Start Black Clover with the original TV series, episodes 1 to 170. Watch the optional movie, Sword of the Wizard King, afterward, then continue with Black Clover Second Season. You do not need to rearrange the television episodes or watch an earlier special before episode 1.
The confusing part is the labeling. Streaming services have divided the original run into several seasons, while the returning anime uses the name Second Season. Follow the episode numbers and the end of the original run, rather than assuming every listing called “Season 2” means the same release.
Black Clover watch order at a glance
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| Order | What to watch | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|
| First | Black Clover, original episodes 1 to 170 | Introduces Asta, Yuno, the Magic Knights and the ongoing story. Use the optional-episode table below if you want fewer detours. |
| Optional movie break | Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King | A standalone adventure best saved until you know the cast and their abilities. |
| Continue | Black Clover Second Season, the 2026 continuation | Pick up after the original series. This is a continuation, not a remake or a fresh starting point. |
The continuation premiered in Japan on October 3, 2026. If you want only the television story, go straight from episode 170 to the new season and leave the film for later. For current release information, use our Black Clover Second Season schedule.
When should you watch the Black Clover movie?
After episode 170 is the easiest choice for a first watch. By then, the film can use familiar characters and advanced abilities without interrupting your introduction to them. This is a viewing recommendation, not a requirement to fit the movie between two particular episodes.
Netflix describes Sword of the Wizard King as standalone and confirms that manga creator Yuki Tabata supervised it. It is not a condensed version of the TV anime. Starting with the film would skip the relationships that give its large battles their context.
Chronological lists sometimes put the film near episode 157 because of its training-period setting. Saving it until after 170 avoids interrupting the TV conflict and gives you more context for the cast. There is no required movie scene you must insert between two television episodes.
Which Black Clover filler episodes can you skip?
For a shorter first watch, the table below removes episodes classified as filler by the community-maintained Anime Filler List. These are viewing classifications, not an official studio ruling about canon. Keep episodes that mix adapted material with additions.
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| Skip | Continue at |
|---|---|
| 29 | 30 |
| 66 | 67 |
| 68 | 69 |
| 82 | 83 |
| 123 to 125 | 126 |
| 131 | 132 |
| 134 to 135 | 136 |
| 142 to 149 | 150 |
This route keeps 152 episodes. Episode 149 is a point where older lists differ; the current classification includes it in the optional block. If you would rather retain the transition out of that storyline, watch 149 and continue to 150.
Do not skip the entire training stretch
“Not directly adapted from a manga chapter” does not always mean “nothing useful happens.” The later anime-original training material spends time with the Magic Knights and develops the lead-in to the next conflict. A first-time viewer can keep it without needing to understand competing fan definitions of canon.
In particular, do not apply a blanket skip from episode 130 to 157. The official episode guide identifies episode 151 as the captains’ battle and shows the training-focused episodes that follow. The route above keeps 150 to 157. If a recap feels repetitive, you can move through that recap without treating all the surrounding episodes as disposable.
Are the OVA and comedy shorts required?
No. Begin with the main television series. The earlier event animation and the comedy spinoff Squishy! Black Clover are extras, not missing chapters that you must locate to understand Asta’s journey.
Save bonus animations for when you already like the cast. They are not substitutes for main episodes, and their availability may differ from the TV series or the Netflix film.
How long does Black Clover take to watch?
Using roughly 23 minutes per episode, the original 170 episodes take about 65 hours. The shorter route above takes about 58 hours, before the movie and returning season. These are planning estimates; openings, credits, recaps and ads change the actual time.
At two episodes a day, allow 85 days for the full original run or 76 for this route. For comparison, the shorter route through original Bleach still takes about 102 days at that pace; our Bleach filler list explains what that estimate retains. Both totals exclude their later continuations.
Where to watch the series and movie
- Black Clover on Crunchyroll: start with the original episode 1 and check the season selector when moving between collections.
- Sword of the Wizard King on Netflix: the separate 2023 movie.
Catalogs and audio tracks depend on your location and subscription. Check the episode number and title before continuing, especially if changing from subtitles to a dubbed edition.
