Ultimate Solo Leveling Character Potential Guide 2026

Which Solo Leveling characters could have surpassed Sung Jin-Woo if circumstances were different? While Sung Jin-Woo ultimately became the Shadow Monarch and the world’s strongest hunter, several characters demonstrated raw potential that, under different circumstances, could have rivaled or even exceeded his power.

In my extensive analysis of Solo Leveling’s power system and character development, I’ve identified several hunters whose untapped potential hints at abilities that could have changed the entire story. From my experience diving deep into the manhwa, light novel, and now the anime adaptation, I’ll share insights about characters who showed glimpses of power that made even the Shadow Monarch take notice.

Character Category	Potential Level	What Held Them Back
National Level Hunters	Could rival Monarchs	Limited growth system
S-Rank Awakened	Exceptional abilities	Lack of second awakening
Hidden Talents	Unique power sets	Story circumstances

Understanding Potential vs. Achievement in Solo Leveling

Before I dive into specific characters, it’s crucial to understand what I mean by “potential” in Solo Leveling’s universe. Through my multiple read-throughs of the series, I’ve noticed that the System wasn’t the only path to ultimate power. Many hunters showed abilities that, if developed differently, could have led to extraordinary results.

The key difference between Sung Jin-Woo and other hunters wasn’t just the System—it was the opportunity to grow continuously. While other hunters hit their ceiling upon awakening, Jin-Woo could level up infinitely. But what if others had similar opportunities? That’s where things get fascinating.

In my analysis of anime character tier lists, I’ve learned that potential often matters more than current power levels, especially when discussing what-if scenarios. Solo Leveling provides the perfect case study for this concept.

The System’s Role in Limiting Others

One aspect I find particularly intriguing is how the System, while empowering Jin-Woo, essentially capped everyone else’s growth. Traditional hunters awakened with fixed power levels, unable to grow beyond their initial capabilities except through equipment or technique refinement. This artificial ceiling masked incredible potential in several characters.

Thomas Andre: The Goliath Who Could Have Been a Titan

Thomas Andre, the Goliath and America’s strongest hunter, represents perhaps the most obvious case of untapped potential. When I first encountered his character, his raw physical strength immediately stood out as something special—even among National Level Hunters.

Andre’s Demonstrated Power

In his fight with Sung Jin-Woo, Andre displayed strength that could shatter reality itself. His reinforcement ability transformed his body into something beyond human, capable of trading blows with the Shadow Monarch (albeit briefly). What fascinated me most was how his power seemed purely physical—no magic tricks, just overwhelming force.

From my gaming experience analyzing manga character rankings, characters with pure physical builds often have the highest potential ceilings when given proper growth systems. Andre epitomized this principle.

What Could Have Been Different?

If Andre had access to a leveling system or second awakening, his trajectory could have been vastly different. Consider these factors:

• Base Strength: Already at the pinnacle of human physical power
• Reinforcement Mastery: His ability amplified his already monstrous strength
• Combat Experience: Years of fighting the strongest gates globally
• Mental Fortitude: Survived direct confrontation with a Monarch

I believe Andre’s potential ceiling was actually higher than most Monarchs. His limitation wasn’t talent—it was the system that prevented further growth.

Liu Zhigang: The Seven-Star Hunter’s Hidden Depths

China’s strongest hunter, Liu Zhigang, presents a more subtle case of untapped potential. His abilities remained largely mysterious throughout the series, but the glimpses we got suggested something extraordinary.

The Mystery of the Seven Stars

Liu Zhigang’s title alone hints at something beyond conventional power scaling. In my research into Eastern mythology and power systems, seven stars often represent celestial power or divine authority. This wasn’t just a cool nickname—it suggested a fundamental connection to forces beyond normal hunter abilities.

What impressed me most about Liu Zhigang was his strategic mind combined with his power. Unlike Andre’s brute force approach, Liu Zhigang seemed to understand deeper aspects of mana and energy manipulation.

Theoretical Power Ceiling

Based on my analysis, Liu Zhigang’s potential stemmed from several unique factors:

• Energy Manipulation: Demonstrated control over forces beyond simple magic
• Strategic Brilliance: Could maximize any power increase through tactical application
• Cultural Techniques: Hinted at ancient Chinese cultivation methods
• Leadership Multiplier: His ability to coordinate and enhance other hunters

If Liu Zhigang had encountered the Architect’s System or a similar growth mechanism, I believe he could have developed abilities rivaling the original Shadow Monarch himself, not just Jin-Woo’s inherited version.

