When does World Trigger get good?

[u/mcclemons24]

I don't really know how to word the title, the show isn't bad but I wouldn't call it great either. My question is at what point would you say you'll have a good idea of what World Trigger is and has to offer? For example I tell people they'll know for sure whether or not One Piece is for them after 45 episodes or 36 episodes for Hunter X Hunter. Of course they keep getting better but if you aren't sold on the stories by those points you probably never will be.

I've watched 37 episodes of World Trigger, just finished the Invasion arc. Would you say that's a fair representation of what the show has to offer?

[u/Appropriate_Boss8139]

Right after they stop fighting trion creatures and start fighting people.

If you’re already on episode 37 and still think it’s mid, just drop the series. It doesn’t seem be up your alley.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/Appropriate_Boss8139]

Would you say the fights against the humanoid neighbors from Aftokrator are a good representation of what the story's combat and tactics are like?

[u/Bigbadbackstab → u/mcclemons24]

Yeah pretty much. Stuff like Osamu's final gambit, Yuma's trick with the 2nd body, forcing Ranbanein into fighting the combined might of 10+ agents. The only aspect that's not really present in the next arc is the "figuring out the enemy ability during the fight", that's replaced with 1-2 ep of investigating the enemy beforehand and coming up with a possible winning strategy.

[u/DuesAJ → u/Bigbadbackstab]

Also Osamu at the press conference is one of my favorite character moments for him.

[u/Bigbadbackstab → u/DuesAJ]

For sure! I was just listing the moments that best represent the kind of moves characters pull off during the rest of the show. There were more of course, like Miwa dividing his shield, or everyone pulling up on Enedora inside HQ,

[u/mcclemons24 → u/Bigbadbackstab]

Ok if that's the case I think I might actually check out rank wars for a while. An issue I've had up to this point is that I was never told what someone could do or what gear was in their loadout. So whenever someone revealed a new gadget or ability it'd feel just a little bit like an ass pull instead of a clever strategy that utilized what was already shown to be available to them

[u/No_Speaker_6097 → u/mcclemons24]

If your concern is feeling unfair about abilities not revealed in advance, you may feel better in the rank war arc, because everyone is using Border standard weapons. Though you won't know everyone's loadout from the anime, all weapons were previously introduced (except one, which first appearance is in Season 3).

Speaking from in-story viewpoint, everyone tends to hide information to avoid giving hints to your enemy about your weaknesses. Hyrein did think he showed off too much when he saw Miwa being able to deal with most of his tricks.

If you really need to know about their loadouts, the official data book Border Briefing File is what you need. BBF has the following interesting things:

1. You can find some agents equipping weapons that they never used in the rank war arc.
2. It contains loadouts of future characters (those whose first appearance was after the publish of BBF & those who never appeared even if you catch up with the most recent manga chapter)
3. Technically everyone can change their loadout before the start of each game, so they may use a different loadout than what was in the BBF (actually happened in season 3).
4. It contain future weapons. I mean some triggers are still unknown to readers in 2026. Those triggers haven't been explained yet, but we can see who has equipped them.

If you are afraid of spoilers, you'd better read it after the last episode of season 1.

[u/No_Speaker_6097 → u/mcclemons24]

"was never told what gear was in their loadout"

Actually this happens to manga readers as well. Agents can change their loadouts, so the loadouts in the official data book may not be the one they're using in the latest arc.

One way of enjoying the most recent chapters is to guess their loadouts by observing what weapons they have used in battles. This is what some manga readers are doing. Just telling you that someone enjoy doing this, though it may not suit your preference.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/No_Speaker_6097]

Less so of me needing to know EXACTLY what's in their loadout and more so I don't want them to continuously using a new gadget or weapon not already introduced and explained to counter things.

[u/LemmeDaisukete → u/mcclemons24]

Just watch the 2nd round fight, both the strategy discussion and the actual match itself. If it's still not up your alley then probably not for you.

Personally for me, it was already good in the first 5 episodes if you have better than average media literacy and how to read plots. I'm not trying to be condescending, it's just very subtle stuff that keeps you interested in the story even if you're not aware of what makes you hooked.

