Forum SettingsEpisode Information
Forums
Top
  >  
Anime
  >  
Toaru Majutsu no Index
  >  
Do I need to watch both Index ...
Top
  >  
Forum
  >  
Anime Series Discussion
  >  
Title Discussion
  >  
Do I need to watch both Index ...
RecentWatchedIgnoredSearch Forum

Do I need to watch both Index and Railgun?

A Certain Magical Index (light novel)
Available on Manga Store
New
Dec 20, 2025 7:07 PM
#1
Yotsugi_Ononoki

Offline
Oct 2024
47
I watched the first season of both Index and Railgun, Index was pretty good and I am interested to see where it goes but railgun put me off badly, I'm not interested in anything it really has to offer.

So can I just watch Index and still understand everything? Or do I need to watch both?

EDIT: Nvm Index II is also ass
Yotsugi_OnonokiDec 21, 2025 12:20 PM
Dec 20, 2025 7:38 PM
#2
CorLeonis-_-
Offline
Aug 2021
406
You won’t get the whole experience of the series and might not get deeper context of certain arcs if you don’t watch both
Dec 20, 2025 7:47 PM
#3
FutoiOtaku
Offline
Nov 2023
1876
They’re both the same story, and don’t forget Accelerator. I don’t get why one seems ok and one doesn’t really, but we’re all different I guess.
Dec 20, 2025 8:37 PM
#4
Yotsugi_Ononoki

Offline
Oct 2024
47
Reply to FutoiOtaku
They’re both the same story, and don’t forget Accelerator. I don’t get why one seems ok and one doesn’t really, but we’re all different I guess.
@FutoiOtaku Its mainly the different characters, I like Touma, Index, Kaori and Stiyl a lot more than all the girls in railgun
Dec 20, 2025 8:45 PM
#5
LT_Loser
Offline
Dec 2019
6
If you liked the Sisters arc then you should watch Railgun S, it is the same arc from Misaka’s perspective. Most of the scenes are new, with only 1 out of 14-16 episodes being same scene for scene as Index. Also what probably put you off of Railgun was Kuroko and her antics are absent in Railgun S.
Dec 20, 2025 8:48 PM
#6
MauriceKW
Offline
Jan 2021
9
Yes, you do
Watch both definetely!
Both are perfect and a must watch
Dec 20, 2025 9:09 PM
#7
FutoiOtaku
Offline
Nov 2023
1876
Yotsugi_Ononoki said:
@FutoiOtaku Its mainly the different characters, I like Touma, Index, Kaori and Stiyl a lot more than all the girls in railgun

All those characters are in Railgun…
But as a Monogatari fan (I assume) most of the important characters in that show are girls so what’s the problem? However you do you, I’ve dropped shows without knowing what put me off, if it feels wrong to you that’s fine.
Dec 20, 2025 9:17 PM
#8
Yotsugi_Ononoki

Offline
Oct 2024
47
Reply to FutoiOtaku
Yotsugi_Ononoki said:
@FutoiOtaku Its mainly the different characters, I like Touma, Index, Kaori and Stiyl a lot more than all the girls in railgun

All those characters are in Railgun…
But as a Monogatari fan (I assume) most of the important characters in that show are girls so what’s the problem? However you do you, I’ve dropped shows without knowing what put me off, if it feels wrong to you that’s fine.
@FutoiOtaku But the big difference is the amount of screen time they get.
Dec 20, 2025 9:18 PM
#9
Amairs
Offline
Apr 2023
46
Index feels like it matters more but it kinda goes off the rails
Dec 20, 2025 9:21 PM
#10
FutoiOtaku
Offline
Nov 2023
1876
Yotsugi_Ononoki said:
@FutoiOtaku But the big difference is the amount of screen time they get.

I don’t want to dictate to you as I said, you know your own tastes best, but back to the topic, by the time you get to Index S3 a lot of the story told in Railgun will be relevant and leave you confused if you skip it.
Dec 20, 2025 9:53 PM
#11
Laplace_kun

Offline
Nov 2019
2736
You could watch only Index and understand everything, if only it was a good adaptation. Index III is horribly adapted with 9 volumes being adapted within 26 episodes. If you like Touma in the anime, you would love him in the novels. And you'd enjoy his parts in Railgun anime, where the direction and storyboarding actually respects him as a character.

