Anime fan for 15 years. Covers shonen, seasonal previews, and the occasional deep dive.
Black Clover surprised everyone. What started as a "generic shonen" became one of the most beloved anime of its generation, with incredible fights, genuine character growth, and a surprisingly deep magic system. Here's how to watch it properly.
The quick answer
Watch Black Clover episodes 1–170, skip the filler episodes listed below, then watch Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (movie). The manga continues beyond the anime and a movie sequel/continuation is expected.
Black Clover filler episodes
Black Clover has about a 10% filler rate. Here are the episodes to skip:
| Episodes | Type | Verdict |
|----------|------|---------|
| 29 | Filler | Skip |
| 66 | Filler | Skip |
| 68 | Filler | Skip |
| 82–84 | Filler | Skip |
| 123–125 | Filler | Skip |
| 131–132 | Filler | Skip |
| 134–135 | Filler | Skip |
| 137–139 | Filler | Skip |
| 142–148 | Filler | Skip (worst stretch) |
| 150–154 | Filler | Skip |
| 156–157 | Filler | Skip |
The filler is concentrated in the 120s–150s range, where the anime caught up to the manga. Skip aggressively through this section.
Where does the movie fit?
Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (2023) — Watch after episode 170. It's set during the timeskip and is available on Netflix. It's a fun standalone adventure, not essential to the plot but enjoyable.
The controversial first episodes
Black Clover's biggest barrier to entry is Asta's voice in the first few episodes. The Japanese voice actor delivers an extremely loud, screaming performance that mellows significantly after episode 10. Push through — it's worth it. The English dub handles this much better if you prefer.
Where to watch Black Clover
- Crunchyroll — Full series (subbed and dubbed)
- Netflix — Movie + some regions have the series
- Hulu — Full series (US)
How long will this take?
| Route | Episodes | Time |
|-------|----------|------|
| Canon only | ~150 episodes | ~60 hours |
| Everything | 170 episodes + movie | ~70 hours |
Frequently asked questions
Will Black Clover get a Season 2 (continuation)?
The manga is ongoing and a movie sequel has been hinted at. A new anime season adapting the Spade Kingdom arc is widely expected but not yet confirmed as of 2026.
Is Black Clover good?
It starts slow but becomes genuinely excellent. The Elf Reincarnation arc (episodes 80–120) is peak shonen. If you liked Naruto's underdog story, you'll love Asta.
Sub or dub?
The dub is recommended for newcomers due to Asta's early voice acting being more tolerable in English. Both are good from episode 20 onwards.
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