How Many Re:Zero Manga Volumes Are There?
As of early 2026, there are 28 Re:Zero manga volumes available in English, spread across four main story arcs. A fifth arc is underway in Japan but hasn’t been released in English yet. If you were expecting a single long-running manga with 28 consecutive volumes — nope, Re:Zero does things differently.
Each story arc is published as its own standalone manga series, each with its own “Volume 1.” Think of it the way a TV show has separate seasons — each arc (called a “Chapter” in Re:Zero) is a self-contained series that covers one part of the larger story. Here’s the full breakdown:
| Arc / Series | Total Volumes | English Volumes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1: A Day in the Capital | 2 | 2 | Complete |
| Chapter 2: A Week at the Mansion | 5 | 5 | Complete |
| Chapter 3: Truth of Zero | 11 | 11 | Complete |
| Chapter 4: The Sanctuary and the Witch of Greed | 13 | 10 | Ongoing (3 more in Japan) |
| Chapter 5: Stars that Engrave History | 3 | 0 | Ongoing, no English release |
That’s 28 volumes you can buy in English right now — spread across Chapters 1 through 4. Chapter 5 has 3 volumes out in Japan with no English release yet. All English volumes are published by Yen Press and are widely available through online retailers and at major bookstores like Barnes & Noble.
Buying all 28 volumes is a serious commitment, so many readers start with just Chapter 1 (2 volumes) to see if the series clicks before going further.
How the Re:Zero Manga Arc System Works
This is the part that trips up a lot of first-time buyers. Unlike most manga — where you just grab Volume 1 and keep going — Re:Zero splits each story arc into a completely separate manga series. Each one has a different title, a different manga artist, and its own volume numbering that starts at 1. Changing artists between arcs is common for manga that adapt light novels (more on those below), so don’t be thrown off if the art style shifts from one arc to the next.
The manga adapts the Re:Zero light novels written by Tappei Nagatsuki (with illustrations by Shinichirou Otsuka). A light novel is a Japanese novel format — shorter than a Western novel, with occasional illustrations, and typically aimed at the same audience that reads manga. The light novels are the original source material, and each manga arc covers a specific chunk of that story. When you’re shopping on Amazon or at a bookstore, you’ll find each arc listed as its own series — they’re not grouped together under one listing.
Here’s what each arc covers and what to expect.
Chapter 1 — A Day in the Capital (2 Volumes, Complete)
This is where everything begins. Subaru Natsuki gets pulled into a fantasy world with no explanation, meets a silver-haired half-elf named Emilia, and stumbles into a deadly situation at a merchant’s storehouse. Oh, and he discovers that dying sends him back in time — which is about as fun as it sounds.
At just 2 volumes, this is a quick read that covers the very first arc of the story. The art is by Daichi Matsuse, and it does a great job of capturing both the lighthearted early moments and the sudden tonal shifts Re:Zero is famous for. If you want to test the waters before committing to the full series, this is the perfect entry point.
Re:ZERO, Vol. 1 (manga)
Chapter 2 — A Week at the Mansion (5 Volumes, Complete)
After the events in the capital, Subaru ends up working as a servant at Roswaal’s mansion. This is where you meet the twin maids Rem and Ram — and yes, Rem fans, this is where it all starts.
Chapter 2 has a different artist, Makoto Fugetsu, which gives it a noticeably different visual style from Chapter 1. The shift takes a moment to adjust to, but Fugetsu’s art fits the mansion setting well. At 5 volumes, this arc digs deeper into Subaru’s ability to restart after dying and gets genuinely dark in places.
Re:ZERO Chapter 2: A Week at the Mansion, Vol. 1 (manga)
Chapter 3 — Truth of Zero (11 Volumes, Complete)
This is the big one. Chapter 3 covers the competition to choose the next ruler (the royal selection), the White Whale hunt, and the battle against the villain Petelgeuse. If you watched Season 1 of the anime, you know — this arc is where Re:Zero goes from “interesting fantasy series” to “absolutely devastating.”
At 11 volumes, Truth of Zero is the longest completed arc in the manga. Daichi Matsuse returns as the artist (same as Chapter 1), and the action scenes are a real highlight. The emotional payoff in this arc is huge, especially the second half.
Chapter 4 — The Sanctuary and the Witch of Greed (10 English Volumes, Ongoing)
Chapter 4 is where things get complicated — in the best way. Subaru faces the trials of the Sanctuary, meets the Witch of Greed Echidna, and uncovers some deeply unsettling truths about Roswaal. This arc corresponds to anime Season 2.
