From killer assassins to sociopathic clowns, and every cute or noble person in between, I’m going to go over my current favorites from the series. Let’s shounen jump into this!
15. Leorio Paladiknight
Leorio is a young adult resembling a middle-aged man. He’s driven by his want for wealth, which is ultimately revealed to be needed to cover the costs for him to become a doctor. Now he’s not particularly strong, hardly able to proficiently use Nen, but he specializes as an Emitter. Plus his only ability allows him to punch a surface and have his fist travel via a wormhole to immediately reach his true target… which while that is handy, it doesn’t hold a candle to some of the fighters in Hunter x Hunter. Leorio wants to help people, particularly the poor. And intends to act pro-bono to ensure he can save as many lives as possible. Though initially shown to be egotistical and materialistic, we quickly discover he’s actually one of the most heartfelt characters of the series.
14. Feitan Pohtoh
Feitan is small, but deadly. He’s the Phantom Troupe’s torturer, proficient at interrogating his victims into telling him whatever he needs to know. Nonetheless, he is loyal to his group despite his sadistic nature. He uses a shikomizue blade hidden inside his umbrella, and his Nen type is Transmutation. Feitan can construct a suit of armor around himself, which is pretty cool. So any damage inflicted to him is deflected into a small sun that burns his opponent proportional to the damage he took. Not much is known about Feitan, which is what makes him such an elusive character. His design is really cool too, matching the sadistic nature of his personality.
13. Shaiapouf
Shaiapouf was one of the royal guards to the Chimera Ant King, and by far his most loyal. As he’s half-butterfly, he has two large wings and antennae on his head. As a person, he possesses admirable intelligence and is often found with a book in hand or playing his violin. He can fly, obviously at rapid speeds, and possesses enhanced strength. He’s a Manipulation Nen user, and can embed others with overwhelming Nen, making him a masterful supporting character. Shaiapouf can also reconstruct his body at the cellular level… suffice to say, he’s a powerful Chimera Ant.
12. Komugi
Komugi is a blind genius. A master of the Go-like board game Gungi-gi. She’s clumsy, though, and prone to bumbling around and self-depreciating statements. When the powerful Chimera Ant King Meruem requests Komugi brought before him, he’s enraged at her lack of subservience. Although funny enough, he quickly comes to realize her lack of awareness and Gungi skill, and forms an intense friendship with her. I love Komugi. She’s not a strong character – nowhere near – and she’s not overly complex. But she made a huge impression on me.
11. Ging Freecss
The shy, stubborn father of Gon. Ging is a legendary two-starred Hunter who’s fairly childish. He’s not the best father, and he knows it. Quite selfish in his pursuit of adventure. But he does care about his son a great amount. To him, he wanted a child who could grow strong enough for meet him again. We’re still not sure which Nen discipline he falls under – though he shows Transmution, Emission, and Manipulation abilities alongside his inherent strength and intelligence. Ging is an interesting character with questionable motives, but an overall endearing personality. His complex with his son is one of the driving forces of the series, and he keeps you constantly wondering about his past.
10. Kite
The tall and slender Kite has a… peculiar character arc. They’re stoic and calm, but compassionate to the core. They were Ging’s disciple from a young age, and through searching for him met and inspired Gon at a young age. His Conjuration Nen ability Crazy Slots lets him conjure 1 of 9 random weapons to use, each with their own unique properties. He’s barely in Hunter x Hunter, operating mostly before the series’ events and elsewhere during. So when he’s officially introduced in the Chimera Ant Arc, only to be brutally murdered, it’s rather shocking. Lucky for him, his randomizing Crazy Slots Nen ability transfers his soul into the nearest fetus – that of Meruem’s twin sister and a Chimera Ant. And a more feminine Kite is introduced with a part to play in the tale.
9. Neferpitou
Pitou is the firstborn of the King’s Royal Guards; a half-cat-half-human with white hair and a killer fashion sense. Much like a cat, they like to play with their opponents and toy with the victim’s despair. They are an inherently powerful Specialist Nen user. Plus their ability, Doctor Blythe, allows them to repair nearly any wound in a short amount of time – even bring back the dead as a puppet. Nefepitou has one of my favorite designs and personality in Hunter x Hunter. She managed to walk a fine fe-line between cute and horrific, and I can definitely vibe with that.
8. Illumi Zoldyck
The eldest child of the Zoldyck household, and a recurring antagonist, Illumi is an expressionless man with soulless eyes. He’s a ruthless, proficient assassin that stays loyal to no one outside of his family. He can use needles embedded with his Nen to alter his face, body, and voice to appear like someone else. But he can also use them to control and torture other people. His Nen is Manipulation based, and he’s very talented at making other people hurt themselves or eachother. Illumi is a calculating presence shadowing the plot of Hunter x Hunter. His unique, almost characterless face makes him a difficult one to read for sure.
