You’ve probably seen the shelves. Massive rows of colorful spines, all featuring cats with glowing eyes and battle scars. It’s intimidating. Honestly, trying to figure out the warrior cat series in order is like trying to map out a massive, feral family tree while the cats are actively fighting you. Written by the collective known as Erin Hunter—which includes Kate Cary, Cherith Baldwyne, and others—this saga has ballooned into an absolute behemoth of middle-grade fantasy.
There are over 80 books. That is not a typo.
If you just grab a random book because the cover looks cool, you are going to be hopelessly lost. You’ll be reading about a cat named Firestar, then suddenly he’s a legend from a hundred years ago, then suddenly he’s a kitten again. It’s a mess if you don't have a plan. Most people think you should just go by the date on the copyright page, but that’s actually a terrible way to experience the world of ThunderClan and the rest.
Why chronological order is a trap for new readers
Look, I get the temptation. You want to start at the "beginning" of the timeline. In the world of Warriors, that would be Dawn of the Clans. This sub-series takes us back to the literal formation of the groups. It’s gritty. It’s emotional. It’s also a prequel.
If you start there, you miss out on all the mystery. The main series, beginning with Into the Wild, was written with the assumption that you don't know how the Clans work. You learn the code as Rusty (later Firepaw) learns it. Starting with the prequels is like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy; sure, you get the timeline right, but you kill the magic of the world-building. Plus, the emotional payoff in the later-published prequels hits way harder when you already know what those Clans eventually become.
Basically, stick to publication order for your first time through. It’s how the fans experienced it, and it’s how the lore was meant to unfold.
The main arcs: The backbone of your collection
The core of the warrior cat series in order consists of six-book mini-series. This is the "safe" way to read.
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First up is The Prophecies Begin. This is the GOAT. It’s where we meet Firestar. You’ve got Into the Wild, Fire and Ice, Forest of Secrets, Rising Storm, A Dangerous Path, and The Darkest Hour. If you only ever read these six, you’ve had a complete, satisfying experience. The stakes feel real, the villains are actually scary (Tigerstar is a menace), and the ending is legendary.
Then things get... weird.
The New Prophecy shifts the focus. We move away from the original forest and go on a literal road trip. Some fans find this arc a bit slow because there is a lot of walking. But you meet the next generation, like Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight. It’s essential for understanding why the cats live where they do now.
Power of Three and Omen of the Stars
This is where the supernatural elements really ramp up. We’re talking superpowers. Jayfeather can walk in dreams. Lionblaze is invincible in battle. Dovewing can hear things miles away. It’s a huge departure from the "semi-realistic" vibe of the first series, but it leads to a massive climax in The Last Hope that brings back characters from the very beginning. It’s high-stakes melodrama at its finest.
The later arcs: A Vision of Shadows, The Broken Code, and A Starless Clan
The series didn't stop. It kept going. A Vision of Shadows deals with the return of a lost Clan (SkyClan), which was a huge deal for long-time readers who had only read about them in the "Super Editions." The Broken Code gets even darker, bordering on horror with a possession storyline. It’s weird to think about "cat possession," but within the logic of this world, it actually works.
Currently, A Starless Clan is the ongoing focus. It’s tackling the literal foundation of the warrior code—questioning whether these rigid rules the cats have followed for decades are actually good for them. It’s surprisingly nuanced for a series about talking pets.
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The "Super Edition" complication
This is where the warrior cat series in order gets genuinely annoying to track. Super Editions are standalone, double-length novels. They aren't "optional" if you want the full story.
Take Firestar’s Quest. If you skip it and go straight from the first series to the second, you will be very confused about why certain characters are acting the way they are, or why a certain fifth Clan keeps getting mentioned. Same goes for Yellowfang’s Secret or Crookedstar’s Promise. These provide the emotional depth that the main books sometimes skim over.
My advice? Read the Super Editions after the arc they were published alongside. For example, read Firestar’s Quest after The Darkest Hour. Read Bluefur’s Prophecy whenever you want a good cry, but preferably after you've finished the first arc so you know her full history.
Don't ignore the Novellas and Manga
Kinda feels like overkill, right? But the novellas are where the "gap-filling" happens. They are usually released in sets of three, like Shadows of the Clans or Legends of the Clans. They explain things like:
- How a certain villain ended up in the "Dark Forest" (the cat version of hell).
- Why a specific leader lost their nine lives so fast.
- What happened to characters who were exiled and never seen again.
The manga (graphic novels) are a mixed bag. Some, like The Rise of Scourge, are absolutely essential for understanding the backstory of the series' most famous villains. Others are just "fluff." If you’re a completionist, you’ll want them. If you’re just here for the plot, stick to the prose.
Common pitfalls when buying the books
Be careful with the covers! A few years ago, HarperCollins rebranded the entire series with new, more digital-looking art. The old covers (by Wayne McLoughlin) have a very specific, nostalgic feel. The new covers are vibrant but can be confusing because some of the cats look very similar.
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Also, watch out for the "Field Guides." Secrets of the Clans or Code of the Clans are fun for lore nerds, but they often contain "facts" that the later books accidentally contradict. The "Erin Hunter" team is huge, and occasionally, they forget that a cat was supposed to be ginger and make them tabby, or they mess up the family tree. Don't take the Field Guides as gospel law.
The factual reality of the "Warrior Code"
People often ask if the order matters because of the "Warrior Code." Yes. The code changes. If you read out of order, you’ll see cats breaking rules that haven't been established yet, or following rules that were supposedly abolished.
The most important rule? "A warrior rejects the soft life of a kittypet." This is the friction that drives the first 30 books. If you don't read them in sequence, the weight of a cat choosing their Clan over their family loses all its impact. It's about the cult-like devotion to the group, and seeing that evolve over years of "in-universe" time is the whole point of the series.
How to actually start today
If you are standing in a bookstore right now looking for the warrior cat series in order, do this:
- Find "Into the Wild." It has a rusty-colored cat on the front. Start there. No exceptions.
- Finish the first six books. Don't worry about the side stories yet. Just get through The Darkest Hour.
- Grab "Firestar's Quest" next. It’s the bridge between the old world and the new world.
- Move to "The New Prophecy" arc. This is where the world expands.
- Use a digital checklist. Since there are so many books, use a site like the official Warriors website or the fan-run Wiki to track "Publication Order."
Stop worrying about the "perfect" timeline. The publication order is the intended journey. It allows the mysteries to stay mysterious and the reveals to actually mean something.
You’re looking at a multi-year reading commitment if you want to finish it all. Take it one arc at a time. The community is still massive, and even though these books started in 2003, they are still hitting bestseller lists for a reason. There’s something deeply compelling about these little soldiers living in the woods, even if their family trees are a total nightmare to navigate.
Go find a copy of Into the Wild. See if you like Rusty. If you do, you've got about 80 more adventures waiting for you.
Next Steps for Readers
- Check your local library's digital app (like Libby or Hoopla). Most libraries carry the entire back catalog of Warriors in ebook format, which is much cheaper than buying 80 physical books.
- Download a printable checklist. Search for a "Warriors Publication Order" PDF so you can physically cross off books as you finish them. It’s surprisingly satisfying.
- Avoid the Wiki until you've finished Arc 1. The Warriors fandom is huge, but the Wiki is a spoiler minefield. Even looking up a character's name can reveal their death or a massive plot twist in the sidebar.