The Worst Episodes of Sword Art Online

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
   Click to reveal

   REVEAL THE WORST
   

   6.5/10(20 votes)

   #1 - What It Means To Be Strong

   S2:E119/13/2014

   After escaping from Death Gun, Kirito and Sinon lay low in a desert cave. There, Kirito speculates on how Death Gun murdered other players. In doing so, he hits upon a certain terrifying possibility.

   Director:Daisuke Takashima

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Daisuke Takashima

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
2. 

   6.7/10(18 votes)

   #2 - Forest House

   S2:E1811/8/2014

   In an upcoming update of ALO, Floors 21-30 of New Aincrad will be unlocked. Asuna, Kirito and Yui revisit their dream of once again living together in their log cabin on Floor 22.

   Director:Kosaya

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Kosaya

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
3. 

   6.8/10(17 votes)

   #3 - The Queen of the Lake

   S2:E1510/18/2014

   It's reported that the Holy Sword Excalibur has been discovered inside ALO. Hearing the news, Kirito and Leafa decide to take possession of Excalibur before other players get to it first.

   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Atsushi Takayama

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Atsushi Takayama
4. 

   6.8/10(17 votes)

   #4 - The King of the Giants

   S2:E1610/25/2014

   Kirito and the others are tasked with subjugating the Frost King Thrymr, and a quest to recover Excalibur. It's Yui's guess that this isn't a quest planned by the game admins, but something automatically generated by the system. And if that's the case…

   Director:Hidetoshi Takahashi

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Hidetoshi Takahashi

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki
5. 

   6.9/10(18 votes)

   #5 - The World of Guns

   S2:E17/5/2014

   A year has passed since SAO was cleared. Summoned by Kikuoka of the Virtual Division at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Kazuto learns of a series of bizarre murders linked to the popular VR game, Gun Gale Online (GGO), the only game in Japan played by pros.

   Director:Tomohiko Ito

   Writer:Tomohiko Ito

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Tomohiko Ito

   Writer:Tomohiko Ito
6. 

   6.9/10(18 votes)

   #6 - Memories of Blood

   S2:E37/19/2014

   In real life, the player Sinon is a high school student named Shino Asada. On her way home from school, she’s dragged into an alley by delinquent girls. Their leader, Endo, tries to extort money from Shino, but she bravely refuses.

   Director:Hironori Aoyagi

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Hironori Aoyagi

   Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
TRENDING NOW
The 20 BEST Episodes of Sword Art Online
READ
7. 

   6.9/10(18 votes)

   #7 - Crimson Memories

   S2:E78/16/2014

   The man in the ragged cloak is an SAO survivor, and he might also be a player Kirito fought with to the death... This thought consumes Kirito, and his anguish is palpable - to the point that it worries Suguha.

   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Shu Watanabe

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
8. 

   6.9/10(18 votes)

   #8 - The Sleeping Knights

   S2:E2011/22/2014

   Asuna is asked to help the guild “Sleeping Knights,” which has decided to disband soon due to the members’ circumstances. Before they do, they want to defeat a Floor Boss with only their party.

   Director:云♫黑斋

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:云♫黑斋

   Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Ryousuke Suzuki
9. 

   7.0/10(20 votes)

   #9 - Grand Quest

   S1:E2212/2/2012

   Kirito’s determination to save Asuna borders on the insane. His reckless is stopped when Leafa suddenly logs out.

   Director:Kazuhisa Ono

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa

   Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

   Director:Kazuhisa Ono

   Writer:Yukito Kizawa
10. 

    7.0/10(17 votes)

    #10 - Cold-Hearted Sniper

    S2:E27/12/2014

    Armed with a large sniper rifle, Hecate II, the young girl Sinon is making a name for herself as the No. 1 sniper in GGO. When her squadron ambushes another squadron, she succeeds in taking out her first target. But when she takes aim at her second target, a robed “Behemoth,” he dodges the bullet.

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
11. 

    7.0/10(17 votes)

    #11 - Bullet of Bullets

    S2:E88/23/2014

    Kirito decides that Death Gun and the man in the cape will be appearing in BoB. He uses the remaining time to exchange information with Sinon and find out more about the contestants. Sinon sees how strange he was acting during the qualifier and asks him what happened. She learns that he is a SAO survivor. The main BoB tournament begins and 30 players are dropped in a 10km wide field.

    Director:Hirokazu Yamada

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Hirokazu Yamada

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
12. 

    7.0/10(16 votes)

    #12 - Death Chaser

    S2:E109/6/2014

    Sinon is attacked from behind by Death Gun and paralyzed. He's using a Black Star Type-54, ironically the same gun that Sinon used to shoot the robber. Her memories of the incident come flooding back and Sinon loses control, and Death Gun tries to kill her to make Kirito angry. But just before he can kill her Kirito saves her at the last second. Sinon is out of the fight, and Kirito tries to flee with her but is pursued by Death Gun.

