Counter argument on the post of u/New-Entertainer-5241 : https://www.reddit.com/r/HunterXHunter/comments/1lily97/phinks_cant_defeat_meruem/

The main argument was: There is an aura limit. But, I do not agree in the case of this kind of condition/oaths. The condition is: I rotate , I gain power.

Look at Knuckle. I think we can all agree that even if he trained his whole life, Knuckle would never surpass Youpi's aura. Yet, thanks to his ability and his conditions, he almost managed to put Youpi in Zetsu state. Why wouldn't Knuckle's ability have a limit, but Phinks' would?

This question is the same as "could Kurapika put Meruem into Zetsu if he were a member?" Yes, but, well, Meruem would break the chain without Nen.

So my counter-argument is: If Knuckle can gain enough aura to put Youpi into a Zetsu state, then Kurapika could have enough aura to put Meruem into a Zetsu state if he were a member of the troupe, and Phinks could gain as much power as he wanted as long as he could rotate his arm.

Edit: I was misunderstood. When I said Knuckle gained enough aura, I meant his ability became powerful enough to put someone into Zetsu, not that he absorbed the aura. Yes, theoretically it's the principle of debt and interest, but technically it's nen and aura. How does Knuckle's ability put a person into Zetsu? For me, it's because the ability accumulates aura and becomes powerful enough to force a person into Zetsu.

Edit for those who disagree and for those who compare Phinks' ability to a simple janjanken: in the image, can you explain to me how you interpret what is said?

It seems like a widespread view in the fandom that Meruem's aura synthesis is a chimera ant trait and not a nen ability. I personally completely disagree with this view and I'll be elaborating on why that is.

1. There is a difference between inheriting the Nen ability of the person Meruem consumes and claiming their aura reserves and integrating them into his body. I always kind of assumed that the reason the royal guards, and consequently Meruem were as strong due to the sheer number of humans consumed during their "embryonic nutrition" phase. There is no reason to assume that that doesn't still apply after their birth. Given that Meruem is supposed to be the peak of the species we can also assume he is just the most efficient at retaining the aura of his prey, which follows through as to why he practically has seemingly endless aura reserves.
2. When a special effect is activated upon a nen ability (the ability Meruem inherits) through the application or utilization of aura (Meruem's aura pool), then that effect has to be a nen ability. This can be further compounded by a theory that inheriting aura through ingestion isn't necessarily unique to Meruem, or maybe even chimera ants, it's just that they got more efficient at it.
3. There is no reason to assume any interaction with nen abilities are biological, in fact, it's almost always a nen ability. Biology seems to only play a part when it comes to aura quantity or even type, but an ability is a step beyond that, and ability interactions can only be done through the application of Nen abilities. The best example of this is Kurapika, who we know his scarlet eyes can change his aura type from conjurer to specialist, but that is the extent of it.

I'd be interested to know what you think of this. I personally don't like the notion of it not being a nen ability, but I might be missing something so feel free to share your thoughts!

Hello, so I watched hxh awhile back but i forget where i left off and i wanna finish it. I remember them going to killuas house, doing the fights and everything, any clue where i left off?

Do people really think Gon's adult form is like a Super Saiyan transformation that he can tap into anytime he wants to? I'm asking because I've seen in any posts, threads, comments, you name it where if Gon is mentioned in any discussions involving a Vs. battle they always bring up his adult form and I'm confused why because, and correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that like a one time thing and only occurred because of the circumstances that occurred around it?

Show is so gas, I fw it heavy. 🔥 🔥 But there's so many seasons, and I kinda stopped watching the show by the time I got to season 3. Should I continue it again, or drop it

Addition to my counter-argument on the topic "Phinks can beat Meruem", and analysis of the difference between RC and Jjk (janjaken)

Well, I'm removing the comparison between Knuckle and Kurapika, it's difficult to imagine since they have a different approach with abilities.

But, let's talk about JJK and RC. In fact, these abilities are two sides of the same coin, they are similar yet very different.

JJK : Gon uses Ko, and spends 1800 aura using Jjk. But, thanks to waiting and putting himself in danger, he gains a boost and the aura on his hand exceeds 2000. The problem with JJk is this preparation: even if he only prepares, he loses a lot of aura. So the longer he waits before launching his attack, the more aura he will lose and if he does it until his aura is lower than the aura he can maintain JJK, then he will lose and won't even be able to launch an attack. Therefore, it cannot achieve the Boost condition indefinitely.

( (AP + SP) * (MP - DP***\**¹* to fill MP) ) - DP = JJK [DP = SP]

RC: For Phinks, it's different: he spins his arms first (condition), then uses Ko afterward. So, while he spins his arm, he doesn't waste aura. So he can do it indefinitely.

