I Shall Survive Using Potions! Manga Reading Order — The Simple Answer
The reading order is exactly what you’d hope: Volume 1 through Volume 9, straight through, no detours.
I Shall Survive Using Potions! is a completed manga based on FUNA‘s original light novel. The manga features art by Hibiki Kokonoe and character designs by Sukima. It was published in Japan by Kodansha (one of Japan’s largest manga publishers) from November 2017 through June 2021 across 9 volumes. The English edition is published by J-Novel Club, and all 9 volumes are available in English.
Here’s the full reading order at a glance:
| Volume | Title |
|---|---|
| Vol. 1 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 1 |
| Vol. 2 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 2 |
| Vol. 3 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 3 |
| Vol. 4 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 4 |
| Vol. 5 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 5 |
| Vol. 6 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 6 |
| Vol. 7 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 7 |
| Vol. 8 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 8 |
| Vol. 9 | I Shall Survive Using Potions! Vol. 9 |
That’s it. No “.5” volumes, no prequel manga, no companion books. The manga works as a self-contained story, and you can read the entire thing from start to finish without needing any other material.
What Each Volume Covers and Why the Order Matters
Even though the reading order is straightforward, it helps to know roughly what each volume covers — especially if you’re picking the series back up after a break or want to know where a particular plot point happens.
Volume 1: A New World and a Very Useful Ability
The story begins with Kaoru Nagase, an ordinary woman who dies and is reincarnated into a fantasy world by a goddess. As compensation for the mix-up that caused her death, Kaoru receives the ability to create any potion she can imagine — complete with the container of her choice. Volume 1 establishes the premise, introduces the world, and shows Kaoru figuring out exactly how powerful (and how dangerous) her new ability really is. Despite the fantasy setting, the tone is lighter and more comedic than you might expect — Kaoru is resourceful and sarcastic rather than a typical action hero.
Volume 2: Finding Her Footing
Kaoru starts building a life in the new world, but her potion abilities don’t go unnoticed. Volume 2 digs into the social and political realities she has to navigate. She’s not just a healer with magic bottles — she’s someone powerful people want to control. The groundwork for the series’ larger conflicts starts here.
Volumes 3–4: Kingdom-Level Trouble
This is where the story picks up momentum. Kaoru’s abilities attract attention from royalty and rival factions, pulling her into conflicts between kingdoms. She has to rely on quick thinking and creative potion use — not just healing, but clever tricks with containers and formulas — to stay ahead of people who want to use her power for themselves. Alliances form, enemies emerge, and the stakes grow beyond anything Kaoru bargained for.
Volumes 5–6: Consequences Catch Up
The reputation Kaoru has built — both as a miracle healer and as someone too dangerous to leave unchecked — comes back to bite her. These volumes contain some of the biggest dramatic moments in the series, with challenges that potion-making alone can’t solve. Kaoru faces real danger from forces that have been building since the early volumes, and the emotional stakes reach their highest point. If you’ve been on the fence about continuing after the first few volumes, this is the stretch that tends to hook readers for good.
Volumes 7–9: The Finale
The final stretch wraps up the main conflict and brings Kaoru’s journey to its conclusion. The pacing picks up considerably as plot threads come together. If you’ve been invested in the political maneuvering and character relationships from earlier volumes, these payoffs land well.
Why Sequential Order Matters
This might seem obvious for a 9-volume series, but it’s worth emphasizing: I Shall Survive Using Potions! builds its storylines and character relationships cumulatively. Kaoru’s alliances, the factions working against her, and the evolving power dynamics all develop across multiple volumes. Jumping into Volume 5 cold would be confusing — you’d miss the context that makes the later conflicts meaningful.
Unlike some manga where individual storylines are fairly self-contained, this series rewards reading in order. The political threads are woven throughout, and earlier volumes set up payoffs that don’t land without that foundation.
Manga vs. Light Novel — What New Readers Should Know
Here’s something that catches a lot of new readers off guard: I Shall Survive Using Potions! exists as both a manga and a light novel series, and they share the same title. Understanding the difference will save you money and confusion.
The key thing to know: the manga volumes are comics (artwork with speech bubbles, read right to left). The light novel volumes are mostly text — like regular novels with occasional illustrations. They look different on the shelf, but online listings can blur the distinction, especially since both formats use similar cover art styles and nearly identical titles.
