If there is one story arc in Hunter x Hunter that transforms a good shonen into a masterpiece of tension and moral ambiguity, it is the Phantom Troupe arc. Set against the shadowy back alleys and opulent auction houses of Yorknew City, this stretch of episodes plunges viewers into Kurapika’s obsession for vengeance while introducing the Phantom Troupe, a band of thieves as charismatic as they are merciless. For anyone diving into the series, knowing which episodes to prioritize—and which filler material to skip—can make the experience far more compelling. This guide breaks down the arc’s narrative core, highlights essential episodes across different adaptations, and lists the filler you can safely leave behind.

The Phantom Troupe Arc: A Narrative Powerhouse

The Phantom Troupe arc, often referred to as the Yorknew City arc, occupies episodes 37 through 58 of the 2011 anime adaptation. That run comprises nothing but tightly woven canon material, a rarity in long-running shonen. In the 1999 adaptation, the corresponding episodes are spread across a wider range—roughly 45 through 70—with several filler episodes slipped in. The arc itself is a masterclass in pacing: it opens quietly with Gon and Killua following a money trail, then erupts into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse between the mafia, the Troupe, and Kurapika’s razor-sharp Nen abilities.

Setting the Stage: Yorknew City’s Underworld

After the Heavens Arena tournament, Gon and Killua attempt to acquire a copy of the rare game Greed Island at the Yorknew auction. What they encounter instead is a crime syndicate battlefield. The Nostrade family, the Shadow Beasts, and the Ten Dons all vie for power, but they are outclassed the moment the Phantom Troupe descends on the underground auction. The city becomes a pressure cooker of shifting alliances, and the storytelling never wastes a scene; even seemingly minor details—a cup of coffee, a cellphone call—carry enormous weight.

Themes of Revenge and Identity

The arc’s emotional gravity rests on Kurapika’s quest to recover the stolen Scarlet Eyes of his murdered clan and his desire to destroy the Troupe. Yet the narrative never treats him as a simple hero. His Nen contract, Emperor Time, burns his life away with every second of use, and his willingness to kill Uvogin and then Chrollo pushes him into a gray area where vengeance looks indistinguishable from the violence he despises. Simultaneously, the Phantom Troupe’s internal code of loyalty—especially their attachment to their leader, Chrollo—creates a strange mirror. Chrollo himself is an enigma, a quiet intellectual who treasures his comrades like limbs of a spider. The arc forces the audience to confront uncomfortable questions: Is the Troupe any less of a family than the one Kurapika lost? And what does winning revenge actually cost?

Essential Episodes to Watch (2011 Adaptation)

The 2011 Hunter x Hunter series is famously free of filler, so every episode within the Yorknew City arc advances character and plot. If you are watching that version, simply begin at episode 37 and proceed through episode 58 without skipping anything. Here is how the arc unfolds in broad strokes:

  • Episodes 37–40: Gon, Killua, and Leorio travel to Yorknew and become entangled with the Nostrade family. Kurapika reveals his Nen chains and his plan to infiltrate the auction.
  • Episodes 41–44: The Phantom Troupe attacks the underground auction and steals the merchandise. Members begin to die; a tense standoff develops.
  • Episodes 45–50: Kurapika captures Uvogin and then kills him. The Troupe mounts a retaliatory attack on the mafia community, culminating in the massacre at the cemetery—the chilling “Requiem.”
  • Episodes 51–58: Chrollo and the Troupe hunt for the chain user. Hostages are taken. Pakunoda’s sacrifice and the exchange at the auction house bring the arc to a devastating close. Kurapika obtains the last Scarlet Eyes, but at a profound personal loss.

Because the adaptation follows the manga so closely, there is no filler material to prune. The arc ends with a clear pivot toward the Greed Island game, setting up the next saga.

Filler in the 1999 Anime: What to Skip

The 1999 Hunter x Hunter anime, while beloved for its darker atmosphere and evocative soundtrack, padded its runtime with several filler episodes and a few recap specials. Some of those filler entries interrupt the flow of the Phantom Troupe storyline or add side missions that have no impact on the main narrative. If you are watching that version, the following episodes are widely considered skippable without missing any essential character development or plot points.

Filler Episodes During the Phantom Troupe Saga

Note that the episode numbers below correspond to the 1999 Nippon Animation series. The arc spans the Yorknew City tension and bleeds into the early Greed Island episodes.

