10 Biggest Problems With ‘Solo Leveling’

In the past couple of weeks, if you’ve been anywhere near the corner of the internet where anime lovers cannot stop gushing about Solo Leveling, then you definitely know why it is so appealing in the first place. The Japanese light-novel-turned-manhwa-turned-anime has become widely popular with its unique take on the power fantasy genre. But while the series is hugely entertaining, a deeper look at the narrative reveals a bunch of head-scratching moments.

At its core, Solo Leveling tells the story of Jinwoo, a young man who finds himself at the bottom of the food chain in a world where certain individuals have an awakening, develop abilities, and are given ranks based on their strength levels. Jinwoo is an E-rank Hunter, but after a harrowing experience in a double dungeon, he attains the power to level up – grow stronger with each battle – and become one of the strongest Hunters to ever exist.

The series’ popularity is proof of how much fans enjoy the power fantasy trope, which allows them to vicariously experience the thrill of watching an underdog rise to glory. Solo Leveling has some stunning, adrenaline-pumping scenes, and it is addictive to no end. But the anime is not without its flaws. There is some questionable logic about the narrative and character arcs, and we explore them in depth in this list, which counts down 10 puzzling moments of the anime; things that make absolutely no sense in Solo Leveling at all.

10

Civilians Seem Oddly Calm and Unaffected by the Gates

Yes, the gates – portals that connect the human realm to the realm of monsters – appeared over ten years ago and have since served as a constant threat to the safety and well-being of the general population. And one might argue that the civilians have grown accustomed to them. But the fact that they are living in a world where death can literally come out of thin air, where monsters capable of wiping out entire cities can break out of these gates, must elicit some reaction? Some panic?

People in Solo Leveling go about their daily lives as if Hunters have everything under control. Even when major disasters occur, like the S-rank Dungeon Break in Seoul, the aftermath of an average citizen exposed to such danger is barely explored. This created an odd disconnect between those involved and civilians, who became background props. Even Jinwoo’s sister (and now his mother) seems unaffected by his powers and is never once terrified or desperate.

9

There Is Absolutely No Government Oversight

One of the most puzzling aspects of Solo Leveling’s world is the complete absence of meaningful regulations or government oversight. For a world where supernatural gates opened a decade ago, and have since been unleashing deadly monsters, the lack of intervention from officials does not sit well. Hunters, while belonging to guilds, often operate as individual mercenaries. There is no real system governing them to ensure that their conduct is ethical and that the destruction they end up causing is absolutely necessary.

This is particularly evident with S-rank Hunters, the most powerful individuals in the world, and their reckless actions. Goto Ryuji from Japan is shown as an arrogant Hunter who never takes accountability for his actions. This lack of government control leads to absurd situations. In Episode 1, Jinwoo’s party is trapped in the dungeon, multiple deaths occur, and yet, no one is held responsible. Later, when Jinwoo himself becomes powerful, he operates outside the law, as if society is his personal playground.

Related

10 Best Dungeon Crawl Anime Like ‘Solo Leveling’

The appeal of ‘Solo Leveling’ is insane, and these dungeon crawl anime scratch the same itch.

8

The World-Building Is Greatly Unbalanced

The world of Solo Leveling is all about magic, monsters, and Hunters co-existing, but it’s not exactly deep or consistent. Some aspects, like the hierarchy of Hunters and the ranking system, as well as the guilds they belong to, are well-developed. While others, such as the origin of gates, the role of the government, the broader impact of magic, and mana radiation, which awaken magic in some individuals and illness in others, are not explained with clarity.

Because the story focuses heavily on Jinwoo’s journey and his personal goals, instead of how the world functions beyond his perspective, the entire setting feels like a backdrop for his power fantasy rather than a fully realized reality. Compared to anime series like Fullmetal Alchemist, where world-building is integrated into the narrative, Solo Leveling glosses over details.

7

The Lack of Mental Health Support for Hunters

A glaring omission in the world of Solo Leveling is the apparent lack of any mental health support or resources for the Hunters. They have a profession where death is a daily risk. They face life-threatening situations, witness gruesome deaths, fight the most agonizing battles, and endure unimaginable trauma, and yet there is no system to help them cope with it all.

Sung Jinwoo and the party undergo extreme psychological stress during the Double Dungeon incident, where the surviving Hunters watch others getting slaughtered in brutal ways. Lee Joohee, a B-rank healer, is traumatized to the point where she retires as a Hunter. Despite this, there is no mention of therapy or counseling. Also, Hunters like Cha Hae-in and Baek Yoonho are mentioned to have undergone the worst experiences, but they are not struggling emotionally, which is not realistic.

6

The Dungeon Formula Is Quite Repetitive

At first, the dungeon system in Solo Leveling seems like a thrilling concept – gates open, its strength is assessed, and a team of appropriate Hunters is assembled, who then rush in to defeat the boss and close it before a dungeon break occurs. But after a few arcs, the formula becomes too familiar. Most dungeons follow the same structure where Hunters face progressively stronger armies and always succeed in defeating the boss. For once, what happens when the boss wins?

