Are the main characters ordered in terms of general "strength/potential"?

[Nobody12]

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[uberfayt]

Gon is even more talented/gifted than Killua (as said by Biscuit)

When did Biske say that Gon is more talented than Killua?

 

[Demonspeed]

No I don't think so. And Gon has never been stronger than Killua at any point of the series excepted when he went Gon-san.

Leorio is just lacking in training compared to the three others but his talent has been highlihted early in the series. More than Kurapika IIRC.

Gon hasn't been said to be more talented than Killua but his fearlessness and ingenuity make him more dangerous in combat.

 

[uberfayt]

@Nobody12 you made it sound as if it was explicitly and factually stated in the manga that Gon has more talent than Killua.

It is easy to understand that in her mind of a treasure hunter: Gon > Killua as Diamond > Sapphire.

No it's not easy. I think Togashi would have made it less obscure if he wanted to convey that Gon is more talented than Killua. All we know for sure is that they are both extremely talented.

 

[Aeneas]

It’s close, but yeah, I’ve always seen Gon having the most potential of the main four.

I don't remember Leorio's talent being highlighted more than Kurapika.
I think the opposite. Yes, Leorio lacked training because his priority is being a doctor (so using Nen for Medicine) but from the beginning, Leorio was the one with the most difficulties (hunter exam, learning Nen etc..) in relation to Nen, instead, Kurapika was shown better than him in almost everything regarding battles, fights, and abilities.

I’m not sure what they’re referring to early on, but many focus on this comment later:

Though he would still be last among the main four for me.

 

[Demonspeed]

It’s close, but yeah, I’ve always seen Gon having the most potential of the main four.

I’m not sure what they’re referring to early on, but many focus on this comment later:

Though he would still be last among the main four for me.

When they were training to open the Testing Gates Leorio is the only of the trio who managed to open the second door. In the tournament of the Hunter Exam too it was said that the pros considered him strong enough to defeat Bodoro by himself.

I don't remember people highlighting Kurapika's talent in general. It's mostly his cunning and resolve which are highlighted and when they learn about it, how powerful Emperor Time is.

 

[Aeneas]

When they were training to open the Testing Gates Leorio is the only of the trio who managed to open the second door. In the tournament of the Hunter Exam too it was said that the pros considered him strong enough to defeat Bodoro by himself.

I don't remember people highlighting Kurapika's talent in general. It's mostly his cunning and resolve which are highlighted and when they learn about it, how powerful Emperor Time is.

Ah, yeah.

Though given his Kurta lineage, how quickly he developed his ability (even with Izunavi's help), and how he fought against Uvogin, I would still have Kurapika above him.

 

[Franckie]

Interesting theory. Still, Gon and Killua ceased being main characters as of the Elections Arc and have no meaningful connection to the ongoing plot. If by some miracle Togashi gets back to Hiatus x Hiatus, while it is possible for Killua to return, Gon is done.

 

[Aeneas]

while it is possible for Killua to return, Gon is done.

Do you mean in terms of the Dark Continent or just the series in general? If the latter, then Gon is more likely to return given the Gyro connection.

 

[shionoro]

My take on it is, in terms of rough talent on Nen:

Kurapika
Killua
Gon
Leorio

Kurapika learned Nen the fastest. While Gon and Kil did not even form a Hatsu yet, Kurapika was able to use oath and limitation and had a dedicated hatsu that worked as a lie detector, as a healing option, as a general weapon and defense and as a way to force others to do his bidding (even without the spider limitation). That is insane. Let's do not forget: The only skill he can only use against spiders is his jail ability. Everything else, going toe on toe with uvogin, was his own strength, while gon and kil would not have had any chance against any individual spider yet by a looooong shot.
Kurapika's innate eye ability helps him out here, but still, Kurapika is a more talented nenmaster than gon and kil ever were. He is even able to teach Nen and has a very complex and versatile hatsu.

Killua is the heir of the zoldyek family for a reason. Gon's ability feed of gon's determination and gon IS talented at Nen. But basically, gon is a powerful enhancer and has a good sense of using his ability for battle, but his Nen skills are not as dedicated as killua's. Killua has a complex transmuter ability with different purposes, one being to become insanely fast, another to use his aura as electricity, yet another to heighten his reflexes so he can outspeed a royal guard for a time. Gon has nothing like that at his disposal. He can keep up with Killua because Gon has other qualities that Killua does not have, but when it comes to the normal potential without gon's insane determination boosts, Killua has him beat.

Gon however is obviously more talented than Leorio, who even struggled with learning Nen when the others could use it already. But Gon's power lies somewhere else. He is not a Nenmaster type like Ging is, Gon is the type of guy who is able to create strong nen Outbursts by his determination and sway others via his personality.

Like Gon, Leorio's potential is not on the side of Nen, but his personality. Leorio and Gon can both do things the other 2 cannot do, for example take leadership positions or inspire by a rash action. But still, Leorio could not do things like going toe on toe with uvogin, transform into leorio san or pummel a royal guard (if for some time).