Solo Leveling: Worst S-Rank Hunters, Ranked

Summary

Not all S-Rankers in Solo Leveling are impressive characters, since many of them suffer from poor writing and a lack of screen time.
Eunseok died in the Jeju Island Raid, making him weak and forgettable among stronger S-Rankers from South Korea.
Characters like Jonas and Jay Mills, despite being strong, disappointed fans by never showcasing their immense power on-screen.

In the enchanting universe of Solo Leveling, it takes extraordinary might to earn an S-Rank, the peak tier within their unique hierarchy. Consequently, many of the strongest and most productive hunters in the entire series are part of this elite group, including our main character, Sung Jinwoo himself.

Simply being classified within a top tier doesn’t automatically make a character good, interesting, or impressive. In fact, some high-ranking hunters in Solo Leveling fall short when it comes to writing quality, likeability, and overall performance. This list focuses on the absolute worst of these S-Rankers within the entire series. The ranking isn’t solely based on strength; other factors such as character development, interactions, and impact were also considered.

8. Eunseok

The Only Person Who Died In The Original Jeju Island Raid

Anime Debut: Episode 1

The narrative primarily unfolds in South Korea, making its top-tier S-Rank hunters some of the series’ strongest and most intriguing characters, albeit with a few flaws. Notably, one South Korean S-Rank, Eunseok, has gained notoriety for his untimely demise prior to Sung Jinwoo’s adventures. He met his end at the hands of ant monsters during an ancient raid on Jeju Island.

In the original comic, Eunseok’s character wasn’t included at all, but he was added in the anime version. Fans discovered later on that ants from Jeju Island have significant power. However, the fact that Eunseok was the only high-ranked member who perished during this raid gave off an impression of him being feeble and disappointing, particularly when contrasted with his comrades in the story.

7. Jonas

Brazil’s Strongest Hunter Was Never Seen In Action

Manhwa Debut: Chapter 151

One captivating aspect of the Solo Leveling universe lies in its depiction, where almost every nation boasts at least one or two elite S-Rankers. Although the narrative primarily revolves around hunters hailing from Asia, Europe, and North America, it’s intriguing to discover that Brazil’s top hunter, Jonas, ranks among the global top 6.

Unfortunately, Jonas met an untimely end at the hands of the Monarchs, never getting to showcase any intriguing on-screen actions. This was quite disheartening, given that he served as a conduit for the Rulers. Similarly, American S-Rank hunter Christopher Reed faced a similar unfortunate end, but readers at least had the chance to appreciate his strength. In contrast, Jonas was only depicted in one panel across the entire manhwa. Fingers crossed that future seasons of the anime will rectify this by introducing a new scene depicting Jonas battling the Monarchs just prior to his death, giving him a more substantial on-screen presence.

6. Mari Ishida

A Boring Japanese Huntress Who Fell To The Ant King

Manhwa Debut: Chapter 90
Anime Debut: Episode 21

It turned out that all the elite Japanese characters in the story failed to meet expectations. This could have been a deliberate move by the author, as these characters took on villainous roles and opposed the South Korean S-Rankers. Despite being heavily hyped up, around half of them were eliminated by the Ant King during the second Jeju Island Invasion, with one of his earliest victims being a young huntress named Mari Ishida.

Instead of engaging in debate with the South Korean party like her fellow Japanese colleagues, Mari opted out, thus denying viewers the opportunity to witness her S-rank powers. Regrettably, the Ant King took her life before she could showcase her abilities or reveal her personality, making her a less memorable figure.

5. Kei

With His Ice-Based Powers, He Should Have Lasted Much Longer

Manhwa Debut: Chapter 90
Anime Debut: Episode 21

It’s unfortunate that Mari Ishida passed away before she could demonstrate her true strength. Interestingly, another Japanese S-Ranker, Kei, displayed power on screen but was ultimately disappointing. To begin with, he had an exceptional ability to sense other people’s mana, which often led him to behave impolitely and competitively towards others. In contrast, Cha Hae-In shares the same sensitivity issues, yet she is a kind and considerate person.

In a different phrasing: Kei possessed strong Ice Magic capabilities, enabling him to freeze foes and construct icy shields for defense. However, despite his remarkable abilities, he was unable to counter the powerful Ant King and met his end at its hands. To add insult to injury, Kae unwittingly amplified the Ant King’s power by allowing it to assimilate Kei’s formidable Ice Magic, eventually mastering its use.

