List of Hunter × Hunter characters
The Hunter × Hunter manga series, created by Yoshihiro Togashi, features an extensive cast of characters. It takes place in a fictional universe where licensed specialists known as Hunters travel the world taking on special jobs ranging from treasure hunting to assassination. The story initially focuses on Gon Freecss and his quest to become a Hunter in order to find his father, [|Ging], who is himself a famous Hunter. On the way, Gon meets and becomes close friends with Killua Zoldyck, Kurapika and Leorio Paradinight.
Although most characters are human, most possess superhuman strength or supernatural abilities due to Nen, the ability to control one's own life energy or aura. The world of the series also includes fantastical beasts such as the Chimera Ants and the Five great calamities.
Main characters
Gon Freecss
Gon Freecss is an athletic, naïve, and friendly boy. Having spent a lot of time in the woods as a child, he gets along very well with animals and has superhuman senses such as heightened sense of smell and sight, as well as very keen taste. Raised by [|Mito], Gon wants to become a Hunter in order to find his father, Ging, who is a Hunter as well. During the Hunter Exam Gon befriends Killua Zoldyck, Kurapika and Leorio Paradinight. After successfully becoming a licensed Hunter, Gon and Killua learn about Nen from [|Wing] and later train further under Biscuit Krueger. After becoming one of the first people to beat Greed Island, and helping to stop the Chimera Ants, Gon meets his father.. Following the meeting with his father, Gon decides to return to Whale Island and reunites with Mito. Gon is a popular character with fans, coming in third place in the series' first two popularity polls.Killua Zoldyck
Killua Zoldyck is initially introduced as a cheeky, cheerful and mischievous boy who befriends Gon during the [|Hunter Exam]. His ruthlessness and aptitude in killing show the other side of him — deadly, violent, and bloodthirsty. A member of the famous Zoldyck Family of assassins, Killua has been trained to be an assassin since birth and conditioned to possess extreme tolerance for poison, electricity and overall pain. Although Killua fails during his first Hunter Exam by killing an opponent due to his elder brother Illumi's influence, he attends the exam again the following year, earning his license by eliminating all other applicants in the very first trial. Killua and Gon learn about Nen from Wing and later train further under Biscuit Krueger. He becomes one of the first people to beat Greed Island, helps stop the Chimera Ants, and uses his sibling Alluka's special abilities to heal the dying Gon. As Gon is about to meet Ging, Killua decides to part ways and travel the world with Alluka.Conflicting with Killua's predisposition to kill is his unyielding loyalty to his new friends, as Killua puts them before himself without a single complaint. His greatest flaw is initially his fear of those seemingly more powerful than him, a result of Illumi's instructions to be extremely cautious and only engage in combat if victory is absolutely certain. Showing great promise from birth, he possesses extraordinary agility and strength as a one-man killing machine. Killua has mastered many killing techniques at a tender age and is set to be one of the best assassins his family has ever produced. His Nen type is Transmutation, which he utilizes by altering his aura into electricity. His Hatsu involves various uses of electricity to increase his physical capabilities, such as Godspeed, which allows him to move at immeasurable speeds. Killua is a popular character with fans, coming in first place in the series' first two popularity polls.
Kurapika
Kurapika is the sole survivor of the Kurta Clan, a race with treasured irises that turn scarlet in times of anger or emotional turmoil. Four years before the series, the entire Kurta clan was eradicated by a criminal group known as the Phantom Troupe, who desecrated the Kurta's bodies by stealing their scarlet eyes, thereafter selling them on the black market. He participates in the Hunter Exam alongside Gon, Leorio and Killua in order to become a Blacklist Hunter and gain the resources to take vengeance for his people and retrieve their eyes. Despite his morals, Kurapika is not above adjoining himself to society's underworld — he aligns himself with the Nostrade mafia family as soon as the opportunity presents itself, and soon becomes head of Nostrade's bodyguards. Normally intelligent, quick-thinking and levelheaded, upon sight of a spider, the symbol of the Phantom Troupe, he becomes enraged. He kills Uvogin, causes Pakunoda's death, and seals Chrollo Lucilfer's Nen. He is later invited to join the [|Zodiacs] as the "Rat" at Leorio's recommendation, and only accepts upon being told that [|Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou] has the last batch of eyes that he needs to retrieve. This leads to his accompanying [|Woble Hui Guo Rou] to the Dark Continent as her bodyguard.Kurapika's Nen type is Conjuration. However, when his eyes turn scarlet, he becomes a Specialist. He conjures a unique weapon — five chains, extending from each finger on his right hand. His ring finger, Dowsing Chain: The Guiding Ring Finger, has a ball on the end used for dowsing and normal defensive and offensive purposes. Kurapika entered into a Nen contract for the chain on his middle finger, Chain Jail: The Restraining Middle Finger; in order to have an unbreakable chain that will fully incapacitate members of the Phantom Troupe, he offered his life should he use it on anyone other than its members. His thumb chain, Holy Chain: Healing Thumb, heals any injury with the crucifix on the end. His little finger, Judgement Chain: Arbiter Little Finger, stabs an enemy's heart, allowing Kurapika to issue a command, which kills the enemy if not followed. His index finger, Thieving Index Finger: Steal Chain, uses the syringe on the end to extract someone's aura and Nen ability. His specialist ability, Emperor Time: Absolute Mastery, allows him to utilize 100% of all types of Nen but shortens his lifespan by one hour every second he uses it. When he uses his index finger with Emperor Time activated, it turns into Stealth Dolphin: Index Finger in Emperor Time, a dolphin-like figure only he can see that allows him to use the stolen ability, informing him on its basic details, and grant the stolen ability to someone else for a single use. Kurapika was inspired by the Ohmu in Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Kurapika is a popular character with fans, coming in second place in the series' first two popularity polls.
