Highlights
- Hisoka is a formidable character in Hunter x Hunter, with a unique combination of intelligence, combat skills, and unpredictability.
- Hisoka’s Nen ability, Transmutation, allows him to manipulate his aura into rubber and gum-like substances, giving him control over movements.
- Hisoka’s strength is showcased through various battles, revealing his mastery of hand-to-hand combat and establishing him as one of the strongest characters in the series.
In the world of Hunter x Hunter, where strength and power often determine one’s fate, few characters embody this essence as vividly as Hisoka. His strength is not merely defined by raw physical power, but by a unique combination of strategic intelligence, exceptional combat skills, and a chillingly unpredictable nature.
Through many battles, it becomes increasingly clear that Hisoka is a force to be reckoned with. But the question that begs to be answered is – if Hisoka is always looking to fight the strongest opponent, how strong is he?
Who is Hisoka?
Hisoka is a licensed Hunter and, at one point, was a member of the Phantom Troupe – a group of thirteen criminals. He is driven by a strong desire to fight, but not just anyone. He constantly seeks powerful opponents who can provide him with a challenging fight. Hisoka is not only interested in defeating strong opponents but also in nurturing and witnessing their growth.
He will spare individuals with great potential, like Gon and Killua, motivated by his desire to see them become stronger over time. He sees the potential for them to become formidable opponents in the future and wants to enjoy a more satisfying and challenging battle when they reach their full potential.
Hisoka’s Powers Are Anything But Ordinary
Hisoka’s Nen ability is Transmutation. As a Transmuter, Hisoka can change the properties of his Nen, or aura, to mimic something else. Hisoka showcases this with his Bungee Gum technique. With Bungee Gum, Hisoka can manipulate his Nen into something that resembles a substance with the properties of both rubber and gum. Hisoka often uses Bungee Gum to attach his aura to objects or opponents, giving him control over their movements.
Hisoka’s Incredible Strength Has Been Put on Display Throughout the Series
Throughout the series, Hisoka is at the center of many conflicts, exhibiting his strength in various battles across different arcs. Hisoka’s first fight in the series occurs when he is jumped by a group of rookies. While he eliminates all of them with one move, he is soon approached by Leorio, whom he defeats quickly. When he is about to kill him, Gon comes in to rescue him.
They briefly fight, but Hisoka senses Gon’s potential, so he does not kill him or Leorio. This marks the beginning of the complex relationship between Hisoka and Gon. Throughout this arc, we see Hisoka fight various opponents and also punch Gon in the face. While we do not get to see the full extent of his Nen techniques, it establishes him as a master of hand-to-hand combat and sets the stage for later revelations about his formidable Nen abilities in subsequent arcs.
In the Heaven’s Arena, Hisoka faces Kastro, a skilled Nen user. Kastro’s unique ability involves creating double images of himself. Hisoka, known for his adaptability and strategic thinking, ultimately triumphs in this fight. There is also a fight between Gon and Hisoka after Gon learns to use Nen. This highly anticipated fight showcases Gon’s growth and newfound abilities. However, Hisoka ultimately defeats Gon with a TKO (Technical Knockout), demonstrating the difference in experience and skill between the two.
The Heaven’s Arena Arc provides the first glimpse of Hisoka’s Nen technique known as Bungee Gum. This ability allows Hisoka to turn his aura into a flexible and stretchable substance, possessing both rubber-like elasticity and the adhesive properties of gum. His precise control over Bungee Gum becomes a crucial factor in his victory over Gon, showcasing the versatility and ingenuity of Hisoka’s Nen abilities.
The Yorknew City Arc is where we truly get to see Hisoka’s thirst for fighting strong opponents. It is shown that he has no loyalty to the Phantom Troupe and only joined as a way to get closer to Chrollo Lucilfer, the leader of the Phantom Troupe. During this arc, Kurapika confronts Chrollo Lucilfer in a one-on-one battle, having developed a Nen ability specifically to counter the Phantom Troupe. Kurapika’s Nen ability, the Judgment Chain, involves the use of a chain that wraps around the heart of the target.
Kurapika places a restriction on the target, making them unable to use Nen. This restriction is tied to certain conditions, and if violated, the target’s heart will stop. Eventually, Chrollo is approached by Hisoka to fight, but he informs Hisoka of the restriction and tells him he is not able to fight. While they eventually fight in the manga, it was not seen in either version of the anime.
Hisoka goes to the 13th Hunter Chairman Election seeking out a fight with Ging – Gon’s father. However, Ging has already left at this point. Hisoka takes this time to assess the power levels of the other Zodiacs (the high council of the Hunter Association appointed by Chairman Netero), and determines that none are worth the fight. However, after linking up with Illumi Zoldyck, Killua’s older brother, Hisoka does have one final battle in the anime as he fights Gotoh – the Zoldyck’s butler.
Hisoka, both feared and respected, leaves a lasting legacy in Hunter x Hunter, characterized by a potent mix of pure strength, unpredictability, and an unending pursuit of formidable adversaries. Despite never getting to see the full extent of his powers in the anime, Hisoka unquestionably stands as one of the series’ strongest characters.
Hunter x Hunter is available to stream on Prime Video.