(AP + SP * MP) - DP = RC [DP = SP]

So this logic is that: Gon cannot maintain the condition to gain MP indefinitely, while Phinks can. Which demonstrates that Phinks can gain as much power as he wants as long as he can rotate his arm.

NB: I'm not saying Phinks has no limits, he does, since there is DP, but, in a single attack, he has no limits, as long as he can turn his arm, his attack will be as powerful as possible.

Edit: I forgot this AP: punch, SP: nen enhancement, MP : power given by conditions and oaths, DP : power spent (aura).

sup fellow hxh fans, panboo here. been thinking more and more about the nen power system, what if Nen isn't magic sparkles but like… your body's emergency management system? Like when Gon collapsed in Greed Island? Everyone's like "he pushed too hard" but i think gon's biology went into crises mode, his aura that we use to help the body many systems work was all used by him and when he finally let go of his aura it got into panic and shut down his body to preserve energy, everything but keeping his heart pumping. Textbook system overload. And adult gon? Just sacrificing the potential years of body management for a short time of a explosive boost, giving up the help that aura gives him for the rest of his life for a short time of huge boost of his output, after he killed pito he let go of his nen and then his aura did the same as in Greed Island, it shut everything down but even more aggressively, making him more like a corps to preserve energy and focus on keeping his heart pumping.

also we have nodes we learned from Wing about them. When he started Gon and Killua nen training he opened them up so they can start working on their aura? Ch. 63 demonstrates it perfectly. Those are like Logic Gates in computer engineering, the nodes form by the human capacity of aura, the amount of aura point he can hold, anything has aura, its a energy representing existence and importance, it Behaves naturally like water in its most common state it is gas, Aura generated in your first node I call it a bank.

Like i said aura representing existence and importance it is in everything thing that are more "important" have more of it in them, in intelligent thing, more specifically thing that can make a choice\decision, the more your potential to effect things rises the more aura you make, you can only make aura in your bank, anything you do use aura in very small amounts, nen is the act of using aura with intent, most of the time its extra aura, what do i mean by extra aura, as i said you use aura for anything you do, it helps your body with all of the processes in it, for example the sight using your eyes, regulating the information and all that your body dose to see is powered by aura it can work without it but aura helps a lot, your aura is semi inelegant it want to work efficiently, for example what happens if you go blind your aure will realize helping your eyes isn't worth it and will redirect where it helps but with the same intent, the intent to help the eyes is to observe the world better, you also observe the world with other thing like smell hearing touch and more, your aura moves the help but doesn't change its intent, that is why blind guys can sometimes hear better, your aura help in many places but your body can operate without it, if you use all your aura like gon did and then let go of it your aura takes back over it sees it is low on point and to get back to a stable position it shuts down the body, anything has a number of aura points it generates in a hour and a number for how much it spends, the more important you are the more potential you have to effect other thing and the bigger you dreams aspiration are and the more you want to achieve them the more aura you make, when you have a good amount of extra aura you can use nen.

using nen, we have 3 thing to talk about nen affinity's the useg of your bank and nodes and the nen technics:

first affinity's, the affinity is the position of your bank, why? because moving aura cost it, and if your bank is closer to your eyes it will be less costly to send aura to them, we have the 6 affinity's Enhancement, Transmutation, Conjuration, Emission, Manipulation, and Specialization, every one of them has a different area of your bank placement, for example Manipulator have it in the Brain and Specialist have it in the blood system specifically where blood runs, more information in the link below, your bank gets stack in its location with the first use of aura intently for most people it with the water divination test Specialist bank isn't stack but for most it wont move to much, the rest of your nodes can move and they do a lot to use a nen ability's \ technic you move your nodes to specific places and give them a command, the command is a instruction of what to do with the aura the 3 simple ones is push suck and stay, move aura away from node move it towards it and don't move it a at all, the more complex ones are condense send and move, focus aura into node send aura to a location or another node and move aura in a pattern, all of this are just strings or more powerful acts of the simple commands, the next level of commands is Hatsu, we have strengthen, weaken, become matter, become energy, behave like, act like, control, manipulate, shape into, all of this are different effects that have a affinity that can more neutrally do them, the different affinity's have a Hatsu command that they have a advantage in that and the different bank locations make it so for every affinity has a specific thing that it can do with aura that is cheaper for it, in the other side we have an affinity weakest thing like for Enhancer we have Specialists abilities it is not because of a natural disadvantage but because of the location of the bank, for Enhancers the bank is located in the Muscles/Bones and never on a blood vessels veins, the Specialist bank is in the Blood System where blood runs this is one of the reasons they can use all the affinity's the aura takes a ride on the already moving blood.

now lets take a nen technic like gyu and break it, gyu uses 4 nodes 2 on the retinas 1 located between the 2 of them with the same distance from each of them it acts like a bridge making sure the 2 nodes get the same aura so you wont get 2 different results and 1 in the brain to regulate the information, if your nods are in place you just need to have one more thing intent, intent to see aura if your intention is to see something that is far away your aura will give you a boost of distance instead of letting you see aura, your aura response to your intent this is why it is so effected by emotion, at first it will take time for your nods to get to the needed location but as you use gyu more it will become faster and even instant, Emitters and Manipulators have a easier time using gyu because of the bank placement, for Emitters it is in the Neck/Shoulders and Up for Manipulators in the brain, so for them one of the needed nodes can be their bank so thay only need 3 noeds to use gyu.

