The 8 Best-Written Anime Betrayals of the Past 10 Years, Ranked

by

The following article contains major spoilers!

Betrayal is one of the hardest story elements to get right. When poorly executed, it feels forced or unbelievable. But when done well, it can deeply affect characters, dramatically alter the story’s course, and stay with the audience long after they’ve finished watching. True betrayal isn’t just about surprising twists – it’s about powerful, earned emotional moments that completely reshape how we understand everything that came before.

Over the past decade, anime has delivered some truly heartbreaking betrayals. These moments aren’t shocking just for the sake of it, but because of how they build up over time, how they affect the characters’ minds, and the lasting impact they have. These scenes changed storylines, fractured relationships, reshaped identities, and even altered entire worlds. Here are seven betrayals that were particularly well-written, emotionally painful, and unforgettable.

8. Hawks Works With League of Villains

My Hero Academia

Hawks is initially presented as the perfect hero – charming, capable, and effortlessly cool. This makes his betrayal much more impactful, as it’s revealed he’s been secretly working with the League of Villains, immediately raising suspicions. The story deliberately portrays Hawks as someone who may have gone too far, creating tension for both the audience and the heroes who now question where his true allegiance lies.

The brilliance of this seeming betrayal lies in the revelation that it wasn’t a betrayal at all, not in the way everyone thought. Hawks was actually a double agent who sacrificed his reputation, principles, and happiness to gather intelligence from within the enemy’s ranks. His decision to kill Twice, even after giving him a chance to surrender, adds a tragic layer, showing that sometimes difficult choices – even those that feel like betrayals – are made to prevent a greater harm, and can leave lasting scars.

7. Rachel Pushes Bam

Tower of God

The betrayal of Rachel is one of the most shockingly cold moments in recent anime. Initially, she appears gentle, kind, and fragile, serving as an emotional anchor for Bam throughout his adventure. She represents hope and purpose, giving him a reason to keep climbing the Tower. Her story strongly suggests she’s a trustworthy and dependable character.

The story’s impact is strongest when Rachel seemingly pushes Bam to his death. It’s not just the betrayal itself that’s shocking, but why she does it – a ruthless and calculated decision. Rachel is willing to betray anyone, even those who care for her, to get what she wants. The show doesn’t try to excuse her behavior or make her sympathetic; instead, it presents betrayal as a raw consequence of desperation, envy, and pure self-interest.

6. Aoyama is Revealed as the U.A. Traitor

My Hero Academia

Aoyama was consistently portrayed as odd, clumsy, and surprisingly charming. His insecurity actually made him feel protected, as if he blended into the background among the more powerful students in his class. When it’s revealed that he and his family had been secretly working with All For One all along, the betrayal deeply impacts viewers, going beyond just the characters in Class 1-A and resonating with the audience as a whole.

What makes Aoyama’s betrayal so impactful is the story behind it. He wasn’t naturally malicious – he was frightened and forced into it because of threats against his family. His betrayal wasn’t motivated by malice, but by coercion. And when he later decided to turn against All For One, knowing the consequences, it added a deeply emotional layer to his story, making it one of the most complex arcs in the series.

5. Nagi Betrays Reo

Blue Lock

Nagi’s betrayal felt so harsh because it happened so suddenly. During the Second Selection, he didn’t leave Reo out of malice; he simply wanted to play with Isagi. For the first time, Nagi was genuinely enjoying soccer for himself, rather than just playing to please Reo. He saw it as a logical decision – Isagi presented a new challenge, something that would push him beyond relying on Reo’s guidance and help him grow as a player.

Reo felt deeply betrayed, no matter how Nagi tried to explain things. Their shared dream of becoming the best in the world shattered immediately. Nagi didn’t want to see Reo again, but he believed this separation was temporary – a necessary step to become stronger and eventually return. This betrayal is one of the most painful moments in the series, highlighting how the biggest hurts often come from those closest to us, not our rivals – a theme consistently emphasized in Blue Lock.

4. Kanjuro Betrays The Red Scabbards

One Piece

Kanjuro’s betrayal is a brilliantly executed, long-term plot. For years, he acted as a loyal ally to the Kozuki family and their retainers, sharing in their hardships and fighting alongside them in the effort to restore Wano. What makes this betrayal so effective is how subtle it was. Unlike typical villain reveals with obvious clues, Kanjuro simply appeared as a steadfast companion until his shocking reveal.

Learning that Kanjuro was a spy for Kurozuni from the start completely reshapes how we see everything. His previously odd behavior – his poor art skills, his calm demeanor, and his incredible luck – now takes on a disturbing new meaning. Unlike other betrayals which happened in the moment, Kanjuro’s was a long, carefully crafted deception built on a false identity and a clan’s desire for revenge. His motivation wasn’t anger, but a deep emptiness.

3. Eren and Zeke In The Paths

Attack On Titan

The Paths sequence reveals Eren and Zeke as brothers bound by a shared, though tragic, goal: to end all suffering through Zeke’s Euthanasia Plan. In a brief but significant moment, Eren appears to embrace an alternative path, one that doesn’t involve killing everyone, which seems to validate some of Zeke’s complex beliefs. Zeke believes he’s freed Eren from their father’s influence, seeing Grisha as the source of Eren’s hatred and violent tendencies.

The core belief is shattered when Eren reveals the truth: his father, Grisha, wasn’t the mastermind – Eren was. In a truly shocking and unexpected turn of events, Eren confesses he manipulated the past, orchestrating his father’s actions to kill the royal family and obtain the Founding Titan. This betrayal goes beyond just a falling out between brothers; it’s a manipulation of time itself. Zeke realizes he wasn’t leading Eren, but merely witnessing the actions of someone already committed to a destructive path. This revelation deepens the betrayal, making it one of the most surprising and skillfully crafted plot twists in anime of the last decade.

2. The Eclipse

Berserk 2016

Even after many years, Griffith’s betrayal remains shockingly awful. While it first appeared quite a while ago, recent adaptations keep revisiting this moment, constantly reminding viewers of the heartbreaking events and solidifying its place as one of the most devastating, yet masterfully crafted, betrayals in anime history.

Griffith sacrificed everything – his friends, his comrades, the people he considered family – all to achieve his ambition. The attack on Guts and Casca wasn’t just physically violent; it shattered their very sense of purpose and being. In a single moment, everything they believed in – trust, love, and shared dreams – was twisted into something cruel and horrifying. What makes this betrayal so devastating is that it came from someone they completely trusted and would have willingly followed, someone who used their devotion to inflict pain.

1. The Titans Reveal

Attack on Titan

The reveal of Reiner and Bertholdt’s true identities is considered one of the most shocking betrayals in anime. The scene unfolds subtly, almost as if the weight of the truth makes a grand announcement impossible. Bertholdt’s confirmation as the Colossal Titan and Reiner’s calm admission as the Armored Titan instantly changed everything. These weren’t distant enemies, but comrades who had fought alongside Eren, offering support and protection even as the world fell apart.

This story is incredibly impactful and heartbreaking, and it portrays betrayal as a result of war’s complexities, manipulation, and tough decisions, not simply as malice. What makes it so compelling is that ‘Attack on Titan’ avoids painting anyone as purely villainous; instead, it emphasizes that everything depends on your point of view. While fans and the main character, Eren, might see a shocking betrayal, characters like Reiner and Bertholdt view their actions as a way to find redemption and liberation.

Read More

2026-01-20 21:36