Hisoka Morow
Hisoka Morow
ヒソカ゠モロウ
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| Hisoka Morow
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| Characteristics | |
| Also known as | The Magician Grim Reaper |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | Unkown |
| Height | 187 cm* (6′1½″) 190+ cm (6′3″+) |
| Weight | 91 kg (200.2 lbs) |
| Birthday | June 6 |
| Eye Color | Blue (1999) Yellow (2011) |
| Hair Color | Blue (1999) Red/Fuchsia (1999, 2011) |
| Debuts | |
| Manga | Chapter 5 |
| Anime | Episode 6 (1999) Episode 3 (2011) |
| Personal Status | |
| Status | Alive |
| General Status | |
| Affiliation | Hunter Association Heavens Arena |
| Previous Affiliation | Phantom Troupe |
| Occupation | Hunter Floor Master |
| Previous Occupation | Thief Phantom Troupe Member #4 286th & 287th Hunter Exam Examinee (#44 in the last) Heavens Arena Combatant Greed Island Player |
| Portrayal | |
| Japanese Voice | Hiroki Takahashi (1999) Daisuke Namikawa (2011) |
| English Voice | Annika Odegard (1999) |
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“My greatest pleasure comes when such people buckle to their knees and I look down upon their disbelieving faces as their plans fail.“ |
Appearance
Hisoka’s appearance is reminiscent of a magician or jester, characterized by his flamboyant and eccentric style. He is tall, with fair skin and a notably muscular build. His attire often features playing card suit symbols (♦/♦ ♣/♣ ♥/♥ ♠/♠) on his front and back, and he frequently changes outfits with each arc of the series. A defining feature of Hisoka’s look is the face paint he wears: a star (★) on his right cheek and a teardrop (💧) on his left cheek. In the 2011 anime adaptation, the colors of his face paint occasionally shift, matching his ever-changing outfits.
2011 Anime Adaptation Appearance.
Throughout the series, Hisoka’s accessories also evolve. In the Greed Island arc, he is seen wearing the Greed Island Ring on his left middle finger, while in the 13th Hunter Chairman Election arc, he dons a pair of earrings with heart-shaped ornaments. One particularly unusual feature of Hisoka is his long, pointed nails, which give his hands a claw-like appearance—perhaps a subtle nod to his sinister and unpredictable nature.
Hisoka’s hair and overall look have also undergone several transformations across different adaptations. In his debut appearance in the 1999 anime, Hisoka’s hair was depicted as blue. Following a stylistic revamp, his hair color was changed to a vibrant red or neon pink, aligning more closely with the manga’s portrayal. In the 2011 anime, Hisoka has striking red hair and light amber eyes, while in the manga’s Yorknew City arc, he dyes his hair light green, further reflecting the dynamic and unpredictable aspects of his personality.
Hisoka once sported a fake spider tattoo on his back, with the number 4 emblazoned on the spider’s abdomen, a false mark of his association with the Phantom Troupe.
During his time on the Black Whale, Hisoka lets his hair down and wears a sleek black coat adorned with a heart symbol on the back, once again showcasing his distinct and ever-changing style.
Personality
The other side of Hisoka.
Hisoka Morow is characterized by an entirely self-serving and hedonistic nature, driven by his desire for personal gratification. He acts solely in ways that entertain or excite him, often indulging in bloodlust and sadomasochistic tendencies during combat. Hisoka derives immense pleasure from fighting strong opponents, relishing both the thrill of battle and the pain involved. However, he sometimes spares potential adversaries, such as Gon and Killua, allowing them to grow stronger so they can provide him with a more exhilarating challenge in the future.
A manipulative and murderous sociopath, Hisoka values people solely based on their entertainment potential. He is quick to discard those who no longer meet his standards and has no qualms about killing them. While he might develop a passing interest in individuals like Gon or Killua, he has openly admitted that what he finds valuable one day may become worthless the next. His focus lies entirely on the present and future, particularly in discovering opponents who can provide the “fun” he seeks through combat.
Despite his malevolent tendencies, Hisoka does not kill indiscriminately. He selects his victims based on their potential to challenge him, often leaving others alone if they are not in his way or if they don’t pique his interest. He has no regard for gender or age in determining who he wants to fight, and his chaotic nature makes him dangerously unpredictable. At times, Hisoka even aids the protagonists if it serves his interests, such as strengthening them for future confrontations.
Hisoka’s sadistic humor and capricious nature are apparent in his interactions with others. He frequently plays cruel jokes on his victims, delighting in their discomfort or fear. His whimsical tendencies also extend to his relationship with the Phantom Troupe, as he often skips their meetings or openly lies about his intentions. His chaotic behavior, combined with his love for mind games, makes him a volatile presence, capable of turning any situation to his advantage.
Hisoka and Killua reacting to Gon’s candidness.