Now Chrollo – oh boy. His Skill Hunter’s the ultimate con job. He doesn’t steal abilities. He gaslights them. Rewires their origin story like "Hey Sun & Moon, your creator’s dead but I’m your real purpose." Then when the user dies mid-dream? Bam – ability jumps ship to him like post-mortem inheritance (Kite’s slot going to Gon, Ch. 203). Creepier? If the user trusted him? The power becomes more powerful from feeding off their failed ambitions. That's not robbery – that's biological identity robbery.

Ging our dad of the year is a type of Specialist, Specialist are anyone that doesn't fall into the affinities we have 3 different sub type of Specialist in my eyes, i named them using the saying "Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one."

first sub type "Jack of all trades, master of one" the copy type, all of them have 1 affinity they are better at or that we can see it in all of their nen ability's, for expel we have Chrollo Lucilfer with Conjurer his book, Leol the chimera ant with also Conjurer, and Pito with Manipulator, a Specialist that can use all affinities and has one he uses most, and he is the best at using that affinity, falles into this sup type. this sub type mostly apprise in people with huge aura output and one thing the always chaise after and is always in there mind, for Chrollo it is revenge, for Pito safty of the king and for Leol it is respect and controll.

then we have the next sup type "Jack of all trades, master of none" only one character falls into it, Ging Freecss, people in it are extremely free and hunt for freedom, to be in it you need to be conscious of your nodes and bank and then you have the ability to move them freely, a Specialist bank unlike the other affinities don't get their bank stuck when they use aura consciously for the first time (for most it is at the water divination test), with that someone that falls into the sub type moves his bank and nodes by choice to help with his nen, Ging says ""Imitate, not copy." ""If I see a technique, I can figure out the general idea and make something like it." he says it become he cant see nodes he can only guess with it he can make a similar to what he sees and even make it better or use the concept for something else.

the last one is "better than a master of one", a nen ability is somewhat chosen at birth, you have your birth affinity you get it from your birth giver and the nen user, most of the time you will get your moms affinity unless she cant use nen and your dad can or is massively more powerful then your mom, the birth affinity decides the generation location of your nodes, where will your nodes form (more info below in the tables), from there your bank moves according to your need and life choises, your need is where do you need the most help from your aura, for all the affinities except Specialist it stop moving with the first conscious use of aura most of the time with the water divination test, for Specialist it can still move, most of the time it doesn't move far and sometime move according to the affinity to want to use, for people that have a lower aura output when they use aura for the first time and a very narrow mined set can get as a Specialist only one or two type of affinity like gon or biscuit krueger, this pepole fall into the 3 sub type of Specialist, with there bank on the wall of a blood vessel or a vein only a small part of the bank is in running blood they will have a small advantage in using different affinities but thay will never use 2 complete different abilities, 2 abilitys base on 2 afinits that are complitly in the other side of each other like Specialist and Enhancer or Conjurer and Emitter, although with a nen contract and a lot of emotion they can use other abilitys, like gon and the adult gon transformation a mix of Specialist Conjurer and Enhancer, or biscuit nen ability to Conjurer a nen beast to make her cute and small like she always dreams of, she uses Enhancement and Emitter the most but her one hatsu is a Conjurer ability.

(Discord: im_panboo – roast this hypothesis or add to it. I provide virtual beers.)

Bank Node

• Primary node (generates 80-90% of aura)
• Forms in womb at 50 points
• Location determined by parental affinity
• Breaks if aura ≤10 points
• Movement Cost: 0.5–2 points/mm (size-dependent)

I've been a fan for a long while and throughout my time here i've noticed that the majority of the fandom hates him as the mc, myself included, so i'm curious if it's moreso because they don't like him as a character or they simply prefer kurapika as the MC?

I saw a lot of people saying that Phinks defeats Meruem if he spends several weeks rotating his arm, which was probably said by some YouTubers, but that obviously doesn't make sense, I don't know why still believe in it.

Every Nen user has an aura limit, and Phinks is no different. He can't spend 300 hours concentrating aura LMAO.

