Fairy Tail watch order

Lucy joins the guild. Macao, Daybreak, Lullaby, Galuna Island, Phantom Lord, Loke, Tower of Heaven, Battle of Fairy Tail and Oración Seis (manga chapters 1–164). Episodes 9, 19 and 50 are anime-only one-offs you can skip.

Edolas (76–95), Tenrou Island (96–122) and the X791 return (123–124), adapting chapters 165–257. Tenrou Island is the series' first big climax and ends with the seven-year time skip.

The first half of the Grand Magic Games: training on the beach, the tournament begins, and the 2009 run ends on day four of the Games. The 2014 series picks up the next episode.

Also called Fairy Tail Series 2; some services restart the numbering at 1 here. The second half of the Grand Magic Games and the dragon attack on Crocus, through chapter 340. Episodes 202–203 are anime-only epilogue episodes.

Sun Village (227–233) and Tartaros (234–265), chapters 341–417: the demons of Zeref's book attack, and the arc ends with the guild disbanding. The darkest, best-regarded part of the series.

Episodes 266–275 adapt the Fairy Tail Zero prequel manga about Mavis founding the guild in X686; 276–277 begin the Avatar arc a year after Tartaros. Episode 268 is anime-only. The anime places Zero here on purpose, so don't move it to the front.

The rest of the Avatar arc (chapters 418–437): Natsu, Lucy and Happy gather the scattered members and bring Fairy Tail back. Some services list this as Season 3 or Final Series.

The second film, storyboarded by Mashima: the guild chases the stolen Dragon Cry staff to the kingdom of Stella. Set after the guild reforms and before the war with Alvarez, so watch it after episode 284. Its post-credits scene sets up the final arc.

The Alvarez Empire arc, chapters 438–545: Zeref's empire invades Fiore and the manga's ending plays out in full. Episode 312 adds some anime-only material but is worth keeping.

The sequel, adapting the first 90 chapters of the 100 Years Quest manga (J.C.Staff instead of A-1 Pictures): Team Natsu heads to Guiltina to seal the Five Dragon Gods. Covers the Water, Wood and Moon Dragon God arcs.

Lucy joins the guild. Macao, Daybreak, Lullaby, Galuna Island, Phantom Lord, Loke, Tower of Heaven, Battle of Fairy Tail and Oración Seis (manga chapters 1–164). Episodes 9, 19 and 50 are anime-only one-offs you can skip.

Three comedy side stories bundled with manga volumes 26, 27 and 31. Fairy Hills and Memory Days are set before the seven-year time skip; Fairy Academy is a school-setting gag with no place in the story. All optional.

The first anime-only filler arc, with Daphne and her dragon-shaped machine. Nothing here is referenced later, so it's the easiest skip in the series.

Edolas (76–95), Tenrou Island (96–122) and the X791 return (123–124), adapting chapters 165–257. Tenrou Island is the series' first big climax and ends with the seven-year time skip.

A twelve-minute prologue to Phoenix Priestess, animating Mashima's short manga about the priestess Éclair and her companion Momon. Watch it right before the film if you can find it; it was a DVD extra and is sub-only.

The first film, an original story set after the time skip in X791: the guild protects a priestess carrying half of a stone that can revive the Phoenix. Not from the manga, so it's optional; the usual slot is after episode 124, before the Grand Magic Games.

A 26-episode anime-only arc about the Legion Platoon and the Infinity Clock, written to let the manga get ahead. It's better than most filler and is referenced in passing later, but you can skip straight from 124 to 151.

The first half of the Grand Magic Games: training on the beach, the tournament begins, and the 2009 run ends on day four of the Games. The 2014 series picks up the next episode.

Two more volume-bundle comedy specials, both set around the Grand Magic Games: the beach training before the tournament (chapter 261) and a night at a water park on day three (chapter 298). Fan service, optional.

A crossover with Mashima's earlier manga Rave Master, adapting his one-shot. It has no place in either story; watch it whenever, or skip it.

Also called Fairy Tail Series 2; some services restart the numbering at 1 here. The second half of the Grand Magic Games and the dragon attack on Crocus, through chapter 340. Episodes 202–203 are anime-only epilogue episodes.

Three specials bundled with volumes 55, 58 and 59, adapting bonus chapters. The penalty game follows straight on from the Games, and the other two happen while Mavis is around the guild, so they all sit between the Games and the end of Tartaros.

The third and longest filler arc, in which Lucy's celestial spirits rebel. Widely considered the weakest stretch of the show and safe to skip.

Sun Village (227–233) and Tartaros (234–265), chapters 341–417: the demons of Zeref's book attack, and the arc ends with the guild disbanding. The darkest, best-regarded part of the series.

