Solo Leveling’s Creator Reveals Goto Ryuji’s True Strength: Not as Impressive as You Think!

by

Summary

  • S-rank hunters in Solo Leveling have varying power levels, with Jin-Woo surpassing all, including nation-level hunters.
  • Solo Leveling‘s creator confirms Goto Ryuji isn’t at the top of S-rank hunters due to wide disparities in strength among them.
  • Despite Goto Ryuji’s powerful reputation, his defeat by the Ant King highlights the superior strength of the latter.

In the series “Solo Leveling,” each S-rank hunter boasts unique strengths and talents. Yet, though they all bear the same rank, their power levels vary greatly. Jin-Woo serves as a striking demonstration of this disparity, for his powers outshine those of other S-rankers, even when compared to hunters with nationwide influence.

Beyond Jin-Woo, another S-rank hunter garnered significant interest among Solo Leveling enthusiasts, particularly during the raid on Jeju Island. This S-rank hunter’s overall charm and allure left fans eager for their showdown against the Ant King, but the outcome fell short of expectations. Nevertheless, many fans remain curious about whether this S-rank hunter still belongs among the elite. Thankfully, the creator of Solo Leveling offered a definitive and unambiguous response on the matter.

Solo Leveling’s Creator Confirms Goto Ryuji Isn’t at the Top of the Ranks

There’s an Existing Divide Within S-Rank Hunters

  • Chugong confirms Goto Ryuji is nowhere near the highest level among S-rank hunters.
  • Chugong confirms Goto Ryuji is stronger than Hwang Dong-Soo.

In the second season of “Solo Leveling”, it was thrilling for anime enthusiasts when Goto Ryuji first appeared, as he became an integral part of the Korean Hunters Association. With his introduction as Japan’s top hunter, fans eagerly anticipated witnessing his abilities unfold. The intrigue grew among them about whether he surpasses Jin-Woo in terms of power or hunting skills, considering his prestigious standing.

In Japan, Goto Ryuji was revered as an invaluable and indispensable treasure due to his unmatched hunting skills. He was admired by all, regarded as a brave figure who could triumph over any hardship. Moreover, his guild was brimming with elite S-rank hunters, each boasting extraordinary abilities. The one thing that eluded him was the title of National Hunter, a recognition he had long aspired for.

It would be appropriate for me to ascend to a level where I could also earn the recognition as a national-class hunter.

In the second season of “Solo Leveling,” Goto Ryuji’s unexpected and seemingly pointless death left a negative impression on viewers. His image was significantly damaged, particularly when his hidden intentions with the Japan Hunters Association became clear. Despite this, there remains curiosity among fans about just how powerful Goto Ryuji is compared to other top-tier hunters in the series.

On the DCinside Korean forum, a platform for interacting with the creator of “Solo Leveling”, Chugong, a user inquired about Goto Ryuji’s rank among the elite S-rank hunters. Here’s how their exchange went, as it was translated:

[User]: What is Goto Ryuji’s level among the top S-rank hunters?

[Chugong]: I can’t reveal exact numbers, but let’s just say that he’s one of the strongest S-rank hunters. His abilities and potential are truly remarkable.

Regarding Goto Ryuji’s skillset, is it plausible to say that he stands among the top tier of S-rank hunters, not including those at the national level? I’m also intrigued about his comparison with other S-ranks such as Yuri Orlov and Lennart Niermann.

From my perspective, the gap among the top S-ranked individuals is more significant compared to the leap from the E-rank to the A-rank. It’s quite challenging for me to envision his potential rise to the very pinnacle of this field.

Chugong not only emphasized that S-rank hunters vary greatly in strength, but he also made it clear that Goto Ryuji is far from the pinnacle of power, even though he’s known as Japan’s strongest hunter. It’s evident that there are other hunters out there who could easily defeat him in a one-on-one battle, apart from Jin-Woo.

In a previous post, a fan questioned if Hwang Dong-Soo was stronger than Goto Ryuji. Chugong clarified that, surprisingly, S-rank hunter Hwang Dong-Soo is indeed “less powerful” than Goto Ryuji. This comparison gives fans some insight into their relative strengths, enabling them to estimate each character’s position among the top hunters in the series more accurately.

Why Beru Wouldn’t Gain Much by Eating Goto Ryuji

The Ant King’s Superiority to Goto Ryuji

In the very same post, the creator of Solo Leveling addresses another inquisitive fan’s query regarding the influence Goto Ryuji had on the Ant King’s power following his consumption.

In season 2, Goto Ryuji didn’t stand a chance against the Ant King. As soon as his head touched the ground, it was over. Although many anticipated that he could match up to the mutated ant, fans were disillusioned by his swift defeat. This is what transpired on DCinside:

Season 2 saw Goto Ryuji unable to compete against the Ant King. His head hit the ground and that was it. While there was hope he could measure up to the transformed ant, fans felt let down by his quick loss. Here’s how the conversation went on DCinside:

I’m wondering if Beru’s skill enhancement could be attributed to his frequent meals with Ryuji Goto, given that Beru convincingly defeated him and it appeared as though he absorbed him. However, it seems that Beru has not demonstrated the use of any abilities that are characteristic of Goto, but rather those belonging to Min Byung-Gu.

In simpler terms, consuming someone who has a value of 10 doesn’t instantly increase your stats by 10; instead, it adds small amounts like 0.01 or 0.1 gradually, so it won’t lead to a massive power-up. Also, since Beru’s combat skills are significantly better than Goto Ryuji’s, there’s no need to utilize his skills in combat.

It was evident that the Ant King didn’t require Goto Ryuji’s abilities, as his combat skills were clearly above and beyond. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Ant King outclasses Goto Ryuji, a fact that seems to be reflected in both the anime and the manhwa by Goto never receiving a fair matchup. Despite being an S-rank hunter, Goto merely underscored the immense power and gravity of the Ant King’s threat.

Regardless, Ryuji Goto maintains his powerful status as an S-rank hunter, despite his flaws. He didn’t acquire the title of Japan’s strongest hunter by chance. The faith bestowed upon him by his guild comrades, and even the ex-president of the JHA, underscores his prowess and capabilities. Sadly, his excessive self-assuredness and pride caused him to undervalue the Ant King, a misjudgment that ultimately resulted in him losing everything in the series Solo Leveling.

Read More

2025-05-28 15:14