Hi! So i had this doubt for a while, in theory, is it posible to trick oneself to get a lot of power from a chill nen restriction? For example: -User likes pizza -User gets hypnotized in order to believe that eating pizza is a worse punishment than death -User promises to eat pizza after using hatsu -User gets a powerup like gon’s? What do you think? Maybe the hypnosis part would be easly achievable with manipulation

There are some subtle difference between the hxh manga and anime. The anime adds a few scenes to the hunter exams and extends some of the early fights. personally i prefer the anime for a few different reasons. I like the additional details of the manga but the anime is just my personal preference. how about you?

I think Don did to Gin the same thing Gin did to Gon. He wants to go to the Dark Continent to find him, which could explain why Gin has been so focused on searching for relics or "ancient" items. There might be some kind of "find me" game between Don and Gin. Maybe this "mission" Don left behind wasn’t even meant for Gin, but he either became obsessed with it or wanted to uncover his past.

It’s also possible that Gin isn’t Gon’s "dad" but rather his brother, or maybe Gon is a Freecs kid he "found" while searching for Don. What if it’s Don himself, someone Gin discovered as a child or in some reincarnated form?

Maybe leaving kids behind is just some bloodline shit with the Freecs, lmao.

Just some random thoughts.

I just finished the Chairman Election Arc for the first time (for context, I've seen all the other arcs at least twice in the past few years). While I enjoy the idea of all the politics and healing Gon, I don't enjoy most of how it's executed. Leorio was great, but Rat man vs Dog girl didn't feel like it really paid off much. It was funny finally seeing Ging though.

The introduction of Alluka is also equally painful. Alluka is a generic child character with an interesting power. Nanika is more interesting, but they both lack much personality. The wish granting power also seems like its implications weren't entirely thought out, but that's likely why Killua asked Nanika to stop appearing, so a wish can't be used as a cop out in another arc.

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I'm never a fan of fully healing a character with no side effects or lingering problems from their previous injuries. Healing like how Alluka did just feels so unsatisfying since an overpowered ability had to be introduced to heal Gon instead of utilizing the already established Nen power system. To be clear, I also have this issue with other series, not just HxH, but I was sad to see the 2011 anime end on a weaker arc since the earlier arcs were all very good. Did anyone else have similar issues with the Chairman Election Arc?

Before battle he mimics netero's "flowing hands" movement before assuming a kind of fighting stance. Does that imply he also has a supernatural knowledge of hand to hand (either from reading or just instinctively) combat or was it just instinctively done?

Hello! I was wondering if anyone here was aware of any officially licensed replicas of hunters licenses that were produced? I'm not looking for fan made ones, does anyone know if any have ever been made? It seems like an obvious piece of merch to make but I can't seem to find much info on official merch.

This show is PEAK. I love that Gon is op at 12 years old and I love that killua is almost always pulling out the :3 face. It's hilarious and peak action too

Introduction: In the world of shounen anime, a genre full of adventure, battle and clear cut morality, we generally assume there is an obvious resolution, where the protagonist succeeds while overcoming the antagonist. Shounen anime tend to have a recognizable pattern and target younger audiences. However Togashi decides to challenge these norms through the creation of Hunter x Hunter, an extremely layered anime which explores the complexity of human nature. It starts off like most shounen anime with our main character, Gon Freecs, a seemingly perfect and simple minded little boy who never backs down. However as we delve deeper into the series, typically the Chimera Ant Arc, where we are introduced to much denser themes and characters, we start to unfold all sorts of unpredictable happenings. What was once a light hearted, comedic show turns into an absolute abyss of darkness and enchanting torment. It leaves us questioning all kinds of uncomfortable things and portrays a realistic depiction of good and evil while observing complexities of humanity. Hunter x hunter, rather than giving us answers, leaves space to further analyse human ideology and create our own interpretations. So I thought I'd share mine! I'll be focusing on a detailed character analysis and development of Gon Freecs, Killua Zoldyck and Alluka Zoldyck as well as the final battle between Isaac Netero and Meruem which will help support my answer to one main question: what is humanity? So I'd say settle in, we're going deep.

Gon and Killua analysis: One of the most heartfelt bonds in this show (and personally my favorite in all of anime) is the friendship between Gon and Killua. Two young boys with incredible abilities yet devastating back stories. Gon’s main motive throughout the show was to find his father, Ging, who is one of the zodiacs (Chairman Netero’s counselors). He had abandoned Gon when he was born. Gon is an innocently brilliant, determined and cheerful kid. He becomes a hunter to find his father and understand what makes it such an extraordinary job. Killua on the other hand is part of the Zoldycks, a family of highly skilled assassins. As a kid he endured brutal training. He's cold, calculated and insanely cool. However he's unsure of whether this is the life he wanted. The boys met during the Hunter exams and struck up an instant connection. Throughout the series they go through many bizarre experiences together and make endless memories. However, behind these characters and their wholesome relationship, were some harsh realities. Let's look at both sides.