His obsession with powerful fighters becomes even more pronounced following his defeat by Chrollo. Hisoka vows to kill every member of the Phantom Troupe, regardless of whether they are defenseless, and refuses to let his future opponents dictate the terms of battle. Despite this growing ruthlessness, he spares Machi, a fellow Troupe member, implying a potential romantic or flirtatious interest, though he claims he only let her live to deliver a warning to the others.
Hisoka’s personality also exhibits androgynous traits. Throughout the series, he often wears high-heeled shoes traditionally associated with women and employs a flirtatious, feminine speech pattern in Japanese, adding to his enigmatic and theatrical persona. In the manga, he frequently ends his sentences with suit symbols, further reinforcing his playing card motif.
Despite his generally calm and composed demeanor, Hisoka can express emotions comically in certain situations. For example, when Gon innocently questions his presence in Greed Island, Hisoka’s reaction reflects genuine amusement. Another instance is his stunned reaction upon realizing he could not fight Chrollo due to Kurapika’s Judgment Chain, showing that even someone as composed as Hisoka is not immune to surprise or frustration.
Background
Hisoka’s favorite gum.
Hisoka speaks little of his past, displaying a distinct lack of interest in it. However, it is known that he joined the Phantom Troupe under false pretenses sometime after the Kurta Clan massacre, approximately two years before the events of the Yorknew City arc. He gained entry into the Troupe by defeating the previous member who held the #4 position. Around the same period, he also “initiated” Kastro into Nen at Heavens Arena, recognizing his potential as a fighter.
Before these events, Hisoka participated in the 286th Hunter Exam, where his violent nature came to the forefront, resulting in the deaths of 20 examinees. Hisoka had attempted the exam once before but was disqualified after nearly killing an examiner. His bloodthirsty tendencies and disregard for rules have shaped his reputation as a dangerous and unpredictable figure within the world of Hunters.
During his time with the Phantom Troupe, Hisoka’s attendance at meetings was erratic. Machi, a fellow Troupe member, specifically reminded him that his presence at the upcoming Yorknew City meeting was mandatory, warning that even the leader might pursue him if he skipped it. Franklin later expressed doubt about Hisoka’s attendance, reflecting his unreliable nature within the group.
In a rare glimpse into Hisoka’s past, it is said that he named his signature abilities—Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise—after a chewing gum and candy brand he enjoyed as a child. This detail hints at Hisoka’s complex personality, blending his sadistic tendencies with whimsical, almost playful aspects of his character.
Equipment
Hisoka with his cards.
Playing Cards: Hisoka’s weapon of choice is a set of French playing cards, which he wields with deadly accuracy. Though ordinary in appearance, with white borders and a checkered pattern of light and dark fuchsia squares, they become lethal in Hisoka’s hands. Using Shu, a technique that channels his aura into objects, Hisoka enhances the cards’ strength, allowing them to cut through tough materials like bone and stone.
In combat, Hisoka uses the cards with remarkable precision, either throwing them to strike opponents from a distance or using them up close in fluid, unpredictable movements. His ability to incorporate his cards into his agile fighting style turns this simple deck into a fearsome weapon, deadly in both offense and defense. Whether as projectiles or tools for close combat, Hisoka’s playing cards are a key element of his lethal arsenal.
Abilities & Powers
Hisoka’s normal aura.
Hisoka using his Bungee Gum.
Hisoka possesses all the privileges of a licensed Hunter, but it is his unique combination of cunning, immense physical abilities, and mastery of Nen that make him a truly formidable adversary. Known for his elegant yet cruel fighting style, Hisoka’s tactical brilliance and adaptability have earned him the rank of Floor Master at Heavens Arena. His skills have led him to defeat notable opponents, such as the previous #4 of the Phantom Troupe and the Single-Star Blacklist Hunter, Bushidora, without suffering injury.
Hisoka often expresses dissatisfaction with the power level of most Pro Hunters, leading him to seek more formidable opponents. He has even considered challenging the Zodiacs, and his strength has been acknowledged by figures such as Illumi Zoldyck, who views him as a dangerous foe, and Chrollo Lucilfer, the leader of the Phantom Troupe, who carefully prepared a strategy to ensure victory against him.
Hisoka is also a master magician, using his dexterity and misdirection in combat. His ability to combine physical prowess with Nen-based techniques allows him to manipulate the battlefield, as seen when he outsmarted Kastro and caught Togari’s spinning knives on his first attempt. Hisoka has also demonstrated technological proficiency, such as tracking Gon and Killua using online blimp ticket records.
Preternatural Perception
Hisoka possesses an extraordinary ability to sense the presence and position of individuals, even those using Zetsu to conceal their aura. He has a refined skill in gauging others’ potential, creating a point-based system to quantify their strength. Hisoka’s perceptiveness, however, is not flawless—he once failed to notice Gon tailing him during the Hunter Exam due to his focus on his own bloodlust.
