rewarding adventure once its central partnership takes hold.
Watch it for
the slow-burn bond between Naofumi and Raphtalia as distrust turns into loyalty.
Maybe skip if
you're put off by a bleak, betrayal-heavy opening before the story finds steadier footing.
Written by our AI editor to help you decide, spoiler-free by design.
All Seasons
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Season 12019
8.118K2510h 23m
The Four Cardinal Heroes are a group of ordinary men from modern-day Japan summoned to the kingdom of Melromarc to become its saviors. Melromarc is a country plagued by the Waves of Catastrophe that have repeatedly ravaged the land and brought disaster to its citizens for centuries. The four heroes are respectively bestowed a sword, spear, bow, and shield to vanquish these Waves. Naofumi Iwatani, an otaku, becomes cursed with the fate of being the "Shield Hero." Armed with only a measly shield, Naofumi is belittled and ridiculed by his fellow heroes and the kingdom's people due to his weak offensive capabilities and lackluster personality.
As the Waves approach the kingdom, Naofumi and Raphtalia must fight for the survival of the kingdom and protect the people of Melromarc from their ill-fated future.
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Season 22022
6.85K135h 12m
With another Wave happening in a week, Naofumi Iwatani and his party have no time to waste. However, when bat familiars raid Lurolona Village and the Wave countdown comes to a halt, the Four Cardinal Heroes reconvene with the queen, Mirelia Q Melromarc, for a quick briefing. The queen presumes that the odd occurrences are linked to the Spirit Tortoise—a threatening creature that has awakened from its slumber, back to cause havoc once again. A plan to put the Spirit Tortoise to rest is devised—but out of the four men, only the cursed Shield Hero agrees to help.
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Season 32023
7.34K124h 36m
After defeating the Spirit Tortoise, Naofumi has no time for rest. An attack from the next Guardian Beast is imminent, but the three other Cardinal Heroes have gone missing. So, Naofumi and his party set out to search for the legendary trio.
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Season 42025
7.03K12
As Naofumi prepares for the Phoenix’s return, assassins from Q’ten Lo target Raphtalia, mistaking her for a throne usurper. To resolve the conflict, Naofumi journeys to Siltvelt, where he is hailed as a demi-human savior, but not all welcome him. In politically volatile Q’ten Lo, Raphtalia becomes a revolutionary symbol. Amid rising chaos, can Naofumi unite his allies and guide them to salvation?
Full Cast & Crew
Cast
Kaito Ishikawa Naofumi Iwatani, Iwatani Naofumi
Asami Seto Raphtalia, Raph-chan, Natalia
Rina Hidaka Filo
Maaya Uchida Melty Q Melromarc, Melty, Melty Melromarc
Stephen Fu Iwatani Naofumi, Naofumi Iwatani, Naofumi
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka Ren Amaki
Sarah Emi Bridcutt Myne, Malty S Melromarc, Machina
Yoshitaka Yamaya Itsuki Kawasumi
Erica Mendez Raphtalia
Billy Kametz Naofumi Iwatani
Crew
Aneko Yusagi
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