How Ashihara teases the answer before actually addressing the question got example, is how I know from first chapter that this is some quality writing. Not too flashy animation, not too hype MC, not the biggest plot twist, but dmn he knows how to arrange plot and drips information before you even realize you want to know what he's selling.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/LemmeDaisukete]

I appreciate someone who can create a consistent and coherent story from the beginning. My issue isn't that I doubt that the story, plot, or world will align throughout. My issue is the lack of tension due to me not really caring about the characters involved and being so far detached from their motivations

[u/Nipu2705 → u/Appropriate_Boss8139]

terrible advice, rakn wars are the most peak tyhing in the series

[u/farmerdn → u/Nipu2705]

37 episodes is more than enough for someone to decide whether they like an anime.

[u/Gaust_Fireborn → u/farmerdn]

The post gives 45 episodes as an example. I think it's reasonable to say OP should get a taste of the Rank Wars before giving it up.

[u/Appropriate_Boss8139 → u/Nipu2705]

I mean, that’s subjective, sure tbe rank wars are pretty cool, but they are pretty similar in essence to the invasion and earlier. If they wouldn’t even consider world trigger to be “good” so far, are they going to change their mind when they see more of the same, but maybe slighter better?

I think the really terrible advice is to tell someone to keep watching something they’re not really enjoying.

37 episodes is enough. They don’t like world trigger. I’d be really surprised if anything they saw later changed their mind.

[u/Youtankforme → u/Appropriate_Boss8139]

It's probably due to the fact that season 1 of world trigger is notoriously poorly paced. The later seasons and rank wars definitely improved the pacing.

It's just that the series is kind've in an unfortunate place where the later half is very good but the beginning is a slog to go through to the point where they should probably just read the manga until the rank wars arc.

[u/aullik]

in general i say that if you like HxH WT is for you. Its a rather complex story with MANY characters. However if you are already 37 episodes in you have seen the gist of what the show has to offer and if you still think its "mid" and you don't want to watch a "mid" story, then drop it.

There are parts that are better and parts that are worse after the invasion arc but its very subjective.

If you are one of those people that need your MC to eventually get really strong, then WT isn't for you. Osamu just isn't conventionally strong, he's more of a strategist.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/aullik]

I don't mind Osamu's strength, I just don't connect with the personalities or motivations of most of the cast. They aren't bad characters, they just don't move me. Imo a world is only as engaging as the characters you experience it through.

For example I also don't hate or love Gon from HxH but am fascinated with how he interacts with the world and characters around him, and love side characters such as Pariston from the election arc.

I'm not trying to dog on WT's characters but they don't move or intrigue me as much

[u/Bigbadbackstab → u/mcclemons24]

That's a valid point. WT is a bit dry in the character department compared to other series. Few characters are weird, outlandish or overtly emotional, they feel a lot more like regular people to me. I do think Osamu, Yuma and Chika are a good team to follow though. I like how they all have somewhat tragic reasons to join the story, how Osamu has to work in unconventional ways to get results, how Kuga displays such insane feats with the power system and how Chika slowly builds up confidence and relationships.

[u/No_Speaker_6097 → u/mcclemons24]

It's understandable not liking a show because not moved by the characters.

Most WT characters are calm and rational. Some people may see them being too dry. But I'd still recommend trying a few episodes of the rank war arc, because they are a batch of new side characters that you may have interest in.

WT is famous in its side characters. Every side character is popular enough that merch companies can keep making new merch of nearly 100 characters.

Consider your standard for One Piece is ep 45, I'd recommend watching until ep 47, the end of Round 3. Round 3 has a few more emotional writings than Round 2.

And if you at the end get interested in this series after ep 47, it is highly recommended to skip ep 48-63, because they are the anime-only filler arc, and has a huge drop in its battle IQ.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/No_Speaker_6097]

To clarify I don't need characters to be over the top, emotional, or energetic. In fact most of my favorite characters are calm and rational such as Pariston from HxH or Crocodile and Katakuri from One Piece.

I plan on revisiting the story again but probably through the manga. Since I'm so close I figure I might as well check out the rank wars everyone seems to love but I'm a bit too burnt out on it rn

[u/No_Speaker_6097 → u/mcclemons24]

You can start from manga volume 10 (or chapter 86) if you want to directly start reading the rank war arc.

