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Only those who are insanely strong stand a chance against Hisoka. Get to know the extent of his powers in Hunter X Hunter.
Is he a villain or a madman? Hisoka is a wildcard character in Hunter X Hunter. He is an antagonist for most of the series, and his looks, behavior, and thoughts suit this role excellently. Hisoka, also known as Hisoka the Magician, is a man obsessed with facing off against strong opponents. The only thing that exists in his head might just be bloodlust for fights.
Hisoka often dresses in an eye-catching fashion, adorning himself with eccentric make-up and outfits. But don’t let your guard down when facing this jester. Hisoka’s strength is nothing to underestimate. He is a master martial artist and an expert in Transmutation Aura. What’s scarier is there is no predicting what is in his mind. So, how strong is Hisoka really?
Hisoka’s Origin
Hisoka makes his first appearance as a hunter examinee in Hunter X Hunter (2011). In the first phase, several participants encircle him and try to force him out of the Hunter exam for good. However, he easily subdues them using his magic cards. Hisoka is someone who can’t be underestimated. But where did he learn all his tricks?
His early days are quite murky and vague. There is little to no exposition about his past except when he drops information on how he named his technique, Bungee Gum. Uniquely enough, the author of Tokyo Ghoul, Sui Ishida, made a backstory for Hisoka, and Hunter X Hunter author, Yushihiro Togashi, approved it. However, Togashi never confirmed whether it was canon or not.
The story begins with Hisoka, who is still a young kid, meeting the Moritonio Troupe. They are a group of dancers, stuntmen, and entertainers who go around Glam Gas Land. The head of the troupe, Moritonio, is impressed by Hisoka’s card tricks and promptly takes him in. However, one of Moritonio’s crew, Abaki, warns him that Hisoka might have a shady past considering the place he found Hisoka.
In his day in Moritonio’s circus, Hisoka learns about Nen ability under Moritonio’s guidance. Surprisingly, Hisoka is an extremely quick learner and is already adept in things that typically take a year to master. Later on, he discovers that his Nen type is Transmutation, similar to Moritonia’s.
One day, Abaki gets lost while shopping in the market and bumps into a serial killer, known by the name of John Doe, who has been terrorizing the area. However, Hisoka saves her and manages to injure John Doe’s eye. After a performance a few days later, Hisoka confronts Moritonio and points out his fake skin.
Moritonio reveals that he is indeed John Doe. He has been going on a killing spree, changing his face using his Nen ability. Moritonio’s circus is just a ruse for him to enjoy his desire in a civil way, but he just can’t resist the urge to kill.
In their clash, Hisoka reveals his Nen ability, which is derived from his Transmutation Aura. This ability has the properties of both rubber and gum, he calls it Bungee Gum. With this ability, Hisoka kills Moritonio. Before leaving, Hisoka changes Moritonio’s face to the face he used when Moritonio attacked Abaki.
Hisoka’s Powers in Hunter X Hunter
Just like other top-class hunters, Hisoka uses his Nen to fight his opponent. In Hunter X Hunter, each person has a natural Nen aura that they can wield to achieve their full potential. The abilities that come with it depend on the aura the person has most affinity for. In Hisoka’s case, his Nen type is transmutation.
With his Nen, Hisoka can manipulate objects’ shapes and appearance. Not to mention, a Nen user can refine and hone their technique and further expand the abilities that come with it.
Hisoka’s main ability is his Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise. Both technique exploits his aura and allows him to do unpredictable moves. With Bungee Gum, which has the properties of rubber and gum, Hisoka creates a spark of aura from each of his limbs. This aura can be stretched, strained, and thrown as necessary, allowing flexible and quick succession of moves.
On the other hand, Texture Surprise allows Hisoka to change the appearance and properties of an object and sometimes replace missing parts of said object. Though it sounds like Texture Surprise is a non-combat focused ability, it is dangerous for the sheer deception Hisoka can pull out of it.
Hisoka’s Opponents in Hunter X Hunter
Throughout the series, Hisoka faces a number of tough opponents. Some even bested him in combat, though not many. Hisoka’s fighting style combines his physical prowess, his affinity with his Nen, and his unpredictable trickery. The combination of those makes him a cunning and formidable opponent.
The main protagonist of Hunter X Hunter, Gon, has faced Hisoka on several occasions. Their first confrontation in the first phase of the Hunter Exam arc gives a strong impression to Gon. Hisoka is the first person who gives Gon both fear and excitement to face an opponent.
In the Heavens Arena, Hisoka is pitted against Kastro, who fought him two years earlier. Kastro has gone through extensive training since their last fight and is confident he is stronger. However, Hisoka taunts and provokes Kastro with his magic tricks. Not to mention, he deliberately severs his right arm in a show of dominance. In the end, Kastro loses his cool and is defeated by Hisoka.
If there is someone who has defeated him badly, it’s Chrollo. Chrollo is the head of the Phantom Troupe. Hisoka eventually faces him in the Dark Continent Expedition arc. Chrollo overwhelms Hisoka and pushes him to the limit. Eventually, their fight results in Hisoka’s death. Hisoka then resurrects himself using his Bungee Gum ability.
Hisoka’s Notable Feats in Hunter X Hunter
Despite his mysterious background and standoffish impression, Hisoka has achieved things that others can only imagine. First off, he is a hunter and a former member of the Phantom Troupe. Being a hunter is already a feat in itself. After all, there are only a few select that pass the selection. Hisoka joining the Phantom Troupe means he is comparable to the other members, who are not to be messed with.
Hisoka’s Nen ability is also a display of his combat prowess. The Nen abilities in question are Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise, these two abilities are not just unique for their properties but also their uses. Bungee Gum is his main ability, it allows him to make an elastic yet extremely durable aura on all his limbs. On the other hand, Texture Surprise allows Hisoka to change any object’s appearance and texture, giving Hisoka a lot of options for deception.
Other than that, Hisoka is the first contestant who finishes the third phase test in the Hunter Exam arc, spending only six out of seventy-two hours allocated time. In Sui Ishida’s story, Hisoka becomes adept in Nen after just one week. However, the things that he learns typically take a year for a person to master.
Conclusion
Hisoka’s strength comes not only from his physical ability and Nen mastery, his intelligence is also a big part of it. Although Hisoka is a fighter, he does not rely on pure brute force. Quite contrastingly, Hisoka’s trickery is more terrifying for anyone who stands against him.
His Nen ability also works in conjunction with his deceptive personality. Bungee Gum allows him to do unpredictable things, while Texture Surprise is an expression of tricking the opponent by giving them false information. Among Hunter X Hunter characters, Hisoka is one of the strongest out there.
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