History Characters / HunterXHunterMainCharacters

* KidANova: Yes. He dated older women who [[GettingCrapPastTheRadar taught him all sorts of things]]. Palm also fell for him.

** In the Creator/StudioPierrot-produced promotional film for the 1998 Jump Super Anime Tour, his hair is light brown, as opposed to the blond hair he has in the manga and all other anime adaptations.

* SwissArmyPower: While he only has two special abilities; Bungee Gum which allows him to give his aura the properties of rubber and sticky gum with texture surprise which allows him to reproduce any image on a surface in perfect lifelike realism. The ways he exploits these seemingly mundane and unimpressive abilities with his genius and twisted creativity makes him one of the most lethal characters in the series. To wit, the various ways he has exploited said abilities are:

* AdaptationDyeJob: Eye variation. His eyes (when not in RedEyesTakeWarning mode, obviously), are stated to be brown in the manga. They went from turquoise to dark blue to blue again in the first anime. In the second anime, they're a slightly brownish grey. He also wears black contact lenses in the Yorknew arc.

* BerserkButton: Anything related to the Phantom Troupe will set him off, as one unfortunate soul discovered during the Hunter Exam when he tried to intimidate him by claiming to be a member. Kurapika saw right through his claim, but still angrily one-shotted him in a blind rage. Even merely seeing a common spider ticks him off.

* PowerAtAPrice: Generally, this is how nen works for everyone with one teacher comparing it to mahjong. The more conditions you meat the greater the reward. But there can be backlash as to meet the greatest conditions (like say, making yourself a PhysicalGod) you also have to ante up something big. For Gon [[spoiler:that's his adult Gon transformation which sacrifices eveything, [[CastFromLifespan his years remaining]], [[CastFromLifePoint his health]], and his [[BroughtDownToNormal nen potential/ability]]. Even after Nanaki reverses the physical burden (He's physically back to normal), he still can't use nen even though his aura is back to normal.]]
** Related to the above is Gon's current situation [[spoiler:of being BroughtDownToNormal. While it seems that Gon's abilities are reset and it's currently unclear if he can reactivate his nen on his own or if the condition of never using nen again stands (Nanaki revesed the harm to Gon and Ging said Gon's aura looked fine in spite of Gone not seeing it) the latter seems more likely. If that's true than in order to regain his ability to use aura, Gon might have to [[TraumaticSuperPowerAwakening something serious]] to regain his nen abilities as Ging stated that asking for more than he's got (his health and youth restored) "is just begging for trouble". Ging implies that getting Gon's nen abilities back might be possible but it will probably take something drastic and dangerous.]]

* ParentalSubstitute: Notably acts more like a father figure to Gon than [[ParentalNeglect his actual dad]] during the Elections arc (although he's nowhere near old enough to ''actually'' be his father despite appearances, so he's more like a big brother than anything).

* TokenGoodTeammate: Unlike the likes of [[BlueAndOrangeMorality Gon]], [[ChildrenForcedToKill Killua]], and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters Kurapika]], Leorio presents zero anti-heroic qualities.

* StoryBreakerPower: [[spoiler: As "Adult Gon", he is apparently powerful enough to potentially pose a threat to ''Meruem'' and is more than powerful enough to utterly slaughter the ridiculously powerful Neferpitou. Balancing this out is the fact that it was a limited one-time transformation with heavy consequences; while Gon managed to recover his mangled body back to normal, he [[BroughtDownToNormal permanently lost his ability]] to use Nen and as of the current point in the manga [[PutOnABus is effectively written out of the story.]]]]

* BadassAdorable: He's 12 years old, but is a competent fighter and is highly regarded for his immense potential by heavyweights like Hisoka.

* BodyMotifs: Hands and arms. He had his arm broken in his fight with Hanzo. His Jajanken ability has him focus nen into his fist. He deliberatley sacrifices his left hand in his fight with Genthru. [[spoiler:After his transformation, he loses his right arm to Pitou]].

* FatalFlaw: His central flaws lie in his temper and impulsive nature. Gon sometimes fails to think things through and such actions lead to him suffering. Though possessing talent far beyond the norm for his age, anytime his abilities are challenged, he feels as if he has to prove his antagonist wrong. He continually strives to obtain greater power, often becoming exceptionally stronger in his anger. But Gon's anger also leads to extremely reckless tendencies. When his emotions are ignited, Gon becomes irrational and completely oblivious to anything else. While his will is stronger than most and he can be very level-headed, but this clear mind can also make him very cold at times. Even more worrying is the extent to which his simple mindedness colors his perception of those around him. Often it's difficult for others to understand or relate Gon's actions or thoughts to what people would consider "normal" thinking. On more than one occasion the people around Gon have remarked on how he "doesn't care about the good or the bad" with some believing Gon to be a little insane.

