Nen, what it is and how it works (updated)

NEN explanation

This explanation will follow my own understanding so i am not going to outright copy and paste wiki paragraphs here but for the variants i have to use wiki to explain though i still dont copy.

1,708 words for all this. Updated as of 9/18/2024.

What is Nen: various media portray it differently but it's essentially ki (dbz), chi, life force and who knows how many other names but life force is the primary aspect that it follows.

How does nen work? It's a type of aura that flows around the awakened user but it has 4 primary forms that are merged or focused to reveal 10s of others and those extra 10 are the advanced forms. The aura flows out of 'Aura nodes' which are essentially the acupuncture spots on the body. Over Glorified sweat glands for energy release.

Basic/primary forms ('Nen of the Flame' exercises) = Ten, Zetsu, Ren Hatsu

Ten = which exercises allows the user to contain their aura to their own body, preventing it from flowing outward and being wasted. It provides overall protection against other nen users or just defense in general. A balancing exercise really. This method maintains vigor to create a sense of longevity but there are limits and does no stop aging.

Zetsu = This is essentially sealing one's Nen within the body, enhancing stealth but also sensing abilities since by blocking one's own aura you become sensitive to those of others. It also helps in the energy recovery process since you are ensuring everything remains inside with no waste.

Ren = The opposite of Ten, instead of being defensive, this is offensive. Enlarging the aura to enhance natural physical strength and durability. Though this is much more energy intensive. Extra control allows the user to channel this ability longer. Wiki says 1 month of training = +10 minutes of Ren. Idk if this actually increases one's Nen amount (which i don't think it should/does otherwise there is no point in talent unless the training does unearth the latent talent )

Hatsu = This is the release state of nen. It goes by another name that is discussed later called the Nen Ability.

Advanced Techniques that will be explained in the story: Gyo (Advanced form of Ren), Ln (zetsu advanced), En (mix of Ten and Ren), Shu (adv Ten), Gyo (final form, all 4 combined into one), Ken (2nd Ten and Ren usage), Ryu (Gyo in a state of Ken, Most advanced technique)

Types of Nen abilities: Enchantment, Emission, Transmutation, Manipulation, Conjuration and Specialist.

Note: Alot of nen abilities overlap the various types so it's hard to have examples for each type except enchanters.

Enchantment = essentially reinforcement style magic that allows high speed, burst attacks or just enhance defense. Sometimes all these at once but that weakens the power of the individual aspects

Emission = Being able to condense ones nen outside the body and at farther distances. Has no special properties as it's pure aura/Nen. Imagine being able to make a soft ball made of energy, it is not soft but it is a ball. The ball can be given other properties like heat and just pass through obstacles like walls. So if you want to punch a mofo from a distance Leorio has your back like he did against Gin (gons dad)

Transmutation: You are able to give your nen various properties like Hisoka who has his bungee gum that has the properties of both rubber and gum. It makes his nen take on sticky, rubbery texture that can work like glue or if you wanted to be tarzan. Wiki says that the Nen copies the properties of other things like how Killua uses it to make lightning and electricity for his stun gun ability and God Speed state.Though to create such a thing, you have to experience…alot. This applies to other things as well but your typical elemental powers are here.

So yea killua regularly experiences shocks to train his nerves courtesy of the Zoldyck family.

Conjuration: You turn nen into a whole new thing. You can make chains, puppets, giant ass Buddha Constructs (courtesy of Netero), or full on sentient people like with Bisque who MAKES A MASSEUSE, with full knowledge of massages and their own nen ability to make relaxing bubbles. Even if she herself may not have the full understanding of it, she can still make the masseuse.

Manipulation: This overlaps alot with conjuration if you wanna make living constructs but manipulation is essentially mind control, puppet control or any other control style format. They have their own unique methods of doing this whether it's stabbing a puppet needle into something/one. Talking to a person, or anything in between (it's voodoo but we will get into that later with the variant abilities)

Specialist = These people are geniuses who are born having nen usage as well as Large amounts of it. Having an ability that doesnt fit into any other category: Neon is a girl with a fortune telling ability, Meruem can eat other nen users to increase his own nen-infinitely. Chrollo can copy any other nen users abilities if he fulfills certain requirements. Kurapika has access to all nen types when his eyes turn red (specific clan ability like sharingan but it has no real usage itself). Pitou (Neferpitou) another chimera ant like Meruem has the specialist puppet of Doctor Blythe who is a sentient being that can do extensive life saving surgery, Pitou also has Terpsichora which is an advanced form of her own puppetry ability that cloaks her in dense energy like a god damn mech, swelling up her muscles. Due to it possessing so many attributes it could either be everything but specialist or a specialist technique.

