Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry has a bit more modern setting than one would expect for a sword and sorcery anime, but don’t let that fool you. It is set in a relatively contemporary, alternate version of our own world and takes place at an academy where gifted youngsters train to become powerful, magical knights. However, society is structured in such a way where rank in the knighthood is determined exclusively by magical ability, which is bad news for main character Ikki Kurogane, dubbed “the worst one” by his peers due to his utter lack of magic. However, what Kurogane lacks in magical power, he more than makes up for in dedication to a rigorous training regimen, and martial prowess. His life turns upside down when a clerical error forces him to room with Stella, a vivacious vixen with incredible magical powers who is used to getting her own way. It’s up to Kurogane and Stella to disrupt the status quo in the school’s annual tournament to determine the top-ranked aspirants at the academy. While the show is mostly character-driven, it has plenty pulse-pounding action, with slickly animated battle sequences that are sure to please fans of the genre.

Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic takes place in an Old World partly inspired by history, particularly that of the Middle East. In it, all living beings possess an essence known as “Rukh,” that is fed into a cycle of death and rebirth. This essence can be manipulated by powerful magic users, appropriately known as magi, to accomplish great deeds and give them spectacular power in combat. Magi, seeking to expand their powers, often enter labyrinthine dungeons filled with traps and treasure, often ruled over by a powerful magical being known as a Djinn. Aladdin is a carefree young man who sets a precedent by manifesting his power as the “fourth magi,” when previously there have only been free. He has a flute inhabited by a Djinn that he can call on for assistance, as well as a turban that can function as a magic carpet. Together with his friend, Alibaba, he enters dungeons looking for magical artifacts, hoping to inspire the nations around the world with his leadership and kindness. With oodles of dungeon-crawling action, complete with traps, swordplay, and magic, as well as a follow-up series, there’s a lot for fans to sink their teeth into.

Shinku Izumi is a half-Japanese, half-British junior high school student in Japan, dealing with the trials of middle school life when he is suddenly summoned to the alternate world of Flonyard, which is inhabited by humans with animal ears and tails. There, he learns that he was summoned by Princess Millhiore, of the Biscotti Kingdom, to fight as their champion in a war between the nations. She gifts him their magical weapon, Palladion, which has the ability to take whatever shape the wielder desires. Shinku is a cheerful and persistent young man and is willing to do what’s right for those he cares about. Although he is summoned to fight in a war, it is structured as a blood-free tournament between nations, where winners get larger shares of a pool of prize money. Although the animation style seems a bit childish, it tells a very real story of friendship, and there’s a lot of swordplay and spell slinging to keep viewers entertained throughout the series’ three seasons.

Akane Academy is a high school whose student body is made up of “saviors,” who are reincarnated individuals with memories of heroic past lives, and access to powerful abilities. There are two types of saviors; Shirogane, who are able to manifest weapons and techniques, and Kuroma, who manifest magic primarily for defensive purposes. The students spend their tenure at the school training to fight “metaphysicals,” monsters who relentlessly attack humans at every opportunity. The story follows Moroha Haimura, a dependable young man who has two past lives and is thus, able to utilize abilities of both Shirogane and Kuroma. Because of his unique power, he joins an elite group of students to defend the school and the town when metaphysicals start showing up to cause trouble. Battle is the bread and butter of the show, and because of the interesting duality the show sets up, there’s a healthy mix of clashing swords and dazzling spells.

The world of Fate/Stay Night is a complicated one, with a staggering amount of lore. Just know that it’s set in a world where magical warriors compete in a semi-regular event called “the Holy Grail War,” a tournament where the winner is granted their deepest wishes. The themes of the show are more complicated than the premise, as it's often more about conquering oneself, as much as it is your opponent. The first series follows events centered around Shiro Emiya, a survivor of a battle that left a swath of destruction that apparently killed everyone except him. His is a sincere young man who seeks to uphold the ideals of his late, adoptive father, and become a hero for justice. His chance encounters with a mysterious silver-haired girl sets him on a journey that will change the course of his life. If a richly constructed lore and flashy combat are in your wheelhouse, you have to check it out, and the sequels will provide plenty of must-see viewing.

Claymore takes place in a world where humans are also plagued by shape-shifting monsters called Yoma, who feed on and terrorize the populace. They are protected by Claymores, half-human half-Yoma hybrids possessing super-human strength and abilities (as well as giant swords, claymores), but who eventually succumb to their demonic instincts. The show follows a Claymore named Clare, who saves a young man named Raki, from a Yoma who has slain his family. While most of the emphasis of this show is on brutal, frantic combat, the supernatural abilities of the Yoma and the Claymores definitely give the swordplay a more magical feel. The themes of the story are expectedly weighty and tells a moving tale of revenge and self-sacrifice.

King Il is the pacifist ruler of Kouka and is beloved by many. Because of the kingdom’s peace, his only daughter, Yona, lives a carefree life, happily whiling away her days at Hiryu castle under the watchful eye of her companion and bodyguard, Son Hak. Her childhood sweetheart, Soo-won, visits the King under false pretenses and commits the ultimate betrayal when he murders King Il in front of Yona, and declares himself the new ruler. Yona and Hak flee to Hak’s hometown and begin a quest to reclaim her kingdom by seeking out the power of reincarnated dragons of legend. Akatsuki no Yona is a story of adventure, of course, but it is also the story of a young woman maturing into the ruler she is destined to be. Her journey is fraught with peril and battle, enough to keep any fan of the genre on the edge of their seat throughout the series’ run.

Perhaps a show that needs no introduction, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood is the canonical adaptation of the insanely popular manga, introduced after the first iteration of the show received lukewarm reception for spinning its wheels and deviating from the source material too strongly. It tells the story of brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, two young men in a remote village raised by their mother after their father abandoned them at a young age. They leave the village to train as alchemists, having shown a great aptitude for it at even a young age. Unfortunately, when they return to their village after training, they do so under the sad circumstances of their mother’s passing. An attempt to use forbidden alchemy to resurrect her results in a loss of limb for Edward, and the near obliteration of Alphonse, whose soul is hastily imbued into a nearby suit of armor. Without spoiling anything, the series is an epic story of personal discovery during a ravaging war and isn’t to be missed.

Another series heavily inspired by history, The Heroic Legend of Arslan is set in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Middle East during the Dark Ages. The kingdom of Pars is the cultural and economic crossroads of the area, and its king, Andragoras the 3rd, has never known the sting of defeat. This all changes, however. When Andragoras falls victim to a sinister plot carried out by some of his most trusted advisors, it forces his son Arslan to flee his rightful home, and sets him on a harrowing adventure for survival. The Heroic Legend of Arslan is a show that has plenty to offer fans of multiple genres, because of its fantastical, magical setting, it’s memorable cast of companions and villains, and thoughtfully explores the cost of cultural imperialism and freedom.

We round out the list with another iconic series that needs no introduction. Berserk is the dark fantasy story of Guts, a brave, orphaned mercenary who works as the right-hand man of Griffith in the troupe, the Band of the Hawk, in the employ of the King during a century-long war. When the war is over and Guts decides to leave the Band, Griffith begins to lose his mind and loses favor with the king when he assaults his daughter, the princess. A year of imprisonment and torture at the hands of the monarch changed him forever. Griffith activates the Behelit, a magical object in his possession that grants him incredible power at the cost of what little humanity remained to him, and sets him on a path of conquest that Guts finds himself directly in the path of. Berserk is a brutal, sweeping epic adventure that is a must-watch for fans of the genre, especially now with a second adaptation just around the corner.