12 Anime Like Chivalry of a Failed Knight to Watch Next

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If you loved Chivalry of a Failed Knight and want more, the closest matches are The Asterisk War, The Irregular at Magic High School (Mahouka), and Hundred — all magic-school battle anime built around a talented underdog and a genuine romance. Chivalry of a Failed Knight (Japanese title Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry) stands out because Ikki Kurogane, ranked the academy’s worst student, actually wins through skill and grit, and his relationship with princess Stella Vermillion is refreshingly committed rather than wishy-washy.

This list ranks 12 anime like Chivalry of a Failed Knight by how well they capture that exact mix — sword-and-magic duels, an academy setting, an undervalued hero who proves everyone wrong, and romance that goes somewhere. Whether you want the same tournament-arc thrills or just a strong central couple, there’s a pick here for you.

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What Anime Are Most Like Chivalry of a Failed Knight?

The anime most like Chivalry of a Failed Knight are The Asterisk War, The Irregular at Magic High School, and Hundred. All three pair a magic-combat academy with an underestimated male lead who dominates through skill, plus a romantic subplot — exactly the formula that made Ikki Kurogane and Stella Vermillion‘s story so popular.

If you specifically want the committed-couple dynamic, The Asterisk War is the closest cousin since both aired in 2015 and were often compared head-to-head. If you want a colder, more tactical genius hero, Mahouka fits best. The picks below branch out from there into harems, darker fantasy, and even one slice-of-life curveball for variety.

What Makes Chivalry of a Failed Knight Special?

Chivalry of a Failed Knight, based on Riku Misora’s light novel and animated by Silver Link and Nexus in 2015, follows Ikki Kurogane, a “Failure Knight” (F-rank Blazer) at Hagun Academy who can manifest only one weak Device. Through relentless training and sharp swordsmanship, he repeatedly beats opponents with far more raw magical power.

A few things set it apart from the crowded magic-school genre:

  • The romance is decisive. Ikki and Stella Vermillion become an actual couple early, instead of stringing along a harem of unresolved love interests for episodes on end.
  • The underdog wins on merit. Ikki’s victories come from technique and preparation, not a sudden hidden super-power reveal.
  • Tight duels. The series leans on one-on-one tournament fights rather than sprawling war plots.
  • Emotional stakes. The leads support each other through real pressure, which gives the action weight.

Keep those four traits in mind — the best anime like Chivalry of a Failed Knight nail at least two or three of them.

12 Anime Like Chivalry of a Failed Knight Ranked

Here are 12 anime like Chivalry of a Failed Knight, ranked by how closely they match its underdog-hero, magic-school, and romance formula.

  1. The Asterisk War (Gakusen Toshi Asterisk) — The single closest match. Set at an academy where students duel in tournaments called Festas, it stars Ayato Amagiri, a capable newcomer, alongside princess Julis-Alexia. The premise, tone, and 2015 release made it Chivalry‘s constant comparison point.
  2. The Irregular at Magic High School (Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei) — Tatsuya Shiba is labeled a low-rank “Weed” but is secretly the school’s most dangerous student. Swap Chivalry‘s warm romance for cool tactical dominance and a sister bond, and you get this. Animated by Madhouse.
  3. Hundred — Hayato Kisaragi enrolls at a marine academy to fight alien “Savages” using weapons called Hundreds. An undervalued lead, a battle school, and a building romance make it a strong fit.
  4. Bladedance of Elementalers (Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance) — Kamito Kazehaya is the only male spirit contractor at an all-girls academy, dueling with a sword spirit. Heavier harem, same academy-combat backbone.
  5. Demon King Daimao (Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou) — Akuto Sai arrives at a magic academy only to be branded a future Demon King. Darker and more ecchi, but the “misjudged powerful student” hook is identical.
  6. Sky Wizards Academy (Kuusen Madoushi Kouhosei no Kyoukan) — A disgraced ace trains a squad of misfit aerial mages. The underdog-redemption energy lines up well with Ikki’s arc.
  7. A Certain Magical Index (To Aru Majutsu no Index) — Touma Kamijou is an esper ranked Level 0 whose Imagine Breaker negates any power. A genre cornerstone of the underestimated-hero-in-a-magic-city setup, with a deep franchise to binge.
  8. Absolute Duo — Tooru Kokonoe wields a rare shield Blaze at a combat academy and partners with the silver-haired Julie. Pure magic-school dueling with a central pairing.
  9. Trinity Seven — Arata Kasuga enters a magic academy after his world is destroyed, juggling seven powerful mage girls. Bigger harem, strong fan-service, comedic tone.
  10. Strike the Blood — Kojou Akatsuki becomes the fourth primogenitor, a feared vampire, watched over by swordswoman Yukina. Action-romance with a protect-each-other dynamic close to Ikki and Stella.
  11. Unbreakable Machine-Doll (Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai) — Raishin Akabane ranks dead last at a puppetry-magic academy yet fights far above his station alongside his doll Yaya. The literal “lowest-ranked student overperforms” premise.
  12. Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle (Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut) — A fallen prince enrolls at a girls’ knight academy and pilots a Drag-Ride. Underdog royal lead plus academy duels make it a near-template match.

