And I think that a large part of what makes it so brilliant is its impeccable power system: Nen. Unlike a lot of shows, it’s not just about who makes the biggest explosion. But rather who can outsmart their enemy and truly push their limits. But which Nen users are really the best-of-the-best in the series?
12. Razor
Since Razor only appears at the very end of the Greed Island arc, most people tend to overlook just how powerful this man is. His power is so immense that his existence keeps the entire world of Greed Island functioning, as well as keeping all of the other “staff workers” at bay (who are also Nen users). When faced with Razor, the Phantom Troup quickly chose to retreat. And his raw physical power is definitely near the top, considering how much effort and teamwork it took to just beat him at dodgeball.
11. Knov
What makes Knov so terrifying in battle is his mix of versatility and skill. Warp-type abilities have always been powerful in anime. But Knov really pushes the envelope. He’s capable of creating an entire pocket dimension, and is capable of getting people in and out consistently for a long period of time. It’s a shame that the Royal Guards literally scared the sense out of him, but his skill is quite remarkable nevertheless.
10. Menthuthuyoupi
Ranking the higher-up Chimera Ants is a bit tricky, as they commonly rely on brute strength and overwhelming pools of Nen rather than actually use their power effectively – which is why Meruem and Neferpitou aren’t going to be on this list. However, Youpi definitely had a character arc when it came to his power. This starts with just simple enhancements, but finishes off with emission blasts and a whole new form that makes him both look and feel like death itself. It’s also important to note that in terms of raw aura, he’s among the strongest we have ever seen.
9. Silva Zoldyck
The Zoldyck family is stacked beyond belief when it comes to both Nen quantity and Nen mastery. We don’t get to see Silva in battle all that often. But even from just his initial scrap with Chrollo we saw that he was a monster. He possessed so much raw Nen, and could wield it with so much proficiency, that he honestly looked like a Dragon Ball Z character just throwing Ki blasts all over the place. There are two other Zoldycks who can arguably surpass Silva, at least in terms of mastery and versatility – but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
8. Kurapika
Out of the main four characters, Kurapika is the only one I’m going to put on this list. Although Gon possesses some insane power, and Killua has been shown to be pretty versatile, in terms of mastery, Kurapika has them all beat. This is because he’s a double threat, being both a Conjurer and a Specialist – which is quite rare for the universe. His progress was also among the fastest in the show. And he has shown a higher understanding when it comes to the power of Nen restrictions, considering that he didn’t nearly die like a certain someone.
7. Shaiapouf
Although he was my least favorite Royal Guard character-wise, I still have to give him credit when it comes to his skill. He’s a Manipulator in both Nen and personality, and his kit has been shown to be extremely vast. Unlike Youpi or Neferpitou, Shaiapouf always seemed to have an ace up his sleeve – and had seemingly mastered all Nen principles quite quickly. He might not be the most powerful Royal Guard. But I think he’s the best off when it comes to talent.
6. Illumi Zoldyck
Illumi is just a beast when it comes to versatility. Not only can his needles completely change his body composition, but they can also control large amounts of people. And if creating an entire zombie army wasn’t good enough, he can also be more subtle about it and influence your thoughts without you even realizing it – like with Killua. The worst part is that as far as the anime is concerned, we haven’t even seen his limits yet. Meaning that these feats might just be his warmup.
5. Hisoka Morow
I honestly think that Hisoka has the weakest Nen ability of anyone on this list. However, his mastery and versatility is so high that he manages to make it pretty high up right here. With his famous Bungee Gum (that has the properties of both rubber and gum), he has pulled some nasty moves in the series. And has killed of characters that should in all honesty have outpowered him. But time and time again he manages to outsmart them all, and really push the boundaries when it comes to Nen application.
4. Morel Mackernasey
Everything I just said about our beloved killer clown also applies to Morel, with the added bonus that Morel has even more pressure in a fight. Not only does his arsenal outclass Hisoka, but his years of experience definitely widen the gap even more. The man has endless imagination when it comes to how he uses his smoke – and he even has some ridiculous tenacity to boot. Of all the new Hunters introduced in the Chimera Ant arc, he was by far my favorite. And the most interesting to watch too, as you could never guess what he would pull out of his sleeve.
3. Zeno Zoldyck
This dude created a giant Nen dragon that could fly through the air with people on its back, and then descended onto the earth like God himself had decided to smite our planet, basically one-shotting even high-ranking Chimera Ants in the process. This feat alone shows just how ridiculous Zeno truly is. Being that he’s also the head of the Zoldyck family, and that he likely taught Silva everything he knows, it should come as no surprise that he has made it into the top three.
2. Chrollo Lucifer
Chrollo’s power would honestly be wasted on anyone but him. Although it initially seems overpowered as hell, it actually comes with a lot of restrictions, and really forces you to use your head if you want to have any chances of winning. Plus, unlike every other Nen user, Chrollo has to constantly adapt to different powers he’s stolen and how to use them efficiently in a fight. This makes his progress practically infinite. Plus, he had scrapes with our number 3 and number 9 seed without sustaining any serious damage, so he’s obviously a cut above the rest.
1. Isaac Netero
Isaac is canonically one of the best Nen users to have ever lived. And unlike Ging, he has showcased that power at full force in the anime. Considering he was going up against Meruem himself, I knew that Netero had to be strong. But I never could have seen the giant Bodhisattva coming. Not only does this huge thing pack a lot of physical power, but it can also emit blasts that would have spelled the demise for anyone other than the King. But as I’ve mentioned, it’s not about his Nen ability being busted – but rather his mastery of it. The dude spent decades training and pushed his body beyond what should be physically possible. Which is what makes him such a monster when it comes to Nen usage.