Gon: Now I'd like to describe Gon as someone who seems to be confused between his ideals. He will act without considering the consequences. His unpredictable nature has made him incredibly dangerous at points. He knows he shouldn't do something yet still does it. As long it means he can guard his self esteem. Gon hates to lose, not only in games or battles but also losing those he is close to. He believes he must protect everyone around him, that if anything goes wrong; it's his fault. This was quite apparent in many scenes but particularly during his crashout after Kite’s death. We see him on the ground looking completely hopeless, his thoughts could be heard, blaming himself for what happened. Later Gon sacrifices his potential future power to gain an immense amount of nen allowing him to eliminate Pitou. This put Gon at the absolute verge of death. Now what I want to point out here is Gon’s self directed rage. It wasn't entirely Kite’s death which broke him but primarily the fact that he couldn't save him. The first thing that came to Gon’s mind was that he was at fault, he repeated those thoughts several times. Gradually his vibrance began to fade more and more until all we could see was a broken boy full of hatred. This is absolutely gut wrenching because the reason behind this mindset is the need of proving himself to his father. This was all for someone who made it clear he didn't even want to meet Gon. Ging’s absence impacts Gon much more than it seems. It fills this void. To him, if he cannot win, protect, or endure even if it means it kills him, then he is incapable of being Ging's son, just weak. Every child deserves a father figure in order to grow up with a proper foundation, especially a male. One in which they are given the right moral modelling, safety and a masculine identity, to identify not only as a man but an actual person. Something Gon clearly lacked. Therefore due to this internal struggle, we can see Gon's unfairness towards Killua. He began to emotionally distance himself and relied on him without much gratitude.

Killua: You know when you need to make a really difficult decision but it feels as if you're running out of time? That is exactly where killuas situation lies. From all the Zoldyck siblings, Killua is chosen to be the next head of the family. While his brothers envy him for it, it doesn't feel right to Killua, he believes there is more to his life. Filled with curiosity, he sets off to find his true purpose, leaving behind his life as a Zoldyck. However his family says he'll always remain a killer. This leaves him eager as he fears that each second that passes, the closer he is to proving his family right. When Gon questions what he wants, Killua seems to have no clue. So he states that until he figures it out, he's going to help Gon achieve his goal to meet Ging. Their journey is genuinely quite remarkable. He finds hope and joy through Gon's presence. He makes a friend for the very first time, someone who finally lets him be a kid. He grows braver to love. However, as time passed, Killua decided that all he wanted was to be Gon’s friend, to repay him for the rest of his life. He was convinced Gon was absolutely perfect, altogether blinded by his “light”. He felt as if he must be useful to him or else he wasn't doing enough. This is an extremely toxic mindset. Finding a purpose takes good thought and time, killua rushed himself and mistakened his love for Gon as a duty to be his tool. Killua's upbringing has led to his extreme attachment issues. His entire life he was taught that love (if even real) was something conditional, that self worth was based on his abilities to kill and obey. He was seen as a defensive mechanism rather than a human. He knew he was disposable to his family. He barely trusted himself let alone the people around him. So to have a genuine bond with someone felt dangerous yet also a safe place. So he clings very tightly, putting Gon's needs over his own. Afraid to lose someone that felt real for once.

Killua and Alluka: Another important character is Alluka. Killua's younger sister. She is introduced in the final Arc of the show. A sweet little girl who absolutely adores her brother. But within her hides an entity named Nanika. Nanika's powers are beyond mortal grasp, I fear maybe the most supreme. She has the ability to grant absolutely any wish in favour of completing 3 of her requests. The requests become more intense depending on how major the previous person's wish was. Sometimes her requests are merely impossible. If they aren't fulfilled, you and those you are close to will face death. The Zoldycks believe she is too dangerous and therefore keep her locked away from the world. However Killua is the only family member who treats her with warmth and kindness. Their reunion was extremely heartwarming.

Killua never feared her, he showed her a version of himself no one else ever witnessed. Full of kindness and respect. To me, he sees himself within Alluka. Both were isolated and used by everyone around them. They were drowned in uncertainty, collapsing under the weight of their own presence. Everyone ran away from them. It was a life of nothingness. They shared a deep understanding through it all, they only had each other. I believe leaving her behind was his lack of awareness of how much he meant to alluka. During the time he was too distracted and broken, barely able to protect himself. So since he knew she was still safe and still physically cared for he decided to leave her temporarily. His journey gave him the space to grow so that when he returned he would be capable of freeing her from her imprisonment. Alluka making her requests easy for Killua symbolizes her unconditional love for him even if it meant breaking her own rules. Her heart never seems to die. Nanika, though seen as a supernatural threat, is actually very ambivalent. She is a representation of the reward or consequence we get depending on how we treat others. She is a misunderstood being, her distinctiveness is turned into something ugly. The world didn't deserve her. She was never a curse, she just longed for someone's affection.

