There once was a day when it was common for an anime protagonist to start as the most powerful character in their series. Today, this trope has become a gag that series like One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100 use to make fans laugh.
Hunter X Hunter realistically positions Gon on a power level that can be overcome by his elders. Gon is a fearless character, but he is still a child. There is no doubt that he is gifted, but like many of the other characters from HxH, Gon has had to work hard in order to accumulate the strength that fans recognize him for today.
9 Gon's Good Sense Of Smell Isn't Anything Special In The World Of Nen-Empowered Heroes & Villains
Hunter X Hunter begins by showing off Gon Freecss' unnatural ability to overpower opponents both twice his age and twice his size. In the very first episode of the anime, Gon manages to catch a fish that is 10 times his size.
Still, catching a fish and stealing the badge off of Hisoka Morow are two entirely different tasks. Fans can't deny the fact that Gon is a gifted young man, but the strength he puts on display during the Chimera Ant arc proves that the boy introduced at the start of Hunter X Hunter has come a long way since then.
8 Leorio's Mission To Become A Doctor Has Led To Brilliant Strength
By the end of the Hunter X Hunter anime series, Leorio had quite a few impressive feats under his belt. After landing a punch on one of the most powerful known nen users in the world and getting his name put on the ballot for Chairman of the Hunter's Association, Leorio stepped out of the limelight to return to his mission of becoming a doctor.
When Hunter X Hunter started, Leorio was without question the least powerful character in his party. Kurapika, Gon, and Killua each outpaced the aspiring doctor. Though it isn't entirely clear how much stronger Leorio has gotten, it is clear that he has grown quite a bit since his debut.
7 Kurapika's Mission To Avenge His People Has Led To A Level Of Nen Mastery That Few Of His Peers Can Match
The last known survivor of the Kurta clan begins the Hunter X Hunter series as one of the most powerful members of Gon's party. In fact, Kurapika is likely more powerful than Gon at that point.
Still, when Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio entered the Hunters Exam, none of them knew a thing about nen. The power system that offers its users the ability to bend reality is fundamental to the definition of strength in the world of Hunter X Hunter. Today, Kurapika has become a master of nen and uses his abilities to track down a list of the most powerful nen users in the world.
6 Abengane's Hatsu May Seem Passive At First, But After Healing Himself & Chrollo Lucilfer, Fans Must Reevaluate His Strength
Fans of Hunter X Hunter didn't get the chance to meet Abengane until the Greed Island arc. Though he is just as strong during his introduction as he is later on, the fans' perception of Abengane completely changes once they find out the true depths of his nen ability.
The ability to dispel detrimental nen effects doesn't seem like much when first introduced. Genthru and his band of bombers are threatening, but they are nothing compared to the glowing red eyes of the last survivor of the Kurta Clan. The fact that Abengane was able to dispel the chains wrapped around Chrollo Lucilfer's heart was a miracle that earned this side character a ton of respect.
5 Kurt & Colt Guide Viewers Through The Chimera Ant Reincarnation Process
The Chimera Ant species is one that relies on its queen to absorb the attributes of other species in order to create a being that can compete with those sitting at the top of the food chain. Through the character of Colt, Yoshihiro Togashi explains just what it takes to become one of the strongest creatures in the known world.
Prior to his birth, Colt was a human boy named Kurt. Though Kurt was a strong-willed young man, he was nothing compared to the might of a Chimera Ant. After his rebirth, Colt served as one of the queen's Squadron Leaders, proving that he was one of the strongest ants to have been born from the Queen.
4 Meleoron's Moral Compass Is Bolstered When The Chimera Ants Learn To Master The Art Of Nen
The chameleon-inspired Chimera Ant known as Meleoron is one of the few ants who left the hive in order to stop Meruem from devouring humanity. This strength of will was impressive, but until Meleoron paired it with a nen-cloaking ability that not even Menthuthuyoupi could sense, it was nothing more than wishful thinking. If it weren't for Meleoron's ability, Killua, Knuckle, and Shoot would have stood no chance against the overpowered Royal Guard.
3 Gyro's Dark Childhood Pushed Him To Become A King
During Gyro's extensive flashback sequence, fans were introduced to a young boy who was abused by his father and cast out into the world with nothing but his own will to keep himself alive.
RELATED: Hunter X Hunter: 5 Most Underrated Hunters (& 5 Most Overrated)
Of course, this was just where Gyro's story begins. After becoming the ruler of NGL's government and the Kingpin of his nation's underworld, Gyro was reborn as a Chimera Ant. Unlike his peers, Gyro retained his memories and left the hive in order to rebuild his kingdom in Meteor City. Fans can be certain that when Gyro returns, he will be stronger than ever before.
2 Kalluto Zoldyck Moved From Her Mother's Side To A Full-Fledged Member Of The Phantom Troupe
When the youngest child of Silva and Kikyo Zoldyck is introduced, she stands behind her mother like a scared pup. At this point in the story, neither Gon or Killua have mastered Nen, so it is safe to assume that Kalluto hasn't learned much more than the four major principles.
By the time fans see Kalluto in the Chimera Ant Arc, she is a member of the Phantom Troupe who is capable of defeating a Chimera Ant on his own. Prior to this, the Phantom Troupe is forced to rely on Kalluto to find Abengane and heal Chrollo Lucilfer. The youngest member of the Zoldyck family has one of the most impressive off-screen character arcs in the entire show.
1 Shoot McMahon Appears Timid Until Forced Into 1 On 1 Combat With A Chimera Ant Royal Guard
Shoot's introduction makes it hard for fans to fall in love with the timid hunter even after he goes toe to toe with one of the Chimera Ant Royal Guards. During Gon and Killua's daily training sessions with Knuckle, Shoot hides from the trio instead of joining in on the fight.
It isn't until Shoot is faced with the extraordinary power of Menthuthuyoupi that he puts on a true display of his power. The fact that Shoot is able to hold his own in a 1 on 1 battle with Youpi is something nobody could have seen coming after his lackluster introduction.