The Most Powerful Shadows in Sung Jin-Woo’s Legion: Top 10 Rankings

Solo Leveling presents an intricate ranking system for hunters, who are officially tasked with eliminating threats and securing dungeons. The central storyline follows Sung Jin-Woo, a hunter once labeled as the “World’s Weakest Hunter” due to his extreme lack of power compared to others in his field.

The Solo Leveling manhwa is full of complex, fascinating villains. These are the best that Sung Jin-Woo finds himself up against. A twist of fate leads Jin-Woo to discover the System, a mechanism that enables him to level up and enhance his abilities as a hunter.

After reaching a particular threshold, the System grants him the Shadow Extraction skill, allowing him to resurrect fallen warriors as formidable shadow minions. With this ability, Jin-Woo assembles an unstoppable army, yet some shadows stand out as exceptionally powerful among the ranks.

10. Tank

Alpha Ice Bear of the Red Gate

Abilities: Colossal Strength and High Attack Power

Shadow Rank: Knight

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 100 / Episode 15

Tank makes his first appearance in Solo Leveling when Sung Jin-Woo stumbles into a Red Gate. Initially, the Guild believed they had entered a C-Rank dungeon, and that assumption remained correct until their surroundings suddenly transformed into something far more perilous.

What awaited them was a domain inhabited by fearsome Ice Bears and Ice Elves. Before long, Kim Chul, an A-Rank hunter leading the party, made it clear that anyone ranked below C would not be allowed to proceed with them.

However, Jin-Woo saw this as an ideal opportunity to gain experience and chose to venture into Ice Bear territory alone. After eliminating the entire group, including their formidable boss, he revived the leader and named it “Tank,” recognizing its sheer destructive force.

9. Kaisel

Kaisellin; Mount of the Monarch of White Flames

Abilities: Immense Speed, Flight, and Enhanced Senses

Shadow Rank: Knight

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 88 / N/A

During his time leveling up in Demon territory, Jin-Woo comes across Kaisellin, a powerful wyvern. Although he had fought and defeated numerous demons before, his Shadow Extraction ability did not seem to work on them. This changed when he encountered Kaisellin, a creature that served as the flight mount of Demon King Baran.

Following an intense battle, Jin-Woo bested Baran, while his subordinate, Iron, took down Kaisellin. Without hesitation, Jin-Woo utilized his Shadow Extraction skill on the fallen wyvern and gave it the name “Kaisel.”

Despite the Webtoon not extensively showcasing Kaisel’s strength, its exceptional flight capabilities and heightened senses solidified its status as a top-tier member of Jin-Woo’s army.

8. Jima

A-Rank Boss Naga

Abilities: Size Manipulation and Regeneration

Shadow Rank: Elite Knight

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 122 / N/A

Jima may not have been featured prominently in Solo Leveling, but its raw power was undeniable. Sung Jin-Woo first crossed paths with this creature during a raid where Ahjin Guild was involved.

At the time, the hunters struggled to land a decisive blow, as Jima’s strength and magical abilities made it an incredibly formidable opponent. Wielding a trident and possessing an immense serpent-like form, the creature bore a resemblance to a sea monster.

Solo Leveling has some fans wondering if the series can be classified as an isekai or something else entirely. The battle seemed unwinnable until Jin-Woo intervened and successfully subdued Jima. After the fight, he resurrected the beast as one of his shadow minions, granting it the name Jima.

Further investigation revealed that Jima possessed an ability to manipulate its size using magic, making it a noteworthy addition to Jin-Woo’s growing army.

7. Iron

A-Rank Hunter Kim Chul

Abilities: Regeneration and Shout of Provocation (Taunting Ability)

Shadow Rank: Elite Knight

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 54 / Episode 15

Tank wasn’t the only valuable addition to Sung Jin-Woo’s forces during the Ice Bear Saga—Iron was another. When Jin-Woo and his party ventured into the Red Gate, they soon encountered a group of Ice Elves.

This led to the team splitting up, as their A-Rank leader prohibited anyone below C-Rank from advancing further to avoid unnecessary casualties. After a failed raid, Kim Chul, a member of the White Tiger Guild, learned that those left behind had not only survived but had also lived comfortably within the dungeon.

Overcome with jealousy and rage, he launched an attack on Jin-Woo, only to meet his end at the hands of Igris. Seizing the opportunity, Jin-Woo revived the fallen hunter as his new shadow and named him “Iron.”

6. Greed

S-Ranker Hwang Dongsoo

Abilities: Enhanced Strength, Regeneration, and Conversation

Shadow Rank: General

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 147 / N/A

Greed originated from Hwang Dong-Soo, a powerful S-Rank Hunter affiliated with the Scavenger Guild. Holding a deep-seated grudge against Sung Jin-Woo, he harbored suspicions that Jin-Woo was responsible for his brother’s death.

Rather than confronting him directly, Dong-Soo sought to eliminate him through indirect means by involving Thomas Andre. While most anime is based on manga, there are also some fantastic series that are based on Korean manhwa.