* FiveStagesOfGrief: PlayedWith after [[spoiler:Kite's]] death. Right before this event, he immediately starts getting angry (stage 2), but then Killua [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan makes Gon unconscious]]. When he wakes up he says that [[spoiler:Kite]] [[TemptingFate is alive]] which is his Denial (stage 1). When Gon sees his unstable body he still is in Denial. Then when he confronts Pitou, he then gets Anger at [[AmbiguousGender her/him]] for killing [[spoiler:Kite]]. Gon Bargains (stage 3) Pitou to bringing [[spoiler:Kite]] back, but then Pitou says he can't bring his friend back. Then it gets complicated. Gon experiences the first four stages ''in a couple seconds'', most notably Depression (stage 4). Then he gets '''furious''' at Pitou so much that [[spoiler:he sacrificed part of his life just to kill Pitou '''multiple times''']]. He then [[spoiler:gets in a nen-state coma]] which is most likely stage 3 as he at his weakest and is looking for to come out of [[spoiler:his coma]], [[spoiler:though in a rare case of this trope where he is ''does'' get what he needs]]. After that, once Gon confronts [[spoiler:Ging]] he breaks down crying saying all he regretted ever since [[spoiler:Kite]] died [[spoiler:and later got reincarnated]], which is definitely stage 4. After [[spoiler:Ging says he should talk to Kite about what he regretted]], Gon finally goes through acceptance (stage 5) as he is fine with [[spoiler:Kite turning into a Chimera Ant]].

* GenerationXerox: Of Ging, or at least it's heading this way. Like his father he has a talent in Nen, and catches the Master of the Swamp and becomes a Hunter at the age of 11.

** [[spoiler: Said transformation puts it into perspective just ''how'' amazingly gifted Gon is; if he had reached that form naturally by simply training until adulthood he would've apparently been strong enough to potentially rival ''Meruem'', and that's without considering that his transformed state still had the young Gon's relatively limited battle experience and simplistic Nen abilities, which means that a true "adult Gon" would've been even ''stronger''.]]

* HighPressureEmotion: Well, more like "high-pressure cogitation". Multiple-stage, complex, abstract concepts which involve a lot of explanation, memorisation and/or prolonged concentration are likely to produce fizzing and clouds of steam for poor Gon as he struggles with them. Or ''anything'' to do with numbers, however simple.

* TranquilFury: If he isn't pissed if you mess with his friends, then he's exhibiting this. Good cases are when Gido and Riehlvelt tricked him and Killua in Heaven's Arena with the threat on Zushi's life, and ''[[NightmareFuel especially]]'' while waiting for [[spoiler: Komugi to get healed. And let's not forget about [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown what he did]] to Pitou.]]

* WrongGenreSavvy: He's impulsive and often eager to fight, which would make him fit right in as the protagonist of a more typical Shonen series, where courage and determination are enough to get through any obstacle, but in a manga like this [[GenreDeconstruction it's not that simple]]; the very same qualities mentioned above make him something of a SpannerInTheWorks, putting his teammates and whatever strategy they've devised at risk (something Tsezguerra chides him for), and he sometimes bites off more than he can chew. There's also his black and white sense of morality, which doesn't always apply in a world with complicated situations and people, and can make him come off as naive, even dangerously so at times.

* NoSell: Thanks to his torture training he's immune to poison, and he can withstand the pain of electric shocks.
* NotAfraidOfYouAnymore: He adopts this position towards Illumi after removing the needle, though he admits that he's still terrified of what Illumi would do to Alluka.
* OlderThanTheyLook: It's explained in-series that extensive use of Nen can slow your aging. Killua's appearance in later arcs has barely shown any change at all from how he appeared at the start of the series even though a full two years have passed since Killua took the Hunter Exam with Gon.

* OutOfCharacterMoment: During his fight against Shoot he recklessly charges forward and even screams to hit him. It's not very assassin-like.

* ParentalFavoritism: Favored by his father, his grandfather and his mother, and chosen as the family heir.
* PassedOverInheritance: Killua is the heir apparent to his family's legacy even though he is third in line after Illumi and Milluki; not only is he his parent's favorite son, and even being unwilling to take the mantle notwithstanding, his brothers do little to impede his claim (though Illumi does want to control him, although this is due to his belief that, as {{The Dutiful Son}}, it's his job to make sure Killua fulfills his obligations as well).
* PhysicalGod: Invoked with Kanmuru. It means "God[==]speed" and it was even explained with Raijin images. Even if he becomes way stronger it's mainly because of his speed and reflexes. His physical strength and aura are not strengthened. If he uses it for too long he will run out of electricity. Interestingly, he uses it a lot to carry Alluka, who often dresses like a shrine maiden.
* PintSizedPowerhouse: Not as small as Gon, but he's one of the deadliest characters in the series. He has been an assassin ever since he was born, and can extract the heart soundlessly out of an opponent, with just his hands, at twelve years old.

