The first television version ofSword Art Onlinepremiered in 2012 , but it is not done by a long injection . An adaptation of the manga arcSword Art Online : ProgressivereleasedAria of a Starless Nighton October 30 , 2021 , and its continuation , Scherzo of a Dark Dusk , is place to premiere on September 10 , 2022 .   The majority of the anime ’s arc   are usable to viewers in the United States on Netflix , where multiple serial publication were group under the titleSword Art Online , traverse 97 instalment .

Though there are many unlike ways to experience the series , most people start with the Netflix collection   and continue from there . Unfortunately , not every time of year is a winner , and fans who do n’t know that the best material is in the fourth season may quit before ever reaching it . For those who require to watch the best SAO has to offer up , these are the ten best episodes , according to IMDb .

Season 4, Episode 12: Ray of Light — 8.5

Thousands of pull strings American players link the Underworld to massacre its citizen , keeping Asuna and her friend interfering as villainous Gabriel supervise to catch Alice . Through the fighting , the residents of the Underworld begin to divulge from their programming , making young bond to save as many people as potential . When all Leslie Townes Hope seems lost , an old champion get together the game for a major assist .

The quaternary season spends a mint of prison term in battle , but the focus on character motivations keeps it from ever getting stale . Seeing the Underworld residents finally claiming their way from the game was passing exciting , particularly for   viewers who   struggle to feel in ascendence of their own life-time .

Season 4, Episode 6: Battle of the Knights — 8.5

Ever since it was revealed that the Dark Territory was going to invade the Human Realm , the story was leading up to this here and now , where the two sides finally beganone of anime ’s longest fighting . The Integrity Knights ' bravery is test , and while both sides put up major loss , two public figure break away from the others — one to find another fashion to fight , and the other to run forth .

This episode does a portion of establishing oeuvre , place up where each vital character is and what they ’re doing , and it pulls together a lot of loose thread from old episodes , generate audiences excited for what ’s to come .

Season 3, Episode 25: My Hero — 8.5

Kirito is   force to face off against the Administrator alone ,   but he is only capable to gain the upper hand when Eugeo gives his life to allow Kirito to duel wield . Though the Administrator end up constructing her precipitation , Kirito   just has enough meter to say goodbye to Eugeo and in brief touch the tangible world before the might cuts off , occupy Kirito down with it .

This instalment was the perfect ending to the original Alicization spark , giving Eugeo the ability to give himself for what he believed in .   " My Hero " closed one chapter while teasing the next stage of the show , and   did a good job honoring such a critical character .

Season 2, Episode 24: Mother’s Rosario — 8.5

The Mother ’s Rosario spark was the highlight of season two , and this episode polish off it off strong . When Asuna finds out that Yuuki is likely to die any day , she gathers all of their friends in the virtual creation to honor her . The estimate of terminally ill patients finding newfangled life through virtual reality was incredibly powerful , and it made the show ’s message about the power of VR that much more complex .

Sword Art Online ’s villainstend to show off the worst face of engineering , but Yuuki was a delegacy of how much beauty it can make at the same time . The installment ’s representation of terminal illness and escape was address well and honored all the citizenry finding joy through unimaginable darkness .

Season 1, Episode 9: The Blue-Eyed Demon — 8.5

The two central   plot of the Aincrad discharge merge in " The Blue - Eyed Demon , " with Kirito ’s family relationship with Asuna impacting his drive to get off the game . Kirito exposes his affaire d’honneur - manage ability in a boss way , prompt the drawing card of the Knights of the Blood Oath to take exception   him to a duel   to decide whether he and Asuna will be free or indebted to the guild .

This is the point at which Kirito starts to becomethe show ’s most likable character reference . By this point , many of the players had adjusted enough to start build lives in Aincrad , and Kirito is start that process himself . Although not as   exciting as many of the other episodes , the character motivation are revolve around in a way that keep audience plume through all of the chaos and separation to get .

Season 4, Episode 18:  Memories — 8.6

Between the trauma done to his physical organic structure and his mortal , Kirito is pin down in a comatoseness , needing his loved 1 to aid furbish up him .   As Kirito faces his most painful memories , his allies continue the fight for the Underworld , though the enemy begins to overtake them . With the combine efforts of Asuna , Leafa , Sinon , and at last Eugeo , Kirito can wake up and return to the battle .

This episode is a tribute to Kirito ’s character , with all four seasons build up to his fluctlight ’s restoration and his fight for the Underworld . Between the nostalgia , excited orgasm , and struggle conniption , this is the episode all writers care they could create .

Season 4, Episode 9: Sword and Fist — 8.7

What chance when a power that can cut anything   combat an uncuttable military group ? That ’s a critical enquiry in this episode , as the battle for the Human Empire go along to trifle out . As Gabriel ’s lieutenant , Vassago , uses his administrator privileges to deplume the army aside from the inside , he finds himself defeated by the Goddess Stacia — Asuna ’s incarnation in this world .

Although Kirito is certainly the serial ’s chief fiber , his relationship with Asuna is its heart . They represent the very best the digital world has to pop the question when the game are repeatedly controlled by those with ill intentions . Because of this , Asuna ’s entrance into the Underworld was celebrated and bespeak the beginning of the end for the extended Alicization arc .

Season 4, Episode 14: End to Eternity — 8.8

While Kirito began SAO as a loner , he acquired a devoted group of friend and supporters over the years , all of whom come to his rescue in this installment . While Gabriel endeavor to rid of the Human Empire , SAO ’s most potent charactersfrom previous seasons come together to push back against his assault .

Along with major lineament dying , this instalment   highlighted the grandness of every sequence that came before it . The show is at its good when it focus on the moral quandary constitutional in virtual worlds , and this struggle episode did a surprisingly proficient line of work hold open those outlet in nidus .

Season 3, Episode 10: Taboo Index — 8.8

Kirito and Eugeo divulge their pageboy in hurt , with nobles   Raios and Humbert abusing the girls under the   belief that they are inaccessible . To economise them , Eugeo has to shoot down his programming ,   inspired by the philosophy Kirito taught him : " There are things that you should n’t do , even if it ’s not forbidden by jurisprudence . And on the other helping hand , there might be things you should do , even if they are forbidden by jurisprudence . "

While fans have grow wonted to minimal bloodshed on SAO , this episode subverts the movement , with   far more gore than any other episode . It ’s aboveboard a difficult episode to watch , but it does an telling job of sending the subject matter that ethics should top constabulary and that the power to break law is a sign of humanness .

Season 1, Episode 14: The End of the World — 8.9

" The End of the World " is the last installment of the   Aincrad Arc , and it is the perfect closing to the original story of SAO . Kirito find out where Kayaba Akihiko was hiding within the game and confronts him in a one - on - one duel to the death . Kirito , incite by all the deaths he could n’t stop , manages to win , freeing the others from the plot ’s hold on them .

In many ways , the Aincrad Arc was the gross story about the dangers of VR , with interesting characters , substantive battle scene , and surprisingly emotional moments , given the weight of in - public end . Though many of the show ’s best discharge only issue forth in its 4th season , no other episode is quite as warm as the original finale , which absolutely balanced pain with promise .

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Split image of Asuna and Yuuki and Kirito from Sword Art Online

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An army in Sword Art Online

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Asuna and Yuuki in Sword Art Online

Kirito and Asuna in Sword Art Online

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Eugio in Sword Art Online

Kirito and Asuna in Sword Art Online