Vinland Saga's Top 10 Episodes Ranked: 'End of the Prologue' Still Leads

A new ranking of the top 10 Vinland Saga episodes has surfaced, heavily weighing IMDB scores and general fan reception across both seasons. This list confirms which moments fans consider truly legendary in Makoto Yukimura’s historical epic.

Unsurprisingly, the top spot belongs to Season 1 Episode 24, "End of the Prologue." This episode, which saw Askeladd’s ultimate sacrifice shatter Thorfinn’s revenge-driven world, still holds a near-perfect 9.9 IMDB rating. It remains one of the highest-rated anime episodes ever, a testament to WIT Studio’s work on the first season.

Season 2 brought its own heavy hitters into the conversation, showing the shift in Thorfinn’s character arc under MAPPA. Thorfinn’s confrontation with Canute in "Emperor of Rebellion" stands out with a 9.7 rating, marking the moment Thorfinn finally understood his father's definition of true strength after enduring 100 punches. Arnheid’s desperate plea during the slave farm escape in "Pain" (9.6) also made the cut, as did the tense peace talks featured in "Two Paths" (9.6).

Earlier highlights from the series are well-represented, focusing on the intense action of the prologue. "A True Warrior" (9.7) revisits Thors’ crucial stand against Askeladd’s ambush meant to protect his son. The ranking also includes episodes detailing the strategic depth of the Viking conflicts: "United Front" (9.6) covering Thorfinn and Askeladd fighting Thorkell, and "Lone Wolf" (9.5) detailing their intense duel.

Rounding out the elite tier are episodes like "The Light of Dawn" (9.1), "Battle of London Bridge" (9.2), "Out of the Cradle" (9.3), "The Journey Begins" (9.4), and "Servant" (9.4). Few episodes dip below a 9.0 rating, which keeps the series firmly in fan-favorite territory regardless of which studio was handling production at the time of reporting.