Go Gun-Hee: The Chairman’s Tragic Limitation

Chairman Go Gun-Hee represents one of Solo Leveling’s most tragic cases of wasted potential. As Korea’s Hunter Association Chairman and a fellow National Level Hunter, his true capabilities were hampered by age and circumstances.

Prime Go Gun-Hee’s Theoretical Power

Through my analysis of the series, I’ve pieced together clues about Go Gun-Hee’s prime. He was among the first generation of hunters, awakening when gates initially appeared. This means he fought and survived during humanity’s most desperate period—without modern hunter infrastructure or knowledge.

His Ruler’s Authority ability, even in his elderly state, could manipulate space itself. Imagine this power in a younger body with decades more to develop. In anime gaming meta analysis, characters with space manipulation consistently rank among the most potentially powerful.

The Age Factor

What frustrated me most about Go Gun-Hee’s situation was how age limited him. Consider these aspects:

• Physical Degradation: His body couldn’t handle his own power output
• Limited Stamina: Could only fight at full power briefly
• Accumulated Injuries: Decades of fighting took their toll
• Wisdom Without Application: Had the knowledge but not the body to use it

If Go Gun-Hee had awakened in his prime or had access to rejuvenation (like Jin-Woo’s later abilities), he could have been a completely different force. His combination of Ruler’s Authority, tactical brilliance, and decades of experience would have made him nearly unstoppable.

Cha Hae-In: The Sensor Type’s Untold Possibilities

Cha Hae-In often gets overlooked in power discussions because she stood next to Sung Jin-Woo, but her unique abilities suggested incredible untapped potential. As Korea’s only female S-Rank hunter, she possessed something no other character had—perfect mana sensitivity.

The Power of Perfect Perception

In my gaming experience, characters with enhanced sensory abilities often become the most versatile and powerful when properly developed. Cha Hae-In could smell mana—literally sensing its quality, quantity, and nature. This wasn’t just a quirky ability; it was a fundamental advantage that could have evolved into something extraordinary.

Think about it: if she could sense mana at such a refined level, what other abilities could have developed from this foundation? In overpowered anime characters discussions, sensory types who evolve often become reality manipulators.

Sword Mastery and Beyond

Cha Hae-In’s swordsmanship was already S-Rank level, but combined with her unique sensory abilities, she had the foundation for something greater:

• Mana Blade Techniques: Could have developed ability to cut through mana itself
• Predictive Combat: Sensing mana flow could enable future sight in battle
• Mana Manipulation: Her sensitivity could have evolved into control
• Awakening Catalyst: Her unique sense might have triggered second awakening

I genuinely believe Cha Hae-In had the potential for a second awakening even without the System. Her unique abilities were already pushing beyond normal S-Rank limitations.

Christopher Reed: The Fragment Bearer’s Lost Future

Christopher Reed, the former National Level Hunter who became a fragment of the Rulers, represents perhaps the most directly powerful non-Jin-Woo character. His transformation showed what hunters could become with divine intervention.

Divine Power Integration

When Reed accepted the Rulers’ fragment, he transcended normal hunter limitations. This wasn’t just a power boost—it was a fundamental change in his existence. From my analysis of power systems across anime character development, divine possession typically represents the highest tier of power evolution.

What makes Reed’s case fascinating is that he achieved this transformation without the Architect’s System. He proved that alternative paths to ultimate power existed in Solo Leveling’s universe.

The Corruption Problem

Reed’s downfall came from mental corruption, not lack of power. If he had maintained his sanity or had better preparation for the fragment’s influence, he could have been humanity’s ultimate protector. Consider what he demonstrated even while corrupted:

• Reality Warping: Could alter fundamental laws around him
• Dimensional Power: Accessed abilities from higher planes
• Instant Regeneration: Near-immortal durability
• Ruler’s Authority: Commanded power meant for angels

Sung Il-Hwan: The Original Prodigy

Jin-Woo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan, deserves special mention. His survival in a dungeon for years and subsequent power demonstrated potential that might have exceeded his son’s under different circumstances.

Survival of the Fittest

Think about what Il-Hwan achieved: he survived in a dungeon environment for years, constantly fighting, constantly adapting. This wasn’t just physical survival—it was continuous combat evolution. In gaming terms, he was essentially “grinding” for years straight in an environment that should have killed him in days.

When he emerged, his power had grown to near National Level despite starting as a relatively weak hunter. This growth without a System proved that alternative advancement methods existed.

