Since 1998, Hunter x Hunter has been one of Shonen Jump’s most popular series. It has produced a manga as well as two separate anime adaptations. Despite several frequently prolonged hiatuses, the ongoing manga is currently up to 400 chapters. Unfortunately, fans haven’t had any new updates since late December 2022.
Over the years, Hunter x Hunter has introduced some exceptional characters, like protagonists Gon Freecss and Killua Zoldyck. Furthermore, there are plenty of overpowered individuals who can compete with the strongest fighters in anime. Most combatants in Hunter x Hunter rely on Nen-based abilities, an excellent but complicated metric to measure their overall power levels.
Updated by Ajay Aravind on June 14, 2023: Some of the cutest Hunter x Hunter characters also happen to be among the strongest—a rule that applies to both heroes and villains. That said, we’re going to use Nen capabilities and battle accomplishments to sort these characters based on strength. As such, we’ve revamped this list with some more relevant information.
20 Morel
Morel Mackernasey might be a Single-Star Hunter, but his achievements are both extraordinary and unprecedented. The Hunter Association selects him to participate in the Chimera Ant Extermination program, further cementing his respectable status.
Morel is a brilliant tactician, devising some of the most complex strategies seen in the anime. At the same time, his Manipulation Nen allows him to generate smoke, which can subsequently be transformed into an endless series of shapes and figures. Morel even manages to defeat Leol, a Chimera Ant Squadron Leader, with minimal effort.
19 Razor
The Greed Island arc introduces Razor as one of the Game Masters. Razor owes his life to Gon’s father Ging, as the latter had saved him from execution before enlisting him enlisted him. In fact, Ging requested that Razor not hold back against his son, and he certainly doesn’t pull any punches in that regard. Fans get to see Razor’s sheer power in the unlikely form of dodgeball.
Razor is an Emitter, and his Aura Ball possesses frightening power, which Bopobo can attest to. Razor also utilizes Manipulation in creating eight anthropomorphic Nen beasts, combining them to make his 14 Devils. Despite his eventual defeat in the decisive dodgeball game, Razor’s strength and tenacity left nearly everybody injured.
18 Killua
On one hand, Killua Zoldyck is a killing machine. However, he’s also incredibly loyal to his friends and does everything in his power to protect them. Killua is already quite strong when fans see him during the Hunter Exam arc, but he ultimately develops a magnificent arsenal of Nen abilities.
His Godspeed, Whirlwind, and Speed of Lightning techniques allow him to move faster than most eyes can perceive, while simultaneously electrocuting his enemies. Killua is yet to reach the limits of his potential, and fans can’t wait to see how this Hunter x Hunter character evolves over time.
17 Kurapika
Kurapika’s early character arc revolves exclusively around his vendetta. He becomes a Hunter so he can locate, capture, and kill the Phantom Troupe for murdering his entire clan. As a result, many of Kurapika’s Nen techniques center on his hatred for the Spider.
Kurapika’s Chain Jail is so strong that even Uvogin fails to escape its clutches, whereas his Emperor Time ability temporarily converts him into a Specialist. He technically manages to satisfy his vengeance by placing the Judgment Chain on Chrollo, forcing the villain to exit the Troupe. Kurapika is presently serving as a member of the Hunter Association’s Zodiacs.
16 Feitan
Feitan’s diminutive stature and quiet personality undercut his overpowering strength. He is arguably the strongest member of the Phantom Troupe after Chrollo, as evidenced by his battle in the Chimera Ant arc. That said, Feitan can only use his ultimate abilities after suffering considerable damage.
During his duel with Zazan, Feitan spawns a medieval-esque suit of armor called Pain Packer, which protects him from the widespread damage caused by his Rising Sun technique. As the term suggests, Rising Sun generates a mini-Sun that radiates enough heat to vaporize practically anyone in the vicinity.
15 Illumi
Killua’s big brother and the firstborn of the Zoldyck family, Illumi happens to be a Nen powerhouse. Not only does he effortlessly pass the 287th Hunter Exam, but he also achieves this feat while disguised as Gittarackur. According to Hisoka’s personal rating, Illumi is stronger than most Hunter x Hunter characters.
