The is a non-governmental organization responsible for the testing and licensing of —a person that has proven themselves through rigorous examination to be an elite member of humanity and who specializes in finding rare creatures, secret treasures, and other individuals. With the passing of the examination, a Hunter is awarded a license which bestows a number of benefits on the licensee. This results in massive registration numbers for the annual licensing exam with an extremely high failure rate.
Isaac Netero : is the Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Hunter Exam. Presiding over it, he has final authority over every stage of the examination and is assisted by his secretary , who helps organize the Hunter Exam and presents the successful candidates with their license. Netero claims to have been the strongest Nen user in the world over 50 years ago. Over 60 years ago, Netero spent four years rigorously training every day in order to express gratitude to the martial arts. He eventually attained
enlightenment, giving him the ability to punch faster than the speed of sound and the power of the bodhisattva
Guanyin. Netero is also the Grand Master of the style of Kung fu. Netero leads the team hired to exterminate the Chimera Ants, but after losing an arm and a leg and unable to inflict any significant damage on Meruem, he commits suicide by detonating bomb implanted in his own body. Survivors of the bomb's blast are eaten alive from the inside by poison, and can contaminate others. Isaac Netero is the father of
Beyond Netero, whose existence was kept secret until his death.
Zodiacs The are the high council of the Hunter Association composed of 12 top Hunters personally selected by Chairman Netero. They have a code name based on a sign of the
Chinese zodiac, and are tasked to decide the nature of Netero's succession after his death. Out of loyalty to the chairman, most alter their behavior, physical traits, and even their legal names based on the animal each represents. With Beyond Netero and
Kakin intent on an expedition to the Dark Continent, the Zodiacs travel with them as chaperones hired by the V5, a group of the five most powerful nations of the world. They also aim to explore it before Beyond, as asked by Chairman Netero.
Ging Freecss : is a Double Star Ruins Hunter and Gon's father and motivation to become a Hunter. He left Whale Island to become a Hunter before he turned 12 years old, only returning ten years later to ask his grandmother to take care of Gon for a while. But Mito felt him unfit to parent and gained custody of Gon, and Ging never returned again. He is the main creator of the
Greed Island video game, and is also the one who captured and placed
Razor in the game. A member of the Zodiacs, his code name is the "
Boar" and he is one of the only two members who do not mimic their corresponding animal. At the end of the chairman election, Ging at last meets Gon. He tells Gon to apologize to Kite and about the meaning of adventure before they once again part ways. He then resigns from the Zodiacs and joins Beyond Netero's expedition to the Dark Continent, buying his way into second-in-command in name only. Ging claims that he does not want to see Gon because he is too ashamed of himself for being absent in Gon's life due to his own selfishness, and challenges his son to find him. He appears confident in Gon's abilities and that he would become a Hunter; he left Gon a memory card for
Greed Island and a recorded message with Mito, to give to him once he did. Ging apparently trusted that Gon would eventually recover from his hospitalization. All information about Ging is classified even in the official Hunter database. He is Kite's teacher and also inspired
Satotz to become a Hunter. Chairman Netero once told Biscuit that Ging is one of the top five best Nen users in the world. Ging tied with Silva for 15th place in the series' first popularity poll.
Cheadle Yorkshire : is a woman from the Zodiacs code named the "
Dog". She is a Triple Star Hunter, a doctor, and
jurist known as the Disease Hunter. She is generally shown as an intelligent person. In the chairman election, Cheadle repeatedly comes in second or third place, until she asks her supporters to vote for Leorio instead in order to prevent Pariston from winning. Pariston wins but gives his position to her because he only wanted to have fun. After she officially becomes chairman, Cheadle accepts the resignations of Ging and Pariston and the Zodiacs chaperone Beyond Netero's trip to the Dark Continent. On the expedition, she is a part of the science team and directs the center medical care facility on the third deck.
Mizaistom Nana : , code named the "
Ox", is a Double Star Crime Hunter and said to be a man with common sense. He is also a lawyer and manages a private security company. Within the Zodiacs, he, Cheadle, Botobai and Ginta constitute the moderate conservative faction and often work together. At the end of the chairman election, Mizaistom asks his supporters to vote for Cheadle in order to prevent Pariston from winning. On the expedition, he is a part of the intelligence team and devotes his attention to decks three and four, where the crime rate is much higher than expected. His ability uses blue cards to admit people to his "courtroom", yellow to immobilize them, and red to dismiss them from the courtroom.
