Hunter x Hunter has some of the best arcs in anime history. Greed Island, Yorknew City, and Chimera Ant are all well-known among the anime community. Furthermore, HxH, like other popular Shōnen anime such as One Piece, has many loveable qualities. For example, similarly to One Piece, Hunter x Hunter is colorful, goofy, and family-friendly. However, it contains some unexpectedly dark themes, like Kite’s death and Killua’s struggles with past abuse.

While HxH’s expansive fanbase has deeply enjoyed the series since its serialization in 1998, the manga has been slow to release due to the author’s health issues. Since March 2006, Yoshihiro Togashi, series author and illustrator, has taken unexpected, extended hiatuses. Togashi struggles with severe back pain, which forced him to receive a very serious surgery in 2014. Nevertheless, Togashi persevered and continues to release manga chapters for his current arc, Succession War.

While new manga chapters surface, fans of the Hunter x Hunter anime have waited expectantly for the series' return. The final episode of the 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc was released on September 24th, 2014, which concluded the 2011 anime adaptation. While news surrounding the anime’s return has yet to be announced, Madhouse Inc. has maintained the rights to the series, giving fans hope. Still, despite the future of the Hunter x Hunter anime, the series has produced a timeless collection of arcs that will surely entertain a wide range of audiences for decades to come.

7 Heavens Arena Arc

Heavens Arena Offers a Fun Segue to Gon and Killua’s Cultivation of Nen

Heavens Arena is the third arc in Hunter x Hunter and follows Gon and Killua through the world's most famous (and perilous) battle arena. Gon, Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika have agreed to meet in Yorknew City on September 1st. With some extra time to kill, Gon and Killua agree that they are in need of some serious training if they ever want to stand up to enemies like Hisoka. As a result, Killua suggests Heavens Arena, a place he frequented as a child.

In addition to making it to the 200th floor of the arena, the young duo also learns an invaluable skill during their time in the combat arena: the battle technique, Nen. The Heavens Arena arc is undoubtedly crucial to Gon and Killua’s journey, as their introduction to Nen is essential to their future survival. Furthermore, the arc provides an interesting fight between Hisoka and Gon, something that fans looked forward to since their confrontation in the Hunter Exam arc. However, the arc can feel dragged out, with countless scenes dedicated to successive battles and numerous Nen explanations.

6 Zoldyck Family Arc

Killua’s Past Filled with Familial Trauma is Explored in HxH’s Shortest Arc

After nearly completing the dreaded Hunter Exam, Killua’s eldest brother, Illumi, forces him to come home. Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio successfully the test and decide to rescue Killua from his parent’s mansion in Kukuroo Mountain. However, the heroic trio is immediately met with a series of challenges. Before they can even enter the gates of the Zoldyck’s estate, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio spend ten days training in order to push open the unimaginable heavy Testing Gate. Still, they are soon escorted to the Butlers’ Headquarters, where they must now put their mental strength to the test.

Meanwhile, Killua escapes the torture of his brother, Milluki. He speaks with his father, who warns him never to betray his friends, then allows Killua to leave the estate. The Zoldyck Family arc is the shortest in the series. Nevertheless, it provides some much-needed context on Killua’s background and family history. Before this arc, fans only saw glimpses of the white-haired assassin’s dark side, such as when he removed a man’s heart during the Hunter Exam. However, learning about the disturbing nature of Killua’s family offers a peak into his abusive past, which makes him even more intriguing as a protagonist.

5 13th Hunter Chairman Election Arc

The 13th Chairman Election Provides a Satisfying Conclusion to the 2011 Anime... For Now

The world finally settles following the epic battle between the Chimera Ant King, Meruem, and Netero, the Hunter Association chairman. However, because Netero sacrificed himself in order to take down the king, he must be replaced as chairman of the board. Thus, the Zodiacs gather to establish a new election, including Gon’s father, Ging Freecss. In a crazy turn of events, Leorio quickly becomes a top candidate. Meanwhile, Killua attempts to retrieve his sister, Alluka, whose powers could revive a hospitalized Gon. However, Hisoka and Illumi are close on his trail, believing that Alluka’s Nen abilities are much too dangerous to use.

The 13th Hunter Chairman Election is the final arc of the 2011 anime adaptation thus far. While there is speculation surrounding the anime’s return, the 13th Hunter Chairman arc serves as the perfect ending to the series. Although some fans disagree, upset that Killua and Gon split up at the end of their journey (the former with his sister and the latter with his father), it nevertheless provides some closure to the two characters’ deepest desires.