Killua’s Manipulation Nen gives him the opportunity to exercise his sinister personality, as seen when he converts hundreds of innocent civilians into his Needle People. If that’s not scary enough Illumi’s Ren is so macabre that it even manages to terrify Hisoka, albeit for a brief moment.
14 Hisoka
Hisoka Morow is one of the most dangerous individuals in Hunter x Hunter. While not exactly evil, he takes extreme satisfaction in fighting and killing strong opponents. As a former member of the Phantom Troupe, Hisoka ranked third in terms of pure physical strength.
Hisoka’s Nen abilities include the versatile Bungee Gum, which imbues his aura with the simultaneous properties of rubber and gum. Along with Texture Surprise, he can recreate missing limbs and simulate the appearance of human skin. As a testament to his durability, Hisoka even manages to survive a death match against Chrollo.
13 Silva
As the current head of the Zoldyck family, Silva is a highly proficient assassin. Much like his son Killua, he is immune to even the most lethal poisons and can perform superhuman feats. In the Chimera Ant arc, Silva leaps from the sky and instantly crushes the head of Squadron Leader Cheetu.
Silva has also defeated a member of the Phantom Troupe, further supporting the fact that he is not to be taken lightly. In terms of his Nen ability, he is an Emitter and a Transmuter with some expertise as an Enhancer. Using his Nen, Silva converts his aura into enormous globes of pulsating energy, which supposedly produce devastating explosions.
12 Kite
The man who becomes Gon’s beloved mentor first appears in the Chimera Ant arc. While Kite doesn’t enjoy fighting as much as other Hunter x Hunter characters, he’s demonstrated his combat prowess on multiple occasions. Killua notes that their mentor is far more powerful than both Gon and himself, even after losing his arm to Neferpitou’s attack.
Kite’s Conjuration Nen is known as Crazy Slots for obvious reasons—the resulting construct is a semi-sentient entity that randomly chooses a weapon for him to fight with. Despite this disadvantage, Kite has proven to be a rather dangerous and unpredictable fighter. Although he perishes while battling Neferpitou, he has since been reborn as the genderfluid Reina.
11 Chrollo
As the leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo is easily one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters. He fights both Silva and Zeno while holding back and somehow survives the encounter. Zeno openly admits that he would have trouble defeating Chrollo if the latter decided to take the fight seriously.
As a Specialist, Chrollo is a powerful Nen user who steals other people’s abilities and makes them his own. In the past, he could only use one ability at a time, but he eventually overcomes this weakness. In the manga, Chrollo pushes Hisoka to the brink of death by using two stolen abilities simultaneously.
10 Zeno
Zeno Zoldyck may be old, but that doesn’t stop him from being one of the most lethal assassins in Hunter x Hunter. His physical strength far exceeds his age. Additionally, Zeno’s speed and fighting prowess are enough to put Chrollo himself on the defensive.
As a Transmuter, Zeno manipulates his aura, forming his patented dragon-shaped Nen constructs. Zeno also uses this technique to transport himself and others across vast distances. With his Dragon Dive ability, he can create hundreds of aura dragons that rain down like meteors and cause widespread devastation.
9 Biscuit
Despite her seemingly childish exterior, Biscuit is a 57-year-old warrior with enough experience and knowledge to dispatch the vast majority of her enemies with a single punch. As a Nen master, Biscuit has an absolute level of control over Ren, Hatsu, Ko, Gyo, Ten, Zetsu, and En.
Biscuit teaches Gon and Killua how to control their Nen, expanding on the training offered by her former student Wing. However, she doesn’t enjoy displaying her true form because it doesn’t suit her aesthetic. Unfortunately, Hunter x Hunter still hasn’t shown enough of Biscuit’s talents.
8 Tserriednich
The fabled Fourth Prince of the Kakin Empire, Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou is a rather recent entry into the Hunter x Hunter universe. Aside from his enormous wealth and political power, this royal human is one of the smartest characters in the series. Much like Gon and Killua, Tserriednich is a Nen prodigy, displaying a fine degree of control over his Specialization ability.
