Sung Jinwoo begins as one of the weakest hunters in Solo Leveling but rapidly transforms into an overwhelmingly powerful warrior, capable of conquering even the highest-ranking dungeons on his own. What truly sets him apart as one of anime’s most formidable characters is that he is never alone in battle.
His army of Shadow Soldiers grants him an unparalleled advantage, combining sheer numbers with the exceptional strength of its elite members. Jinwoo’s most powerful Shadows surpass the abilities of the average S-Rank Hunter.
Even in death, the Shadow Soldiers rise again (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)The elite soldiers in his ranks easily rival National Level Hunters, making them an unstoppable force. What makes the Shadow Soldiers even more terrifying is that even if an opponent manages to defeat them, Jinwoo can instantly revive them, reinforcing the immense strength of the Shadow Monarch’s army.
12. The Ant Queen
The Ant Queen’s Shadow Lacked Her True Strength Original Name
As the mother of the fearsome Ant King, the Ant Queen was devoted to her offspring, creating a monstrous heir to protect its siblings. Defeating her was no simple feat, given her immense physical strength, sharp tactical mind, and lethal poison abilities.
Numerous S-Rank Hunters fell in battle against her, with many more sustaining severe injuries until the fourth Jeju Island Raid, where some of the strongest warriors in Solo Leveling finally confronted her.
Before her demise, Choi Jong-in managed to weaken the Ant Queen, and Cha Hae-in dealt the finishing blow. By the time the Ant King arrived, it was too late to save his mother, but her loss drove him into a blind fury that nearly annihilated Jinwoo’s entire team.
After Jinwoo swiftly eliminated the Ant King and gained Beru as a Shadow Soldier, he turned his attention to the Ant Queen. However, her extracted Shadow lacked any of her most valuable traits, leading Jinwoo to abandon the attempt, which placed her at the lowest rank on this list.
11. Alpha Ice Bear
Tank Crushes His Opponents with Sheer Power Original Name
During the second season’s premiere, Jinwoo encountered the ice bears, including their powerful leader. Known as the Alpha Ice Bear, this formidable beast was swiftly taken down by Igris the Blood-Red before being resurrected as a Shadow Soldier.
Renamed Tank due to his massive build and brute strength, he became a fitting addition to Jinwoo’s growing army. As the strongest of the ice bears, Tank specialized in taking on heavy hitters, excelling both in absorbing and dealing devastating damage.
His exceptional size and endurance made him an indispensable asset during the battle against the Giants in Tokyo’s S-Rank Gate. Additionally, he demonstrated overwhelming power in his fight against the Nagas, where he eliminated A-Rank magic beasts with a single strike.
Though Tank was among the earliest recruits in Jinwoo’s army, he remained relevant by consistently growing stronger alongside the rest of the Shadow Monarch’s forces.
10. Kaisellin
Kaisel Became More Than Just a Battle Companion Original Name
Once known as Kaisellin, this wyvern originally served as the flying mount of the Demon King Baran before being placed under Kandiaru’s control in the Demon Castle. Eventually, Jinwoo defeated the dungeon and claimed Kaisel as his own.
While Kaisel possessed considerable strength in combat, his greatest value lay in his ability to provide Jinwoo with unmatched mobility on the battlefield. Outside of battle, Kaisel played a role in one of Jinwoo’s happiest moments.
After taking Cha Hae-in on a date to an amusement park, he later brought her on a flight atop Kaisel during a picturesque sunset. Though Kaisel is undeniably useful and holds sentimental value, he is far from being the strongest among Jinwoo’s Shadows.
Many others in the army possess superior combat abilities, leaving Kaisel primarily as a means of transportation and occasional battlefield support.
9. Min Byung-Gyu
Min Byung-Gyu’s Shadow Served a Crucial Purpose Original Name
Among the many Shadow extractions Jinwoo attempted, Min Byung-Gyu was one of the few that he willingly terminated before completion. In life, Byung-Gyu was an S-Rank Healer who participated in the Fourth Jeju Island Raid out of loyalty to his comrades rather than a desire for battle.