* SmugSuper: He coasts through the Hunter Exam with Gon and Netero being the only people to really catch his attention. Then he goes up against Gittarackur in the final round. It starts to bubble back up during Heaven's Arena, but it's squashed when he faces Zushi's nen.

* SpoiledBrat: Zeno self-admitted that he spoiled him and it's the reason why he doesn't respect Milluki. It doesn't help that Milluki is an asshole, and tries to torture him when he returns; 'tries' because it doesn't work. Although Zeno's idea of 'spoiled' isn't exactly normal, as what he considers a proper upbringing seems to consist of being whipped, chained up, burnt with cigarettes, poisoned, electrocuted, forced to kill, and otherwise abused to the point of being almost completely unaffected by pain, starting from a very young age. Do note that said training has left Killua virtually invincible to conventional modes of offense like poison and weapons.

* BlindedByRage: While he's usually capable of keeping his wits about him even when faced with heinous villains like the Phantom Troupe and Genthru, his ''seething hatred'' towards Neferpitou occasionally causes him to act against his better judgment. During their first encounter, when Pitou [[spoiler: chops Kite's arm off]], Gon goes into a ballistic rage that would've likely gotten himself killed had Killua not knocked him out unconscious (notably, Pitou is said to exude an incredibly malicious aura that even [[BreakTheHaughty horrified Killua just being in its presence]], yet Gon's rage was so intense that it basically [[FearlessFool neutralized his fear]]). Later, when Pitou is [[spoiler: healing Komugi, Gon almost goes mad with rage and was moments away from attacking both Pitou and Komugi, but he was stopped by- once again- Killua.]]

* DeclarationOfProtection: [[spoiler: He promises to protect Kite during chapter 337 because he failed to do so before, which led to Kite's death.]]

** Of the typical shonen hero. Oh, the hero is very caring, loves his friends, and will not give up on saving them? That's very nice; but, what happens should he go too far in pursuing that goal? Just how far is too far? Is the hero's ridiculous amount of determination ''actually'' a positive thing... at all? And what psychological damage comes from the hero putting that much of himself into saving someone? The answers lie in the Chimera Ant arc.
** The Chimera Ant arc also twists a lot of Gon's other strengths into flaws. His ability to judge people only in the moment, something which gives him great understanding of those around him, causes him extreme confusion when his original assessment of Pitou as a selfish murderer clashes with their newest actions [[spoiler: as a protective guardian begging for mercy]]. Gon's selfish determination is painted as ''highly'' self-destructive; and, by the end of the arc, his goals [[spoiler: almost kill him -- heck, they ''would'' have killed him if not for the [[RealityWarper divine intervention]] provided by Alluka/Nanika]]. Gon's selfishness isn't really a problem for the first few arcs as his personal interests align with those around him, but during the palace invasion he holds a young girl ''hostage'', and is clearly uncaring of whether or not she lives or dies from her injuries - ''Killua'' is the one to make the deal for Gon to hold off until the girl is healed, and even then Gon is ruthless. It's saying something that it's very easy to say that Gon actually takes on an antagonistic role in this arc due to his actions.

** In chapter 71, Killua challenges Gon, betting who could make more money before they arrived in Yorknew. Killua more than makes ''50 times'' the money he started with, but then bets all of his money again on a final bet that he loses. Gon meanwhile earned next to nothing, but wins anyway, since Killua was left with no money.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Whether he quite realizes it or not, when Killua gets protective of somebody he often interferes with their lives to make sure they can be safe. Sure, he doesn't try micromanaging their behavior using mindcontrol needles, but he can get downright manipulative and in their business without express permission- often by shutting down some of the available choices/mistakes he cannot bear to let them make. This is actually [[NotSoDifferent very similar]] to how he is treated by his family, specifically by Illumi.

* BeyondTheImpossible: It should be impossible to master all the Nen categories at 100%. Emperor Time breaks that rule, even if it only allow him to adjust the power and precision when using others nen categories, see chapter 108, [[spoiler: [[CastFromLifespan and it comes with a price to pay]].]]