The issue isn’t just the repetition, but the lack of variation. The entire dungeon system fails to be more complex, and it’s clearly not impossible because other RPG-inspired anime like Sword Art Online or Log Horizon have been creative with their dungeon mechanics. But in Solo Leveling, these exist purely as battlegrounds. Little is known about their origins so far, but the anime could definitely make them a more organic part of the story.

5

Supporting Characters Solely Exist to Praise Jin-Woo

Another (slightly) frustrating aspect of Solo Leveling’s narrative is how every supporting character exists with one purpose – to admire Sung Jinwoo. Whether it is fellow Hunters, government officials, guild bosses, or even antagonists, the moment they witness Jinwoo’s power, their personalities take a backseat and shower endless praise. Rather than being allowed to develop as complex, well-rounded characters, they are reduced to admirers.

Even Cha Hae-In, an S-rank Hunter with incredible abilities and a devoted fanbase, has an arc that revolves around being awestruck by Jinwoo’s presence. This makes every interaction between Jinwoo and the next character seem one-dimensional. This over-reliance on supporting characters as cheerleaders for Jinwoo’s journey as a hero only undermines their potential for growth but also contributes to the series’ greater incapacity for character development.

4

The Fights Are Too Predictable

From the moment Sung Jinwoo starts leveling up, the battles in Solo Leveling begin following a pattern – he faces an opponent, struggles, but only for a brief amount of time, then unlocks a new ability or simply overwhelms them with his strength. While this formula is definitely fun to watch for fans who love power fantasy narratives, it removes any tension from the fights and makes them downright predictable.

Take the battle against Igris in the Demon Castle arc, for instance. Initially, it seems like Jinwoo is outmatched because the knight is unbelievably strong and determined, but within moments, Jinwoo adapts, counters, and wins. The same happens with the Ant King on Jeju Island. Despite the creature being hyped as a terrifying force to be reckoned with, it only ever lands a single blow on Jinwoo, who then dispatches it with relative ease. These fights seem to be giving the enemy a false sense of hope every time, only for Jinwoo to crush them effortlessly. There is no strategic depth, only flashy visuals.

3

The Injuries Are Never Realistic

The nature of almost all the battles in Solo Leveling is brutal, and yet, the injuries rarely seem to have lasting consequences. Hunters take strong blows, get impaled, or suffer severe wounds, and still keep going, before eventually a Healer comes along and restores them. But it’s the time before those recoveries, whether the Hunters are being slashed by high-ranking monsters and enduring fatal injuries, when they bounce back with minimal downtime.

This lack of realism makes the fights feel less impactful. The pattern repeats itself throughout the series. And in contrast, anime like Berserk highlight the aftermath of combat so well by showing how the characters suffer from their battles for really long periods of time. The issue is debatable, sure, but a more grounded approach wouldn’t hurt.

2

Jin-woo’s Shadow Army Is Ridiculously Overpowered

From the moment Sung Jinwoo levels up to Necromancer class and becomes the Shadow Monarch, he unlocks the Shadow Extraction ability and builds an army consisting of resurrected warriors, each stronger than they were in life, which not only makes Jinwoo unstoppable as a Hunter, but also, the battles become increasingly one-sided after that. There is no denying that this power is really cool, but the fact remains that it removes any real challenge from the fights.

For instance, in Season 2, when a C-rank dungeon unexpectedly turns into a Red Gate, it reveals the existence of powerful enemies like ice bears and ice elves. Jinwoo defeats them all with his Shadow Army, and extracts their shadows to build a fighting force to defeat Baruka, the dungeon boss, in a fierce battle. The imbalance in their powers leaves little room for Jinwoo to have to strategize or adapt. If the Shadow army had certain limitations instead, it would raise the stakes and make the fights more engaging.

Related

10 Anime Series That Are Better Than The Manga They’re Based On

From subtle character arcs to grand reveals, these anime prove that they’re more than just visual retellings of the manga they are based on.

1

Jin-Woo’s Decision To Sit Out Jeju Island Battle Until the Last Minute

It makes sense for some, obviously, but the Jeju Island Raid is one of the most pivotal moments in Solo Leveling Season 2. So Jinwoo’s initial decision to refuse to join the other S-rank Hunters until the last possible moment makes little sense. Given his strength, his absence leads to unnecessary deaths and destruction. His reason for staying back to care for his mother is understandable. The fact that he also places shadows on five of the Hunters is a clever choice. But while the S-rank Hunters are fighting for their lives, Jinwoo is seen completing his daily training goals.

It is only when the broadcast cuts off and the Ant King proves to be a devastating force that Jinwoo decides to intervene. His arrival is portrayed as a winning moment, but it also raises the question – why didn’t he act sooner. Fans may argue that the Hunters from Japan wanted to buy themselves time and let the South Korean Hunters destroy themselves so they could take the glory, and the wait only allowed for them to get discarded one after the other, but narratively, the choice is made to heighten the drama and not as a logical move for Jinwoo’s character.