Welcome to the Anime King! Today, we’re diving into the world of Hunter X Hunter to explore some of its most formidable characters. However, it’s important to note that determining power in this series isn’t always straightforward. Hunter X Hunter’s unique combat dynamics emphasize intelligence, creativity, and analysis, making it different from other shonen series.
In this discussion, we’ll focus on characters from an all-rounder perspective, considering factors beyond raw power. Just having a powerful ability doesn’t automatically make a character the strongest. Additionally, we’ll only rank characters who have sufficiently displayed their prowess, so speculative rankings won’t be included.
Without further ado, let’s explore the top 10 most powerful characters in Hunter X Hunter!
10) Hisoka
Let’s kick off the list with the fan-favorite, morally ambiguous magician, Hisoka. From the very beginning of the series, Hisoka has stood as a pinnacle of strength that seems almost unattainable for our main protagonists. Whenever he appears, a dangerous aura surrounds him, signaling the imminent threat he poses. Hisoka’s known ability, Bungee Gum, may seem simple, but it is far from invincible. However, he wields it with such mastery that it becomes a deadly offense and an ultimate defense.
In terms of accomplishments, Hisoka boasts an impressive record within Heaven’s Arena, with 11 wins and 4 losses. His victories include defeating a floor master, while his losses were mainly due to his nonchalant decision to not show up for the matches. It’s worth noting that in a fight against another character on this list, Hisoka ultimately lost but managed to use postmortem nen to revive himself from death. This showcases the untapped potential and resilience of Hisoka.
Despite the mysteries surrounding his true capabilities, there is no denying that Hisoka stands as one of the most powerful individuals in the world of Hunter X Hunter.
9) Zeno Zoldyck
Now, let’s introduce the legendary Zoldyck patriarch, Zeno. As one of the true masters of the series, Zeno possesses a wealth of wisdom, experience, and rigorous training. Having dedicated around 67 years of his life to being one of the greatest assassins in the world, his expertise seamlessly translates into the world of nen.
Zeno is a remarkable transmuter, exhibiting exceptional control over his aura and demonstrating mastery in his adjacent nen categories. His Hatsu abilities, such as the awe-inspiring Dragon Head and Dragon Dive techniques, showcase his incredible skill. With these techniques, Zeno can create and project entire dragons made of pure aura.
Furthermore, Zeno’s proficiency in the use of “En” is noteworthy. En is an advanced technique that allows the user to extend their aura to create an information-gathering field. While the average En user can produce an En with a radius of approximately 50 meters, Zeno’s capabilities surpass that significantly, as he is said to be capable of crafting an En with a radius of 300 meters. However, Zeno himself has mentioned that utilizing such a wide En is physically taxing.
In the grand scheme of things, Zeno stands at an unimaginably high tier of individuals in the Hunter X Hunter world. Alongside the others on this list, he represents the pinnacle of power. Brace yourself, as the intensity and madness are bound to escalate even further.
8) Crolo Lucifer
Next up is the enigmatic Chrollo, a talented hunter with a rich history within the series. While his presence alone puts him in consideration for discussions of powerful characters, it’s his Bandit’s Secret ability that truly sets him apart. This ability allows him to steal the nen abilities of others, granting him a diverse range of powers. However, it’s important to note that activating this ability comes with a complex set of conditions that must be fulfilled.
Chrollo’s intelligence is unparalleled, making him one of the most cunning and strategic characters in the series. His success is a testament to his brilliant mind. But Chrollo isn’t just brains; he possesses significant raw power as well. He demonstrated his strength by engaging in a two-on-one battle against Zeno Zoldyck and Silva Zoldyck, two master assassins. Despite the odds stacked against him, Chrollo performed remarkably well, earning the respect of his opponents. In fact, Zeno himself admitted that if Chrollo had fought with the intention to kill, he might have lost, even with Silva’s support. This showcases the incredible skill and power that Chrollo possesses.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Chrollo is responsible for defeating and killing Hisoka, the twisted magician, in their fateful encounter in Heaven’s Arena. This victory solidifies Chrollo’s standing as a formidable force to be reckoned with. Just like Hisoka, Chrollo’s true potential has yet to be fully revealed, leaving us in awe of what he is truly capable of.
