Goblin Slayer is an interesting beast as its light novel and manga are popular almost in equal measure, despite being a light novel first. Maybe it is because of the graphic nature of some of the situations. Regardless, if the Goblin Slayer anime piqued an interest, you have multiple ways you can continue on with the story.
Where To Start The Goblin Slayer Light Novel After The Anime?
If you finished both seasons of Goblin Slayer (and the canon movie) and want to continue the story with the light novel, you will want to start at Novel 9 if you just want to see what happens next.
If you watched the Goblin’s Crown movie, it adapts Novel 5. As such, it is canon content to the story.
The second season of Goblin Slayer starts after the Goblin’s Crown movie. As the first season adapted the first two novels, the anime omits Novel 3 and Novel 4 completely.
*Updated for Second Season end.
Is The Goblin Slayer Light Novel Over?
The Goblin Slayer light novel is still ongoing. While it started in 2016 and usually released at a pace of two to three novels per year, it has not released a new novel since the singular release in 2022. I did not find any news of a hiatus.
Where To Start The Goblin Slayer Manga After The Anime?
Goblin Slayer also has a manga, but as of the second season, the anime has surpassed it. Presently the manga is still dealing with the events of the Mokele Mbembe.
Chapters 30 through 40 cover the Novel 3 and Novel 4 that the anime skipped.
Is The Goblin Slayer Manga Over?
The Goblin Slayer manga is still ongoing. Since launching in 2016, it has slowed release from two volumes per year to a single volume per year since 2021.
What to Expect From The Goblin Slayer Source Material Compared to The Anime?
As the Goblin Slayer anime leaves out two full light novels, I really recommend reading it from the beginning. Those skipped light novels were hinted at and acknowledged to have happened in the anime, so it is unlikely that they will actually be adapted in the anime later. If nothing else, read the novels that were skipped before moving on – or the corresponding manga chapters noted above.
All that said, the Goblin Slayer light novel has some caveats if you are coming from the anime – namely it focuses a lot more on the fan service nature of descriptions. So if that is not for you, you may wish to wait for the manga to surpass the anime to continue on in that medium. At least the fan service there is all visual.
What are the Goblin Slayer Side Stories About?
Goblin Slayer is one of those series that enjoys its side stories. If you simply want more of the world, then check them out.
Goblin Slayer Side Story Series:
- Goblin Slayer: Year One (Light novel and manga) (Ongoing) – A prequel series following the first year of the Goblin Slayer after his sister’s death. Enjoy the struggle and learning process.
- Goblin Slayer: Dai Katana – (Light novel and manga) (Ongoing) – Follows the Sword Maiden adventure group and is set 10 years prior to Goblin Slayer
- Goblin Slayer: Brand New Day (Manga) (Complete) – Adapts the daily life short stories of Novel 4 which were skipped in both anime and the main manga.
- Goblin Slayer: Day in the Life (Manga) (Ongoing) – More daily life side stories, this time from Novel 12.
Will There Be A Goblin Slayer Season 3?
There has been no official announcement of a Goblin Slayer Season 3 anime.
Unlike some other series, Goblin Slayer has historically not received a subsequent season announcement after the end the the previous anime season, so no announcement after Season 2 is not surprising. Perhaps it will get another movie first, maybe another season instead. Regardless, the series has proven quite popular – enough to get a movie and another season – so there is an above average amount of hope for a third season.