    Director:Makoto Hoshino

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Makoto Hoshino

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
13. 

    7.0/10(18 votes)

    #13 - Bullet of a Phantom

    S2:E129/20/2014

    BoB nears its end, and the only surviving players are Kirito, Sinon, and Dark Wind, the second place winner of the last tournament. Since Death Gun may have multiple partners, and Dark Wind may be in danger as well, Kirito decides to defeat him first. He acts as a decoy while Sinon snipes the enemy. Kirito's trust in her pays off as her bullet strikes true, and he finally faces off with Death Gun.

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
14. 

    7.0/10(19 votes)

    #14 - The Monument of Swordsmen

    S2:E2111/29/2014

    Asuna and the Sleeping Knights’ attempt to defeat the boss on Floor 27 has been observed by a guild specializing in boss raids. Now 20 of its members block the boss room. With Kirito stalling the rest of the guild, can Asuna and the others break through?

    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Atsushi Takayama

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writers:Muneo Nakamoto, Atsushi Takayama
15. 

    7.1/10(18 votes)

    #15 - Showdown in the Wilderness

    S2:E68/9/2014

    A man in a beat-up cloak watches Kirito fight his first battle and demands to know if he's "the real thing". The man has the tattoo of Laughing Coffin, a murderer's guild that existed within SAO. He tells Kirito that he'll kill him someday, and vanishes.

    Director:Shunsuke Machitani

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Shunsuke Machitani

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
16. 

    7.1/10(18 votes)

    #16 - Phantom Bullet

    S2:E139/27/2014

    Death Gun's attack is modeled after Star Splash, a SAO skill that doesn't exist in GGO. Death Gun is skilled with not only a gun but a blade as well, and he gradually wears down Kirito's health. Meanwhile, Sinon's scope has been destroyed by Death Gun and she cannot attack, so she's forced to simply watch the fight. She grits her teeth and wonders if there's anything else she can do.

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
17. 

    7.1/10(18 votes)

    #17 - Excalibur

    S2:E1711/1/2014

    Kirito and the others are taking on Thrymr, the Boss lurking at the bottom level of the dungeon. But unable to make much of a dent in Thrymr's HP, they soon find themselves in grave danger. Just then, their new ally, Freyja, raises her voice…

    Director:Hirokazu Yamada

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Hirokazu Yamada

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
18. 

    7.1/10(17 votes)

    #18 - Zekken

    S2:E1911/15/2014

    Hearing rumors about a brilliant player known as Zekken, Asuna decides to mount a challenge. But when Asuna logs out, she is told by her mother to take an exam to transfer into an academically oriented high school.

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Shigeki Kawai

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
19. 

    7.1/10(26 votes)

    #19 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Directors:Tsuyoshi Tobita, Manabu Ono

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
20. 

    7.2/10(22 votes)

    #20 - The Sword Dance of Black and White

    S1:E88/26/2012

    After 2 years, people have got used to living in SAO, with a dwindling front line it might just be up to Kirito and Asuna to continue the charge.

    Director:Tatsumi Fujii

    Writer:Shuji Iriyama

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Tatsumi Fujii

    Writer:Shuji Iriyama
21. 

    7.2/10(20 votes)

    #21 - General of the Blazing Flame

    S1:E2011/18/2012

    Kirito and Leafa have made it to the meeting and Kirito’s bluff as an ambassador has been called out. If he can survive in a fight against the Salamanders General Eugene, his plan to prevent a war might work.

    Directors:Makoto Hoshino, Takahiro Shikama

    Writer:Naoki Shouji

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Directors:Makoto Hoshino, Takahiro Shikama

    Writer:Naoki Shouji
22. 

    7.2/10(18 votes)

    #22 - Guns and Swords

    S2:E58/2/2014

    To register for BoB, Kirito starts entering the required information into a terminal, but is astounded to see that the form includes columns for his real-world name and address. He is temporarily torn when he realizes that without this info, he won't be eligible for the top prizes...

    Director:Daisuke Takashima

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Daisuke Takashima

    Writer:Muneo Nakamoto
23. 

    7.2/10(15 votes)

    #23 - 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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Takashi Sakuma

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa
24. 

    7.3/10(21 votes)

    #24 - Land of the Fairies

    S1:E1610/21/2012

    A new MMO allows users to fly and encourages player killing. Kirito has joined this new game in search of Asuna and is pleasantly surprised with what he finds.

    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Yasuyuki Fuse

    Writer:Yukie Sugawara
25. 

    7.3/10(19 votes)

    #25 - To the World Tree

    S1:E1811/4/2012

    Leafa is making enemies leaving her area and group to team up with Kirito. On their way to neutral Territory, they speak more of the rules and areas of the ALO.

    Director:Takayoshi Morimiya

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    Director:Takayoshi Morimiya

    Writer:Yukito Kizawa