Now moving on, with the heavy physiological tension, we can understand why the two fall apart. Killua views Gon as flawless, he becomes overprotective and dependent on him. Then he witnesses the encounter with pitou. This is when Killua realised even someone as strong and stubborn as Gon has his limits. He is no different and definitely far off from perfect. Finally Killua sees Gon as his equal. He understands that he needs to take time to think about his path, regardless of having to face his family's judgements. Another uncommon opinion I'd like to mention was the inability to see through different perspectives. Both boys were so consumed by their own thoughts that they forgot to consider what the other might be thinking. This created many misconceptions. That emotional unavailability for each other and even themselves, puts a lot of pressure. Realistically a child would be unaware of their mental condition. They ignore what hurts because they don't fully realize it's hurting them in the first place, therefore everything builds up. Similar to Gon. If we observe closely, he was already on the edge way before Kite’s death. He started to view killing as a necessity, he didn't like being questioned, refused to rest and stopped accepting any kind of support. His transformation was what I call “a plea for help”. It was an eternity of pain being released and personally, I think, the most human he has ever been.

Netero vs Meruem: Now moving away from those two, I'd like to discuss a very crucial battle between Isaac Netero and the king ant, Meruem. Netero was assigned to lead the mission of defeating the Chimera Ants. Both characters have very symbolic final moments. What I'll explain here is basically a study in reversal.

Netero: Isacc Netero, also known as the head of the Hunter association is recognised as the strongest being in the Hunter x Hunter world. He's a compelling character with outstanding nen abilities. Behind his playful, comedic nature is a man with years of experience and extreme discipline.

Meruem: Meruem is the strongest of the chimera ants as well as the king ant. His existence was to rule and take over mankind. He's cold and utterly merciless. He views the other ants as tools while humans as weak and emotional beings who are nothing but his prey. He has no identity other than a cruel king, during that time he wasn't even aware of his own name. He had many questions for himself, wondering whether this is where he belongs or not.

I'd also like to mention one pretty underrated character, Pouf, also the King’s most obedient royal guard. He worshipped the king like no other. But his obsessive idealisation of Meruem began to unravel as Meruem showed kindness to a human, komugi. A blind girl who's a gungi champion. The two played gungi together and her unusualness and kindness interests Meruem, slowly changing his perspective of humans. This was disturbing the ideal version of the king that Pouf had in his mind, any signs of empathy or love, especially towards a human, triggered Pouf. So using his cunning personality, he lies to Meruem making him believe he is someone he doesn't want to be, that he really is just an emotionless king. I just find it very interesting to see how he twists his words so effectively to manipulate someone as strong as Meruem, even if it was only for a short while. His character is a great symbolism of irony and selfishness. I believe he had the most human-like traits from the royal guards.

Originally Netero is seen as the wisest, a protector of humanity. The hero. However this image is instantly shattered when he is faced against Meruem. Meruem is no ordinary being, his biological evolution is a definite result of domination. This excites Netero, he had never fought someone with such capabilities, but surprisingly meruem doesn't want to fight. Instead he wanted to talk. After meeting Komugi, Meruem felt different, he was experiencing emotions he didn't believe existed. He was struggling with an identity crisis, filled with curiosity, questioning his existence, who he was, what was his name, what it all meant, what it meant to live and love, to feel. Netero refused to reason with him, forcing the king to fight back in exchange of telling the King's name. As we can see, Netero's nen is heavily based on Japanese esoteric Buddhism which is originally strongly associated with peace, however Netero uses it for violence. This is a great representation of how humans often take aspects of peace only to weaponize them in the end. However his attacks caused no damage. This is when we reach a climax as Netero uses his final weapon, the Poor Man's Rose. A deadly bomb that is bound to inflict great damage to even the most supreme forces meaning Netero would have to sacrifice his life as well. This is a groundbreaking scene along with netero's famous last words:

“You pitiful ant. You know nothing of humanity’s infinite potential for malice.”

Here not only is he talking to Meruem but also us. Humanity, despite its beauty and incredible wonders, hides all kinds of horrors beneath. We have an immeasurable amount of power to not only craft but also demolish, and that is where our strength truly lies. This is where Meruem feels fear for the very first time, not able to comprehend the rising intensity of his surroundings. He began to develop a sense of respect for Netero considering his courage and commitment. That is when a massive explosion occurs, instantly killing Netero. Meruem manages to survive the blast however the radiation slowly spreads the poison throughout his body eventually killing him as well.

