10 Most Powerful Solo Leveling Characters (Who Aren’t Jinwoo)

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I just finished watching the second season of Solo Leveling, and everyone seems to think a third season is almost guaranteed. It makes sense, considering how popular the show is and how much more story there is in the original manhwa that hasn’t been adapted yet. So, to get ready for what’s to come – and to celebrate the series as a whole – I decided to put together a spotlight on the strongest hunters and monsters *besides* the main character, Jinwoo Sung.

Okay, so let’s lay out how we’re approaching this. I want to focus solely on the first two seasons of the anime adaptation – we’re not going to get into the original source material at all. Most of what I’ll be using as evidence comes straight from what happens in the story and what the characters actually *say*. Thankfully, the show gives us a ton of powerful characters to compare Jinwoo to – some are weaker, and some are definitely stronger, which is perfect for this!

10.) Baruka The Ice Elf

Baruka, the leader of the ice elves, was the initial villain presented in Solo Leveling’s second season, and his power level hovered between A-Rank and S-Rank. This ice elf sorcerer offered a significant early challenge for Jinwoo, but he wasn’t as formidable as the other heroes and villains we’d later see. Baruka ultimately joined Jinwoo’s shadow army, and while he initially caused Jinwoo some trouble, Sung’s growth quickly surpassed Baruka’s abilities, making the malicious knife-wielder seem like a relatively minor threat when compared to the other challenges in season two.

9.) Baek

Baek, often called the hairiest hunter, isn’t as strong as Jinwoo but is a little more powerful than Baruka, largely because of his S-Rank status. He has the ability to transform into a wolf-like form, which boosts his strength, speed, and aggression, and it’s hard to believe the ice elf could withstand a complete attack from him. Baek was first shown before Jinwoo in the first episode, as the ant island appeared right at the beginning of the series. However, even with his abilities, he’s not as formidable as the other hunters we’ve seen.

8.) Cha Hae-In

It’s hard to say for sure who would win in a fight between Cha Hae-In and Baek, but we believe Cha Hae-In, who will eventually become Jinwoo’s love interest, would likely win against the werewolf. Her skills as a hunter, and especially her ability to stay calm under pressure, would probably secure her the victory-and those are the very qualities that have earned her a top position in the hunter community. Although we don’t often see her in action, it’s clear that Cha Hae-In deserves a spot among the ten strongest fighters in Solo Leveling.

7.) Go Gunhee

I think Go Gunhee, even in retirement, is noticeably stronger than hunters like Cha Hae-In and Baek as we saw in season two. While those two could potentially land some good blows against him, Gunhee’s combination of raw power and years of experience would likely lead to his victory. Throughout the second season, there were several moments where Go clearly wanted to join the battles, and I often wondered how he’d fare against the monsters in those different dungeons – it would have been a fascinating sight.

6.) Hwang Dongsoo

Hwang Dongsoo is targeting Jinwoo Sung because our protagonist killed his brother during the first season of Solo Leveling. While Dongsoo hasn’t shown much combat ability in the second season of Solo Leveling, his strength surpasses that of the other hunters we’ve seen so far. This isn’t good for Jinwoo, considering Dongsoo’s desire for revenge, and the fact that his ruthless personality gives him a dangerous advantage, even against someone like Go Gunhee in a direct confrontation. Although Gunhee might have a chance to win, his age would be a significant disadvantage in a fight to the death.

5.) Goto Ryuji

Goto Ryuji was considered Japan’s most powerful hunter, second only to Jinwoo Sung, and for good reason. However, even though he was stronger than many other hunters, it wasn’t enough to defeat Beru, the Ant King. The Black Ant fatally wounded Goto, demonstrating just how formidable the villain was. Despite this, Goto’s high ranking earns him a place on this list. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see more of Ryuji’s abilities, but we can still recognize his strength here, even after his passing.

4.) Kargalgan

The “High Orc Shaman” would easily defeat the other hunters on this list, largely due to his powerful magic and deadly curses that Kargalgan could inflict. While Jinwoo’s incredible strength and massive shadow army allowed him to defeat the monster, we doubt anyone lower on this list could have done the same. Even without considering the Orc’s large army, defeating Kargalgan would be incredibly difficult, which is why he deserves this high ranking.

3.) Beru

Wow, Beru the Black Ant King was seriously terrifying! He actually killed one of the strongest hunters and absolutely crushed so many others when they fought. Honestly, he was easily the biggest villain we’ve seen so far in the Solo Leveling anime, and season two really proves it. Jinwoo Sung *did* eventually beat him and add him to his shadow army, but Beru definitely showed everyone just how much damage he was capable of. But you know what? There’s one other hunter we’ve seen who I think could have taken Beru down in a fight – and it’s not Jinwoo!

2.) Sung Il-Hwan

While Jinwoo’s father hasn’t shown the full extent of his abilities yet, it’s obvious he’s more powerful than anyone else mentioned, even Beru. The way Sung Il-Hwan showed up after his son defeated the ant, seemingly unaware of the fight, suggests he’s significantly stronger than both fighters. We can be sure that if Solo Leveling’s third season is made, Il-Hwan will be a key character, and if he ever battles his son, it’s uncertain whether Sung would be able to win against his father.

1.) The Architect

I’ve been watching the anime, and the being behind the system Jinwoo Sung is stuck with is incredibly powerful. This creature, known as the “Architect,” hasn’t directly fought many of the combatants we’ve seen, but I’d say it’s the strongest one so far. It’s responsible for both the good and bad things happening to Jinwoo, essentially setting his current path. The Architect, with its constant smile, feels like a truly dangerous force, and I fully expect it to be the main villain in the anime’s final arc. Honestly, I don’t see anyone else on this list – hunters or villains – being able to stand up to the Architect. That means Jinwoo, despite all his progress, has a really terrifying fight coming up.

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2025-09-30 23:42