The Great Cleric Manga Reading Order at a Glance
Here’s the short version: read Volumes 1 through 13 in numbered order. That’s it. That’s the reading order.
The Great Cleric (聖者無双) is an ongoing manga series published by Kodansha in Japan, with character designs by sime. The English edition currently has 13 volumes available, with the most recent volume released on April 21, 2026.
A few key things to know upfront:
- No branching paths. There are no companion manga, side stories, or prequel volumes in English. One series, one sequence.
- The manga adapts a light novel (a type of short Japanese novel, often illustrated, that sits between a full novel and a short story in length), but you absolutely do not need to read the source material first. The manga stands completely on its own.
- The series is ongoing. The Japanese edition is at 16 volumes, so more English releases are on the way.
If you want to grab Volume 1 and start reading right now, you’re set.
Print, Digital, or Both — Choosing Your Edition
The Great Cleric is published in single-volume format in English. There are no multi-volume collected editions, no oversized hardcovers, and no special collector’s editions to choose between. That keeps things simple — and it means the reading order decisions are purely about format preference, not which edition to buy.
All 13 English volumes are available in both print and digital formats. Here’s how to think about which one works for you:
| Format | Best For | Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Digital | Reading multiple volumes in a row, instant access, saving shelf space | You can start reading in minutes — no waiting for shipping — which makes it the fastest way to jump into the series or grab a new release on launch day |
| Shelf display, collecting, reading offline without a device | Physical copies look great on a bookshelf and are easy to lend to friends | |
| Both | Catching up digitally, then collecting favorites in print | Some readers power through the series digitally and then buy print copies of the volumes they loved most |
There’s no wrong answer here. If you’re not sure, digital is a low-commitment way to test whether the series clicks for you — grab the first volume, see how you feel, and go from there.
Complete Volume-by-Volume Reading Order
Here’s every English volume of The Great Cleric manga in order, with a brief, spoiler-light description of what to expect from each.
Volume 1 — Where It All Begins
The story opens with Luciel, a Japanese office worker who dies and is reincarnated into a fantasy world. Rather than becoming the typical overpowered sword-wielding hero, Luciel joins the Healers’ Guild — essentially a professional organization for people who practice recovery magic, similar to a trade association in our world — and starts learning healing skills from the ground up. This volume establishes the premise and sets the tone for the whole series: this is a story about grinding your way up through an unglamorous support role, not flashy combat. If the idea of an isekai healer protagonist appeals to you, you’ll know within the first few chapters.
Volume 2 — The Training Grind
Luciel’s training deepens as he commits to an unconventional path to strength through healing magic. This volume leans into the day-to-day routine of guild life, skill development, and the slow accumulation of power through sheer stubbornness and hard work. It’s slower-paced and deliberate — the series is building its foundation here.
Volume 3 — Beyond the Guild
The world opens up. Luciel begins exploring beyond the Healers’ Guild, encountering new locations and expanding the scope of the story. If Volumes 1 and 2 felt contained, this is where the setting starts to breathe.
Volume 4 — New Allies
New characters join the cast, and the challenges Luciel faces start to escalate. The supporting cast is one of the series’ strengths, and this volume does good work establishing relationships that pay off later.
Volume 5 — A Growing Reputation
Luciel’s reputation as a healer starts to precede him, which brings both opportunities and complications. The stakes begin to rise as the story moves beyond simple guild quests.
Volume 6 — A Turning Point
Without spoiling specifics, Volume 6 marks a significant shift in Luciel’s journey. If you’ve been enjoying the gradual build of the first five volumes, this is where the series starts to cash in on that setup. Many readers point to this volume as the moment the story really grabs them.
Volume 7 — Expanding Horizons
Luciel’s world grows larger as the consequences of his growing reputation introduce new challenges and new settings. The story’s scope widens noticeably here.
Volume 8 — Deeper Connections
Relationships between characters deepen, and the story begins layering in political dynamics alongside Luciel’s personal growth. The world starts to feel genuinely complex.
Volume 9 — Rising Stakes
Tensions that have been building across earlier volumes start to come to a head. Luciel’s role in the larger world becomes harder to ignore — for him and for the people around him.
