If you’ve spent any time in the local card shop scene lately, you’ve probably seen the bright yellow boxes of Union Arena. It’s Bandai’s big swing at a "super-franchise" crossover game, and honestly, the Hunter x Hunter set is the one everyone is chasing. It’s not just about the nostalgia of the Chimera Ant arc. People are hunting for that specific Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list because the power creep in this game is real, and if you aren't playing the right Gon or Killua, you're basically just handing your opponent the win.
Wait.
Before you go dropping $500 on a case, you need to know that this isn't just a "waifu collector" game like Weiss Schwarz. It’s tactical. It’s mean. And the card list is split in a way that makes certain decks significantly more expensive than others.
The Core Breakdown of the Set
The first thing you’ll notice when looking through the full Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list is that it’s divided into colors. This isn't just for show. In Union Arena, your "energy" is dictated by your color, and in the HxH set (UA03BT), we’re looking at Yellow, Green, and Purple as the primary drivers.
Yellow is the current king. Specifically, the Kurapika and Leorio builds. If you’re looking at the card list, the one you’re hunting for is the Kurapika SR (UA03BT/HTR-1-024). It’s a 4-cost card that basically punishes your opponent for breathing. It has a "When Played" effect that lets you bounce an opponent's character back to their hand if you have the right energy requirements. In a game where tempo is everything, bouncing a 5-cost boss monster is a death sentence.
Then you have Green. This is where the Gon and Killua fans live. It’s aggressive. It’s fast. The Gon Freecss SR (UA03BT/HTR-1-049) is the centerpiece here. It’s got a "Raid" ability, which is the core mechanic of Union Arena. You play it on top of a lower-level Gon, and suddenly you’ve got a 4000 BP (Battle Power) beatstick that can attack twice or gain "Impact" depending on how much energy you’ve banked.
Why Nobody Talks About the Common Cards
Everyone looks at the Super Rares (SR) and the Parallel Rares (the "Alt Arts"), but the real backbone of the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list is the Rares and Uncommons that generate "AP" (Action Points).
Action Points are the most restrictive part of the game. You only get three per turn. If you aren't running cards like the 0-cost Killua Zoldyck or the Wing cards that help you cycle through your deck, those flashy SRs will just sit in your hand while your life points disappear.
Seriously.
I’ve seen guys show up with a deck full of Parallel Rares and get absolutely washed by a budget "Phantom Troupe" Purple deck because they didn't understand the energy curve. The Purple deck, led by Chrollo (UA03BT/HTR-1-081), is a nightmare to play against. It focuses on the "Discard" pile. In many card games, the discard pile is where cards go to die. In HxH Purple, it’s a second hand. Chrollo lets you play characters directly from the trash, making it nearly impossible to permanently clear their board.
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The "Chase" Cards and Market Value
Let’s talk money. We have to.
If you look at the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list from a collector's perspective, you’re looking for the three-star (★★★) Parallel Rares. These are the "Signature" cards. The Killua Zoldyck (UA03BT/HTR-1-052) Parallel Rare with the gold foil stamping is currently the "holy grail" of the set.
Why? Because Killua is the most popular character in the franchise, and his card is actually good in the meta. Usually, in these games, the rarest card is some obscure side character. Not here. The best card is also the coolest-looking one.
Here is a quick look at the "Big Four" cards you need to keep an eye on if you're cracking packs:
1. Gon Freecss (Green SR/Parallel): The primary finisher for Green decks. High BP and the ability to pierce through blockers.
2. Kurapika (Yellow SR): The control king. If you see Yellow energy on the table, expect this card to ruin your day.
3. Hisoka (Purple SR): A wild card. He has an ability that lets him avoid being blocked by lower BP characters. He’s "sneaky," just like the character.
4. Isaac Netero (Green SR): The high-cost "Late Game" nuke. If the game goes past turn 6, Netero usually ends it.
The pull rates for these are tough. You’re looking at roughly one Parallel Rare per box, but the high-tier "Three Star" versions are more like one in every few cases. That’s why the singles market for Hunter x Hunter is so volatile right now.
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Understanding the Raid Mechanic
You can't talk about the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list without explaining Raids. If you're coming from Pokemon or Magic: The Gathering, this will feel weird.
