If you enjoy frenetic action, character development, and epic battles, Solo Leveling has definitely won your heart! After all , in both the manhwa and the anime, Sung Jin-Woo's journey is filled with story arcs that keep us glued to the screen (or pages). So , in this post, we'll review—and rank—the 10 best story arcs in Solo Leveling . So , get ready: there's plenty of excitement, twists, and, of course, that dose of hype that only this work delivers!
Best Solo Leveling Bows – Top 10
10. Double Dungeon Arc
- Chapter: 123-131
- Episode: –
First, the Double Dungeon Arc in Solo Leveling is one of the most revealing in the series. Until then, Sung Jinwoo had been growing stronger without understanding the system that granted him his powers. But he felt grateful and confused in equal measure, unsure of where his enhancements came from or what their purpose was.
Everything changes when he receives a mission to return to the Double Dungeon that attempted to take his life in the first arc of the series. The Double Dungeon Arc reveals that Sung Jinwoo is a vessel for the Shadow Sovereign Ashborn, one of the strongest Sovereigns in Solo Leveling. Thus, Kandiaru, the mysterious Architect behind the System, betrays Jinwoo in an attempt to sacrifice him in Ashborn's name. After meeting the Shadow Sovereign for the first time, Jinwoo gains a much better understanding of the reality he lives in.
09. Rank D Dungeon Arc
- Chapter: 01-10
- Episode: 01-03
The D-Rank Dungeon Arc is where it all began for Sung Jinwoo and Solo Leveling. Jinwoo is known as the "Weakest Hunter in the World." He's an E-Rank, the lowest of them all, and appears to be the weakest Hunter in the weakest category. Even though he's not powerful at all, he perseveres, entering dangerous dungeons to earn money for his sister's education and his mother's medical bills.
Initially, the D-Rank Dungeon was supposed to be a normal, easy-to-complete dungeon. The group discovers a second, secret dungeon within the first. Upon entering, they discover a horrific trap lurking within. This arc is one of the best because it showcases Jin-Woo's true character. Even before becoming one of the strongest Hunters in Solo Leveling, he was a hard-working, humble man, devoted to his family, willing to face hell for them time and time again.
08. Final Battle Arc
- Chapter: 167-177
- Episode: –
The Final Battle Arc is one of the most epic in the entire series. There are better arcs than this one because Solo Leveling reaches its peak when Jin-Woo presents himself more as human than divine. Much like Naruto, the introduction of near-divine beings at the end of the series saps much of the series' momentum, rendering most of the characters completely meaningless.
Still, while it's a sharp change of pace from everything that made the series so great, there are some aspects of the Final Battle Arc that make it one of the best in the series. Nothing is more entertaining than watching Sung Jinwoo fight with all his might, and Solo Leveling's strongest villain, Antares, forces Jinwoo to give it his all. Jinwoo uses all his best abilities, his strongest Shadows, and even the Rulers to defeat the Monarch of Destruction.
07. Monarchs War Arc
- Chapter: 150-166
- Episode: –
The Monarch War is better than the Final Battle Arc because the Hunters still play a role in the series. Thus, the series devotes so much time to developing the series' strongest Hunters that it becomes frustrating when their power is overlooked. While the Hunters, with the exception of Sung Jinwoo, are nearly powerless against the threats of the Monarch War, they still help where they can.
Like the Final Battle Arc, the Monarch War Arc is great because it showcases Jin-Woo at his peak. Jin-Woo is killed again, growing stronger through death for the second time in the series. He meets Ashborn, the first Shadow Monarch, who grants him the true powers of the Shadow Monarch. Jin-Woo returns stronger than ever, quickly defeating the Monarchs, who were initially too strong for him. It's a great final battle that introduces several excellent characters and closes the series on a high note.
06. Arch of the International Guild Conference
- Chapter: 140-149
- Episode: –
The International Guild Conference arc introduced our hero to the rest of the world. Thus, the series explored national-level hunters like Thomas Andre and Liu Zhigang, and the conference ultimately sees Jinwoo meet the world's strongest hunters. The arc shows Jinwoo telling the world he would do anything to defend his friends and family, and later fulfilling his promise.
This arc is exceptional because it sees Jinwoo earn the title of strongest Hunter in the world after dominating Thomas Andre in a fight. Hwang Dongsoo skillfully pits Jinwoo against the Hunters' Guild Master, and unfortunately for Dongsoo, Thomas Andre was no match for the Second Shadow Monarch. Hwang Dongsoo is quickly killed and transformed into one of the strongest Shadows in Solo Leveling, concluding an exceptional arc.
