Sword Art Online
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Episodes (25)
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EP 1Sword Art Online players trapped in deadly virtual reality world
Jul 8, 2012The Nerve Gear virtual reality system launches alongside the game Sword Art Online. Beta tester Kirito enters Aincrad and teaches basics to novice Klein. They soon find logging out is impossible. Creator Akihiko Kayaba reveals he removed the logout function. Players die if their health reaches zero or the Nerve Gear is forcibly removed. The only escape is clearing all 100 floors of Aincrad. Death in the game causes real-world death. This high-stakes survival situation traps thousands of players in a deadly virtual world where failure means permanent loss of life.
EP 2Kirito is labeled a beater after Diabel's death during the first floor boss battle
Jul 15, 2012One month into the death game, two thousand players have perished without clearing the first floor. Beta-tester Diabel convenes a meeting to announce that his party has located Illfang the Kobold Lord, the floor boss. Kirito joins forces with Asuna as raid parties assemble. The group confronts Illfang and his minions the following day. As the boss’s health depletes, Diabel attempts a finishing blow but is struck down by Illfang’s counterattack. Dying, Diabel urges Kirito to finish the fight and save the remaining players. Kirito succeeds in defeating the boss, but is subsequently branded a beater, a derogatory term combining beta-tester and cheater, in connection with Diabel’s death.
EP 3Kirito joins the Moonlit Black Cats guild but hides his high level before tragedy strikes.
Jul 22, 2012After rescuing the Moonlit Black Cats guild from a monster attack, leader Keita invites Kirito to join. Kirito accepts but conceals that his level is twice the average of the group. He bonds with members, particularly Sachi, who fears death, and promises to protect her. On June 12, 2023, while Keita purchases a house, the remaining members attempt to earn money in upper floor dungeons. They become trapped by stronger monsters, and Kirito is unable to save them. The entire guild, including Sachi, is killed. Upon learning of the deaths and discovering Kirito’s superior level, Keita commits suicide. Kirito subsequently receives a final message from Sachi, urging him not to blame himself and to live strongly, accompanied by a clip of her singing a Christmas song.
EP 4Kirito escorts Silica to retrieve a resurrection flower while confronting a criminal guild.
Jul 29, 2012After her dragon Pina dies protecting her, Silica is rescued by Kirito, who offers to help her obtain the Pneuma Flower on the 47th floor to revive it within three days. During their journey, Kirito warns Silica about dangerous orange and red players. Upon retrieving the flower, they are ambushed by Rosalia and her Titan's Hand guild members. Kirito reveals his true intent was to lure them out for arrest. Identified as the Beater known as the Black Swordsman, Kirito, a Level 78 player with 14500 health points and an auto-healing skill, effortlessly defeats the guild. He detains the criminals, allowing Silica to successfully revive Pina.
EP 5Asuna and Kirito investigate a murder involving a hidden player versus player skill.
Aug 5, 2012Asuna, Vice Commander of Knights of the Blood Oath, proposes luring a boss into a village during a meeting on the 56th floor, but Kirito opposes it due to the risk to non-player character villagers. A month later on the 59th floor, Kirito finds Asuna napping and persuades her to relax. To repay him for guarding her, she offers to buy dinner, but their meal is interrupted by a scream. They discover a player named Kains impaled by a spear outside a church, dying immediately. Suspecting an unknown player versus player skill, they investigate. Yolko, Kains' girlfriend, mentions a witness behind him and explains their connection to Grimlock, but she is abruptly killed by a dagger thrown from a window during her explanation.
EP 6Kirito uncovers the truth behind the apparent deaths of Kains and Yolko in the safe zone.
Aug 12, 2012Kirito and Asuna investigate the murders of Kains and Yolko, former members of the disbanded guild Golden Apple. Kirito questions how victims can die in a safe zone. Schmit, another ex-member, blames the ghost of their late leader Griselda. After observing a sandwich disappear, Kirito deduces the method behind the deaths. He reveals that Yolko and Kains faked their demise using a teleport crystal when their armor durability failed. The pair then confront Schmit at Griselda’s grave to find her killer. Schmit claims he only followed orders and did not anticipate Griselda’s death. Suddenly, members of the notorious crime guild Laughing Coffin surround them, intending to kill the trio. Kirito arrives just in time, intimidating the attackers into retreating and saving his friends.
EP 7Asuna visits Lisbeth before Kirito arrives for a sword, leading to a dragon battle and a new blade.
