Hunter X Hunter: Ranking Every Nen Aura Type from Best to Worst

Hunter x Hunter is a show that's famous for many things, but one thing that sets it apart from the rest, so much so that anime fans around the world collectively praise it. is its power system. Nen, unlike many other shonen battle mechanisms, is a system based entirely on logic and minimal work, and very little luck or good fortune ever plays a big role in how strong a character can become.

Aside from balance, however, there's also unparalleled versatility in what you can do with Nen. From punching harder to creating a completely different dimension, the six Nen types allow you to do just about anything your mind can think of. Each Nen type has its own strengths and so you might be wondering which one is the strongest.

1. Specialism

Nen is one of the best power systems we have seen in any fictional world. It's perfectly balanced around a set of logical variables where each person can bring their own individual abilities, and even the weakest forces can defeat those that are much stronger. The only luck in this system is to be born as a specialist.

These specialists are actually the Jokers of Hunter x Hunter (ironically, the real Joker is a Transmuter), who have abilities that can't be explained within the scope of traditional Nen. From Chrollo Lucifer's ability to steal other people's hats to Neon Nostradamus being able to see the future, there aren't too many features that open doors. However, Morena Prudhoe has made what we know about Nen possibly outdated, and it probably covers more situations than you might think.

2. Conjuration

Conjuration is probably the exact opposite of improvement. The ability to create objects may seem simple at first glance, but its features make it closer to a trait than a simple creation. Simply put, fusion lets you create objects and then add other properties and abilities to them. The simplest example of this is Kurapika's chains, each of which has a special ability attached to it.

There are some more complex uses of this ability Owl's Fun Cloth a Hatsu that can transform into a miniature version of any person or object when wrapped around it. We also see traditional combinations in the game (ignoring the sentient Joker that appears), however, Kite's lucky slot gives him a random weapon on each roll.

3. Transmutation

Transmutation is a Nen ability that lets you add the qualities of other things into your aura. This can be as simple as adding the heat of fire, or in Killua's case, adding the spark of lightning. This allows your aura to mimic the effects of objects, such as when Killua uses it to increase his speed and shoot lightning.

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However, But like any other Nen type Transmutation isn’t just meant to copy traditional elements. The best example of this is Hisoka's Bungee Gum which has the properties of both rubber and gum. There are also more bizarre examples of this, such as Biscuit Kruger's aura manifesting as a perfume that can reduce stress and fatigue.

4. Manipulation

Manipulation involves many different things as it can be applied to both people and objects. For those who use it on objects, it is usually combined with another Nen type, such as emission or enhancement, to strengthen the effect. For manipulators who control objects, we have two shining examples in the form of Caluto of the Phantom Troupe and Morel of the Hunter Association.

Caluto uses pieces of paper to kill enemies, and when a specific condition is met, that is, sticking a piece of paper on a person's body, all the other papers immediately target the open wound, and cut it repeatedly. Morel, on the other hand, uses manipulation to shape and control the smoke he exhales, and uses blurry expressions to scout, deceive, and fight.

Manipulation really shines when it comes to manipulating people. That's what makes manipulation so scary, even if it isn't as effective in direct combat. People like Illumi and Shalnark can one-shot anyone and take over their mind, provided the conditions for their abilities are met. While experienced Nen users may be able to see through their moves and save themselves from certain death, there's always a chance that you'll be defeated instantly when facing a good cunning person.

5. Emission

Emission is right next to enhancement on the Nen affinity chart. As such, this is another style of abilities that is fairly straightforward at a glance. Take Franklin's Double Machine Gun, for example, which is an ability that allows him to fire an unlimited amount of Nen bullets from his fingertips. Most emitter-type abilities work like this: you detach your saw and use it as a projectile.

However, this emission is not solely tied to projectile attacks. While Zeno and Silva can use it to create manifestations made of energy, others like Leorio can use it to connect two separate paths, resulting in teleportation. The best example of the latter use is Nowe's scream ability, which allows her to create a portal that can bypass anything and send anything that falls into it into the room it creates.

6. Enhancement

Enhancers are known as the most straightforward honest and genuine people in the Hunter x Hunter universe. They are not always morally good, but they don't try to hide their nature. This straightforwardness is also seen in enhancement-type abilities, which usually directly inspire things.

The most powerful enhancers we've seen include Ganon and Uvogin, both of which have very powerful effects. However, we've also seen a few other uses for enhancements, including Bill's ability to heal people, Komugi's subconscious Hatsu that allows her to impersonate Gungi, and Dogman's enhanced sense of smell.