Summary
Kite will forever remain aniconic character in theHunter x Hunterseries. The role he played in Gon’s life and the series as a whole, while short, was definitely impactful. As Ging’s student, Kite’s abilities were definitely top-tier, and many would’ve liked to see the full potential of his abilities.
Unfortunately, as the skilled hunter died prematurely in the series, not much is known about his abilities in general, particularly his Crazy Slots Nen ability. However, the fundamentals, which intrigue many, make fans wonder about the true potential of Kite’s Crazy Slots particularly with the wide range of fighting styles it gave him and the randomness that came with it inHunter x Hunter.
Origin Of Crazy Slots
A Focus On Ging
Many would agree that among theHunter x Huntercharacters, Ging Freecss remains the most enigmatic. His motivations, plans, and true strength all remain a mystery, particularly to anime-only fans. However, his intelligence is one thing that has always stood out from the get-go. His entire character is made even more impressive when it’s revealed thathe (Ging) is the mind behind Kite’s Nen ability, Crazy Slots.
Ging is a brilliant mind at creating things, asseen with the game Greed Island, and the possibility that he helped Kite create Crazy Slots after he (Kite) found Ging as part of his last challenge to the upcoming hunter is highly probable. The brains behind Kite’s ability are definitely impressive, but how does the ability truly work?
How Kite’s Crazy Slots Works
The Mechanics Behind The Ability
The veryconcept of Nen inHunter x Hunteris still widely unexplored and the various categories of Nen users backed up by the varying differences in how each individual uses their ability makes its concept and usage very broad. As a conjurer, Kite can create a variety of constructs, and his special Nen ability is Crazy Slots. This ability grants him nine weapons, numbered from one to nine with a clown affixed to each weapon.
Usually, to increase the power of a conjured material, the user places restrictions on how the material can be used, similar to how Kurapika’s Judgement chains are as powerful as they are because they can only be used on members of the Phantom Troupe; otherwise, he dies. For Kite, the restriction placed on Crazy Slots is that the weapon granted to him is selected at random. Moreover, the weapon must be used before it can be changed, meaning he can’t just summon one weapon and re-summon another if it’s a ‘bad roll’.
Due to the randomness of Kite’s weapons, an exemption exists. This exemption is a weapon that appears when Kite really doesn’t want to die, as stated by Ging Freecss. This could be potentially what led toKite’s reincarnation as a Chimera Ant.
Unfortunately, the true potential of Kite’s Crazy Slots was never explored. The only use of the clown that comes affixed to each weapon is to shout out the number Kite has gotten and essentially bicker with him. For an ability that simply grants Kite one out of nine weapons when he needs to battle, the importance of the clown is practically insignificant. Unless, except, it did more than that.
The Randomness Of Weapon Selection
Understanding The Power Of Fate
The randomness of Kite’s weapon selection heavily impacts his fighting style. Fights between anime characters are usually dependent not just on strength and intelligence but on the naturalstrengths and weaknesses of their fighting style. For Kite, some weapons would definitely match better against certain opponents than others, but his vast array of weapons doesn’t give him that advantage. To a large extent, Kite leaves his battles up to fate and uses his skills to compensate for the remaining.
Unfortunately, that leaves very little room for strategizing regardless of how skilled a hunter Kite is. He might be able to make every situation work for him, but having to deal with such randomness if he was dealing with someone on the level of Mereum would directly impact his ability to survive such a fight, much less win. Going with this line of thought, some believe the whole reason for having a clown with a will of his own is to give him a suited weapon for whatever situation Kite finds himself in. Of the three times that Kite summoned his weapon, only two were actually seen in battle, and both were very suitable for the event. The first time was a Carbine used for a duel, while the second time was his iconic Scythe, which he used to dispatch a lot of enemies at once—a good choice of weapon when one is surrounded. Interestingly though, both times, Kite called it a ‘bad roll’ but the clown frantically disagreed.
Considering Ging was the one who came up with Crazy Slots, it’s highly probable that he had some intent in mind. Moreover, with the fact that Kite can make a roll if he doesn’t want to die, it shows that the weapon selectionisn’tentirelyrandom, and there could be a pattern behind it.
I’m the one who taught Kite how to use Nen. And I taught him his techniques. There’s a number that his Crazy Slots won’t bring up unless he’s adamant about not dying! If he’s still alive, that’s probably why. — Ging Freecss
Of course, it’s highly probable that Kite’s Crazy Slots was in fact crazy andentirely up to fate. With these contrasting thought processes, many would want to know the answer. However, a differing school of thought is thatno answer exists.
The Different Weapons In Crazy Slots
A Breakdown Of Each Known Number
Out of Kite’s nine Crazy Slots slots, only three ever appeared in theHunter x Hunterseries, and only two were properly displayed. The first was the Carbine he used in his battle against Yunju at the base of the NGL. That was Kite’s first time revealing his ability, and with it, Yunju was quickly dispatched. The Carbine was unique as it was long barreled with an apparent suppressor, making it quiet. Whether or not the Carbine has unique features unlike a regular gun is unknown, as the battle ended as quickly as it had begun.
Thesecond of Kite’s weapons was the Scythe. Interestingly, the Scythe can only be used through Silent Waltz, a skill that increases the size of the blade and generates a slash all around Kite, the user. The slash when used is incredibly powerful, as Kite was able to bisect a plethora of Chimera Ants, which are known for their extremely tough interior, in a flash.
The last weapon to be shown was a Mace; however, how it was used was largely unexplored. Interestingly, the Scythe and Carbine Kite manifested had the clown at the bottom of the weapon, not at the top. As an actual sentient being, it’s hard imagining Kite striking things with the clown’s head, making it entirely possible that the Mace wasn’t a Mace but instead the weapon responsible for reincarnating him. This is entirely possible, as in the scene in which Ging tells Gon about Kite’s Crazy Slots ability, a flashback to when Kite summoned the ‘Mace’ is portrayed.
As a hunter, Kite would be able to gauge the strength difference between him and Pitou pretty fast. Moreover, he had already lost an arm. The possibility that he only faced off against Pitou to buy time for Gon and Killua to run away while he activated whatever mechanisms were responsible for his reincarnation is entirely plausible.
For the other numbers of Kite’s Crazy Slots, no hint exists. However, some believe a Katana must’ve been included, as Kitewas seen wielding onewhen he met Gon in Ging’s hometown.
Hunter x Hunteris available to watch onCrunchyroll.
Hunter x Hunter
In Hunter x Hunter, young Gon Freecss discovers his long-lost father is a legendary Hunter, an elite class of adventurer with the license to go anywhere or do almost anything. Determined to find him, Gon sets out to pass the Hunter Examination, a life-threatening challenge that draws hundreds of hopefuls seeking fortune, fame, and adventure. Along the way, Gon becomes friends with other candidates, including the vengeful Kurapika, the ambitious Leorio, and the enigmatic Killua. Together, they face a world filled with bizarre creatures, sinister criminals, and unpredictable adventures.
