The Best Episodes of Sword Art Online Season 3

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.8/10(929 votes)

   #1 - Taboo Index

   S3:E1012/9/2018

   Ronie and Tiese are late getting to the dorm. Kirito rushes out in search of them, but no sooner has he gone than Frenica appears. She tells Eugeo about how she's suffered at Humbert's hands, and that Tiese and Ronie went to confront him about it.

   Director:Shunsuke Nakashige

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Shunsuke Nakashige

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
2. 

   8.2/10(687 votes)

   #2 - Departure

   S3:E410/28/2018

   Kirito and Eugeo realize Selka has taken off to the End Mountains alone, and decide to chase after her. As they enter the cave, they encounter goblins, presumably from the Dark Territory, and must engage in a battle.

   Director:Michiru Itabisashi

   Writer:Ko Nekota

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   Director:Michiru Itabisashi

   Writer:Ko Nekota
3. 

   8.2/10(634 votes)

   #3 - The Relentless Knight

   S3:E151/20/2019

   Kirito and Eugeo are on their way up the stairs of the Central Cathedral when they encounter two girls named Linel and Fizel. As they stand, wondering what two children are doing there, they let their guard down and...

   Director:Hirotaka Tokuda

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Hirotaka Tokuda

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
4. 

   8.2/10(638 votes)

   #4 - The Legendary Hero

   S3:E182/10/2019

   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.

   Director:Ken Takahashi

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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   Director:Ken Takahashi

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
5. 

   8.1/10(630 votes)

   #5 - The Osmanthus Knight

   S3:E161/27/2019

   Though riddled with wounds, Kirito manages to activate his Perfect Weapon Control art. Continuing on their way to the top floor of the Central Cathedral, Kirito and Eugeo find themselves standing before a strange-looking floating platform.

   Director:Saori Den

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Saori Den

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
6. 

   8.0/10(622 votes)

   #6 - The Sage of the Library

   S3:E1212/23/2018

   Kirito and Eugeo escape from their cell, only to find their way blocked by Eldrie Synthesis Thirty-One, under orders from Alice to lie in wait for them. Kirito and Eugeo struggle against him until Eugeo realizes that he's seen Eldrie somewhere before.

   Director:Tsuyoshi Tobita

   Writers:Yukito Kizawa, Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Tsuyoshi Tobita

   Writers:Yukito Kizawa, Muneo Nakamoto
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The 20 BEST Episodes of Sword Art Online
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7. 

   8.0/10(625 votes)

   #7 - Synthesis

   S3:E203/3/2019

   Kirito and Alice reach the communal bath on the nintieth floor. There, they find the Integrity Knight Commander, Bercouli, who's been turned to stone by Chudelkin. Alice breaks down in tears upon seeing her mentor's tragic plight, but then...

   Directors:Takuma Suzuki, Satoshi Saga

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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   Directors:Takuma Suzuki, Satoshi Saga

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
8. 

   8.0/10(621 votes)

   #8 - Titan of the Sword

   S3:E223/17/2019

   On the top floor of the Central Cathedral, Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice finally face Administrator. But Chudelkin uses the sacred arts to transform himself into a giant clown and attacks.

   Director:Hiroshi Kimura

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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   Director:Hiroshi Kimura

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
9. 

   7.9/10(889 votes)

   #9 - Underworld

   S3:E110/7/2018

   Kirito, along with his childhood friend, Eugeo, has been tasked with cutting down a colossal tree called the Gigas Cedar. They’re swinging their ax when their friend Alice arrives with lunch. As they eat, the three friends decide to go to a fabled cave.

   Directors:Tsuyoshi Tobita, Manabu Ono

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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   Directors:Tsuyoshi Tobita, Manabu Ono

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
10. 

    7.9/10(614 votes)

    #10 - Truce

    S3:E172/3/2019

    When Kirito and Alice both unleash the Perfect Weapon Control art in the Cloudtop Garden, the impact rips a hole into the seemingly impregnable Central Cathedral wall, which sends them both flying outside.

    Director:Michiru Itabisashi

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Michiru Itabisashi

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
11. 

    7.8/10(633 votes)

    #11 - Swordsman's Pride

    S3:E811/25/2018

    Kirito finds himself in a duel against the Elite Disciple Volo Levantein, using real swords. As the curious crowd looks on, Kirito is encouraged by Sortiliena, and the duel begins.

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
12. 

    7.8/10(622 votes)

    #12 - The Crimson Knight

    S3:E141/13/2019

    After being entrusted with the fate of the world by the Cardinal, Kirito and Eugeo head to the top floor of the Central Cathedral. On the way, they find their confiscated swords among a vast pile of weapons in an arsenal, only to be greeted with a hail of arrows by the Integrity Knight, Deusolbert Synthesis Seven.

    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
13. 

    7.8/10(623 votes)

    #13 - Administrator

    S3:E233/24/2019

    Cardinal appears on the top floor of Central Cathedral for a showdown with her bitter foe of the last two hundred years. She moves to achieve her objective of deleting Administrator, only to see the fallen sword golem rise up again.

