Hunter x Hunter character guide
Killua Zoldyck.
Killua Zoldyck was raised by one of the world’s most feared families of assassins. At eleven he ran away to take the Hunter Exam, where he meets Gon and decides that what he wants most is to be a friend and live like a normal kid.
- Gon’s best friend and a former member of a family of assassins
- Verified October 31, 2026
Quick facts
- BirthdayConfirmed
- July 7The Hunterpedia lists July 7 for the manga and the 2011 anime, and a different date for the 1999 series.
- AgeConfirmed
- 11 at his debut; 13–14 in the later arcs
- HeightEstimate
- 158 cm (5 ft 2 in)The Hunterpedia lists this value with an asterisk.
- WeightEstimate
- 45 kg (99.3 lb)The Hunterpedia lists this value with an asterisk.
- Nen typeConfirmed
Hidden factHunter Exam (2011 episodes 1–26)
Transmutation- FamilyConfirmed
- The Zoldyck family: father Silva, mother Kikyo, grandfather Zeno and older brothers Illumi and Milluki
- OccupationConfirmed
- Hunter (rookie); former Zoldyck assassin
- DebutConfirmed
- Manga chapter 6; 2011 anime episode 3Ep. 3 · ch. 6
- Voice actorsConfirmed
- Mariya Ise (Japanese, 2011); Cristina Vee (English, 2011)
Confirmed: stated in the manga, anime or official guidebooks. Estimate: approximate or derived. Unknown: not revealed.
Killua Zoldyck’s biography
A runaway assassin
Killua is sick of killing. At eleven he rebels against his family, injuring his mother and an older brother, and runs away from home to take the Hunter Exam for fun. (Ch. 13)
The Hunter Exam and Gon
At the exam Killua runs with Gon through the first phase, and he tells him that he ran away from his family. He says that what he wants above all is to be Gon’s friend and live like a normal kid, without killing. (Ch. 36)
Illumi
In the last phase, a man called Gittarackur removes his needles and reveals himself to be Killua’s older brother Illumi. Killua is manipulated into murdering another contestant and fails the exam. (Ch. 35)
The Zoldyck estate
Gon and his friends travel to the Zoldyck estate. Killua opens the Testing Gate to the third door, which weighs 16 tons, and he leaves the estate with his friends. (Ch. 39)
Spoiler: Heavens ArenaHunter Exam (2011 episodes 1–26)
Heavens Arena
Killua stops on the 50th floor of the Heavens Arena so that he can move forward with Gon. Together they learn Nen, and Killua realises that Hisoka has attached Bungee Gum to Gon. (Ch. 62)
Spoiler: Yorknew City and Greed IslandYorknew City (episodes 37–58)
Yorknew City and Greed Island
In Yorknew City Killua tries to set Gon free from the Phantom Troupe, and later in the story he takes the 288th Hunter Exam and passes without other trials. He and Gon then play Greed Island. (Ch. 148)
Spoiler: The Chimera Ant arcChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
The Chimera Ant arc
In the Chimera Ant arc Killua knocks Gon unconscious so they can retreat, uses Thunderbolt against the Royal Guard member Youpi and dodges attacks with Godspeed. When Gon falls unconscious after his transformation, Killua carries him to the Extermination Team. (Ch. 309)
Spoiler: AllukaHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Alluka
Silva takes Killua to the room where his younger sister Alluka is confined, and Killua is allowed to meet her. (Ch. 321)
Personality, motivations and development
Cool on the outside
Killua is clever and composed, with a sarcastic edge. His family trained him to kill, but he wants a normal life, and the first real friend he makes is Gon. (Ch. 36)
Spoiler: Fear and respect for his familyHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Fear and respect for his family
Outside of his brother Illumi, Killua does not seem to hate or fear any other Zoldyck. He respects his father Silva and his grandfather Zeno. (Ch. 326)
What drives Killua Zoldyck
- Staying with Gon and being his friend.
- Living a normal life, without killing.
- Protecting his friends and his younger sister.
Spoiler: From runaway to someone with a home of his own choosingHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
From runaway to someone with a home of his own choosing
Killua’s arc is about what he wants to be. He starts as an assassin who wants out, learns to rely on a friend, and later has to decide whether he can trust his own choices when his family has tried to shape them.