  • Episode 63: “The Third Hunter Exam.” This is a completely original side story that imagines a new Hunter Exam while the main cast is in Yorknew. It has no bearing on the Phantom Troupe plotline and can be skipped.
  • Episode 64: “The Last Mission.” An anime-original mission involving Gon and Killua that distracts from the auction house fallout. Watching it will not deepen your understanding of the Troupe or Kurapika’s arc.
  • Episode 67: “Inside the Underground Auction.” Although it features some action sequences, this episode is largely a recap and filler reimagining of events already covered. It does not advance the story.
  • Episode 70: “The Phantom Troupe’s Secret.” This episode offers speculative backstory for the Troupe, but the content is not canon. For a genuine understanding of their past, the manga and 2011 anime provide the definitive material much later in the series.
  • Episode 74: “The Last Duel.” A standalone conflict that revolves around side characters and an invented duel. The core narrative resolves without it.

After skipping these five episodes, you can follow the remaining 1999 episodes seamlessly. The emotional beats—Kurapika’s rage, Chrollo’s capture, and Pakunoda’s heart-wrenching decision—land exactly as intended.

Character Depth and Why It Resonates

What elevates the Phantom Troupe arc beyond a typical revenge plot is how thoroughly it mines its characters for complexity. Almost every member of the cast is pushed to a breaking point, and the audience gets to watch them rebuild—or shatter.

Kurapika’s Transformation

When Kurapika first appears in the series, he is the calm and principled foil to Gon’s impulsiveness. The massacre of the Kurta Clan shattered his childhood, but it is in Yorknew that we see him weaponize that trauma. His Nen ability, Emperor Time, allows him to use all Nen categories at 100% efficiency when his Scarlet Eyes become active—at the cost of one hour of his lifespan for every second of activation. This self-destructive bargain underscores the arc’s thesis: revenge is a poison that consumes the avenger as thoroughly as the target. His brutal evisceration of Uvogin, a man he considered nothing more than a monster, forces him to confront the monster he himself is becoming. By the time he collapses at the auction house, his body ravaged by fever and grief, the viewer understands that his victory is a hollow one.

The Phantom Troupe as Antagonists

The Troupe are not faceless villains. Chrollo Lucilfer leads with a quiet, almost scholarly detachment, yet weeps when he loses Uvogin. Machi and Phinks argue over strategy, but their loyalty to the Spider is absolute. Feitan’s sadism, Shizuku’s air-headedness, and Uvogin’s raw strength paint a group portrait that feels like a dysfunctional, lethal family. The arc’s most unforgettable sequence, the Requiem for Uvogin, shows them slaughtering the mafia forces not out of greed but grief—a terrifying inversion that makes them sympathetic and more disturbing at once. By refusing to flatten the Troupe into simple evil, Togashi ensures that the audience never fully knows whom to root for.

Side Characters Who Shine

Though the main focus rests on Kurapika and the Troupe, several side characters leave an indelible mark. Melody, the gentle music enhancer, provides a moral compass and a haunting observation about Kurapika’s heartbeat growing darker. Basho’s hot-headed loyalty to the Nostrade family adds levity. Even Killua, usually the calm strategist, is rattled when he realizes his father and grandfather have been hired to assassinate Chrollo, tying his own family drama into the chaos. These threads weave a rich tapestry without ever feeling like distractions.

Impact on the Overall Series

The Phantom Troupe arc is not a closed chapter; its repercussions echo throughout the rest of Hunter x Hunter. Chrollo’s Nen exorcism and subsequent return as a major player, Hisoka’s simmering betrayal, and Kurapika’s continuing mission in the Succession Contest arc all trace back to decisions made in Yorknew. The arc also introduces the concept of Nen theft, something that becomes pivotal as the power system grows more intricate. Most importantly, it sets a tonal standard: the series will never settle for simple resolutions, and the cost of power is always personal.

Where to Watch and Additional Resources

For the most streamlined experience, the 2011 Hunter x Hunter anime is available on streaming platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix (availability varies by region). If you prefer the 1999 classic, it can be found on select retro anime services or home video. For a comprehensive list of filler episodes across all arcs, the fan-maintained guide at Anime Filler List is a reliable reference. The official Hunter × Hunter Wiki also offers deeper dives into each character’s abilities and history.

Making the Most of the Phantom Troupe Arc

Whether you are revisiting the series or experiencing it for the first time, the Phantom Troupe arc rewards close attention. The 2011 anime delivers a flawless canon cut; the 1999 version, when the filler is excised, offers a grittier aesthetic and a nostalgic charm. Skip the episodes listed above, and you will be left with a lean, emotionally devastating story that stands as one of the finest arcs in anime history. The Troupe’s shadow looms large over the rest of the series, and understanding their debut is essential to appreciating the depth and darkness that define Hunter x Hunter.