DanMachi isn’t just one series. There’s the main story, a parallel spin-off that runs alongside it (Sword Oratoria), character-focused side stories (Familia Chronicle), and prequel material from the Memoria Freese mobile game. If you just want Bell’s story, you can read the main series straight through and ignore everything else. But if you want the full picture of what’s happening in Orario, the reading order matters.
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TL;DR
- Simple path: Main series Vols 1-19 in order. That’s Bell’s story. Ignore everything else if you want.
- Recommended path: interleave Sword Oratoria. SO runs parallel to the main series from Aiz’s perspective. Reading both together gives you the full picture of Orario.
- After the anime: Four seasons cover roughly Vols 1-14 with compression. Start from Vol 1, or Vol 15 to continue.
- Familia Chronicle is optional. Character-focused side stories (Ryuu, Freya). Good but not required.
I’ll give you three options: the simple path, the recommended interleaved order, and the completionist route.
More about DanMachi
Option 1: Main Series Only (Simple)
Read volumes 1 through 21 in order. Done.
This works. The main series tells a complete story on its own. Sword Oratoria adds context but isn’t required. You won’t be confused or feel like you’re missing plot-critical information.
If you’re coming from the anime and want to continue the story, start at Volume 18 (after Season 5). If you want to experience what the anime compressed, start from Volume 1. And don’t skip Volume 8 just because the anime did.
Option 2: Main + Sword Oratoria Interleaved (Recommended)
This is how I’d recommend reading DanMachi if you have the time. Sword Oratoria runs parallel to the main series chronologically, and reading them interleaved gives you both sides of major events. Ais’s perspective on things Bell doesn’t see. What the Loki Familia is doing while Bell is fighting his own battles. The deeper Dungeon lore that the main series only hints at.
Here’s the order:
| # | Volume | Series | Arc / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Vol 1 | DanMachi | Bell arrives in Orario, joins Hestia Familia |
| 2 | Main Vol 2 | DanMachi | Lili arc, Hestia Knife |
| 3 | Main Vol 3 | DanMachi | Dungeon exploration, Welf joins |
| 4 | SO Vol 1 | Sword Oratoria | Ais and Loki Familia, parallel to Main 1-3 |
| 5 | SO Vol 2 | Sword Oratoria | Continues Loki Familia’s expedition |
| 6 | Main Vol 4 | DanMachi | Bell vs Minotaur |
| 7 | Main Vol 5 | DanMachi | Wargame vs Apollo Familia |
| 8 | SO Vol 3 | Sword Oratoria | Ais’s past begins to surface |
| 9 | SO Vol 4 | Sword Oratoria | Major Dungeon revelations |
| 10 | Main Vol 6 | DanMachi | Apollo arc conclusion, War Game |
| 11 | Main Vol 7 | DanMachi | Ishtar arc, Haruhime |
| 12 | SO Vol 5-6 | Sword Oratoria | Parallel to Ishtar arc events |
| 13 | Main Vol 8 | DanMachi | Ares Festival (anime skipped this) |
| 14 | SO Vol 7-8 | Sword Oratoria | Loki Familia deep expedition |
| 15 | Main Vol 9 | DanMachi | Xenos arc begins |
| 16 | Main Vol 10 | DanMachi | Xenos conflict escalates |
| 17 | Main Vol 11 | DanMachi | Xenos arc conclusion |
| 18 | SO Vol 9-10 | Sword Oratoria | Parallel Xenos events + Ais backstory |
| 19 | SO Vol 11-12 | Sword Oratoria | Deepest Dungeon floors, major lore |
| 20 | Main Vol 12 | DanMachi | Freya arc begins |
| 21 | Main Vol 13 | DanMachi | Freya arc intensifies |
| 22 | Main Vol 14 | DanMachi | Freya arc climax (best volume) |
| 23 | SO Vol 13-14 | Sword Oratoria | Post-Freya arc, Loki Familia aftermath |
| 24 | Main Vol 15 | DanMachi | Great Far East War begins |
| 25 | Main Vol 16 | DanMachi | War continues |
| 26 | Main Vol 17 | DanMachi | War arc (anime S5 ends here) |
| 27 | SO Vol 15-16 | Sword Oratoria | Parallel war events |
| 28 | Main Vol 18-21 | DanMachi | Continuing (EN catching up) |
The SO volumes are grouped in pairs where the chronology overlaps. You don’t need to be exact. The important thing is to read each SO block before moving to the next main series arc so the context lands.