Aug 19, 2012At the 48th floor, Asuna visits her friend Lisbeth in her blacksmith shop before departing for adventure. The following day, Kirito arrives seeking a custom sword, but his weapon, Elucidator, accidentally breaks Lisbeth’s strongest blade. Hurt by the damage, Lisbeth convinces Kirito to take her to the Western Mountain on the 55th floor to hunt a crystal-eating dragon for rare minerals. During the fight, Lisbeth ignores Kirito’s safety advice and is blasted into a pit. Kirito jumps in to rescue her, discovering the target mineral, a Crystallite Ingot, lies beneath the snow in the dragon’s nest. When the dragon returns, Kirito stabs its back to force it to carry them to safety. Once safe, Lisbeth forges a new sword, Dark Repulsor, for Kirito without payment. She then asks to be his exclusive blacksmith and prepares to confess her feelings, but Asuna’s sudden arrival reveals the mutual attraction between her and Kirito.
EP 8Kirito and Asuna team up for a meal and dungeon exploration after a duel with Kuradeel
Aug 26, 2012Kirito discovers a rare S-class animal on the 74th floor but cannot cook it. Asuna arrives, claiming to have mastered her culinary skills, and agrees to prepare the meat in exchange for a share of the meal. Her escort, Kuradeel, opposes inviting Kirito, known as a Beater, but Asuna dismisses his concerns. During their dinner, Kirito and Asuna decide to cooperate while exploring the dungeons of the 74th floor and schedule to meet the next day. Kuradeel interrupts this plan by challenging Kirito to a duel, promising to leave them alone if Kirito wins. Kirito defeats him by breaking his sword, but Kuradeel refuses to yield. Asuna then relieves him of his duties and orders him to return to the Knights of the Blood Oath headquarters.
EP 9Kirito and Asuna face the boss while dealing with Corbatz and Heathcliff's duel challenge
Sep 2, 2012Kirito and Asuna clear the 74th floor dungeon, encountering Klein and the exhausted Aincrad Liberation Force. Leader Corbatz demands their map, and despite protests, Kirito complies. The group follows Corbatz to prevent a boss fight but finds the soldiers defeated and Corbatz dead. To save the survivors, Kirito uses his unique Dual Blades skill, defeating the boss with a 16-hit Starbust Stream combo. This feat attracts Heathcliff, Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath, who challenges Kirito to a duel. The stakes are high: if Kirito wins, Asuna may leave her guild, but if he loses, he must join Heathcliff's faction. Kirito accepts the terms, setting the stage for a critical confrontation that will determine the future alliances within the game.
EP 10Kirito faces Heathcliff and survives a Laughing Coffin ambush before proposing to Asuna
Sep 9, 2012Kirito fights Heathcliff in a crowded arena, where the opponent’s Divine Blade skill leads to Kirito’s defeat. Asuna questions his guild aversion, prompting Kirito to share his trauma regarding the Midnight Black Cats, after which she promises protection. Later, Kirito accompanies Godfree and Kuradeel to the 55th floor dungeons for an assessment. During a break, Kirito and Godfree are paralyzed by poisoned water. Kuradeel reveals his Laughing Coffin affiliation and kills Godfree before attacking Asuna, who tracked them via her map. Kirito intervenes, killing Kuradeel to save Asuna. Following these events, Kirito visits Asuna’s residence and proposes marriage to her.
EP 11Kirito and Asuna adopt glitching girl Yui during their vacation on the 22nd floor
Sep 16, 2012Following their in-game marriage and a temporary leave from Asuna's guild, Kirito and Asuna vacation at their new home in a village on the 22nd floor. While exploring the forest, they discover an unconscious girl who lacks a player cursor, indicating a software glitch. After bringing her home, she wakes up the next day and recalls only her name, Yui. She affectionately addresses the couple as Mama and Papa, a title they happily accept. Seeking answers, the trio travels to the Town of Beginnings but encounters Sasha and her charges being extorted for taxes by the Holy Dragon Army. Asuna intervenes, driving the soldiers away. However, Yui suddenly panics, triggering another glitch-like event before collapsing unconscious once again.
EP 12Kirito and Asuna rescue Thinker while Yui sacrifices her existence as an AI.
Sep 23, 2012While resting at the church with Sasha, Kirito and Asuna are visited by Yulier, the Army's second-in-command. She explains that leader Thinker was trapped in a first-floor dungeon by Kibaou following the Gleam Eyes incident, prompting a request for their assistance. Upon reaching Thinker, the pair faces the Fatal Scythe boss. Yui intervenes to protect Kirito, proving herself an Immortal Object immune to damage that would lower her health to the yellow zone. This event triggers her memory recovery, revealing her true nature as an artificial intelligence. Although Kirito and Asuna accept her as their daughter, Yui prepares for deletion due to her interference. Kirito refuses to let her disappear, using a Gamemaster console to transfer her data into a game item named "Yui's Heart."
