If you want to watch Black Clover without getting lost in filler episodes, OVAs, specials, and the movie, this guide breaks down the best watch order from start to finish. We’ll cover the recommended viewing order, release order, chronological notes, which episodes you can skip, which filler is worth watching, and where to stream Black Clover legally.
Black Clover follows Asta, a magicless orphan in a world ruled by magic, and Yuno, his gifted rival-brother, as both chase the title of Wizard King. It starts loud, gets bigger, and eventually turns into one of the more binge-friendly modern shonen runs. Convenient. For once.
Black Clover Watch Order: Quick Answer
- Black Clover TV anime — Episodes 1–157
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King — Movie, optional but recommended after episode 157
- Black Clover TV anime — Episodes 158–170
- New Black Clover anime season — Announced for 2026; watch after episode 170 when it arrives
If you only want the main story, skip episodes 29, 66, 68, 82, 123–125, 131, 134–135, and 142–149. If you enjoy character-focused anime-original material, consider watching 55–56, 130, 132–133, 136–141, 150–157, plus the movie after episode 157.
Black Clover Basics
Black Clover is based on Yūki Tabata’s manga, which began in Weekly Shonen Jump before moving to Jump Giga. The TV anime was produced by Pierrot and aired from 2017 to 2021, running for 170 episodes. In English home media and streaming contexts, the original run is often split into four seasons, though Japan aired it as a continuous weekly series.
The franchise also has a Jump Festa 2016 OVA, a Jump Festa 2018 special, the chibi gag spin-off Squishy! Black Clover, and the 2023 movie Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King. A new anime season has been announced for 2026, so this guide should stay useful for catching up before Asta starts yelling again. He will. That’s not a spoiler; that’s a weather forecast.
The Best Black Clover Watch Order
- Black Clover Episodes 1–54 — Watch. This covers the early Magic Knights material, dungeon arc, capital attack, and the first major conflicts with the Eye of the Midnight Sun. Skip episode 29 if you want a lean run.
- Black Clover Episodes 55–56 — Optional anime-canon. These introduce Fanzell and related backstory. Not required, but more useful than throwaway filler.
- Black Clover Episodes 57–122 — Watch. This stretch includes major canon arcs and several important power-ups. Skip 66, 68, and 82 if you are avoiding pure filler.
- Black Clover Episodes 123–129 — Mostly watch. Episodes 123–125 are recap/filler; 126–129 return to manga material and set up the next phase.
- Black Clover Episodes 130–157 — Optional but recommended anime-canon training stretch. This is the anime’s bridge toward the Heart Kingdom and Spade Kingdom material. Skip the pure filler inside it if you are rushing.
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King — Optional / anime-original canon-adjacent movie. Best watched after episode 157, before the final canon stretch.
- Black Clover Episodes 158–170 — Watch. This is the final canon TV stretch currently available and the cleanest place to stop before the 2026 continuation.
Black Clover Release Order
- Black Clover Jump Festa 2016 Special / OVA — 2016 event screening; bundled with manga volume 11 in 2017
- Black Clover TV anime — 2017–2021, 170 episodes
- Black Clover Jump Festa 2018 Special — 2018 event special
- Squishy! Black Clover — 2019 chibi comedy spin-off
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King — 2023 movie
- New Black Clover anime season — announced for 2026
Release order is fine for completionists, but first-time viewers do not need to start with the Jump Festa material. The main TV anime is the real entry point.
Black Clover Chronological Order
For most viewers, chronological order is basically the same as the recommended order. The main exception is Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King, which works best after episode 157. It takes place after the Elf Reincarnation aftermath and before the anime’s final Spade Kingdom setup episodes, but it is still a side story rather than required manga adaptation.
Is Black Clover Filler Heavy?
Black Clover has low filler for a long-running weekly shonen series. The common filler count is 18 pure filler episodes out of 170, or roughly 11%. That is light compared with shows like Naruto or Bleach.
The catch is that Black Clover also has mixed canon/filler and anime-canon episodes. Mixed episodes usually contain manga material, so do not skip them casually. Anime-canon episodes are not directly adapted from manga chapters, but some help bridge the anime’s training period and character development. Pure filler, though? Skip it if you want the cleanest path.
