Hunter X Hunter does many things right, and one of its strongest and best aspects is having one of the most rich and diverse cast in shonen manga, which is one of the many reasons it is so beloved. The series consistently has incredible characterization, development, and growth, and the fact that it made many ing characters so memorable speaks to the high quality of Togashi's writing and character work.

While characters such as Gon or Killua may be the most recognizable, the fact that the series often moves away from its supposed protagonist created the opportunity for many other characters to shine. Some of them are more memorable than others due to their uniqueness, quirks, or simply because they had the most memorable moments in the series.

10 Leorio Paradinight

Debuts in Chapter #319 and Episode #137

As one of the first introduced characters and a member of the core cast, Leorio is a breath of fresh air among Killua, Gon, and Kurapika, who are nothing short of geniuses. He makes up for his average potential and latent power with pure grit and determination, making him much more relatable and likable. His past of seeing a close friend die because of being unable to afford medication was tragic and made his goal of becoming a doctor that much more interesting and beautiful.

A common criticism of the series is Leorio's lack of screen time, and while this is true to an extent, the fact that he is so beloved and popular despite this shows just how good of a character he is. He might have an aggressive personality, but the way he goes to bat for his friends, especially for Gon in the 13th Chairman Election arc, boosted his perception with viewers. Fortunately, he is now a member of the Zodiacs and on board the Black Whale, which means he could be important in the Succession War Arc.

9 Hisoka Morrow

Debuts in Chapter #5 and Episode #3

Hisoka is the definition of a wild card, and his ability is related to that as well. He was the first major antagonist in the series and was a major reason why Gon was pushing that hard to become stronger. He is wild, sadistic, and chaotic, and is defined by his love for a good fight, which is why he is so invested in Gon, given that he sees the potential in him. The fact that he appears in almost every major Hunter X Hunter story arc and fits in seamlessly speaks to how much of an anomaly he is, and the creator did a good job of not putting any limits or restrictions on his character.

While Yorknew City and the 13th Chairman Election arcs were where his character saw the most spotlight, the Succession War arc is seemingly building him up to be a major player, given the fact he is one of the reasons Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe are on board the ship. There's a lot more to expect from Hunter X Hunter's resident clown, and his potential is immense.

8 Pariston Hill

Debuts in Chapter #319 and Episode #137

The definition of a troll, Pariston immediately hooked in viewers as soon as he came in, with his constant antagonizing of the world's best Hunters and manipulating the smartest people all for his amusement. He's charming beyond belief, but there is more to his witty and sometimes annoying attitude. He manipulates and antagonizes people because he is completely fine with being hated, and sometimes revels in it. He seeks his own version of what it means to be a Hunter, and this is why he is so interested in Netero and Ging, people who exemplify the spirit of what it means to be one.

The series showed a new side of him when he and Ging collided, leading to Pariston hating someone for the first time and enjoying it oddly enough. His role is much bigger than fans thought, as he not only assists Beyond Netero to fulfill his goals, but he also has 5000 Chimera Ants in his possession. There is a storm brewing in Hunter X Hunter, and Pariston is at the center of it.

7 Komugi

Debuts in Chapter #244 and Episode #102

In an arc filled with man-eating monsters and world-class hunters, Komugi solidified herself as one of the most interesting characters in the Chimera Ant arc. Meruem, just like fans, was shocked at this disheveled blind Gungi prodigy, and just like him, viewers absolutely fell for her going forward. Her messy appearance and low esteem due to her past of being viewed as both a burden and a bank was indeed tragic, and made her even more likable.

While it is somewhat true that a big part of Komugi's character is to aid Meruem's development, she is still her own character, with her own struggles and motivations. Her tragic and bittersweet conclusion was one of the saddest moments in the series, emphasizing the themes of loss and sacrifice. Komugi's depth, moral clarity, and her role in exploring complex themes make her a standout character, leaving a lasting impression on the audience and enriching the narrative of Hunter x Hunter.

6 Netero

Debuts in Chapter #12and Episode #6

One of the reasons the Chimera Ant arc is the series' best arc is the Chairman of the Hunter Association, Isaac Netero. The fact that he is so memorable even though most of his screentime was concentrated in the Palace Invasion shows how great of a character he was. His amazing entrance in NGL and the Palace, his ego that stems from his superior strength and his humanity for Komugi and Meruem, and many more scenes made him one of Hunter X Hunter's best-written characters.

However, his fight with Meruem was what solidified him as a top-tier character. Not only was the choreography and his abilities amazing, but the thematic and narrative weight it holds made it memorable. It explores the darkness of humanity using both Netero's arrogance and the Rose Bomb, an allegory for humanity at its most evil. Netero was the ultimate exploration of humanity's best and worst qualities.

5 Ging Freecs

Debuts in Chapter #66 and Episode #37

Despite his notoriety as a dead-beat father who wasn't around for Gon, Ging Freecs is still an incredible character who deserves his flowers. His narrative importance as the one who kickstarted the story made him highly anticipated, and he did not disappoint when he appeared in the 13th Chairman Elections.

You should enjoy the little detours to the fullest. Because that's where you'll find the things more important than what you want.

- Ging Freecs.

He embodies one of the series' core messages: the journey is more important than the destination. He exemplifies what it means to be a Hunter, and his legendary quote when talking with Gon was a defining moment of the series. The moral discussions he brought about between duty and freedom were interesting as well, and further showed that Hunters, despite their glory and fame, were flawed humans too. He has been absent so far from the latest arc, but there is no doubt he'll appear soon.

4 Meruem

Debuts in Chapter #213 and Episode #91

Arguably the best antagonist in shonen manga, Meruem's character arc highlights why the series is one of the greatest. Born as the ultimate creature made to rule everyone, Meruem's journey to finding his own purpose was nothing short of beautiful, and the complexity of his character wouldn't exist without Komugi. He was the pinnacle of the monsters, but he gradually found humanity through the Gungi matches with the blind girl, and he slowly started to realize how much he cared for her.

His strength, character design, conclusion, dynamics, everything about Meruem was masterfully written. His thematic importance in the series is boundless and is one of the reasons Hunter X Hunter is a brilliant masterpiece.

3 Kurapika

Debuts in Chapter #2 and Episode #1

Kurapika, the fierce yet gentle survivor of the Kurta genocide, is one of the most popular characters in the series, and for good reason. His motives and goals were interesting from the start, and it wasn't until he became the protagonist in the Yorknew Arc that his hatred and inner conflict were explored properly. His dislike for violence yet being sucked into a world with nothing but that made his situation much more intense and differentiated him from other avengers in manga.

Fans of the character should be pleased to know that he is currently the protagonist of the series, being in the middle of a bloody fight for the throne of the Kakin Empire, in the middle of the ocean. Displaying incredible kindness, intelligence, and responsibility, Kurapika has never been better and is currently the face of potentially the manga's best arc yet.

2 Killua Zoldyck

Debuts in Chapter #6 and Episode #3

It can't be overstated just how integral to the story the deuteragonist, Killua, is to the series. He is the ying to Gon's yang and the two's adventures are as diverse as they are interesting. Killua's tragic past and finding a genuine friend who he can be free with is why the duo's dynamic works so well. Throughout the series, he is constantly struggling with his past and his family's grasp, and this aspect was dialed up to the maximum in the Chimera Ant arc where he broke free of Illumi's control to save Gon.

However, where his character truly shined was in the 13th Chairman Election arc. Fans always knew him to be caring, but his affection and determination to save Alluka was one of the best moments in the series. He, Alluka, and Gon had one last adventure together and went about their ways. There are still a few ways Killua could return to the story, and his potential comeback will be a moment for the books.

1 Gon Freecs

Debuts in Chapter #1 and Episode #1

There are very few main characters that embody the spirit of their series quite like Gon Freecs. Hunter X Hunter can flip from the happy adventure series it usually is to an incredibly dark and introspective one very quickly, and this is exactly how Gon is. The series emphasized his morally grey nature by having him do and act as he feels without looking at things through the lens of good or bad.

While his highlights come from the Chimera Ant arc where he gradually lost himself to his rage, Gon has always been a phenomenal character and showed why he is Hunter X Hunter's best character on many different occasions. From his selfish battle with Genthru, his anger at Nobunaga's tears, his friendship with Killua, and many others, Gon stands out even when the series tries very hard to not make him the protagonist.