Black Clover watch order
In a world where everyone has magic, the orphan Asta has none, yet he and his rival Yuno both vow to become the Wizard King. Asta's anti-magic grimoire lands him in the Black Bulls, the rowdiest squad of Magic Knights. A Studio Pierrot adaptation of Yuki Tabata's manga.
First time? Watch the TV series episodes 1–170, then the film Sword of the Wizard King, then Season 2 (from October 2026). You can skip the filler episodes listed below and the two Jump Festa specials.
First-timer order
The film is set before episode 158 but came out two years after the series ended, so first-time viewers usually watch it after episode 170, the way audiences first saw it. The two extras go last.
- Black Clover, episodes 1–51
Asta joins the Black Bulls (Magic Knights entrance), explores a dungeon, defends the capital, faces the Eye of the Midnight Sun and fights at the Seabed Temple. Filler: episode 29.
- Black Clover, episodes 52–102
The Witches' Forest arc, then the Royal Knights selection exam, where Asta and Yuno compete for a place in a new elite squad. Filler: 66, 68 and 82 (a Charmy clip show).
- Black Clover, episodes 103–157
The Elf Reincarnation arc, in which the reborn elves take over the bodies of Clover Kingdom mages, then an anime-original stretch during the six-month time skip (episodes 130–157). Filler: 123–125 (Nero's backstory, which some fans still recommend), 131, 134–135 and 142–148; some lists add 149.
- Black Clover, episodes 158–170
After the time skip, Asta trains in the Heart Kingdom to face the devil-powered Spade Kingdom, and the raid on the Spade Kingdom begins. The anime stopped here in March 2021, in the middle of that arc.
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
A 110-minute original film from a story by Yuki Tabata: four banished former Wizard Kings return to destroy the Clover Kingdom. Set during the six-month time skip, between episodes 157 and 158. Anime-original, so it doesn't affect the main plot.
- Black Clover Season 2
Picks up straight after episode 170, continuing the Spade Kingdom raid against the Dark Triad. Premiered October 3, 2026 with the film's director, Ayataka Tanemura; streaming on Crunchyroll. Still airing.
- Black Clover: The All Magic Knights Thanksgiving Festa (optional)
A 24-minute comedy special shown at Jump Festa 2018: the squad captains, Asta and Yuno compete in a quiz show. Not part of the story; watch it any time once you know the captains.
- Squishy! Black Clover (optional)
A chibi gag spin-off in its own silly universe. Optional; it's best saved for after the main series.
Story order
The main story in in-world order: the film slots into the six-month time skip between episodes 157 and 158. The pilot and comedy specials are left out because they aren't part of the story.
- Black Clover, episodes 1–51
Asta joins the Black Bulls (Magic Knights entrance), explores a dungeon, defends the capital, faces the Eye of the Midnight Sun and fights at the Seabed Temple. Filler: episode 29.
- Black Clover, episodes 52–102
The Witches' Forest arc, then the Royal Knights selection exam, where Asta and Yuno compete for a place in a new elite squad. Filler: 66, 68 and 82 (a Charmy clip show).
- Black Clover, episodes 103–157
The Elf Reincarnation arc, in which the reborn elves take over the bodies of Clover Kingdom mages, then an anime-original stretch during the six-month time skip (episodes 130–157). Filler: 123–125 (Nero's backstory, which some fans still recommend), 131, 134–135 and 142–148; some lists add 149.
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
A 110-minute original film from a story by Yuki Tabata: four banished former Wizard Kings return to destroy the Clover Kingdom. Set during the six-month time skip, between episodes 157 and 158. Anime-original, so it doesn't affect the main plot.
- Black Clover, episodes 158–170
After the time skip, Asta trains in the Heart Kingdom to face the devil-powered Spade Kingdom, and the raid on the Spade Kingdom begins. The anime stopped here in March 2021, in the middle of that arc.
- Black Clover Season 2
Picks up straight after episode 170, continuing the Spade Kingdom raid against the Dark Triad. Premiered October 3, 2026 with the film's director, Ayataka Tanemura; streaming on Crunchyroll. Still airing.
Release order
Everything in the order it came out. The 170 episodes aired weekly from October 2017 to March 2021; the film opened in Japan and on Netflix on June 16, 2023.
- Black Clover: Jump Festa 2016 Special (optional)
A 27-minute pilot made by Xebec before the TV series, with a different voice cast. It retells the first chapter (Asta and Yuno getting their grimoires), which episode 1 covers again. Skip it.
- Black Clover, episodes 1–51
Asta joins the Black Bulls (Magic Knights entrance), explores a dungeon, defends the capital, faces the Eye of the Midnight Sun and fights at the Seabed Temple. Filler: episode 29.
- Black Clover, episodes 52–102
The Witches' Forest arc, then the Royal Knights selection exam, where Asta and Yuno compete for a place in a new elite squad. Filler: 66, 68 and 82 (a Charmy clip show).
- Black Clover: The All Magic Knights Thanksgiving Festa (optional)
A 24-minute comedy special shown at Jump Festa 2018: the squad captains, Asta and Yuno compete in a quiz show. Not part of the story; watch it any time once you know the captains.
- Squishy! Black Clover (optional)
A chibi gag spin-off in its own silly universe. Optional; it's best saved for after the main series.
- Black Clover, episodes 103–157
The Elf Reincarnation arc, in which the reborn elves take over the bodies of Clover Kingdom mages, then an anime-original stretch during the six-month time skip (episodes 130–157). Filler: 123–125 (Nero's backstory, which some fans still recommend), 131, 134–135 and 142–148; some lists add 149.
- Black Clover, episodes 158–170
After the time skip, Asta trains in the Heart Kingdom to face the devil-powered Spade Kingdom, and the raid on the Spade Kingdom begins. The anime stopped here in March 2021, in the middle of that arc.
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King
A 110-minute original film from a story by Yuki Tabata: four banished former Wizard Kings return to destroy the Clover Kingdom. Set during the six-month time skip, between episodes 157 and 158. Anime-original, so it doesn't affect the main plot.
- Black Clover Season 2
Picks up straight after episode 170, continuing the Spade Kingdom raid against the Dark Triad. Premiered October 3, 2026 with the film's director, Ayataka Tanemura; streaming on Crunchyroll. Still airing.
Explained
How many seasons does the first series have?
In Japan, episodes 1–170 are one long series. English releases split it into four "seasons" (1–51, 52–102, 103–154, 155–170), and some services now show all 170 as Season 1. The 2026 series is the true second season.
Which episodes are filler?
Filler lists agree on 29, 66, 68, 82, 123–125, 131, 134–135 and 142–148, about 10% of the show; some also count 149. Episode 82 is a clip show. Episodes 123–125 replay Nero's past and add new scenes, so they're worth a look. Don't skip the mixed episodes (such as 2, 8–9, 12 and 30), which carry manga story too.
The first episodes are loud. Does it get better?
Reviewers in 2017 found episode 1 rough, mostly because of Asta's constant shouting and a familiar premise, though several expected the show to improve. If the opening puts you off, give it the whole first arc before deciding; the cast and the fights grow a lot from there.
Where does the movie go, and is it canon?
Sword of the Wizard King is an original story, with the story credit and character supervision by Yuki Tabata. It's set during the time skip between episodes 157 and 158, but watching it after episode 170, the way audiences first saw it, is the easier choice. It doesn't change anything in the main plot.
What does Season 2 adapt?
Season 2 continues the Spade Kingdom arc right where episode 170 stopped. The manga moved from Weekly Shonen Jump to Jump GIGA in 2023 and ended in 2026 after 38 volumes, so there's a complete story left to adapt.