a crash course to #nen by yours truly #hxh

WHAT IS NEN (AND AURA)?

AURA is a person's life energy- the "floating wispy thing that surrounds a person". EVERYONE has an aura.

NEN however is the more advanced way of CONTROLLING one's Aura.

Aura Nodes are the sort of lids that keep a person's aura from leaving entirely+

these Nodes can be opened either by training (like Zushi) or by force (like Killua and Gon). Once open, Nen training begins by focusing on controlling / stopping aura from fully leaving you.

If a person cannot stop their aura, then they would feel weak or might even collapse!

WHO CAN USE / LEARN ABOUT NEN?

Hypothetically, ANY and EVERYONE could learn about it. That's why (if you've alr caught up with the manga) Kurapika said he announced he could teach the other princes' guards Nen in the Succession Arc in a span of two weeks.

(++going by the other guards' response about Kurapika's promise and KilluGon's training period, we can understand that this would be a very risky gamble BUT is also possible if Kurapika's goal was only to teach them the very basics.)

+ People who can control their Nen are called NEN-USERS and subsequently, the people who are clueless of the existence of Nen are called NON-USERS

THE FOUR BASICS TO NEN

TEN is how one focuses and calms the mind, lets their Nen FLOW AROUND them and not *out* of them.
ZETSU is HIDING / SUPPRESSING one's Nen.
REN is the RAPID RELEASE of Nen
HATSU (Nen Ability) is the SPECIALIZATION of Nen in each person

WHAT IS NEN ABILITY

Hatsu or Nen Ability is the distinct, special affinity of a person's Nen. There are 6 classifications, namely; ENHANCEMENT, TRANSMUTATION, EMISSION, MANIPULATION, CONJURATION AND SPECIALIZATION.

WATER DIVINATION helps one determine which classification they fall under.

Enhancers INCREASE the AMOUNT
Transmuters affect the TASTE
Emitters change the water's COLOR
Conjurers CREATE impurities
Manipulators MOVE the leaf
Specialists do not fall under any of the above

ENHANCERS

STRENGTHEN the properties of either an object or a body part. Their ability grants them both Offensive and Defensive options / moves, hence they are believed to be the most balanced.

+they are often simple and determined according to Hisoka's Nen-Personality test.

TRANSMUTERS

Can MIMIC the attributes of something else entirely- due to transmuters using only their nen to imitate things, it is invisible to Non-Users.

+whimsical, prone to deceit, fickle according to Hisoka's Nen-Personality test

EMITTERS

Can SEPARATE Nen from their body. Nen grows weak when separated from the body, but Emitters can hold out for longer periods of time- while maintaining power, too.

+impatient, not detail-oriented, short-tempered according to Hisoka's Nen-Personality Test.

CONJURERS

Can CREATE objects with their Nen. Unlike Transmuters who mimic with their Nen, Conjuerers can MATERIALIZE objects or even people! And these creations are visible to Non-Users!

+overly serious, stoic, and nervous according to Hisoka's Nen-Personality Test.

MANIPULATORS

Can CONTROL either objects, people or people's minds. They often have to meet a certain condition or use a medium. They can give out certain orders that their puppets carry out.

+argumentative and logical according to Hisoka's Nen-Personality test.

SPECIALISTS

This classification is the vaguest one- origins of it are unknown as they vary though they can, in later times, be moved to one of the five mentioned.

+independent and charismatic according to Hisoka's Nen-Personality test.

POWER / ABILITY DISTRIBUTION

Despite learning one's Nen type, it is still possible to learn of techniques for other Nen types! Though compatibility lessens by 20% as the intended classification gets further in this chart:

E.g. one's an Emitter, they have 80% compatibility with Enhancement and Manipulation.

THIS RULE IS APPLICABLE TO THE FIVE CLASSIFICATIONS EXCEPT !! SPECIALIZATION !!

Reason being that Specialization is the vast and unknown and it is not learned but earned.

MORE COMPLICATED NEN FUNCTIONS !!

GYO

Focusing Nen on the eyes which gives the user full vision on anything Nen. Stops the flow of Nen on the body and instead focuses them on the eyes. This is an advanced application of REN.

IN

To conceal. This is an advanced application of ZETSU wherein the user's Nen is rendered imperceptible and invisible even to other users.

EN

This is the great release of REN followed by the application of TEN that allows Nen to maintain its shape around. It's a sort of radar-like ability that gives the user full scope of their surroundings.

SHU

It's an advanced application of TEN where the user covers an object in their Nen making it a sort of extension to their body and further enhancing its properties.