I'd recommend you to watch at least first 10 episodes of Railgun S and decide from there.

Panel of Touma from Railgun manga:

Laplace_kunDec 20, 2025 10:00 PM
"All truth is meaningless. In the end, 'meaning' comes from the mind of each individual human. Even when there is a single truth, it can mean different things to different individuals. The truth has no meaning in itself!" - Erika Furudo
Dec 20, 2025 9:54 PM
#12
Laplace_kun

Offline
Nov 2019
2736
FutoiOtaku said:
Yotsugi_Ononoki said:
@FutoiOtaku Its mainly the different characters, I like Touma, Index, Kaori and Stiyl a lot more than all the girls in railgun

All those characters are in Railgun…
But as a Monogatari fan (I assume) most of the important characters in that show are girls so what’s the problem? However you do you, I’ve dropped shows without knowing what put me off, if it feels wrong to you that’s fine.

Index just makes cameos in Railgun.

Kaori and Stiyl are not in Railgun.

Edit: also look at her favs. A girl cast is definitely not the problem.
Laplace_kunDec 20, 2025 10:07 PM
"All truth is meaningless. In the end, 'meaning' comes from the mind of each individual human. Even when there is a single truth, it can mean different things to different individuals. The truth has no meaning in itself!" - Erika Furudo
Dec 21, 2025 1:44 AM
#13
Memasikgod
Offline
Jun 2023
114
don't forget about accelerator
Dec 21, 2025 2:34 AM
#14
BlueMoonTornado
Offline
May 2019
231
Hey, Index and Railgun can be watched on their own! Index is the main series, while Railgun happens in the background of Index occasionally overlaps some events together while showing them from different POVs (magic vs science side). But sadly, Railgun is the better anime over seasons because the source for Railgun is a manga, thus its easier to adapt. Index is a light novel series, and while S1 is a decent adaptation of the novels (although skips a very important arc and important characterization for pre-amnesia Touma), S2 and S3 drop the ball quickly by adapting too many novels in too few episodes. Index fans pretend S3 doesn't even exist, because its that big of a disaster (miserably tries to cover 9 VOLUMES). I say this as someone who first watched S1-S3, but continued to despise Touma's character, and then decided to start the novels from the start only to fall in love with his character and enjoy the arcs far more. I'm not saying you shouldn't watch the anime, but you are likely going to lose your interest as the anime is horribly adapted, and I far recommend moving onto the novels if you don't mind reading.

The novels are amazing, but the anime is terrible as studio does a horrible job of adapting the novels by skipping and removing content. Even Touma's character is much better written in the novels, and so are his designs. I became a huge fan of him in the novels as a lot of his interesting thoughts and mindset in battle doesn't come across in the anime (which is fair, as anime is a visual medium), and the content of the arcs are better executed. He doesn't just punch through his problems, like I used to think. The main problem with the anime is also that they cut so much of the explanations and worldbuilding of the magic side, that you can't really understand it as well as the science side. As a result you're left unengaged with what's going on, and it's why Railgun becomes a better and more enjoyable anime as the seasons go on. Unfortunately, all the arcs are very loosely connected in some way to what's really going on behind the scenes with the grander conflict between magic and science. But the anime fumbles some of these arcs, and ruins the overall narrative structure.
BlueMoonTornadoDec 21, 2025 2:41 AM
Dec 21, 2025 3:18 AM
#15
PenPennnnn
Offline
May 2023
11
The second season of railgun is WAYY better than the first one if I remember correctly so maybe try to give it a watch :)
Dec 21, 2025 3:57 AM
#16
FreedomKME
Offline
Feb 2018
852
Railgun is the good one, Index is hot garbage, has everything wrong with anime and only gets worse in every way.
Dec 21, 2025 4:26 AM
#17
TransferUser

Offline
Apr 2024
1679
Yotsugi_Ononoki said:
Index was pretty good and I am interested to see where it goes but railgun put me off badly, I'm not interested in anything it really has to offer.


