Beyblade Manga Reading Order for New Readers

The Beyblade franchise has been spinning for over two decades, and with multiple manga series sharing the name, figuring out the right Beyblade manga reading order can feel confusing. If you grew up watching Tyson battle on TV, this is the manga that started it all — and the good news is that sorting out the reading order is simpler than it looks. The original Beyblade story spans three manga titles read in a specific order, and every later series — Metal Fight, Burst, X — is a completely separate story with new characters and no connection to the original. You can pick up any reboot without reading a single page of what came before.

Let’s break it all down.

Beyblade Manga Reading Order at a Glance

Here’s the original Beyblade reading order in one quick table:

Order	Title	Type	Volumes	Status
1	Beyblade (original series)	Main story	14	Completed
2	Shoot Gaiden Beyblade Daichi	Parallel side story (runs alongside the main story’s events)	Short series; exact volume count unconfirmed in English	Completed
3	Beyblade Rising	Direct sequel	Short series; exact volume count unconfirmed in English	Completed

Read them in that order for the intended experience. The original 14-volume series is the foundation, Shoot Gaiden Beyblade Daichi — “gaiden” is a Japanese word meaning “side story” — runs alongside its events, and Beyblade Rising picks up after the original concludes.

What about the other Beyblade manga? Metal Fight Beyblade, Beyblade Burst, and Beyblade X are all separate stories with their own worlds (Metal Fight and its follow-up Zero-G share one universe). They feature entirely new characters, new Beyblade systems, and fresh storylines. No prior reading required for any of them. Jump into whichever one catches your eye.

What Each Series Covers and Why It Goes in That Spot

Beyblade (Original Series) — Start Here

This is where everything begins. The original Beyblade manga by Takao Aoki follows Tyson and his rivals as they battle through increasingly intense Beyblade tournaments. The stakes escalate from local competitions to world-stage showdowns, and the core cast — Tyson, Kai, Max, Ray — gets fleshed out across the full run.

The series ran for 14 volumes and is a completed work. VIZ Media (the publisher that released the English-language edition) published all 14 volumes in English, with the final English volume releasing on December 12, 2006. The genres land firmly in adventure and sports territory — expect energetic tournament storylines, rivalry-driven character development, and the kind of escalating power battles that defined early-2000s manga aimed at younger readers.

This is the essential starting point for the original story. Everything that follows — the side story and the sequel — assumes you know these characters and their world. Start here, no exceptions.

If you want the last volume of the original English run, VIZ’s Volume 14 wraps up the story and is still findable through online retailers.

Shoot Gaiden Beyblade Daichi — A Parallel Side Story

Shoot Gaiden Beyblade Daichi takes place alongside the events of the original manga. It focuses on the supporting character Daichi and adds context to the broader tournament world that the main series establishes.

The reason this goes second in the reading order — even though it’s technically a parallel story — is that it assumes familiarity with the original series. Character references, callbacks to earlier plot events, and world-building details all land better when you’ve already read the 14-volume main story. Reading it first would leave you missing context that the side story doesn’t bother to re-explain.

Think of it as bonus material that enriches what you already know rather than standing fully on its own.

Beyblade Rising — The Direct Sequel

Beyblade Rising continues the story after the original series concludes. This is the payoff for readers who followed Tyson and company through the full original run — new conflicts, returning characters, and narrative threads that pick up where Volume 14 left off.

Read this last in the original Beyblade manga reading order. Jumping straight to Rising without the original series would be like watching a movie sequel without seeing the first film — technically possible, but you’d miss the emotional weight of everything happening on the page.

The Reboot Series — Metal Fight, Zero-G, Burst, and X

Here’s where the Beyblade franchise branches into entirely separate worlds:

• Metal Fight Beyblade and Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G form their own two connected series. Metal Fight tells a complete story, and Zero-G follows up within that same universe. Read Metal Fight first if you want both, but neither connects to the original Beyblade manga at all.

• Beyblade Burst is its own self-contained story. New characters, a new Beyblade system (the “burst” rule, where tops can split apart mid-battle), and its own storyline from start to finish.

• Beyblade X is the most recent manga entry in the franchise and is also self-contained.

Every reboot introduces its own cast, its own rules, and its own conflicts. You do not need to have read the original manga — or any other Beyblade manga — before picking up a reboot series. They’re designed as fresh entry points.

What You Can Safely Skip

Not everything in the Beyblade manga franchise is required reading, even within the original story. Here’s what’s optional:

• Shoot Gaiden Beyblade Daichi is enrichment, not essential. The main story and Beyblade Rising are fully understandable without it. If you’re short on time or just want the core narrative, you can go straight from the original series to Rising without losing the plot.

• Every reboot series is independent. If Metal Fight doesn’t interest you, skip it. If Burst doesn’t grab you, skip it. None of them depend on each other or on the original manga. Pick the one whose premise or era appeals to you and ignore the rest guilt-free.

