If you’re a fan of xianxia donghua and cultivation anime, you’ve probably noticed how the landscape has evolved over the past several years. What started with a few breakout hits has grown into a rich catalog of high-quality Chinese animation. Today I’m sharing my personal top 3 xianxia donghua rankings for every year from 2018 through 2026.
These rankings reflect the series that impressed me most each year based on story, animation quality, character development, and overall entertainment value. Let’s dive in.
My Top 3 Xianxia Donghua Every Year (2018–2026) | Best Cultivation Anime Rankings
2018–2020: The Dominance of Soul Land and Battle Through the Heavens
In the late 2010s, two giants ruled the xianxia donghua scene: Soul Land (Douluo Dalu) and Battle Through the Heavens (Doupo Cangqiong).
From 2018 to 2020, these two consistently occupied my top two spots. Soul Land delivered reliable storytelling and likable characters, while Battle Through the Heavens kept viewers hooked with Xiao Yan’s relentless climb. In 2019, Martial Universe earned the third spot thanks to its solid adaptation of Lin Dong’s journey. By 2020, Swallowed Star joined the list, blending cultivation with sci-fi elements in a refreshing way.
These years felt like the golden foundation of modern cultivation anime. The production quality was rising, and the fanbase was expanding rapidly.
2021–2022: A Shift in the Rankings
In 2021, the order flipped. Battle Through the Heavens claimed the number-one position, followed by Soul Land. Stellar Transformations rounded out the top three with Qin Yu’s cosmic-scale adventure.
2022 stayed similar at the top, but Jade Dynasty (Zhu Xian) took third place. This series brought a more traditional xianxia atmosphere and stronger emotional storytelling that many fans, including myself, appreciated.
2023–2025: The Rise of New Powerhouses
Everything changed in 2023. A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality (Fanren Xiu Xian Chuan) exploded onto the scene despite initially airing in 2020 and immediately took my top spot. Its faithful adaptation, detailed cultivation system, and excellent animation made it the new benchmark for xianxia donghua.
That same year, Battle Through the Heavens and Soul Land still held strong in second and third. By 2024 and 2025, the rankings evolved further. A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality remained number one, while Renegade Immortal (Xian Ni) climbed into the second position with Wang Lin’s intense and well-paced story. In 2025, Tales of Herding Gods (Mu Shen Ji) earned third place, praised for its unique world-building and creative power system.
2026: A New Balance
Looking at 2026, the competition feels more open than ever. Tales of Herding Gods currently sits at number one for me, followed by A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality and Renegade Immortal. These three series represent the current peak of quality in cultivation anime.
Why These Rankings Matter
What makes a great xianxia donghua? For me, it’s a combination of consistent animation quality, meaningful character growth, and a cultivation system that feels rewarding to watch. Series like Soul Land and Battle Through the Heavens built the foundation. Newer titles such as A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality, Renegade Immortal, and Tales of Herding Gods have raised the bar even higher.
The xianxia genre continues to improve year after year. Studios are investing more in visuals, voice acting, and story pacing. As a result, fans now have more high-quality options than ever before.
These rankings are completely personal and based on my viewing experience each year. Your list might look different depending on what you value most—action, romance, world-building, or pure cultivation progression.
Whether you’re new to xianxia donghua or a longtime fan, I hope this yearly breakdown helps you discover (or rediscover) some excellent cultivation anime. Which series sits at the top of your list right now? Feel free to share your own rankings in the comments.
The golden age of xianxia donghua is far from over—and if the last few years are any indication, the best is still yet to come.
Last Updated on September 14, 2026 by Yu Alexius
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