4 Greed Island Arc

Togashi Didn’t Invent the Isekai Genre with Greed Island, but He Helped Define It

Following the events of Kurapika’s adventure in Yorknew City, the four friends split up once again. Gon and Killua are hired by a billionaire, Battera, to play a game speculated to be created by Gon’s long-lost father, Ging. Hoping to find a clue regarding his whereabouts, the two hunters enter Greed Island, a dangerous, card-based reality game that can only be played by Nen s. Together, Gon, Killua, and Biscuit, a 57-year-old master of Nen, defeat Bomber, a player that straps bombs on other players, forcing them to help him win. After completing Greed Island, Gon and Killua use an “Accompany Card” to travel directly to Ging, or so they think.

Greed Island is one of the Hunter x Hunter. While it is not the first utilization of the Isekai genre, it is undoubtedly one of the most iconic examples. Isekai, which translates to “another world,” is a subgenre of fantasy in which the main character is transported to a new, unfamiliar world. In the case of HxH, the protagonists are whisked away to Greed Island. The Isekai genre continued to gain traction following Greed Island’s release, displaying how Togashi’s storytelling was ahead of his time.

3 Hunter Exam Arc

Few Arcs Compare to the Nostalgia of the Hunter Exam

Gon, a young boy from Whale Island, sets out to become a Hunter in hopes of learning a bit more about his mysterious father, Ging. During a series of bizarre tests, Gon meets Killua, Leorio, and Kurapika, and together, the four complete the exam, which includes navigating a dangerous jungle, killing a wild boar, a cooking contest, running a lengthy marathon, and diving head-first into a cavernous canyon. In addition, Gon also meets Hisoka, a foe who will reappear countless times throughout Gon’s search for his father.

While Hunter x Hunter's newer arcs, such as Yorknew City and Chimera Ant, are undeniably brilliant, none carry as many memories for anime fans as the Hunter Exam. HxH fans may be disappointed by Madhouse’s lack of communication about the fate of the 2011 adaptation. However, from each character’s introduction to the exciting line-up of tests Gon and his friends must endure, the Hunter Exam arc continues to be one of the most re-watchable storylines in the series.

2 Yorknew City Arc

The Yorknew City Arc is Unmatched in Stylization, Thrill, and Atmosphere

As Gon, Killua, and Leorio reunite in Yorknew City and attempt to raise enough money to purchase Greed Island, a JoyStation Console game, Kurapika works as a bodyguard for Neon Nostrade. While he is initially hired to help protect the daughter of a Mafia family, his real intent is to get inside the world’s largest auction and obtain a pair of his clan’s Scarlet Eyes, set to be sold in the same city. Meanwhile, the Phantom Troupe, a group of thieves who had slaughtered Kurapika’s clan, also gather in Yorknew City and plan to rob the auction of its most valuable items.

Not only does the Yorknew City arc provide multiple engaging storylines within a single arc, but it also gives viewers a deeper look into Kurapika’s character. He works closely with Melody, a young woman cursed after hearing an excerpt from the “Sonata of Darkness.” Soon, she learns just how deep Kurapika’s hatred for the Phantom Troupe is and how far he’ll go to get his revenge. As the anime’s second-longest arc, Yorknew City takes a darker, more serious tone than the rest of the series, perfectly mirroring the somberness of Kurapika’s past.

1 Chimera Ant Arc

The Chimera Ant Arc Will Forever Be Known As One of the Greatest Arcs in Anime History

Having successfully completed Greed Island and obtained an Accompany Card, Gon and Killua are transported to what they hope is Ging’s exact location. However, they soon come face-to-face with Kite, one of his previous apprentices. After learning about Gon’s mission to find his father, Kite invites them to his team, which is investigating the elusive Chimera Ant Queen. Together, Kite and his team of experts enter the NGL (an island sanctuary for wildlife) in an attempt to stop the Chimera Ants and their king, Meruem, from wiping out the entire human race.

Sitting at 60 episodes long, the Chimera Ant arc is the longest storyline in Hunter x Hunter, and for good reason. Throughout the arc, the Chimera Ant king experiences one of the best character developments in anime history. Mereum, who was once the most powerful being in the world, died in a dark, underground bunker in the arms of a human, whom he swore to eradicate from existence. While the animated series is full of beautifully orchestrated storylines, the final arc of the Hunter x Hunter anime is arguably one of the most emotionally significant.

The Chimera Ant arc includes some of Hunter X Hunter’s most iconic episodes. For example, in Episode 131, the audience is enlightened to the dark reality of Gon’s true capabilities as he learns of Kite’s death. In addition, Netero and Meruem’s epic battle concludes with a twist in Episode 126, as the former activates a suicide attack known as Poor Man’s Rose.

However, the most heart-wrenching episode of HxH’s 6th arc is its conclusion. After Meruem learns of the poisonous effect of Netero’s attack, he seeks his final resting place in the most unexpected of places. Togashi proves that his storytelling, world-building, and character development abilities are superior in the stunning display of arcs that Hunter x Hunter has to offer.