7) Shaiapouf
Moving on to the board of Chimera Ants, we encounter one of the Royal Guards, Shaiapouf. This character is so formidable that his mere presence was enough to cause a veteran hunter to experience a mental breakdown out of sheer terror. In fact, according to the analysis conducted by Colt, it was believed that Shaiapouf had the potential to defeat Chairman Netero, although such claims are certainly debatable.
As a Royal Guard, Shaiapouf naturally possesses an inexhaustible quantity of aura and a wide range of abilities to manipulate it, given his natural proficiency as a manipulator. It’s important to note that Shaiapouf’s abilities are strategically structured, allowing him to take full advantage of his intellectual prowess. However, in terms of raw strength and speed, he can be surpassed by certain opponents.
Nevertheless, what sets Shaiapouf apart is his immense aura and incredible durability. These attributes make him a highly dangerous adversary, as he can endure a great deal of punishment while his intellect continuously formulates strategies to outmaneuver his opponents. Defeating him instantly is a challenging task, as his natural defense and formidable intellect make him an incredibly formidable opponent.
It is worth mentioning that despite his impressive abilities, Shaiapouf is not even considered the strongest specimen among the Chimera Ants. This further highlights the incredible power and threat posed by the creatures in the Chimera Ant arc of Hunter x Hunter.
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6) Menthuthuyoupi
Shaiapouf showcased the remarkable intelligence of the Chimera Ant Royal Guard, while Yupi represents the embodiment of raw power within their ranks. Yupi’s strength, speed, and ability to endure punishment are on a completely different level. In terms of Nen, there is a rare estimate of Yupi’s aura output, which is said to be at least 700,000 units according to Knuckle. To put this into perspective, that’s around ten times the amount of Knuckle’s master, Morel, who is already an incredibly powerful individual. Yupi surpasses not only Morel but also any member of the extermination team, and most likely anyone known in the world of Hunter x Hunter.
However, Yupi is not just brute force. He also utilizes Nen to constantly evolve his body and create increasingly formidable forms, eliminating weaknesses and continuously improving his power. The idea of facing an opponent like Yupi, who is constantly growing and adapting, is truly daunting. It seems almost impossible to overcome such an existence.
Yupi’s overwhelming power and constant evolution make him a force to be reckoned with. The sheer magnitude of strength and resilience he possesses is enough to boggle the mind. Overcoming someone like Yupi would require an incredible display of power and strategy, making him one of the most formidable characters in Hunter x Hunter.
5) Neferpitou
Completing the trio of Royal Guards, we have Pitou, a gender-fluid cat-like being who made a memorable first appearance by virtually murdering Kite, a character known for his power. While Kite didn’t make it onto this list, Pitou’s introduction served as a testament to their immense strength. Like the other Royal Guards, Pitou possesses unfathomable physical abilities in terms of strength, speed, and durability. However, what sets Pitou apart is their specialization in Nen, which is particularly terrifying.
Specialists in Nen have the ability to bend and break the rules of the world according to their desires. With a seemingly boundless reservoir of aura, Pitou represents one of the most formidable and dangerous beings in the world of Hunter x Hunter. It has been stated that neither Illumi Zoldyck nor Hisoka would come close to matching Pitou’s aura output. Furthermore, Illumi has acknowledged Pitou as the King’s top soldier, solidifying their status as a fearsome adversary.
Pitou’s specialization in Nen grants them versatility and potential beyond what a regular Nen user can achieve. Their ability to break the rules and manipulate the world around them makes them a force to be reckoned with. Pitou’s presence alone is enough to instill fear in those who face them, and their incredible strength and Nen abilities make them a truly dangerous character in Hunter x Hunter.
4) Isaac Netero
Moving on to a more serious contender, we have the former Chairman of the Hunter Association, Netero. Despite his elderly appearance, Netero is arguably the most consistently powerful human in the series. Don’t let his old age fool you, as Netero would likely overpower any of the contenders we’ve discussed so far.