Black Clover Filler List: Episodes You Can Skip
| Episodes | Arc / Title | Type | Skip or Watch? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asta and Yuno | Canon | Watch | Main premise and rivalry setup. |
| 2, 8–9, 12, 30, 69, 102 | Mixed early/mid-series episodes | Mixed Canon/Filler | Watch | Contains canon material; not safe to skip on a first watch. |
| 3, 13, 55–56 | Early anime-canon material | Anime Canon | Optional | Useful flavor and character context, especially 55–56. |
| 29 | Path | Filler | Skip | Mostly reflective material. |
| 66, 68, 82 | Standalone filler episodes | Filler | Skip | Fun if you like the cast, but not required. |
| 123–125 | Nero Reminisces / Return | Filler / recap | Skip | Safe to skip unless you want a refresher. |
| 130, 132–133, 136–141, 150–157 | Anime-original training and character episodes | Anime Canon | Optional / Watch | Recommended if you want the anime’s bridge into the final canon stretch. |
| 131, 134–135 | Character-focused filler | Filler | Optional | Episode 131 is decent for Hage Village fans; 135 is a light comedy pick. |
| 142–149 | Devil Believers arc | Filler | Optional | Anime-original arc. Skippable, but more substantial than random recap filler. |
| 4–7, 10–11, 14–28, 31–54, 57–65, 67, 70–81, 83–101, 103–122, 126–129, 158–170 | Main manga adaptation | Canon | Watch | Core story episodes. |
Which Black Clover Filler Episodes Are Worth Watching?
- Episodes 55–56 — Fanzell backstory: Not pure manga canon, but useful for extra context and better than average filler.
- Episode 131 — A New Resolve: A warmer return-to-Hage episode. Optional, but not a waste if you like Asta’s roots.
- Episode 135 — The One Who Has My Heart, My Mind, and Soul: Light comedy and character interactions. Skip if you only want plot.
- Episodes 142–149 — Devil Believers arc: Skippable, but it gives the anime an extended look at how ordinary people react to devils and the kingdom’s failures.
- Episodes 150–157 — Training bridge: Anime-canon, but recommended before the episode 158 jump back into manga material.
Where Do the Black Clover Movies, OVAs, and Specials Fit?
- Jump Festa 2016 OVA — Optional. It predates the TV anime and is not required for the main continuity.
- Jump Festa 2018 Special — Optional bonus material. Watch only if you are a completionist.
- Squishy! Black Clover — Optional chibi comedy spin-off. Not part of the serious watch order.
- Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King — Optional but recommended after episode 157. It is anime-original, supervised by Tabata, and fits best before episodes 158–170.
Best Black Clover Watch Order by Viewer Type
First-time viewers
Watch episodes 1–157, the movie, then episodes 158–170. Skip pure filler if pacing matters.
Manga readers
Focus on manga-canon episodes and treat the anime-canon training stretch as bonus material. The anime slows down near the manga catch-up point, but the bridge episodes can still be useful.
Completionists
Watch the Jump Festa specials, all 170 TV episodes, Squishy! Black Clover, and Sword of the Wizard King. You’ll get everything, including the weird bits. Especially the weird bits.
Returning fans
Rewatch episodes 158–170 after the movie if you only need a fast refresher before the 2026 anime continuation.
Black Clover Watch Order and Filler FAQ
Can I skip Black Clover filler?
Yes. Skip episodes 29, 66, 68, 82, 123–125, 131, 134–135, and 142–149 if you only want the main story. Do not skip mixed canon/filler episodes on a first watch.
Should I watch Black Clover in release order or chronological order?
Use the recommended order: TV episodes 1–157, the movie, then TV episodes 158–170. Release order is only necessary for completionists.
Is the Black Clover movie canon?
Sword of the Wizard King is anime-original and not a direct manga arc, but Yūki Tabata supervised the story and character designs. Treat it as canon-adjacent and optional, not required.
How many Black Clover episodes are there?
The original TV anime has 170 episodes. A new anime season has been announced for 2026.
Where can I watch Black Clover legally?
For current streaming options, use our updated Black Clover streaming guide. It is the dedicated page for legal platforms, regional notes, and updated links.
Recap
For most viewers, the best way to watch Black Clover is episodes 1–157, then Sword of the Wizard King, then episodes 158–170. Skip the pure filler episodes if you want a faster binge, but keep the mixed canon/filler and the late anime-canon training stretch unless you are seriously rushing.
If you want the simplest legal streaming option, start with Crunchyroll and check your local Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Apple TV, or Prime Video listings before subscribing.
