15 Best Fights In Hunter X Hunter, Ranked - CBR

Shonen series have a certain flair for spectacular, high-octane battles that can get anyone cheering for the hero, terrified of the villain, and crying from the outcome. The art of the fight scene is a special one in anime, as it shows the exact design trait that makes the creator special. One of the greatest shonen series to master the art of the fight scene is Yoshihiro Togashi's Hunter x Hunter.

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Having already received acclaim from Yu Yu Hakusho fame, Togashi really makes the audience strap in for Hunter x Hunter. This series comprises a fully realized power system as well as profound ethical and intellectual analyses of the characters. Hunter x Hunter contains dozens of spectacular battles, but only a few of them are iconic.

Updated on April 20th, 2023 by Ajay Aravind: Hunter x Hunter's most recent chapter was released on December 26th, 2023, but even this nugget of new information isn't enough to satisfy the fandom's desire for consistency. That said, viewers can only hope that the anime adaptation picks up at some point. We've revamped this list with more information about the best fights in Hunter x Hunter.

15 Gon Vs. Hanzo

Early Hunter x Hunter doesn't get enough credit for laying the groundwork for the series. While the latter portions are filled with intrigue, Nen powers, and a variety of monsters, the Hunter Exam arc gave fans a taste of this wonderfully bizarre world created by Yoshihiro Togashi.

Though Gon seemed incredibly capable throughout the arc, even against Hisoka, his most humbling moment came against the ninja, Hanzo. Gon was plenty fast and strong, but Hanzo and his elite training were just too much for the young fighter. However, Gon ended up winning his fight by showcasing his unbreakable determination.

14 Team Gon Vs. Team Bombers

When Gon and Killua revealed that they were going to a video game world, fans may have been expecting a wondrous romp full of eccentric references to gaming. What viewers didn't expect was an ingenious battle for resources and survival. Greed Island had gone on without a winner for a long time, but Gon was here to change that.

Wanting to game the system itself, Genthru and his team used their bomb powers to steal and extort as many cards as possible. Biscuit eventually finished teaching Gon and Killua how to polish their Nen, allowing them to collect a good portion of cards. The trio then waged a tactical battle against Genthru, shrewdly fusing Nen with Greed Island's video game logic.

13 The Phantom Troupe Vs. The Chimera Ants

Although the Phantom Troupe was really well hyped early on in the series, they've gotten significantly less screen time after the Greed Island arc. This prolonged absence made their return during the Chimera Ant arc even more special. That said, the fact that they faced the mutant Chimera Ants did nothing but demonstrate the Troupe's devastating potential.

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The Ants were equipped with a variety of powerful abilities on their own, but the Troupe was looking to defend their home territory and kill some time. What ensued was a small reminder that the Chimera Ants were essentially bugs before someone like Feitan, who proceeded to incinerate the villainous "Queen" Zazan within seconds.

12 Morel Vs. Leol

Morel really needs more screen time in the series, especially considering his vast knowledge of Nen and his combat expertise. Every mission/battle that he participates in tends to be filled with a refreshing sense of composure and intelligence that isn't really common in the shonen anime genre.

While most Hunters are portrayed more like licensed martial artists, Morel showed fans just how terrifying a Sea Hunter can be. Morel's battle of wits against Leol further established his prodigious prowess. Leol may not be as smart as Morel, but the Chimera Ant certainly managed to push the Hunter to his limits.

11 Hisoka Vs. Kastro

Kastro, an old enemy of Hisoka, trained and fought his way through the Heavens Arena. In the early stages of their bout, Kastro radiated an incredible sense of power, not to mention a strange Nen ability that successfully maimed Hisoka. In retaliation, Hisoka performed a complex series of stealthy tactics to create a deadly trap for Kastro.

Supernatural powers were new to Hunter x Hunter at this point, and it's easy for anime series to veer towards basic power-ups and one-shot attacks. However, Togashi handled this introduction with poise and patience, allowing both Hisoka and Kastro to reveal their vulnerabilities. Hisoka ultimately snatched victory from Kastro's cold, dead hands.

10 Chrollo Lucifer Vs. The Zoldycks

Chrollo Lucifer's battle against the Zoldycks during the Yorknew City arc was just a pure showcase of power. Killua's father and grandfather entered the scene to capture the leader of the Phantom Troupe. However, both Silva and Zeno were pushed back by Chrollo's masterful Nen ability, not to mention his impressive battle aptitude.

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In fact, Chrollo doesn't exclusively rely on power and strength, as he demonstrates a variety of unique and complex powers, thereby conveying his immeasurable strength through grace and strategy. While the conclusion was a bit of a bust, this battle had everyone at the edge of their seats trying to see what the power cap on the Hunter x Hunter world really looked like.

9 Hisoka Vs. Gotoh

As the Zoldyck family's faithful butler, Gotoh doesn't trust Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio at first. And while he seemed like an absolute monster back then, he eventually goes up against an actual master of the killing trade. This fight sees Hisoka on the defensive as Gotoh's overpowered coin-bullet gimmick reigns supreme through most of the fight.

Hisoka doesn't let up, however, preparing a trap of his own to take down the butler from hell. Hisoka is already established as a dangerous, mysterious threat at this point, so it was interesting to see him face off against an opponent with just as much training and practice, if not more.

8 Knuckle, Shoot, And Killua Vs. Menthuthuyoupi

The Chimera Ant arc introduced an enemy whose entire reason for existence was outclassing humanity in every way. Menthuthuyoupi is the pinnacle of the Chimera Ants' raw power, albeit inferior to Meruem. Acting as the main vanguard for the Chimera Ant King, Youpi's sheer strength and versatility were constant obstacles for Shoot, Knuckle, and Killua.

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Knuckle and Shoot struggled to make a single scratch on Youpi. Meanwhile, Killua chimed in with his brand new Nen ability, but the fight never really came down to numbers. Hunter x Hunter illustrates just how intimidating and intriguing a seemingly invincible villain can be. Youpi only perished much later, and due to the aftereffects of Netero's nuke-poison.

7 Gon Vs. Hisoka

Gon's fight against Hisoka at Heaven's Arena is a tribute to small victories. Gon trained extremely hard just to land a punch on Hisoka, whereas the latter simply lay low in quiet anticipation of Gon's inevitable growth. While this fight is a powerful spectacle in its own right, its greatest aim is to show the ostensibly insurmountable gap between the two combatants.

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Gon displays a range of newfound abilities as he aims to surprise Hisoka, who turns the battle into a learning experience as he toys with Gon. It's such an incredible exhibition of character and power difference, proving that even great leaps of strength are ultimately just small steps in this series.

6 Uvogin Vs. The Shadow Beasts

A particularly talented group of fighters, the Shadow Beasts were hired to protect the Ten Dons of the Mafia in Yorknew City. The aggressive power of Rabid Dog, the sharpness of Porcupine, the parasitic nature of Leech, and the exceptional flexibility of Worm nearly managed to overwhelm their clearly overpowered opponent.

The Phantom Troupe's Uvogin, on the other hand, exploited his Big Bang Impact to secure the upper hand. He smashed himself free before eviscerating all four enemies, one after the other. This battle not only built Uvogin up as a formidable terror, but also clarified the power gap between the Phantom Troupe and everyone else.