This article contains spoilers from the Solo Leveling anime and manhwa.
Finding someone stronger than Jinwoo in Solo Leveling is a difficult task, especially after he inherited the Shadow Monarch’s powers. No ordinary hunter can stand in Jinwoo’s way anymore, but that doesn’t mean every Solo Leveling character is automatically weaker than him.
The world of Solo Leveling is vast, and there exist individuals who can rival Jinwoo in power even after his rapid growth in the past two seasons. The presence of these strong individuals is just one of the reasons why Jinwoo continues to grind more levels and achieve his peak form, as he’s aware that the hierarchy of power in his world is constantly shifting.
Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo Has Officially Been Beaten By An Overpowered MC
Jinwoo is strong, but he is far from being anime's strongest MC.
The Architect of the System
Kandiaru Can Deactivate Jinwoo’s Shadows
The Architect of the System is set to appear in Solo Leveling Season 3 as one of Jinwoo’s most difficult opponents. As the creator of the System, the Architect has full access to the System that acclimated Jinwoo’s body for the Shadow Monarch’s powers. Thus, the Architect is a bad match for Jinwoo, making him one of the few enemies capable of exploiting every loophole and constraint in Jinwoo’s system-based growth.
In Jinwoo and Kandiaru’s fight in the Double Dungeon Arc, the Architect easily bends the rules of the System in his favor by deactivating Jinwoo’s shadows. He even pushed Jinwoo to the brink of death by forcing a timer onto his survival, leaving Jinwoo seconds away from certain death before he won the fight.
Ashborn
Ashborn Is the Original Owner of Jinwoo’s Powers
Without Ashborn, Jinwoo would have stayed as a pathetic E-rank hunter without any opportunity to grow stronger. Honestly, if Ashborn did not choose Jinwoo as his successor, he would have continued struggling in obscurity, never knowing the strength and influence that came with the Shadow Monarch’s powers. Worse, Jinwoo would have been another casualty, a forgotten victim inside the dangerous dungeons.
As the Shadow Monarch, Ashborn holds the same powers as Jinwoo, commanding legions of shadows and wielding unparalleled strength that terrifies even the strongest Monarchs and Rulers.
Antares
Antares Is Jinwoo’s Ultimate Opponent
Among Jinwoo’s enemies in Solo Leveling, Antares is the most formidable. The Monarch of Destruction’s name is not just for show, as he is an extremely powerful being respected by his fellow Monarchs. Even Jinwoo had to prepare meticulously before confronting him, knowing that one mistake could cost him everything.
For more context, Antares is also known as the King of Dragons, and he is basically the final boss of Solo Leveling. Therefore, it will take all of Jinwoo's strength, strategy, and the full power of his Shadow Monarch abilities to take Antares down.
The Absolute Being
The Absolute Being Created the Monarchs and the Rulers
The Absolute Being is the root of all conflict in Solo Leveling, having created the Monarchs and the Rulers for the sake of his personal entertainment. He is the God of Solo Leveling, which means he probably holds immense powers that surpass even the strongest Rulers and Monarchs, including Jinwoo.
While the Absolute Being never displayed any of his might and fighting ability, it is widely implied that he is omnipotent, capable of manipulating reality and changing the course of the world without ever stepping onto the battlefield.
Blood-Red Commander Igris
Jinwoo Almost Lost to Igris
Back in Solo Leveling Season 1, Blood-Red Commander Igris humbled a weaker version of Jinwoo when they encountered each other in the Job Change arc. Not only was Igris incredibly strong, but each strike of his sword carried lethal precision, nearly killing Jinwoo in every exchange.
If Blood-Red Commander Igris had not dropped his sword, there’s no telling what would have become of Jinwoo. Most likely, Jinwoo would have had no chance of survival, but luck and honor shielded him, giving Jinwoo just enough time to recover and learn from the encounter.
Baruka
Jinwoo Fails to Summon Baruka’s Shadow
Baruka is yet another memorable opponent who managed to upset Jinwoo with his power. During the Red Gate incident, the leader of the ice folks held his ground against Jinwoo and his shadow army, using his unique abilities to counter and even nearly depleting Jinwoo’s mana reserves.
That’s not all, as Solo Leveling fans can still remember how Jinwoo failed to summon Baruka because of the difference in their power level. One of the conditions required for Shadow Extraction is that the target must be weaker than the summoner, which is why Jinwoo couldn’t bring Baruka under his control.
Sung Il-Hwan
Sung Il-Hwan Can Fight Two Monarchs Simultaneously
As the father of the strongest hunter in Korea, Sung Il-Hwan is expected to rival Jinwoo in power. Even with Jinwoo’s legendary abilities, Sung Il-Hwan's strength, skill, and years of combat experience make him a worthy and respected hunter in his own right. Not to mention, he is one of the vessels of the Rulers, which means he possesses extraordinary abilities that put him above others.
Sung Il-Hwan also has some of the most impressive feats in Solo Leveling. From taking down S-rank hunter Hwang Dong-Soo effortlessly to fighting two powerful Monarchs simultaneously while protecting a defenseless Jinwoo, it’s clear that Sung Il-Hwan is one of the strongest hunters, if not the second strongest, after Jinwoo.
Thomas Andre
Thomas Andre Endures a Solo Fight Against Jinwoo
This list would not be complete without Thomas Andre, America’s strongest hunter and a figure renowned for his unmatched combat abilities as a national-level hunter. He is one of Jinwoo’s rivals, and to this day, fans are still arguing about whether post-Season 2 Jinwoo can defeat Thomas Andre or not. While this is still up for debate, Thomas Andre’s strength is undeniable.
If Solo Leveling Season 3 were to adapt the International Guild Arc, where Thomas Andre goes head-to-head with Jinwoo at a level above 120, it would provide a true measure of how strong Thomas Andre really is, as he would face the might and rage of Jinwoo’s Shadow Monarch powers in a battle for ages and still survive.
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
- Network
- Tokyo MX, Gunma TV, BS11, Tochigi TV
- Directors
- Tatsuya Sasaki, Toru Hamasaki
- Writers
- Shigeru Murakoshi, Shingo Irie, Fuka Ishii
Cast
-
Taito BanSung Jin-woo -
Genta NakamuraYoo Jin-ho
- Creator(s)
- Chugong
