How Weak Is Jin-Woo as an E-Rank Hunter?

Solo Leveling is a series that tells the story of Sung Jin-Woo, a weak E-rank hunter, and his rise to power—and, of course, to fame. In the beginning, Jin-Woo pales in comparison with Jujutsu Kaisen’s Gojo Satoru, One Piece’s Monkey D. Luffy, and many other shounen protagonists with monstrous powers. Jin-Woo is so weak that he’s truly deserving of the title of The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind.

Sung Jin-Woo’s journey from an E-rank hunter to the strongest character in Solo Leveling is no joke. He survived countless life-or-death situations, not just because of plot armor, but because of his sheer determination to survive at all costs. Although his journey is not an unfamiliar narrative, Jin-Woo still proves that weak characters are simply waiting for the best chance for redemption.

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How Weak Is Jin-Woo as an E-Rank Hunter?

Life Is Hard for E-Rank Hunter Sung Jin-Woo

Most humans consider awakening a blessing since it opens new doors for personal growth and financial stability. In Jin-Woo’s case, however, the phenomenon is more of a burden and possibly a curse. Yes, Jin-Woo becomes an awakener, but if people disregard his slightly abnormal strength and regeneration, it will be embarrassing for Jin-Woo to act like a hunter.

As an E-rank hunter with pathetic abilities, Jin-Woo always gets hurt in the line of duty. He’s weak enough to get serious injuries in an E-rank gate, making him a laughingstock among his colleagues. He has countless near-death encounters, but he still doesn’t want to retire. For a normal person with no exceptional skill and talent, Jin-Woo has no choice but to become a hunter to support his family, whether he likes it or not. With his mom sick at the hospital with Eternal Slumber and his father missing for over a decade, Jin-Woo has no choice but to be strong and continue his lackluster hunter career.

To avoid further embarrassment, Jin-Woo would rather lie about his motivations, just as he did when Joo-He asked him why he didn’t want to retire. Instead of telling people about his miserable situation, Jin-Woo tells everyone that he’s just a bored hunter who only joins raids for fun. But the truth remains: Jin-Woo is still a useless E-rank hunter.

Sung Jin-Woo’s Dismal Abilities

It’s not fun to be a weak hunter with dismal abilities. As a lowly E-rank hunter, Jin-Woo becomes a burden to the healers, who need to work extra hard whenever he’s around. They must heal Jin-Woo repeatedly to avoid casualties, which takes a huge toll on their mana reserve. In other words, Jin-Woo is always in debt to the healers, especially to Joo-Hee, the B-rank healer who always looks out for him.

Unlike other hunters of the same rank, Jin-Woo doesn’t have the luxury of purchasing weapons and equipment. One time, Jin-Woo invests in an expensive dagger only to loot three E-class magic crystals—hardly enough to justify the cost. He still failed to make ends meet, so he chose to take care of the monsters by using his body, fully relying on the healers who would patch him up so long as his injuries were treatable.

Vulnerable Moments of E-Rank Hunter Sung Jin-Woo

There’s No Trace of Jin-Woo’s Current Self

Sung Jin-Woo’s first raid is a stark contrast to the ones he will eventually clear on his own. During this particular raid, Jin-Woo accidentally finds himself separated from his party and lost in the dungeon. To make matters worse, an E-rank goblin also strikes Jin-Woo in the back, leaving him with serious injuries that land him in a hospital bed for a week.

Before joining Joo-Hee and Song Yi-Chul in the D-rank dungeon, Jin-Woo also revealed that he got hurt in an E-rank dungeon. Since his fellow hunters were ranked higher than him, they didn’t bother bringing a healer, leaving Jin-Woo defenseless and vulnerable.

Jin-Woo’s misfortunes didn’t stop there. For an unknown reason, Jin-Woo also finds himself trapped in a dungeon, where he thinks he will die of starvation. While it’s fortunate that the dungeon isn’t high-level, it’s still embarrassing that Jin-Woo had to risk his life to survive.

Ultimately, Jin-Woo’s traumatizing experience in the double dungeon incident highlights just how weak he is against a far stronger opponent. In the face of imminent death, he can’t do anything but reflect on his pathetic life, let alone fight back against the statues or think of better ways to survive.

Sung Jin-Woo’s struggles as an E-rank hunter lay the foundation of his transformation. Without Jin-Woo’s vulnerable moments, his rise to power as the successor of the Shadow Monarch wouldn’t have carried the same weight. Beyond that, Jin-Woo’s days as an E-rank hunter in Solo Leveling are just one of the many reasons why fans can relate to him.

Solo Leveling

Release Date

January 7, 2024

Directors

Shunsuke Nakashige

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  Taito Ban

  Shun Mizushino (voice)

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  Genta Nakamura

  Kenta Morobishi (voice)