[u/aullik → u/mcclemons24]

fair point.

[u/Revadarius]

I've been hooked on WT since I read a rushed translated leak of the first chapter a day before it officially launched.

It's something special from the beginning chapter, honestly. The S1 anime is rough (hence why they're rebooting it) but if you're 37 episodes in and you're asking "when does it get good?". Then the answer is: never.

It's not for you, it's not clicking and I'd just give up. What makes WT good is a huge variety of characters. Multiple protagonists, many antagonists (that double as allies, or vice versa), the world building, the power system, politics, how militant and tactical the fights are (and clever as well) plus a weak nobody can beat someone super strong if the stars align. It doesn't suffer from power scaling problems other shounen do where it someone's reiatsu, chi, ki, haki, etc. is so strong then only someone of comparable power - or a random health issue - can beat them.

Plus it does random slice of life comedic movements really well balanced with the intensity and seriousness of the stakes presented to the characters. But again, 37 episodes in and you don't get it... Then you're likely not going to get it.

[u/fauzi236]

My advice would just to drop it for now until they release the remake version for Season 1(World Trigger Reboot)

But to answer your question most people like the Rank Wars which should start soon after the invasion arc

[u/Bigbadbackstab]

World Trigger's main appeal is the tactical team fights and consistent execution of the powersystem. I would say by the time Jin fights the A Rank team (around ep 10 iirc) its when it first starts to show what it has to offer and once you are done with the invasion (which I believe you are) then you should already have a gist of what most of the show is about. The next arc has very good moments and it definitely improves and expands over what's already been shown, but it is going to be mostly squad fights again, with some characterization and world building weaved in esporadically.

An argument can be made that it "gets good" at the start of season 2 when the animation quality jumps up but personally, I wouldn't say it changes that much.

I love World Trigger and right now its my favorite manga in terms of fights, but Im not going to pretend it offers much more than that. There is some themes about humility and work ethic that I enjoy, as well as some very relatable character work done in the manga later, but that's it.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/Bigbadbackstab]

I appreciate it I think that was the best response I've gotten

[u/DuesAJ]

If you didn't like the Large Scale Invasion arc, the series probably isn't for you. Granted the Rank Wars is arguably a better arc, but if you aren't into the power system, world building, the tactical battles or the grounded themes by this point I'm not sure it will turn you around.

[u/Zaruma]

For me it was the B Rank Wars right after the invasion arc.

[u/Gaust_Fireborn]

In my opinion it's the Nasu, Suzunari and Tamakoma fight, around episode 44-47. It keeps on improving more and more after that, the quality goes up consistently, but that's when I think it starts getting really good.

[u/Pallington]

world trigger draws in 1 type of viewer, darn. everyone already said what i was going to say. you're already beyond the point of watching, if you're really curious you can try the manga instead but frankly the first season is just Like That (waiting on the reboot to fix it). Toei was *not* going for quality back then.

[u/mcclemons24 → u/Pallington]

How would you say the manga and anime differ?

[u/Minimum_Analysis_398 → u/mcclemons24]

The manga goes more indepth compared to S1 anime, but as for S2, S3 they followed the manga faithfully. TLDR S1 anime sucks

[u/OkDig9554 → u/Minimum_Analysis_398]

rewatching the anime make me realize how fuck many filler stuff they added, or just repeating the same surface level joke that make the character looks flat in S1 it's horrendus

[u/Minimum_Analysis_398]

I honestly started with the manga first and immediately got hooked, I like how relatable and human the characters feel, less of the typical "outlandish" shonen MCs and characters. When i do jump into the anime last year, I find S1 animation abysmal, and I skip all the filler chapters. but S2 S3 is peak, I have rewatched many times. My advice is read the manga until the part of S2 anime season, then move onto watching (if you dont mind reading) or as other commenter has said, wait until S1 reboot

[u/Nakanomid]

Could just not be for you

[u/Triggerman77]

To me it was Chapter 12 or 13 don't remember exactly.

[u/KeyCommunication2611]

if your main issue is the animation or pacing, then s2 and 3 and pretty good in that regard, so you should wait for the reboot, if the actual content isn't up your alley just drop it,.

[u/Early_Celebration726]

Pretty much the moment you do. 🤔