The following article only covers the anime, not the entire Manhwa.
Solo Leveling has established itself as one of the titans of the world, and it is the global server of the 2025 anime world with the feel of one of the best zero-to-hero stories working hard to get there. So much so that even games like Fortnite recently collaborated with the series to bring out amazing cosmetics from Solo Leveling into the game. The amazing characters or animation aren't the only reasons why fans love the series; they are fascinated by the gritty tale of a hero who starts at the literal rock bottom. This fame is based on the fact that with the series, any Level Up can be considered a battle won through genuine triumph in a world that is simply stacked against the poor.
The real genius of the show's structure is its shifting balance of power. For the vast majority of the series, Sung Jinwoo is a desperate underdog who wanders the giant world, around S-Rank Guild Masters and even literal gods. It is important to know who was crowned in each arc to realize the extent to which Jinwoo would have had to climb to the top. In a world where the majority are born at a fixed threshold, seeing the ceiling of power break every time is what keeps the fandom going back.
8 Most Brutal Fights in Solo Leveling, Ranked
The fights in Solo Leveling are spectacles that have to be seen to be believed, but they can also be very brutal, especially when it comes to these fights.
A Hunter's Work: Mana, Rank, and Static Power
IN Solo Levelingpower is usually not a property that you strive to achieve: it is something that comes naturally to you. Each time a human experiences an awakening, he/she gains a certain level of mana that places him/her in a certain hierarchy (the weaker E and elite S). Given the normal course, the rank of a hunter is an unchanging status; an E-Rank will remain an E-Rank no matter how much they train or want to get stronger. This forms a strict hierarchical structure in society where mana is the currency.
The amount of such mana a hunter possesses is used to measure power scaling in the series. S-Rank Hunters are seen as human weapons capable of demolishing cities, but even that doesn't compare to the creatures found in high-level gates. Since Jinwoo is the only one who can level up with his system, these established rank and boss monsters are used by the series as a reference point to determine how much he has to advance before he can truly consider himself the strongest.
D-Rank Dungeon Arc
The statue of God
The Statue of God was a terrifying initial glimpse of what the show could really accomplish in terms of power, something that is completely beyond the human hierarchy. Although the less skilled hunters were killed like insects, this introduced a test of sorts, deeming S-Rank-tier power more of a survival necessity. It is the most terrifying reminder of humanity's insignificance in the eyes of the system's architects.
8 Strongest A-Level Hunters in Solo Leveling
A-rank Hunters are the front line of defense but lack the god complex and narcissism of S-Rank hunters. Here are the strongest.
Reawakening Arc
Woo Jinchul
Woo Jinchul emerged as the most dangerous figure during the first stage of Jinwoo's transformation, as he was the head of the association's surveillance team. Being a high ranked A-Rank Hunter, a combination of pure physical intimidation and mana pressure would cause lower ranked hunters to shut down entire rooms. Jinchul, at a time when Jinwoo was just starting to learn about his 'Daily Quests', was the pinnacle of professionalism maintained in the hunter world and Jinchul was far superior to any hunter who survived the Double Dungeon.
Instant Dungeon Arc
Choi Jong-In
As Jinwoo pushed his new limits down the subway with Poison-Fanged Kasaka, it was The Ultimate Weapon, Choi Jong-In, who was the benchmark for power in Korea. He, as the Guild Master of Hunters, could use his fire magic to turn boss monsters (high-ranked) into a puff of smoke in a single moment, something that Jinwoo couldn't even imagine was possible. During this phase of the anime, the definite ceiling was Choi, indicating the huge gap between a new E-Rank reawakener and a true S-Rank mage.
Dungeon Arc/ Lizards Arc
Hwang Dongsoo
As Jinwoo confronted the treacherous C-Rankers, in the background was S-Rank hunter Hwang Dongsoo, the first serious antagonist in the series. Dongsoo was an established monster based in America, and he was a deterrent in the world because of his physical strength and bloodlust. At this stage of the story, he was a mountain that Jinwoo was not prepared to climb.
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Dungeon Arc/Prisoners Arc
Cerberus (Guardians of Hell)
The introduction of Cerberus was the first time the anime was actually a survival horror, as this three-headed monster nearly killed Jinwoo in the process. The sheer speed combined with the buff called Rage was enough to make it a monster that was theoretically superior to any Hunter Jinwoo had ever seen on the field. This was a cruel wake-up call that no matter how many levels he leveled up, gatekeepers still in the system were meant to beat him before he got too strong.
Yoo Jinho Raid Arc
Baek Yoonho
The most terrifying person at the time of Jinwoo's private raid was Baek Yoonho, master of the White Tiger Guild. The fact that he was a beast (transformation) and was very strong physically made him one of the few people who could see the true and hidden potential in Jinwoo. As Jinwoo effectively cleared gates, Baek was still the embodiment of high-order advanced battle skills and the only one who actually forcefully challenged Jinwoo. If they had fought at that moment, Baek would definitely have won if he transformed into his beast form.
Job Change Arc
Bloodred Commander Igris
The first boss to actually humiliate Jinwoo because of his martial arts and aura was Igris. As the guardian of the unoccupied throne, Igris displayed a measure of skill in swordplay and battle tactics that was a superior match to the mindless monsters that Jinwoo already had previous experience with. Igris was technically the better fighter, and Jinwoo only won because he was able to make a last minute gamble.
Solo Leveling: The S-Rank Korean Hunters, Explained
Korea's ten S-Rank hunters stand at the pinnacle of power, each with unique abilities that shape the world of Solo Leveling.
Red gate arch
Baruka
Within the frozen horror of the Red Gate, the king of the ice river, Baruka, was the apex predator that mocked the A-Rank hunters. His movement was so fast that Jinwoo had a hard time keeping up with him, indicating that boss-level monsters remained something that was beyond Jinwoo's ability to accomplish on his own. Baek Yoonho was the strongest out of the gate, but inside, Baruka was the absolute dominant person. And the only reason Jinwoo won this fight was because of Igris and Iron (Kim Chul's shadow).
Demon Castle Arc (First)
Vulcan the Greedy
The Demon Noble Vulcan acted as a giant reality check as Jinwoo began his climb of the 100-story tower. A health pool and physical size that made all of Jinwoo's previous bosses look super weak in comparison, Vulcan needed Jinwoo to take his system supported numbers to the max. He embodied the “gatekeeper” level of the Demon Realm, indicating that Jinwoo is finally stepping into the big leagues.
Testing about Arc
Sung Il-Hwan
The introduction of the concept of national-level power to anime audiences was caused by the reappearance of Jinwoo's father, Sung Il-Hwan. Sung Il-Hwan, who managed to destroy S-Rank Hwang Dongsoo without breaking a sweat, showed that there were beings that occupied a level so high that it was beyond the association classification.
Although not much about him is shown in the anime so far, just from that one scene, fans can safely assume that he is one of the strongest characters in the series. Hwang Dongsoo has proven to be one of the strongest S-rank hunters, and Sung Il-Hwan was able to defeat him as if he were an E-rank, showing that he is beyond the normal scale of an S-rank hunter.