The Father’s Shadow

What intrigues me most about Il-Hwan is the possibility that Jin-Woo’s compatibility with the System might have been inherited. If the father had such survival capability and growth potential, what if he had encountered the System instead? His years of combat experience combined with the System’s power might have created something even more formidable than what Jin-Woo became.

Goto Ryuji: Japan’s Misunderstood Powerhouse

Goto Ryuji, Japan’s strongest hunter, often gets dismissed because of his poor showing against Sung Jin-Woo. However, I believe his potential was severely underestimated due to circumstances.

Draw Sword Technique’s True Nature

Goto’s signature technique could supposedly cut anything. In my experience with anime character potential rankings, absolute cutting abilities often represent conceptual powers—abilities that affect reality’s rules rather than just physical matter.

If Goto had survived and continued developing this technique, it might have evolved into something that could cut through dimensions, time, or even conceptual things like “power” itself.

The Ant King Incident

Goto’s death to Beru was tragic but also misleading regarding his potential. He faced a Marshal Grade shadow soldier—essentially a mini-boss character—while already exhausted from the raid. Under different circumstances, with proper development time, Goto’s Draw Sword technique combined with his tactical mind could have evolved into something truly special.

Hidden Potential: The Unnamed and Overlooked

Throughout Solo Leveling, several minor characters showed glimpses of extraordinary potential that story constraints never allowed to develop.

Yuri Orloff: The Barrier Master

Russia’s S-Rank support specialist Yuri Orloff demonstrated barrier techniques that could withstand National Level Hunter attacks. Support specialists who can defend against that level of power have incredible potential for growth. In different circumstances, his barriers might have evolved into reality marble-type abilities.

Lennart Niermann: The Magic Theorist

Germany’s Lennart Niermann approached magic scientifically, understanding its theoretical foundations. This analytical approach to power could have led to breakthrough discoveries about mana manipulation. I’ve seen similar characters in gaming character tier lists become system breakers through understanding rather than raw power.

Min Byung-Gyu: The Healer Who Could Have Been More

Healing abilities in Solo Leveling seemed limited, but Min Byung-Gyu’s S-Rank healing suggested deeper possibilities. In many power systems, healing evolution leads to life force manipulation, resurrection abilities, or even time reversal. His potential trajectory could have been fascinating if explored.

The Double Awakening Phenomenon

One of Solo Leveling’s most interesting concepts was double awakening—hunters experiencing a second power evolution. While rare, it proved that growth beyond initial limits was possible even without the System.

Candidates for Natural Double Awakening

Based on my analysis, several characters showed signs that suggested double awakening potential:

• Choi Jong-In: His ultimate spell’s complexity suggested evolving magical understanding
• Baek Yoonho: His transformation ability was already pushing S-Rank limits
• Lim Tae-Gyu: The tank who survived impossible situations through will alone

Each of these hunters demonstrated abilities or circumstances that, in comprehensive anime tier lists, would mark them as evolution candidates.

Alternative Power Systems and What-If Scenarios

What makes Solo Leveling’s power discussion so fascinating is the variety of power sources introduced throughout the series. The System was just one path among many possibilities.

The Rulers’ Fragments

If more hunters had successfully integrated Rulers’ fragments without corruption, humanity could have had multiple divine-level protectors. The fragments represented power equal to or greater than the System’s endgame.

Dragon Emperor’s Legacy

The Dragon Emperor’s power, briefly mentioned in the series, suggested another tier of strength entirely. If a hunter had inherited or accessed this legacy instead of the Shadow Monarch’s power, the results could have been dramatically different.

Mana Evolution Theory

My theory, based on extensive series analysis, is that mana itself was evolving in Solo Leveling’s world. Given more time, hunters might have naturally developed System-like growth capabilities. The S-Rank hunters showing unique abilities (like Cha Hae-In’s mana sense) were early evolutionary adaptations.

Combat Potential vs. Realized Power

It’s important to distinguish between combat potential and realized power. Jin-Woo became the strongest, but several characters had theoretical ceilings that could have matched or exceeded his if circumstances aligned differently.

The Growth Curve Difference

Jin-Woo’s power grew exponentially thanks to the System, but other characters showed hints of different growth curves:

• Exponential: Jin-Woo via the System
• Logarithmic: Traditional hunters hitting caps quickly
• Stepped: Potential double awakeners like Cha Hae-In
• Infinite: Fragment bearers like Christopher Reed

The Role of Circumstances and Timing

Timing played a crucial role in determining who reached their potential. Jin-Woo received the System at the perfect moment—young enough to grow, experienced enough to survive, and motivated enough to push limits.

