Most Overpowered Hunter Abilities In Solo Leveling

Summary

• National Level Hunters like Christopher Reed wield Spiritual Body Manifestations to transform, gaining immense power.
• Sung Jinwoo’s Dragon’s Fear skill overwhelms enemies and even affects Monarchs.
• Some hunters like Baek Yoonho tap into Transformation abilities for increased strength and intimidation.

The Solo Leveling anime and manga series portrays a world in which humans have evolved to develop abilities that allow them to combat the monsters that appear in gates. While humans have indeed evolved, only relatively few humans have awakened abilities that enable them to be hunters.

As hunters, these sets of humans are stronger than most, but their power comes with the responsibility of facing monsters and gates that could easily get them killed. Among the various classes of hunters, various abilities exist. While some abilities are the bare minimum that a hunter must have, such as faster reflexes and increased durability, some hunter abilities portrayed in Solo Leveling are downright overpowered.

Updated March 23, 2025, by Oluwatokiloba Folami: With the second season of Solo Leveling nearing its peak, fans have witnessed some of the most impressive displays of strength. From Jinwoo’s ever-growing arsenal of weapons and abilities to the might of National Level Hunters and even monsters, it has been a thrilling, action-packed experience. Speaking of abilities, amongst the myriad of them are those abilities that are devastating enough to be considered overpowered. The sheer power of these abilities is enough to wipe out high-ranked monsters and high-ranked hunters. Some even give Monarchs a run for their money. Be it freezing Monarchs in place or causing damage that could be likened to natural disasters, these skills are testaments to the strength of their users and why they are at the peak of the hunter world in Solo Leveling.

11

Spiritual Body Manifestations

National Level Hunters

• Debut: Chapter 140 (Christopher Reed)
• Usage: Buff / Transformation

Although the true form of Spiritual Body Manifestation is accessible only to Monarchs, Vessels of Rulers, which consist primarily of all the National Level Hunters, are theoretically capable of this overpowered skill. This skill allows these hunters to transform into their Ruler’s spiritual body, giving them an immense boost in overall stats and abilities.

While this skill, the hunters’ side of it, was not displayed as much in the series, the few instances that it was used left a mark. Christopher Reed, for example, set his entire residence ablaze after using this skill, a fire that required 1800 firefighters and 14 top-level mages to put out. However, it appears to be a highly difficult and taxing skill to activate, as even one of the monarchs was shocked at Reed’s transformation.

10

Dragon’s Fear

Sung Jinwoo

• Debut: Chapter 173
• Usage: Debuff

Antares could not believe his eyes the moment Sung Jinwoo used this technique. Dragon’s fear is a skill that allows its user to let out a roar that incapacitates everyone around them and sends them into despair, whether allies or enemies. While this skill might require certain conditions, such as fighting alone to prevent friendly fire, Jinwoo’s use of it in the fight against Antares was pure chef’s kiss.

This skill is so overpowered in the hands of Jinwoo that it was also able to affect Yogumunt, a fellow Monarch. Since the skill only affects beings weaker than the user, this very scene cuts off any doubt of Yogumunt’s standing compared to Jinwoo in terms of strength if there was ever any.

9

Flame Spear

Choi Jong-In

• Debut: Chapter 95
• Usage: Offensive Magic

While Jong-In might not be ahead of the late Christopher Reed when it comes to fire-based abilities, the damage his skills cause is definitely up there. Among the myriad of flame skills in his arsenal is one whose destructiveness is enough to send a Boss Magic Beast flying, and that is the Flame Arrow.

This skill involves him forming a bow and arrow out of fire and firing the arrow at his enemy, causing devastating damage. It is also a very flashy technique, as are most of his skills. It is almost a shame that this technique will not be animated any time soon, as he was shown using it in Ragnarok.

8

Transformation

Baek Yoonho

• Debut: Chapter 90 (partial)
• Usage: Buff

As a S-rank hunter, Baek Yoonho’s signature ability is his transformation. Without transforming into a beast, Baek Yoonho is already capable of extraordinary feats relative to weaker-level hunters; however, when he goes all out, he transforms into a humanoid white tiger-like beast.

In his beast form, Baek Yoonho’s strength and speed are significantly increased, granting him far more strength and durability. Despite gaining way more power, Baek Yoonho doesn’t readily transform into his beast form unless the situation calls for it. Moreover, baek Yoonho can choose to only transform specific parts of his body. As his transformation also grants him claws and fangs, many weaker hunters find themselves intimidated in his presence.

7

Barrier Magic

Yuri Orloff

• Debut: Chapter 123
• Usage: Defense

Not all S-rank hunters are skilled fighters. As there are S-rank healers, there are also S-rank hunters who specialize in support magic. Yuri Orloff was one such hunter, and he specialized in magic barriers.

