The essential episodes of Sword Art Online

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Sword Art Online — each pick states its reason.

01
S01E01 · Pilot · July 7, 2012 · 25m
The World of Swords8.9
In the near future, a virtual reality game called Sword Art Online has been released where players control their avatars with their bodies. One day players discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive unless they defeat the final boss. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life. Their struggle for survival starts now.
02
S01E08 · Season 1 peak · August 25, 2012 · 25m
Black & White Sword Dance9.3
Kirito begins a rivalry with Asuna's bodyguard, who is also a member of the Knights of the Blood Oath.
03
S02E06 · Season 2 peak · August 9, 2014 · 25m
Duel in the Wasteland10.0
After witnessing Kirito's win in his first preliminary match, Death Gun asks Kirito if he is the real deal. Before he can answer Kirito notices his tattoo of Laughing Coffin and wonders if he's run into him before.
04
S02E07 · Top rated · August 16, 2014 · 25m
Crimson Memories10.0
Suguha confronts Kazuto about his activities in the online world as he grapples with having killed people in the Sword Art Online incident.
05
S02E08 · Top rated · August 23, 2014 · 25m
Bullet of Bullets10.0
Certain that Death Gun is competing in the BoB final, Kirito approaches Sinon beforehand about exchanging information, and begins to investigate the new players in the tournament.
06
S02E09 · Top rated · August 30, 2014 · 25m
Death Gun10.0
Kirito and Sinon hunt Death Gun through the Bullet of Bullets tournament. Asuna realizes the danger Kirito is in and sets out to find answers.
07
S02E10 · Top rated · September 6, 2014 · 25m
Pursuer of Death10.0
Sinon is attacked from outta nowhere by Death Gun. Luckily Kirito manages to rescue her, but they are pursued by Death Gun.
08
S02E11 · Top rated · September 13, 2014 · 25m
The Meaning of Strength10.0
As Kirito and Sinon lay low in a desert cave, Kirito ponders on how Death Gun murdered the other players.
09
S02E12 · Top rated · September 20, 2014 · 25m
Bullet of a Phantom10.0
With the Bullet of Bullets tournament coming to a close, Kirito and Sinon set a trap for Death Gun, but another player might jeopardize it.
10
S02E13 · Top rated · September 27, 2014 · 25m
Phantom Bullet10.0
With Kirito is losing to Death Gun, Sinon looks for a way to save him.
11
S02E14 · Top rated · October 4, 2014 · 25m
One Little Step10.0
The Bullet of Bullets tournament comes to a close. Sinon confronts her inner demons.
12
S02E15 · Top rated · October 18, 2014 · 25m
The Queen of the Lake10.0
Kirito returns to ALO, bringing Asada with him, in order to obtain the sword, Excalibur.
13
S02E16 · Top rated · October 25, 2014 · 25m
King of the Giants10.0
At the entrance to Thrymheim, Yui explains that the quest they were given was created by the Cardinal System's Automatic Quest Generation Function and that if they did not succeed in their quest, a final war event, Ragnarok, would be triggered. Sometime later, at the end of the second floor of Thrymheimr, the group encounters two minotaurs, and they are forced to rely on Sword Skills that could deal elemental damage to them in addition to physical damage, but also leave the player rigid for a few seconds after the skill is used up. With Kirito revealing his new technique of using consecutive Sword Skills with each of his swords to avoid the period of rigidity, they are able to defeat the two minotaurs. Later, after defeating the boss guarding the entrance to the lowest floor of the castle, they encounter an NPC woman trapped in an ice cage along the way. Although the others insist that it is a trap and plan to avoid her, Klein ignores their advice and frees the woman, who was revealed to be Freyja. Instead of running away, Freyja asks to join the group and Kirito reluctantly agrees to the request. After preparing for the final battle by recharging their buffs, the group enters the throne room, where they met the king of the frost giants, Thrym.
14
S03E18 · Season 3 peak · February 9, 2019 · 25m
The Legendary Hero10.0
Eugeo reaches the ninetieth floor of the Central Cathedral, which turns out to be a vast bathing area. The perplexed Eugeo encounters Bercouli Synthesis One soaking in the bath. Meanwhile, Kirito and Alice are still climbing the Central Cathedral wall.
15
S04E07 · Season 4 peak · November 23, 2019 · 25m
Stigma of the Disqualified10.0
Integrity Knight Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven, in battle for the first time, flees his position, allowing goblins from the forces of darkness to infiltrate to the tent where Kirito is.