• The anime adaptations are separate experiences. The original Beyblade anime (2001), Beyblade V-Force (2002), Beyblade G-Revolution (2003), and the Beyblade: Fierce Battle film all share core characters with the manga, but the anime diverges significantly in pacing and plot. Watching the anime is not a prerequisite for reading the manga, and reading the manga is not a prerequisite for watching the anime. They complement each other but tell their own versions of the story.

Where to Buy Each Part in English

Once you’ve settled on your Beyblade manga reading order, the next step is actually getting your hands on the books. Here’s what to know.

Beyblade (Original Series)

VIZ Media published all 14 English volumes of the original Beyblade manga. The line is now out of print (meaning it’s no longer being manufactured or sold new through regular bookstores), which means you won’t find fresh copies on most shelves. However, copies regularly circulate as secondhand sales and as unsold older inventory through online retailers. Finding all 14 volumes at once may take some patience — individual volumes are easier to find than complete sets.

A few practical tips for tracking down out-of-print volumes:

• Check multiple sellers. Prices for out-of-print manga can vary wildly between listings. Patience pays off — a volume listed at a steep markup from one seller might appear at a reasonable price from another.
• Condition matters. Since these volumes are from the mid-2000s, pay attention to condition descriptions. “Like new” and “very good” copies are still out there, but so are well-read copies with worn spines and yellowed pages. Know what you’re comfortable with before buying.
• Buy in batches when possible. Individual volumes of out-of-print series tend to cost more per unit than bulk lots. If a seller has multiple volumes, bundling saves money and hunting time.
• Set up alerts. Many online retail platforms let you set up notifications for specific products so you’re alerted when a listing appears or when a price drops. Let the tools do the waiting for you.

Shoot Gaiden Beyblade Daichi and Beyblade Rising

These titles may not have received official English releases. If you’re interested in reading them, check current retailer listings for availability — the situation with older Beyblade side publications can be unclear, and stock changes over time. The official Japanese editions exist for collectors who read Japanese.

Reboot-Era Manga

Of the reboot-era titles, Beyblade X is the only one with a current North American English edition — published by VIZ Media and available through major online retailers. Metal Fight Beyblade and Metal Fight Beyblade Zero-G have no North American English manga edition; an English edition was published in Singapore by Chuang Yi but was not distributed in North America. Beyblade Burst likewise has no North American English edition; it was licensed in Asia by Shogakukan Asia. If you are outside North America, check current retailer listings for regional availability.

Common Mistakes New Readers Make

Starting with a reboot and thinking you missed backstory. This is the most common confusion. Someone picks up Metal Fight Beyblade or Beyblade Burst, encounters unfamiliar characters, and assumes they need to backtrack to the original series first. You don’t. Each story is self-contained. Those unfamiliar characters are supposed to be new to you — they’re new to everyone.

Assuming the anime follows the manga exactly. The original Beyblade anime and manga share characters and broad strokes, but they diverge in significant ways. Plot points, pacing, and even character developments differ between the two. If you watched the anime as a kid and pick up the manga expecting the same story beat-for-beat, you’ll find familiar ground mixed with genuine surprises. That’s a feature, not a bug.

Jumping straight to Beyblade Rising without the original series. Rising is a direct sequel. It assumes you know who these characters are, what they’ve been through, and what the stakes mean. Reading the original 14-volume series first isn’t just recommended — it’s the difference between the sequel landing emotionally and leaving you confused about why you should care.

Confusing titles from different stories. With names like Beyblade, Metal Fight Beyblade, Beyblade Burst, and Beyblade X all sharing the “Beyblade” name, it’s easy to accidentally grab a volume from the wrong series. Before buying, double-check which story a volume belongs to. The simplest way: look at the character names on the back cover. Tyson and Kai mean original story. Gingka means Metal Fight. Valt means Burst. Different casts, different worlds.

FAQ

Do I need to read every Beyblade manga series to understand one of them?

No. Each story is self-contained. The original Beyblade, its side story, and Beyblade Rising form one connected story. Metal Fight and Metal Fight Zero-G form another. Burst and X are each their own thing. Pick whichever interests you and start reading — you won’t be lost.

Is the Beyblade manga different from the anime?

Yes. The original manga and anime share the same core characters, but the manga has its own storyline with different pacing and plot developments. Think of them as two versions of the same premise rather than one being a direct adaptation of the other.

Can I still buy the original Beyblade manga in English?

The VIZ Media English edition is out of print, but copies are available secondhand and as unsold older inventory through online retailers. Finding a complete set takes some hunting, but individual volumes show up regularly.

How many volumes is the original Beyblade manga?

The original series is 14 volumes, all of which were published in English by VIZ Media. The series is complete — no ongoing releases or missing volumes to worry about.

Who created the Beyblade manga?

The original Beyblade manga was created by Takao Aoki (青木たかお — the Japanese spelling of his name).

Should I read the manga or watch the anime first?

Either works. They’re different enough that one doesn’t spoil the other in a straightforward way. If you prefer reading, start with the manga. If you prefer watching, start with the anime. And if you end up doing both, you’ll get two distinct takes on the same characters.