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 on September 21, 2023, by Ajay Aravind: The strongest Hunter x Hunter characters include 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.
25 Knuckle
Knuckle Bine is a classic anime punk — his overtly belligerent nature makes him somewhat unlikeable at first, but he soon reveals himself to be a softie at heart. Emotional strengths aside, Knuckle is also one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters. He's stupendously speedy, capable of evading even Youpi's supersonic attacks. Knuckle's greatest asset, however, is his Nen. Known as Hakoware, or Amortizing Power Redirector, this construct can transfer Knuckle's Nen to anyone in direct contact with it. This ability works rather well when he fights Gon, but fails against the Chimera Ant Royal Guard.
24 Leorio
Leorio Paradinight is one of the first characters introduced in the story, at which point he's pretty weak. Despite his general lack of focus, he manages to achieve his goals by the end of the 287th Hunter Exam arc. Leorio disappears from Hunter x Hunter for several arcs, allowing other characters to take his place. He returns during the 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc, where he successfully lands one of his Remote Punches on Ging Freecss, arguably one of Leorio's greatest moments. Leorio eventually becomes one of the Zodiacs, further cementing his role as a protector.
23 Knov
Knov's hair turns completely white upon experiencing Pouf's macabre Nen, but that doesn't mean this Hunter is entirely powerless. Despite his fears, he manages to perform his required missions while in the presence of the Royal Guards. Knov combines his tactical brilliance with his Hide and Seek Nen, which can generate complex dimensions accessible only to him. Not even Neferpitou's vigilant En could identify the existence of his portals, let alone their placement. Most importantly, Netero himself has acknowledged Knov to be one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters.
22 Uvogin
Uvogin is the first of the Phantom Troupe to perish at Kurapika's hands — and the last, since Pakunoda willingly takes her own life. And yet, he's one of the physically strongest characters in Hunter x Hunter. Uvogin casually demolishes four of the Shadow Beasts, all of whom are overpowered assassins in their own right. His Big Bang Impact makes use of the limitless reserves of raw power at his disposal, transforming what looks like a straightforward punch into a quasi-nuclear explosion. In fact, Kurapika is forced to use his Emperor Time technique to take Uvogin down.
21 Hanzo
Hanzo plays a major role in the 287th Hunter Exam arc before vanishing from the story. He finally makes a reappearance during the Succession Contest arc, after honing his already overwhelming skillset even further. Hanzo figures out the nuances of Nen within half a year, putting him on the same level as Gon and Killua. Although he probably has multiple abilities in his arsenal, the only one revealed is Hanzo Skill 4, or Art of the Doppelganger. This technique allows him to manifest a copy of himself while in deep meditation. Hanzo's full potential is as yet unknown — fans can only hope he gets more time to shine in future chapters.
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. Fans get to see Razor's sheer strength 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 while 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 leave nearly everybody injured.
18 Killua
Killua Zoldyck is a born 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 stockpile 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 one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters 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
Despite his diminutive stature and quiet personality, Feitan Portor is unquestionably one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters. He is also 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
An extremely dangerous individual, Hisoka Morow is one of the strongest characters 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 decides 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 overcame 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 strongest Hunter x Hunter characters. In fact, his physical strength far exceeds his advanced age. Additionally, Zeno's speed and fighting prowess are enough to put Chrollo himself on the defensive. As a Transmuter, Zeno manipulates his aura to form 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 showcased 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
Although rightfully recognized among "the five best Nen users in the world," the same can't be said for Ging Freecss's parenting style. He leaves Gon in the care of his family before vanishing into the metaphorical ether, and he actually expects his son to succeed 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 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, Pouf 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. Pouf might be eccentric, but he's certainly one of the strongest Hunter x Hunter characters.