Sung Jin-Woo’s Biggest Weaknesses In The Anime

Halfway through the second season of Solo Leveling, it has become clear to everybody that Sung Jinwoo is quite possibly the most powerful Hunter in the world. The reason why he deserves this title is not only because of his innate physical strength, but also due to the terrifying army of shadows under his command that will overpower and demolish anything in their path.

That being said, even the strongest S-Rank hunter like Jinwoo still has some glaring weaknesses that he needs to work on. With that in mind, here are Sung Jinwoo’s 7 biggest weaknesses. By the way, this list is based on the Sung Jinwoo that we have seen in the two seasons of Solo Leveling thus far. So think of it more as a temporary list rather than a definitive list of Jinwoo’s shortcomings.

7

Insistence on Doing Everything by Himself

A One-Man Army

• Character’s Name: Yoo Jinho
• First Appearance: Episode 1

Ever since Jinwoo acquired the ability to awaken and command the shadow army, he prefers to dive into a dungeon on his own. There are a couple of reasons why he decides to do so. Firstly, he wants to keep his ability a secret. Secondly, he doesn’t want to endanger other people. Thirdly, battling monsters with his shadow army is much more efficient than forming a strike team with fellow Hunters.

However, there’s a danger in insisting on doing everything by yourself. The most obvious one is exhaustion. His body might not tire easily, but even an S-Rank hunter like Jinwoo can experience mental exhaustion after fighting nonstop for hours. The shadows won’t be able to notice his mental exhaustion, but a close friend like Yoo Jinho can easily notice the smallest changes in Jinwoo’s mannerisms and ask him to stop for a bit and take a breather. Shadow soldiers may be loyal and powerful, but they can’t replace genuine human interaction between friends.

6

Increasing Indifference

He No Longer Cared

• Character’s Name: Kim Chul
• First Appearance: Episode 1 (Season 2)

Sung Jinwoo is on the path to becoming the most powerful being in the world. Not only that, but since he is the incarnation of the Monarch of Shadows, it’s safe to say that he is no longer human. That’s why, slowly but surely, it becomes harder for him to relate and care about the fate of most humans around him.

Take the Red Gate incident, for example. Sure, Kim Chul is an arrogant and incompetent leader, but the B-Rank and C-Rank hunters who decide to follow him do so because he is the highest-ranked hunter in the group. They merely think about their survival. Had they known about Jinwoo’s true power, they would’ve absolutely followed him instead. Jinwoo knows that those people will likely die, yet he doesn’t care enough to spare a shadow to protect them. The White Tiger Guild lost several young hunters that day, yet Jinwoo is only upset because he couldn’t extract the ice elf’s shadow. He can easily save them all, but he doesn’t do so because he has become increasingly indifferent to everything.

5

Over-Reliance on Potions

There’s a Potion for Everything

• Character’s Name: Cerberus
• First Appearance: Episode 7

Most gamers who play RPG games know that one of the most important items that needs to be in the inventory, especially when fighting the boss, is potions. Having the right potions is often the difference between life and death. Jinwoo understands this as well, which is why he always purchases health potions, mana potions, and stamina potions from the shop before every major battle.

Among the three potions, the most crucial one is actually the mana potion. After all, shadow soldiers consume mana, and their strength and numbers directly affect how much is used. In a prolonged battle against a powerful enemy, Jinwoo must rely on multiple mana potions to keep fighting. This is precisely what he does during his fight against Cerberus. This also means that an enemy can exploit this weakness by constantly attacking his shadows and keeping him too occupied to drink potions until he runs out of mana. Without mana, Jinwoo loses access to half of his abilities.

4

Lack of Defense

Always on the Offensive

• Character’s Name: Iron
• First Appearance: Episode 3 (Season 2)

As an assassin who dabbles in necromancy, defense is not the first priority for Sung Jinwoo. Strength and speed are way more important for a silent killer like him. Even stealth is more vital than defense. That’s why he never wears any sort of armor because it will only slow him down. The only sort of defense that he uses are items and accessories that boost his defense.

It’s true that Jinwoo already has a tank shadow warrior named Iron, but he can’t always cover Jinwoo, especially in the middle of a chaotic battle. Furthermore, considering Jinwoo’s fighting style, which requires him to get close to the enemy, a lack of personal defense has caused him many injuries. A proper defensive skill or outfit will certainly go a long way.

3

Lack of Healing Ability

Need to Stop and Retreat

• Character’s Name: Lee Joohee
• First Appearance: Episode 1

Since Jinwoo usually fights together with his shadow army, he doesn’t really have a certain specialist that usually exists in every strike team, a healer. It’s impossible not to get hurt when challenging high-ranked dungeons, so the only thing that he can do to alleviate the pain, heal the wound, and restore his HP is through the potions that he purchased through the shop, as mentioned earlier.

As an assassin and a necromancer, Jinwoo doesn’t have healing abilities. So, rather than preparing more potions, the best option is to actually have a dedicated healer, like Lee Joo-Hee or Min Byung-Gyu. After all, a dedicated healer will be able to heal Jinwo without him having to stop and hide from the enemy for a bit.

2

The Importance of Family

The Source of Strength and Weakness

• Character’s Name: Sung Jinah
• First Appearance: Episode 1

Family is clearly the most important thing to Sung Jinwoo. After all, the reason why he decided to become a hunter is because he wants to pay for his mom’s medical bills and provide a decent life for his little sister, Sung Jinah.

But just like any other hero stories out there, family and loved ones are both the source of strength and also a great weakness for the hero. After all, the last thing Jinwoo wants is for the enemy to find out his family’s whereabouts and use them as hostages. Even somebody as powerful as Jinwoo won’t be able to concentrate and move freely if his family is in danger. If he can find a way to keep his family safe 24/7, he will certainly have an easier time going all out in a fight.

1

The Inability to Defy the System

A Player Who is Bound by the System

• Character’s Name: Statue of God
• First Appearance: Episode 1

Most of the weaknesses mentioned on this list can be fixed. After all, most of them are inherently something that has to do with either his skills—or the lack thereof—or his personality. This particular shortcoming, on the other hand, comes from outside his control, which is why it is so difficult to overcome.

As somebody who is designated as a player by the system, Jinwoo is bound to follow anything that the system tells him to do. From the daily quest that forces him to work out no matter what, to the emergency quest that forces him to kill certain targets, usually humans, Sung Jinwoo has to do them all. Failure to follow the system’s direction means heavy punishment.

It doesn’t matter how strong Jinwoo has become; when the system tells him to do something, he has to obediently follow. This is a major weakness that will only be resolved once we get near the end of the series. So, if you prefer to watch the anime rather than read the original webtoon, stay tuned because Sung Jinwoo will overcome most of these weaknesses in the upcoming seasons.