History YMMV / HighSchoolDXD

** After concerns that the final episodes ''[=BorN=]'' might have jeopardized the anime's continuity, Ichiei Ishibumi and Kadokawa wisely chose to play damage control. Ishibumi wrote ''EX'' and Kadokawa announced in late 2017 that ''Hero'' will adapt volumes 9 to 10; the animation production studio was switched to Passione. Likewise, as a show that they're serious about playing closer to the source material, the season began with an episode full of retcons that stay closer to the source material.

* {{Woolseyism}}: For their dub, Funimation has noticeably added a fair dose of sexual references and cranked the eroticism in the dialogue, most notably with Akeno. But given [[{{Ecchi}} the show's nature]], it works brilliantly. Most of the [[Funny/HighSchoolDXD Funny Moments page]] is done using dub vs. sub, as a matter of fact.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: According to Ishibumi himself, the anime's fourth season, ''Hero'', was very popular overseas.
* HarsherInHindsight:

** The Heaven characters, in general, have also been greatly underutilized when it comes to the overall story. Apart from Irina, who's part of Issei's harem, Heaven's Angel characters only make rare appearances from time to time, and Heaven as a location only gets it's [[ADayInTheLimelight day in the limelight]] as the setting for Volume 18.
** Samael, a fallen angel/dragon hybrid known as the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Dragon Eater]], who Azazel states was created from ''[[MadeOfEvil God's hatred]]''. His very existence is lethal to dragons, and just exposure to his blood is enough to kill Issei, debilitate Vali, and even greatly weaken ''Ophis''. He's so dangerous that he was locked away in Cocytus, the deepest part of the Underworld, essentially making him another version of {{Satan}}. Despite being one of the most conceptually terrifying beings introduced in the story, his only appearance so far is when he's raised from his prison by Hades, who completely binds him up and gives him to the Hero Faction, so they can utilize him as a weapon. After the Hero Faction is defeated, Samael is resealed and hasn't even been mentioned since then.

** [[spoiler:The Alliance of Hell, despite being composed of God-class enemies, posed little threat even with their underhanded methods. Nyx became a punching bag for Issei and Ddraig once her "Godly Virgin Killer Clothes" and the brainwashed Ingvild were out of the way and never really put up much of a fight even with those handicaps, Issei singlehandedly defeats Erebus pretty quickly (though he at least admits that he's not a fighter), Tartarus gets fodderized by [=AxA=], and Angra Mainyu had to rely on Issei's vulnerability to women at the time and quickly gets overpowered once Issei recovered (albeit with more power than before). Only Hades really came off a competent threat in a direct fight. Balberith also counts, losing in a simple one-on-one punch-out to Sairaorg despite being hyped up as ''Dragon God-level'' (Verrine was at least under pressure from several opponents). It doesn't help that they tend to get defeated in the same volume they pick a fight with the protagonists, unlike the recurring threats from the Hero Faction and Qlippoth.]]

** Among the girls of the harem, Asia and Koneko have the most naysayers. Both have relatively child-like proportions (though Koneko later gains the ability to age herself up), which can {{Squick}} some people out of the fanservice they provide or simply make it much less appealing than with the other girls.

** UpToEleven for Raynare. She mercilessly kills Issei, ridicules and tells him that the date was so boring to the point that she's willing to kill him, mercilessly killed Asia to steal her sacred gear, and has the gall to try and beg Issei to rescue her after she's left to Rias' mercy. Yet that doesn't stop people from whitewashing her and making her out to be a good person deep down despite her [[HateSink going out of her way to be as despicable as possible]]. Some go even further by subjecting Rias and Asia to RonTheDeathEater solely to justify Raynare's actions.