KO

Strengthens a body part of the user but renders the rest vulnerable. It's an accumulation of Gyo (which focuses Nen on a body part), Ten (to maintain Gyo), Ren (to increase the amount of Nen on the body part) and Zetsu (which stops leakage in other parts).

KEN

Is an advanced application of TEN and REN where the user is shrouded in a strong cloud of Nen that can last longer (and grow stronger) through training.

RYU

Is using Gyo while under the state of Ken, which unlike Ko (that uses 100% of a user's strength), Ryu allows redistribution of it in real-time, making it a great move to use when fighting as it balances contributes to both defense and offense.

NEN AND EMOTIONS

A user's mental and emotional state greatly affect Nen. Malice, for example, can be imbued into Nen and render weak or non-users immobile and afraid. Bloodlust gives off a similar, uneasy feeling.

NEN AFTER DEATH

A Nen-user dying doesn't equate the end for their Nen, especially if said Nen held a grudge or determination to fulfill a purpose.

SUBCATEGORIES FOR NEN ABILITIES !!

// monsters
NEN BEASTS
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Are materialization(s) of Nen creatures that can either be summoned or created. Since they are made of Nen, they are invisible to Non-users or Nen-users who haven't learnt about Gyo yet.

Their purposes vary, from offense to defense to exorcism.

EXORCISM NEN

Cleanses cursed Nen or Nen left by the dead, though it may impose damage on the Nen-User who performs it. Best example is Abengane from the Greed Island Arc who exorcised Kurapika's Nen from Chrollo Lucilfer.

COMPOUND NEN

Have unknown purposes though does or creates something when certain conditions are met.

E.g. if the hypothetical "the User should stand here" condition is met, then the Beast should materialize or do something in return. The Beast does not say what it needs met.

COUNTERACTIVE NEN

The type wherein the damage done on the user would backfire on the assailant.

E.g. someone shoots a User with this ability, the damage of the shot would be unone and would instead be inflicted on who shot the User.

CURSE NEN

Inflicts a condition or restriction that, if broken, punishes the target. The most known one were Kurapika's curses to the Phantom Troupe members Chrollo and Pakunoda.

DOUBLE / DOPPELGANGER NEN

Allows the User to create an exact double of themselves. Though this has many pros, according to Hisoka, "people see themselves too pristine" hence they project too clean copies, which makes distinction between original and copy easier.

LOANING NEN

Is the type that allows the user to loan someone (be they a Nen-User or a Non-User) a stolen Nen Ability. Best example of this is Kurapika's Stealth Dolphin ability.

PARASITIC NEN

Feeds off of the User's Nen to be able to manifest itself. The User will feel tired and fatigued for most.

SYMBIOTIC NEN

Is a joint Nen ability wherein multiple Users may donate or contribute their Nen to merge into one, powerful accumulation of it.

+COLLABORATIVE NEN
Creates a "partnership" between Beast and User
+HAUNTING NEN
Is Nen activated after the death of the User / Caster
+SUPPORTIVE NEN
Doesn't enhance the User's strength, but supports others'
+DIFFUSIVE LEVY NEN
Allows Beast to absorb things from hosts

NEN AND RISK

Are self-imposed limitations that makes fighting "riskier" (like how Shoot covers his eye). This shows the User's willingness and determination, hence giving the User more strength.

VOWS, LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Limitations are the User's self-imposed RESTRICTIONS. To vow is to create a limitation for one's self. The greater the punishment; the greater the power the User gets from it.

Conditions are the needs to be met to activate or strengthen power.

+Limitations are, of course, breakable but at the cost of a User's power (similar to Gon), life (like Kurapika), or something less severe if the User imposed a lighter punishment.

ACTIVATION REQUIREMENTS

Are trigger actions, words or circumstances that allow Nen's activation. An example of this is Genthru's Countdown ability- he can only activate it by physically touching his targets.

OTHER CONDITIONS

There are Nen Abilities that are in itself restricted to only specific targets or purposes; Shizuku's power is an example of this. Blinky (her vacuum) is only able to dispose of inanimate things. This Nen doesn't need a trigger, but its own abilities are limited

--end of thread.

I hope I made it somewhat easier !! Nen is still a very complicated concept / power, and who knows what Togashi might add later on ? HSHSHSHS thank you for reading!

rts are appreciated, I'd like to spread this if possible !!
source: https://hunterxhunter.fandom.com/wiki/Nen 

if i missed a point, was vague about something or just,,, forgot to add something, please let me know !!

I hope I helped this anon, bc they're the one that reminded me this was a long overdue thread https://twitter.com/hxhconfession/status/1307012170161381376?s=20