Two orphans from the same church, one born with every gift and one born with none, both aiming for the same title.
Black Clover starts with the oldest promise in shonen: a loud kid who will not stop. We think it earns that promise by giving him the one thing his world says is worthless.
The premise - Two orphans, one dream
Asta and Yuno grew up in the same church on the edge of the Clover Kingdom. Both want to become the Wizard King, the strongest mage in the land.
Yuno is a natural genius. Asta cannot cast a single spell, so he trains his body instead, every single day.
Why it works - A grimoire nobody wanted
At fifteen every child receives a grimoire. Yuno gets a rare four-leaf one, and Asta gets an old, black five-leaf book that holds a sword which cancels magic.
He joins the Black Bulls, a squad of misfits led by Yami Sukehiro, and the show becomes a story about outcasts who make a home.
The verdict - Loud, warm and long
Studio Pierrot made it in 2017 with director Tatsuya Yoshihara, adapting Yuki Tabata's manga, and it runs 170 episodes.
Give it time: the early episodes are rough, and the Black Bulls are worth the wait. If you love underdogs who never stop shouting, start with episode one.
Where to watch
Black Clover was listed on Crunchyroll, Hulu and Netflix in the USA when we last checked, in October 2026. Catalogues change by country and by month, so check the service where you are.
Shop the Black Clover collection
Liked Black Clover? This is where it leaves the screen: every Black Clover design we carry, in one place.
Source: the Anime Crush Anime Guide.
