The best arcs of the Solo Leveling webtoon

The webtoon Solo Leveling delivers a series of memorable arcs, each more intense than the last. Unsure where to jump in, or looking to relive the best moments? Here are the must-read arcs, in order, and why they are so impactful. Good news: since the main story is finished, you can read them all in one go.

1. The Double Dungeon: It all starts here

The foundational arc, and one of the most striking. During a routine raid, Sung Jin-Woo and his group discover a hidden dungeon inside another: the Cartenon Temple, guarded by a god-like statue that imposes deadly commandments. Jin-Woo flirts with death to save the others… and awakens with the System. Short, brutal, and emotionally charged, this arc sets the stage for the rest of the series.

2. The Ice Elf Dungeon

The first true test of his growing power, which he still hides from the rest of the world. Jin-Woo ventures into a freezing dungeon populated by ice elves and faces their king, Baruka. The reward? Formidable weapons and confirmation, for the reader, that he has already far surpassed his official rank. An arc that kicks the adrenaline up a notch.

3. The Jeju Island Arc

The iconic turning point of the work. An army of giant ants has turned the island into a restricted zone, and even S-rank hunters are overwhelmed. Jin-Woo faces the terrifying Ant King alone, defeats him, and extracts him: thus, Beru is born. This is the arc that shifts the series into another dimension — we detail it in our deep dive on the Jeju Island arc.

4. The Demon Castle

A dungeon like no other, darker, where Jin-Woo gains power and equipment while facing demons. The atmosphere shifts, the tone gets tougher, and the stakes rise: this arc serves as a springboard to the final part of the story and significantly enriches the hero's arsenal.

5. The Monarchs' War

The culmination of the entire saga. Jin-Woo finally fully embraces his role as the Shadow Monarch and faces the Monarchs — entities on a planetary scale — in titanic battles that decide the fate of humanity. A spectacular finale, worthy of the character's dizzying ascension.

Going further

To fully enjoy these arcs, keep Sung Jin-Woo's powers on hand (to understand each power-up), explore the universe & lore, and measure the strength of the protagonists in our ranking of the most powerful characters.

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The Solo Leveling webtoon delivers a series of memorable arcs, each more intense than the last. Unsure where to jump in, or looking to relive the best moments?