In Hunter x Hunter, Nen abilities have two stages: the foundational "Four Major Techniques (Shidaigyō)" and the developed "application techniques." Application techniques refer to more practical and advanced skills learned after mastering the four major techniques: ten (Tens), zetsu (Zetsu), ren (Ren), and hatsu (Hatsu). "【Related Article】A Complete Guide to Hunter x Hunter's Nen Abilities for Beginners｜From Aura and Seikou to the Four Major Techniques"
If the four major techniques are the "foundation" of Nen abilities, application techniques correspond to "tactics." Even if you have the foundation of using ten to cover your body with aura and ren to amplify that aura, that alone is not effective in combat. By mastering application techniques, you can concentrate aura on specific body parts, discern the opponent’s nen, and scan a wide area, allowing for flexible fighting styles suited to the situation.
There are a total of six application techniques in Nen abilities: Gyou (凝), In (隠), Kou (硬), En (円), Ryu (流), and Ken (堅). These techniques are fundamental skills that professional hunters and nen users must acquire and are frequently used in the battle scenes of the series. Each technique has a distinct role, and by using them appropriately, the scope of combat expands significantly.
This article will thoroughly explain these six application techniques, including their mechanisms, effects, and examples of use in actual combat. By understanding the battle system of nen abilities, you will be able to enjoy the combat scenes in greater depth.
Gyou is particularly important among the nen ability application techniques and is essential in combat. By concentrating aura in the eyes, you can perceive aura and nen abilities concealed by “In,” which are normally invisible.
The basic principle of Gyou is to focus the aura, which is normally dispersed throughout the body, into the eyes. In the usual state of Ten (テン), aura is evenly distributed across the body; however, by using Gyou, you concentrate the aura in your eyes, significantly enhancing **visual nen perception capabilities**.
By using Gyou, you can see the flow of the opponent's aura, which is usually invisible to the naked eye, and discern the aura that has been concealed by In (隠). This is **In battles between Nen users, it is extremely important**that even if the opponent is hiding a Nen-imbued attack, it can be discerned by using Ken. Additionally, it enables the distinction of factors such as the amount and quality of aura, and the concentrated areas, serving as clues to predict the opponent's attack patterns and next moves.
However, while using Ken, aura is concentrated in the eyes, causing a disadvantage in the defensive capability of other body parts. Therefore, it is required to use it accurately at necessary moments rather than using it continuously.
Ken first appeared in the scene where Gon and Killua learned the basics of Nen from Wing. In the Sky Arena, when Wing showed them a paper imbued with Nen using 'Hiding', Gon and Killua were able to perceive that Nen for the first time by using Ken. This scene can be considered a symbolic moment that demonstrates the importance of Ken.
In the Greed Island arc, Gon expertly uses Ken in a dodgeball match against Razor. He uses Ken to assess the power of the Nen-imbued balls thrown by Razor, determining where the aura is concentrated to choose the appropriate way to receive and return the ball.
Moreover, in the Chimera Ant arc during the battle between Netero and the King, Ken plays an important role. The King used Ken to analyze Netero's 100-Type Guanyin attack patterns in an attempt to read his movements. On the other hand, it can be inferred that Netero was also timing his attacks while observing the flow of the King's aura with Ken.
Hisoka is also known as a skilled user of Ken, constantly observing the flow of his opponent’s aura during battles. Particularly in fights against the Phantom Troupe members, his use of Ken to uncover the characteristics of the opponents' Nen abilities and devise countermeasures is depicted. In this way, Ken is essential for Nen users in battles, and without mastering it, one cannot cope with advanced fights.
Hiding is an application technique with the opposite nature of Ken, which minimizes one's aura presence to prevent the opponent from noticing the existence of Nen. It is a highly effective technique in assassination, surprise attacks, and information warfare, making it an essential skill for assassins and hunters engaged in espionage activities.
The basic principle of Hiding is the operation opposite to Ren, that is to **suppress the amount of aura released to the limit**. Normally, in the state of Ten, a small amount of aura is always released from the body, which can be sensed by other Nen users.
By using 隠(In), you can squeeze the release of this aura to the limit, making it appear as if you are not using nen at all.
When 隠(In) is employed, the opponent, who is a nen user, cannot sense your aura through normal observation. However, if they use 凝(Gyo), the hidden aura can be uncovered, so it is not a complete concealment. Still, it allows you to time your attacks when the opponent uses 凝(Gyo), or surprise them by hiding your nen ability, thus giving you an advantageous position in combat.
Additionally, 隠(In) can also be applied to objects or attacks created by nen. If you apply 隠(In) to weapons or tools made with nen, they will appear to the opponent as normal objects, and they will not realize that nen is involved. This can induce carelessness in the opponent or make them neglect their nen defenses, gaining you a **tactical advantage**.
