Hunter X Hunter Database Collection - Still Underconstruction

Hatsu(發)

Hatsu is the release of one's aura so it can be projected to carry out a certain function. In essence, the Hatsu is a special and unique ability that one creates. A good Hatsu should reflect a Nen-user's own character; one can never truly master Nen if they only copy other people's abilities. Hatsu has several different categories, and the Nen of each individual user is aligned with a specific category. Upon learning their affinity, a user can set about learning to apply Nen in a unique way that suits their personality, which can develop into a unique skill. A user may also have the ability to use more than one Nen ability, but they may never be able to change their Hatsu-type. For example, Gon's Hatsu is reinforcement, but he is also capable of using emission and transmutation through his Jajanken technique. However, even though a user may be able to use more than one Hatsu, they can only be adequate at the Hatsu adjacent to his primary Hatsu. So although Gon can use emission and transmutation adequately, he will not be able to use manipulation or materialization very well or at all.

Although everyone's Hatsu is different and unique, Hatsu can be divided into five rough types and a sixth type for anything that does not fit into the five.

Water Divination

The most popular way (and the only sure-way seen in the series) of determining one's Nen type is through water divination. The test requires a leaf floating in a glass of water. It consists of a student placing their hands around the glass and using Ren. The effect of their Ren determines the student's affinity.

Take the personality test to see what hatsu type you are:
www.selectsmart.com/FREE/select.php
http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/1076399/what-nen-type-would-you-fall-in

Reinforcement (強化 Kyōka)

If a student increases the quantity of water in the glass during their water divination, they are an Reinforcer. Reinforcement is basically the ability to use nen to increase the efficiency (strengthen) of an object or body. Therefore, Reinforcers are able to greatly increase their physical attack and defense, and are best suited for close-melee combat.
Reinforcement is the most well-balanced category, allowing users to spread themselves evenly between offense and defense and become very strong using only simple abilities. Examples of more complex Reinforcement abilities include enhancing a person's ability to repair themselves, which is basically the equivalent of a healing-ability.
According to Hisoka, Reinforcers are generally "simple" and "determined". Users in this category include Gon and Uvogin.

Notable Reinforcers include

Gon Freecss

Uvogin

Phinks

Nobunaga

Emission (放出Hōshutsu)

If a student changes the color of the water in the glass during their water divination, they are an Emitter. An affinity for Emission means that a user is capable of controlling the deployment of their aura while separating it from their body. Nen usually loses power very quickly when it is separated from the source-body, but strong Emitters can separate their aura from their body for long-periods of time and still be able to maintain it.
An application of this is the ability to throw giant nen balls. Emission abilities are commonly mistaken for Materialization abilities. The two, however, are fundamentally different. Objects created by Emitters are made of pure aura, believed to be invisible to normal people, and requires Manipulation skills to control.
Hisoka claims that Emitters are "impatient" and "not detail-oriented."

Notable Emitters include

Franklin

Razor

Melody

Pokkle

Manipulation (操作 Sōsa)

If a student moves the leaf floating on the water in the glass during their water divination, they're a Manipulator. Manipulation is the ability to control other people or other non-living material. Abilities belonging to Manipulators tend to be more complex, and generally require certain conditions to be met before the user is able to control the target object.
An example of a Manipulator is Shalnark, who can control people by placing a phone antenna on their body. Another Manipulator is Baise, who can control people by kissing them. According to Hisoka, Manipulators are logical people who advance at their own pace.

Notable Manipulators include

Illumi

Shalnark

Kalluto

Morel

Materialization (具現化 Gugenka)

If a student creates an object in the water in the glass during the their water divination, they are a Materlizer. Materlization is the ability to create a physical, independent, material object out of nen. Once a nen-user has mastered the Materialization of a certain object, they can materialize it and dispel it in an instant, whenever they want. It is believed that mation is the only way in which nen can create things which ordinary people (who don't use nen) can see and touch. However the use of In can hide an object materialized by nen from an experienced nen-user.
Conjured objects can have special abilities imbued into them. An example of this is Shizuku's ability - a conjured vacuum cleaner that can infinitely suck up objects, but with the condition that it can't suck up living things. Like Manipulation nen, conditions can be set into conjured objects to make them stronger. Kortopi, for example, is able to materialize a perfect copy of any non-living object that he touches. However, all of his materialized objects will automatically disappear after 24 hours.
Like Manipulation, Materialization abilities tend to be very specific, complex, and conditional. In terms of personality, Hisoka claims Materlizers are generally very "high-strung" people.