Where Does Familia Chronicle Fit?
Familia Chronicle is a series of standalone character-focused stories. They’re written by Ōmori (some co-written with Nishijima Fumikaru) and add backstory for supporting characters. They’re not required reading, but they’re good.
Episode Ryuu (2 volumes) — Read after Main Vol 8. Covers Ryuu Lion’s backstory and her time at the Hostess of Fertility before the Xenos arc. Makes her role in Volumes 9-11 hit harder.
Episode Freya (1 volume) — Read after Main Vol 14. Gives Freya’s perspective on events leading up to the Freya arc. Better as a post-arc supplement than a pre-arc spoiler.
Episode Asfi (1 volume) — Read after Main Vol 21. Released October 2025 alongside the latest main series volume.
Important note: Familia Chronicle is JP-only as of early 2026. No English translation has been announced by Yen Press. If you read in English only, you’ll have to skip these for now.
Prequel Stories: Astraea Record and Argonaut
These originated in the Memoria Freese mobile game (which shut down in 2024) but were later published as standalone light novels in Japan.
Astraea Record tells the story of the Astraea Familia and what happened to Ryuu’s original party. It’s a prequel set years before the main series. Read it after Main Vol 11 at the earliest, since the main series references these events during the Xenos arc.
Argonaut is another prequel covering the legendary hero whose stories inspire Bell. Read it whenever you want after finishing the main series, or after Main Vol 5 where the Argonaut story becomes relevant to Bell’s growth.
Both are JP-only. No EN release announced.
Coming from the Anime? Start Here
| You finished… | Read this next |
|---|---|
| Season 1 (13 eps) | Main Vol 6, or Vol 1 to re-read what the anime rushed |
| Season 2 (12 eps) | Main Vol 8 (the anime skipped it), then Vol 9 |
| Season 3 (12 eps) | Main Vol 12 |
| Season 4 (22 eps) | Main Vol 15 |
| Season 5 (15 eps) | Main Vol 18 |
| SO anime (12 eps) | SO Vol 1 (the anime doesn’t count, start over) |
I covered the full breakdown of what each season changes in our DanMachi LN vs anime comparison.
English Translation Status
The main series is published by Yen Press under the Yen On imprint. As of early 2026, English volumes are at approximately Vol 18-19, trailing the Japanese release (Vol 21) by 2-3 volumes. New English volumes release roughly every 3-4 months.
Sword Oratoria English had a multi-year gap between Volumes 12 and 13 but has resumed. EN is through Volume 14 as of October 2025, with the JP release at Volume 16.
Familia Chronicle, Astraea Record, and Argonaut have no English releases announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I read DanMachi in?
Main series Volumes 1-21 in order is the simplest option. For the best experience, interleave Sword Oratoria volumes at the chronological points listed above. Familia Chronicle episodes are optional but enhance supporting characters.
Do I need to read Sword Oratoria?
No, but it makes the main series better. Ais’s backstory, the Dungeon’s deeper lore, and the Loki Familia dynamics all add context you won’t get from the main series alone. The SO light novels are significantly better than the SO anime.
Can I skip Volume 8?
You can, but I wouldn’t. The anime skipped it, and it’s a lighter volume, but it builds Bell and Hestia’s relationship in ways the later arcs rely on. It’s a short read.
Where should I start after Season 5?
Volume 18 to continue the story. Volume 1 if you want to experience what the anime compressed. Volume 8 if you want the one arc the anime skipped entirely.
Is Familia Chronicle available in English?
No. As of early 2026, all Familia Chronicle volumes (Episode Ryuu, Episode Freya, Episode Asfi) are Japanese-only. No Yen Press announcement for English translations.