Review
As far as anime protagonists go, Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling has proven to be more than the typical underdog character thanks to a major trait that is often easy to overlook. There’s no doubt that Jinwoo begins as the lowest E-rank hunter, being known by the infamous nickname of «humanity’s weakest weapon» and being the subject of mockery among other hunters due to his frail physique and lack of endurance. However, even as the weakest E-rank hunter, there’s a reason why Jinwoo could survive repeatedly against all odds.
Solo Leveling’s society revolves around power, with the strongest hunters having all the fame and recognition of their countries due to their importance to keeping the population safe. Sung Jinwoo experienced firsthand the harshness of the hunter’s world, where there is no place for mercy, being left to die in the Double Dungeon. However, it was in this traumatic event that Jinwoo displayed his true strength that set him apart from other hunters.
Sung Jinwoo's Intelligence Allowed Him to Survive as an E-Rank Hunter
Jinwoo Showcases His Tactical Side In the Double Dungeon
In the first two episodes of Solo Leveling’s anime, Jinwoo is the only one capable of deciphering the puzzles in the Cartenon Temple, which requires keen intelligence and mental strength to keep composure and calmly assess the situation. This is not something that any hunter, let alone anyone as weak as him, could have achieved. This highlights how Jinwoo managed to avoid death in every dungeon he participated in thanks to his quick thinking and not just by mere luck.
Jinwoo, despite awakening strength and regenerative capacity, is barely superior to an average human, proven by how, when having his rank measured after the Double Dungeon incident, his mana levels were just 10 when the average hunter had at least 70 in the reading. That’s why even the lowest-level dungeons were a great challenge for Jinwoo, and he never emerged unscathed and was often hospitalized. But living at the brink of death shapes Jinwoo’s character and makes him a strategist who will study his surroundings and enemies to find a way to survive.
Jinwoo Had the Odds Against Him Before Being Chosen by the System
Solo Leveling’s World Is Ruthless Against the Weak
In Solo Leveling, hunter’s ranks work as a luck system, as there is no way to know how much affinity to mana the person will have upon being awakened, nor are they able to increase their rank. But even if Jinwoo’s stats were the lowest of the E-Rank, it’s possible that with strong equipment he could have been a more effective hunter.
However, as weak hunters do not make much money despite risking their lives in dungeons, only the strongest ranks are able to afford the equipment needed to increase their resistance, if even slightly, and potentially do more damage to magic beasts. Moreover, Jinwoo lacks proper training, which explains how he was capable of fighting more efficiently after ing the daily quest of the System meant to strengthen his body and how he could attack better after getting a knife.