Killua Zoldyck’s abilities
Open an entry for its strengths, limits and where it appears. Entries describe what the story shows; they are not a power ranking.
Abilities and techniques
Assassin training
Killua was trained from a young age by the Zoldyck family. He can open the Testing Gate to its third door, which weighs 16 tons, and he endured three weeks of torture from his brother.
Strengths
- The strength to open a gate weighing 16 tons.
Limits and weaknesses
- He wants to leave the life this training was for.
Shown in
Ch. 39
Spoiler abilityYorknew City (episodes 37–58)
Yo-yos
After passing the 288th Hunter Exam, Killua gets two specially made yo-yos from his brother Milluki.
Strengths
- A weapon made to his own order.
Limits and weaknesses
- It is a tool rather than a Nen ability.
Shown in
Ch. 148
Spoiler abilityChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Thunderbolt
A Nen attack that lets Killua send lightning through an enemy. He uses it to paralyze Youpi just as he is about to strike Knuckle.
Strengths
- Paralyzes an opponent for a moment.
Limits and weaknesses
- It gives an opening rather than finishing a fight.
Shown in
Ch. 280 · part of Nen
Spoiler abilityChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Godspeed
A speed technique that lets Killua move at the speed of lightning. He uses it to dodge an attack by a clone of a Royal Guard member.
Strengths
- Extreme speed.
Limits and weaknesses
- He uses it at key moments rather than all the time.
Shown in
Ch. 302 · part of Nen
Killua Zoldyck’s relationships
Every named connection is listed here. Open a card to see how the relationship changes over the story.
Open Killua Zoldyck in the Hunter x Hunter family tree.
Gon Freecss
Friend · best friend
Gon and Killua meet at the Hunter Exam and become best friends.
- First talk. Gon talks with Killua about why he wants to be a Hunter as the two run through the exam’s first phase.(Ch. 7)
- A runaway. Killua tells Gon he ran away from his family of assassins.(Ch. 13)
- Friends. Killua says that what he wants above all is to be Gon’s friend and live like a normal kid.(Ch. 36)
Illumi Zoldyck
Family · older brother
Illumi is Killua’s older brother, a member of the family of assassins Killua ran away from.
- The needles. At the Hunter Exam a man called Gittarackur removes his needles and turns out to be Killua’s older brother, Illumi.(Ch. 35)
Spoiler: connection to Alluka ZoldyckHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Alluka Zoldyck
Family · younger sister
Alluka is Killua’s younger sister, who is kept confined in the Zoldyck estate.
Spoiler: later developmentHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
The room. Silva takes Killua to the room where Alluka is confined, and Killua is allowed to meet her.(Ch. 321)Spoiler: later developmentHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
The healing. Alluka heals Gon and releases a large wave of energy.(Ch. 333)
Major battles
Killua and Illumi
Result: Killua fails the exam. (Ch. 35)
Gittarackur removes his needles and reveals that he is Illumi, who questions Killua’s motives and makes him afraid. See it on the timeline.
Spoiler: battleYorknew City (episodes 37–58)
Killua vs. Machi
Result: Machi blocks him and restrains him. (Ch. 113)
In Yorknew City, Killua tries to set Gon free by attacking Machi, but she blocks his claws with her chest muscles. See it on the timeline.
Spoiler: battleChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Killua and Youpi
Result: Killua paralyzes Youpi and gives Knuckle an opening. (Ch. 280)
Using the invisibility of Meleoron, Killua paralyzes Youpi with Thunderbolt just as he is about to strike Knuckle. See it on the timeline.
Killua Zoldyck timeline
- The Hunter Exam
Killua tells Gon he ran away from home
Killua tells Gon he ran away from his family of assassins, and Netero offers the two boys licenses.
- The Hunter Exam
Gittarackur is revealed to be Illumi
Gittarackur removes his needles and turns out to be Killua’s older brother.
- After the Hunter Exam
Gon goes to the Zoldyck estate
Gon and his friends go to the Zoldyck estate for Killua, who leaves it behind.
- Heavens Arena
Hidden eventHunter Exam (2011 episodes 1–26)
Wing teaches Gon and Killua Nen
Wing shows the two boys the true Nen, a skill using life energy for combat.
