武装錬金
The anime was met with mostly negative critical reception. ANN critic Zac Bertschy said "Buso Renkin" "isn't anything special", criticizing the "threadbare plot exposition" and its clichés, but praised the way it "get[s] right to the action". Writing for ANN, Luke Carroll stated the series is generic and that it became "[a] bit more tolerable ... during its light-hearted moments". ANN's Carl Kimlinger said the anime follows the ""shōnen" fighting formula"; he praised Tokiko's characterization, saying it is one characteristic that distinguish the series. Kimlinger also praised the way it "improves considerably" because of its twists in the plot. UK Anime Network's Andy Hanley also called it "generic" at the start, but said it "has a fairly decent stab" in the second half. Chris Beveridge of Mania praised the balance between the humor and the "lighter side", and stated that "Buso Renkin" "took the clichés and obviousness of ideas and ran with it in an engaging and fun manner".