The Best Isekai Manhwa Where Villains Are Reincarnated As Heroes

Isekai manhwa is often criticized for following the same old formula of a hero reincarnating in another world. But what happens when a former villain reincarnates as the hero chosen to defend the world? That is definitely an unexpected twist, and a recipe for disaster if not handled carefully.

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So, we’ve selected a few stories that are worth a read where the hero of the story is in truth a reincarnated villain. This ranked list spotlights five of the best series about an evildoer turning to the light side (sort of) for once, and reforming themselves as they earn a new perspective on life. Family, friends, lovers, and even the occasional animal companion are all present in these series. Let’s take a look at these isekai manhwa with unlikely villains-turned-heroes.

5

Standard Of Reincarnation

Reincarnating As The Son Of His Rival Family Is Perfect For Him

• Genre: Adventure, Shonen, Dark Fantasy, Sword And Sorcery, Action, Reincarnation
• Author: Ilhwang
• Artist: Ramwoo

This story begins with the death of the One-Armed Devil and the hands of the Samion family. The Devil was an outlaw and enemy of the kingdom who tried to murder his whole family for rejecting him. After being killed, he is summoned by the spirit of a boy named Vincent Adenca, the son of a rival family to the royal lineage.

He is to occupy the body of Vincent, and he will become a Guardian Spirit, a previous stage of the ascension to godhood. Together they plan on resuming their plans for revenge against both families who rejected them for being “weak.” So, the story of two villains inhabiting a single body begins, but as things turn out, they end up becoming the heroes of this story.

4

66666 Years: Advent Of The Dark Magician

The Devil You Know, Wearing The Face Of A Innocent Child

• Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Drama
• Author: Hwabong
• Artists: Taru

Diablo Volpir is the name of an ancient dark wizard who ascended to godhood and challenged the gods, attempting to overthrow them and free humanity from their wicked power plays. Since he was too strong to be killed, all the gods gathered their forces to banish him, but they were only able to contain his power for 66666 years. After that time, the dimension holding him at bay collapses, and Diablo is free. Only, he doesn’t descend upon the world as his former self. Instead, his soul reincarnates in the body of a young noble: Jamie Welton.

The heir of the prestigious Welton family is quickly regarded as an envoy of the gods, since he receives the blessing of one of the Godesses he despised the most, an interesting proposal he cannot refuse: To help her rid the world of other deities. Now, the former villain turned hero will gather allies (former and new) in a crusade to destroy the corrupted divines once and for all.

3

Solo Leveling

An Ancient Being From Beyond Earth Merges His Soul With A Promising Hunter

• Genre: Action, Dark Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Reverse Isekai
• Author: Chu-Gong
• Artists: Gi So-Ryeong, Jang Sung-Rak

The story of Sung Jin-woo and how he died, and how his soul merged with one of the worst “villains” in the universe, is quite thrilling. Destined to become the new Shadow Monarch, this hero displays a brutal demeanor, slaying his foes and raising them back from the grave to do his bidding. Solo Leveling is both a powerful tale of death and rebirth and an action-packed adventure where heroes from our world try to fend off an extra-dimensional invasion emerging from some mysterious “portals.”

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As with many Urban Fantasy stories, this reverse isekai manhwa features “awakened” superhumans called Hunters, who form an association and rank their members from the D (lowest) to S (highest). At first, Jin-woo is ranked D, and at the bottom of the tier. However, as the story progresses, he quickly rises up the ranks and becomes a powerful Necromancer who wields both blade and dark magic.

2

FFF-Class Trashero

A Villainous Hero Is Redeemed Through An Infinite Loop, Then Falls Again

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shounen, Isekai
• Author: Farnar (Art & Story)
• Status: Complete

Kang Han Soo, a hero summoned against his will, is vicious and has a less-than-heroic attitude. However, no one can question his results, since he managed to kill the Demon Lord. The bad thing is that he brutally sacrificed his entire team, so the goddess condemns him to repeat the cycle in an infinite loop until he gains her approval.

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This is the story of a villainous character becoming a true hero, then realizing that to become the hero the world needs, he has to become the next Demon Lord. An endless cycle of misadventures awaits all readers who pick up this mean-spirited manhwa, with high doses of dark comedy.

1

The Villainess Lives Twice

She Gets A Second Chance To Mend Her Mistakes

• Genres: Romance, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Shoujo, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Mint
• Status: PEACHBERRY

Artezia, the most villainous child of the nobility, is reincarnated and offered a second chance. She decides to turn away from her old misdeeds and come to the aid of the hero, helping him bring peace to a kingdom riddled with war, political conspiracies, and the suffering of the “lesser folks.”

This story that follows the concept of noblesse obligè through the eyes of a former villainess turned heroine of the story. It is a good read, with a lot of heartwarming moments, some spicy romance scenes, and lots of action and adventure.

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8 Isekai Manhwa With Protagonists Who Refuse To Be Heroes, Ranked

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