EP 13Kirito and Asuna assist Nishida with fishing before facing a boss raid
Sep 30, 2012While fishing, Kirito meets Nishida, who struggles to cook his catch. Kirito invites him home for Asuna to prepare the meal. Nishida then asks for help catching a large fish he has failed to reel in previously. After Nishida hooks the creature, he hands the rod to Kirito, but it turns out to be a massive monster. Asuna defeats the beast. Shortly after, Kirito receives a message from Heathcliff. The couple heads to the Knights of the Blood Oath headquarters, where they learn that a party was trapped and killed in the 75th leveled boss' room. Consequently, a team of players from various guilds, including Kirito and Asuna, is being assembled to fight the boss.
EP 14The End of the World and the Final Duel
Oct 7, 2012The Knights of Blood Oath defeat the Skull Reaper on the 75th floor. Kirito identifies Heathcliff as Akihiko Kayaba, who paralyzes allies and challenges Kirito to a duel to clear the game. Asuna sacrifices herself to protect Kirito, who then overrides the Death system to defeat Heathcliff. The game is cleared, and Kirito and Asuna stand on a platform above Aincrad. Kayaba explains his desire to create an ideal world before bidding farewell. The couple reveals their real names, Kazuto Kirigaya and Asuna Yukki, and embraces as the virtual world dissolves. Kazuto awakens in a real-world hospital. Physically weak but determined, he begins his search for the real Asuna.
EP 15Kazuto visits comatose Asuna and confronts Sugou's adoption plans while receiving a mysterious email.
Oct 14, 2012Two months after the SAO incident, Kazuto visits Asuna in the hospital, where she remains comatose alongside 300 other players. He meets Shouzou, Asuna’s father, and his associate Nobuyuki Sugou. Sugou reveals his intention to be adopted into Asuna’s family to facilitate marriage while she is unconscious, enraging Kazuto. Later, Kazuto breaks down before his sister Suguha, who encourages him not to give up despite her own feelings and their cousin relationship. The following morning, Kazuto receives an email from Andrew Gilbert Mills, Agil’s real-life persona, containing a screenshot from another game showing an avatar resembling Asuna.
EP 16Kirito enters Alfheim Online to locate Asuna on the World Tree with Yui's help.
Oct 21, 2012Andrew informs Kazuto that a screenshot came from Alfheim Online, a VRMMORPG where players are fairies. He notes that a figure resembling Asuna was seen on the World Tree. Learning that RECTO developed the game, Kazuto believes Asuna is trapped inside. He logs in as Kirito and finds his Sword Art Online data remains, including skill levels. He activates an item containing Yui's data, summoning her as a Navigation Pixie. Yui realizes the game uses a copy of the SAO servers, which explains why Kirito's statistics transferred to his new avatar. This connection confirms the link between the two games and supports Kazuto's theory that Asuna is held within the virtual world.
EP 17Leafa teaches Kirito to fly and plans ascent to World Tree summit
Oct 28, 2012Leafa, a Sylph player, expresses gratitude to Kirito for rescuing her from Salamander attackers and instructs him on proper flight techniques. The pair journey to the Sylph Territory, known as Sylvein, where they encounter Leafa’s party member, Recon. Afterward, they visit an inn to discuss strategies for reaching the top of the World Tree. Impressed by Kirito’s resolve, Leafa agrees to assist him and arranges to meet him at the inn the following day. Upon logging out, it is revealed that Leafa is actually Suguha. In a separate scene, Asuna is shown trapped inside a massive birdcage located at the World Tree, under the custody of the Gamemaster, Oberon the Fairy King.
EP 18Leafa leads Kirito to the World Tree after leaving her party for him
Nov 4, 2012Suguha recalls her start in virtual reality gaming and meets Shin'ichi Nagata, revealing her intent to leave Recon for Kirito. Logging in as Leafa, she guides Kirito toward the World Tree at Alfheim's center. Sigurd expresses disappointment over her departure, but Leafa asserts Kirito as her new partner due to their poor treatment of him. During their journey, the pair reaches a landing point to take turns logging out for rest. Concurrently, Asuna discovers from Oberon that Kirito is alive and secretly acquires the key code for her cage lock.
EP 19Kirito and Leafa navigate the Lugru Corridor while evading Salamander pursuers.