Honorable mentions: Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero, Masou Gakuen HxH, and The Testament of Sister New Devil push harder into ecchi but share the magic-combat-school DNA.

Anime Like Chivalry of a Failed Knight for the Romance

What truly separates Chivalry of a Failed Knight from its rivals is that Ikki and Stella commit. If the relationship is your priority over the duels, a few picks deliver more than the usual harem stalling.

Strike the Blood gives Kojou and Yukina a steady, mutually protective bond. The Asterisk War keeps Ayato and Julis at the center even with a larger cast. And outside the magic-school box entirely, Silver Spoon (Gin no Saji) — also an academy story, set at an agricultural high school — offers one of anime’s most grounded, well-written teen romances if you can step away from sword-and-magic action for honest character growth.

For viewers who came to Chivalry of a Failed Knight mainly for the couple, leaning into these is more satisfying than chasing series that reset their romance every episode. Several of these stories started as light novels or manga, so if the anime leaves you wanting the rest of the plot, the source material is the place to go.

best magic school anime ranked

If you’d rather continue these stories in their original manga and light-novel form, SnowMTL offers AI-powered manga translation at snowmtl.org, so you can read ongoing series in English without waiting on official localizations.

best romance anime with a strong couple

Will There Be a Season 2?

As of 2026, there is no confirmed second season of Chivalry of a Failed Knight. The 2015 anime adapted roughly the first three volumes of Riku Misora’s light novel, which continued well beyond the show’s ending. The lack of a sequel is a major reason fans hunt for anime like Chivalry of a Failed Knight in the first place.

The good news: the light novel and its manga adaptation carry Ikki and Stella’s story much further than the anime did. If the duels and romance left you wanting more, the source material is the most direct continuation, while the series above scratch the same itch in anime form.

is there a season 2 of the asterisk war

Frequently Asked Questions About Anime Like Chivalry of a Failed Knight

What anime is most like Chivalry of a Failed Knight? The Asterisk War is the most similar anime, since both are 2015 magic-school battle series with a skilled underdog hero and a princess love interest. The Irregular at Magic High School and Hundred are the next closest matches for the same academy-duel-and-romance formula.

Is The Asterisk War the same as Chivalry of a Failed Knight? No, they are separate series, but they are frequently compared because they aired in the same season with nearly identical premises. The Asterisk War leans on a larger cast and longer tournaments, while Chivalry of a Failed Knight focuses tightly on Ikki and Stella’s relationship.

What should I watch after Chivalry of a Failed Knight for the romance? For a committed couple like Ikki and Stella, try Strike the Blood or The Asterisk War. If you can leave magic behind, Silver Spoon offers one of anime’s most grounded teen romances in an academy setting.

Is there an anime with an underdog protagonist like Ikki Kurogane? Yes. The Irregular at Magic High School’s Tatsuya Shiba, A Certain Magical Index’s Touma Kamijou, and Unbreakable Machine-Doll’s Raishin Akabane are all underestimated heroes who overperform their low rankings, much like Ikki.

Will Chivalry of a Failed Knight get a season 2? As of 2026, no second season has been confirmed. The 2015 anime covered only the early volumes of the light novel, so reading the source material is currently the only way to continue Ikki and Stella’s story.

Are anime like Chivalry of a Failed Knight usually based on light novels? Yes, most of them are. Chivalry of a Failed Knight, The Asterisk War, Mahouka, Hundred, and Undefeated Bahamut Chronicle all began as light novels, which is why their setups and pacing feel so similar.

Conclusion

If you want more anime like Chivalry of a Failed Knight, start with The Asterisk War for the closest premise, The Irregular at Magic High School for a sharper tactical hero, and Strike the Blood or Silver Spoon if the romance mattered most. The genre is full of magic-school underdogs, but few balance duels and a committed couple as well as Ikki and Stella did. Want more recommendations like these? Check out our guide to the best magic school anime ranked. Bookmark this page — we update it as new magic-school series premiere.

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