In the brutal world of Solo Leveling, strength isn’t just measured by how hard one can hit. Of course, physical strength matters, but the strongest hunters are masters of strategy and adaptability too. Sometimes, things come down to having a strong will to survive. Hunters face terrifying dungeons where one mistake can mean instant death. The shōnen genre is full of tough characters who face danger on a daily basis. Still, not every shōnen protagonist is cut out for that kind of pressure. Many popular shōnen heroes thrive on teamwork or plot armor. But what would happen if they were suddenly dropped into a Solo Leveling dungeon? Stripped of their support systems and forced to rely solely on their instincts, a lot of them wouldn’t last in the higher-ranked dungeons.
It’s not that these characters are weak. Some, like Gon Freecss and Izuku Midoriya, are even iconic for their strength or potential. But Solo Leveling doesn’t play by shōnen’s rules. There’s no time for long-winded speeches or training arcs, and hesitation leads to death. Mindless fighting leads to death. Anyone who doesn’t constantly improve or gets left behind is as good as dead. The dungeons don’t care about backstories or big dreams. Even when hunters move in teams, they either survive on their own or never make it out.
10 Izuku Midoriya Is Too Analytical for Fast-Paced Survival
He’d Waste Precious Seconds Strategizing When He Should Be Fighting
Midoriya’s strength lies in his analytical abilities. He can study battle patterns in My Hero Academia, but Solo Leveling dungeons don’t give enough time to think. He’s brilliant at coordinated efforts, especially when he has time to plan or can rely on backup. Alone, though, his tendency to overanalyze would get him cornered before he even activates his Quirk.
Even with One For All, Midoriya’s solo survival instincts just aren’t sharp enough. He’s always been the kind of hero who thrives in structured environments with teachers, teammates or someone guiding him. Dungeons in Solo Leveling aren’t kind to thinkers who need a moment. They demand ruthless efficiency and sharp instincts in every decision. Midoriya might survive a few low-level gates, but anything beyond that would chew him up.
9 Yugi Mutou’s Powers Don’t Translate Outside a Duel
He’s Brilliant With a Deck of Cards, but Cards Won’t Save Him Here
In a structured environment like a Duel Monsters match in Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yugi Mutou shines. But drop him into a Solo Leveling dungeon, and everything that makes him formidable falls apart. His strengths revolve around reading opponents and outsmarting enemies within a strict ruleset. A dungeon doesn’t play by those rules. There are no turns, just raw violence and survival.
Without a controlled system to lean on, Yugi would be completely out of his depth. Even with Yami taking over, their combined intellect can’t compensate for the lack of actual combat ability. The monsters inside these dungeons don’t give anyone time to strategize, and they definitely don’t wait for dramatic speeches. Yugi’s courage is real, but courage alone isn’t enough when someone is unarmed and up against uncaring creatures.
8 Soma Yukihira Would Try To Cook the Monsters
Culinary Skills Don’t Translate To Combat Prowess
Soma’s approach to every challenge in Food Wars!: Shokugeki No Soma is to turn it into a cooking opportunity. He would probably think the same way in a Solo Leveling dungeon. Throughout Food Wars, viewers see him get excited about the most unusual ingredients, so dungeon monsters would be no different. The problem is that dungeon creatures aren’t food critics looking for their next great dining experience.
Soma would definitely challenge a dragon to a cooking battle instead of fighting it. He’d be convinced that his culinary skills could somehow pacify the monsters. Maybe they would relent if offered a perfectly seasoned meal. This mindset, coupled with his complete lack of combat training, would be his downfall. Unless he somehow fell into a culinary dungeon, Soma has no hope of survival.
7 Jonathan Joestar Is Too Noble for a Kill-or-Be-Killed World
His Honor Would Hold Him Back When It Matters Most
Jonathan Joestar of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is strong, righteous and self-sacrificing. But these are not traits that are rewarded in a Solo Leveling dungeon. For a story set in a world bound by chivalry and honor, Jojo is the perfect protagonist. But dungeons do not care about these things. In a dungeon, all that matters is speed and ruthlessness. Jonathan’s tendency to prioritize fairness and dignity over raw efficiency would leave him open to the first ambush.
In a setting where survival demands cold-blooded decisions, Jonathan’s ideals would betray him. He’s capable of fighting when pushed, but he doesn’t operate like someone constantly on edge. Jojo is rarely ever prepared to take a life at a moment’s notice. But that’s exactly the mindset needed in Solo Leveling’s world. Without someone to protect, or a cause to die for, Jonathan would lose his footing.
