If you're searching for the correct Ace of Diamond watch order (also known as Diamond no Ace), you're in the right place. This baseball sports anime has grown into a four-season franchise plus a short OAD (Original Animation DVD) episode, and the release order is also the correct chronological order — so there's no confusing timeline to untangle. Below is the full breakdown of every season, the OAD, episode counts, and exactly where each entry fits in your marathon.
Quick Answer: Ace of Diamond Watch Order
- Diamond no Ace (Season 1) — 75 episodes (2013-2015)
- Diamond no Ace: Second Season — 51 episodes (2015-2016)
- Diamond no Ace: Second Season OAD — 5 episodes (bonus epilogue)
- Ace of Diamond: Act II (Season 3) — 52 episodes (2019-2020)
- Ace of Diamond: Act II — Second Season (Season 4) — currently airing (2026-)
Watch them in this exact order and you'll follow Eijun Sawamura's journey from a nervous first-year pitcher at Seidou High School all the way through his final Koshien tournaments — with zero timeline confusion.
Binge anime1. Diamond no Ace (Season 1) — 75 Episodes
Aired: October 6, 2013 – March 29, 2015
Episodes: 75 (originally planned for 52, extended due to popularity)
Season 1 introduces Eijun Sawamura, a scrappy middle school pitcher whose team loses a heartbreaking final match. Determined not to repeat that failure, Sawamura enrolls at the baseball powerhouse Seidou High School after being scouted for his unusual pitching style. Here he battles for a spot on the team against rivals like Satoru Furuya, all while learning to read batters, control his signature move, and grow into a true ace. The season ends mid-tournament, right as Sawamura starts to find his rhythm on the mound — so continue straight into Season 2 without any breaks.
2. Diamond no Ace: Second Season — 51 Episodes
Aired: April 6, 2015 – March 28, 2016
Episodes: 51
Picking up immediately where Season 1 left off, Second Season continues Seidou's tournament run. Sawamura, Furuya, and their teammates face tougher opponents, injuries, and internal competition for the ace position. This season deepens the rivalry storylines and pushes several supporting characters — especially catcher Kazuya Miyuki — into the spotlight.
3. Diamond no Ace: Second Season OAD — 2 Episodes
Format: Bundled with the 4th and 5th manga volumes of Ace of Diamond Act II
This short 2-episode OAD acts as a bridge and epilogue to the Second Season, giving a bit of extra downtime and character material before the story jumps into Act II. It's optional in the sense that skipping it won't break the plot, but since it's short and adds a bit of extra characterization, most fans recommend watching it here — right after Second Season and before Act II — for the smoothest viewing experience.
4. Ace of Diamond: Act II (Season 3) — 52 Episodes
Aired: April 2, 2019 – March 31, 2020
Episodes: 52
Act II jumps forward to Sawamura's second year at Seidou. New first-years join the team, old rivals return stronger than ever, and the pressure to reclaim the ace number intensifies. This season is widely considered one of the strongest arcs in the series, balancing high-stakes games with real character growth for Sawamura, Furuya, and Miyuki.
Binge anime5. Ace of Diamond: Act II — Second Season (Season 4)
Premiered: April 5, 2026 (currently airing)
The newest entry in the franchise picks up with Seidou heading to the spring invitational at Koshien Stadium, facing the previous summer tournament champions, Komadai Fujimaki, led by ace Masamune Hongo. This is set up as Sawamura, Furuya, and Miyuki's final stretch with the team, making it the emotional climax fans have waited years for.
Should You Skip Any Filler Episodes?
Ace of Diamond is remarkably filler-light for a long-running sports anime. Across the entire franchise, only a small handful of episodes are pure filler (mostly clip-show recaps), and they're easy to spot and skip if you're short on time. That said, most fans recommend watching everything in full — the recap episodes are brief and the character-focused side content adds real value to the overall story.
Ace of Diamond Watch Order — Summary Table
| # | Title | Episodes | Original Air Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diamond no Ace (Season 1) | 75 | Oct 2013 – Mar 2015 |
| 2 | Diamond no Ace: Second Season | 51 | Apr 2015 – Mar 2016 |
| 3 | Second Season OAD | 2 | Bundled with manga vols. 4-5 of Act II |
| 4 | Ace of Diamond: Act II (Season 3) | 52 | Apr 2019 – Mar 2020 |
| 5 | Act II: Second Season (Season 4) | Airing | Since Apr 2026 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ace of Diamond watch order the same as the release order?
Yes. Unlike many anime franchises, Ace of Diamond has no alternate timelines, prequels, or spin-off movies
to worry about — release order and chronological order are identical.
Do I need to watch the OAD?
It's not strictly required to understand Act II, but at only 2 short episodes, it's worth including
between Second Season and Act II for extra continuity and character moments.
How many total episodes does Ace of Diamond have?
As of the current airing Season 4, the franchise totals over 180 episodes across four seasons plus the OAD,
making it one of the longer sports anime series available.
Final Thoughts
Ace of Diamond's biggest advantage for new viewers is its simplicity: watch Season 1, Season 2, the Second Season OAD, Act II, and Act II Second Season — in that exact order — and you'll experience the full story exactly as intended. Whether you're in it for the baseball strategy, the character growth, or just want a long-running sports anime to binge, this order will get you there without any detours.