Physical Abilities
Immense Strength: Hisoka’s physical power is exceptional, ranking third in arm-wrestling within the Phantom Troupe. He has demonstrated the ability to send stone slabs flying with a single kick and lift multiple human puppets effortlessly. His strength also enables him to easily decapitate or dismember opponents, and his raw power is enough to challenge powerful Nen users such as Razor during the dodgeball game on Greed Island.
Speed and Reflexes: Hisoka is capable of extraordinary speed, able to dispatch opponents in an instant and disappear from sight even at close range. He can dodge and counter attacks with ease, reacting to projectiles and combatants with impeccable timing. His reflexes allowed him to catch spinning knives, dodge high-speed attacks from opponents like Razor, and fend off waves of puppets sent by Chrollo.
Endurance and Stamina: Hisoka has shown remarkable stamina, completing grueling physical challenges without showing signs of fatigue. Hisoka’s endurance in battle is similarly impressive; he can continue fighting after sustaining serious injuries, including the loss of limbs, and even use his own blood or body parts in strategic ways. His pain tolerance is so high that he barely reacts to injuries that would incapacitate others.
Intelligence and Strategy
Hisoka is a master strategist, capable of formulating complex plans in the heat of battle. He often appears nonchalant or overconfident, luring opponents into underestimating him, only to strike when they least expect it. Hisoka’s tactical mind allowed him to manipulate the Phantom Troupe into staying in Yorknew City to face Chrollo, as well as forge a perfect replica of a prophecy in minutes. He has also demonstrated keen insight into human nature, developing a system to predict a person’s Nen type based on their personality.
Hand-to-Hand Combat and Weaponry
Hisoka excels in hand-to-hand combat, demonstrating unmatched prowess even without his signature playing cards or Nen abilities. He has bested skilled opponents with raw technique alone, including martial artists and Hunters. When using his playing cards, enhanced with Shu, Hisoka turns them into lethal weapons, capable of slicing through bone and concrete. Hisoka’s mastery of Bungee Gum, combined with his proficiency in weaponry, allows him to set elaborate traps and launch surprise attacks.
Stealth and Tailing
Hisoka is an expert in stealth, able to spy on or follow individuals without detection. He successfully tailed Gon and Killua twice without them realizing and assisted Illumi in secret during the 13th Hunter Chairman Election. His ability to remain unnoticed even by highly skilled Hunters speaks to his expertise in stealth.
Nen
Hisoka is a Transmuter, specializing in transforming his aura into elastic properties through his signature ability, Bungee Gum. His Nen also grants him impressive durability and strength in battle. Hisoka’s proficiency in controlling his aura allows him to extend Bungee Gum over considerable distances, using it for both offense and defense. In addition to Transmutation, he has displayed competency in Conjuration, Emission, and Enhancement, making him a versatile Nen user.
Aside from his signature abilities, Hisoka has demonstrated proficiency in core Nen techniques like Ren, Gyo, and Ken, and frequently employs Shu to enhance his playing cards. He also uses In in combination with Bungee Gum to create invisible traps that catch opponents off guard. His mastery of Nen allows him to quickly adapt to various situations, whether in close combat or ranged attacks.
Trivia
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Candy Inspirations: Hisoka’s Nen abilities, Bungee Gum and Texture Surprise, are named after real-life candy brands that he liked as a child.
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Phantom Troupe Membership: Although Hisoka joined the Phantom Troupe, his spider tattoo is actually fake. He infiltrated the group under false pretenses, aiming to challenge its powerful members.
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Hair Color Changes: Hisoka’s hair has undergone multiple color changes across different media adaptations. In the 1999 anime, it was initially blue, while later versions of the anime depicted it as red or neon pink, consistent with the manga.
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Obsessive Competitiveness: Hisoka has expressed a desire to fight some of the strongest figures in the series, including the Zodiacs and Phantom Troupe members. He frequently spares opponents like Gon and Killua, hoping they will grow strong enough to give him a more satisfying fight in the future.
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Androgynous Traits: Hisoka exhibits androgynous characteristics, such as wearing high-heeled shoes and using feminine speech patterns in the original Japanese version, adding to his eccentric and unpredictable persona.
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Spider Meetings: Hisoka often skipped meetings of the Phantom Troupe, leading to other members doubting whether he would show up for important events, like the one in Yorknew City.
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Signature Face Paint: Hisoka’s signature face paint consists of a star on his right cheek and a teardrop on his left. However, the colors of the face paint, like his outfits, change across different story arcs and media adaptations.
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Tactical Genius: Hisoka once tricked the Phantom Troupe into staying in Yorknew City longer than intended by forging a fake prophecy, showing his manipulative and strategic brilliance.