7. Kurapika
After losing everyone in his clan – the Kurta – to harvest their rare scarlet eyeballs, Kurapika swears to avenge them all. His goal is to murder the members of the Phantom Troupe, an elusive group of assassins and criminals. He wields duel bokken and hidden knives, but later begins regularly carrying a handgun. His Nen style is that of a Conjurer, allowing him to crate five chains that come out of the fingers of his right hand. He can then put his own life at stake to enhance his combatant abilities through Limitation manipulation. Neat stuff. Despite his troubled past and goals, Kurapika is an endearing individual who greatly loves and respects his allies. His intelligent and inquisitive mind make him a tricky adversary and valuable teammate. Kurapika is certainly one of the strongest characters in the franchise.
6. Isaac Netero
Now we get to Netero, an elderly unwavering paragon of selflessness and determination. His whole life, he was regarded as the strongest existing Nen user. An unstoppable powerhouse capable of anything. However, that doesn’t get to his head. He’s a playful and childish man skilled in Nen Enhancement. His grandest ability is the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, a gargantuan multi-armed entity that he can control. But that’s not his only power! And his general strength, combat ability, and resolve, gives him the cutting edge every time. He’s considered the Guru of the series, the Master to look up to. He’s an inspirational man having served as the 12th-Chairman of the Hunter Association and survived an expedition into the Dark Continent. Certainly one of the most formidable characters in the franchise.
5. Chrollo Lucifer
Chrollo is the leader and founder of the Phantom Troupe, a group of thieves and murderers all with Class-A Bounties on their heads. He’s a young suave looking man, with a cross-shaped tattoo on his forehead and a dark aura around his eyes. But he’s always calm and collected, and naturally leads the Phantom Troupe with his charisma. His loyalties lay exclusively with the Troupe, to the point that he considers them family and would gladly die instead of another member. I’d say he’s a proficient warrior, with amazing agility and quick thinking. But it’s his Specialist Nen abilities that make him so deadly, basically allowing him to steal another user’s Nen – including their abilities. Chrollo is one of my favorite characters due to his neo-Gothic design, versatile abilities, and a cool demeanor that rarely flairs beyond irritation. He’s a standout member of the Troupe. And one of the most interesting antagonists Hunter x Hunter has to offer hands-down.
4. Gon Freecss
Gon is the protagonist of Hunter x Hunter, an enthusiastic and happy boy craving adventure. After his father left him to follow his dreams of being a Hunter, Gon decided to catch up and find him. He’s almost fearless and makes a large impression on anyone he encounters, despite his small stature. Other than his natural instincts – amazing scent, incredible agility – he also possesses an Enhancement Nen type. He manifests his aura through Rock, Paper, Scissors. The Rock is close-range and deals the most amount of damage; Scissors are a mid-ranged invisible blade that grow out of his fingers; and Paper is a long-ranged charged projectile attack. Really creative idea all around there. Gon has to be one of the most infectious protagonists in anime. He’s a cheerful, well-meaning, determined boy who grows and grows throughout the course of the series. I’d say his design is reminiscent of 80s shounen with an incredible modern spin, and he embodies all the tropes of those types of characters without it feeling forced or hammy. Just an amazingly fun character to watch and see how he interacts with the world.
3. Hisoka Morow
Hisoka is, without a doubt, one of the most popular characters in Hunter x Hunter. His clown jester design is absolutely amazing, changing with every arc to reflect his dynamically changing character. He’s a selfish, violent, complex monster driven entirely by combat. If he fights a person with great potential, he will not kill them. Preferring instead to wait until they’re a challenge. His sociopathic bloodlust and tenacious aura let him misdirect and mock his opponents to decrease morale, before he swoops in for an easy kill. Now he is a Nen Transmuter, and manifests his powers into an invisible, sticky, and elastic substance that lets him commit all manner of deeds. He’s definitely the most bizarre character in Hunter x Hunter, stealing the show every time he’s on screen. I really cannot wait to see how his story progresses!
2. Killua Zoldyck
Killua is the youngest male of the Zoldyck family, and much like the rest of them, carries an intense bloodlust courtesy of his assassin genes. He uses Yo-Yos earlier on to fight, channeling his electric aura into them to shock his opponents upon contact. His Nen is Transmuter in nature, which he wields through thunder-based attacks. Killua can shoot lightning out of his palms and modify his nervous system to react to things before they occur through pre-cognitive prediction, almost involuntarily. Even without his Nen, Killua is a fierce opponent of near unmatchable speed and murderous urge. It’s the way the young boy channels this instinct that makes him so fascinating, as he’s inspired by Gon’s passivity and enthusiasm stopping him from caving into the urges. Throughout the series we see him grow dramatically, becoming a stronger adult with selfless and caring ambitions. I love his design, his personality, his attack set. Everything.
1. Meruem
Meruem is possibly the strongest character in the whole series. He’s referred to as the Chimera Ant King and suits that title perfectly. He was born with Nen innately, with no ceiling to his strength growth. He’s a specialist with unique abilities and an overwhelming aura that can make most submit by merely being in his presence. I love Meruem. He’s got a compelling and complete arc, with a brilliant conclusion. His design is absolutely incredible too. And he steals every scene he’s in. Plus his relationship with Komugi is my favorite in the show and brought me to tears. I cannot overstate how much of a great character Meruem is.
