Highlights
- Zero Arc: Highlights Fairy Tail’s origins and Mavis’ backstory.
- Tower of Heaven Arc: Introduces Erza’s past and first major antagonist, Jellal.
- Edolas Arc: Explores Happy, Carla, and Mystogan’s origins and political power struggles.
Known for its complex magic system and expansive worldbuilding, Hiro Mashima’s magnum opus Fairy Tail is a renowned title within the shonen landscape. With over 300 episodes across multiple seasons, the series has several promising story arcs under its belt, albeit some more engaging than others.
Despite Fairy Tail’s popularity taking a hit during its latter seasons, several arcs in the anime still stand out, whether through their excellent storytelling or detailed accounts of character development. With the 100 Years Quest arc set to air in Summer 2024’s anime lineup, now is the perfect time to look back at the series’ finest arcs.
7 Zero Arc
Shed Light On the Origins Of Fairy Tail
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Episodes |
266 – 275 |
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Air Date |
January 9, 2016 – March 12, 2016 |
The Zero arc is often considered a spin-off, primarily due to its focus on Fairy Tail’s founders. However, the arc plays a crucial role in acquainting viewers with the titular guild’s history, coupled with Mavis’ backstory and relationship with Zeref Dragneel.
The arc never exactly took off in terms of popularity, largely due to its focus on the show’s ancillary characters. Nevertheless, Fairy Tail: Zero remains a stellar side-story that sheds light on the guild’s formation, a necessary element needed to demystify Mavis’ character.
6 Tower Of Heaven Arc
Introduced A Major Plot Point And Fleshed Out Erza’s Character
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Episodes |
33 – 41 |
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Air Date |
June 7, 2010 – August 9, 2010 |
The Tower of Heaven arc introduced all sorts of new developments, chiefly Erza’s backstory and the series’ first major recurring antagonist in the form of Jellal Fernandes. The arc explains Erza’s past in detail, adding considerable depth and profundity to her character.
The Tower of Heaven itself remained a major plot point till the end of the series, as several characters had their origins rooted in this event. Every member of Oracion Seis was a prisoner in the tower, along with other major characters such as Milliana and Jellal himself. The conclusion of the arc sets a slightly more somber tone for the anime, highlighting its significance.
5 Edolas Arc
Demystified Happy, Carla, And Mystogan’s Origins
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Episodes |
76 – 95 |
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Air Date |
April 23, 2011 – September 3, 2011 |
On the surface, the Edolas arc seems to be filled with nothing more than comedic moments and low-stake fights. However, the entire arc is laced with nuance, be it Happy and Carla’s Exceed origins or the political power struggle that ravaged this parallel world. The events fleshed out Happy’s origins and even brought a new Exceed companion into the series’ roster.
Fans were also able to witness alternate personas of their favorite characters, especially with Edolas Lucy and Natsu being polar opposites of their Earthland versions. The arc tied up Mystogan’s storyline by crowning him the King of Edolas, along with bringing the supposedly deceased Lisanna back.
4 Oracion Seis Arc
Introduced Wendy And The Recurring Dark Guild Oracion Seis
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Episodes |
52 – 69 |
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Air Date |
November 1, 2010 – March 7, 2011 |
While the Oracion Seis arc took place early on in the series, it soon became a hotbed of new developments and revelations. The arc marked the introduction of several new guilds after Fairy Tail allied with allied guilds to fight Oracion Seis. The most significant of these developments was the addition of Wendy to team Natsu.
The individual battles with each member of Oracion Seis were brimming with action, and the notion of various guilds working together in each fight added to the battles’ nuance. The arc is quite significant for the narrative, as the Oracion Seis becomes a recurring faction, eventually being redeemed by Jellal to join Crime Sorciere.
3 Tenrou Island Arc
Introduction Of Several Endgame Characters
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Episodes |
96 – 122 |
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Air Date |
September 10, 2011 – March 17, 2012 |
The Tenrou Island arc was the first set of episodes to truly up the ante, as the arc led up to enthralling battles, new characters, and most importantly, the first signs of both Zeref and Achnologia. As the Fairy Tail guild held its S-Class Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island, the mages were invaded by the second dark guild of the Balam Alliance: Grimoire Heart.
The arc introduced several recurring characters that played an integral role down the line, such as Ultear, Meredy, Mest, and even the celestial spirit Capricorn. The conclusion of the arc with Achnologia’s reveal was truly despair-ridden, showcasing a glimpse of the horrors that awaited team Natsu.
2 Grand Magic Games Arc
The Series’ First And Only Tournament Arc
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Episodes |
151 – 203 |
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Air Date |
October 6, 2012 – October 11, 2014 |
Tournament arcs are the bane of the shonen series’ existence, as these arcs are complicated to nail, as all manner of troublesome elements accompany them. Luckily, Fairy Tail presents an engaging tournament in the form of the Grand Magic Games, an event where the eight strongest guilds duke it out for the title of the strongest guild in all of Fiore.
The tournament later becomes a secondary element, as the arc introduces time-travelers from the future, dragons from the past, and a secret plot that almost plunges the world into chaos. The arc served as the perfect welcome for the Fairy Tail guild after the series’ seven-year timeskip.
1 Tartaros Arc
Action-Packed Battles, New Revelations, And Exponential Character Growth
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Episodes |
234 – 265 |
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Air Date |
May 23, 2015 – December 26, 2015 |
Arguably the most thrilling arc in the entire series, the Tartaros arc introduced the final pillar of the Balam Alliance, along with a host of overarching revelations. Unlike previous antagonists, each member of Tartaros proved to be highly formidable, even leading to a few mortifying yet much-needed defeats on Fairy Tail’s part.
Every single member of team Natsu received new power-ups, with Lucy summoning the Celestial Spirit King being one of the key highlights of the arc. The long-awaited reveal of Igneel and the rest of the dragons glued together the narrative, a perfect conclusion to the series’ most gripping set of episodes.
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