While his offensive prowess was subpar for a S-rank hunter, his defensive prowess was not to be underestimated. With his magical barriers, Orloff was able to restrain even S-rank hunters. Furthermore, he succeeded in making his barriers self-sufficient to block off an S-rank gate. Although the giants that came through the gate eventually shattered the barrier, very few hunters had the ability to break through it.

6

Ruler’s Authority/Capture

Sung Jin-Woo, Thomas Andre, All Vessels Of The Rulers

• Debut: Chapter 40
• Usage: Telekinesis

The ability Ruler’s Authority (also known as Capture) serves as a simple telekinetic ability that allows Sung Jin-Woo to control objects or bring them closer to himself. While a simple ability to use, Ruler’s Authority’s versatility and strength in battle make it one of Sung Jin-Woo’s most used abilities.

Apart from Sung Jin-Woo, the Rulers and their vessels also possess this ability. When Thomas Andre activated Capture, Sung Jin-Woo likened the ability to a black hole that sucked everything in. Thankfully, with Ruler’s Authority, Sung Jin-Woo was able to stop himself from getting sucked in. Interestingly, Ruler’s Authority is a skill exclusive only to the Rulers and their vessels; however, as Ashborn was a former Ruler, Sung Jin-Woo was granted the ability.

5

Bloodlust

Sung Jin-Woo

• Debut: Chapter 24
• Usage: Intimidation

Different characters have been seen using Bloodlust or Murderous Intent in the Solo Leveling series. Oftentimes, hunters using bloodlust or letting out their murderous intent is what prompts the system’s activation, making Sung Jin-Woo compulsorily eliminate all threats.

While some hunters have bloodlust, Sung Jin-Woo’s bloodlust manifests as a skill that allows him to intimidate an opponent, making them paralyzed to the point of submission through fear alone. While this ability doesn’t work on stronger opponents, it shines when used against many weaker enemies, sparing the user the haggle of having to eliminate thousands of weaker beings one at a time.

4

Reinforcement

Thomas Andre

• Debut: Chapter 146
• Usage: Buff

Before Sung Jin-Woo’s rise to fame, Thomas Andre held the seat of the most powerful hunter and ranked first in the world. Apart from his already overpowering physical prowess and abilities, Thomas’ ability, Reinforcement, made him a hunter that few could even consider taking on. With Reinforcement, Thomas’ body is covered from head to toe with golden scales, drastically improving his defensive prowess.

As an already bulky hunter, Thomas covering himself with golden scales makes him look like a war god with the skills to match. During Sung Jin-Woo’s and Thomas’ fight, Sung Jin-Woo bruised his hands from punching Thomas’ reinforced body, showing how tough Reinforcement is.

3

Detoxification & Regeneration

Sung Jin-Woo

• Debut: Chapter 25
• Usage: Buff

Due to the system’s interference and his player-like status, Sung Jin-Woo gained the passive ability to regenerate his injuries and be free from all poisons. As a passive ability, Sung Jin-Woo’s detoxification prevents him from even getting drunk, breaking down the intoxicating agents found in alcohol.

While all hunters typically heal faster than normal humans, after Sung Jin-Woo completed the secret quest: “Courage of the Weak,” he was granted immunity from toxic and abnormal conditions, and his regenerative capacity increased. As one of the rewards from the Double Dungeon incident, this skill was also what healed Sung Jin-Woo’s leg after he lost it against the Statue of God.

2

Dimensional Travel

Sung Jin-Woo

• Debut: Chapter 165
• Usage: Teleportation

Whether it be in real-life scenarios or multi-dimensional fictional stories, transportation is always a matter of concern, more so, if characters want to cross dimensions. Thankfully, what started as a pipe dream for Sung Jin-Woo ended up becoming a reality as Sung Jin-Woo gained the ability to cross dimensions at a whim.

Initially, Sung Jin-Woo’s teleportation was limited to shadow exchange; an ability that let him swap places with his shadows regardless of where they were. However, after fully tapping into his monarchic powers, Sung Jin-Woo became able to transverse dimensions. Apart from the protagonist of the series, all monarchs have been shown to be able to cross dimensions when they wish, but as a hunter with this ability, Sung Jin-Woo has set himself apart.

1

Necromancy

Sung Jin-Woo

• Debut: Chapter 45
• Usage: Summoning

Of all the abilities portrayed in the Solo Leveling series, Sung Jin-Woo’s necromancy is without a doubt one of the deadliest. Even before getting into contact with the Shadow Monarch, Sung Jin-Woo was granted the necromancy class and could revive his past adversaries as his minions.

While the minions would be weaker, they could infinitely regenerate as long as Sung Jin-Woo had enough mana. With his shadow minions, Sung Jin-Woo became a one-man army, making him induce fear and awe even in his fellow S-class hunters. As a mage-type hunter, many hunters have recognized Sung Jin-Woo’s necromancy as a top-tier ability.