* EscapistCharacter: '''Issei''' to an [[UpToEleven absurd degree]]. He starts the series off as an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent, who's considered an [[ThisLoserIsYou unpopular, perverted loser]] by pretty much everyone along with his [[ThoseTwoGuys two friends]]. Then after joining the Occult Research Club, he spends all of his time with the [[TheBeautifulElite most popular people in school]], wins the undying love of no less than ''seven'' absolutely gorgeous women, all of whom have [[{{Polyamory}} no problem sharing him]], and [[OfficialCouple starts a relationship]] with the most beautiful girl in school, who also happens to be a noble. He learns that he essentially shares his body with one of the most powerful beings in existence, [[TookALevelInBadass takes level after level in badass]] in record time, gains the admiration of his peers, becomes insanely rich after his new brother-in-law makes an incredibly popular TV show based on him, and said brother-in-law orders his house to be renovated into a mansion with the explicit intent of promoting intimacy by having all the Club's girls move in. The guy goes from being TheEveryman to becoming the fantasy of hormonal teenage boys everywhere before he's even reached his third year of high school.

* {{Woolseyism}}: For their dub, Funimation has noticeably added a fair dose of sexual references and cranked the eroticism in the dialogue UpToEleven, most notably with Akeno. But given [[{{Ecchi}} the show's nature]], it works brilliantly. Most of the [[Funny/HighSchoolDXD Funny Moments page]] is done using dub vs. sub, as a matter of fact.

** A major complaint many had with ''Hero'' was that, due to the ArtShift resulting from the switch to ''Passione'', many of the characters began to suffer from OnlySixFaces and could appear OffModel. And while the overall adaptation quality was well received, numerous people admitted to preferring the ''Creator/{{TNK}}'' character designs.

*** Not just Rias, but the Gremory family like Sirzechs, Venelana, Zeoticus and some members of the Occult Research Club get this as well.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Many fans who read the light novels criticize the anime's placement of volumes 5-7 in ''[=BorN=]''. It ended up being so widespread that Ichiei Ishibumi and Kadokawa actually apologized for what happened.

** Rias also gets this, due to people exaggerating her selfishness from early on in the series, completely missing the point that as a devil, regardless of how kindhearted they could be, are still inherently selfish to a fault, with Rias not being the only devil that's portrayed as this despite good intentions.[[note]]This is mostly because of the anime showing off all of the main characters early, making it seem that she let Issei die deliberately so that she could recruit him, which has steadily crept into {{Fanon}} over time.[[/note]] Not helping matters is that this often coincides with Raynare receiving DracoInLeatherPants status, with many whitewashing Raynare by dragging Rias through the mud in the process.

* WhatAnIdiot:
** Issei Hyoudou, who is unable to realize the girls' feelings towards him. Though it's justified, given the [[HeroicBSOD psychological damage he received from his experience with Raynare]]. He gets better.
** The real crown goes, though, to the Two Heavenly Dragons (Ddraig and Albion), who decided during the great war to fight God, Satan and the leader of the Fallen Angels. They were quickly dismembered and the Sacred Gears - Boosted Gear and Divine Dividing - are what's left of them stored. It should be noted that in the last example it was implied that the process of sealing the two dragons took everything the Three Factions had, may have contributed to the death of God, and left the warring sides too exhausted and spent to continue their war.

** Who is better? Rias or Akeno? Although almost all fans like both of them at the same time, [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment let's just leave it at that]]. Some TakeAThirdOption and instead choose Asia... or Koneko which is, [[TokenMiniMoe err, complicated]].

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: Do not let hatred consume you. Even if someone did wrong you in the past, cursing them is something you will likely regret later. Akeno learned this the hard way.

* CrazyAwesome:

* SuspiciouslySimilarSong: The track [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EzNkxywVps "Memories of That Day"]] from ''[=BorN=]'' may remind some of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCzwlSPTnr4 the main theme]] from the ''Film/LoveStory'' soundtrack by Francis Lai.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: The vampire war that takes place from Volume 14 to 16. On top of the conflict itself coming off as a side event to the revival of Khaos Brigade under Rizevim, virtually all pure-blooded vampires at the time were portrayed as barbaric people who only think of themselves, making it very difficult to care who comes out on top. The protagonists themselves have no investment in the war, nor any particular good will toward vampire society in general; their only concern was ensuring Valerie's safety. The Arc even comes off as TrappedByMountainLions, as the only changes from that arc to stick are a bit of CharacterDevelopment for Gasper and the inclusion of Valerie and Elmenhilde later on.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: The vampire war that takes place from Volume 14 to 16. On top of the conflict itself coming off as a side event to the revival of Khaos Brigade under Rizevim, virtually all pure-blooded vampires at the time were portrayed as barbaric people who only think of themselves, making it very difficult to care who comes out on top. The protagonists themselves have no investment in the war, nor any particular good will toward vampire society in general; their only concern was ensuring Valerie's safety. The Arc even comes off as TrappedByMountainLions, as the only changes from that arc to stick are a bit of CharacterDevelopment for Gasper and the inclusion of Valerie and Elmenhilde later on.