Botobai Gigante : , code named the "
Dragon", is a Triple Star Hunter. He is the most senior member of the Zodiacs and was close to Netero. He is a public prosecutor, military analyst, and Terrorist Hunter. Within the Zodiacs, he, Cheadle, Mizaistom and Ginta constitute the moderate conservative faction and often work together. On the expedition, he is a part of the defense team. He and Mizaistom help the royal troops and private security to maintain order and handle the criminal issues on the Black Whale, with Botobai also acting as a court official.
Kanzai : , code named the "
Tiger", is a hot-tempered bodyguard and Treasure Hunter. He has a short temper as shown when he easily gets mad when Pariston and Hisoka tease him. Within the Zodiacs, he, Gel and Saccho constitute the liberal/apolitical faction and often work together. On the expedition, he is a part of the defense team and stands guard over Beyond's cell with Saccho and Saiyu.
Pyon : , code named the "
Rabbit", is a linguist, interpreter and Paleograph Hunter. She appears to be proficient in technology, as she is often seen on her phone or a laptop. Within the Zodiacs, she, Cluck and Saiyu constitute the reform faction and often work together. During the later rounds of the chairman election, Pyon acts as
master of ceremonies. On the expedition, she is a part of the intelligence team and makes software to recognize any ancient languages they might encounter on the Dark Continent.
Gel : , code named the "
Snake", is a woman with a calm attitude. She has the ability to change her arms into a snake which she uses to briefly threaten Pariston when he suggests the Zodiacs to make him the Chairman without election. Within the Zodiacs, she, Kanzai and Saccho constitute the liberal/apolitical faction and often work together. She is a coroner, pharmacist and Poison Hunter. On the expedition, she is a part of the science team.
Cluck : , code named the "
Chicken", is one of the most short-tempered members in the Zodiacs. She appears to have the power to manipulate birds, as shown when she delivers all Hunters ballots for the election. Within the Zodiacs, she, Pyon and Saiyu constitute the reform faction and often work together. She is a musician, dancer, and Botanical Hunter. On the expedition, she is a part of the flora/fauna team and plans to collect intelligence and plants after landing.
Saccho Kobayakawa : , code named the "
Horse", is a Double Star Problem Hunter. He appears to be very strict about the rules, and is known as the "Worry Hunter". He is a detective and handyman. Within the Zodiacs, he, Kanzai and Gel constitute the liberal/apolitical faction and often work together. On the expedition, he is a part of the intelligence team and stands guard over Beyond's cell with Kanzai and Saiyu.
Ginta : , code named the "
Sheep", is a ranger and Poacher Hunter. He seems to be very sensitive when it comes to Netero's death, but he gets very mad when Pariston suggests himself to be chairman without an election. Within the Zodiacs, he, Cheadle, Mizaistom and Botobai constitute the moderate conservative faction and often work together. On the expedition, he is a part of the flora/fauna team.
Saiyu : , code named the "
Monkey", is a man whose appearance is reminiscent of the
Monkey King. A Bounty Hunter and martial artist, he also has a staff as his weapon. His ability consists of three Nen Monkeys; See No Evil robs an opponent of their sight if the attack connects, Hear No Evil robs them of their hearing, and Speak No Evil robs them of their speech. Within the Zodiacs, he, Pyon and Cluck constitute the reform faction and often work together. He is Pariston's informant within the Zodiacs. On the expedition, he is a part of the defense team and stands guard over Beyond's cell with Kanzai and Saccho.
Examiners The Hunter Exam is divided into several stages, each one overseen by an experienced hunter. In the first shown exam in the series, the first examiner is , who tests the candidates' stamina by leading them on a marathon of unknown length through a tunnel and a swampland filled with uniquely dangerous creatures. The second stage of the exam is administered by two Gourmet Hunters, and . Although Menchi fails all of the candidates due to her stubbornness, Netero pressures her into giving the candidates an alternative test. The third stage is overseen by Bounty Hunter and prison warden , testing the candidates in different aspects of group dynamics, both in a communal and individual front. Chairman Netero organizes the final stage as a one-on-one fighting tournament, where the winner must get his opponent to admit defeat. In a twist, contestants pass the exam after winning only one fight with the loser advancing to the next round, meaning only one examinee will fail. Satotz came in seventh and 22nd place in the series' first two popularity polls.