His plan unraveled when Jin-Woo single-handedly defeated Thomas Andre in a public battle. Though the Webtoon does not explicitly depict Dong-Soo’s death, the circumstances strongly imply that Jin-Woo eliminated him. Shortly after, Jin-Woo used Shadow Extraction to bring him back as a shadow and renamed him “Greed.”

5. Tusk

Kargalgan, The Shaman High Orc

Abilities: Gravity Magic, Hymn of Protection, Hymn of Frenzy, Hymn of Giants, Hymn of Blazing Fire, Hymn of Rage, Regeneration, among others

Shadow Rank: Commander

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 75 / Episode 18

Tusk was initially known as Kargalgan, the leader of the High Orcs at the Hunter Guild Dungeon. During a raid organized by an A-Rank Hunter, the High Orcs unexpectedly revealed themselves, turning what seemed like a manageable situation into a life-threatening crisis.

As the battle escalated, the hunters found themselves overpowered and were left with no choice but to surrender. Once the hunters yielded, they encountered Kargalgan, the High Orcs’ shaman leader, who made it clear that he intended to execute them purely for his amusement.

However, before he could act on this sadistic plan, Sung Jin-Woo intervened and engaged him in combat. After defeating and killing Kargalgan, Jin-Woo resurrected him as a shadow and renamed him Tusk. As one of the most formidable additions to Jin-Woo’s Shadow Army, Tusk possessed a variety of magical abilities, including Gravity Magic and Telepathy.

4. Igris

The Blood-Red Commander Igris

Abilities: Regeneration, Conversation, Immense Strength, and Telekinesis

Shadow Rank: Marshal

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 45 / Episode 12

Among Sung Jin-Woo’s earliest and most loyal shadows, Igris was a red-armored warrior whom Jin-Woo encountered after an intense battle in a dungeon. Within this dungeon, he faced multiple challenges, one of which involved Necromancers who continuously summoned soldiers to overwhelm him.

After uncovering their strategy, Jin-Woo swiftly eliminated them and acquired the Shadow Extraction skill. Once he had mastered this ability, Jin-Woo resurrected the fallen red knight he had battled at the dungeon’s entrance, giving him the name “Igris.”

As time passed, Igris grew stronger, evolving into one of the most powerful shadows in Jin-Woo’s army. By the time Solo Leveling reached its climax, Igris had advanced to the Marshal Rank and gained the ability to communicate.

3. Beru

The Ant King

Abilities: Regeneration, Conversation, Immense Speed, Immense Strength, High Durability, Healing Magic, Flight, and Skill Absorption

Shadow Rank: Marshal

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 105 / N/A

Beru became one of Jin-Woo’s most powerful minions after the events of the “Jeju Island Arc.” Even before his transformation into a shadow, Beru displayed a level of power that could rival, or even exceed, that of S-Rank Hunters.

He effortlessly defeated Goto Ryuji, Japan’s most renowned Hunter, and instilled fear in another S-Rank Hunter, who openly admitted that Beru was an opponent beyond their ability to handle. Beru’s reign of terror was brought to an abrupt end when he encountered Sung Jin-Woo, who surpassed him in both strength and speed.

Once the battle concluded, Jin-Woo used his Shadow Extraction ability to resurrect Beru as his subordinate. After joining Jin-Woo’s army, Beru’s additional abilities, such as healing magic, became more evident throughout the story.

2. Kamish

Humanity’s Greatest Calamity

Abilities: Dragon’s Fear, Immense Strength, and Dragon’s Breath

Shadow Rank: Marshal

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 115 / N/A

Sung Jin-Woo was approached by the United States, who sought to recruit him into their ranks as a Hunter. Before agreeing to any terms, he requested an opportunity to meet Kamish, a legendary Dragon whose strength was so immense that even Thomas Andre could not defeat him alone.

Once his request was granted, Jin-Woo used Shadow Extraction to resurrect the formidable beast. Although Kamish was now under Jin-Woo’s command, he still exhibited an independent nature, nearly killing several humans standing near his master.

Unfortunately, Kamish’s time as a shadow was brief due to the prolonged period since his original death. Despite his limited presence, Kamish’s sheer power solidified his status as a Marshal-Rank shadow.

1. Bellion

The Right Hand of Ashborn

Abilities: Immense Durability, Colossal Strength, Immense Speed, Regeneration, and Conversation

Shadow Rank: Grand Marshal

Manhwa / Anime Debut: Chapter 166 / N/A

Unlike the rest of Jin-Woo’s shadows, Bellion was never an opponent he had to fight. Instead, Bellion was one of Ashborn’s final gifts to Jin-Woo as he prepared to inherit the title of Shadow Monarch. Before serving Jin-Woo, Bellion held a high-ranking position as one of Ashborn’s most trusted warriors.

Once Ashborn passed his legacy onto Jin-Woo, Bellion and the entire Shadow Army swore loyalty to their new ruler. Bellion’s capabilities were demonstrated when he engaged in a brief battle with Beru. Using his extendable sword, he quickly overwhelmed the Marshal-ranked shadow.

Even though Beru retaliated with relentless attacks, Bellion remained entirely unscathed, effortlessly proving his superior strength.