** A lot of the above ideas often crop up in Betrayal fan-fiction, particularly after Volume 10, by having Issei become more vengeful towards ORC for their extreme berating of him due to not understanding Rias' feeling for him, despite not realizing that he subconsciously does so because of the trauma Raynare induced on him.

** The level of fanservice is a hot issue. [=DxD=] is well known for its heavy ecchi elements and its extremely perverted protagonist who's gotten several powerups through lust. Some enjoy the fanservice itself and how unapologetically over-the-top it is, while others criticize it for often messing up the tone (especially in the anime, which throws in gratuitous ClothingDamage even in serious moments like Asia dying from Raynare extracting her Sacred Gear) and find Issei impossible to take seriously. Later on, some controversy arose on the opposite end of the spectrum about the fanservice being ''too shallow'', pointing out how long the story has gone without actual sex despite the clear interest in all parties involved and less ecchi-oriented light novels depicting it.

** Issei himself is one. A lot of fans of the series love him due to his LovableSexManiac qualities and overall badass tendencies. However, many of his detractors dislike him ''because'' of those sex maniac qualities, viewing him as too perverted and annoying to be a decent protagonist. Not helping matters is Issei's status as a very blatant EscapistCharacter. One side doesn't mind that aspect of his character, while others feel like he takes the escapism so far that he stops being relatable.

** Issei Hyoudou, who is unable to realize the girls' feelings towards him. Though it's {{justified|Trope}}, given the [[HeroicBSOD psychological damage he received from his experience with Raynare]]. He gets better.

* FriendlyFandoms: More prominently with ''LightNovel/TheTestamentOfSisterNewDevil'', ''LightNovel/DateALive'', ''Manga/DailyLifeWithMonsterGirl'', and ''VideoGame/SenranKagura'', but there is also a chance that a ''[=DxD=]'' fan may also be a fan of ''Manga/ToLoveRu'' ([[VitriolicBestBuds even though the respective fandoms are used to some gibes between each other]]).

** Issei himself is one. A lot of fans of the series love him due to his LoveableSexManiac qualities and overall badass tendencies. However, many of his detractors dislike him ''because'' of those sex maniac qualities, viewing him as too perverted and annoying to be a decent protagonist. Not helping matters is Issei's status as a very blatant EscapistCharacter. One side doesn't mind that aspect of his character, while others feel like he takes the escapism so far that he stops being relatable.

** [[AxCrazy Freed Sellzen]] is an atheist exorcist who joined the Holy Church merely to [[BloodKnight hunt down and kill monsters]]. Upon being excommunicated, Freed [[PsychoForHire loaned out his services]] to multiple villains to quench his blood thirst. [[EstablishingCharacterMoment First seen]] murdering one of Issei Hyodou's clients, Freed attempts to murder Issei himself, and when Asia Argento stops him, he [[AttemptedRape tries to rape her]], fleeing with her when Rias Gremory and her peerage overpower him. Working under the warmonger Kokabiel, Freed nearly beats Irina to death and taunts Kiba with the fact his swords were made from experiments that resulted in the deaths of Kiba's childhood friends. Finally willingly becoming a chimera for one last chance to kill the heroes, Freed even devours Diodora's two knights to further boost his strength.

** Among the Church Trio, Xenovia is far and away the most popular, mostly thanks to her [[TheComicallySerious extremely blunt personality]].