Examinees The examinees that took part in the 287th annual Hunter Exam, the year the series' main characters took the exam.
Hanzo : is an 18-year-old
shinobi who has trained in the art of
ninjutsu since he was born. He decided to become a Hunter in order to find the elusive Hermit's Scroll. In the second test of the exam, featuring cooking, he is the only one to know what sushi is, as it is a dish from his home country, Japan. In the final test of the Hunter Exam, Hanzo is put against Gon in a fight where one of them must admit defeat. Despite his speed, strength, and battle experience easily exceeding that of Gon, Gon refuses even after Hanzo breaks his arm. Noting the lack of hate in Gon's eyes after this act, Hanzo realizes he actually has come to like him. He willingly bows out of the battle, giving Gon the victory needed for him to pass the exam. Hanzo wins and passes the exam himself when he threatens the same to Pokkle in his next match, becoming a licensed Hunter. It is later stated by Wing that Hanzo learned Nen after the Hunter Exam. Hanzo later reappears in the Dark Continent arc as part of Kurapika's party and becomes a bodyguard of prince
Momoze. Ordered by her mother to protect Marayam instead of Momoze, a furious Hanzo blames himself when Momoze is killed and vows to make the murderer pay. Hanzo came in eighth and 16th place in the series' first two popularity polls.
Tonpa : is nicknamed the "Rookie Crusher" by candidates with more experience taking the exam. He has taken the exam for 35 consecutive terms, never managing to pass. He often brags of his experience to those taking the exam for the first time and offers them a helping hand. This is merely subterfuge, as he takes a perverse pleasure in sabotaging their attempts to get the license. This time around, he trails Gon, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio while attempting various means to foil their advancement. In order to do this, he uses methods like spiking drinks with a strong
laxative and being contradictory simply to delay progress in a time-sensitive arena. He also attends the following Hunter Exam, where he, along with everyone else, is defeated by Killua.
Pokkle : is an accomplished archer that carries a bow and quiver of arrows wherever he goes. The arrows are tipped with a potent tranquilizer that, even with a small nick, induces paralysis for any person for up to a week. Pokkle's aim is to become a successful hunter of undocumented fantastic beasts. He passes the exam and becomes a licensed Hunter. Pokkle is then seen in N.G.L. with Ponzu and several others before their group is attacked by Chimera Ants. Pokkle is poisoned by Zazan and brought to the colony to be fed to the Queen, but, using a hidden antidote, is able to restore some movement and hide before the Chimera Ants start searching for him for his knowledge on Nen. However, the newly born Neferpitou senses Pokkle hiding and he is subjected to his brain being prodded by the Royal Guard to divulge everything he knows about Nen before being killed. Pokkle's Nen ability, , creates a bow in his left hand and an arrow in his right; red arrows burst into flames on contact and orange are his fastest. Pokkle came in 12th and 18th place in the series' first two popularity polls.
Ponzu : is one of the 24 that managed to enter the fourth stage of the Hunter Exam. She fights using chemical weapons, a wide variety of toxins, and prefers to set traps instead of fighting head on. Her secret weapon lies within her round cap, carrying neurotoxic bees under the surface that emerge and attack her enemies when she is threatened. During this stage, her bees instinctively end up killing Bourbon after she falls into his trap. Ponzu is rescued by Gon, but her badge is taken when she is unconscious so Leorio can pass, causing her to fail the exam. She also attends the following Hunter Exam, where she, along with everyone else, is defeated by Killua. Ponzu is then seen in N.G.L. with Pokkle and several others before their group is attacked by Chimera Ants. The group is killed by Zazan's squad, but she escapes long enough to send one of her bees with a message to the strongest Hunter nearby, who happens to be Kite. She is shot and eaten moments later by a gun-wielding Chimera Ant. Ponzu came in ninth place in the series' first popularity poll.
Chimera Ant Exterminators With the infestation of man-sized Chimera Ants within N.G.L., the Hunter Association sends an official team to investigate and contain the threat. The extermination team is led by none other than Chairman Netero himself. Netero handpicks those who are to accompany him, causing significant political bickering within the Hunter Association.