What If Others Had the System?

Imagine if these hunters had received the System instead:

• Thomas Andre: Physical stats would have broken the System’s scale
• Liu Zhigang: Strategic mind would have optimized every level up
• Go Gun-Hee in his prime: Experience plus System equals unstoppable force
• Sung Il-Hwan: Survival instincts plus System might have created something beyond Shadow Monarch

Community Perspectives and Debates

In my discussions with the Solo Leveling community, these potential debates generate the most passionate responses. Many fans have developed elaborate theories about their favorite characters’ untapped potential.

Popular Fan Theories

Some interesting community perspectives I’ve encountered:

• Thomas Andre could have evolved into a Titan-class being
• Liu Zhigang was holding back his true power throughout the series
• Cha Hae-In was on the verge of double awakening before Jin-Woo’s return
• Go Gun-Hee intentionally suppressed his power to avoid Ruler attention

Implications for Solo Leveling’s Universe

These potential discussions reveal something important about Solo Leveling’s world: the System wasn’t the only path to ultimate power, just the most direct one. The variety of abilities and potential growth paths suggested a rich, complex universe where multiple routes to transcendence existed.

This complexity makes Solo Leveling’s power system more interesting than typical progression fantasy settings. It wasn’t just about who got the cheat code—it was about timing, circumstances, and opportunities.

Conclusion: The Shadow of What Could Have Been

While Sung Jin-Woo rightfully earned his position as the world’s strongest hunter, several characters demonstrated potential that, under different circumstances, could have rivaled or exceeded his power. Thomas Andre’s raw strength, Liu Zhigang’s mysterious abilities, Go Gun-Hee’s space manipulation, and Cha Hae-In’s unique senses all hinted at extraordinary possibilities.

What makes these discussions fascinating isn’t diminishing Jin-Woo’s achievements—it’s appreciating the depth of Solo Leveling’s world. The series created a universe where multiple paths to power existed, and timing and opportunity mattered as much as raw talent.

In my analysis of power scaling across various series, Solo Leveling stands out for acknowledging that its protagonist’s supremacy came from opportunity as much as ability. Other characters had the potential—they just lacked the System, the timing, or the circumstances to realize it.

The beauty of Solo Leveling lies not just in Jin-Woo’s journey to becoming the Shadow Monarch, but in the glimpses of what others could have become. These unfulfilled potentials make the world feel more real and the story more engaging, reminding us that in any universe, greatness often depends on being in the right place at the right time with the right opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could anyone have actually surpassed Sung Jin-Woo if they had the System?

Based on my analysis, yes—several characters like Thomas Andre or prime Go Gun-Hee might have achieved greater heights with the System due to their superior base stats, experience, or unique abilities. The System amplified existing potential, and some characters had higher starting points than Jin-Woo.

Why didn’t other characters receive power-ups like Jin-Woo?

The System was specifically designed by the Architect for one person as part of the Shadow Monarch’s succession plan. Other power sources (Rulers’ fragments, double awakening) existed but were either rare, dangerous, or required specific conditions that most hunters couldn’t meet.

Who had the highest potential besides Sung Jin-Woo?

From my research, Thomas Andre probably had the highest raw potential due to his unmatched physical capabilities and reinforcement ability. However, Liu Zhigang’s mysterious powers and Go Gun-Hee in his prime are also strong contenders for highest theoretical ceiling.

Could Cha Hae-In have undergone double awakening?

Strong evidence suggests yes. Her unique mana sensitivity was already an evolution beyond normal S-Rank abilities. Given more time and the right catalyst, she showed all the signs of someone on the verge of double awakening, which could have dramatically increased her power.

What made the National Level Hunters special?

National Level Hunters weren’t just stronger—they had transcended normal hunter limitations. Each possessed unique abilities that suggested evolution beyond the standard awakening system. They represented what hunters could become naturally given enough time and the right circumstances.

Would the story have been different if someone else got the System?

Absolutely. If someone like Thomas Andre or Liu Zhigang had received the System, the story would have developed very differently. Their existing power and experience would have led to different choices, alliances, and possibly even prevented some of the major crises Jin-Woo faced.

Why does potential matter if Jin-Woo became the strongest anyway?

Understanding potential helps appreciate the story’s depth and world-building. It shows that Jin-Woo’s supremacy wasn’t inevitable but resulted from unique circumstances. This makes his achievement more meaningful while respecting other characters’ capabilities and adding richness to the universe.