The Manga: Complete at 9 Volumes
The manga covers the core story and is complete. If you read all 9 volumes, you’ll get a full narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. It’s the faster, more visual way to experience the story, and it works on its own — you do not need to read the light novel first (or at all) to enjoy the manga.
The Light Novel: The Bigger Picture
FUNA’s original light novel series goes further than the manga. The manga doesn’t cover every storyline from the novels — it retells a portion of the overall story and brings that portion to a satisfying conclusion. If you finish the manga and want more of Kaoru’s adventures, the light novel continues beyond where the manga ends.
Both formats are published in English, so you have options depending on how you like to read. The manga gives you the visual experience with a tighter story. The light novel gives you more content and deeper world-building.
Which Should You Start With?
Either works fine as an entry point. If you prefer artwork and faster pacing, start with the manga. If you prefer detailed prose and don’t mind a longer commitment, start with the light novel. Many fans read the manga first and then switch to the light novel to continue the story — that’s a perfectly valid approach.
Where to Buy the English Manga
All 9 English manga volumes are published by J-Novel Club and are available in both digital and print formats through major retailers, including Amazon and BookWalker.
When buying, double-check that you’re purchasing the manga edition, not the light novel edition. The titles are nearly identical across formats, and browsing quickly online makes it easy to grab the wrong one. The manga volumes feature Hibiki Kokonoe’s illustrations on the cover, and the product description should specify “manga” rather than “light novel.” If the page count seems unusually high for a manga volume, you’re probably looking at the light novel.
Since the series is complete, you can read at whatever pace you like without waiting for new releases.
I Shall Survive Using Potions!
Common Mistakes New Readers Make
A few pitfalls come up repeatedly with this series. Here’s what to watch out for:
- Starting with a random middle volume. Sometimes readers grab whatever volume is cheapest or most available without checking the number. With this series, that’s a recipe for confusion. The storyline builds from Volume 1, and characters are introduced gradually. Jumping into Volume 4 or 5 without context means missing key alliances and motivations that drive the later plot.
- Expecting the manga to cover the entire light novel. The manga is complete, but it doesn’t retell every storyline from FUNA’s light novel. If you reach Volume 9 and feel like there should be more story, there is — it just lives in the light novel format. The manga wraps up its own story satisfyingly, but it’s not a page-for-page retelling of the full novels.
- Confusing this series with FUNA’s other works. FUNA has written several light novel series, including Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! and Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement. All three feature resourceful female protagonists transported to fantasy worlds, and fans sometimes mix up which is which — especially when browsing by author name. Double-check the specific title before purchasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the I Shall Survive Using Potions! manga finished?
Yes. The manga is a completed series at 9 volumes. The Japanese publication ran from November 2017 to June 2021, and all 9 volumes have been released in English. You can read the entire series right now without waiting for future volumes.
Do I need to read the light novel before the manga?
No. The manga works as a standalone reading experience. It retells the story in a way that makes sense on its own, with proper introductions, character development, and a complete storyline. Reading the light novel first might give you extra context, but it’s not necessary to understand or enjoy the manga.
Who created the series?
The original story is by FUNA, who wrote the light novel. The manga features art by Hibiki Kokonoe and character designs by Sukima. It was published by Kodansha in Japan, and the English edition is published by J-Novel Club.
How long does it take to read the whole series?
With 9 manga volumes, most readers can get through the entire series in a few days of casual reading, or a single dedicated weekend if you’re motivated. Each volume is a standard manga length (roughly 190–195 pages), so you’re looking at a manageable commitment compared to longer-running series.
Is there an anime adaptation?
Yes. An anime television series produced by Jumondou aired from October to December 2023 on the Animazing!!! programming block (ABC and TV Asahi affiliates) in Japan, and was licensed by Crunchyroll for international streaming. FUNA’s other series Didn’t I Say to Make My Abilities Average in the Next Life?! also received a separate anime adaptation.
Can I read this series digitally?
Yes. All 9 volumes are available in digital format through major digital manga platforms. Digital is a great option if you want to start reading immediately or prefer not to store physical volumes.
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That’s the full I Shall Survive Using Potions! manga reading order — a clean, completed 9-volume main series with no complicated reading order to navigate. Grab Volume 1, read through Volume 9, and enjoy Kaoru’s potion-fueled fantasy adventure.