Solo Leveling: Artifacts, Explained

In the third episode of Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- Hwang Dongsoo suffers a humiliating defeat against Sung Jinwoo’s father, Sung Il Hwan, who had been trapped in a Gate for ten years before emerging from an A-Rank Gate that opened up in the United States. After his beatdown, Hwang Dongsoo is enraged and vows to take on Il Hwan a second time, but this time, with the right equipment, referring to a class of Hunter gear called “Artifacts”. These are supposedly extremely rare, although they can feasibly be obtained via auction.

What exactly are Artifacts, and can using them give Hwang Dongsoo the upper hand against an opponent that beat him in an instant?

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Solo Leveling: 7 Most Powerful Artifacts In The Manhwa

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Explaining Artifacts

Much Like Armour and Weaponry in An RPG

In episode 4 of Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise From the Shadow-, Hwang Dongsoo is recovering from several intense injuries after his defeat against Sung Il Hwan. After the Deputy Chief of the Hunter Association in the US visits him in hospital and asks him what his assessment of the entity known as Sung Il Hwan was, Dongsoo implies that what he went up against wasn’t human. When alone again, Dongsoo recalls the threat Il Hwan made after their battle, and is consumed with rage, deciding that he just needs to find the right gear that will make it possible for him to crush Sung Il Hwan. Artifacts are described as high-level gear that not even experienced craftsmen can produce. In many RPGs, these are unique items that have various special effects and can sometimes form part of a set.

They can be found in online auctions, but they’re very expensive. An S-Rank Hunter like Hwang Dongsoo would have no worry buying such items. Jinwoo’s Kasaka’s Venom Fang and the Sphere of Avarice that he obtained after defeating Metis, Guide of Souls at the Demon Castle, are both examples of Artifacts. It is imperative for a Hunter to put together the right equipment before embarking on dangerous Raids, as the various buffs and debuffs granted by various kinds of Artifacts can be the difference between life and death. The aforementioned Kasaka’s Venom Fang inflicts a devastating poisoned status effect that rapidly mows through the target’s health, and is especially effective against human enemies. While Artifacts can be weapons and armour, they can also be runestones that are imbued with rare Skills, potions like the Elixir of Life; capable of curing all illnesses, and even the Cup of Reincarnation, an item crafted by the Absolute Being, capable of reversing time itself.

The Most Powerful Artifact Seen in The Anime So Far

The Orb of Avarice is a Damage Multiplier of Epic Proportions

At this point, the most powerful Artifact we have been shown in the Solo Leveling anime so far is the Orb of Avarice, which Jinwoo obtained after defeating Metus, Guide of Souls in his second visit to the Demon Castle. It is an A-Rank item that doubles its user’s magic damage, which is incredible, since items that augment users’ magical abilities are rare enough as it is, and most of them can do no more than increase one’s abilities by 50%. As powerful as the Orb of Avarice is, Jinwoo doesn’t have much use for it, but he has thought about giving it to the mages in his Shadow Army to bolster their magic damage.

He eventually gives the Orb of Avarice to Tusk, the Shadow of Kargalgan, a high-orc shaman that Jinwoo will soon meet in the anime. The Red Knight’s Helmet, which he obtained after defeating Igris the Bloodred, is an S-Rank piece of armour that gives Jinwoo a major boost in Stamina and Strength, while reducing all incoming damage by 15%. Barca’s Dagger has immense DPS, while the Demon Monarch’s Earring grants him a boost in Strength and Vitality. While these are epic items that have been very helpful to Sung Jinwoo, they pale in comparison to what he’s about to obtain from here on out.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

Writers

Noboru Kimura

Cast

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  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

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  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)

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  Haruna Mikawa

  Aoi Mizushino (voice)

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