Warning: SPOILERS for Black Clover Chapter #291

Despite often being referred to as Black Clover, especially after reading its manga and being blown away by one of its fights that I not only consider to be the best in the series but a standout battle among all shōnen. Black Clover has memorable moments of action and emotional developments and a message of perseverance and effort, which is embodied in the fights. However, my absolute favorite is Magna’s one-on-one fight against Dante of the Dark Triad.

When thinking about the best Black Clover fights where the characters showcase an immense amount of power along with the contrast of their ideals, Patry vs. Julius or Yuno vs. Zenon may come to mind, which adds weight to the plot thanks to the background of the characters, but Magna Swing vs. Dante Zogratis in chapter #291 is the one that best represents the essence of the story.

Magna vs. Dante Represents If Hard Work Can Beat Talent Better Than Any Other Shōnen

Magna Didn’t Seek Immense Power but To Stand on Equal Grounds in a Fight

One of the things I have always loved about Shōnen is the constant debate about whether hard work can beat natural talent, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed Naruto and Rock Lee vs. Gaara was one of my favorite fights in all anime. Might Guy was also a fine example of a hard-working fighter in his confrontation with Madara. However, neither of them is able to defeat their opponents in the end, as Lee is brutally injured, and Guy fails to do lasting damage to Madara.

But Magna vs. Dante's fight completely blew off my expectations, not only because it was the first time I saw a side character who had been left behind on the power scale managing to stand his ground with a major villain in a logical and coherent way without an unexpected power-up, but because of how exciting and emotional the fight was. The fight is great because of the events that precede it, as Magna is constantly presented in the story as one of the weaker of the Black Bulls but also the most dedicated one alongside Asta.

This way, the fact that he chose to battle Dante didn't feel forced at all, because Magna didn’t get an invincible power even after months of planning and preparation, but was only able to level the battlefield and fight on equal with his opponent. The fight was based on strategy, taking advantage of the characters' strengths and weaknesses, with the winner being determined purely based on their willpower, showing that even someone belonging to the weakest group in the magical world, a peasant, could face one of the strongest, a natural talent that had been incredibly enhanced by a devil.

Magna’s Victory Is the Perfect Embodiment of Black Clover’s Themes

The Winner Was Surprising, But Well Justified

Despite his determination, Magna often failed to achieve his goals, like when he failed the Magic Knight's entrance exam or was told his magic power was low. As a result, even after Magna succeeded in attaching the chain to Dante, and I found the use of trap magic to be a well-thought-out effort, I was expecting that, like in other instances of Black Clover, another member of the Black Bulls would come to aid Magna at the last second, as the series often relies on team effort during difficult fights.

However, I was utterly surprised as the battle progressed to a pure fistfight that had a sheer intensity like few others and only increased until Magna defeated Dante, one of the main antagonists of the arc by himself, which is something hard to see in other series. Moreover, Magna’s victory wasn’t far-fetched, as the spell is powerful because it binds souls and splits magic equally but could be used only one time, and the preparation took him six months. Furthermore, it was the perfect counter for Dante, who was a narcissistic character, since he lost due to being overconfident.

Magna shows he is scared and is not only constantly belittled by Dante, but even the Green Mantis Captain, Jack, also thinks he has no way of winning. Yet Magna pushes himself thanks to the influence of Yami, Asta, and Luck, as well as Sora's , and gives his all, managing to win in the end. Because of this, the fight highlights the message of Black Clover that it is possible to sur yourself and overcome your limits while also going against society's expectations more than any other in the series.

When Magna vs. Dante Gets Animated, It Could Become One of the Best Moments in Modern Anime

The Soul Chain Deathmatch Is One of the Most Epic Moments to Adapt in Black Clover Season 5

The fistfight between Magna and Dante was matched, but the recipient of Lucifero was constantly healing himself thanks to his Body Magic, while Magna threw multiple swings at him in a high-tension display, which is definitely a moment that will be enhanced in animation as the voice acting and fitting soundtrack will add to the intense battle. Additionally, Magna vs. Dante was recognized by My Hero Academia’s creator as his favorite fight in Black Clover, which is proof of how it stands out, even when compared to the major battles of main characters like Asta, Noelle, or even Yami.

Even more so, the heroic final shot of Magna standing above a defeated Dante lying on the ground just as Asta and Luck arrive to help him is a fascinating and uplifting culmination of the fight, as Magna wins due to his sheer guts and willpower. This way, it has everything to captivate the viewers once it gets adapted in the Black Clover Season 5. For me, reading the fight gave me a whole new world of appreciation for how Yuki Tabata’s story develops its characters, becoming my favorite underdog moment that I have had the pleasure of reading so far in Shōnen manga.