Solo Leveling hunter ranks: from E to National

In Solo Leveling, not all hunters are created equal, far from it. From the humble E-rank to the formidable S-rank, and up to the legendary National-level hunters, the world of hunters is built upon a strict hierarchy. How does this ranking system work? Who are the most powerful? And why does Sung Jin-Woo completely bypass this system? Here is the complete guide.

Where do hunters come from?

Everything changed the day that portals—also known as "gates" or dungeons—began appearing all over Earth, pouring monsters into our world. At the same time, some humans "awakened" and obtained superhuman powers: the hunters. It is they, and they alone, who can enter dungeons to eliminate the monsters before they devastate cities. Very quickly, a question arose: how to measure everyone's strength?

How are ranks assigned?

This is the role of the Hunter Association. When a person awakens, they take a test that evaluates their mana capacity. Based on the result, they are assigned a rank ranging from E (the weakest) to S (the most powerful). An important point: this rank primarily measures the amount of mana—that is, raw potential—not necessarily technique or combat experience. This is what made Sung Jin-Woo a simple E-rank hunter at the start, as told in his story.

The ranks, from weakest to strongest

The classic hierarchy breaks down as follows:

• E and D-rank — the weakest. Confined to low-danger dungeons, they earn little and risk a lot when faced with the slightest mishap.
• C and B-rank — solid hunters who make up the bulk of guild personnel and handle the majority of raids.
• A-rank — the "accessible" elite. Highly sought after, they are capable of tackling dangerous dungeons and often hold key positions in guilds.
• S-rank — extremely rare. Each country has only a handful. A single S-rank hunter can make the difference in a critical raid.

The link between hunter rank and dungeon rank

Dungeons are also ranked from E to S according to their danger level. The rule is simple: a hunter should never tackle a dungeon of a higher rank than their own, lest they lose their life. But the system has its traps: red gates, which seal shut, trapping the hunters inside, or the famous double dungeons, hidden dungeons much more dangerous than they appear—it was precisely in one of these that Jin-Woo brushed with death before obtaining his power.

National-level hunters

Above the S-rank exists a separate, unofficial, but very real category: National-level hunters. They are a tiny handful worldwide—only a few exist—and each is considered a strategic asset capable of rivaling a country's army single-handedly.

Among them are notably Thomas Andre (United States), Liu Zhigang (China), Christopher Reed, Siddharth Bachchan, and for Korea, the Association President, Go Gun-Hee. They are the only "human" hunters to approach power comparable to that of a Monarch. To see where their level stands against other figures in the series, check out our ranking of the most powerful characters.

A few iconic S-rank hunters

On the Korean side, several S-rank hunters have left their mark on history:

• Cha Hae-In — one of the most powerful hunters in Korea, with a fearsome sword.
• Baek Yoonho — master of the White Tiger Guild, capable of transforming into a beast.
• Choi Jong-In — powerful fire mage, head of the Hunters Guild.
• Go Gun-Hee — Association President, whose power commands respect despite his age.

You can find them in detail on our characters page.

A rank that can evolve

A rank is not set in stone. A hunter who feels they have progressed can request a re-evaluation from the Association. But in the vast majority of cases, an awakened person's potential remains fixed: one does not "level up" like in a video game. This is what makes Sung Jin-Woo's case unique.

The case of Sung Jin-Woo: in a league of his own

Sung Jin-Woo is the exception that breaks the system. Thanks to his System power, he is the only one who can level up without any limits. Officially classified as an E-rank hunter, he hides his true strength while secretly becoming infinitely more powerful than any S-rank—and even the National-level hunters. This is partly what makes his rise so thrilling: he shatters a hierarchy everyone believed was immutable. He demonstrates this brilliantly during the Jeju Island arc, then builds his army as we recount in our feature on the Shadow Army.

Frequently asked questions

To go further

Continue exploring the universe: discover the powers of Sung Jin-Woo, the highlight that is the Jeju Island arc, and what follows with Solo Leveling: Ragnarok. To learn everything about the hero, head to the Sung Jin-Woo page, and show your passion with our Solo Leveling goodies.

Frequently asked questions

What do you need to know about "Hunter ranks in Solo Leveling: from E to National"?

In Solo Leveling, not all hunters are created equal, far from it. From the humble E-rank to the formidable S-rank, and up to the legendary National-level hunters, the world of hunters is built upon a strict hierarchy.

Read also: Above S-rank exists a separate category: National-level hunters.

Read also: Rank isn't everything: also discover the hunter classes in Solo Leveling (fighter, mage, assassin…).

Read also: It is the Hunter Association that assigns these ranks after the awakening test.

Read also: A dungeon's rank decides everything: discover how a raid works.