Hunter x Hunteris a world filled with magic.

Here’s everything we know so far about the Dark Continent Calamities.

What Is Nen?

The victims of the  Five Dark Continent Calamities being displayed in Hunter x Hunter.

In the world of Hunter x Hunter, every human being is born with life energy inside them.

Thislife energy is called Auraand is usuallyseen surrounding a personand then leaking out upwards from their body.

Nen is the art of controlling your Aurato reap benefits from it.

Chrollo, Gon, and Meruem, from Hunter X Hunter.

What Is Aura?

However, once you learn how to use Nen, the Aura doesn’t disperse anymore.

Instead, it coats your body and protects it at all times.

A split image showing three manga about vampires.

ThisAura comes out of Aura Nodes on one’s body,which function similarly to physical pores.

Experienced Nen users can open and close these Aura Nodes at will.

Put simply,you use the method that is Nen to control the resource that is Aura.

Isaac Netero from Hunter x Hunter making a heart with his hands.

Nen Techniques

Nen is an extremely versatile art form that lets you do pretty much anything.

There arefour base techniquesthat each person has to learn before they can develop their custom ability.

These let you survive in Nen-based combat.

Killua with his hair sparking in his Godspeed form in Hunter x Hunter.

After that, there are some more advanced techniques that give you an edge over other Nen-users.

Mastering all of these is what separates a Nen novice from someone of Isaac Netero’s stature.

Ten is supposed to be a technique as easy and natural as breathing.

Aduly Gon from Hunter x Hunter looking at his hand, covered in a golden Aura.

Once learned, it’s always subconsciously active without the need to focus.

Upon using Ten, the Aura creates a thin sheet around you.

Instead of dispersing into the air, it stays in place and forms a weak barrier around your body.

Gon charging up his Jankenpon in Hunter x Hunter.

This lets youharbor the Aura needed to use techniquesthrough Nen.

While in Zetsu state, you have no Aura surrounding your body.

Ren consists ofoverflowing your Aura Nodesto cause a burst of Aura.

Neon Nostrade from Hunter x Hunter using her specialist ability with a fiendish demon guiding her hand to write the future.

This is usually harmless, not being a technique made for combat.

Instead,Ren is used to show your Aura output.

However, experienced users canimbue their Ren with murderous intentto give it hostile properties.

Gon and Killua with their eyes closed, meditating to practice Ten.

This canmake people experience panic and terrorupon coming into contact with it.

Hatsu

Finally, we have Hatsu, whatmost people think of when they hear the word Nen.

Nen’s Place In Society

Nen is an ability that can achieve things otherwise deemed impossible.

Gon from Hunter x Hunter standing and focusing to use Zetsu.

As such,the world’s government keeps strict tabs on who’s allowed to wield Nen.

The main way for people to learn Nen isthrough being approved by the Hunter association.

There are certain events that make use of Nen,particularly the Heaven’s Arena.

Zushi from Hunter x Hunter taking on a defensive stance to demonstrate Ren.

However, it’s speculated that the audience does not know that Nen specifically is being used.

Learn all about the best story arcs in the Hunter X Hunter anime show!

Wing from Hunter x Hunter opening his palm to show Hatsu with the kanji for Hatsu written in the middle.

a gigantic tower known as the Heavens Arena, from Hunter X Hunter.