The Hunter X Hunter universe may have a bunch of powerful villains, though few of them are able to ascend to their heights of prominence without a fair degree of intelligence. On multiple occasions, their wits have been just as useful as Nen or weapons in achieving their aims and providing obstructions to the heroes.
By analyzing the craftiest antagonists of the series, we have a better understanding of the masterminds behind Gon's suffering and the many creative ways he has navigated around them alongside his faithful comrades in order to fulfill his dream of finding his father.
10 Feitan Was An Assassin Who Helped Execute The Yorknew Massacre
Feitan was a member of the Phantom Troupe whose sharp claws and weaponry skills were only rivaled by his keen intellect and ability to plan. He was intelligent enough to analyze most situations and seldom clashed with his comrades (unlike Franklin, Phinks, or Nobunaga).
Additionally, the villain was responsible for successfully executing the Yorknew Massacre and thereby eliminating many of the most powerful crime families in the world. By combining skill and experience, Feitan is among his organization's most esteemed members.
9 Genthru Was Skilled At Intimidating People To Get What He Wanted
Otherwise known as "the Bomber," Genthru was a mastermind of coercing others. He managed to corral a large number of Greed Island players into a single room and blackmail them into relinquishing their cards; once they did, he murdered them so that they couldn't retaliate later.
His talent for duplicity would be proven against Gon directly during their final fight, where he feigned a temporary ceasefire in order to crush his opponent's throat. In spite of the massive advantage this afforded him, Gon was still able to emerge victorious.
8 Illumi Was An Esteemed Member Of The Zoldyck Family Who Haunted His Brother For Years
Illumi Zoldyck was responsible for getting Killua disqualified from the Hunter Exam after he whispered a trigger phrase and coaxed him into a murderous rampage. This was a tactical decision since it furthered his family's grip over his life and limited his brother's ability to follow his dreams alongside Gon.
He was also profoundly tenacious (albeit unsuccessful) in retrieving Alluka, even going as far as to use innocent people as mindless thralls to assist him.
7 Tonpa Survived The Rigors Of The Hunter Exam With Intelligence Alone
While Tonpa knew he could not pass the Hunter Exam, his intelligence allowed him to persevere through many of its most difficult challenges where his physique might otherwise fail him. He was cunning enough to eliminate dozens of potential contenders before the test even started by offering drinks spiked with laxatives.
When it came time for Gon's group to face off against hardened criminals, he used the power of democracy against Leorio and almost gas lit the group into disaster. Fortunately, his ruse was uncovered before they ran out of time to leave the tower and were disqualified.
6 Neferpitou Was Smart Enough To Learn Nen By Dissecting Human Brains
Neferpitou was arguably the smartest chimera ant aside from Meruem himself, having learned the secrets of Nen by dissecting a human brain. This allowed them not only to understand its properties but also to create abilities of their own.
The cat-like warrior also proved to be a skilled manipulator, as demonstrated when they managed to convince Gon that Kite was still alive so that they could lure him away from Komugi after she was fully healed.
5 Milluki Was Able To Remain Relevant To The Zoldycks Through His Intelligence Despite His Physique
Despite his physique, Milluki was surprisingly useful to his family due to his high intelligence and technological prowess. He understood the fundamentals of Greed Island much better than most and was the first to fully comprehend the nature of Alluka's powers and how to exploit them.
Although Milluki may not be as present of a threat to Killua as Illumi is, he is arguably even more malicious, proven through the numerous torture sessions he partook in.
4 Chrollo Was Able To Lead His People Against The Entire World For Years
As the leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo was intelligent enough to plan and commit atrocities across the planet while avoiding the wrath of numerous powerful governments and his enemies in the Hunter Association. Balancing patience with cunning, he managed to steal Neon Nostrade's Nen ability without being caught by her father and retainers.
The villain has power to match, as proven when he contended with two seasoned members of the Zoldyck family by himself. Luckily for him, the bounty on his head was rescinded before he could be overwhelmed.
3 Hisoka Was Intelligent Enough To Infiltrate Chrollo's Organization
Despite Chrollo's aforementioned intelligence, Hisoka was clever enough to infiltrate his organization in order to get closer to its leader. He sought an opportunity to gauge the man's power and hoped to strike him dead in order for a real challenge.
Malevolent and prideful as Hisoka might be, he understands when an adversary is beyond his skills. This was why he willingly allied himself with Gon and Killua in order to defeat Game Master Razor on Greed Island.
2 Pariston Was Able To Win The Chairman Election With Charisma Alone
Pariston was handily the most intelligent member of the twelve Zodiacs and arguably even the entire Hunter Association. After Netero's death, he obliterated his competition despite how they conspired against his clearly unhinged agenda.
In a bizarre twist of fate, he willingly resigned his position seconds after receiving it, relishing the excitement of challenge much more than the reward that came after it. Although this was ultimately beneficial for all parties involved, Cheadle was still immensely insulted by the way he trivialized a serious election.
1 Meruem's Mind Was Adaptable Beyond Human Comprehension
Meruem was able to process and internalize information at superhuman rates. He could finish entire books in minutes and was adaptable enough to defeat world-class game masters in a single rematch.
Initially, he sought to develop himself so that he could become a brilliant strategist and conquer the world with minimal opposition. However, his inability to defeat Komugi at Gungi evinced that humans had more to offer than he originally anticipated. By the time of Netero's reckoning, he'd abandoned his plans for worldwide extermination entirely. Nonetheless, that would not deter the chairman's wrath.