Episodes 266–275 adapt the Fairy Tail Zero prequel manga about Mavis founding the guild in X686; 276–277 begin the Avatar arc a year after Tartaros. Episode 268 is anime-only. The anime places Zero here on purpose, so don't move it to the front.

The rest of the Avatar arc (chapters 418–437): Natsu, Lucy and Happy gather the scattered members and bring Fairy Tail back. Some services list this as Season 3 or Final Series.

The second film, storyboarded by Mashima: the guild chases the stolen Dragon Cry staff to the kingdom of Stella. Set after the guild reforms and before the war with Alvarez, so watch it after episode 284. Its post-credits scene sets up the final arc.

The Alvarez Empire arc, chapters 438–545: Zeref's empire invades Fiore and the manga's ending plays out in full. Episode 312 adds some anime-only material but is worth keeping.

The sequel, adapting the first 90 chapters of the 100 Years Quest manga (J.C.Staff instead of A-1 Pictures): Team Natsu heads to Guiltina to seal the Five Dragon Gods. Covers the Water, Wood and Moon Dragon God arcs.

A recap special aired between episodes 13 and 14 of 100 Years Quest. Skip it.

Lucy joins the guild. Macao, Daybreak, Lullaby, Galuna Island, Phantom Lord, Loke, Tower of Heaven, Battle of Fairy Tail and Oración Seis (manga chapters 1–164). Episodes 9, 19 and 50 are anime-only one-offs you can skip.

The first anime-only filler arc, with Daphne and her dragon-shaped machine. Nothing here is referenced later, so it's the easiest skip in the series.

Edolas (76–95), Tenrou Island (96–122) and the X791 return (123–124), adapting chapters 165–257. Tenrou Island is the series' first big climax and ends with the seven-year time skip.

Three comedy side stories bundled with manga volumes 26, 27 and 31. Fairy Hills and Memory Days are set before the seven-year time skip; Fairy Academy is a school-setting gag with no place in the story. All optional.

A 26-episode anime-only arc about the Legion Platoon and the Infinity Clock, written to let the manga get ahead. It's better than most filler and is referenced in passing later, but you can skip straight from 124 to 151.

The first film, an original story set after the time skip in X791: the guild protects a priestess carrying half of a stone that can revive the Phoenix. Not from the manga, so it's optional; the usual slot is after episode 124, before the Grand Magic Games.

The first half of the Grand Magic Games: training on the beach, the tournament begins, and the 2009 run ends on day four of the Games. The 2014 series picks up the next episode.

Two more volume-bundle comedy specials, both set around the Grand Magic Games: the beach training before the tournament (chapter 261) and a night at a water park on day three (chapter 298). Fan service, optional.

A twelve-minute prologue to Phoenix Priestess, animating Mashima's short manga about the priestess Éclair and her companion Momon. Watch it right before the film if you can find it; it was a DVD extra and is sub-only.

A crossover with Mashima's earlier manga Rave Master, adapting his one-shot. It has no place in either story; watch it whenever, or skip it.

Also called Fairy Tail Series 2; some services restart the numbering at 1 here. The second half of the Grand Magic Games and the dragon attack on Crocus, through chapter 340. Episodes 202–203 are anime-only epilogue episodes.

The third and longest filler arc, in which Lucy's celestial spirits rebel. Widely considered the weakest stretch of the show and safe to skip.

Sun Village (227–233) and Tartaros (234–265), chapters 341–417: the demons of Zeref's book attack, and the arc ends with the guild disbanding. The darkest, best-regarded part of the series.

Episodes 266–275 adapt the Fairy Tail Zero prequel manga about Mavis founding the guild in X686; 276–277 begin the Avatar arc a year after Tartaros. Episode 268 is anime-only. The anime places Zero here on purpose, so don't move it to the front.

Three specials bundled with volumes 55, 58 and 59, adapting bonus chapters. The penalty game follows straight on from the Games, and the other two happen while Mavis is around the guild, so they all sit between the Games and the end of Tartaros.

The second film, storyboarded by Mashima: the guild chases the stolen Dragon Cry staff to the kingdom of Stella. Set after the guild reforms and before the war with Alvarez, so watch it after episode 284. Its post-credits scene sets up the final arc.

The rest of the Avatar arc (chapters 418–437): Natsu, Lucy and Happy gather the scattered members and bring Fairy Tail back. Some services list this as Season 3 or Final Series.

The Alvarez Empire arc, chapters 438–545: Zeref's empire invades Fiore and the manga's ending plays out in full. Episode 312 adds some anime-only material but is worth keeping.

The sequel, adapting the first 90 chapters of the 100 Years Quest manga (J.C.Staff instead of A-1 Pictures): Team Natsu heads to Guiltina to seal the Five Dragon Gods. Covers the Water, Wood and Moon Dragon God arcs.

A recap special aired between episodes 13 and 14 of 100 Years Quest. Skip it.