Best Solo Leveling Bows – Top 5
05. Class Change Arc
- Chapter: 38-45
- Episode: 11-12
The Class Change Arc was a pivotal moment in the series. Up until this point in the series, Sung Jinwoo was growing stronger thanks to the system, but he lacked any of the Shadow Sovereign's true powers. In this arc, he fights the Blood-Red Commander Igris, a menacing foe and someone powerful enough to kill Jinwoo.
Their fight is one of the few that truly takes Jinwoo to a new level. Not only is the fight itself incredible, but Jinwoo's sheer determination is on display, demonstrating that he is the perfect character to inherit the Shadow Sovereign's powers. At the end of the arc, he finally defeats Igris. The former Commander becomes Jinwoo's first Shadow, setting the stage for the rest of the series to flourish.
04. Red Gate Arch
- Chapter: 46-55
- Episode: 13-14
The Red Gate Arc is where Solo Leveling really kicks into high gear. It was already an incredible series, but watching Sung Jinwoo fight with his Shadow Army for the first time truly showed the world what the series was capable of. Jinwoo also unleashes two of his strongest Shadows in this arc: Iron and Tank. Tank is the Alpha Polar Bear, and Iron is Kim Chul, a Rank A Hunter and the first Hunter to be added to Jinwoo's Shadow Army.
This arc introduces one of Solo Leveling's most vicious villains: Baruka, the leader of the Ice Elves. Known as Barca in the anime, this bloodthirsty character is one of the strongest enemies Jinwoo has ever faced and one of the few Jinwoo admitted was stronger than him at the time. Their fight is incredible, and Jinwoo removing Baek Yoonho's hand from his shoulder as he exits the Gate is the icing on the cake.
Best Solo Leveling Bows – Top 3
03. Return to the Demon Castle Arc
- Chapter: 76-89
- Episode: 18-21
Sung Jinwoo's goal, as he grew stronger, was to find a way to cure his mother of the Eternal Sleep disease. No cure is known, but when Jinwoo discovered the potential healing powers of the Sacred Water of Life, he dedicated himself to obtaining it at any cost. He heads to the Demon Castle Dungeon, where the potion's ingredients are located, destroying everything in his path.
The Return to the Demon Castle arc is one of the best in Solo Leveling due to its scope. The arc has many funny moments with Esil, one of the best fights in Solo Leveling when Jinwoo faces Baran, and easily the most emotional scene when Jinwoo awakens his mother from a four-year coma. It's an incredible arc that finally shows Sung Jinwoo achieving his goal, allowing him to be with his family again for the first time in a long time.
02. Hunter's Guild Gate Arch
- Chapter: 65-75
- Episode: 16-18
The Hunter's Guild Portal Arc is a perfect example of what Solo Leveling does so well. It's one of the most daring anime series of all time, and this arc is a big reason why. At this point in the story, Jinwoo has finally achieved S-Rank Hunter status, but the official announcement won't be made for another few days. To earn some extra money, he joins a group of Hunters as a porter, carrying their equipment, even though he's several times stronger.
Jinwoo asking if he can fight the orcs overwhelming the small group of Hunters is incredibly moving. He knows he has enough firepower to handle them all, but he still takes the time to humble himself and ensure he's not stepping on anyone's toes. His fight with the high orc shaman, Kargalgan, is another highlight of the series. There's nothing better than watching Sung Jinwoo annihilate an otherwise arrogant opponent.
01. Jeju Island Arch
- Chapter: 90-107
- Episode: 21-25
Ultimately, the Jeju Island Arc is Solo Leveling at its peak. Solo Leveling reaches its peak when there are legitimate challenges at stake. Later in the series, during the Monarch War Arc and the Final Battle Arc, most of the series' "strongest" characters are useless. They don't even come close to Jin-Woo, the Monarchs, or the Rulers, and this significantly detracts from the series' pacing.
The opposite is true for Jeju Island. The S-Rank Hunters are fighting with all their might and, for a while, are doing well. The Ant King feels legitimately scary when he appears, because the Hunters believe there's a slim chance of actually defeating him. His fight against Jin-Woo is one of the greatest fights in anime history, and that's just one of the reasons this arc is so good.
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