Hunter x Hunter is renowned for its intricate power system that allows heroes and villains to battle it out with individual abilities, making each fight unique and sometimes impossible to call. Protagonist Gon Freecss didn't fully come into his power until the Chimera Ant arc, where he and his allies faced off against Ant King Meruem and his army.
When Meruem was introduced, his power was on another level completely so it's no surprise this conflict was what forced Gon into his full potential. Gon and Meruem never fought each other directly, but by comparing their powers and battles against others, a clear victor between the two emerges.
Meruem, Netero & Adult Gon's Most Powerful Abilities
Gon has all the enhanced abilities granted to most fighters in Hunter x Hunter, but also possesses unshakable courage that allows him to use risky tactics opponents don't see coming. As a Nen-user, Gon is an Enhancer who focuses on attack and developed the technique of Jajanken, which grants him three different attacks that allow for different variations in range and power. He also shows a proficiency in other Nen powers that mark him as one out of ten million people.
However, Gon's true power was dormant until he faced off against Neferpitou, the ant general who murdered Gon's mentor. During this fight, Gon's emotional distress allowed him to summon all the power he would ever have, likely through Enhancement. This immediately aged him to the point where he could defeat Neferpitou. Gon wasn't scathed by any of the ant general's attacks and a single kick sent Neferpitou flying into the air, coughing up blood. This transformation, while incredible, was also one of Gon's riskiest tactics. After victory, he fell unconscious and would have likely died had Killua not been there to get him to medical care. He also lost his Nen abilities as a result. Adult Gon showed more power than had ever been seen before in Hunter x Hunter, but that ability was a one-time deal.
Meanwhile, Meruem's existence as the Ant King granted him more rounded abilities that don't require transformations. Meruem is incredibly strong, quick and cunning, rising far above all the other chimera ants. His immense aura makes him nearly invulnerable to Nen-users, as demonstrated when he fought against Nen master Netero and received only superficial cuts and bruises -- even when Netero used his ultimate Zero Hand attack.
When Netero triggered the nuclear explosion Miniature Rose, Meruem was unharmed physically despite being at the center of the blast and only died later due to the bomb's poisonous effect. Meruem can also digest other beings to gain their strengths and abilities. After his guard Menthuthuyoupi is killed, Meruem ate him to gain the ability to shapeshift, and by devouring Shaiapouf, Muruem was able to teleport within a small area by manipulating photons.
Where Does Netero Stand Against Meruem and Gon?
Despite his abilities, Meruem would still lose to adult Gon. Though Meruem would have been unmatched at the start, the trials of the Chimera Ant Arc transformed Gon into Meruem's greatest threat. The best point of reference for the two is Neferpitou, also one of the strongest fighters in Hunter x Hunter and the second strongest chimera ant behind Meruem. Neferpitou was able to take a blow from Meruem with ease, kill Gon's mentor without trouble, and use their immense speed and intuition to hold their own in fights against some of the world's strongest Nen-users. They also fought Netero and received nothing more than scratches. However, Neferpitou's speed was not enough to escape adult Gon and their tactics not enough to land a blow. It took a single kick from Gon to draw blood.
Though Meruem is superior to Neferpitou, he relies mostly on his strong body to protect him from attacks such as Zero Hand. Gon's strength is so far beyond Netero's that even if it took him several Jajanken hits on Meruem rather than just one, those hits would leave more than superficial scratches and Gon would defeat him. If Meruem somehow escaped Jajanken, adult Gon never even showed his other Nen abilities while transformed. His potential is untapped and any fight with Meruem would likely draw out more abilities that make up his ultimate power.
Gon and Meruem certainly soar to the top of tier lists in Hunter x Hunter, but Neferpitou and Netero also deserve mention for being key figures in that conflict. Likewise, the Nen abilities of characters such as Chrollo Lucifer are so different from physical attacks that it's difficult to rank them. Killua, naturally, holds a lot of potential as someone who has always picked talents up quickly and is part of the Zoldyck bloodline. For now, adult Gon remains the strongest seen in Hunter x Hunter so far, but with that ability seemingly never available to him again and Meruem defeated, there's no way to tell if anyone will ever surpass them.
