Hunter x Hunter is one of the most popular shonen series, and although it falls short of the "Big Three" shonen status, it is widely appreciated among anime fans as one of the most unique and well-crafted stories of all time. It has been around for over two decades, with the manga originally debuting in March 1998 and coming to a halt in 2006, where it has since been on an extended hiatus.
One of the core foundations that makes up the majority of Hunter x Hunter is its in-depth and fascinating magical power system, Nen. Without it, 80% of the storyline wouldn't exist.
10 What Is Nen?
Nen is the fundamental power system in Hunter x Hunter. It allows a person to manipulate their own life energy, also known and their aura, and use it to create Nen techniques that are unique to them as an individual. Depending on the user, their abilities can be incredibly powerful and often dangerous. That's why its existence is kept hidden from the public.
Those who embark on the journey to learn Nen often endure hellish training, but the end results are certainly worth it.
9 What Are The Four Major Principles Of Nen?
In order to use Nen, one must grasp the four major principles: Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu. With Ten, a user learns how to open their aura nodes so that aura flows around their body and not away from it. With Zetsu, a user stops the flow of aura from their body. With Ren, a user outputs a huge amount of aura with high intensity like an explosion. And finally, with Hatsu, a user learns to outwardly project their aura in order to create their own Nen abilities.
8 What Are The Advanced Techniques Of Nen?
Advanced techniques predominantly derive from the four major principles. Gyo is an advanced form of Ren where a person will focus a large portion of their aura into a specific body part. Zen is an advanced form of Zentsu, where a person will completely conceal their aura, making it virtually impossible for anyone to detect them. En applies the use of both Ren and Ten, meaning a person will use Ren to project aura from their body whilst simultaneously using Ten to give it shape. This allows a user to detect any movement within the area their aura is covering, typically by 50 meters.
Shu is an advanced form of Ten, where a person can cover objects with their aura and use them as an addition to their own body. Ko combines Ten, Zetsu, Hatsu, Ren, and Gyo, but unlike Gyo where only a large portion of the aura is used, someone using Ko will focus all of their aura into a specific body part.
Ken is a defensive technique that uses both Ren and Ten and allows a user to prolong the use of Ren to shield themselves from external attacks. Meanwhile, Ryu can be a difficult ability to master. In short, if one were to use Gyo during combat, Ryu essentially ensures a person uses the right amount of aura without any excess waste, meaning they can focus on the areas of their bodies where they input aura and have the ability to change it at any given moment.
7 How Does One Learn To Use Nen?
All aspiring hunters are required to learn how to use Nen. Although initially given a hunting license once they pass the Hunter Exam, it is later revealed that there is a second part to the exam that participants must also pass in order to officially operate as a fully-fledged hunter, and it involves learning how to master the use of Nen.
Nen is taught privately through a practitioner, but there are some who are naturally born with the ability to use Nen, such as the ant king Meruem, his Royal Guards, and the majority of the Chimera Ants.
6 How Many Types Of Nen Are There?
There are 6 Nen types in total: Conjuration, Manipulation, Emission, Transmutation, Enhancement, and Specialization. A person's Nen type is determined by using Water Divination, where they perform Ren as they place their hands around a glass of water that has a leaf floating on top.
The effect of how the water changes due to the Ren output is the deciding factor for an individual's Nen type. Impurities will appear in the water if the user is a Conjurer. The leaf will move on the surface of the water if the user is a Manipulator. The color of the water will change if a user is an Emitter. The taste of the water will change if the user is a Transmuter. The water volume changes and rises to the top of the glass if the user is an Enhancer. And an entirely different change appears if the user is a Specialist.
5 Can Someone Use More Than One Nen Type?
It is possible to use multiple Nen types, but as a general rule, it is usually easier for a person to learn one that leans closest to their innate type. So among the six categories, the closer a class sits to someone's natural type, the more likely they are to be compatible enough to learn it.
For example, if someone is born an Enhancer, then the adjacent Transmuter and Emitter classes will also be easy for them to learn. However, the Specialist class that is furthest away would be difficult to learn, so users need to understand their own auras and inclinations.
Many characters in the series can use multiple Nen types - Hisoka, Ging, and Pitou are all able to use multiple classes. Kurapika, whose innate Nen class is Conjurer, is able to change into a Specialist and unlock the use of all Nen categories when activating his Scarlett Eyes.
4 What Is Gon's Nen Type?
Gon Freecss can use multiple Nen types, but he was born an Enhancer, so he is naturally gifted in both strength and restorative abilities.
Although Wing was the first to teach Gon how to use Nen and its principles, Biscuit Krueger, a Double-Star Stone Hunter, trained him well enough that he learned to use both the Emission and Transmutation classes. As a result, he honed his skills to a high enough level and created his original Nen ability, Jajanken.
3 What Is Killua's Nen Type?
Killua Zoldyck is a Transmuter, meaning he can change the properties and shape of his aura. Just like Gon, Killua learned two more Nen types, Enhancement and Conjurer, thanks to Biscuit's training. Killua is a natural-born genius and has mastered all four major principles and five advanced techniques. Both Gon and Killua are said to have astounding talent throughout the series.
Killua's Nen techniques derive from his ability to withstand a high voltage of electricity due to constantly being exposed to large electrical currents growing up as a form of training to handle torture. His most notable technique is Godspeed.
2 Who Is The Strongest Nen User?
Meruem, aka the ant king, was the strongest known character of the series. He was only alive for 40 days but obtained enough strength to essentially conquer the entire world.
Initially, Meruem was able to gain various abilities through the consumption of Nen users, and as the Chimera Ants Arc unfolded, Meruem obtained several abilities. Metamorphosis allowed him to grow various body parts such as wings to fly, Rage Blast was the ability to fire explosive blasts, and Photon made him able to turn his aura into tiny particles which entered the sky and could detect an unfathomable amount of information. He gained these additional techniques by absorbing large parts of two Royal Guards, Shaiapouf and Menthuthuyoupi.
1 Do Nen Abilities Have Limitations?
There are instances where imposing limitations on Nen abilities can increase the overall power of the skill. Kurapika's Chain Jail is a good example of this. This Counjuration Nen technique was created for the sole purpose of restraining Phantom Troupe members, with the limitation being that he will die if he uses it on anyone who isn't a member.
Although this is an extremely risky condition, his Nen chains become far stronger at restraining troupe members, making them almost impossible to escape.