Summary

• Sung Jinwoo's relentless pursuit of growth in Solo Leveling captivates viewers.
• Jinwoo's battle against Igris showcases his strategic brilliance and victory.
• Jinwoo's acceptance of the role of Shadow Monarch signifies a new chapter in his journey.

Crunchyroll's Anime of the Year. The series offers a refreshing and unique narrative that, while distinct from the traditional Shōnen genre, still captures its essence. The key to its widespread popularity lies in its protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, and his solo journey of leveling up to become the strongest hunter.

Watching Sung Jinwoo rise to higher levels is just as satisfying as leveling up a character in a game and unlocking precious rewards. His journey is an emotional roller coaster, and A-1 Pictures has masterfully brought each pivotal moment to life in a stellar adaptation. While the season centers on Jinwoo, certain moments from the first season highlight why he has already become such an iconic hero.

10 Defeating the Instant Dungeon Boss Shows Jinwoo's Resolve

Episode #4, "I've Gotta Get Stronger"

As the title of the anime suggests, the protagonist's journey revolves around his relentless pursuit of growth and power, and one of the best moments from the season that captures Sung Jinwoo's determination is his fight against the Instant Dungeon boss, the Blue Venom-Fanged Kasaka. Up until this point, Jinwoo had been constantly belittled and deemed weak. It was only after receiving the ability to level up from the system that he resolved to transform himself.

Therefore, his fight with the first-ever formidable boss is pivotal, which sees Sung Jinwoo giving his all. The whole battle features Jinwoo on his guard, struggling to even scratch the dungeon boss's impenetrable skin. After Jinwoo realizes that strength is the only way to survive in his cruel world, he defeats the boss with his bare hands, solidifying his resolve to leave his past behind and truly become stronger.

9 Defeating A D-Rank Monster In One Shot Was Jinwoo's Biggest Flex

Episode #4, "I've Gotta Get Stronger"

After defeating his first-ever formidable dungeon boss, the Blue Venom-Fanged Kasaka, Episode #4 features what could by far be Sung Jinwoo's one of coolest moments from Solo Leveling Season 1. Upon exiting the instant dungeon, Jinwoo stumbles upon a dungeon breakout, where hunters are already engaged in a battle to stop the escaping monsters. Among them is a D-Rank monster that is giving a low-level hunter a difficult time.

Fans can read Solo Leveling's manhwa either through Tapas, or by purchasing the volumes published by Yen Press from booksellers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Jinwoo notices that the hunters need just a bit of assistance to defeat the Golem, so he hurls his broken sword at the monster. To his surprise, instead of merely cracking its hard armor as he anticipated, the monster is defeated with a single blow. This moment underscores that Jinwoo's journey of leveling up solo is not an understatement.

8 Accepting His Limit, Jinwoo its He Still Needs To Be Stronger

Episode #7, "Let's See How Far I Can Go"

Given the pattern in Solo Leveling of its protagonist steadily growing stronger, it seemed likely that Jinwoo would overcome any obstacle through resilience and determination. However, episode #7 of Solo Leveling anime proves otherwise. Jinwoo, curious to see how far he has come and how far he can push himself, enters the S-Rank dungeons to test his skills. Upon entering, he is immediately confronted by the fearsome monster, Cerberus.

The monster proved to be an overwhelming challenge for Jinwoo, and it was only through a combination of his best skills and a bit of luck that he managed to defeat it. Although Jinwoo levels up significantly after the victory, he wisely chooses to retreat rather than continue deeper into the S-Rank dungeon. This moment highlights Jinwoo's intelligence and reinforces the idea that true strength also involves knowing when to step back, rather than relying solely on luck and brute force.

7 Confronting Himself in the Face of Adversary Proves Jinwoo’s Most Formidable Enemy Is His Weakness

Episode #12, "Arise"

The finale of Solo Leveling Season 1 is one of the most enjoyed episodes, bringing to life many scenes that fans of the original Solo Leveling manhwa had long dreamed of seeing animated. One of the pivotal moments in this episode isn't about Jinwoo effortlessly defeating a monster or outsmarting a formidable opponent, but rather about him confronting his own inner demons and weaknesses.

Sung Jinwoo's greatest enemy has always been his own self-doubt

Injured and on the verge of defeat, Jinwoo encounters a manifestation of his former self—a weaker, frightened version who taunts him for his perceived weakness and tendency to give up. While this encounter serves as a powerful motivator for him to push forward, it also highlights that Sung Jinwoo's greatest enemy has always been his own self-doubt and underscores that Solo Leveling's hero has yet to fully accept and embrace his strength.

6 Killing Kang Is a Pivotal Moment as It Starts to Pull Jinwoo Away From Humanity

Episode #9, "You've Been Hiding Your Skills"

Jinwoo's resolve to become the strongest stems from his belief in the world's cruelty and his need to be strong to survive. While the system has enabled him to ascend to greater heights, it has also begun to reshape him. The previous Jinwoo wouldn't even think about killing someone and even lay down his life for others in danger. However, the new Jinwoo, shaped by the system's influence, is willing to break from his old principles in order to grow stronger.