The most impressive example of using 隠(In) is in the assassination techniques of the Zoldyck family, including Killua. For assassins, erasing one's presence is basic, and Killua has been trained in the art of 隠(In) since childhood. In the Greed Island arc, there is a scene where Killua completely erases his nen aura using 隠(In), approaching his opponent without being noticed.
In the Heaven’s Arena arc, Hisoka skillfully uses 隠(In) during his fight with Gon. He applies 隠(In) to his nen ability, “Bungee Gum,” making sure that Gon does not notice its presence. As a result, Gon is unable to perceive the nen thread and is manipulated by Hisoka's strategy.
Moreover, Shalnark of the Phantom Troupe is also known as a master of 隠(In). He uses a mobile phone-type nen ability and cleverly covers that nen with 隠(In) to prevent the opponent from realizing the true nature of the nen ability.
In the Chimera Ant arc, Morau showcases an advanced use of nen by applying 隠(In) to his nen ability involving smoke, hiding the existence of nen beasts lurking in the smoke. Although the smoke itself can be seen, the essence of nen within it cannot be discerned without using 凝(Gyo), which confuses the opponent. Thus, 隠(In) serves not only to erase aura but also plays a crucial role in tactical maneuvering.
“【Related Article】A Thorough Explanation of the Zoldyck Family in Hunter x Hunter | The Family Tree and Abilities of the Assassination Clan”
硬(Kou) is the most aggressive and destructive technique among the applications of nen abilities. By concentrating the aura of the entire body into one point, it can maximize either offensive or defensive power, but this high-risk, high-reward technique leaves other parts completely defenseless while in use.
The basic principle of Hard is to concentrate the amplified aura from Ren at a single point of the body, such as a fist, foot, or weapon. While the normal method of Ten or Ryuu disperses the aura throughout the entire body, Hard literally "concentrates all aura at one point", causing the attack and defense power of that point to increase manifold, from several times to tens of times the normal level.
Attacks using Hard boast **one of the strongest destructive powers among Nen abilities**. It can crush an opponent's defense in a single blow or destroy solid objects. Additionally, when used for defense, it can withstand powerful attacks that would normally be impossible to block.
However, Hard has a **serious drawback**. While concentrating the aura at one point, all other parts of the body become completely defenseless. This means that if you concentrate all your aura in your fist to use Hard, that fist possesses the strongest attack power, but at the same time, the other parts of the body have no Nen defense at all. Therefore, if the opponent finds an opening, there is a high chance of receiving fatal damage.
Hard is a powerful technique, but choosing the wrong situation to use it can be fatal. The situations in which Hard should be used are mainly limited to "situations where a decisive blow is necessary" and "situations where a powerful attack from the opponent must be reliably blocked".
For example, when there is a sure chance to land a blow on an opponent who is defenseless, an attack using Hard can instantly incapacitate them. Additionally, in situations where it is necessary to withstand an opponent's ultimate move, **defense through Hard may be the only means of survival**.
On the other hand, using Hard is extremely dangerous when fighting multiple enemies or in situations where the opponent's movements are unpredictable. Since other parts of the body are defenseless while using Hard, if attacked by another enemy or from an unexpected direction, the risk of sustaining fatal injuries significantly increases.
In the work, Uvogin is depicted as a user of Hard. He is an Enhancer and possesses a special move called "Super Destructive Fist (Big Bang Impact)" that uses Hard. This technique concentrates all aura into the fist and delivers a single lethal blow, with destructive power comparable to that of a small missile.
Uvohgin was fighting while minimizing the risks of Hard, utilizing his overwhelming aura and robust physique.
Additionally, Gon has developed a technique called "Jajanken" that uses Hard. This technique is an application of Hard, where he concentrates his aura into his fist before releasing a powerful attack. Understanding the dangers of Hard, Gon announces his intention with the phrase "First is Rock" before activating the technique, aiming for a fair fight. Thus, Hard is a highly advanced technique that requires the user's judgment and situational awareness.
En is a scouting technique that spreads aura in a spherical shape around oneself, allowing one to sense the location and movements of objects and people within that range. It is a highly versatile application that can be utilized not only in combat but also in vigilance, exploration, and monitoring.
The basic principle of En is to take the aura covering the body with Ten and evenly spread it around at a distance from the body. The spherical area of this aura is called "En," and it can detect the **presence, position, and movements of objects and living beings that enter the range**. It functions similarly to radar or ultrasound, being able to grasp information from areas not visible, making it extremely effective for scouting and vigilance.
The range of En varies greatly depending on the user's amount of aura and technical skill. For novice or training nen users, the limit is about a few meters, but experienced nen users can cover several dozen meters, and advanced users can exceed 100 meters. The wider the range, the better they can sense distant enemies and dangers in advance, providing significant advantages in combat.