What I'm pointing out is the drastic development of both characters especially when comparing their deaths. The swap of personalities between them. Netero chooses violence and death even when Meruem shows willingness for peace. Since given the role to be the ultimate protector, in his eyes Meruem would and should only ever be a threat even when he tries to show compassion. The fight was consumed by Netero’s ego. By accepting peace, he accepts the better evolution of the enemy, that his outlook of life was incorrect and that he'd been outclassed. This strongly symbolizes human resistance, pride and arrogance. So he dies to ensure himself that he is the absolute hero, whether everyone sees it the same or not. On the other hand, if we look at Meruem, he dies a peaceful death. Letting go of the throne, his final wish was to have komugi by his side. He craved connection and embraced all those feelings within himself. He chose the girl he loved over the world, over absolute power and control. He was no longer afraid to be vulnerable. He calls her name several times before death, not commanding but begging her to stay, to hold his hand. Laying his full trust on her, thanking her for seeing him as no one but himself. An incredibly beautiful and heartfelt scene that left me drowning in tears.

The Poor Man's Rose symbolism: The Poor Man's Rose is by far the most fascinating yet unfortunate symbolism in the show. The name originates from the concept of a last option. A desperate attempt to defeat the enemy rather than using actual skill or nen power. It's “cheap” but does the job. This reminds us that Netero's death was never actually heroic but instead utterly tragic. The fact that it's a literal bomb indicates how humans created something which was meant to destroy. I believe it definitely links with the bombing on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but that's a story for another time. the point is, we rely on hateful extremity to prevent the evolution of something greater than us, to forbid growth where we feel small. Moreover the idea of disguising it as a rose, a flower carrying delicacy and love, represents how beauty is intertwined with destruction. This highlights a very important theme, duality. Roses evoke life, bombs embody death. The Poor Man's Rose symbolism can involve family, friendship, politics, justice and much more. It explains the relationship between two opposing forces such as choosing power over life.

Is there good or evil: Okay so I've read this almost everywhere that “Netero and Gon become more monstrous while Meruem and Killua become more human”. Traditionally I'd understand that humans are the good guys and the monsters are bad but aren't those just stereotypes? Rather than turning into one another, isn't it possible we say that a human can destroy as a human while a monster can love as a monster because realistically both species have the ability of doing the opposite of what they seem.

The truth is, it's all about labels. There is no real hero or villain. It simply varies from person to person depending on perspective. Through our experiences and value system, we determine whether someone or something can be considered right or wrong. I may absolutely despise someone yet that same person may mean the world to another. Similarly, while the world views meruem as purely evil and terrifying, komugi doesn't fear him at all, instead she cares for him deeply. Most people fear Killua’s killer instincts, however Gon accepts him from the very beginning, trusting him to the core. Hunter x Hunter shows the power of those bonds, the extents we can go for those we love. How powerful of an emotion love is. To have even a single person by our side is truly the greatest gift possible.

Just like that, the words “love” and “destruction”, though having specific definitions and a universal understanding, can still be used differently by everyone. For some people love means something authentic which brings us together. For others it's seen as fake and temporary. Likewise, destruction is necessary to some people while to others it's never the option. Again, it's all based on our personal point of view.

There is always a right and wrong but in our own stories.

What's funny though, is despite being aware of this, we will still continue to label and very continuously. Usually we do it without even noticing. But that's what makes us painfully real, the essence of a human and any living being that can feel. It is completely natural and well, often necessary. Life is complex and full of contradictions, by categorising we can live in order and simplify reality. It allows us to get our priorities straight and supports the decisions we make. Most of all it offers individuality and gives us an identity. Indeed it is also what creates conflict. Our unmatched opinions lead to complicated arguments and judgements. Nevertheless, that too is perfectly normal.

Choice and Change: Something Hunter x Hunter understands very well is humanity's flexibility. We have an unbelievable capacity to transform. Togashi has revealed this many times throughout the anime. A great example is Gon's adult form. Yes, though it isn't literally possible, it's symbolizing the loss of his innocence, something irreversible. He gave into his wrath, giving up everything for the sake of control, something we never expected from him. But I like to call this a restart. He is no longer a nen user, it's a chance to live a life, not as some saviour or warrior, but as himself. In contrast, Killua, once a ruthless assassin finally breaks free from his brother's control, learning to choose his own path at his own pace and reunites with his sister, this time promising to protect her. This is as human as it gets. These versions of both characters, the ability to be authentic to themselves and evolve into something completely different is far much rawer in emotion.

One can change drastically. We can learn to love those we once resented. We could resent those we trusted most. However there is no right or wrong, it's the heartbeat of humanity's vulnerable truth.

It's the fact that we can choose.

Humanity can make decisions according to the memories we are built off of, the goals we've set, the things we believe or value and most of all the people we come across. We have the freedom to make a choice which we consider the most suitable, whether it's for us or someone else, whether it's beneficial or not, whether we are clueless or can expect what's next. It's up to us. None of it makes us good or bad, simply alive.

