Toaru Watch Order (2026): Index, Railgun & Accelerator in Order
The Toaru franchise — A Certain Magical Index, A Certain Scientific Railgun, and A Certain Scientific Accelerator — is one of the hardest anime universes to start, because three series retell the same Academy City events from different characters' points of view. This guide gives you the Toaru watch order two ways: the release order most newcomers should follow, and the chronological order rewatchers prefer. Every date and episode count below is pulled from the official broadcast records, and we flag the one arc that trips up almost everyone: the Sisters arc, which is animated twice.
Toaru watch order: the quick answer
If you have never seen any of it, watch in release order. The series were written to be discovered that way, and the spin-offs assume you already met the characters in Index. Only switch to chronological order on a rewatch, when you already know who everyone is.
- First-time viewers: release order (start with A Certain Magical Index, 2008).
- Rewatchers: chronological order, accepting that you will see the Sisters arc from two angles.
- Only want the Railgun side? You can watch the three Railgun seasons on their own — they stand alone better than Index does.
Fans building a Misaka or Academy City shelf while they binge can see what is in stock right now on Akibato's anime figures collection, which ships from Japan.
Release order (recommended for newcomers)
This is the order the anime actually aired. It is the safest path because each entry builds on characters the previous one introduced. Dates are the original Japanese broadcast runs.
| # | Title | Episodes | Aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Certain Magical Index | 24 | Oct 2008 – Mar 2009 |
| 2 | A Certain Scientific Railgun | 24 + 2 OVA | Oct 2009 – Mar 2010 |
| 3 | A Certain Magical Index II | 24 | Oct 2010 – Apr 2011 |
| 4 | Index: The Miracle of Endymion (film) | Movie | Feb 23, 2013 |
| 5 | A Certain Scientific Railgun S | 24 + OVA | Apr – Sep 2013 |
| 6 | A Certain Magical Index III | 26 | Oct 2018 – Apr 2019 |
| 7 | A Certain Scientific Accelerator | 12 | Jul – Sep 2019 |
| 8 | A Certain Scientific Railgun T | 25 | Jan – Sep 2020 |
All eight were animated by J.C.Staff, so the look and tone stay consistent even across the nine-year gap between Railgun S (2013) and Index III (2018). Watch the Miracle of Endymion film after Index II; it features cast from both Index and Railgun, so you want both introduced first.
Chronological order (for rewatchers only)
Chronological order sorts the series by when events happen inside Academy City rather than when they aired. It gives a cleaner cause-and-effect timeline, but it asks you to watch the same Sisters arc from two perspectives back to back, which is why it is a rewatch tool, not a starting point.
| # | Watch | Why here |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Certain Scientific Railgun (S1) | Introduces Academy City and esper science before magic enters |
| 2 | A Certain Magical Index (S1) | Starts the main plot; shows the Sisters arc from Touma's side |
| 3 | A Certain Scientific Railgun S | Retells the Sisters arc from Mikoto's side, then continues |
| 4 | A Certain Magical Index II | Main story continues |
| 5 | Index: The Miracle of Endymion | Side film set during the TV run |
| 6 | A Certain Scientific Accelerator | Follows Accelerator after the events involving Last Order |
| 7 | A Certain Magical Index III | The finale of the main Index storyline |
| 8 | A Certain Scientific Railgun T | Latest Railgun arcs (Daihasei Festival, Dream Ranker) |
Sources disagree slightly on whether to slot Railgun S immediately after Index S1 or to finish both Railgun seasons first. The order above keeps the two tellings of the Sisters arc next to each other, which most guides recommend because the second telling fills in what the first left out.
The Sisters arc: why you see it twice
This is the single biggest source of confusion in the Toaru watch order, so it gets its own section. The Sisters arc — also called the Level 6 Shift — is animated in both A Certain Magical Index season 1 and A Certain Scientific Railgun S. It is not filler and it is not a mistake in the schedule; it is the same event told through two different protagonists.
- In Index S1: you see the arc through Touma Kamijou, who stumbles into it from the magic side.
- In Railgun S: you see the full arc through Mikoto Misaka, whose clones are at the center of it — this version is longer and more complete.
Do not skip either one thinking it is a repeat. Index S1 gives you Touma's limited view; Railgun S gives you the whole picture. Watching both is the intended experience, and it is why chronological order places them close together.
Where the spin-offs fit
Two series are spin-offs that focus on one character rather than advancing the main Index plot. Treat them as expansions, not sequels.
A Certain Scientific Accelerator
This 12-episode 2019 series follows the anti-hero Accelerator after he begins protecting the child clone Last Order, an event from the main storyline. It is self-contained and best watched once you have reached that point in Index II and later. New viewers can comfortably save it until after Index II.
A Certain Scientific Railgun T
Railgun T (2020) is the newest season and runs 25 episodes, covering the Daihasei Festival and Dream Ranker arcs. Because it is the latest entry and assumes you know the whole cast, it sits at the end of both the release order and the chronological order.
What you can safely skip
You do not need to watch everything to follow the story. Here is what is optional.
- The OVAs (Railgun S1 and Railgun S): standalone beach/summer episodes. Fun, but not required for the plot.
- The Miracle of Endymion film: an original side story. Enjoyable after Index II, but skippable if you only want the core arcs.
- Nothing within the numbered TV seasons. Every TV season above carries plot — do not skip whole seasons, especially not either telling of the Sisters arc.
Where to watch Toaru in 2026
In most English-speaking regions the Toaru anime streams on Crunchyroll, which carries the Index, Railgun, and Accelerator series together under their English titles. Availability shifts by country and over time, so confirm your region's catalog before you start a binge. Both subtitled and English-dubbed versions exist for the main entries.
Common Toaru watch order mistakes
- Starting with Railgun because it looks friendlier. You can, but the main plot lives in Index; Railgun-only viewers miss the magic-side story that the crossovers depend on.
- Skipping Railgun S's Sisters arc as a rerun. It is the complete version of the arc Index only sampled.
- Watching Index III before the earlier seasons. It aired later than it is set in some fans' timelines, but it is the finale — it needs everything before it.
- Treating Accelerator as a sequel. It is a character spin-off; it does not move the main plot forward.
The short version
New to Toaru? Watch in release order: Index → Railgun → Index II → Endymion film → Railgun S → Index III → Accelerator → Railgun T. Rewatching? Use chronological order and watch the Sisters arc from both Touma's and Mikoto's sides. Either way, do not skip whole seasons.
If this binge has you wanting a Mikoto Misaka or Academy City piece for the shelf, Akibato ships anime figures and Ichiban Kuji prize figures from Japan — fans of Toaru often also collect from other J.C.Staff and esper-heavy series stocked there.
Frequently asked questions
Should I watch Index or Railgun first?
Watch A Certain Magical Index first. It started the franchise and sets up the world that Railgun expands. Release order puts Index first for exactly this reason.
Is the Sisters arc in both Index and Railgun?
Yes. The Sisters arc (Level 6 Shift) appears in Index season 1 from Touma's perspective and in Railgun S from Mikoto's perspective. Both are meant to be watched.
Do I need to watch Accelerator?
No, it is optional. Accelerator is a 12-episode spin-off focused on one character and does not advance the main Index plot, so you can save it for after Index II or skip it if you only want the core story.
What is the newest Toaru anime?
A Certain Scientific Railgun T, which aired from January to September 2020 across 25 episodes, is the most recent season as of 2026.
Can I watch Railgun as a standalone series?
Yes. The three Railgun seasons follow Mikoto Misaka and hold together on their own better than Index does. You will miss some magic-side context, but the Railgun arcs are self-contained enough to enjoy alone.