Hunter X Hunteris known as one of the best-written Shonen anime of all time. Of course, the villains in Hunter X Hunter don’t disappoint either. While antagonists in most anime do have their reasoning for being the way they are, Hunter X Hunter takes it a step further and makes it deliberately confusing to understand some villains.
This is certainly not the case of the bad guys being evil for the sake of being evil. Some of them are genuinely fascinating characters who have a lot of depth to them. Naturally, their charisma and general appeal to the viewer are also through the roof.
8Pakunoda
Pakunoda is one of the original members of the Phantom Troupe. She had the power to read anyone’s mind, as long as she was touching them. This was especially useful for the Phantom’s Troup’s Interrogation, making her one of the most important parts of the group.
What truly sets her apart isn’t her special abilities, but her deep compassion for her comrades. Pakunoda was a kind character who cared for the safety of her friends. She went as far as sacrificing herself and betraying the core rules of the Troupe to save the lives of those she cared about.
7Pariston Hill
Pariston is one of the members of the twelve zodiacs created by Netero. He also served as the vice chairman of the Hunter Association and was the right-hand man of Netero. He is a highly intelligent individual who prioritizes his own fun over anything else. His powers and strength are mainly a mystery so far, but it’s safe to assume that he’s very strong.
The best thing about Pariston is how unpredictable he can be. While he can certainly be an annoying character, it’s undeniable that he is one of the most fascinating villains in the Hunter X Hunter world. Without Pariston, theelection arcfor the next chairman would not have been nearly as fun.
6Illumi Zoldyck
Illumi is the oldest son of the famous Zoldyck family. Naturally, he’s a skilled assassin who can even rival the likes of Hisoka and Chrollo. Illumi also has an obsessing and self-serving love for his younger brother, Killua.
Illumi had been an obstacle in Killua’s life for a long time, manipulating him with not just his words but also a needle that he placed in Killua’s forehead. Every time Illumi appeared on the screen, he elevated the scene and made the plot much more interesting.
5Neferpitou
Neferpitou is the firstborn royal guard of the ant king, Meruem. She is also one of thestrongest characters in all of Hunter X Hunter, even posing an issue for the strongest Hunter. Pitou started as a cold-hearted individual who wanted nothing more than to have fun.
However, she soon learned to be compassionate and understood the value of life. Pitou’s entire presence added a whole new layer to the chimera ant arc and tested Gon like no one else. Even after death, her loyalty to the king was so strong that she became a corpse puppet with the simple purpose of eliminating Gon.
4Shaiapouf
Another one of the King’s royal guards, Pouf, is a very intelligent character with an obsessive loyalty to the ant king. You could very well consider Pouf as the main antagonist of the Chimera Ant arc. He wanted the King to behave exactly as he believed a perfect ruler should.
This included disregarding any compassion for humans which the king had developed. Pouf went to many lengths to manipulate the king. Because of this, he was one of the most hated characters in the Chimera Ant arc. However, this is proof of Pouf being an amazing villain.
3Chrollo Lucilfer
Chrollo is the leader of the infamousPhantom Troupe, possessing a special technique that allows him to steal other people’s Nen abilities. Chrollo is also one of the smartest characters in Hunter X Hunter, with a highly complex moral compass.
The mystery surrounding Chrollo makes his personality even more fascinating. While he is willing to kill anyone to achieve his goals, it’s clear that there is a deeper meaning behind his actions. On top of that, he is one of the best nen users in the Hunter X Hunter world, strong enough to take on the heads of the Zoldyck family.
2Hisoka Morow
Hisoka is a free spirit who has a strange but unparalleled love for fighting strong Nen users. He often shows up as an anti-hero who helps the protagonists for the sake of his own personal goals. Because of his desire to fight strong opponents, he often ends up wanting to fight the main antagonist.
Without a doubt, Hisoka is one of the most interesting characters in Hunter X Hunter. Regardless of what you think of his morality, you can’t deny his unmatched ability to make any moment better simply by being there. Hisok’a unpredictability also keeps you on the edge of your seat.
1Meruem
Meruem is the king of the ants and the strongest Nen user in the Hunter X Hunter world. He was born with the urge to kill and eat anything in his path to take over the world. However, Komugi completely changed him and taught him what love is.
The change in Meruem’s character can only be described as a prime example of masterful writing. It’s incredible to see his personality at the start and at the end of the Chimera Ant arc. The whole change doesn’t happen overnight either, it’s a gradual shift that feels natural and even causes a conflict within Meruem himself.