Unfortunately, his selfless decision led to a tragic end when he was brutally slain by the Ant King after failing to fend off an attack that also critically injured Cha Hae-in. To save Cha Hae-in from certain death, Jinwoo extracted Byung-Gyu’s Shadow, utilizing his powerful healing abilities before allowing his soul to pass on.
If Jinwoo had chosen to retain him as a permanent Shadow Soldier, Byung-Gyu would have likely become an essential support unit, providing unmatched healing to Jinwoo’s forces. However, his brief but impactful presence was enough to secure him a place on this list.
8. Boss Naga
Jima’s Gigantic Form Makes Him a Formidable Force Original Name
Jima, a towering sea creature wielding an enormous trident, possesses the ability to drastically increase in size while maintaining his fearsome combat prowess. Originally the leader of the Nagas, he was a monstrous humanoid serpent feared even by S-Rank Hunters.
Ordinary Nagas were already stronger than most A-Rank Hunters, making their leader an exceptional adversary within the world of Solo Leveling. Despite playing a relatively minor role in the anime, Jima holds an Elite Knight Grade rank within Jinwoo’s Shadow Army, showcasing his considerable strength.
Although his aquatic nature suggests he is most effective in water-based combat, he has demonstrated his ability to fight just as well on land. His size-altering abilities made him an indispensable warrior during the battle against Legia’s Giants, proving his worth in Jinwoo’s ranks.
7. Kim Chul
Iron’s Strength Was Matched Only by His Loyalty Original Name
Iron’s journey within Jinwoo’s army stems from the downfall of Kim Chul, an arrogant A-Rank Hunter who overestimated his abilities. His hubris led him to underestimate the Ice Elves, placing him in grave danger. After an ill-fated attempt to challenge Jinwoo, he was swiftly dispatched by Igris the Blood-Red.
When brute strength meets unrelenting power, Tank dominates (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)However, instead of leaving him for dead, Jinwoo revived him as a Shadow Soldier, naming him Iron. In stark contrast to his previous self, Iron became a steadfast and powerful ally within the Shadow Army.
His presence was cherished by his fellow soldiers, a sentiment that was evident when he was later reborn as Kim Chul and warmly welcomed by his old comrades. Though he may not have been the most intelligent warrior, his raw combat ability and unwavering loyalty cemented his place among Jinwoo’s key Shadows.
6. Hwang Dongsoo
Greed Serves Jinwoo to Pay Off His Debt
Whenever Sung Jinwoo transforms a human into one of his Shadow Soldiers, there is often a moral dilemma involved. However, the case of Greed was different, as his servitude felt more like retribution for his misdeeds rather than a mere consequence of Jinwoo’s ability.
Greed was originally Hwang Dongsoo, a formidable S-Rank Hunter, and the sibling of Hwang Dongsuk, a ruthless Hunter whom Jinwoo eliminated in self-defense. Dongsoo’s pursuit of vengeance led him to abduct and brutally interrogate Yoo Jinho, a close friend of Jinwoo.
In response, Jinwoo showed no clemency and revived Dongsoo as one of his Shadow Soldiers, assigning him the fitting name “Greed.” Since Greed already possessed the abilities of an S-Rank Hunter before being resurrected, he entered Jinwoo’s ranks as one of the army’s strongest members from the outset.
However, despite his considerable power, his former limitations as a human placed him at a lower tier compared to some of the more dominant Shadows.
5. Kargalgan
Tusk Is the Most Powerful Shadow Mage
Before joining Sung Jinwoo’s army and developing further alongside his fellow Shadow Soldiers, Tusk was already an exceptionally skilled mage. His unwavering loyalty to Jinwoo, coupled with his immense power, made him one of the most formidable figures in the army.
Once known as the High Orc Shaman Kargalgan, he proved difficult to extract, requiring multiple attempts before Jinwoo finally succeeded in turning him into a Shadow. Holding the rank of General, Tusk commands the mages within the Shadow Monarch’s forces.
Jinwoo further enhanced his abilities by granting him the Orb of Avarice, a powerful artifact capable of doubling his magical damage output.
