best shōnen animes series of the past decade, but there's more to the story than the action. Solo Leveling has some of the most cathartic, emotionally fulfilling moments around, adding much-needed depth to the critically acclaimed anime. There are plenty of moments in the anime that could bring a tear to the toughest fan's eye, and even more in the manhwa waiting to be adapted.

Some of the best action anime series focus too much on action. Sure, amazing fights are the main reasons people tune in, but without emotional fulfillment, fights can feel meaningless. One Punch Man does a great job of subverting this trope by showing entirely meaningless fights that Saitama dominates while he's bored. Solo Leveling uses these moments incredibly well, adding a lot of substance to a story already dripping with style.

8 Jinwoo Is Saved from the Architect

Korea’s Strongest Hunters Came to Save One of Their Own

For most of Solo Leveling, Sung Jinwoo is a one-man-army. There are few who can even compare to the young Hunter in of strength, and when he's fighting, his allies are more likely to slow him down than help him out. When he returns to the Double Dungeon, however, the opposite is true. He has a hard enough time dealing with Kandiaru, one of the strongest villains in Solo Leveling, and it only gets tougher when Kandiaru stops him from summoning his Shadow Army.

Jinwoo's fellow S-Rank Hunters appear when he needs them most. It's an incredibly cathartic moment that shows that Jinwoo doesn't have to handle everything by himself. His fellow Hunters are strong, competent, and able to save Jinwoo when he's being overpowered by the System and the Architect who designed it.

7 Jinwoo Finally Beats the Ant King

Korea Was Saved When Jinwoo Arrived

The Ant King is the most vicious villain the Solo Leveling anime has brought to life. He was so much stronger than every other enemy the Korean S-Rank Hunters had faced that there was truly no comparison or precedent. The Ant King destroyed almost all of Korea's and Japan's strongest Hunters without putting in any effort, creating a wave of despair for everyone in both countries.

Jinwoo's arrival on Jeju Island is one of the most exciting moments in Solo Leveling. He was never needed more than this moment, making his arrival even more fulfilling. When he finally defeated the Ant King, a wave of relief was felt around the globe. He was able to save Cha Hae-In, avenge Min Byung-Gyu, and destroy the greatest threat his country had ever faced in just a few minutes.

6 Jinho's Dad Awakens

Initially, Jinwoo Told Jinho's Dad He Couldn't Save Him

The Eternal Sleep Disease is vicious. It puts people into an indefinite coma and costs a substantial amount of money to fight. There is no known cure for the disease, so once someone falls into eternal slumber, there's no way of getting them back. Jinwoo's goal for most of Solo Leveling was to find a cure for his mother. She was afflicted by this disease, so Jinwoo dedicated himself to getting stronger so that he could find a cure.

Jinwoo's best friend and one of Solo Leveling, Yoo Jinho, also had a parent affected by this disease. Jinwoo initially wasn't willing to use one of his most valuable potions of Jinho's father, but changed his mind not too long later. Watching Jinho get his father back will move any anime fan to tears, as Jinho is one of the sweetest characters around.

5 Jinwoo Finally Gets the Last Ingredient for the Elixir of Life

All of His Hard Work Was Worth It

Jinwoo's goal was always to help his family. Even before he reawakened and became Solo Leveling, he was working as an E-Rank Hunter so that he could put his sister through school and pay for his mother's medical bills. After reawakening, he learned of a potential cure for his mother's Eternal Slumber Disease. He went to the Demon Castle where the cure was said to be and began the most important part of his story.

The Demon Castle gave Jinwoo a tough time at first, and the final boss was the strongest opponent Jinwoo had fought thus far. His fight against Baran, the Demon King and the Monarch of White Flames, was important because Baran held the final ingredient that Jinwoo needed. His defeat finally allowed Jinwoo to finish crafting the potion he needed to help his mom, making it one of the most emotionally fulfilling moments in the series.

4 Min Byung-Gyu is Released

Jinwoo Showed Mercy When Baek Yoonho Wanted to Help His Friend

Min Byung-Gyu could have been one of Jinwoo's strongest Shadows in Solo Leveling. He's an S-Rank healer in Solo Leveling and one of the most dependable allies his friends could ask for. His death during the Jeju Island Arc was brutal, as Min Byung-Gyu didn't want to be there in the first place. Even after his death, Min Byung-Gyu proved just how dependable he was when he asked Jinwoo to use his power one last time.

Min Byung-Gyu's resurrected Shadow healed Cha Hae-In without a command. Even the Ant King and Jinwoo together couldn't heal her, proving that Min Byung-Gyu was in a league of his own in of healing capabilities. Baek Yoonho, his close friend, asked Jinwoo to release Min Myung-Gyu permanently. Jinwoo obliged, and Min Byung-Gyu never had to fight in battle again.

3 Jinwoo Saves Jinah

The Ahjin Guild Arc Was One of the Most Intense Arcs Because of This Moment

The Ahjin Guild Arc is one of the most intense arcs in Solo Leveling. During a normal day at school, a Gate breaks out. Floods of orcs invade Jinah's school, slaughtering innocent students before they have a chance to understand what is going on. Jinah is rightfully petrified, as a normal day at school turned into a bloodbath in an instant. Thankfully, one of Jinwoo's Shadows let him know what was going on, giving him a chance to head to the school quickly.

Jinwoo's arrival at Jinah's school is a breath of fresh air. Jinah understandably breaks down when she sees her brother. He consoles his scared sister, tells one of his Shadows to protect her, and butchers the orcs who brought destruction down on the school. It's a brutal, dark, and emotionally fulfilling arc that will look great when it finally gets animated.

2 Jinwoo Finally Sees His Dad

It’s Been a Decade since the Sung Patriarch Was Heard From

Jinwoo's dad, Sung Il-Hwan, is one of the most mysterious characters in Solo Leveling. He's been absent for 10 years at the start of the story, and his sudden reappearance comes with more questions than answers. Sung Il-Hwan was said to be a good, brave man before his disappearance. He was a doting father and a devoted husband, but that was before he was trapped in a dungeon for 10 years.

He spends the rest of the series working for the Rulers and watching his son from afar. He pops up when Jinwoo needs him most, however, as Il-Hwan saves Jinwoo from Rakan and Sillad during a major fight towards the end of Solo Leveling. After the fight, Jinwoo gets to see his dad for the first time in a decade before Il-Hwan es away. It's a beautiful moment that will make anyone tear up and just how cool of a character Sung Il-Hwan really is.

1 Jinwoo Saves His Mom

The Most Emotional Episode in Solo Leveling

There is no moment in Solo Leveling more emotionally fulfilling than when Jinwoo revives his mom. She's been afflicted by the Eternal Slumber Disease for the past four years, leaving Jinwoo and Jinah without either of their parents. Jinwoo's goal throughout Solo Leveling was to find a cure for his mom, and when he gets the Holy Water of Life from the Demon Castle, he finally has his cure.

Even Jinwoo, one of the most stoic characters in anime, is reasonably brought to tears when he gets to speak with his mother for the first time in years. The moment is made even more fulfilling when Jinwoo's sister comes to visit, having no idea what Jinwoo has been working on while away from home. Their family reunion is beautiful and worth every hardship Jinwoo has been through.