6 Solo Leveling Characters Who Deserved Better

Summary

Background characters like Niermann, Ryuji, and Zhigang deserved more development and attention.
They had untapped potential to add depth to the narrative, but were underutilized.
Joohee and other characters could have contributed more to Sung’s growth and story.

Solo Leveling recounts the story of Sung Jinwoo, humanity’s weakest hunter, who turns his life around and becomes one of the best combatants in the world following his second awakening. As the title suggests, the story is focused on the protagonist’s solitary journey of growth and self-reliance in the face of insurmountable odds.

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While Solo Leveling does justice to Jinwoo’s portrayal and character development, it sometimes hyper-focuses on him to the point that background characters with serious potential are ignored. Based on the impact of their brief appearances, strength, personality, and fan demand, the following characters deserved better, as they could have potentially added more depth to the narrative but did not get the opportunity to do so.

6

Lennart Niermann

Richter Guild’s Leader

Webtoon Debut: Chapter 142

Niermann is Germany’s best hunter, who, despite being ranked 12th best in the world, is quite humble and polite. While most individuals in his position look down on others, Lennart is more interested in forming alliances and diplomatically resolving conflicts. His level-headed approach is refreshing since most top hunters are often too cocky and insufferable.

Niermann’s personality makes him a memorable character who should have made a bigger impact on the story. While he was present in some high-stakes battles, he was not given the limelight, even for a brief moment. What’s worse is that he was even used in one of the scenes to create more hype for Sung. Like many others, Niermann’s character was never given the opportunity to mature and shine as much as he could have.

5

Goto Ryuji

Japan’s Greatest Hunter

Webtoon Debut: Chapter 85

Goto Ryuji was hyped up as the leader of Japanese hunters and one of the strongest people in Asia. But during the Jeju Island raid, he died a miserable death at the hands of the Ant King, which made all the buildup for his epic fights redundant.

Ryuji had the potential to be one of the best villains in the series, but he was reduced to just a stepping stone in Ant King’s dramatic rise to dominance. His potential was sadly wasted, and fans were robbed of a promising villain who could have added more depth to the story with his unique worldview.

4

Liu Zhigang

The Hero of China

Webtoon Debut: Chapter 107

Liu Zhigang is a National Level Hunter from China, who makes his debut in the Jeju Island arc. His explosive fighting style and ruthless desire to eradicate magic beasts make him stand out as one of the most exciting characters to look forward to in future arcs.

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While he does make a few appearances in the rest of the series following his debut in the Jeju Island arc, Zhigang never truly gets the spotlight. Like most National Level Hunters, he is largely ignored and underutilized. It’s no surprise, then, that nothing much is known about his origins, even though he is one of the strongest human beings in the series.

Solo Leveling could have been a lot more entertaining had Liu’s potential not been wasted, and if he had been given the limelight on a few occasions. Watching him fight at his full capacity would have been a treat for the eyes. Unfortunately, Zhigang never got the credit he deserved.

3

Song Chi-Yul

One of the Survivors of the Double Dungeon Incident

Song Chi-Yul was the leader of the D-rank dungeon raid team that made the unfortunate decision to explore the Double Dungeon. The tragedies that unfolded there left a lasting impression on Song, who blamed himself for putting his comrades in harm’s way.

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Chi-Yul went on to redeem himself in the Dungeon and Prisoners arc when he fought Kang Taeshik to protect Jinwoo and Joohee despite having just one arm. Song’s selfless spirit was nothing out of the ordinary, as he had always looked out for people around him. He even used to share his experience with Sung to help him become a better hunter, at a time when everyone ignored him.

Song may not have been the best hunter, but he could have been a guiding light for Jinwoo as he dealt with sensitive ethical questions while evolving into the best hunter in the world. He had so much potential, especially as a father figure to Sung, since Jinwoo’s biological father had been missing for years and presumed dead. Unfortunately, following the Dungeon and Prisoners arc, he barely made any appearances and ended up becoming just another background character in the series.

2

Siddharth Bachchan

India’s Strongest Hunter

Webtoon Debut: Chapter 198

Siddharth Bachchan is one of the five hunters who defeated the dragon Kamish and cleared the first S-rank dungeon. He comes from India and has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern hunter world. Bachchan also leads the Asura Guild.

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While he is touted as an important character, Siddharth is unfortunately ignored throughout the series. In fact, the manhwa readers don’t even know what he looks like since he is only mentioned in passing conversations, and his appearance is never revealed. This is incredibly disappointing since a National Level Hunter of his caliber could have a crucial role in the final war, but unfortunately, that never happens.

1

Lee Joohee

Sung Jinwoo’s Oldest Friend

Lee Joohee had known Sung Jinwoo well before he underwent his second awakening. While he was joked about and insulted by everyone, she never looked down on him and was always there to ensure that he was safe. Interestingly, the two friends went on several raids together, and Joohee saved his life on quite a few occasions.

Lee Joohee’s hunter career eventually came to an abrupt end, with her struggling to recover from the trauma experienced during the Double Dungeon raid. As Sung Jinwoo climbed through the ranks and established himself as one of the best hunters in the world, Joohee lost touch with him. The two close friends may have been separated by a huge power gap, but it’s sad that they could not retain their old relationship.

Lee is loved by most Solo Leveling fans. While she might have little to offer as a hunter following Jinwoo’s ascension in the hunter world, she could still have been quite helpful with Sung’s guild, just like Yoo Jinho. The series is frequently criticized for being hyper-focused on its protagonist, and it’s hard to defend it since it failed to utilize characters like Joohee more.