* CastFromLifespan: Emperor Time comes with major drawbacks for its user. [[spoiler: For every second Kurapika uses Emperor Time, he loses one hour of his remaining lifespan. Thus, one hour of Emperor Time would cost him 150 days, 24 hours would cost him ten years, etc.]] [[{{Foreshadowing}} Worth noting]] is that Kurapika's Nen master warned him about this in a flashback back in chapter 83:
-->'''Izunavi:''' Nobody's equal in strength. How you feel day to day will affect you, as well as where you're fighting and its context. Nen is even more complex. Joy, sadness, fear, hatred, carelessness, devotion, excitement, doubt, pleasure, shame, determination - all the emotions you're capable of factor into Nen. It might enable something ''beyond'' 100%... \\

* NecessaryDrawback: Kurapika sets certain punishments in place for misusing his own abilities as a warning to himself to ''never'' [[JumpedOffTheSlipperySlope cross the line]] on his quest for revenge- and his desire to follow these self-made rules only serves to further his resolve, thus boosting the power of his Nen all the higher. For instance, he knows that if he ever uses his chains on anybody but a Spider, a Nen Dagger will pierce his heart and he will die. Emperor Time's [[spoiler: lifespan-eating]] drawback, however, seems to be an actual detrimental effect caused by using his Kurta eyes to empower his Nen abilities.

** [[spoiler: Returns in chapter 325 with a Nen ability.]]

* EmpoweredBadassNormal: As of chapter 325, he's picked up the Nen ability that lets him transmit his punches through the floor.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Hisoka wanted a fight with Chrollo? He gets it-- [[spoiler: and proceeds to get killed in the process.]] Though it turns out better for him than expected, since [[spoiler: he set his aura to revive him with Bungee Gum beforehand]].

* EvilVersusEvil: As of Chapter 357 [[spoiler: Hisoka has declared war on the entire Phantom Troupe by murdering Shalnark and Kortopi]].

* RubberMan: His Bungee Gum has these properties. [[spoiler:As of chapter 357 he's partially made of it, using it to replace the body parts he lost in the fight against Chrollo.]]

** He also has got a bit of this going on with Machi in chapter 357. [[spoiler: And possibly ended there too.]]

* CampyCombat: He has jester-like hair, clothing, and makeup and uses an alluring style of speech. Notably, he's sexual aroused from fighting strong foes, regardless of their gender. His Nen ability "Bungee Gum" forms a pink aura with the properties of rubber and gum that's much more deadly than it sounds.

* CampyCombat: He has jester-like hair, clothing, and makeup and uses an alluring, feminine style of speech. Notably, he's sexual aroused from fighting strong foes, regardless of their gender. His Nen ability "Bungee Gum" forms a pink aura with the properties of rubber and gum that's much more deadly than it sounds.

** Judgment Chain can set rules that whoever it's used on has to follow or they'll die, but he can only use it during Emperor Time.

* BeyondTheImpossible: It should be impossible to master all the Nen categories at 100%. Emperor Time breaks that rule, [[spoiler: [[CastFromLifespan but it comes with a price to pay]].]]

* EffeminateVoice: Kurapika is an [[DudeLooksLikeALady androgynous young man]] who is voiced by women.

* LivingLieDetector: The chain on Kurapika's ring finger (while using Emperor Time) allows him to notice when someone is hiding something or outright lying.

* PracticallyJoker: He shares the Joker's MonsterClown gimmick, obsession with the hero that borders on FoeYay, and [[JokerImmunity capability to cheat death]]. There's also how he has a PlayingCardMtoifs, with his being the joker card.

* AwesomeYetImpractical: Kurapika's ''Hatsu'' is a borderline StoryBreakerPower that also hits the SuperPowerLottery but there are a few factors which strangle its efficiency:

** [[spoiler: [[ExaggeratedTrope Exaggerated]] as "Adult Gon"; his hair extends vertically what seems to be ''at least 20 feet'' into the air on top of his already gargantuan body.]]

* BadassNormal: Despite not knowing how to use Nen, Leorio is way stronger and more capable than the average human, including people bigger and bulkier than him. He even earns Hisoka's approval, who decides to spare his life out of respect for his courage.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Killua is not above running away when faced with an opponent which might be a threat; this extends to both ''actual'' threats like [[TheDreaded Neferpitou]] as well as lesser Chimera Ants which he should by all means be able to take on but his instincts tell him to run just to be on the safe side. Bisky calls him out on this, alleging that one day this will cause him to abandon Gon. [[spoiler: This is eventually revealed to be [[MindControlDevice programmed into him via Illumi injecting a needle into his brain]], which he eventually gets rid of. Even then though he still at least [[KnowWhenToFoldEm Knows When To Fold 'Em, in contrast to Gon largely being a FearlessFool.]]