Solo Leveling isn’t just a story about one man becoming the strongest—it’s a layered world filled with powerful, complex characters. From mysterious monarchs and high-ranking hunters to loyal shadow soldiers, each character has a unique attribute, fighting style, and purpose within the story’s ever-expanding world.
Whether you’re diving into the webtoon, watching the anime, or reading the light novel, this guide will help you understand the major players in Solo Leveling. We’ll explore their powers, attributes, combat styles, and relationships so you can fully appreciate their role in the story.
Sung Jin-Woo – The Shadow Monarch
Rank: E → Limitless (Player / Shadow Monarch)
Role: Protagonist, Summoner, Assassin, Monarch
Abilities:
Shadow Extraction: Revives enemies as shadow soldiers
Shadow Exchange: Teleports via shadow positions
Ruler’s Authority: Telekinetic force
Stat leveling and quest-based growth (unique to him)
Sung Jin-Woo starts as the weakest hunter, an E-Rank who can barely survive basic dungeons. But after dying in a double dungeon and being chosen by the mysterious “System,” he becomes the world’s only Player. This lets him grow stronger with each kill, break the fixed rank limit, and eventually inherit the power of Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch.
He commands a growing army of shadows and eventually surpasses even divine beings.
Cha Hae-In – Korea’s Strongest Female Hunter
Rank: S-Rank
Role: Sword Fighter, Melee DPS
Abilities:
Enhanced agility and reflexes
Aura detection (unique sensitivity to magic)
Mastery of sword techniques
Heightened sense of smell and spiritual awareness
Cha Hae-In is part of the Hunters Guild and initially suspicious of Jin-Woo due to the “rotting smell” she senses from him—a reaction to his necromantic energy. As the story progresses, she becomes one of his closest allies and shows strong emotional and romantic interest in him.
Though not on the same power level as Jin-Woo post-transformation, she holds her own against high-level threats and is one of the most competent melee fighters in the series.
Go Gun-Hee – Chairman of the Korean Hunters Association
Rank: Retired S-Rank
Role: Leader, Strategist
Abilities (formerly):
Aura projection
Enhanced physical strength
Leadership-level knowledge of gate politics and guild management
Go Gun-Hee is a central figure in Korea’s defense against dungeon threats. Though older and retired from active combat, he remains a towering figure in terms of wisdom and strategy. His deep respect for Jin-Woo and final moments defending against the Monarchs make him a fan favorite.
His confrontation with the Beast Monarch is one of the most memorable scenes in the series.
Beru – Elite Shadow Soldier
Original Form: Ant King
Reborn As: Jin-Woo’s Shadow
Role: Commander of Shadow Army, Melee DPS
Abilities:
Hyper-regeneration
Winged flight
Sonic screech attack
Royal Guard-level combat skills
Beru was once the boss of a deadly S-Rank dungeon—the Ant King who killed countless hunters in Jeju Island. After Jin-Woo defeats him, he revives him as a shadow and names him Beru. As a shadow, Beru is intelligent, loyal, and terrifying in battle. He often serves as Jin-Woo’s main enforcer and bodyguard.
Despite his monstrous appearance, Beru becomes a surprisingly gentle and respectful presence—especially toward Jin-Woo and Cha Hae-In.
Igris – Knight of Death
Original Form: Dungeon Boss in Red Gate
Reborn As: Shadow Soldier
Role: First Elite Shadow, Tank / DPS
Abilities:
Swordsmanship
Heavy armor defense
Leadership and combat instincts
Undead durability
Igris is Jin-Woo’s first true elite shadow soldier. Originally a knight guarding a deadly ice dungeon, he becomes a symbol of Jin-Woo’s new path as a necromancer. Igris rarely speaks (even mentally), but his loyalty and battlefield presence are unmatched.
He frequently duels high-ranking monsters and hunters, and acts as a second-in-command of the shadow army.
Thomas Andre – American S-Rank and Ruler’s Vessel
Rank: National-Level Hunter
Role: Tank / Brawler
Abilities:
Ruler’s Authority (telekinetic strength)
Enhanced body durability (steel-like skin)
Pure physical dominance in battle
Thomas is the top hunter in the United States and one of the world’s most powerful fighters. Known as “Goliath,” he acts brashly but has a strong moral core. His confrontation with Jin-Woo early on showcases his arrogance, but after being easily defeated, he becomes an ally and supporter.
He later plays a role in the global effort against the Monarchs and has one of the most complete character arcs outside Korea.
The Beast Monarch – Monarch of Beasts
Role: Monarch
Abilities:
Shape-shifting into beast form
Enhanced speed and physical power
Regeneration
Pack-summoning and werebeast control
The Beast Monarch is one of the major antagonists and embodies the chaos of primal power. He views humans as prey and takes joy in slaughter. His fight with Jin-Woo is particularly brutal and one of the key turning points where Jin-Woo proves his dominance over even Monarch-class beings.
The Frost Monarch – Monarch of Ice
Role: Monarch
Abilities:
Ice magic and manipulation
Environmental control (freezing battlefields)
Long-range magical attacks
Strategic leadership
Unlike the Beast Monarch, the Frost Monarch is cold and calculating. He works with others to bring down Jin-Woo and sees humans as insignificant. His betrayal and participation in Jin-Woo’s ambush only make his eventual defeat more satisfying.
Ashborn – The True Shadow Monarch
Role: Original Monarch of Death
Abilities:
Shadow Army creation
Control over death and resurrection
Divine-level power
Wisdom of ancient wars
Ashborn is the being behind the System and the true source of Jin-Woo’s power. Though initially introduced as a distant force, he eventually bonds with Jin-Woo and passes on his mantle. Ashborn’s motivations are more complex than simple power—he seeks someone worthy to stop the endless cycle of war between Rulers and Monarchs.
His appearance signals the turning point in the story, when Jin-Woo truly becomes something beyond human.
Sung Il-Hwan – Jin-Woo’s Father
Role: Ruler’s Vessel
Abilities:
Ruler’s Authority
Enhanced speed and spatial awareness
Defensive combat and shielding
Presumed dead for most of the story, Il-Hwan returns later as one of the few humans who has hosted a Ruler’s power. His reappearance adds emotional weight and foreshadowing to Jin-Woo’s own transformation.
Though he doesn’t match Jin-Woo in power, his moments on the battlefield are legendary, particularly his self-sacrificing defense of Earth.
Liu Zhigang – China’s Strongest Hunter
Rank: National-Level
Role: Magic DPS
Abilities:
Aura manipulation
Energy projection
Wide-area spell attacks
As one of the most powerful hunters in the world, Liu commands international respect. His fight with Monarchs is limited in the story, but his presence serves as a benchmark for how far Jin-Woo has come—and how wide the gap has grown.
Understanding the Power Dynamics of Solo Leveling
Each character in Solo Leveling isn’t just defined by their stats or flashy skills. They represent ideologies, nations, and philosophies about strength. Jin-Woo’s rise to power reflects not just a journey of self-improvement but also a challenge to systems—rankings, Monarch hierarchies, and even divine rules.
From loyal shadows like Beru and Igris to complex figures like Go Gun-Hee and Ashborn, Solo Leveling succeeds in creating a layered cast that supports the epic narrative without reducing characters to tropes. Understanding their roles, abilities, and evolution adds depth to every fight, every alliance, and every sacrifice.