However, maintaining En requires continuous emission of aura, which consumes physical strength and concentration. Additionally, the wider the range of En, the thinner the aura becomes, resulting in a tendency for reduced detection accuracy. Therefore, it is important to adjust the range of En according to the situation and maintain an optimal balance.
One of the most impressive examples of En is Nobunaga from the Phantom Troupe. He is a nen user with a combat style using a sword, and he constantly maintains a "4-meter En" within his attack range. Although Nobunaga's En has a narrow range, its accuracy is extremely high, allowing him to instantly slash enemies that enter the range. For him, En is not just a scouting technique but has become an essential element integrated into combat itself.
On the other hand, in the Chimera Ant arc, there is a scene depicting Neferpitou deploying an ultra-wide range circle. Pitou's circle extends over a radius of more than 2 kilometers, allowing her to detect all movements within that vast area. With this overwhelming tracking ability, Pitou was able to single-handedly handle the defense of the royal palace and instantly discover intruders.
Moreover, Nov from the Chimera Ant extermination team is also known as a master of the circle. He possesses the ability to set up entrances to his Nen space, constantly monitoring the surrounding situation with the circle while situating the entrance in a safe location. Nov's circle is on the scale of several dozen meters and serves as a crucial tool supporting tactical decisions.
Zeno Zoldyck is also portrayed as a user of the circle, playing a role in grasping the entire layout of the royal palace through its extensive range in the Chimera Ant arc. For professional hunters and advanced Nen users, the circle is considered a basic skill that serves as a prerequisite for combat, and whether or not one can master the circle often determines the outcome of battles.
Flow is considered one of the most important application techniques in actual combat, enabling the instantaneous change of the aura distribution across various parts of the body. At the moment of attack, the aura is concentrated on the attacking part, while at the moment of defense, it is moved to the defending part, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the offensive and defensive balance.
The fundamental principle of Flow is to change the distribution of aura that is evenly dispersed throughout the body in a tense state (ten) according to the situation. For example, even if the aura is typically distributed in a 50:50 ratio throughout the body, at the moment of attack, it can be instantaneously altered to 70% in the right fist and 30% in the remaining parts, thereby **changing the ratio of the aura instantaneously**. This allows one to concentrate the aura on necessary parts without risking a concentration of all aura to a single point like in Hard (kou).
By mastering Flow, **the switching of offense and defense during combat becomes smooth**. At the moment of attack, enhancing offensive power by concentrating aura in the fists or feet, and at the moment of receiving a counterattack, moving the aura to the defensive part to strengthen defense. This dynamic distribution of aura allows one to fight while always maintaining the optimal balance between offense and defense.
The difficulty of Flow lies in the requirement for instantaneous judgment and precise aura control. During combat, where offense and defense rapidly interchange, it is necessary to adjust to the appropriate distribution each time.
Skilled Nen users can unconsciously master the flow and naturally change the distribution of their aura to match their opponent's movements.
Additionally, there is a significant difference between flow and "hardening". While hardening concentrates all the aura into one point, flow merely changes the "distribution" of the aura. Therefore, even when a large amount of aura is gathered at the attacking part with flow, a certain amount of aura remains in other parts, preventing complete vulnerability. This aspect is one of the reasons why flow is most commonly used in actual combat.
The concept of flow was first explained in detail when Wing teaches Gon and Killua advanced application techniques for their Nen abilities. Wing explained that whether or not a Nen user can master flow in combat against other Nen users often decides the outcome of the battle. He particularly emphasized the importance of concentrating aura on the defensive part at the moment of receiving an opponent's attack, known as "deflecting".
In the Greed Island arc, Gon and Killua train intensively in flow under Biscuit's guidance. Biscuit instructs the two to always be aware of their aura distribution while fighting and specifically asks Killua to switch between attack and defense more quickly and accurately. As a result of this training, their combat abilities improved dramatically. "Related Articles: A Comprehensive Explanation of Gon’s Growth in Hunter x Hunter | The Reason and Cost of Gon’s Awakening"
In the Chimera Ant arc, the importance of flow is depicted in the battle between Knuckle and Gon. Knuckle skillfully utilizes flow to deflect Gon's attacks while looking for opportunities to counterattack. On the other hand, Gon also uses flow to switch between offense and defense, but the difference in experience makes Knuckle's flow more refined, which differentiated the outcome of their battle.
Moreover, in the Chairman Election arc, the battle between Hisoka and Chrollo also showcases both of them skillfully using advanced flow techniques. Particularly, Hisoka demonstrates the ability to read the opponent’s attack patterns, adjusting his aura distribution instantly to deflect attacks with minimal damage. Thus, while flow is a fundamental skill for Nen users, its proficiency significantly influences the outcome of battles.
