One-Punch Man is one of the blockbuster franchises coming back with new episodes as part of the jam packed Fall 2025 anime schedule, so it’s time to get back up to speed with the anime before Season 3 hits. One-Punch Man is just one of the many franchises coming back for a new era, but it’s likely going to be the anime that fans are going to keep a very close eye on. Not only will action fans be curious to see how it all looks in motion following the second season of the series, but there’s also a huge new arc coming in the next season too.
One-Punch Man Season 3 kicks off its run this Fall, and there’s been very little revealed about what to expect from the new episodes just yet. That’s why the best way to get ready for what’s coming next is going back and checking out some of the biggest episodes of the anime released so far. It’s going to be a wild ride when the new season premieres, so there are a few episodes that will help you get into the perfect mood to jump into all of the big battles coming next.
7.) The Strongest Man – Season 1, Episode 1
The best place to start with One-Punch Man is the beginning. The very first episode of the anime is a rather self-contained showcase of why the hero series has been such a massive hit over the years. Giving fans the first look at Saitama and how he can defeat even the strongest looking foes with a single punch, there was no way to predict just how big of a franchise it would all become ten years after this premiere. But as One-Punch Man takes Saitama to a whole new level, there are even bigger and better examples of the surprising strength on display.
6.) Return of the Hero – Season 2, Episode 1
One-Punch Man’s Season 2 premiere is also a great place to start as it better acquaints you with the new status quo and style we’ll be seeing with Season 2. Produced years after the anime’s first season with an entirely different creative staff and production studio, “Return of the Hero” reveals how Saitama has been living since the end of the first season. It’s not very well as he still doesn’t really have much recognition as a hero at this point, but has a number of friends who are sticking around him regardless. It’s an entirely different tone than the first episode, but it’s a good way to jump into what kind of expectations we can have for Season 3.
5.) The Deep Sea King – Season 1, Episode 8
One of the reasons fans love One-Punch Man is that because Saitama will end a fight in a single punch, much of the bigger stories in the series follow other heroes as they fight against the monsters instead. The real tension was put to the test in “The Deep Sea King” as a terrifying monster fought against some of the weakest heroes, and they really did everything they could on their own. Saitama was able to save the day, of course, but this episode really got fans caring about the other heroes instead. This is where the real magic of the anime lies, and this is a particularly great example of that.
4.) The Strongest Hero – Season 1, Episode 12
Bringing the first season to a close was its best one yet as Saitama was able to fight against someone that he could use a little more power against. While he could have ended it all with a single punch, Saitama instead decided to fight against his new alien foe to an extent that we hadn’t seen him do before. It’s not that Saitama needed to push himself against this villain, but he was having fun for the real first time. To get a better understanding of his struggling search of finding someone strong enough, this was a good fight to see it with. Especially with how well it’s all brought to life as it was.
3.) The Troubles of the Strongest – Season 2, Episode 21
The final few episodes of One-Punch Man Season 2 are likely going to be the most important when it comes to getting ready for Season 3. With the Monster Association enacting their grand plan and invading to the point where they are taking out many of the heroes, these episodes are the first time that many fans are seeing the heroes fight in the first place. This saga is going to be the focus of the third season as the S-Class Heroes and the monsters will be fighting in full force, so it’s best to get a refresher on how all of these separate conflicts began as Saitama joined the fight.
2.) The Varieties of Pride – Season 2, Episode 23
But while the Monster Association saga is the main focus of the upcoming season, it’s also an extension of the Human Monster Saga. This saga introduced Garou the Hero Hunter as he spent the majority of Season 2 taking out the heroes, and the end of the season saw him taking on multiple opponents at his strongest yet. The third season will be putting him even more into focus as Garou starts unlocking more monstrous powers, so this episode will be what helps fans get a quick refresher on what makes him such an interesting foe in the first place while giving one of the best fights of the second season.
1.) The Wiping of the Disciple’s Butt – Season 2, Episode 24
One-Punch Man Season 2 ended on a cliffhanger following the biggest monster fight in the anime to date. The series is going to jump right back into the chaos with the third season, so it’s probably the most important to at least watch the last finale in order to get back up to speed. It has a pretty fun win with Saitama heading into the final moments of the season, and really starts to pique his interest in terms of finding a stronger monster from that point on. This will begin his eventual conflict against Garou himself, and if we get to see it all in action in the next wave of episodes then you’ll be glad that you’ve watched the Season 2 finale.
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