Notable Materlizers include

Kite

Kurapika

Shizuku

Kortopi

Transmutation (変化 Henka)

If a student changes the taste of the water in the glass during their water divination, they're a Transmuter. An affinity for transmutation means a user can change the properties of their nen, usually so that it mimics something else. Like emission, things created via transmutation are still pure nen. A simple way of thinking about it would be that transmutation allows your nen to mimic properties of a substance, whereas Materlization allows you to change your nen into actual material.
Nen can copy properties of real things, for example, Killua uses his nen to copy the properties of electricity. Transmuters can also give their nen properties that don't necessarily mimic real things; Hisoka's "Bungee Gum" copies and combines the properties of rubber and gum. Transmuted substances are invisible to normal people (i.e. those who are not able to use nen).
According to Hisoka, Transmuters are generally "whimsical liars".

Notable Transmuters include

Killua Zoldyck

Hisoka

Biscuit Krueger

Machi

Specialization (特質 Tokushitsu)

If a student causes some other effect during their water divination, they're a Specialist. It is possible that the effect that occurs can give some insight into how they should direct their ability.
Specialization is anything that doesn't belong into the other five categories. This is the most vague Hatsu-category. For example, Kurapika's Specialization ability allows him to use all the five standard nen-types at 100% efficiency. Chrollo's Specialization ability is a combination of the other five types, but in a way that no normal nen-user can use. While Neon's Specialization ability is something that is simply unique, it has almost no relevance to any of the other five nen types.
Specialists are said by Hisoka to be very "independent" and "charismatic".
One should also note that it is possible to become a Specialist later in life, although this is more likely for Manipulators or Materlizers.

Notable Specialists include

Chrollo Lucilfer

Pakunoda

Neferpitou

Neon Nostrade

------------------------------
To clarify some hatsu abilities confusion

Using more than one nen type

A lot of nen abilities use more than one nen type. Common combinations include manipulation and emission (allowing user to manipulate objects from far away) and manipulation and materlization (allowing users to manipulate objects they have conjured).

Within human boundaries

No nen ability can be "beyond human boundaries." What this means is that you can't have an ability that is limitless. For example, you can't materialize a sword that can cut through anything. However, if you can set very strict conditions on it - then you can materialize a sword that can cut through anything given that the conditions are met.

For example, Kurapika was unable to materialize an unbreakable chain. However, he was able to materialize a chain that was unbreakable by any Phantom Troupe member. Shizuku is able to materialize a vacuum cleaner which can suck up any nonliving object not created by nen.

Materlization/Emission/Transmutation

These three Hatsu types tend to cause a lot of confusion to some people. To put it in short, a conjured thing is solid and material, anyone, whether or not they can use nen can see it (Unless In is used to conceal it); a transmuted thing is pure nen which is copying properties of other things, whilst emitted nen is pure nen that can be kept distant from the user's body without losing strength.

Kastro's clone [Materlization] - it is solid, ordinary people could see it, it could be separated from the real Kastro as long as it stayed relatively close.

Hisoka's bungee gum [Transmutation] - normal people can't see it, it is not solid, it is simply pure nen energy copying the properties of rubber and gum, it always stays in physical contact with Hisoka.

Razor's 14 devils [Emission] - it was not solid, ordinary people couldn't see it, it was pure nen, it didn't need to physically stay in contact with Razor.

Neon

Neon Nostrade is a character in Hunter x Hunter who has a complicated Specialization Hatsu ability. For most nen-users, the Hatsu is the last step in their learning, after they have learnt all the other basic abilities. However, Neon shows no sign of having any knowledge, training, or awareness of nen; or being able to fight in any way. Some believe she must have been taught how to use nen because her Hatsu ability is too complex and developed. Others think she is a rare case of someone having an innate nen ability that they discover and use without any real understanding.