Netero’s most notable and dangerous asset is his crowning achievement, the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. This ability grants him access to a devastatingly powerful giant statue of Guanyin, from which he can unleash an almost infinite variety of attacks with unmatched speed. In fact, Netero’s speed is unparalleled, surpassing even the characters we have yet to explore on this list.
But Netero’s legend goes far beyond his combat abilities. He is a man with a rich history, having not only visited but survived two separate trips to the treacherous Dark Continent. His influence extends to the majority of characters in the series. Netero is the founder of the Shingen-ryu school of kung-fu, which revolutionized Nen education and nurtured many of the world’s most influential figures. His impact on these individuals is immense, and he is revered and respected by all who have crossed paths with him.
Netero’s combination of incredible strength, unparalleled speed, and profound influence makes him an undeniable force to be reckoned with. He stands as a testament to the heights that human potential can reach in the world of Hunter x Hunter.
3) Adult Gon
Now, let’s delve into an intriguing situation with Adult Gon. Adult Gon is a temporary existence that showcased the full potential of our series protagonist. By sacrificing everything, Gon was able to tap into all the power he would ever possess, causing his body to transform into an adult form and granting him access to an immensely fearsome power.
In fact, Pitou herself acknowledged that Adult Gon could pose a significant threat to the Chimera Ant King, which speaks volumes about the overwhelming strength Gon attained. Furthermore, Adult Gon proceeded to completely overpower and defeat Pitou in combat, leaving Pitou entirely outmatched and unable to put up a fight.
However, this transformation came at an extraordinary cost. Despite Killua’s efforts to revive Gon and return him to a somewhat normal state, Gon has lost access to his aura, and it is uncertain if he will ever be able to recover it. This effectively concludes Gon’s story in Hunter x Hunter, leaving us with a fleeting glimpse of the immense power he could have attained had he developed naturally.
It’s truly remarkable to consider that, had circumstances been different, Gon could have become one of the most powerful characters in the series. Yet, it seems that this brief glimpse is all we will ever have of Adult Gon’s awe-inspiring potential.
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2) Meruem
Finally, we come to the Chimera Ant King himself, Meruem. It’s difficult to find a starting point to describe Meruem’s overwhelming power. In every aspect of combat, Nen, and intellect, he surpasses any opponent. No one can make Meruem fight seriously, let alone defeat him.
Let’s consider Netero as an example. Their battle was the closest we came to witnessing a true fight against Meruem. Even with Netero utilizing all his natural abilities, when the dust settled, Meruem only felt the faintest twinges of pain. Humanity’s strongest warrior was ultimately left in a state of complete defeat.
However, what truly makes Meruem the most overpowering character is his genius-level intellect. He possesses the ability to think on a level far beyond any other living being, except when he’s engaged in Gungi, where Komugi proves to be his superior. In any other circumstance, Meruem is frustratingly god-like, a being that would overshadow any other series. Yet, thanks to the brilliant writing of Yoshihiro Togashi, Meruem becomes a captivating highlight of storytelling in general.
It’s astonishing to think that Meruem only lived for 40 days, and one can only imagine how he would have grown if he had lived even a year. His existence is completely extraordinary in the best possible way. However, you may have noticed that we haven’t reached the end of our list yet, so who could possibly be the trump card to surpass Meruem?
1) Alluka
Indeed, you bring up a fascinating and unique case with Alluka and Nanika. Alluka stands out on this list because her power does not revolve around combat, yet it surpasses anything else seen in Hunter X Hunter. Alluka possesses the ability to grant any wish through the entity known as Nanika. By fulfilling three of Alluka’s requests, Nanika emerges, allowing a person to ask for anything they desire, effectively granting godlike power.
However, there is a delicate balance involved. The larger the wish, the greater Alluka’s demands will be in the future. These demands can range from asking for something as drastic as “give me your brain.” If an individual refuses Alluka’s demands, they face the consequences of instant death, as well as the sacrifice of a certain number of individuals who have spent significant time with them. The severity of the wish determines the number of additional people killed.
With this understanding, Alluka possesses the power to not only threaten the lives of anyone she encounters but also the entire world and possibly even existence itself. Considering the sheer magnitude of this power, it is challenging to deny that Alluka is, indeed, the most powerful character in Hunter X Hunter.
Souce: Hunterpedia