Hard is an endurance technique that maintains the aura amplified with Ren in a state of Ten. While it is the most basic among the applied techniques, it is a vital skill that serves as the foundation for defense in combat and is also a pillar of training that develops a Nen user's physical and mental strength.
The basic principle of Hard is to maintain the aura amplified with Ren throughout the entire body in a state of Ten.
Typically, Keen is a basic technique that envelops the body with a thin aura, but through training, it maintains a large amount of aura that has been amplified for a long period of time. This significantly enhances the overall defensive capability of the body, allowing it to withstand attacks that would normally be fatal.
When using Keen, the entire body is covered by a solid aura barrier. In this state, not only physical attacks but also attacks imbued with nen exhibit a high level of defense. Additionally, by continuing to envelop the body in aura, it helps conserve stamina. Keen becomes an essential technique in situations where endurance is required, such as prolonged battles or infiltration missions in enemy territory.
However, maintaining Keen requires high concentration and stamina. Keeping the amplified aura for an extended period can be a significant burden both mentally and physically. For beginners, just maintaining Keen for a few minutes can leave them exhausted. Therefore, mastering Keen requires diligent training, starting with short durations and gradually extending the maintenance time.
Moreover, since Keen is a technique specialized for defense, it does not directly contribute to increasing offensive power. During combat, it is necessary to combine Keen with other techniques, such as using Flow to concentrate aura on attacking areas, or switching to Hard as needed.
The mastery of Keen is an important milestone in the training of nen users. In the story, Wing gives Gon and Killua the challenge of being able to maintain Keen for three hours. This training is extremely rigorous, and although the two often feel like giving up, they ultimately achieve their goal. This experience solidified their foundation as nen users.
In the Greed Island arc, Biscuit sets a more advanced training regimen for Gon and Killua, requiring them to "always maintain Keen even during battles." Through practical experience, they became proficient enough to use Keen instinctively. This training led to significant growth as nen users, allowing them to confront more powerful enemies.
In real combat, Keen can be considered the "basic stance" of fighting. Professional hunters and skilled nen users first deploy Keen to fortify their overall defense when entering a fight. While maintaining Keen, they use Flow to adjust the balance of offense and defense, combining other applied techniques like Hard and Condensing as necessary. With a solid Keen, one can respond to unexpected attacks and avoid fatal injuries.
In the Chimera Ant arc, there is a scene where Moral explains the importance of Keen. Moral emphasizes that "hunters who cannot maintain Keen are irrelevant when battling nen users," highlighting how Keen is a fundamental and vital technique.
Additionally, Knuckle and Shoot conducted training to test Gon and Killua's ability to maintain Ken堅, assessing their strengths.
In this way, Ken堅 may seem like a simple technique, but it is an indicator of the fundamental physical and mental strength of a Nen user, and is an important skill that greatly affects survival rates in real combat.
So far, we have elaborated on the six application techniques in Hunter x Hunter’s Nen: Gyo凝, In隠, Kō硬, En円, Ryū流, and Ken堅. Each technique has a clear role, and by using them appropriately according to the situation, it significantly broadens the scope of combat.
Gyo凝 is a visual enhancement technique used to see through an opponent's Nen, while In隠 is a technique for hiding one's own Nen to deceive the opponent. These two are intrinsically linked and play an important role in the strategic interplay between Nen users. Kō硬 is a decisive technique that concentrates all aura into one point, serving as a high-risk, high-reward means of offense and defense. En円 is a detection technique that spreads the aura over a wide area, essential for information gathering and vigilance before combat. Ryū流 is a technique at the heart of practical combat that dynamically changes aura distribution, facilitating smooth transitions between offense and defense. Ken堅 is a durational technique that establishes the basic defensive posture, serving as an indicator of a Nen user's fundamental physical stamina.
In actual combat, it is common to not use these application techniques in isolation but to combine them instead. For example, one might solidify defensive measures with Ken堅 while using Ryū流 to adjust the balance between offense and defense, observing the opponent's aura with Gyo凝 as needed, and delivering a decisive strike with Kō硬 at the critical moment. Skilled Nen users naturally and effectively combine these application techniques in battle.
By understanding the application techniques of Nen, you can enjoy the battle scenes in the story more deeply. By discerning what techniques the characters are using and why they chose those techniques at that moment, the tactical aspects of the battles are heightened immensely. The Nen ability system in Hunter x Hunter is intricately designed, and it can be said that this depth is one of the attractions of the work. "Related Article: Hunter x Hunter Strength Ranking TOP 30 | A Thorough Exploration of Who is the Strongest Character"
Whether you are about to read Hunter x Hunter or have already read it, please make use of the knowledge of application techniques learned in this article to enjoy the work even more.
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