Variant Nen ability types

Barrier types = duh

Collaborative = needing more than one person to use

Compound = kinda weird and unknown but you can refer to Pitous Terpsichora for an example.

Counteractive types = only active after certain requirements are met. Like if the user dies or is injured Feitan Portor falls under this type. The more he gets hurt, the stronger his sun is.

Curse: Has various uses but the only notable user of this is Kurapika who places a chain against their own heart which enables them to only use their nen specialist abilities against Phantom Troupe members otherwise they are a weak conjurer. He also used the chain as a lie detector that if a person lied, they died.

Diffusive Levy type = just like compound, not much known but can gather/extract from multiple targets.

Double = special conjuration where user can copy himself a clone but they cant do complex orders or actions.

Exorcism types = anti curse users

Haunting Type = only work after the user has died, haunts a target to do specific things, like poltergeists or ghosts in general.

Land mine type = duh

Loan type = give ones aura to another person.

Nen Beasts = special constructs that act like living beings, typically falls under Conjuration but not limited to that. Could be emission type or specialist forms.

(updated as of 9/18/2024)

Nen Abilities unique to Axel:

Greater Soul Fragment = Pitou. from her Axel gained: Doctor Blythe and Terpsichora.

Minor Fragment = Killua. Gained Stun gun/Lightning Palm and Godspeed.

Personal nen ability = Sandman and Mask of Life

Simplified Nen abilities explanation:

Doctor Blythe: Specialist/Unknown-conjuration, Manipulation.

A special type of puppet with extensive medical knowledge (of unknown origin), that allows the puppet to modify or heal any living being of organic origin.

Terpsichora- Specialist/Unknown-Conjuration, Manipulation, Augmentation. (ability subsumed, can be ignored)

Terpsichora is another puppet that augments the user to producing 2x times the users power in exchange for temporary loss of control of their body. This puppet continues to work even when the affected target (primarily self) dies. If the user does not die then they fall under the 'backlash' which comes in the form of muscle pain/atrophy. internal bleeding and other physical pains due to surpassing ones limits.

Stun Gun/Lightning Palm: Transmutation

User coats their hands in lightning which then has to make physical contact with a target to shock them and temporarily stun. (this skill goes unused due to the simply being incompatible with Axel's strength, better for someone with less strength and more nimbleness. or for sneak attacks)

Lightning Bolt- Tansmutation/Emission

A long range version of Lightning Palm, its power is fairly lacking for being a lightning type ability but it makes up for it with a greater stunning capacity and range. (this ability goes primarily unused as Axel learns a magic version that does proper damage)

God Speed (2 sub abilities: Whirlwind and Speed of lightning)-Transmutation

Godspeed itself is the ability to cloak oneself in pure lightning. This then transitions to either whirlwind or speed of lightning. Whirlwind allows the godspeed user to effectively stun and dispense lightning with every physical or small scale long range attacks. Speed of Lightning is the speed based form of this ability that allows the user to zigzag around at lightning fast speeds. Good for long distance traveling. (works like Flash speed force, user is not harmed by long distance travels at fast speed and can still easily transition to Whirlwind at any time)

SandMan- Unknown/Specialist- Conjuration, Augmentation, and Manipulation, 

This ability had subsumed Terpsichora and modified its ability to be better. The original 2x boost of Terpsichora was reduced to 1.5x but the sand man puppet can utilize all of Axel's abilities (except Magic) with no physical repurcussions. Of course if Axel runs low on Nen, The Sandman turns red and the physical boost increases from 1.5x to 3x. Thanks to Asura Stone Skin, there remains no physical injuries from his extra boost. The sandman automatically activates upon Axel if he falls unconscious, should he be injured then it can also summon Doctor Blythe and direct its actions suitable to its needs.

Mask of Life-specialist/unknown- Conjuration, Manipulation, Augmentation, Emission, Transmutation.

Axel, putting on the mask, allows him to shapeshift into any other Nen user. Axel can then utilize all the abilities of that Nen User to around 90% effeciency of the original. This mask also comes in the Elf/rangers fragment, allowing a duplicate of Axels choosing that remains independent of the body. It can duplicate anyone except Axel himself (no looping multiple masks)