The essential episodes of Shaman King

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Shaman King — each pick states its reason.

01
S01E01 · Pilot · July 4, 2001 · 22m
The Boy who Dances with Ghosts10.0
Trying to prove that Yoh Asakura, the new transfer student, can talk to spirits, thirteen-year-old Manta Oyamada (Morty) gets in trouble with the gang of Ryu of the Wooden Sword. When everything seems bound to go bad for him, however, he gets help from an unexpected source.
02
S01E02 · Top rated · July 11, 2001 · 22m
Waiting Samurai10.0
Yoh wants the spirit of Amidamaru, the devil samurai, to join him as his Main Spirit. Amidamaru is waiting for someone, though, and can't leave the cemetery. Yoh tries to find out who the samurai is waiting for, while Ryu of the Wooden Sword searches for revenge.
03
S01E03 · Top rated · July 18, 2001 · 22m
Another Shaman10.0
Yoh is challenged to a fight by Ren Tao, an arrogant Shaman who believes Spirits are only tools.
04
S01E04 · Top rated · July 25, 2001 · 22m
Hyoi 100%10.0
Yoh is injured in the fight with Ren, but there is no time to rest: to defeat his challenger, he must learn to unify his will with Amidamaru's, and reach the one-hundred percent Hyoi Gattai.
05
S01E05 · Top rated · August 1, 2001 · 22m
The Shaman that is Mature for Her Age10.0
Yoh's fiancée, Anna Kyoyama, arrives into town to coach Yoh for the Shaman Fight. Her methods seem abusive, but the training comes on handy when Yoh is attacked by Kyonshii commanded by the Tao family.
06
S01E06 · Top rated · August 8, 2001 · 22m
Kung Fu Master10.0
Manta brings Yoh, Anna and Amidamaru to watch a movie about his idol, the late Kung-Fu fighter Lee Pai-Long. Things get dangerous when Lee Pai-Long's corpse attacks them, commanded by Ren's sister, Jun Tao.
07
S01E07 · Top rated · August 15, 2001 · 22m
Pailong, Fists of Fury10.0
Freed from his enslavement, Pai-Long goes berserk and aimlessly attacks Yoh. To fight him, Anna summons the spirit of Pai-Long's late master, Shamon.
08
S01E08 · Top rated · August 22, 2001 · 22m
Shaman Life10.0
After witnessing Yoh's fight against Pai-Long, Ryu of the Wooden Sword decides that he wants to become a Shaman too. Meanwhile, Gei Yin, another Shaman under the Tao family, arrives from China to have a go against Yoh.
09
S01E09 · Top rated · August 29, 2001 · 22m
The Boy from the North10.0
Yoh gives shelter to a traveler called HoroHoro, only to have Anna worry that he might be a Shaman trying to eliminate opponents before the start of the Shaman Fight.
10
S01E10 · Top rated · September 5, 2001 · 22m
The Fate of 600 Years10.0
Ryu of the Wooden Sword believes that he'll never be able to become a Shaman. Down and unhappy, he is possessed by the spirit of Tokageroh, a bandit from 600 years ago who wants to get revenge on Amidamaru.
11
S01E11 · Top rated · September 12, 2001 · 22m
Rain that Falls in Spring10.0
When Tokageroh kidnaps Manta and threatens to kill him with the Harusame, Amidamaru has to choose between the safety of his friends and the sword he values so much.
12
S01E12 · Top rated · September 19, 2001 · 22m
The Star that Signals the Beginning10.0
After breaking Amidamaru's sword, Ryu becomes even more depressed, and Yoh looks for a solution. Meanwhile, the star that signals the beginning of the Shaman Fight descends from the sky.
13
S01E13 · Top rated · September 26, 2001 · 22m
Over Soul10.0
To enter the Shaman Fight, Yoh must hit, at least once, the Shaman Fight priest Silva. The task is not easy, though, because Silva uses a different technique to fight with his guardian spirits.
14
S01E14 · Top rated · October 3, 2001 · 22m
Shaman Fight10.0
Yoh's first opponent in the Shaman Fight is HoroHoro, and things get awkward between them both when HoroHoro's younger sister and Anna seem to forget that "opponent" and "friend" are not antonyms.
15
S01E64 · Series finale · September 25, 2002 · 21m
Epilogue10.0
Hao's, whose power is born of his invincibility alone, and Yoh's, whose power is given to him by his friends and companions, face off for the last time.