Morel Mackernasey : is a Hunter and member of the team tasked with exterminating the Chimera Ants. A tough yet very compassionate man with long hair and sunglasses, he is Knuckle Bine and
Shoot McMahon's master, and acknowledged by Netero to be about equal to himself. He uses a giant
smoking pipe and the smoke produced by it as his weapons. With his Nen ability , Morel creates smoke puppets that act independently from him once commands are issued. Morel shows himself as an experienced and resourceful fighter, such as in his fight against Leol wherein he uses his pipe as a snorkel to allow himself to breathe underwater, and in doing so suffocates his opponent with emitted carbon dioxide. After the Chimera Ant incident is resolved, Morel is expected to be promoted to Triple Star Hunter.
Knov : is a Hunter and member of the team tasked with exterminating the Chimera Ants. An intelligent man dressed in glasses and a suit, he is Palm's master and a target of her affections, and acknowledged by Netero to be about equal to himself. Knov's Nen ability is similar to teleportation in that he creates portals to a Nen dimension. Inside this four-floor Nen mansion, he can store items or people. While others can only exit from a predetermined place, Knov can use his master key to exit from any previously set portal he wants. While infiltrating Meruem's palace solo in order to place portals, Knov sees Shaiapouf's aura, which frightens him so much that he suffers a severe nervous breakdown. When he later returns to save the injured during the attack, his black hair has turned white from the psychological trauma.
Knuckle Bine : is a Beast Hunter and Morel's pupil. Despite appearing to be an aggressive man, Knuckle is very compassionate and easily moved to tears. He also gets along well with animals, having the habit of taking care of abandoned pets. Knuckle's Nen ability is , where by lending some aura to his opponent via a punch, he attaches a small indestructible Nen-creature called or A.P.R. for short. It follows the opponent wherever they go and grows each successive time Knuckle hits them and by 10% interest on the borrowed aura every ten seconds. The opponent pays Knuckle back by hitting him, but he will not take damage until the debt is fully paid, and if the aura count exceeds their total remaining aura, the opponent goes bankrupt. At this point A.P.R. transforms into or I.R.S. for short, which attaches itself and forces the debtor into
Zetsu unable to use Nen for 30 days. A drawback is that A.P.R. can only be activated on a single person at a time.
Shoot McMahon : is an Unidentified Beast Hunter with one arm and Morel's pupil. Shoot's Nen ability is and involves manipulating a cage and three disembodied hands that levitate. Shoot can shrink and seal off what is hit by his hands, in the cage. He has a timid personality and is often afraid of taking advantage of opportune times to attack his enemy. In the fight against Youpi during the extermination team's raid on East Gorteau, Shoot becomes inspired by Gon, and by facing adversity is able to overcome his timidness and fight without concern for his life.
Palm Siberia : is the pupil of Knov, for whom she has affections. In order for her to accompany Knov on the extermination, Gon and Killua must defeat Knuckle and Shoot within one month, so Palm contacts Biscuit to train them further. On most occasions, she appears disheveled and stressed, exuding a frightening aura. However, she is depicted as quite beautiful when dressed up. She develops a crush on Gon, but is unable to further their relationship. Palm can see the location of anyone she has seen with her own eyes by using a small
mermaid crystal ball relic fed by her blood. Palm is sent into the Chimera Ant King's palace undercover as a secretary to Director Bizeff, the man who actually ran East Gorteau behind the scenes, in order to lay eyes on the King and Royal Guards and track them. She is captured and transformed into a Chimera Ant-hybrid, with the Nen ability creating defensive outfits from her hair wrapping over her body. Killua manages to help Palm regain her memories and return to the side of the Hunters. Palm's clairvoyant ability reformed into , which enables her to see the last three people seen by her right eye in the crystal ball on her forehead when she covers that same eye.
Meleoron : is a chameleon-themed Chimera Ant squadron leader and an eccentric pacifist who dislikes fighting or killing, admitting that his fighting strength is on par with a lowly soldier ant. Leaving the colony following the death of Peggy by Meruem, Meleron gradually regained the memories of his past life as a human named and that Peggy was originally his foster father. This motivates him to swear revenge on the King and he teams up with Gon, whom he deems an ideal ally for this purpose. Meleoron's Nen ability renders himself invisible and undetectable by smell, sound or even touch as long as he holds his breath. His other ability, allows him to use Perfect Plan on anyone he is touching.