Leorio Paradinight
Leorio Paradinight is an older-looking young man that befriends Gon, Kurapika and Killua during the Hunter Exam. After losing a friend to a curable illness he could not afford the treatment for, Leorio decides to become a Hunter, seeking the large financial gains of the profession to become a doctor and treat the impoverished for free. Though he is often outshone by the genius combat abilities of Gon and Killua, Leorio is rather talented. After becoming a licensed Hunter, Leorio assists his friends in their encounter with the Phantom Troupe from the sidelines. He resurfaces while Gon is hospitalized and enters the running to become the next Chairman of the Hunter Association, finishing in second place. Leorio is later invited to become a member of the Zodiacs as the "Boar" and joins their expedition to the Dark Continent. When the Black Whale finally sets sail, Leorio starts working at the medical facility on the third deck under Cheadle Yorkshire. Killua suspects that Leorio's Nen type is Emission after seeing him teleport a punch across a room with a wormhole. Leorio is a popular character with fans, coming in fifth and sixth place in the series' first two popularity polls.Villains
Hisoka Morow
Hisoka Morow is a mysterious magician that magic tricks with violence and delights in battling those he considers strong to the point of sexual arousal. He is deceitful, playful, and narcissistic by nature, acting only in his own self-interest. In the manga, his sentences typically end with a suit symbol. Hisoka takes an interest in Gon and his friends after encountering them during the Hunter Exam, letting them live so that they grow into more worthy opponents. Although he is initially positioned as an antagonist due to his affinity towards murder, he occasionally acts as a comrade to Gon, when it suits his own interests. Hisoka is revealed to be member number four of the Phantom Troupe, although he only joined for a chance to fight their leader, Chrollo Lucilfer. He leaves the group when Chrollo's Nen is sealed by Kurapika and sets out to find a way to break the seal. Having succeeding in this task, Hisoka dies after fighting Chrollo in Heavens Arena, but revives himself, and goes on a killing rampage against the Phantom Troupe. Hisoka is currently believed to be on board the Black Whale, where he is being hunted by the Phantom Troupe and the [|Xi-Yu] and [|Cha-R] mafia families.Hisoka's Nen type is Transmutation, allowing him to change the type or properties of his aura. He most often uses Elastic Love - Bungee Gum, which gives his aura the properties of both rubber and gum. He also uses Flimsy Lies - Texture Surprise, which allows him to reproduce the texture of his choice on any flat surface; such as making a handkerchief appear to be skin. Hisoka is a popular character with fans, coming in fourth and fifth place in the series' first two popularity polls.
Illumi Zoldyck
Illumi Zoldyck is Killua's eldest brother, an experienced and expert assassin who played a part in Killua's training and upbringing. He and his father raised Killua to thrive on killing and to be incapable of friendship, although Illumi planted a needle in Killua's brain to compel him to flee from unwinnable fights as his way of protecting him. During the 287th Hunter Exam, using special pins to change his facial structure, disguising himself as Gittarackur, Illumi became a licensed Hunter and possibly manipulated Killua into disqualifying himself. After learning of and removing Illumi's needle from his brain, Killua later acts against his brother when he attempts to kill their sibling Alluka for the good of their family. Illumi also has a complex friendship with Hisoka, being hired by him to join the Phantom Troupe as their number 11 and kill him. Illumi is a Manipulation-type Nen user and his Nen ability allows him to use his needles to manipulate corpses or alter his body form. His other Nen ability is called Needle People giving him the ability to manipulate people with his needles.Illumi came in sixth and eighth place in the series' first two popularity polls.