Solo Leveling’s Shocking Magic Problem: What the Show Got Wrong

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Summary

  • Most magic in Solo Leveling is basic, limited to physical enhancements and elemental blasts.
  • Even strong mage hunters have few uses for magic spells and summoning abilities due to mana restraints.
  • The series missed the potential to explore the societal impact of magic and more complex spells.

In the realm of Solo Leveling, spectators could possibly overlook mana as the fundamental energy behind each hunter’s prowess due to its limited depiction in comparison to the abundance of impressive powers and heated battles. Despite the fact that the Solo Leveling universe operates on a magic system, it appears that the narrative primarily focuses on using magic to boost physical attributes rather than exploring more creative or subtle applications. Mage hunters seldom demonstrate anything beyond hurling fireballs, and the majority of the hunters we encounter utilize magic mainly to alter their physical forms or amplify their attacks.

In the contemporary scenario of Solo Leveling, it’s a bit underwhelming to see magic being used so straightforwardly. A more engaging experience might have been created had the series allowed for more intricate spells by hunters, and delved into how their abilities could reshape societal structures, similar to healers.

Magic In Solo Leveling

Why Don’t We See More of It?

In the rules of Solo Leveling, it appears that once hunters awaken, they tend to adhere to rigid class roles. Many hunters channel their mana into abilities that enhance attributes such as strength, speed, or toughness. The mage class of hunters offers more flexibility, but even they are confined by limitations when casting magic spells beyond regular attacks.

In some fictional scenarios, certain sorcerers can create objects, though they’re usually only able to do so with a few items at once. However, the character Sung Jinwoo, through the use of an system, can summon and store a virtually limitless number of items. Although he occasionally makes use of this power, it remains largely unexplored throughout the series.

Only a select number of mage-hunters possess the ability to conjure constructs or beings for combat assistance. Yet, it appears that this power is not without restriction. The majority of these hunters are limited in the number of creatures they can keep active at once, as their mana supply sets the boundary.

In addition to regular hunters, there exists a specialized group called healers who possess the ability to mend injuries of fellow hunters using their mana. For instance, B-rank hunter Lee Johee demonstrated enough power to heal Jinwoo’s severe wounds inflicted during the double dungeon incident. Moreover, S-rank Hunter Min Byung-Gyu exhibited an extraordinary skill by swiftly healing Cha Hae-In’s injuries that were near fatal, a feat that neither Sung Jinwoo’s potions nor life elixirs could achieve.

It appears that the restricted mana of many human hunters constrains them from exhibiting extraordinary feats with their abilities, yet the series might have expanded the variety of magical spells and effects within its world if it had chosen to do so.

The Missed Potential For Magic

What Could Have Been

Although the impact of magic on society is suggested throughout the anime, it doesn’t provide a clear picture of how it has reshaped contemporary life.

However, the government has a completely different intention; they see this as a potential new energy source. In simpler terms, it’s an ideal, clean form of power.

At the outset of the series, Chairman Go hints at the utilization of magical stones for both technology and energy, yet this aspect remains largely unexplored. Instead, magic is primarily depicted as a means to empower strong armor and tools. Mages and healers seldom employ their magic beyond dungeon scenarios, even though it seems highly profitable and beneficial for contemporary industries.

Instead of pondering over the rationale behind healers delving into dungeons rather than utilizing their miraculous abilities to amass wealth by healing people, might it not be intriguing to consider if mages could employ their elemental magic to modernize and transform industrial processes?

The storyline in this work tends to revolve heavily around Sung Jinwoo’s quest for power acquisition. Consequently, the intriguing aspects related to how magic has impacted Korean society a decade post hunter awakening and diverse applications of mana and magic spells are relegated to mere backdrops. It could have been captivating to explore these elements more deeply, rather than just serving as props in Jinwoo’s battles. Introducing additional uses for mana and magic spells would enrich the storyline, making it less one-sided, where all the fascinating powers seem to be concentrated on Jinwoo, leaving little left for other characters or even the world of Solo Leveling.

Solo Leveling can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Amazon.

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2025-04-22 03:04