There are four seasons of the High School DxD anime, plus two OVA episodes and three special episodes. The seasons are: High School DxD (2012), High School DxD New (2013), High School DxD BorN (2015), and High School DxD Hero (2018).
Season 1: High School DxD (2012)
The first season, produced by TNK and directed by Tetsuya Yanagisawa, adapts the first two volumes of the light novel series by Ichiei Ishibumi. It introduces Issei Hyoudou, a perverted high school student who is killed on his first date by a fallen angel, only to be revived as a devil servant of Rias Gremory. The season covers his introduction to the supernatural world, his training, and his first major battle against the fallen angel Raynare and her faction. It ends with Issei’s first promotion to a high-class devil and his growing bond with Rias and the other members of the Occult Research Club.
Season 2: High School DxD New (2013)
The second season, also by TNK, adapts volumes 3 and 4 of the light novels. It is split into two arcs: the “Kokabiel Arc” and the “Riser Arc.” In the first arc, Issei and his friends face Kokabiel, a rogue fallen angel who tries to start a war between heaven and hell. In the second arc, Rias is forced into an engagement with Riser Phenex, a powerful devil from a noble family. Issei challenges Riser to a rating game—a formal battle between devil peerages—to win Rias’s freedom. The season ends with Issei’s first use of his Balance Breaker, a powered-up form of his Sacred Gear, and his victory over Riser.
Season 3: High School DxD BorN (2015)
The third season, again by TNK, adapts volumes 5, 6, and 7 of the light novels, but with significant changes to the plot. It introduces the villain Loki, the trickster god from Norse mythology, and features the appearance of the dragon god Ophis and the chaotic faction of the Khaos Brigade. The season includes the introduction of Issei’s new power, “Juggernaut Drive,” which he uses to defeat Loki. However, the anime’s ending diverges from the light novels, skipping key events from volume 7 and creating an original conclusion. This caused controversy among fans, as the adaptation skipped the introduction of several important characters, including the angel Irina Shidou and the devil Sairaorg Bael.
Season 4: High School DxD Hero (2018)
The fourth season, produced by Passione (a different studio) and directed by Yasuhiro Kuroda, reboots the story after the third season’s divergence. It adapts volumes 9 and 10 of the light novels, which were skipped in BorN. The season focuses on the rating game between Issei’s peerage and Sairaorg Bael’s peerage, a major tournament arc. It also introduces the character Koneko’s past and her sister Kuroka. The animation style changed significantly with the new studio, and the season is generally considered a more faithful adaptation of the light novels, though it requires viewers to ignore the ending of BorN to follow the continuity.
OVAs and Specials
In addition to the four main seasons, there are several OVA (original video animation) episodes and specials that are not part of the main story but provide extra content. The first season has two OVAs: “Ise’s Training” and “The Gremory Group’s Visit to Kyoto.” The second season has two OVAs: “Unleash the Banchou!” and “The Gremory Group’s Trip to the Underworld.” The third season has two OVAs: “The Gremory Group’s Underworld Training Camp” and “The Gremory Group’s Christmas Party.” The fourth season has no OVAs. There are also six special episodes, each about 5 minutes long, that are comedic side stories included with the Blu-ray releases.
Light Novel Continuation
The anime currently covers up to volume 10 of the light novel series, which has 25 volumes total (plus several side stories and a sequel series, High School DxD DX and True High School DxD). The light novels are the original source material and continue the story far beyond the anime. For fans who want to know what happens after the fourth season, the light novels are the only way to continue the story, as no fifth season has been announced as of 2025. The light novels are published in English by Yen Press, with the main series completed in 25 volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will there be a season 5 of High School DxD?
As of 2025, no fifth season has been officially announced. The fourth season ended in 2018, and the production studio Passione has not confirmed any continuation. Fans remain hopeful, but there is no concrete news.
Do I need to watch the OVAs to understand the story?
No, the OVAs are mostly comedic side stories that do not affect the main plot. They are optional and can be watched for extra character interactions and fanservice, but they are not required to follow the main storyline.
Why did the animation style change in season 4?
The animation studio changed from TNK to Passione for the fourth season. This was likely due to production decisions and the desire to better match the light novel’s art style. The change was noticeable to fans, with some preferring the old style and others liking the new one.
Is High School DxD BorN a faithful adaptation of the light novels?
No, BorN deviates significantly from the source material, especially in its second half. It skips events from volume 7 and creates an original ending. This is why season 4, Hero, reboots the story from volume 9, effectively ignoring the ending of BorN.
Where can I watch High School DxD?
The anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation (now merged with Crunchyroll). The light novels are available in English from Yen Press. Physical Blu-ray releases are also available from Funimation.
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