- Whale Island
Hidden eventHeavens Arena (episodes 27–36)
Gon gets his father’s box
On Whale Island Mito gives Gon a box left by Ging; its memory card turns out to belong to the game Greed Island.
- Yorknew City
Hidden eventYorknew City (episodes 37–58)
Gon beats Nobunaga
In Yorknew City, Gon snaps and activates his Nen against Nobunaga of the Phantom Troupe.
- Yorknew City
Hidden eventYorknew City (episodes 37–58)
Killua tries to free Gon from Machi
In Yorknew City, Killua tries to set Gon free by attacking Machi, but she blocks his claws and restrains him.
- Greed Island
Hidden eventYorknew City (episodes 37–58)
Killua passes the 288th Hunter Exam
Netero declares Killua the only applicant to have passed the 288th Hunter Exam without other trials.
- After Greed Island
Hidden eventGreed Island (episodes 59–75)
Gon and Killua reach Kite
Gon and Killua are taken to Kite, who explains he has been on Greed Island at Ging’s request.
- The Chimera Ant arc
Hidden eventChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Killua stops Youpi with Thunderbolt
Killua paralyzes Youpi with Thunderbolt just as he is about to attack Knuckle, giving Knuckle an opening.
- The Chimera Ant arc
Hidden eventChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Killua uses Godspeed
Killua dodges a clone of a Royal Guard member with Godspeed.
- The Chimera Ant arc
Hidden eventChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Gon’s transformation
Gon unleashes all his anger and sorrow and his physical strength, Nen abilities and aura rise immensely.
- The Chimera Ant arc
Hidden eventChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
Gon is left comatose
Gon falls unconscious, and Killua carries him to the Extermination Team. He is put in a hospital in a comatose state.
- The election
Hidden eventHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Killua meets Alluka
Silva takes Killua to the room where Alluka is confined, and Killua is allowed to meet his sister.
- The election
Hidden eventHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Alluka heals Gon
As Alluka heals Gon, she releases an energy wave so powerful that everyone near the Hunter Association building feels it.
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Status tracker: is Killua Zoldyck alive?
Status can differ between the anime and the manga, and it can change: characters are sealed, revived or used by others. Each event below has its own spoiler protection and verified references.
- In the manga
- Alive
- In the anime so far
- Alive
Killua is alive in all published chapters and episodes.
Anime and manga differences
Spoiler: adaptation differenceHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Which anime. Anime: The 2011 anime covers the manga up to chapter 339. Manga: The manga continues beyond chapter 339.
Not confirmed by the story
- How Illumi’s influence over Killua ends is not settled in the chapters covered here.
Anime and manga appearances
| Medium | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Manga | Hunter x Hunter | Main character, from chapter 6. |
| Anime | Hunter x Hunter (2011) | Episodes 3–148 |
Plan your Hunter x Hunter viewing
- Hunter x Hunter watch order: every season, movie and special in release order.
- Where the Hunter x Hunter anime ends in the manga: the chapter to continue from.
- How long it takes to watch Hunter x Hunter: total time and your finish date.
Hunter x Hunter articles on AnimeSparks
Killua Zoldyck FAQ
Why did Killua run away from home?
He was sick of killing, and he rebelled against his family of assassins at eleven. He ran away to take the Hunter Exam.
Spoiler questionChimera Ant (episodes 76–136)
What is Killua’s Nen type?
Transmutation. He uses it for Thunderbolt and Godspeed.
Spoiler questionHunter Chairman Election (episodes 137–148)
Who is Alluka?
Alluka is Killua’s younger sister, who is kept confined in the Zoldyck estate.
How this profile was checked
Last verified October 31, 2026. Covers Manga chapters 1–345 and 2011 anime episodes 1–148. Details are written by AnimeSparks from the manga and anime themselves, and cross-checked against the references below. Where something isn’t confirmed, the page says so.
- Hunter x Hunter manga by Yoshihiro Togashi (Shueisha): Chapters cited throughout.
- Hunter x Hunter (2011) anime (Madhouse): Episode numbers.
- Hunterpedia (Hunter x Hunter Wiki) on Fandom, “Killua Zoldyck”: Chapter citations, birthday, age, height, weight and the debut chapter and episode; no text copied.