8 Anime Like Wistoria Wand and Sword: Magicless in a Fantasy World

Imagine a world where magic defines your status, your future, your entire identity. That’s the world of Mashle.

Mash, however, has no magic. None at all. The twist? He still manages to enroll in an elite magic academy, relying not on spells, but on sheer, absurd muscle power.

Sound familiar? Much like Will from Wistoria, Mash is an outsider trying to rise through the ranks in a world that insists he doesn’t belong.

Both protagonists refuse to be written off just because they lack magic. While the premise is similar, Mashle stands out with its hilarious tone and well-executed action scene.

While it’s funnier in tone, Mashle still delivers the emotional and motivational moments Wistoria fans crave, especially if you’re into the “powerless vs. powerful” trope done big.

Mashle: Magic and Muscles info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2023
• Studios: A-1 Pictures
• Genres: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
• Themes: Gag Humor, Parody, School
• Score: 7.62 (MAL), 7.5 (IMDb)

Watch Mashle: Magic and Muscles trailer:

Now let’s talk DanMachi. Since it comes from the same author as Wistoria, you’ll instantly notice familiar settings, character types, and themes woven throughout.

At its core, DanMachi is a thrilling fantasy adventure brimming with heart, danger, and plenty of progression-driven excitement. And a bit of harem stuff…

The story follows Bell Cranel, a rookie adventurer with dreams of becoming a true hero in a vast dungeon world filled with monsters and overseen by gods.

He begins weak and underestimated, but his determination and steady growth closely mirror Will’s journey.

Themes of perseverance and personal growth run through both stories, and DanMachi delivers no shortage of intense battles and dramatic moments.

On top of that, the rich, immersive world-building makes it easy to lose yourself in Bell’s adventures, much like Will’s.

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: DanMachi
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2015
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 7.53 (MAL), 7.4 (IMDb)

Watch DanMachi trailer:

Black Clover feels like a spiritual sibling to Wistoria. Its protagonist, Asta, is born without magic in a world where magic defines everything.

Instead of giving in to despair, Asta pushes his body to the limit through relentless training.

His efforts are rewarded when he gains a rare anti-magic grimoire, a weapon that lets him carve out his own path toward becoming the Wizard King.

The setup closely mirrors Wistoria: a magic academy backdrop, fierce rivalries, and a main character determined to defy expectations.

Like Will, Asta’s journey is about perseverance, grit, and proving you don’t need to be born gifted to achieve greatness. Though… Asta is a bit too loud.

Both series mix action, humor, and heartfelt moments, with a strong focus on friendship and the will to never give up.

Black Clover info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: N/A
• Episodes: 170
• Released: Fall 2017
• Studios: Studio Pierrot
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 8.14 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

Watch Black Clover trailer:

Seven Spellblades follows a group of elite students bound together as the Seven Spellblades, sworn to defend their academy from deadly, otherworldly threats.

Unlike Wistoria, which focuses on a lone underdog, this story builds around a team dynamic.

Still, its protagonist, Oliver Horn, carries deeply personal reasons for enrolling, and his vow becomes the driving force of the entire narrative.

Much like Will, Oliver’s promise anchors his journey, adding weight and purpose to every choice he makes.

And despite the magical setting, swords play a surprisingly central role in this world, adding a refreshing twist that blends steel and sorcery in unexpected ways.

If Wistoria drew you in with its school drama and magical combat, Spellblades refines that formula with sharper tension and deeper mystery.

The series explores the darker consequences of power and the steep cost of rising within a ruthless system.

Reign of the Seven Spellblades info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Nanatsu no Maken ga Shihai suru
• Episodes: 15
• Released: Summer 2023
• Studios: J.C.Staff
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Themes: N/A
• Score: 6.56 (MAL), 6.4 (IMDb)

Now, here’s one that embraces the classic underdog in a magic school story with pride.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight introduces us to Ikki Kurogane, a student branded as “the worst one” at a magical knight academy.

Though he has almost no magical power, Ikki hones his swordsmanship relentlessly like a beast. His mastery of the blade even allows him to outclass magic users.

Sound familiar? Much like Will in Wistoria, Ikki’s journey is about proving that greatness isn’t limited to those born with talent.

