Solo Leveling Strongest Characters Who Are Not S-Rank Hunters

Honestly, when the Gates first appeared, it was terrifying! The whole world was gripped by fear, and things looked really bleak. Thankfully, Hunters started showing up – people with the power to fight back! There are tons of Hunters out there, but they’re not all created equal, you know? So, to get a handle on just how powerful each one is, they came up with a ranking system. It’s a great way to see who the strongest are and who’s best equipped to handle the threats coming through the Gates.

The highest-scoring hunters receive an S-rank, marking them as exceptionally powerful. While S-rank hunters are considered the best of the best, it’s not a guarantee of victory. Many characters in Solo Leveling without an S-rank are actually capable of defeating those who have one.

This post contains spoilers for Solo Leveling.

8. Sung Jinwoo

Strongest Human In The Series

I’ve been watching Sung Jinwoo’s journey in Solo Leveling, and it’s incredible. He was selected by this mysterious System, and it basically unlocked limitless growth for him. The more monsters he takes down, the stronger he gets – it seems like there’s no ceiling to his potential.

As Jinwoo grows stronger, he not only improves his physical strength, but also unlocks unique abilities. He uses these new powers to defeat his opponents. Ultimately, Jinwoo becomes the most powerful human in the series, surpassed in strength only by the Absolute Being.

7. Beru

Killed Multiple S-Rank Hunters

Beru was originally a powerful Ant King, but after losing to Jinwoo, he was transformed into a Shadow. Now, like Jinwoo’s other Shadows, Beru is completely devoted to him and will protect him at all costs.

He knew he had to be strong to protect Jinwoo. Luckily, Beru is incredibly powerful, with amazing speed and strength. During the Jeju Island battle, he easily defeated multiple top-level Japanese Hunters. Not even the formidable Goto Ryuji could prevent Beru from causing widespread destruction.

6. National Level Hunters

All Are Ridiculously Powerful

I’ve been studying the Hunters in Solo Leveling, and it’s clear there are four who stand above the rest – the National Level Hunters. They’re unbelievably powerful, and for good reason. You see, they were the ones who defeated Kamish, a truly terrifying magical creature that had already killed a huge number of S-rank Hunters. To even have a chance against something like that, you have to be exceptionally strong, and these four definitely are.

In the anime, Liu Zhigang demonstrated his incredible power by easily defeating several ants attempting to invade his homeland. The other National Level Hunters are just as strong, meaning anyone who wants to stay alive should avoid them at all costs.

5. Antares

The Second-Strongest Monarch

Antares, often called the Monarch of Destruction, is one of the most powerful characters in the story. Being a Monarch gives him a nearly limitless supply of magical energy, allowing him to cast countless spells and even summon incredibly dangerous creatures like Kamish to fight for him.

Antares is incredibly resilient, able to heal from almost any injury instantly. His armor is nearly impenetrable, making it very difficult for opponents to harm him. On top of that, he wields the Breath of Destruction, a powerful attack capable of wiping out entire armies on its own.

4. Sung Il-Hwan

Was Granted Immense Power By The Rulers

I’ve learned that Jinwoo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan, is deeply connected to the Rulers – he essentially works for them. He was trapped in a dungeon for years, and they offered him a way out, but it came with a price. He had no choice but to accept their deal, and now he does whatever they ask of him. It’s a pretty sad situation, really.

After pledging his loyalty, Sung Il-Hwan received incredible power and immediately used it to battle Hwang Dong-soo in America. He’s far more powerful than any top-level Hunter seen in the world of Solo Leveling.

3. Sillad

Excelled At Using Ice Magic

I’m absolutely fascinated by Sillad – he was known as the Monarch of Frost for a reason! He was a master of ice magic, and could completely immobilize his enemies by freezing them solid. It wasn’t just about stopping them, though; freezing them gave him the perfect chance to strike with a truly powerful attack. It was a brilliant, and frankly terrifying, tactic!

Monarchs are incredibly powerful, making them nearly impossible for even top-tier Hunters to defeat. For example, Sillad easily overcame Christopher Reed, a Hunter recognized at the national level. However, Sillad didn’t act alone; he had the support of Rakan and Quehersha during the attack.

2. Rakan

Easily Overwhelmed A National Level Hunter

I’ve always known Rakan as someone who acted first and thought later. He was incredibly strong and, honestly, a bit arrogant about it. That pride definitely played a role in the choices he made, often leading him straight into conflict without much hesitation.

As a Monarch, Rakan believed no one could challenge him. Even Thomas Andre, the nation’s most powerful Hunter, wasn’t strong enough to win against him.

1. Kandiaru

Nearly Killed Sung Jinwoo

Kandiaru created the System and knows everything about how it works. Throughout most of the story, his true identity was unknown, but that changed during the Double Dungeon arc. In that arc, Kandiaru summoned Sung Jinwoo to the Cartenon Temple to reveal information about the System, though he didn’t give up the answers easily.

Kanidaru challenged Jinwoo to a fight, giving him 10 minutes to win. Surprisingly, Kanidaru was the stronger fighter, overwhelming Jinwoo with his incredible speed and power. Based on this performance, it’s likely Kanidaru is even more powerful than the highest-ranked (S-rank) Hunters.

2026-01-30 16:35