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Explore the thrilling Hunter X Hunter arcs, ranking all seven major story arcs from least to most impactful in the series.
Created by Yoshihiro Togashi, it features complex storytelling, deep world-building, and unforgettable characters. This makes the series stand out from many other shonen anime. The story follows a kid called Gon, who wants to become a hunter. He embarks on an adventure to find his father. The various Hunter X Hunter arcs provide a rich and dynamic storyline, captivating fans worldwide.
This article ranks all seven major arcs from Hunter x Hunter from least to most impactful.
7) Hunter Exam Arc
This arc is the first story arc. Gon starts his journey to become a hunter and starts looking for his father. After he successfully catches the Master of the Swamp, his Aunt Mito allows Gon to take the Hunter license exam. Along the way, he becomes friends with Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika. They are also fellow participants and face the same challenges of the grueling and deadly Hunter Exam.
While this arc did set the foundation of the world and introduce us to major characters, it still lacks depth and is the simplest arc in the series. The challenges the main cast faces establish the shonen adventure tone in the story. It includes tests of endurance, puzzles, and battles, which give us an idea of how powerful and unique these characters are. This arc also introduces us to Hisoka, who becomes one of the most enigmatic recurring villains in the story.
However, compared to other arcs, the Hunter Exam Arc falls short of exploring the complexity and emotional depth that make this series special. The tournament style is highly predictable, and the character development and growth are severely lacking.
6) Heaven’s Arena Arc
This arc comes after the Hunter Exam Arc and mainly focuses on Gon and Killua as they travel to Heaven’s Arena. It is a massive tower where fighters enter battles and advance through different floors by defeating their opponents. This arc provides essential information about the mechanics of Nen. Again, this arc also lacks narrative depth and emotional impact, as the main focus is to let the characters power up. The story highlights Killua’s relationship with Gon and provides additional insight into his complex character.
Mostly, this arc focuses on training and combat; therefore, it restricts the narrative from being expansive. Within the overall storyline, it feels somewhat detached. While it is understandable that these fights are necessary for character progression, they could have added a further emotional angle to it. The only reason this arc is significant is that it helps us understand the power dynamics of the series. Gon and Killua undergo serious training under a Nen master to learn how to use these abilities effectively.
Another thing that makes this arc a little interesting is the fights, as they are engaging, especially Gon versus Hisoka, which is one of the most intense and thrilling battles in the series.
5) Election Arc
This arc is the shortest one in Hunter X Hunter, but it has significant emotional weight. After the events of the Chimera Ant Arc, Netero, the chairman of the Hunter Association, dies. Now, they need a new chairman to take responsibility, so they must hold elections. Alongside this event, we see Killua seeking help from his sister to save Gon, who is on the brink of death after using all of his energy to fight against Neferpitou.
The story introduces a new character, Pariston Hill, a manipulative politician who plays mind games with others to ensure his victory. His interactions with the Hunter Association members, Ging, and Cheadle showcase the power struggles and conflicting agendas. Despite being an emotional arc, it lacks action and, after watching an intense Chimera Ant Arc, feels like a cool-down. It does provide us with some closure to the main storyline but still leaves questions unanswered, like what exactly is Killua’s sister?
Since this arc focuses more on political debate, it can feel slow-paced compared to others. Intense action drives the storyline and keeps the audience engaged.
4) Greed Island Arc
This arc has a little bit of everything—adventure, strategy, and character development. It does not have the darker themes of previous arcs; rather, it brings a lighthearted yet high-stakes adventure. Gon and Killua have trained hard to prepare for their encounter with the Phantom Troupe. The Greed Island Arc introduces a virtual world, which is created by Ging Freecss, Gon’s father. The rules are simple: the participants must complete challenges and battle powerful players to advance.
This arc is unique as it blends video game mechanics with Nen-based combat. The story introduces Biscuit Krueger, a skilled Nen user who helps train Gon and Killua, pushing the duo to their limit. The final fight is against Genthru, the arc’s main antagonist. We see how the training benefits them as they defeat the antagonist. We can see how much they have improved. While Greed Island is fun and engaging, it lacks the emotional depth compared to other arcs.