With its intense one-on-one battles, some romantic tension, and focus on self-improvement, this anime feels perfectly aligned with what makes Wistoria so appealing.

If you loved rooting for Wistoria’s hero against the odds, Chivalry of a Failed Knight delivers a similar emotional payoff with an engaging, layered plot.

Chivalry of a Failed Knight info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Fall 2015
• Studios: SILVER LINK., Nexus
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Romance, Ecchi
• Themes: School, Urban Fantasy
• Score: 7.42 (MAL), 7.2 (IMDb)

If you love detailed power systems, genius-level tactics, and school-based spell battles, The Irregular at Magic High School is a total gem.

The story follows Tatsuya Shiba, who enrolls in a prestigious magic academy. Because his abilities don’t fit the traditional mold, he’s sorted into the “inferior” class, dismissed as second-rate from the start.

The twist? Tatsuya is far from weak. His talents are extraordinary, just not in ways the academy recognizes.

Like Will from Wistoria, he’s constantly underestimated, yet in reality he’s frighteningly capable.

Wistoria fans will feel right at home with Tatsuya’s quiet confidence and refusal to play by the world’s rules

While Will fights through grit and swordsmanship, Tatsuya dismantles expectations with cold precision and hidden talents.

Its academy politics, fierce rivalries, and stylish magic combat make this a must-watch, especially if you’re looking for something more high-tech yet equally intense.

The Irregular at Magic High School info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei
• Episodes: 26
• Released: Spring 2014
• Studios: Madhouse
• Genres: Action, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
• Themes: School, Urban Fantasy
• Score: 7.37 (MAL), 7.0 (IMDb)

Swap out magic for superpowers, and you’ve got My Hero Academia.

While this one isn’t a magic academy, it captures the same spirit that makes Wistoria so compelling: a school for the gifted, a protagonist who starts powerless, and the relentless drive to rise above impossible odds.

Izuku Midoriya is born without “quirks” (superpowers) in a world where nearly everyone has them. But when he inherits the legendary quirk One For All, his true journey finally begins.

Like Will, Deku leads with heart. He may not be the most naturally gifted, but he studies, trains, and pushes himself harder than anyone.

If you crave battles with emotional punch and a lead who never gives up, My Hero Academia will absolutely hit home.

My Hero Academia info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Boku no Hero Academia
• Episodes: 13
• Released: Spring 2016
• Studios: Bones
• Genres: Action
• Themes: School, Super Power
• Score: 7.83 (MAL), 8.2 (IMDb)

Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor flips the usual formula on its head.

Instead of following a struggling student, it introduces us to Glenn Radars, a lazy, apathetic slacker who unexpectedly finds himself teaching at a prestigious magic academy.

At first glance, Glenn looks like a joke: unmotivated, irresponsible, and seemingly unqualified for the job.

But beneath that facade lies sharp skill and a tragic past that gradually comes to light, revealing there’s far more to him than meets the eye.

As he bonds with his students and gets drawn into larger conflicts, Glenn evolves into a surprisingly compelling protagonist.

His journey may not mirror Will’s exactly, but the themes will feel familiar to any Wistoria fan.

The magical school backdrop, the class rivalries, and the system that measures worth solely by magical ability are all here.

And while Glenn isn’t the classic underdog, his “hidden powerhouse” persona scratches the same itch, proving that even the most unassuming figure can upend expectations.

Akashic Records of Bastard Magic Instructor info (MAL):

• Alternative Title: Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records
• Episodes: 12
• Released: Spring 2017
• Studios: LIDENFILMS
• Genres: Action, Fantasy
• Themes: School
• Score: 7.11 (MAL), 7.0 (IMDb)

Conclusion: Why These Anime Hit the Wistoria Nerve

At the end of the day, what makes Wistoria: Wand and Sword so captivating isn’t just the sword or magic. It’s the journey, the struggle to rise, and the pain of being underestimated.

There are plenty of anime with a similar vibe to Wistoria, but I chose these specifically because they offer fresh takes on familiar themes.

You know, themes like underdog heroes, intense magical (or magical-adjacent) duels, and the kind of character arcs that make you want to train harder in real life.