Nov 11, 2012Traveling toward the World Tree, Kirito and Leafa traverse a large cave where Leafa receives a cautionary message from Recon. They soon realize they are being followed and are cornered by a large group of Salamander players. Kirito requests Leafa’s magical support while he attempts to fight the group alone, but he struggles to break their formation. Yui devises a plan for Leafa to cast protective magic on Kirito, who then conjures a spell to temporarily transform into a representation of Gleam Eyes. In this form, Kirito destroys his enemies but spares one player, bribing him for information. The survivor reveals that his party was ordered to attack by the same group that attacked them during their first encounter.
EP 20Kirito Bluffs Salamander General to Protect Sylph and Cait Sith Alliance Meeting
Nov 18, 2012Sylphs and Cait Siths convene secretly to discuss the Grand Quest for entry to the World Tree, but their gathering is ambushed by Salamanders. Kirito and Leafa arrive just as the attack is imminent. Facing overwhelming odds, Kirito approaches Salamander General Eugene, bluffing that he represents a Spriggan-Undine alliance and warning that an assault would constitute war against all four races. Eugene rejects this claim and issues a duel challenge, which Kirito successfully wins. Following the victory, Kirito learns the allied groups plan a World Tree expedition in two days. He then provides a substantial financial donation to Alicia, the Cait Sith leader, to support their upcoming efforts.
EP 21Kirito and Leafa reach Alfheim capital before server shutdown forces logout
Nov 25, 2012Kirito and Leafa arrive at Central Arun beneath the World Tree, but an emergency shutdown announcement for server maintenance compels them to locate an inn and log out. The following day, Suguha joins Kazuto to visit Asuna in the hospital. Concurrently within the World Tree, Asuna escapes confinement and discovers a laboratory conducting experiments on the brains of the 300 SAO players trapped in ALO. She tries to use the GM console to log out but is intercepted by two of Sugou's assistants. Before being thrown back into her cell, she successfully steals a key card.
EP 22Kirito and Leafa discover their true identities and log out after a perilous quest.
Dec 2, 2012Yui informs Kirito that Asuna is atop the World Tree, but a barrier blocks his ascent. Yui contacts Asuna, who drops the administrator's key card for Kirito to catch. Kirito leaves Leafa to pursue the Grand Quest alone but is defeated and loses his health. Leafa enters the dome, retrieves Kirito's soul flame, and revives him. Although she urges him to stop, Kirito remains resolved to continue. They eventually uncover each other's real-world identities and log out. In reality, Kazuto meets Suguha, who confesses her love for both his personas and admits she knew they were not biological siblings, causing her significant distress.
EP 23Kazuto and Leafa resolve their family estrangement through a symbolic duel in ALO
Dec 9, 2012Recalling his childhood realization that he is not biologically related to Suguha, Kazuto reflects on how this discovery caused him to withdraw from his family and immerse himself in online gaming. Seeking to mend their relationship, he invites Suguha to meet in ALO. Leafa initially debates ending their in-game sibling dynamic but ultimately challenges Kirito to a duel. Both combatants discard their weapons and exchange apologies. Kazuto explains that he cannot fully express his feelings for Suguha until Asuna is rescued, prompting Leafa to agree to assist in the rescue mission, bringing Recon along. The situation appears desperate until Sakuya and Alicia arrive with their armies to provide crucial support.
EP 24Kirito and Yui confront Oberon at the World Tree summit to rescue Asuna from his control.
Dec 16, 2012Upon reaching the World Tree's peak, Kirito and Yui reunite with Asuna but face high gravity magic that forces Yui to withdraw. Oberon appears, revealing his near-complete mind control plans, and chains Asuna while attempting to assault her before Kirito. Driven to despair, Kirito hears Akihiko’s voice urging him to fight. Utilizing Akihiko’s administrative functions, Kirito strips Oberon of his powers and engages him in a battle without pain absorption to demonstrate true suffering. After defeating Oberon, Kirito logs Asuna out to secure her safety in the real world. He then meets the remaining memory of Akihiko, who provides him with an item known as "The Seed" before departing.
Frequently asked questions
- How many episodes does Sword Art Online have?
- Sword Art Online has 25 episodes.
- When did Sword Art Online come out?
- Sword Art Online came out in 2012.
- Which studio made Sword Art Online?
- Sword Art Online was produced by A-1 Pictures.
- Who directed Sword Art Online?
- Sword Art Online was directed by Yoshikazu Iwanami.
- Is Sword Art Online finished?
- Current status of Sword Art Online: Finished.