In many ways, Gon Freecss is your typical anime protagonist. Selfless, kind, and relentless in his pursuit of saving others, Gon is universally loved and admired. Although cliche, his never-say-die attitude is a factor that makes Gon so appealing. He never knows when to quit, pushing himself physically and mentally to overcome the odds. And fans of the show love that.
But unlike some protagonists who always overcome their opponent without consequence (you know who you are), Gon often pays for pushing himself. Throughout the anime, the lovable hunter has broken bones, doubted his abilities, and stared death in the face. Hunter X Hunter sends a message that sometimes the good guy doesn't always win.
10 The Dodgeball Match
An iconic segment of the brilliant Greed Island arc, the nen-fuelled dodgeball match saw Gon, Hisoka, Bisky, and Killua face off against nen-master Razor. Throughout the match, Gon and Killua push themselves to new heights, mastering nen control and power output to finally defeat Razor (with a small dose of Hisoka's help). However, after consistently releasing massive amounts of aura, Gon passes out, a result of pushing too hard. Furthermore, Gon's refusal to give up resulted in severe injuries to Killua's hands.
9 Gon Meets Mike, The Zoldyck's Guard Dog
When fans think of Gon's relentlessness, it's usually associated with combat and training. However, sometimes Gon's curiosity gets the better of him and the young hunter pushes until he gets his way. During the Zoldyck Family arc, Gon and his friends attempt to visit Killua. There are two ways into the Zoldyck residence, lifting the extremely heavy gates, or taking the side entrance.
The group is warned that the side entrance is guarded by a dangerous beast, but Gon insists it's fine as he is loved by all animals. Gon comes face to face with Mike, a beast that is trained to protect the Zoldycks and is a danger to anyone else. Terrified, Gon regrets being too pushy, understanding that Mike is not your normal animal.
8 Gon vs Genthru (The Bomber)
This battle with epic. A memorable moment on Greed Island, Gon takes on Genthru, a bomb-making nen user responsible for the deaths of several hunters. Although talented, Gon is not quite at Genthru's level, remaining on the back foot for much of the fight. Rejecting a plan formulated by Killua, Gon wants to teach Genthru a lesson for his actions. And the hunter succeeds in doing this, defeating Genthru but losing an arm in the process. If it wasn't for a rare healing card offered to Gon, the hunter would be permanently without an arm.
7 Gon vs Gido
After making it to the top floor of Heavens Arena, Gon quickly learns the basics of nen in order to pass the test posed by Hisoka. However, with a very limited understanding of how to utilize nen, Gon is seen as an easy victory for many of the top floor competitors. Gido challenges Gon immediately, and although informed of the dangers, Gon accepts. The young prodigy is outclassed throughout the fight, evading some attacks but unable to consistently defend his opponent's nen-infused spinners. By the end of the fight, Gon is defeated and suffers a broken arm in the process.
6 Gon Takes On Hanzo
This fight perfectly encapsulated Gon's character. The final stage of the Hunters exam required each individual to defeat their opponent. Gon fights first and his opponent is Hanzo, a shinobi trained since birth in the way of the ninja. It's clear from the first few seconds that Gon is outmatched. Hanzo breaks his arm, ribs and warns Gon that if he doesn't surrender then he will suffer further. Although Hanzo knows of a thousand ways to make an opponent quit, Gon's stubborn attitude and natural likability appeals to Hanzo, who decides to concede defeat. Gon passes the exam (as does Hanzo eventually) but is treated for several broken bones.
5 Gon vs Hisoka
Hisoka is one of the strongest characters in the Hunter X Hunter universe, possessing mastery of his nen to go along with a lust for blood. Since meeting Hisoka, Gon has desired to fight him but remained aware of the power gap between them. During his nen training, Gon gains confidence in his abilities and decides to challenge the sadistic clown. As expected, Gon is outclassed but does manage to land a strike before losing the fight. There were no serious injuries resulting from the clash, but Gon was all too aware that Hisoka could have killed him if he desired.
4 Gon Faces The Phantom Troupe
The Phantom Troupe are a criminal organization made up of sociopathic and immensely powerful nen-users. Despite knowing this, Gon ends up clashing with the Troupe several times during the Yorknew City Arc. Gon, along with Killua, is captured not once but twice and comes dangerously close to revealing the identity of Kurapika. Throughout the arc, the pair escape death and play a part in a plan that ends with the death of a Troupe member. Gon and Killua leave Yorknew with their lives still intact, but their association with the Troupe could come back to haunt them.
3 Gon vs Neferpitou
Neferpitou was a monster unlike any other Gon had ever faced. She possessed an inhuman amount of nen, second only to the Chimera Ant King. Her presence alone caused Knov, an experienced hunter, to suffer a nervous breakdown. The Chimera Ant comfortably defeated Kite, and her power was assessed to be greater than Netero's.
When Gon came face to face with the Ant, his strength couldn't compare. But fuelled by anger and revenge, Gon sacrificed years of his life in exchange for the power to defeat Neferpitou. He avenged Kite's death but nearly lost his own life in the process.
2 Gon vs Knuckle
In order to join the Chimera Ant extermination team, Gon was asked to defeat a current team member and an expert hunter. Knuckle was skilled with nen and his abilities exceeded Gons. Of course, this didn't stop Gon from accepting the challenge. It never does. Gon fights hard and troubles Knuckle. But Knuckle uses his A.P.R. ability, draining Gon of his nen and emerging victorious. As a result of Gon pushing too hard, the young prodigy is left without nen for 30 days, relying on Killua for protection.
1 Gon vs Netero
Netero's strength was a mystery for the majority of the anime. Fans knew he was the Chairman of the Hunter's association, implying that he possessed some power. But his age and his seemingly clueless attitude had viewers questioning his capabilities. However, after challenging Gon and Killua, viewers understood that Netero was no joke.
Neither of the nen-using prodigies could touch Netero. Killua realizes this early on and quits, opting to reserve his energy instead. But Gon refuses, spending the entire night trying to defeat Netero. He successfully lands a blow on the chairman but leaves himself exhausted for the remainder of the Hunters exam.