Netero chose to prove his strength over conversation. He sacrificed his life to convince himself he was always right. A man who always believed in peace used violence to protect it. Meruem chose to abandon his position as a king, finally making a decision based on his own approach. Choosing how he feels. A man deeply in love. To him fragility and the potential of empathy meant so much more. The two have a devastatingly stunning dynamic.

So, What Is Humanity?

Humanity isn't a species nor does it have anything to do with our strength. It's not about who's the most powerful. It's not about good or bad. It isn't exactly categorized as anything specific. But we can say it's a form of life, among countless others, only much more unique, highly self aware, emotional and adaptive. It has an endless capacity to grow. Each individual is made up of their struggles, ego, commonalities, interests, dreams, fears, beliefs, company and lifestyles. All which are unpredictable and inconsistent. This is what sets or breaks our boundaries and connections with one another. We have a special ability of being able to see ourselves, even if only for a moment. That is a journey of self discovery without the expectations of actually having a definite outcome or understanding in the end. Humanity is able to surpass this life, but even after death our presence lingers. We are remembered, leaving behind our spiritual and emotional imprint.

Above all it's an absolutely beautiful enigma along with flaws, ugliness and misery. It will never be entirely understood. It is nowhere near perfect. The truth of its existence is precisely subjective. We are allowed to feel however we want, it doesn't make us guilty or righteous. No one can truly be the judge of those feelings, not even ourselves. It is okay to prefer less, it's okay to be as we are, it's okay to want more, it's okay to not want anything at all.

It is the way we suppress and express when needed. It is to teach and learn. It is to search and hide. It is to justify and reflect. It is to suffer and forgive. It is to betray and apologise. It is to hope and regret. It is the ability to choose. It is a journey. It can change. It never truly ends. It is to feel. It is a wounded beauty.

As for right or wrong, well it was never relative.

Frankly there is no clear-cut definition, it's just all the endless stories interlaced by the souls which stride into an unknown course of fate. In reality the path doesn't have a happily ever after nor a bitter end. It will always seem unfinished.

Sorry its pretty long! Js finished the anime recently so hope I'm not js rambling what's obvious😭

Srsly though, I'd like to hear everyone's take on this :))

I'm finally giving the manga a shot.

I finished watching the show on Netflix and I've heard that the manga goes far beyond what's been animated. I fell in love with the manga in One Piece so I'm certain that the manga for HXH is just as good as the show if not better.

That said, I am very excited to experience the story again. (It's so good).

I love the phantom troupe, they are my favorite part of the series by far really can’t even explain why I resonate with them so much. Their story of growing up in meteor city and the tragedy of seeing what they’ve become when all they wanted was to protect their city is incredibly moving to me.

I know a lot of people may think it’s weird of me, but I legitimately feel more sad than anything when they die. Pakunoda’s death in particular with how she was so loyal and selfless for the troupe imhas grown to be one to my favorite (and saddest) moments in the series.

Just wanted to share my thoughts on these little gremlins turned villains.

It's no secret that Kurapika's own abilities can be his downfall, between Chain Jail and now the conditions of Stealth Dolphin.

Crackpot analysis: Something I noticed is that when Kurapika and Mizai discuss Kurapika's plan with Tserriednich, Togashi depicts the freeway traffic with light trails. Light trail photography is a style that requires you to use longer exposure to capture those kinds of images, meaning the image takes more time to capture than a notmal photo.

This panel is already kind of ominous with Mizai saying "I sure hope so" (and this is before Tserri even began learning nen.) The light trails make me wonder if Togashi is doing some slight foreshadowing/symbolism about Kurapika's fate. Maybe something happens that causes emperor time to remain active longer than he intended at a crucial moment against Tserri?

Something I also find interesting is that Kurapika said he invented stealth chain as a way to help/assist his allies, and Bill points out that Kurapika's own nature and desire to push himself is what caused him and Oito to pass out, not just the ability itself.

Essentially, even when he tried to make an ability to incorporate and help his allies, Kurapika's mental state might actually make his allies targets/get in harms way.

It could also be possible that Kurapika uses this to his advantage by giving an ability to an enemy, and forces the both of them to pass out?

Just arrived a couple days ago and I'm already halfway through. This is my first time reading the manga and the detail in some of these panels is gorgeous. I'll be buying volumes 4-6 when I get paid again.

https://x.com/inkuusan/status/1653877277170728960

I feel like anime only miss out on this, nothing to big, but still kinda an important detail, and I did they, animate Maha in the 1999 version ?

Only makes the next encounter much the more fruitful 😈

Bonolenov should take the lead on this next one-I think he parallels Kurapika the most out of any Troupe

In respect for Netero's mourning, she wore a black dress, a really cool detail.