Volume 10 — Consequences
Luciel faces the fallout of earlier decisions, and the story takes on a more serious tone. The series demonstrates here that its slow build was leading somewhere meaningful.
Volume 11 — Shifting Ground
The political landscape around Luciel shifts, forcing him to navigate situations that healing magic alone can’t solve. The story’s complexity continues to grow.
Volume 12 — Building Toward Something
Threads from across the series begin converging. This volume rewards readers who have been paying attention to the world-building and character development from the beginning.
Volume 13 — The Latest Chapter
The most recent English release continues the story’s momentum. Volume 13 came out on April 21, 2026, and the series remains ongoing — the Japanese edition currently sits at 16 volumes, which means there’s more story waiting to be translated. New English volumes release periodically, so the gap is steadily closing.
The Great Cleric
Does the Anime Change the Reading Order?
The Great Cleric has an anime adaptation, and if you found this article because you watched it and want more, welcome — you’re in the right place.
The anime covers the early portion of the manga’s story, roughly corresponding to the first few volumes. After finishing the anime, you have two good options:
Option 1 (Recommended): Start the manga from Volume 1. You won’t be bored rereading content you’ve already seen animated — the manga includes more detail than the anime can fit into its runtime. Additional character interactions, world-building scenes, and small moments flesh out the story in ways the anime had to condense. Many readers who start from Volume 1 after watching the anime say it felt fresh rather than repetitive.
Option 2: Jump ahead to around Volume 4 or 5 to pick up roughly where the anime’s first season leaves off. You won’t be completely lost, though you’ll miss some of the extra detail the manga provides for the early story. If your priority is getting to new content as fast as possible, this is a reasonable path.
One more thing: you don’t need to alternate between anime and manga or consume them in any particular mixed order. They tell the same story. Pick whichever medium you prefer as your entry point, and enjoy it on its own terms.
Guidance for First-Time Readers
If you’re new to The Great Cleric — or new to manga in general — here are some things that are useful to know going in.
This Is a Beginner-Friendly Series
The Great Cleric doesn’t require you to know genre conventions, game-style mechanics, or any other manga series to enjoy it. There’s no complex multiverse lore, no required reading list, and no assumed knowledge. The story explains its world as Luciel discovers it, which makes it a natural fit if you’re just starting to explore manga or the isekai genre specifically.
The Protagonist Is a Reincarnated Adult
Unlike many isekai series where the main character is a teenager (or at least acts like one), Luciel is a reincarnated office worker. He carries an adult’s perspective — his approach to problems tends to be practical and methodical rather than hot-headed. This gives the series a noticeably different tone from stories where a destined hero charges into battle, and it’s one of the things fans appreciate most about it.
Expect World-Building Over Action
The Great Cleric is not a combat-first series. While there are fights and danger, the heart of the story is about healing, guild life, and slowly building a place in a new world. If you’re coming from action-heavy manga expecting wall-to-wall battle sequences, adjust your expectations. If you enjoy watching a character patiently develop skills and relationships over time, this will be right up your alley.
The Light Novel Connection
The manga is based on a light novel series by the same author. As mentioned earlier, light novels are short illustrated Japanese novels — think of them as the prose version of the story. The manga is a faithful adaptation, so you’re not missing critical story details by reading the manga instead of the novel. If you fall in love with the series and want even more depth, the light novel is there as a companion — but it’s completely optional and not required for The Great Cleric manga reading order.
Start Here — Your Great Cleric Manga Reading Path
Quick-reference summary:
- Start with Volume 1. Whether you’ve watched the anime or not, Volume 1 is the recommended starting point for the full experience.
- Read sequentially through Volume 13. No skipping, no branching, no alternate order needed.
- Pick digital if you want to start reading immediately. Print if you want the physical collection.
- The series is ongoing. More English volumes will release as the Japanese edition (currently at 16 volumes) continues to be translated.
That’s the whole Great Cleric manga reading order. The Great Cleric rewards patience — Luciel’s slow, steady growth as a healer in a world that doesn’t always value healers is genuinely compelling, and the world-building is rich and absorbing. Grab Volume 1 and see for yourself.