3) Dark Continent Expedition/Succession War Arc
While this arc is ongoing in the manga, fans already consider the Dark Continent Expedition/Succession War Arc one of the series’ most ambitious storylines, showcasing immense potential. This arc introduces the V5, the mysterious Dark Continent, and the dangerous voyage beyond the known world.
This story starts when Ging and Gon are sitting on top of the World Tree. Ging, for the first time, reveals that Chimera Ants are not part of the known world. There is a huge chunk of geography they have yet to explore, and he wishes to go to the Dark Continent. We know that the stakes are high. The survival rate is only 0.04% for making it back alive if they choose to enter. With an exciting preamble, the series confirms that this arc will be different from any other we have witnessed.
The Dark Continent Expedition Arc already showcases some of the best world-building and explores complex power dynamics through Togashi’s masterful storytelling. Numerous new characters have entered the story, each with their own agendas and motivations. This adds a layer of complexity to the narration. The arc’s unfinished status in the manga leaves its ultimate ranking uncertain. No one can deny its potential to eventually become the best arc.
2) Yorknew City Arc
This is considered to be one of the greatest arcs as it introduces one of the most fearsome villain groups in anime history. Kurapika takes the lead in this arc as he seeks revenge against the Phantom Troupe, a criminal organization responsible for massacring his clan.
This organization is led by Chrollo Lucilfer and is introduced as one of the most fearsome villain groups in anime history. This fight between them and Kurapika is highly personal. The fight between him and Uvogin is one of the most brutal and intense in the series. The best part of these fights is Kurapika’s clever use of his Nen ability, Chain Jail, which turns the tide against the Phantom Troupe members.
While the arc’s main focus is on getting revenge, we also see Gon and Killua’s involvement with the auction and their interactions with the Mafia. The themes of revenge, sacrifice, and morality make this arc one of Hunter X Hunter‘s most compelling. Its only real drawback is that Gon and Killua take a backseat, but Kurapika’s story is so well-executed that it hardly matters.
1) Chimera Ant Arc
Fans consider the Chimera Ant Arc not only the best storyline in Hunter X Hunter but also one of the most thought-provoking arcs in anime history. Unlike other shonen anime, it takes a philosophical and existential turn. It explores themes of evolution and power while actively questioning the nature of humanity.
One of the most interesting elements of this arc is its style of narration and presentation, which we can particularly see in the anime adaptation. They have used a third-person narrator to make it an almost documentary-like presentation. This helped in making the events feel more methodical.
Before they incorporated this method, it was uncommon at the time. It became so popular that since then, many other series have imitated this style of storytelling. The narrator takes the lead and guides the audience through these intense battles while also making sure to give insight into the characters’ thoughts, as it adds to philosophical conflicts.
Chimera Ants, a new species that poses a great threat to humanity, emerge. Initially, the story shows Meruem as a merciless tyrant who believes in the survival of the fittest. However, his interactions with Komugi, a simple blind girl who excels in a board game called Gungi, challenge him to reconsider the meaning of strength and humanity he strongly believes in.
It also had some of the most intense battles that are animated in the series, from Netero’s legendary fight against Meruem to Gon’s rage-fueled transformation against Neferpitou. The stakes in this arc are like nothing we have seen before. In the end, we witness the brutal consequences of war. This adds to the emotional aspect, making this arc incredibly powerful.
The depth, character development, and philosophical weight of the Chimera Ant Arc make it an absolute masterpiece. It is the undisputed best arc in Hunter X Hunter.
Conclusion
While some arcs may be ranked higher with fans, each one of them offers a unique insight into the world of Hunter X Hunter. But for now, the Chimera Ant Arc still has the best storytelling. This speaks to Togashi’s ability to convey more than usual shonen storytelling and create a truly unforgettable series of all time.
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