Solo Leveling’s meteoric rise from web novel to global phenomenon didn’t happen by a fluke. Each major arc in the series has been astepping stone in Jin-woo’s progression, introducing new powers, threats, and revelations that keep readers obsessively turning pages, and watchers glued to their screen.
Starting from his humble beginnings in a deadly double dungeon, and leading to world-shaking battles against godlike beings, these narrative segments showcase differentaspects of strengthwhile maintaining the core power fantasy that makes Solo Leveling so addictive.
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This ranking examines theseven best arcs in Solo Leveling, analyzing what makes each one special and why they resonated so strongly with fans.
7Double Dungeon Arc
Where It All Began
The Double Dungeon Arc introduces us to E-rank hunter Sung Jin-woo at his lowest point. Joining a routine D-rank dungeon raid to pay his mother’s medical bills, Jin-woo and his party discover a hidden second dungeon with not-so-great consequences. Trapped inside with monstrous stone statues far beyond their capabilities, the hunters faceimpossible oddsfor survival.
This arc establishes Jin-woo’s character through his desperate will to survive despite being the weakest hunter present. The chilling image of thestone “god” statue smiling downas hunters die around him creates an unforgettable sense of dread and mystery. The overwhelming power disparity immediately hooks readers into the central question: how will the weakest possibly overcome this wall?
Everything changes when Jin-woo, barely clinging to life, is selected by the mysterious System that appears before him. This fateful moment sets the entire narrative in motion, promising apotent transformationthat will challenge everything the world knows about hunters and power.
6Red Gate Arc
Trial by Ice
What begins as a simple training exercise quickly spirals into a life-or-death struggle when Jin-woo and his sister’s friend Han Song-Yi become trapped in a Red Gate. Unlike normal dungeons, these rare gates seal hunters inside until the boss monster is defeated, forcing Jin-woo to protect both himself and the inexperienced Song-Yi against increasinglydangerous enemies.
The Red Gate Arc marks one of the first major tests of Jin-woo’s growing shadow army in real combat conditions. Facing powerful ice elves and their formidable leader Baruka, Jin-woo had to command his shadows while protecting Song-Yi. This arc perfectly showcases the practical applications of his unique abilities outside controlled environments.
This arc transforms a routine scenario into an unexpected trial. Jin-woo’s protective instincts shine as he takes responsibility for Song-Yi’s safety, demonstrating how his character hasevolved beyond meresurvival instinct.
5Job Change Arc
The Birth of a Necromancer
The Job Change Arc represents a huge turning point in Jin-woo’s development. After diligently leveling up through the System, he receives a mysterious quest leading to a special dungeon designed to test histrue potential. What awaits him is a challenge unlike any he’s faced before, a powerful knight named Igris guarding an empty throne.
This arc delivers one of the series' most iconic moments when Jin-woo, after an intense and strategic battle, defeats Igris and speaks the word that would define his journey forward: “Arise.” This first successful extraction of anamed shadow soldier fundamentally alters Jin-woo’s path, transforming him from an unusually strong hunter into something the world has never seen before.
The revelation of Jin-woo’s Necromancer class surprises both the protagonist and readers, establishing hissignature abilitiesthat would become synonymous with the series.
4International Guild Conference Arc
Global Politics and Power
Moving beyond monster-hunting scenarios, the International Guild Conference Arc takes Jin-woo to the United States as South Korea’s representative at a gathering of the world’s most powerful hunters. This arc expands the scope of Solo Leveling, introducinginternational politicsand complex relationships between hunter organizations and nations.
The arc features some of the series' most memorable human-versus-human conflicts, particularly Jin-woo’s battles against Hwang Dongsoo and the American National Level Hunter Thomas Andre. These fights show how far Jin-woo has come, showing hisoverwhelming strengthagainst those considered at the pinnacle of human capability.
Beyond action, this arc also setsJin-woo’s presence on the global stagewhile foreshadowing larger threats to come. The initial attacks by the Monarchs during the conference addcosmic dangerthat elevates the stakes beyond national borders.
3Final Battle Arc
The Ultimate Showdown
The Final Battle Arc delivers the climactic confrontation fans waited the entire series to witness: Sung Jin-woo versus Antares, the King of Dragons and most powerful Monarch. This ultimate showdown betweengodlike beingsdetermines the fate of both humanity and the dimensional war between Rulers and Monarchs.
This arc is the ultimate payoff for Jin-woo’s entire being, showing his fully realized powers against theseries' strongest antagonist. The anticipation built throughout the story makes this confrontation particularly satisfying, as Jin-woo finally unleashes hiscomplete potential as the Shadow Monarch. Every shadow soldier, every hard-won power, and every strategic advantage comes into play in this defining battle.
While some fans felt the resolution came somewhat quickly, the Final Battle Arc successfully brings the main storyline to adramatic conclusion, providing closure to long-standing conflicts and character arcs.
As the culmination of Jin-woo’s transformation from weakest to strongest, this arc delivers the cathartic resolution that power fantasy narratives promise but don’t always fulfill.
2Monarchs War Arc
Gods Among Men
The Monarchs War Arc raises Solo Leveling to truly epic proportions as dimensional beings called Monarchs descend upon Earth to eliminate vessels of their enemies, the Rulers.
Now fully embracing his role as the Shadow Monarch, Jin-woo confronts thesegodlike entitieshead-on in a series of large-scale battles that show the true scope of his power.
This arc represents the ultimate fulfillment of the power fantasy at Solo Leveling’s core. After watching Jin-woo struggle and grow from the series' beginning, viewers finally witness him defeat beings previously presented asnearly invincible threats. The scale of destruction and raw power displayed by both sides creates battles of unprecedented magnitude.
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While primarily focused on narration with only showing moments from the battles, the Monarchs War Arc also reinforces Jin-woo’s commitment to protecting humanity despite histransformation into something beyond human.
1Jeju Island Arc
The Apex of Solo Leveling
Widely considered the pinnacle of the entire series, the Jeju Island Arc centers on a crisis involving highly evolved ant monsters threatening to overrun South Korea. After multiple international hunter teams fail catastrophically, including the death of Japan’s strongest hunter, Goto Ryuji, Jin-woo takes matters into his own hands withspectacular results.
This arc delivers everything fans love about Solo Leveling in perfect proportion. The battles against the rapidly evolving ants and their terrifying king feature strategic depth and escalating stakes that keep readers breathless.
Jin-woo’s acquisition of Beru, who becomes one of his most powerful and beloved shadow soldiers, has been a significant power milestone thatchanges the course of the series.
Jin-woo’s protection of Cha Hae-In adds personal investment to the conflict, while the reactions of S-rank hunters to his overwhelming strength perfectly capturehow far he’s comesince being the “World’s Weakest Hunter.”
Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling features the story of Sung Jin-Woo, the weakest Hunter who gets the opportunity to level up and become an S-Class Hunter. Over the years, Jin-Woo fights on humanity’s behalf against powerful supernatural beings from another dimension.
