Summary
- Sung Jin-Woo evolves his Shadow Army with every battle, converting foes like Igris and Tusk into loyal allies.
- Jin-Woo’s Shadow Army includes creatures like High Orc shaman Tusk and former enemies like Iron.
- Jin-Woo strategically resurrects defeated foes like Tusk and Iron to strengthen his shadow army in Solo Leveling.
In Solo Leveling, Sung Jin-Woo’s rise from the world’s weakest hunter to one of the strongest in the series. As Jin-Woo levels up and becomes stronger, he begins to build an army that follows his wishes when summoned. The Shadow Army is one of the pinnacles of Jin-Woo’s power in the series because they grow with every battle and evolve alongside their master. Jin-Woo’s army is a collection of creatures and warriors resulting from his victory in the gates or the System’s dungeons. Some were once noble knights, others were terrifying beasts, and a few were even former enemies who had fought against him before becoming a part of his army in the Solo Leveling series.
Related
Solo Leveling: The Evolution of Sung Jin-Woo’s Shadow Army, Explained
Sung Jin-Woo’s Shadow Army grows as he conquers stronger foes, turning enemies like Igris and Beru into loyal, fearsome allies.
1
Igris
The Crimson Knight
- First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 11
If Jin-Woo’s army will have a general, it should be Igris. Before becoming a part of Jin-Woo’s shadow army, Igris was a fearsome opponent. He first appears as the Blood-Red Commander Igris, a knight clad in deep crimson armor, guarding a throne. Jin-Woo met Igris in one of the Instant dungeons that the System tasked him with. In this dungeon, Igris fought against Jin-Woo with purpose, and the great mastery of his blade shows that he is unlike other dungeon bosses JiN-Woo has met before.
At the point Jin-Woo fought against Igris, he was still growing and discovering the depths of his new abilities. However, despite Igris’s far-reaching abilities, Jin-Woo eliminates him. After Jin-Woo cleared Igris’s dungeon, the System gave him a Necromancer ability, and with this, he could extract Igris’s shadow and the other entities he fought against in the dungeon.
2
The Instant Dungeon Obstacle
Knights And Mages
- First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 11
When Jin-Woo entered Igris’s Instant dungeon, knights were the frontline defense he fought against. The System did not aid Jin-Woo with some of its abilities, hence he had to rely on his wits and combat skills against the knights. The knights did not go down easily and blocked Jin-Woo’s path to force him into unfavorable positions. While the knights fought Jin-Woo, the Mages stood behind them, casting spells and coordinating their attacks. When Jin-Woo vanquished them, he made them a part of his army. The Mages were his first set of spellcasters, and they could attack at a distance. The Mages’ powers protected Jin-Woo against Kargalgan later in the series.
Related
Solo Leveling: How Much Has Sung Jin-Woo Changed Since Season 1?
Once the butt of jokes among South Korean hunters, Sung Jin-woo transformed into a fearless warrior after his second awakening.
3
Tusk And His High Orcs
An Epitome Of Magic
- First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 5
Tusk was originally a high Orc shaman and the boss of a dungeon. His terrifying magic abilities will make him one of the most versatile assets in Jin-Woo’s shadow army. When Jin-Woo faced Tusk, it was clear from the start that his magic powder and aura were on another level. Jin-Woo had to summon his shadow army to face Kargalgan’s high Orcs army. Also, Kargalgan controlled the battlefields with high-level spells by keeping his distance from Jin-Woo. His intelligence made him a nightmare opponent because he didn’t just attack blindly; his command over the High Orcs made them a nearly unstoppable force.
However, Jin-Woo was in a league on his own and, at a point, resurrected some of his dead high orcs as part of his shadow army. In this way, Jin-Woo used Kargalgan’s resurrected army against his forces. In the end, Jin-Woo killed Kargalgan and resurrected him and army to become a part of his shadow army. Jin-Woo renamed Kargalgan on the Dystem and named him Tusk. Jin-Woo’s shadow army was already terrifying before Tusk joined. With the high Orc shaman, his raw magical strength filled the gap of long-range destruction that Jin-Woo hadn’t yet fully addressed.
4
Iron
The Human Shadow
- First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 2
Before he became a part of the Shadow Army, Iron was Kim Chul, a high-ranked hunter who, at first glance, seemed like a respectable leader. He was one of the experienced hunters in the group trapped inside the Red Gate dungeon, and he carried himself like a man with authority. However, his personality quickly changed when faced with true danger, especially during his altercation with the elves that killed all his subordinates. He viewed Jin-Woo, still considered an E-rank at the time, as a problem.
During Jin-Woo’s fight against the elves’ leader, Barca, he tried to use the distraction to eliminate Jin-Woo because of his anger towards him. However, Jin-Woo gave him a second life with a new purpose; to be a part of his shadow army. Iron retained the brute strength he had as Kim Chul but with even greater resilience and combat skills.
Related
Solo Leveling: Why Healers Are the Most Important Hunters in a Party
Despite only offering healing and utility, Healers are arguably the most important Hunter type. Here’s a closer look at their crucial role.
5
Tank And The Iced Bears
The Red Gate Horror
- First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 2
During an ordinary raid, a C-rank gate turned into a Red Gate. Normally, gates allow entry and exit, but a Red Gate differs. A red gate is a one-way ticket because it seals all the hunters within until they clear the dungeon or die trying. In other words, there won’t be reinforcements or outside help; it is just a battle to the death. In the red gate, Jin-Woo is trapped inside with some other hunters. In the gate, their foes are Ice Elves and Ice Bears. For Jin-Woo, this is just a means to level up and become stronger.
To clear the gate, Jin-Woo single-handedly faced the ice bears and easily killed them. After the deaths of the ordinary ice bears, their alpha and leader charged against Jin-Woo but only met his death. Afterward, Jin-Woo extracted his shadow and made him and his minions part of his shadow army.