In fact, Tserriednich’s Parallel Future technique allows him to perceive both the present and the future simultaneously. In other words, he can see every possible move that would happen in a battle before the opponent is even aware of the situation. Few Hunter x Hunter characters can hope to survive a head-on fight with Tserriednich.
7 Ging
Ging Freecss is rightfully recognized among “the five best Nen users in the world,” but the same can’t be said for his parenting style. He leaves Gon in the care of his family before vanishing into the metaphorical ether, although he actually expects his son to perform without any fatherly guidance.
Gon eventually surpasses everyone’s expectations, including his dad’s. That said, Ging’s seemingly limitless arsenal of Nen abilities is still being explored in Hunter x Hunter. Fans have seen him use techniques like Remote Punch, Phasing Bullets, and Ultrasound, each of which is more impressive than the next.
6 Shaiapouf
Shaiapouf develops an aura output that numerically surpasses that of Isaac Netero, the Chairman of the Hunter Association. He possesses immense physical strength and can run and fly at supersonic speeds. His powers include using scale dust to hypnotize humans, turning people into Chimera Ants, and even bestowing Nen abilities on others.
Furthermore, Shaiapouf can create copies of himself, and he decreases in size with every copy he makes. By producing thousands of miniature duplicates, he can infiltrate even the most secure locations and spy on his enemies without being detected.
5 Menthuthuyoupi
In terms of both appearance and power, Menthuthuyoupi is nothing short of a monster. Unlike other human-Chimera Ant hybrids, he is a fusion between a Chimera Ant and a Magical Beast. This gives him the unique ability to modify any part of his body. He can grow extra arms and eyes, create animal wings to fly, and morph his limbs into razor-sharp blades.
When enraged, Youpi pressurizes and stores his Nen aura to gather large quantities of energy. Once he reaches his limit, he unleashes the power in a massive explosion. After learning to control his rage, Youpi channels it into a new and more powerful transformation that easily overwhelms his enemies.
4 Neferpitou
Neferpitou is undoubtedly the most powerful member of Meruem’s Royal Guard and one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters. They can jump an incredible distance in a single leap, like when they sever Kite’s arm in the forest. Pitou effortlessly defeats and decapitates Gon’s mentor, further illustrating their prodigious strength.
Neferpitou’s Nen ability allows them to summon two types of puppets. Doctor Blythe can heal injuries, whereas Terpsichora augments their base power exponentially. Neferpitou’s desire to serve the Chimera Ant King is so strong that they continue to attack Gon even after he kills them.
3 Gon
Gon is already stronger than anyone would anticipate a 12-year-old to be, thanks to his mastery over the Jajanken. After Kite’s disappearance, Gon becomes consumed by revenge. This changes his personality and his Nen aura. When he discovers that Kite had been dead the whole time, he makes a Nen vow and gains enough power to kill Neferpitou.
By sacrificing his life force and natural talents, Gon’s body undergoes a significant transformation that outclasses nearly every other Hunter x Hunter character. In fact, Neferpitou states that Adult Gon would be a serious threat to the Ant King, explaining why they sacrificed their life to stop him.
2 Netero
Chairman Isaac Netero spent years training both his body and his Nen ability to their peaks. In his prime, he was the most powerful Hunter and Nen user in the world. Netero is also the fastest Hunter x Hunter character, although his hypersonic speed only applies to his arm movements.
Netero’s Nen ability allows him to summon the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, unquestionably the most potent Nen construct in Hunter x Hunter. Netero’s most powerful move, the Zero Hand, drains his aura to fire a beam of immense destructive energy. Although he ends up losing against Meruem, Netero is the first and only person to make the Ant King experience true fear.
1 Meruem
From the moment of his birth, Meruem was already more powerful than any other villain in Hunter x Hunter. He is extremely intelligent and able to process thousands of possible scenarios in mere seconds. Mereum easily pushes back against Netero’s 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Meruem’s body was also durable enough to allow him to survive a nuclear explosion, though it did reduce him to a near-death state. The Chimera Ant King’s Aura Synthesis allows him to obtain Nen abilities by consuming the users, magnifying his overall Nen output. Meruem is the strongest Hunter x Hunter character, without exception.