A Raid card has a little square icon in the top left. You don't just "play" it. You have to have a character with the same name already on the field. You "place" the Raid card on top of them. This gives the card "Haste" (it can attack the turn it's played) and usually triggers a massive "When Played" ability.
This is why the "Small" cards in the card list matter so much. You need the 0-energy, 1000 BP Gon to be able to play the 4-energy, 4000 BP Raid Gon. If your deck list doesn't have at least 8-12 "Searcher" cards or low-cost targets, your high-end cards are literally dead weight.
It’s a balancing act.
The Phantom Troupe Engine (Purple)
The Purple section of the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list is arguably the most complex. It’s built around the "Phantom Troupe" trait. Characters like Uvogin and Feitan have high BP but often require you to banish cards from your own discard pile to activate their effects.
It feels risky. It is risky.
But the payoff? Uvogin (UA03BT/HTR-1-074) is a 5000 BP monster. In a game where most boss monsters cap at 4000, 5000 is an immovable wall. Most characters literally cannot damage him without a combo. If you can manage your resources and keep your "Trash" full of Spiders, the Purple deck is the most "skill-expressive" way to play the game.
Common Misconceptions About the Card List
People think that because it’s a "licensed" game, it’s shallow. That’s a mistake. The Hunter x Hunter set was designed by people who clearly watched the show. The mechanics reflect the characters' Nen abilities.
- Hisoka’s Bungee Gum: His cards often involve manipulating the position of the opponent's characters.
- Kurapika’s Chains: His cards specifically target the "Phantom Troupe" trait for extra damage or debuffs.
- Knuckle’s Hakoware: There are cards that actually "lend" energy to the opponent, forcing a "debt" mechanic that weakens them later.
If you just look at a spreadsheet of the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list, you miss this flavor. You have to see how the keywords interact. For example, "Final" cards are your "Spells." Every deck is allowed 4. In HxH, the "Final" card for Green is a training montage that lets you draw two and buff a character. It’s simple, but in a 50-card deck, it’s the glue that holds the Gon/Killua engine together.
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How to Build Your First Deck from the List
Don't go out and buy individual packs. The pull rates will break your heart.
If you want to actually play, pick a color first.
Green is the best for beginners. It’s straightforward. You play small Gons, you Raid into big Gons, you hit hard.
Yellow is for people who like to say "No." It’s a control deck. You manipulate the opponent's board and win through attrition.
Purple is for the "Gamers." If you like graveyard mechanics and high-risk/high-reward plays, the Phantom Troupe is your home.
The Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list actually includes "Special" cards (labeled with an 'S') which are effectively your win conditions. Most decks run 4 copies of their primary Raid and 4 copies of their Special. If you’re missing these, your deck isn't "competitive," it’s a pile of cardboard.
Step-by-Step Action Plan for New Players
To get started with the Hunter x Hunter set without wasting money, follow this path:
- Download a Translation App: If you’re playing the Japanese version (which is currently the most available), use an app like Google Lens to read the cards. The English release is coming, but the meta is already established in Japan.
- Focus on the "Raid" Base: Look at the card list and identify the 0-cost and 1-cost characters for your chosen lead (Gon, Kurapika, or Chrollo). You need 12-16 of these.
- Secure Your "Finals": Every HxH deck needs 4 copies of its color-specific "Final" event card. These are usually Uncommons (U) and are very cheap to buy as singles.
- The 2nd Deck Rule: Don't just build one deck. Union Arena is a "Color vs. Color" game. Build a Green deck and a Yellow deck. It’ll teach you the strengths and weaknesses of the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list much faster than playing against the same deck over and over.
- Check the Banned/Restricted List: Bandai is proactive. Before buying an expensive SR, check the official Union Arena website to make sure that specific card hasn't been limited to 1 copy per deck. In the HxH set, most cards are currently at 4, but the meta shifts fast.
The beauty of the Union Arena Hunter x Hunter card list isn't just in the rare shiny cards; it’s in how a 0-cost Leorio can actually be the reason you win a game by providing that one extra energy you needed to Raid into a game-winning Kurapika. It’s a tight, well-designed set that rewards knowing your list inside and out.