    Directors:Michiru Itabisashi, Hirotaka Tokuda, Yusuke Maruyama

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Directors:Michiru Itabisashi, Hirotaka Tokuda, Yusuke Maruyama

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
14. 

    7.8/10(634 votes)

    #14 - My Hero

    S3:E243/31/2019

    Carrying the hopes of Cardinal, Eugeo, and Alice in his heart, Kirito stands yet again and visualizes the Black Swordsman, the top player who cleared SAO. For the sake of everyone he’s encountered in this world, Kirito, faces off with Administrator.

    Directors:Takashi Sakuma, Manabu Ono

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Directors:Takashi Sakuma, Manabu Ono

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
15. 

    7.7/10(685 votes)

    #15 - The Demon Tree

    S3:E210/14/2018

    Kirito wakes up to find himself inside a mysterious world evoking a fantasy game. His memory fuzzy, he tries to log out, but is unable to return to the real world. After wandering aimlessly, he finds himself underneath a colossal tree.

    Director:Takashi Sakuma

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Takashi Sakuma

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
16. 

    7.7/10(666 votes)

    #16 - The End Mountains

    S3:E310/21/2018

    Kirito makes up his mind to journey to Centoria. Since he'll need Eugeo's help, he also decides to fell the Gigas Cedar. Meanwhile, Alice's little sister, Selka is worried about Eugeo, and opens up to Kirito about her concerns.

    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Ko Nekota

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    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Ko Nekota
17. 

    7.7/10(625 votes)

    #17 - Swordcraft Academy

    S3:E711/18/2018

    Two years have gone by since Kirito and Eugeo left Rulid Village. In the capital city, Centoria, both boys have attained their goal of being admitted to the North Centoria Imperial Swordcraft Academy.

    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Ko Nekota

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    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Ko Nekota
18. 

    7.5/10(619 votes)

    #18 - Nobleman's Responsibilities

    S3:E912/2/2018

    Now an Elite Disciple along with Kirito, Eugeo struggles with the question of what he should infuse in his sword so he can become stronger. When he's taunted by First-Seat Elite Disciple Raios and Second-Seat Humbert, Eugeo decides to accept Humbert's request for a duel.

    Director:Michiru Itabisashi

    Writers:Yukito Kizawa, Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Michiru Itabisashi

    Writers:Yukito Kizawa, Muneo Nakamoto
19. 

    7.5/10(614 votes)

    #19 - Central Cathedral

    S3:E1112/16/2018

    Kirito and Eugeo are now considered criminals for having violated the Taboo Index and are thrown into the underground prison in the Central Cathedral. Meanwhile, on the Ocean Turtle in the real world, Asuna is watching over Kazuto as he's being treated.

    Director:Satoshi Saga

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Satoshi Saga

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
20. 

    7.5/10(599 votes)

    #20 - The 32nd Knight

    S3:E213/10/2019

    Standing in Kirito and Alice's way is Eugeo, who's undergone the Synthesis Ritual and become an Integrity Knight. Kirito is rattled, until Alice admonishes him into resolving to fight Eugeo with everything he's got.

    Director:Shunsuke Nakashige

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Shunsuke Nakashige

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
21. 

    7.4/10(644 votes)

    #21 - Ocean Turtle

    S3:E511/4/2018

    In the real world, Kazuto Kirigaya lies unconscious. At Kikuoka’s request, Kazuto is moved to a well-equipped hospital, but when Asuna and Suguha try to visit, they’re turned away. Suspicious, Asuna and the others split up to find out more about Rath.

    Director:Koji Kobayashi

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Koji Kobayashi

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
22. 

    7.4/10(691 votes)

    #22 - Project Alicization

    S3:E611/11/2018

    Asuna infiltrates Rath, the research lab in the Ocean Turtle, where she relentlessly grills Kikuoka about Kazuto's whereabouts. Kikuoka reveals that behind the development of the Soul Translator is a mind-blowing objective of epic scale.

    Director:Hiroki Hirano

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Hiroki Hirano

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
23. 

    7.4/10(614 votes)

    #23 - Ruler and Mediator

    S3:E131/6/2019

    Kirito and Eugeo have been rescued by the young girl, Cardinal, who has secluded herself inside the Central Cathedral’s Great Library. Cardinal explains to Kirito how the Axiom Church and the Taboo Index came to be, starting with Administrator’s past.

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura

    Writers:Yukito Kizawa, Muneo Nakamoto

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    Director:Hiroshi Kimura

    Writers:Yukito Kizawa, Muneo Nakamoto
24. 

    6.3/10(497 votes)

    #24 - The Seal of the Right Eye

    S3:E192/24/2019

    Seeing Alice’s reaction when he mentioned the name Selka, Kirito decides to tell her the truth about the Integrity Knights. Meanwhile, after being knocked unconscious during his battle with Bercouli, Eugeo awakes on the top floor of the cathedral.

    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

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    Director:Shunsuke Ishikawa

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa