The Best Chainsaw Man Watch Order (Story Arcs Explained)

With the recent release of Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, Chainsaw Man is more popular than ever! Although if you’re just getting into the series, how do you know where to start? In this article, with help from anime expert Richard Moore, we’ll explain the best Chainsaw Man watch order, all the current story arcs from the manga and anime, what we currently know about season 2, and more.

How should I watch Chainsaw Man in order?

Anime expert Richard Moore says the best way to watch Chainsaw Man is in release order. Start with the series, then watch Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. If you want to watch the movie but don’t have time to watch the whole series, check out episodes 1, 2, 5, 11, and 12 first.

Section 1 of 7:

Best Chainsaw Man Watch Order

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Watch Chainsaw Man in release order. Currently, there is only one season of Chainsaw Man, plus Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. While there are a few flashbacks here and there, the story is mostly told linearly. The best (and easiest) way to watch it is in release order, says Moore.^{[1]
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Richard Moore
Anime Expert

Expert Interview}
- Chainsaw Man season 1 (episodes 1-12)
- Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Richard Moore is an anime expert, rapper, and content creator based in Dayton, Ohio. He's been watching anime for nearly his entire life and has over 6 years of experience creating content.

Section 2 of 7:

Episodes to Watch Before the Movie

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Watch these essential episodes for a refresher before the movie. If you want to watch Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc, we highly recommend watching season 1 in its entirety, especially since the movie doesn’t have an in-depth story recap. However, if you don’t have time for a full rewatch of season 1, check out these key episodes to refresh your memory on important story arcs and plot points:
- Episode 1, “Dog & Chainsaw”
- Episode 2, “Arrival in Tokyo”
- Episode 5, “Gun Devil”
- Episode 11, “Mission Start”
- Episode 12, “Katana vs. Chainsaw”
- Skip down to our Chainsaw Man Story Arcs section for a summary of all the story arcs included in the anime so far.
- Note: Crunchyroll has also released Chainsaw Man – The Compilation Part 1 and Part II, which are two long recaps of the series condensed into two movies. This is another way to catch up before watching Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc.

Section 3 of 7:

Chainsaw Man Story Arcs Explained

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1
Introduction arc The Introduction arc is covered in episodes 1 and 2 of the anime. After being killed by the Yakuza, Denji makes a deal with Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil, and becomes Chainsaw Man. Makima recruited him into Public Safety, where he meets Aki Hayakawa and teams up with Power.^{[2]
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- Manga chapters: 1-4
2
Bat Devil arc This arc is covered in episodes 2-5 of the anime. Denji teams up with Power to patrol the city, and Power reveals that her cat was kidnapped by a devil. Denji kills the devil and saves the cat, but is then attacked by another devil. He is saved by Aki Hayakawa.^{[3]
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- Manga chapters: 5-12
3
Eternity Devil arc The Eternity Devil arc occurs in episodes 5-7. Denji and the rest of Division 4 are trapped in a hotel by the Eternity Devil, who creates a time-looping pocket dimension and demands Denji’s death for the others’ freedom.^{[4]
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- Manga chapters: 13-21
4
Katana Man arc This arc occurs in episodes 8-12. Fueled by revenge, the grandson of a Yakuza boss ambushes Special Division 4, leaving most of the members dead. Denji is forced to confront his past, question his humanity, and learn to fight more strategically.^{[5]
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- Manga chapters: 22-38
5
Bomb Girl/Reze arc This arc is covered entirely in Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. It follows Denji as he develops a romance with Reze, a Soviet human-devil hybrid agent who is secretly an assassin sent by the Gun Devil to steal his heart.^{[6]
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- Manga chapters: 39-52
6
International Assassins arc This arc will be adapted in Chainsaw Man season 2. As news of Denji’s existence spreads, assassins from all over the world converge on Tokyo in an attempt to kill him and claim his heart.^{[7]
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- Manga chapters: 53-70
7
Gun Devil arc This arc has not yet been adapted into the anime, but is a crucial turning point in the manga. The feared Gun Devil finally makes an appearance, but is immediately defeated and used by Makima. The fight results in the death of Aki Hayakawa, who becomes the Gun Fiend, forcing Denji to kill his friend.^{[8]
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- Manga chapters: 71-79
8
Control Devil arc The Control Devil arc has not yet been adapted into the anime, but marks the conclusion of Part 1 of the manga. It reveals Makima as the Control Devil who seeks to use Pochita to create a perfect world.^{[9]
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- Manga chapters: 80-97
9
Justice Devil arc The Justice Devil arc marks the beginning of Part 2 of the Chainsaw Man manga. After becoming the host of Yoru, the War Devil, high school student Asa Mitaka seeks to help the devil take revenge on Chainsaw Man. In the process, she must face two students who have made a contract with the Justice Devil.^{[10]
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- Manga chapters: 98-111
10
Dating Denji arc As Yoru and Fami insist on turning Denji into a weapon, Asa takes him on an awkward, high-stakes aquarium date in which they are trapped by the Eternity Devil. Denji later invites Asa on a second date, and Yoru takes the opportunity to turn him into a weapon when she realizes Asa has developed feelings for him.^{[11]
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- Manga chapters: 112-120
11
Falling Devil arc This arc introduces the Falling Devil, a devil who embodies the fear of falling into despair, physically and emotionally. The Falling Devil is after Yoru and Asa, but Chainsaw Man comes to the rescue.^{[12]
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- Manga chapters: 121-131
12
Chainsaw Man Church arc This arc introduces the Chainsaw Man Church, a cult that seeks to “save” Chainsaw Man by creating contracts with the Fire Devil. Asa enjoys the fame Chainsaw Man’s popularity has given her, while Denji slips further into obscurity.^{[13]
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- Manga chapters: 132-155
13
Aging Devil arc After the loss of his home and pets, Denji has hit rock bottom. Asa attempts to help him search for the missing Nayuta, while the Aging Devil attempts to create a new stage of human evolution by removing the concept of aging.^{[14]
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- Manga chapters: 156-190
14
Current arc The current arc refers to the arc currently being published in the manga. The Death Devil has finally descended to earth and is prepared to bring a new era of Devils to reality. Chainsaw Man must stop Death from driving humanity to extinction.^{[15]
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- Manga chapters: 191-228 (ongoing)

Section 4 of 7:

When is Chainsaw Man season 2 coming out?

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Season 2 has been announced, but there is no official release date. In late 2025, animation studio MAPPA confirmed that season 2 of Chainsaw Man is coming and that its official title is Chainsaw Man: Assassins Arc. The announcement came with a teaser and promotional images. While there is no official release date, fans speculate that the new season will likely come out in 2027.^{[16]
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- Season 2 will adapt the International Assassins arc from the manga, in which Denji gains notoriety and is put on the radar of various hitmen. This arc picks up directly after the Reze arc.
- Fans originally speculated that season 2 would also include the Gun Devil and Control Devil arcs to finish out Part 1 of the manga, but it looks like these arcs will be included in later seasons or movies.

Section 5 of 7:

Where to Watch Chainsaw Man

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Watch Chainsaw Man on Crunchyroll. While streaming platforms are always subject to change, in the United States, Chainsaw Man and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc are both available to stream on Crunchyroll with a subscription. The series is also available on Hulu and Disney+, but the movie is not.
- Right now, Crunchyroll is the only place to stream the movie. You can, however, buy it on YouTube, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video.

Section 6 of 7:

What is Chainsaw Man about?

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Chainsaw Man follows a teen who fuses his body with the dog-like Chainsaw Devil. Denji is a young, impoverished man working as a Devil Hunter with Pochita, the Chainsaw Devil, in an attempt to pay off the debt he inherited from his parents. When he is betrayed and killed, he makes a deal with Pochita and gets resurrected as the Chainsaw Man, the owner of the Devil’s heart.^{[17]
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- The anime is based on the manga of the same name. Both the anime and the manga are still ongoing.
- Curious which Chainsaw Man character you’re most like? Take our “Which Chainsaw Man Character Are You?” quiz to find out!

Section 7 of 7:

Other Anime Watch Orders

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Not all anime series are as easy to jump into as Chainsaw Man. But luckily, we’re here to help! Check out these other wikiHow articles on the best watch orders for some of the most popular anime:
- Black Butler
- Black Clover
- Spy x Family
- Jujutsu Kaisen
- Bleach