The B-Rank hunter, Kang, who was in charge of the dungeon raid consisting of Jinwoo and his old party member alongside some prisoners, had his own twisted motives, which eventually led to a fight-to-death battle between him and Jinwoo. Initially, the two are evenly matched, but Jinwoo decisively kills Kang after acknowledging that it is something he has to do. This moment is a testament to Jinwoo's journey of leveling up, illustrating that his growth involves not just battling monsters, but also confronting and overcoming dangerous human adversaries.

5 Outsmarting Tiger Guild

Episode #10, "What Is This, a Picnic?"

Not all of Sung Jinwoo's most impressive traits are showcased in his epic battles against formidable opponents. One of the best moments that highlights Jinwoo's intelligence is when he cleverly tricks the Tiger Guild into purchasing the rights to three dungeon gates for far more money than they were worth. The Tiger Guild's scouts had been monitoring Jinwoo's sudden rise in power and were eager to recruit him into their ranks, but Jinwoo used this to his advantage, outsmarting them in the process.

The scouts believed they could recruit Jinwoo on the cheap, but his display of intelligence made it clear that he was far beyond anyone’s reach, proving his journey was truly meant to be solo. In the end, it seemed fruitful for Jinwoo to spend all those points on increasing his intelligence stat.

4 Despite Being An E Rank Hunter, Jinwoo Saves Everyone's Life

Episode #2, "If I Had One More Chance"

Though all the credit goes to the system for shaping Jinwoo into the solo player he has become, Sung Jinwoo had one best quality even before the system gifted many others. This trait, often seen in Shōnen's protagonists, is his selfless desire to save others, even at the risk of his own life. The entirety of episode #2 of Solo Leveling showcases Jinwoo's heroic spirit.

Solo Leveling's sequel, Ragnarok, is currently being published on Webtoon.

During Solo Leveling's double dungeon incident, while everyone else was in a panic, desperately trying to save themselves, Jinwoo, despite his own fear, took a moment to assess the situation and came up with plans that helped everyone. Eventually, Jinwoo is faced with the choice of saving himself or others and Jinwoo chooses to protect those around him, showcasing his heroic nature. Although the path Jinwoo follows after this incident takes a darker turn, it is a moment that definitely defines Jinwoo as an iconic hero.

3 Killing Humans Makes Jinwoo Completely Adhere to the Cruelty of the World

Episode #6, "The Real Hunt Begins"

One of the main themes of Solo Leveling revolves around the harsh reality of a world where only the strongest survive. None other than episode 6 of Solo Leveling truly exemplifies the series' main theme, with its protagonist accepting this poignant reality. Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho find themselves against the boss of a C-Rank dungeon, which the protagonist defeats seamlessly.

However, after Jinwoo and Jinho defeat the boss and re the others, it becomes clear that the other hunters had intended for them to die. When they realize Jinwoo and Jinho survived, the hunters turn on them, intending to finish the job themselves. Sensing the murderous intent, the system perceives the other hunters as a threat and forces Jinwoo to eliminate them. With no other option, Jinwoo single-handedly kills the other hunters, a moment that underscores just how much the system has transformed Solo Leveling's hero, pushing him further down a path of ruthlessness.

2 Jinwoo's Battle Against Igris

Episode #11, "A Knight Who Defends An Empty Throne"

At the end of the day, Solo Leveling is a heavy action-based series, and one of the best moments of the protagonist resides during a combat sequence. The job change quest is packed with thrilling moments and epic battles, but the most captivating scene is Jinwoo's battle against Igris. This fight pushes Jinwoo to his limits in a way that no other solo enemy has done before.

Igris demonstrates his superiority over Jinwoo in every aspect, effortlessly defeating him as if it were a mere game. With A-1 Pictures' stellar animation, this fight is beautifully crafted, which all the more makes it compelling when Jinwoo's relentless and clever strategy brings him a victory. Therefore, it is even more exciting when Jinwoo adds Igris as his companion using the "Arise" ability.

1 Gaining the Rise Ability

Episode #12, "Arise"

Diehard fans of the Solo Leveling manhwa had eagerly anticipated seeing this pivotal moment animated ever since rumors about an anime adaptation began circulating. Jinwoo successfully completes the formidable job change quest after confronting his own weaknesses and reaffirming his determination to grow stronger. The reward for clearing the quest is the title "Shadow Monarch," an ability that grants Jinwoo the power to turn fallen enemies into loyal allies.

With this new ability, Jinwoo is even able to turn the formidable Blood-Red Commander Igris into a loyal ally. This moment elevates Jinwoo to a level far beyond any of Solo Leveling's other hunters, signifying that his journey of solo leveling has reached a new chapter. The culmination of his relentless hard work is rewarded with an army of the fallen, now under his command, marking the end of his solitary struggle and the beginning of his reign as the Shadow Monarch, truly turning Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo into an iconic hero.