The Rising of the Shield Hero (2019)

Action · Adventure · Animation

Iwatani Naofumi, a run-of-the-mill otaku, finds a book in the library that summons him to another world. He is tasked with joining the sword, spear, and bow as one of the Four Cardinal Heroes and fighting the Waves of Catastrophe as the Shield Hero. Excited by the prospect of a grand adventure, Naofumi sets off with his party. However, merely a few days later, he is betrayed and loses all his money, dignity, and respect. Unable to trust anyone anymore, he employs a slave named Raphtalia and takes on the Waves and the world. But will he really find a way to overturn this desperate situation?

IMDb rating: 7.6 (24,721 votes)
Episode average: 7.5 -0.1 vs IMDb
Seasons: 4
Streaming (US): Hulu · Netflix · Crunchyroll
Language: JA
Type: TV series

Rating trend: this show's seasons do not settle into one shape. Rising Shows ranks whole shows by the shape of their rating trend rather than one average score, which is how you find a show that got better rather than a show that started well.

Browse shows by rating shape → Open in Rising Shows app → View on IMDb

Ratings refreshed Oct 3, 2026 · 4 seasons indexed

Cast

Seasons

Season 1 (2019)

8.06 avg 25 episodes 8.3 → 8.4 25 min avg

Rollercoaster

Season 1 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Shield Hero	8.3	1,045
2	The Slave Girl	8.4	906
3	Wave of Catastrophe	8.1	814
4	Lullaby at Dawn	8.9	1,080
5	Filo	7.9	765
6	A New Comrade	7.7	726
7	The Savior of the Heavenly Fowl	7.6	718
8	Curse Shield	8.1	731
9	Melty	7.6	697
10	In the Midst of Turmoil	7.9	693
11	Catastrophe Returns	8.4	733
12	The Raven Invader	8.4	708
13	The Devil of the Shield	8.1	678
14	Everlasting Memory	7.5	660
15	Raphtalia	8.3	741
16	Filolial Queen	7.6	647
17	A Promise Made	7.6	657
18	A Conspiracy Linked	7.8	652
19	The Four Cardinal Heroes	7.9	668
20	Battle of Good and Evil	8.6	765
21	Naofumi's Triumphant Return	9.1	1,178
22	Four Heroes Council	7.6	634
23	Cal Mira Archipelago	7.6	629
24	Guardians of Another World	8.2	663
25	The Rising of the Shield Hero	8.4	824

Season 2 (2022)

6.85 avg 13 episodes 7.1 → 5.7 24 min avg

Bad finale

Season 2 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	A New Roar	7.1	569
2	Footprints of the Spirit Tortoise	6.7	467
3	Shaking Land	6.8	463
4	Ruins in the Fog	6.4	413
5	Ost Hourai	6.6	413
6	Racing to Catch Up	7.4	447
7	Infinite Labyrinth	7.0	401
8	A Parting in the Snow	7.0	390
9	Humming Fairy	7.1	381
10	Katana Hero	7.4	414
11	Kizuna	7.0	388
12	Reason to Fight	6.9	397
13	Flowers Offered in Recollection	5.7	430

Season 3 (2023)

7.25 avg 12 episodes 7.6 → 7.2 23 min avg

Season 3 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	The Dark Coliseum	7.6	355
2	Nadia	7.8	337
3	The White Tiger Siblings	7.7	313
4	The Operation to Capture the Spear Hero	7.1	317
5	Each of Their Paths	7.1	299
6	Where You Point Your Strength	7.2	298
7	The Girl and the Dragon	6.7	293
8	Dragon's Den	7.5	297
9	Emperor Dragon	7.5	302
10	Perfect Hidden Justice	6.8	279
11	Justice VS Justice	6.8	281
12	The Ones We Must Protect	7.2	302

Season 4 (2025)

7.11 avg 12 episodes 7.0 → 7.7 23 min avg

Big finale

Season 4 episodes - IMDb ratings
#	Title	Rating	Votes
1	Siltvelt	7.0	323
2	Official Welcome	7.0	287
3	A True People	6.7	275
4	Entrusted Power	7.4	284
5	Hakuko	7.1	254
6	Leaving Port	6.9	255
7	Landing in Q'ten Lo	7.2	228
8	Orochi	7.2	265
9	Zodia	7.0	249
10	A Pray	7.1	251
11	The Oracle Priestess	7.0	210
12	The Return of the Heavenly Emperor	7.7	228