Solo Leveling exploded onto the anime scene and quickly secured its spot as one of the most talked-about adaptations of recent years. Sung Jinwoo’s journey from the world’s weakest hunter to humanity’s last hope captured the attention and imaginations of fans across the world. Paired with its stunning animation, action sequences, and a protagonist that relentlessly grows stronger, the anime successfully brought the source material to life.

As a power fantasy, Solo Leveling wastes no time before granting Jinwoo the resources necessary to transform into an unstoppable force. With each of his victories, his strength snowballs at a rate that overshadows standard shōnen protagonists’ progression. Bosses that leave characters with no hope fall at Jinwoo’s feet as if they pose no threat to him, and entire dungeons would easily collapse under the power of his Shadow Army. While the spectacle is thrilling, that kind of power threatens the future of the series.

Jinwoo’s Shadow Army Is Wildly Overpowered

Jinwoo Has an Army at His Beck and Call, Turning Him Into a Walking Powerhouse

One of the most visually iconic and strategic elements of Solo Leveling is Sung Jinwoo’s Shadow Army. As the Shadow Monarch, Jinwoo gains the ability to raise those he defeated as loyal soldiers who are capable of growing stronger alongside him. These shadows all retain their combat intelligence, follow commands with acute precision, and can be summoned instantly in massive numbers. Jinwoo’s power over his army allows him to swarm enemies, overwhelm dungeons, and dominate entire battlefields without lifting a finger. Paired with his ability to swap places with any shadow, Jinwoo can turn any fight into a potential ambush.

What makes this ability even more overpowered is how quickly Jinwoo manages to amass high-ranking shadows. While his early army in Season 1 mainly consisted of nameless soldiers, it wasn’t long before he added elite knights to his army, like Igris and Tusk. However, at the end of Season 2, the game changed entirely when Jinwoo resurrected Beru, the former Ant King on Jeju Island, as one of his shadows. His terrifying speed, regeneration, intelligence, and loyalty quickly propelled Beru into Jinwoo’s most fearsome summon to date in the anime.

Jinwoo Sured Fellow S-Ranks Far Too Quickly

The S-Ranks Weren’t Given a Chance To Demonstrate Their Abilities Prior to Jinwoo Suring Them

While the Shadow Army makes Jinwoo a battlefield tactician’s dream, it’s the full set of powers granted by the System that solidifies his massive power. Jinwoo is constantly evolving, and each battle accelerates his growth with ive stat boosts to formidable new techniques. His access to high-grade potions, ability to heal, and gain experience like an RPG character turn his every battle and adventure into a stepping stone. Unlike traditional hunters who reach the peak of their power, Jinwoo simply doesn’t have a set peak. He continuously levels up, making his progress unstoppable and unmatched.

By the end of Season 2, the gap between Jinwoo and Korea’s top S-rank hunters becomes undeniable. In what could have led to a tense showdown with the nation’s elite, Jinwoo instead completely dismantles every expectation with ease. Without giving them a chance to fully show off their immense power, he proves that none of the nation’s most powerful stand a chance of rivaling him. His agility, endurance, and raw power allow him to solo threats meant for entire guilds. While S-ranks once represented the peak of humanity's strength, Jinwoo’s rapid evolution makes them feel obsolete.

The Stakes Become Diminished as Jinwoo’s Power Grows

Jinwoo’s Abilities Make Any Threat Seem Inconsequential

Sung Jinwoo’s rapid rise leaves little room for the ing cast to breathe, much less shine. The S-rank hunters who, in theory, should have been the apex of human strength, become sidelined. Viewers are only given glimpses of their potential before they’re overshadowed completely. Characters like Choi Jong-In and Baek Yoonho are introduced with intrigue as some of Korea’s most powerful S-rank hunters. Yet, they are unable to contend with Jinwoo’s power as the series entirely byes any arc of suring his peers, robbing fans of the tension that these stories typically explore.

While this is common in most shōnen, where protagonists typically come out on top, Jinwoo’s progression and ascension make it increasingly difficult to build any tension.

Now that Jinwoo has achieved near-absolute power, Solo Leveling faces a narrative challenge. With no real rivals remaining, traditional conflict loses its impact. While this is common in most shōnen, where protagonists typically come out on top, Jinwoo’s progression and ascension make it increasingly difficult to build any tension. As thrilling as his dominance on the battlefield is, the absence of stakes risks making future battles feel hollow. Without a credible threat on the horizon that Jinwoo’s shadows or ability to level up can’t face, the series may struggle to deliver suspense.

Sung Jinwoo’s journey from underdog to untouchable is beyond exciting, and the spectacle of his power has helped launch the series to success. Yet, as his strength grows, the story risks trading off meaningful tension for dominance, leading to predictable outcomes. While fans came for the power fantasy, sustaining narrative momentum needs more than just invincible protagonists and cinematic battles. If future seasons of Solo Leveling can’t reintroduce meaningful stakes, Jinwoo’s most epic moments may start to feel empty.