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 packed with arcs that keep you glued to the screen (or pages). Therefore , in this post, we'll revisit—and rank—the 10 best arcs of Solo Leveling . So , get ready: there's plenty of emotion, plot twists, and, of course, that dose of hype that only this work delivers!
Best Solo Leveling Bows – Top 10
10. Double Dungeon Arch
- Chapter: 123-131
- Episode: –
First, the Double Dungeon Arc in Solo Leveling is one of the most revealing in the series. Up until then, Sung Jinwoo had been getting stronger without understanding the System that granted him his powers. But he felt grateful and confused in equal measure, not knowing where his enhancements came from or what their purpose was.
Therefore, everything changes when he receives a mission to return to the Double Dungeon that tried 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 Monarch Ashborn, one of the strongest Monarchs 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 Monarch for the first time, Jinwoo comes to understand the reality he lives in much better.
09. Rank D Dungeon Arch
- Chapter: 01-10
- Episode: 01-03
The Rank-D Dungeon Arc is where it all began for Sung Jinwoo and Solo Leveling. Jinwoo is known as the "Weakest Hunter in the World." He is Rank-E, the lowest rank, and appears to be the weakest Hunter in the weakest category. Even without being particularly powerful, he perseveres, entering dangerous dungeons to earn money for his sister's education and his mother's medical bills.
Initially, the Rank-D Dungeon should be a normal and easy dungeon to complete. The group finds a second secret dungeon inside the first. Upon entering, they find a horrific trap lurking. This arc is one of the best because it shows Jin-Woo's true character. Even before becoming one of the strongest Hunters in Solo Leveling, he was a hardworking and humble man, dedicated 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 as divine. Just like Naruto, the introduction of almost divine beings at the end of the work takes away much of the series' momentum, making most of the characters completely meaningless.
Still, although it's a sharp change of pace from everything that made the series so good, there are some aspects of the Final Battle Arc that make it one of the best in the series. Nothing is more fun than watching Sung Jinwoo fight with all his power, and Solo Leveling's strongest villain, Antares, forces Jinwoo to give it his all. Jinwoo uses all his best skills, his strongest Shadows, and even the Rulers to defeat the Monarch of Destruction.
07. Monarchs War Arc
- Chapter: 150-166
- Episode: –
The Monarch War arc is better than the Final Battle arc because the Demon Slayers still play a role in the series. However, the work dedicates so much time to developing the strongest Demon Slayers in the series that it becomes frustrating when their power is sidelined. Although the Demon Slayers, with the exception of Sung Jinwoo, are almost powerless against the threats of the Monarch War, they still help where they can.
Just like the Final Battle Arc, the Monarch War Arc is great because it showcases Jin-Woo at his peak. Jin-Woo is killed again, becoming 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 powerful for him. It's a great final battle that features several excellent characters and concludes the series in grand style.
06. Arch of the International Guilds Conference
- Chapter: 140-149
- Episode: –
The International Guild Conference arc introduced our hero to the rest of the world. The series featured national-level hunters like Thomas Andre and Liu Zhigang, and the conference ultimately shows Jinwoo meeting 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 shows Jinwoo achieving the title of the world's strongest Hunter after dominating Thomas Andre in a fight. Hwang Dongsoo skillfully pits Jinwoo against the Hunter Guild Master, and unfortunately for Dongsoo, Thomas Andre was nothing compared to 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 story. Up to this point in the series, Sung Jinwoo was growing stronger thanks to the system, but he didn't possess any of the true powers of the Shadow Monarch. In this arc, he battles the Blood-Red Commander Igris, a menacing enemy and someone strong enough to kill Jinwoo.
Their fight is one of the few that truly elevates Jinwoo to a new level. Not only is the fight itself incredible, but Jinwoo's sheer determination is highlighted, showing that he is the perfect character to inherit the powers of the Shadow Monarch. 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. Arch of the Red Gate
- Chapter: 46-55
- Episode: 13-14
The Red Gate Arc is when Solo Leveling truly gains momentum. It was already an incredible series, but watching Sung Jinwoo fight with his Shadow Army for the first time really showed the world what the series was capable of. Jinwoo also draws out two of his strongest Shadows in this arc: Iron and Tank. Tank is the Alpha Polar Bear, and Iron is Kim Chul, an A-Rank Hunter and the first Hunter to be added to Jinwoo's Shadow Army.
This arc introduces one of Solo Leveling's most ruthless 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 that Jinwoo admitted was stronger than him at the time. Their fight is incredible, and Jinwoo removing Baek Yoonho's hand from his shoulder as soon 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, while he was growing 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. Arch of the Hunters' Guild Gate
- Chapter: 65-75
- Episode: 16-18
The Hunter Guild Gate Arc is a perfect example of what Solo Leveling does so well. It's one of the best, most daring anime series of all time, and this arc is a big reason for that. At this point in the story, Jinwoo has finally achieved S-Rank Hunter status, but the official announcement will only be made in a few days. To earn some extra money, he joins a group of Hunters as a porter, carrying their equipment, even though he is several times stronger.
Jinwoo asking if he can fight the orcs dominating the small group of Hunters is extremely exciting. He knows he has enough firepower to handle them all, but he still goes to the trouble of humbling himself and making sure he's not stepping on anyone's toes. His fight with the superior 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
Finally, the Jeju Island Arc is Leveling Solo at its peak. Leveling Solo 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 "strongest" characters in the series are useless. They don't even come close to Jin-Woo, the Monarchs, or the Rulers, and this takes away a lot from the series' pacing.
The opposite is true for Jeju Island. The Rank-S Hunters are fighting with all their might and, for a time, are doing well. The Ant King feels legitimately terrifying when he appears, because the Hunters believe there's a small 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 why this arc is so good.
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