As of early 2026, 10 volumes are available in English out of 13 published in Japan. The manga is still ongoing, with art by Haruno Atori and story composition by Yu Aikawa. Additional English volumes are expected to be released throughout 2026.
Chapter 5 — Stars that Engrave History (Japan Only, Ongoing)
The newest manga arc covers the Battle of Priestella, where Subaru and the other royal selection camps face off against multiple powerful villains at once. This is the arc that anime Season 3 (2024–2025) adapted.
As of now, 3 volumes are out in Japan with art by Wakaya Takase. There’s no English release yet, so if you want to read this arc in English, the light novel (starting at Volume 16) is your only option.
Which Manga Volumes Cover Each Anime Season?
If you’re coming from the anime and wondering which manga volumes match up, here’s the mapping:
Season 1 (2016, 25 episodes) covers Chapter 1 + Chapter 2 + Chapter 3. That’s 18 manga volumes total (2 + 5 + 11), and all of them are complete and available in English.
Season 2 (2020–2021, 25 episodes) covers Chapter 4. There are 10 English volumes available as of early 2026, though the manga adaptation is still ongoing — the anime actually covered more ground than the English manga has reached so far.
Season 3 (October 2024–March 2025, 16 episodes) covers Chapter 5. This arc has 3 volumes in Japan, but there’s no English manga release yet.
The key takeaway: the manga fully covers Season 1 in English, mostly covers Season 2, and doesn’t cover Season 3 in English at all yet. The anime has outpaced the English manga at this point.
Where to Start the Re:Zero Manga After the Anime
This depends on where you are in the anime:
After Season 1: Pick up Chapter 4: The Sanctuary and the Witch of Greed, Vol. 1. This is where Season 2 begins, so you can either read ahead or experience the story in manga form alongside the anime. You could also go back and read Chapters 1–3 if you want to see how the manga handles the story you already watched.
After Season 2: Chapter 5’s manga isn’t available in English yet, so your best option is the light novel starting at Volume 16. The light novel is the original source material, and it’s significantly ahead of both the manga and the anime.
After Season 3: No manga exists past Chapter 5 in any language. Continue with the light novel starting at Volume 21 to keep going.
If your main goal is to read ahead of the anime, the light novel is the most practical choice since the manga trails behind. But the manga shines as a way to re-experience arcs you’ve already seen — the artwork and visual pacing add something the anime can’t replicate.
Re:Zero Manga vs. Light Novel — Which to Buy?
Both the manga and light novel are great — they’re just good at different things.
The manga is a fantastic entry point. It’s visual, easy to pick up, and each arc has strong artwork. If you prefer seeing action and emotion play out on the page, the manga delivers. Arcs 1–3 are all complete in English at 18 volumes, making them perfect for binge reading with no waiting for new releases. The limitation is that only Arcs 1–4 are available in English, and the manga is always a step behind the anime.
The light novel is the definitive version of Re:Zero. Written by Tappei Nagatsuki himself, with illustrations by Shinichirou Otsuka, it contains far more detail than the manga or anime can fit. With 28+ volumes available in English as of early 2026 — covering well beyond what the anime and manga have reached — it’s by far the most complete way to experience the story.
For readers who prefer visual storytelling, a great approach is to read the manga for Arcs 1–3 (all complete), then switch to the light novel at Volume 16 when the English manga runs out.
Both the manga and light novel are published by Yen Press and widely available at major bookstores and online retailers.
Re:Zero: Starting Life in Another World, Vol. 1 (light novel)
Recommended Buying Order for New Readers
Here are the clearest paths depending on where you’re starting from:
Brand new to Re:Zero (haven’t seen the anime):
- Chapter 1: A Day in the Capital, Vol. 1 → Vol. 2
- Chapter 2: A Week at the Mansion, Vol. 1 → Vol. 5
- Chapter 3: Truth of Zero, Vol. 1 → Vol. 11
- Chapter 4: The Sanctuary and the Witch of Greed, Vol. 1 → Vol. 10
- Then switch to the light novel starting at Volume 16 to continue the story
Watched Season 1 of the anime:
- To continue forward: Chapter 4, Vol. 1
- To re-experience Season 1 in manga form: Chapter 1, Vol. 1 (then read through all three arcs)
Watched Season 2 or Season 3:
- Since the manga hasn’t reached these arcs in English yet, the light novel is your best path forward — start at Volume 16 (after Season 2) or Volume 21 (after Season 3)
A few extra tips:
- Chapters 1–3 are fully complete at 18 volumes total — no waiting for new releases, which makes them great for binge reading.
- Chapter 4 is still releasing in English, so expect additional volumes throughout 2026.
- Remember that each arc is its own separate purchase on Amazon and in bookstores — search for each arc title individually.