6 Tanjiro Kamado’s Empathy Would Cost Him Everything
Hesitation in Battle Is a Death Sentence in Solo Leveling
Tanjiro’s heart is his greatest strength, but in a dungeon, this would be his undoing. Even fans of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba sometimes get frustrated with how much he holds back when facing demons that show humanity. Despite this character trait being the heart of Demon Slayer, his empathy is also often a weakness. In the world of Solo Leveling, his kind heart would surely get him killed.
Tanjiro simply doesn’t have the killer instinct required to survive alone. His style depends not only on empathy but also on teamwork. Hunter teams might go into dungeons together, but survival often comes down to singular people. Meanwhile, Tanjiro would be dead if he didn’t have Nezuko, Inosuke, Zenitsu and everyone else who have trained or helped him. His fighting style and personality would simply not work in Solo Leveling.
5 Tsunayoshi Sawada Relies Too Much on Others To Function
He Only Steps Up When Someone Else Pushes Him To
Tsuna isn’t a natural-born fighter in Reborn!, he’s a reluctant one. Throughout his training to become Vongola Decimo, much of his growth comes from being cornered into action by the people around him. He has heart, and under pressure, he can rise to the occasion. But Solo Leveling dungeons don’t give time for that build-up. They demand immediate action and brutal efficiency.
Without his guardians or Reborn pushing him, Tsuna would freeze in the face of danger. His hyper-intuition might keep him alive for a moment, but raw instinct can’t carry someone through a battle. Dungeons don’t give pep talks, they break people. And while Tsuna might have powerful gear and potential, he lacks an independent mindset and a relentless survival instinct. He’d falter early, and that moment of hesitation would cost him everything.
4 Gon Freecss Would Befriend Every Monster in the Dungeon
Curiosity Killed the Cat, and It’ll Kill the Hunter Too
Gon’s endless curiosity and innocent nature make him a lovable protagonist in Hunter x Hunter. Throughout the anime, he approached dangerous situations with childlike wonder, trying to befriend creatures that most people would run from. Gon would definitely try to pet a saber-tooth tiger monster because it looks fluffy. His natural instinct is to see the good in everything.
This works when dealing with complex characters like Killua Zoldyck or even some villains. Unfortunately, most dungeon monsters are mindless killing machines programmed to attack intruders. He’d ignore obvious warning signs because he’d be too fascinated by the ecosystem. This would be bad for him because his Nen abilities require intense emotional focus. He’d be too busy taking notes about monster behavior patterns to properly defend himself when they inevitably attack.
3 Yusuke Urameshi Would Charge Straight Into a Boss Fight
Hot-Headed Delinquents Don’t Make Good Dungeon Strategists
Yusuke Urameshi’s «punch first, ask questions later» mentality worked fine in Yu Yu Hakusho when he had teammates to back him up. However, Solo Leveling dungeons require patience and strategy. Throughout the anime, viewers see Yusuke consistently rush into battles without proper preparation. He relies on his raw power and stubborn determination to pull through. This approach might work against demons in the Spirit World, but dungeon ecosystems are entirely different beasts.
Yusuke would absolutely skip every low-level dungeon and head straight for the boss room. He’d see the dungeon’s level recommendation as a personal challenge rather than a safety warning. The worst part? He’d probably survive the first few attempts through sheer luck and stubbornness. But his hard-headedness would only take him so far.
2 Senku Ishigami Would Overthink Himself to Death
Science Can’t Solve Everything When Monsters Are Charging at You
Senku is undoubtedly one of the smartest protagonists in anime. However, Dr. Stone has always made it clear that his physical abilities are practically nonexistent. His scientific knowledge helps him rebuild civilization, but that may be useless in a dungeon. Most dungeon encounters happen in seconds, requiring split-second combat decisions rather than careful scientific analysis.
Senku would spend too much time trying to understand dungeon mechanics instead of actually fighting. He’d be fascinated by the magical properties of the dungeon, and he’d want to study everything from monster biology to crystal formations. Even if he managed to create some scientific weapons beforehand, he lacks the physical coordination to use them effectively in combat. For Senku, a dungeon experience would be a death sentence.
1 Asta’s Anti-Magic Is Useless Against Physical Monsters
One-Trick Ponies Don’t Survive Dungeon Diversity
In Black Clover, Asta’s entire fighting style revolves around his anti-magic abilities. Every major threat he faces uses magic, making his abilities the perfect counter. However, Solo Leveling dungeons are filled with a diverse ecosystem of threats. Many of the deadliest creatures rely on pure physical prowess rather than magical attacks.
Asta would be completely helpless against a simple dungeon monster with no magical abilities. His swords can’t negate pure, overwhelming physical strength. While he’s built up some muscle from training, he’s nowhere near the level of raw physical power needed for dungeons. Even worse, his lack of strategic thinking would prevent him from adapting his approach. In Black Clover, he can always rely on his teammates to handle non-magical threats. But solo dungeon diving requires versatility he simply doesn’t possess.