First season of Railgun is Cute Girls Doing Cute Things. All following seasons of Railgun are more in line with what Index is. If you already suffered through the first season, you might as well get to enjoy the sequels. Otherwise I'd have recommended to just skip the first season of Railgun. Also, definitely skip the Index movie.
Dec 21, 2025 10:14 AM
#18
brurtle
Offline
May 2019
276
Railgun S and T were really good
Dec 21, 2025 10:31 AM
#19
Lucifrost

Offline
Feb 2016
16441
You don't need to watch any more of Railgun if you don't like it.
その目だれの目？
Dec 21, 2025 11:17 AM
#20
KurokamiPhantom

Offline
Mar 2015
124
Railgun is a side story. It's not necessary to watch
Dec 22, 2025 11:21 PM
#21
rangedsp
Offline
Jun 2022
29
I see it as Marvel MCU films. Yes you could get most of the story while only watching your favorite super heroes, but you'll miss the grander plot within the universe.

In my opinion, the world building and the wider plotline is way more interesting than the characters and the fight scenes.

This may be a hot take, but Railgun S and T are much better than Index 1 & 2. Accelerator is a bit of a wild card, maybe just as good as the Indexes.

Index 3 is about as good as One Punch Man S2.

As flawed as Railgun 1 was, it's still much better than Index 3 by a large margin.
Dec 23, 2025 4:52 AM
#22
nekoelfa
Offline
Dec 2023
2
No, it's not necessary to watch them both; they are separate stories, just like Accelerator. It's good to watch them to know who the characters are, but I don't think it's strictly necessary. Railgun and Accelerator are like spin-offs of Index.
Dec 24, 2025 5:45 PM
#23
LordByron08
Offline
Dec 2022
11
Railgun is 100% the better series. If you watch Railgun S and T you will not regret it.

You only need the 1st arc of Index (Eps 1-6) to understand the rest of Railgun which you already watched.

Personally I like how the Railgun fights are more grounded in reality.

Index felt like they made things up as they went along which made the fights boring; that and too much fan service.

I recommend series release order as your first watch.

TLDR: Index is optional, Railgun is peak.
LordByron08Dec 24, 2025 5:52 PM
Dec 25, 2025 8:46 AM
#24
HD600-Enjoyer
Offline
Nov 2019
292
Yotsugi_Ononoki said:
I watched the first season of both Index and Railgun, Index was pretty good and I am interested to see where it goes but railgun put me off badly, I'm not interested in anything it really has to offer.

So can I just watch Index and still understand everything? Or do I need to watch both?

EDIT: Nvm Index II is also ass

Just watch railgun index blows any missing context is minimal at least in the current seasons of railgun
See All Discussions

More topics from this board

Poll: » To Aru Majutsu no Index Episode 20 Discussion ( 1 2 )

ukonkivi - Mar 22, 2009

94 by akaciel »»
Jan 21, 7:56 PM

Poll: » To Aru Majutsu no Index Episode 19 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 )

Antanaru - Feb 13, 2009

159 by akaciel »»
Jan 21, 12:09 PM

Poll: » To Aru Majutsu no Index Episode 14 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 )

removed-user - Jan 8, 2009

154 by akaciel »»
Jan 20, 10:13 AM

Poll: » To Aru Majutsu no Index Episode 17 Discussion ( 1 2 3 )

darkxdestiny - Jan 29, 2009

145 by Thyriad-oPPailov »»
Jan 9, 1:39 PM

Poll: » To Aru Majutsu no Index Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 3 )

slayer545-sama - Dec 20, 2008

137 by Thyriad-oPPailov »»
Dec 24, 2025 10:57 AM

MoreTop Anime

  1. 1 Sousou no Frieren
  2. 2 Sousou no Frieren 2nd Season
  3. 3 Chainsaw Man Movie: Reze-hen
  4. 4 Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
  5. 5 Steins;Gate

MoreTop Airing Anime

  1. 1 Sousou no Frieren 2nd Season
  2. 2 One Piece
  3. 3 Jujutsu Kaisen: Shimetsu Kaiyuu - Zenpen
  4. 4 Chiikawa
  5. 5 Fate/strange Fake

MoreMost Popular Characters

  1. 1 Lamperouge, Lelouch
  2. 2 Monkey D., Luffy
  3. 3 Levi
  4. 4 Lawliet, L
  5. 5 Roronoa, Zoro
It’s time to ditch the text file.
Keep track of your anime easily by creating your own list.
Sign Up Login