4. Goto Ryuji

Japan’s Strongest Hunter Was A Huge Disappointment

Manhwa Debut: Chapter 85
Anime Debut: Episode 20

In my observation, the subpar display of skill by the top-tier Japanese hunters might be attributed to their leader, Goto Ryuji – a man renowned as the strongest hunter in Japan. During his limited screen time, he came across as aloof, arrogant, and even cruel, holding himself above everyone else. This was far from the noble image one expects from a top-tier S-Rank hunter. During the Jeju Island Arc, while he was present, it seemed his intention wasn’t to aid South Korea in reclaiming the island as one might expect. Instead, his true objective appeared to be the elimination of South Korea’s S-Rank hunters.

Ultimately, Ryuji proved to be more talk than action, as he was defeated swiftly by the Ant King without getting a chance to demonstrate his claimed power. Remarkably, even some subordinates under him had moments to exhibit their abilities, while Goto Ryuji continues to be one of the most underwhelming characters in Solo Leveling.

3. Jay Mills

Made The Mistake Of Not Taking The Monarchs Seriously

Debut: Chapter 169 (Manhwa)

I, an onlooker, bear witness to the reputation of Jay Mills as a formidable hunter across Canada. Much like Goto Ryuji, his demeanor exuded an air of arrogance towards others, even disregarding the earnest warnings of Sung Jinwoo. His dismissal of the impending invasion by the powerful Monarch Antares, set to strike Earth soon, is a testament to this overconfident stance.

Indeed, it was Jay Mills’ arrogance that ultimately brought about his downfall. A character named Antares appeared at the Canadian gate not long after, and this high-ranking Canadian contender declared that Antares was the monarch of destruction’s chosen king. Before Antares had a chance to act, Jay Mills attacked him rashly, ending up incinerating him within mere seconds. The most troubling aspect about Jay Mills is that he never demonstrated his power in any public display, leaving fans questioning if his confidence was justified.

2. Yuri Orloff

Tried To Scam An Entire Country, But It Backfired

Manhwa Debut: Chapter 123

Yuri Orloff, Russia’s top-tier S-Rank hunter, was renowned as a skilled Barrier Specialist who could craft some of the largest and toughest magical barriers globally. As a colossal S-Rank gate surfaced in Tokyo, Orloff struck a bold agreement with Japan’s Draw Sword Guild. He promised to construct a protective barrier capable of shielding the city from any monster emerging from it, all while receiving 10 million US dollars per day as compensation.

From the very beginning, it was clear that Orloff’s primary focus was amassing wealth. His great strength and distinguished reputation led him to act carelessly and with arrogance, making his actions more detestable than those of Goto Ryuji and Jay Mills. However, he failed to uphold his promise. The titans that appeared from the mentioned gate effortlessly breached his Magic Barrier and ultimately consumed him, demonstrating that Orloff, a Russian S-Ranker, was far weaker than he believed himself to be.

1. Hwang Dongsoo

A Resentful, Selfish Hunter Who Only Cared About Revenge

Manhwa Debut: Chapter 85
Anime Debut: Episode 20

Originally hailing from South Korea, the skilled S-Rank hunter known as Hwang Dongsoo was based in America. Upon learning that his elder sibling, Hwang Dongsuk, had met an untimely end at the hands of Sung Jinwoo, he decided to journey back to his native land in search of this freshly-minted hunter with the intention of seeking vengeance for his deceased brother. However, this action of his can be considered regrettable for a couple of reasons: firstly, it meant temporarily leaving behind his professional duties; secondly, his brother was not exactly an upstanding character – while they were both trapped within a dungeon, he attempted to kill Jinwoo.

It’s undeniable that Dongsoo possessed great power and was deserving of the S-Rank status. Yet, throughout his narrative, he chose to employ his immense strength for self-serving purposes rather than using it to aid others. Moreover, his actions led to the escalation of conflict between Thomas Andre and Sung Jinwoo. Due to his dubious behavior, this disliked adversary became a target for many characters, including Il-Hwan and even Jinwoo himself. Eventually, Jinwoo transformed him into a shadow soldier known as Greed.

2025-08-03 03:05