Ikalgo : , is an octopus-themed Chimera Ant that wishes he was born as a squid. Although he attacked Killua first, Killua stops him from committing suicide as he could imagine them being friends, and in return Ikalgo later saves the boy's life. Ikalgo can turn two of his tentacles into an
air gun, can manipulate corpses with his Nen ability , and can use the corpse's Nen abilities as well. When manipulating a corpse he can use to fire special fleas from his gun. Having actually become friends, Ikalgo allies with Killua and the Hunters and is tasked with finding and escaping with
Palm during the assault on the palace.
Others Kite : is the very first Hunter introduced in the story. A student of Ging Freecss, Gon's father, he traveled to Whale Island three years prior to the start of the series looking for leads in order to pass his final test, find Ging. After saving Gon from a foxbear, Kite revealed to him that his father is alive and the best Hunter there is, inspiring Gon to follow in his father's footsteps. After completing
Greed Island Gon runs into Kite again, who, after finding Ging, is in the middle of a biological survey searching for new species in the country of Kakin. He is leading a team of young would-be Hunters named Banana Kavaro, Lin Koshi, Monta Yuras, Podungo Lapoy, Spinner Clow, and Stick Dinner. His Nen ability is where a clown-head randomly chooses a number from 1 to 9 and summons respective weapons, which he can not put away until he uses. Kite is killed by Neferpitou and his body rebuilt into a manipulated puppet to train the Chimera Ants. He is captured by Knuckle and Shoot, with Gon vowing to save him and get revenge. It is later revealed that Meruem's twin sister found on the Queen's corpse is Kite reborn as a female Chimera Ant. Ging claims that Crazy Slots has a number that only comes up when Kite "really doesn't want to die" and suspects this is the reason he is "alive". While named Reina by Colt, Kite quickly matured while regaining the memories and personality of her former human male self and helps snap Gon out of his depression. Kite also forces , the koala-humanoid Chimera Ant hitman, to become her subordinate as penitence for the death of a girl whose physical appearance Kite has assumed as a Chimera Ant. Kite came in tenth place in the series' first popularity poll.
Izunavi : , named in the 2011 anime, is a Hunter and Kurapika's Nen teacher. Izunavi teaches him about Nen and informs him of the ability to make Contracts that strengthen the abilities based on how strict the limitation the user places. He reappears in the Dark Continent arc as part of Kurapika's party, becoming a bodyguard of prince
Tyson. Izunavi came in 24th place in the series' second popularity poll.
Melody : is a Music Hunter and is the kind and understanding member of Neon's bodyguards. She is always ready to listen to anyone's confessions and has the gift to put people at ease. As Leorio notes, she is one of the very few characters who have made Kurapika open up to them. Melody's physical appearance is in sharp contrast to her kind soul. Due to effects of the "Sonata of Darkness", a musical piece said to have been written by Satan himself, casting on whoever listens to it a great curse, her body is short and her right arm disfigured. One night, Melody and her friend were drunk, and her friend played the Sonata. Its power was so great, that upon hearing only the first movement of the flute solo, Melody was disfigured. Her friend was not so lucky; his entire body was disfigured like Melody's arm and he died after playing it. Melody gained her Nen abilities in exchange. Melody's goal is to find the Sonata of Darkness and destroy it. Melody has the ability to Emit her aura to people to soothe fatigue when she plays an instrument. Melody also has a very sharp sense of hearing and can tell a person's psychological state just by listening to their heartbeat. For example, she knows when people are lying or when someone has completely lost his/her temper. Melody reappears in the Dark Continent arc as part of Kurapika's party, becoming a bodyguard of prince
Kacho. Melody was inspired by
Nausicaä and
Yupa in Hayao Miyazaki's
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, or possibly Ashitaka from
Princess Mononoke instead of Yupa. Melody came in 20th place in the series' second popularity poll.
Basho : is one of Neon Nostrade's new bodyguards, hired along with Kurapika. When first introduced, he is quick to underestimate Kurapika, but after Kurapika's display of his Dowsing Chain, he grows respect for him. Basho returns in the Dark Continent storyline as part of Kurapika's infiltration party, becoming a bodyguard of the prince
Luzurus. His Nen ability is called The Wandering Haiku Poet ((放浪の俳人, Hōrō no Haijin)), wherein Basho writes a
haiku describing a condition on a piece of paper (such as "Anything I hit will explode"), which then comes true. ==Zoldyck Family==