Top Hunters in Solo Leveling Who Should Have Retired Instead

Summary

Some hunters in Solo Leveling prove more effective and impactful as retirees due to their weaknesses and liabilities.
Over-reliance on power or unfulfilled potential can hinder a hunter’s effectiveness in raids and battles.
Individuals like Yoo Soohyun prioritize fame over hunting, while others like Kim Chul pose dangers with arrogance.

In the world of Solo Leveling, powerful individuals known as hunters possess abilities that enable them to combat monstrous beasts and seal off dungeons. These exceptional individuals are held in high esteem, often compared to a nation’s military force in terms of their potential strength. However, undergoing a magic awakening is merely the first step towards becoming a hunter; not everyone who experiences an awakening chooses to embrace this role, even though they retain that status.

Hunters who choose a career in hunting may find themselves too frail to join raids or generally incapable, even with immense power. Their inherent nature often makes them a burden instead. The diverse range of hunters depicted in Solo Leveling suggests that some might have left a stronger impact on fans if they were portrayed as retired rather than active hunters.

Some entries contain spoilers from the Solo Leveling manhwa, proceed with caution.

6. Park Heejin

A Hunter Overshadowed And Outclassed

Debut Appearance: Chapter 59

It seems reasonable to assume that a B-rank hunter like Park Heejin would be powerful and significant in the storyline after making an impressive debut showcasing exceptional perceptive abilities. However, viewers are left guessing as she scarcely reappeared in the series following her initial introduction. Notably, her most notable appearance was during the Red Gate incident, where she heavily relied on Sung Jin-Woo for assistance.

As a B-rank hunter, Park Heejin is not typically viewed as weak. However, her excessive reliance on Sung Jin-Woo has raised concerns, as it suggests that her abilities may be inadequate for higher-level dungeons. Her minimal contributions and apparent dependence on others have cast doubts on her skills, leading some to question whether retirement might have been a wiser decision for this hunter.

5. Min Byung-Gu

A Return To The Frontlines That Cost Him Everything

Debut Appearance: Chapter 109

In the realm of Solo Leveling, Min Byung-gu stood alone as the top-tier healer. This made him a valuable asset during raids, as many healers struggled to keep pace in S-rank battles. However, his role as a healer meant he was always in the thick of action, where tension ran high. Although teamwork is usually crucial during these events, S-rank battles left everyone fighting for themselves, so safeguarding others became more of an extra benefit. Despite being aware of the danger, Min Byung-gu persisted as a hunter.

This situation persisted until a dear friend of his met his untimely death during the initial attack on Jeju Island. This event left him deeply scarred. Later, Min Byung-gu was summoned back to active duty after his retirement, and sadly, he passed away. This incident underscores the fact that he should have continued in retirement. Ultimately, his inability to engage offensively made him an easy target once detected.

4. Yoo Soohyun

Her Shift In Priorities Made Her Go From Dungeons To Red Carpets

Debut Appearance: Chapter 56

Although attaining the prestigious A-rank hunter status typically garners respect, fear, and admiration from many people worldwide, Yoo Soohyun found minimal appeal in pursuing a career as a hunter. Instead, she strategically leveraged her hunter status to build a reputation and further her career as a model and Korean actress.

Eagerly, I found myself drawn to the thrill of the hunt, yet it was a peculiar fascination that set me apart. Little did I know this quirk would make me an ideal fit for Sung Jin-Woo’s guild, joining their ranks as its third member. Though the Solo Leveling manga series leaves her past largely untold, the Hunter: Origin novel hints that my initial passion for becoming a true hunter quickly waned following my first raid.

3. Kim Chul

A Liability Among Hunters That Does More Harm Than Good

Debut Appearance: Chapter 58

Regarding pure talent, Kim Chul undoubtedly stands out as a superior hunter, holding an A-rank status. However, his performance falls short in terms of competence. Tragically, his decisions resulted in the loss of several B-rank hunters who were under his command. Contrastingly, a cunning and specialized B-rank hunter like Kang Taeshik demonstrated greater effectiveness than Kim Chul.

Kim Chul displayed behavior that was detrimental both to his teammates and himself. His questionable decision-making skills often left his companions stranded, and he never acknowledged any accountability for these actions. Instead of focusing on defeating monsters, he seemed fixated on retaliating against fellow hunters, indicating a lack of suitability for the hunter role. His behavior was fueled by a sense of pride and arrogance that ultimately defined him.

2. Hwang Dongsuk

The True Cost Of Hwang Dongsuk’s Greed Could’ve Been Avoided

Debut Appearance: Chapter 18

In the hunt, Hwang Dongsuk – younger brother of top-tier hunter Hwang Dongsoo and himself a C-rank hunter – displayed no more than cunning survival instincts, often resorting to underhanded methods to stay alive. This suggests that he ruthlessly eliminates weaker competitors in the hunting world.

In terms of pure combat skills, Hwang Dongsuk’s abilities were slightly above average for a C-rank hunter. However, if we consider factors like effectiveness, ethical standing, and competence beyond just his rank, it becomes clear that he was not suitable to be a hunter. His underhanded tactics and excessive greed led to the loss of many fellow hunters’ lives. Instead of being an asset, he was more of a liability in the hunting world. Even if his retirement were forced, it would have been beneficial for the community.

1. Siddharth Bachchan

An Absence That Could’ve Been Turned Into Retirement

Debut Appearance: Chapter 198

Instead of portraying Siddharth Bachchan as an active national-level hunter, some people think it would have been more effective to present him as a strong but retired hunter. This is because, although he holds the rank of fourth-strongest globally, he does not appear in the “Solo Leveling” series, leaving his strength open to speculation. His significance, given that the world was saved without him participating, is uncertain at best.

Instead of Siddharth Bachchan being just absent from the hunter community, if he was portrayed as a retired hunter due to some injury or reason, it would have added depth to his character and provided insight into the hunter world. This would also make his title as “India’s strongest and fourth in the world” more meaningful, rather than leaving his absence unexplained and creating an empty space in the narrative.

2025-01-22 17:05