His devotion to Jinwoo was best illustrated in the epilogue when Beru presented him with a custom mage’s robe, resembling Jinwoo’s signature hoodie from the beginning of the series. With a vast arsenal of spells at his disposal, Tusk remained a formidable presence on the battlefield.
4. Kamish
Kamish Was Once Humanity’s Greatest Calamity
Kamish’s tenure in Jinwoo’s army was short-lived, yet during his brief time as a Shadow Soldier, he stood among the strongest. Unfortunately, due to the decade, his body spent lying dormant after his defeat, much of his mana had dissipated, preventing him from remaining in Jinwoo’s army for more than a few minutes.
Before his demise, Kamish was a legendary dragon, only brought down through the combined efforts of elite S-Class Hunters. Because of the nature of his revival, Kamish never participated in any battles under Jinwoo’s command, nor did he have the chance to grow stronger alongside the rest of the army.
This automatically placed him at a lower tier than those who reached the prestigious commander rank, such as Beru. Even so, his raw strength alone made him an imposing force and had he remained, he would have undoubtedly elevated the army’s strength to an even greater level for the upcoming war.
3. Knight Order Captain, Blood-Red Igris
Igris Grows More Than Any Other Shadow Soldier
Among Jinwoo’s Shadow Soldiers, Blood-Red Igris exhibited the most substantial increase in power throughout the series. Initially appearing as an A-Rank boss monster, he would have defeated Jinwoo had he not willingly abandoned his sword.
Over time, however, as he continued to grow alongside Jinwoo, he ascended to the rank of an S-Rank warrior and became a leading officer in the Shadow Monarch’s forces. As one of Jinwoo’s most steadfast allies, Igris consistently demonstrated his unwavering loyalty.
His sharp intellect and knightly sense of honor made him an invaluable asset to Jinwoo’s command. Wielding exceptional swordsmanship, Igris was already a force to be reckoned with, but his power became even more formidable when he acquired the Demon King’s Sword, an enchanted weapon capable of summoning lightning with each strike.
His popularity was so immense that he made an appearance in the sequel, where he continued to serve Sung Suho.
2. The Ant King
Beru Becomes Sung Jinwoo’s Right-hand Man
Few characters in Solo Leveling combine immense strength with an eccentric personality as effectively as Beru. His former identity as the Ant King defined him as a merciless killer, a trait that carried over when he became a Shadow.
The Ant Queen’s defeat led to the birth of an even greater terror (Photo: Solo Leveling/Lucasfilm Ltd)Despite this, he quickly rose to prominence within Jinwoo’s forces, eventually becoming his most trusted subordinate. Beru was frequently tasked with protecting Jinwoo’s younger sister, Jinah, and proved himself to be one of the most competent members of the army.
Under Jinwoo’s leadership, Beru effortlessly cleared an A-Rank Gate and eliminated the dungeon’s Lich King boss almost single-handedly. Accomplishing such a feat early in the story already placed him on par with, if not above, many S-Rank Hunters.
By the time the series concluded, Beru’s strength had far surpassed what he possessed in life, reaching a level comparable to that of a National Hunter. Even with his immense power, however, there remained one Shadow Soldier who exceeded him.
1. Unknown
Bellion Is the Strongest Shadow in Jinwoo’s Army
Holding the esteemed position of second-in-command within Sung Jinwoo’s army, Bellion stands above all other Shadow Soldiers, second only to the Shadow Monarch himself. His strength was unquestionable, as he effortlessly bested Beru in a one-on-one duel.
Before Jinwoo’s rise, Bellion had already served as the Grand Marshal of Ashborn’s forces for countless years, making him one of the most experienced warriors in the army. Although the Shadow Monarch’s authority ensured unwavering loyalty from all his Shadows, Bellion developed a personal sense of admiration for Jinwoo.
Witnessing Jinwoo’s leadership firsthand, he recognized qualities reminiscent of Ashborn, deepening his respect for his new commander. Bellion firmly believed that no one else could rightfully inherit Ashborn’s legacy, solidifying his loyalty to Jinwoo as the true successor to the former Monarch.