Anime-only fans only know S-rank hunters as the supreme and most powerful hunters in the Solo Leveling universe. But, above S-rank, there is one more tier of hunters who are in a league of their own, and they are called the National Level Hunters. Manhwa readers are well aware of these next-level hunters and have even met a few. However, if you want to learn more about this new rank of hunters, we have your back. Here is everything you need to know about National Level Hunters in Solo Leveling, including their origin and names.
Spoilers Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers about Solo Leveling’s story and characters. So, we highly recommend reading the manhwa and watching the anime beforehand in order to avoid ruining your intended experience.
Origin of National Level Hunters in Solo Leveling
The Solo Leveling anime did a fantastic job introducing the fans to S-Rank hunters in the very first episode. The hunter ranking system was well-established by this point, but they decided to save the National Level Hunters for later, just like the manhwa.
So, how were the National Level Hunters introduced in the story? The ranking was tied to the first S-Rank Gate spawning on the West Coast of America. Keep in mind that this was the first ever S-Rank gate humanity came across.
To deal with the national-level threat, the American government summoned hundreds of S-Rank hunters. The boss that came out of this gate was Kamish who was regarded as humanity’s greatest calamity because it slaughtered millions of citizens and S-Rank hunters all alone.
In the end, only five S-Rank hunters managed to stand their ground and killed Kamish, the gravest danger known to humankind at the time. In light of their achievement, these five S-Rank hunters became recognized as the first set of National Level Hunters.
All National Level Hunters in Solo Leveling
From that day onwards, they were regarded as the world’s most formidable hunters and were granted power equivalent to that of a whole nation. Bestowed with the highest authority, power, and influence, these National Level Hunters began to live their lives like kings and could do anything at their will.
The National Level Hunters are a level above your typical S-Rank hunter as they have cleared at least one S-Rank gate in their lifetime. Goto Ryuji, the strongest hunter from Japan and the Guild Master of the Draw Sword Guild, remarked that any hunter can become a national-level hunter by clearing an S-Rank gate.
The first four national-level hunters, namely Thomas Andre, Liu Zhigang, Christopher Reed, and Siddharth Bachchan, were revealed to be bestowed with the powers of the rulers. This is similar to how Sung Jinwoo received his Shadow Monarch powers from Ashborn in the story.
Here is the complete list of National Level Hunters that have been revealed in the story:
| Hunter’s Name | Class | Country | Guild |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Andre | Tanker | USA | Scavenger Guild |
| Liu Zhigang | Fighter | China | Unnamed Chinese Guild |
| Christopher Reed | Unknown | USA | Unknown |
| Siddharth Bachchan | Fighter | India | Asura Guild |
| Antoine Martinez | Healer | Unknown | Unknown |
Only the survivors of the Kamish incident are considered to be national-level hunters to this date. We also heard Adam White remark that Sung Jinwoo’s father, Sung Il-Hwan, could have become one if he hadn’t vanished before the ranking system came into existence.
Fun Fact:
Although Sung Jinwoo singlehandedly cleared two S-Rank gates (Jeju Island and Tokyo S-Rank Gate) during the attack, he was never officially given the title of a National Level Hunter. However, we very well know that Jinwoo was an anomaly, and he eventually became stronger than all the National Level Hunters. That is why some fans call him the Planet Level Hunter.
Additionally, Sung Jinwoo and Brazilian hunter Jonas were also the prime candidates for becoming the next national-level hunter. However, they were never recognized as one in the story.
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the sequel manhwa to the main story, is currently ongoing. The story has expanded more on the concept of national-level hunters. Sung Suho, the son of Sung Jinwoo, has officially become a national-level hunter in the story. Moreover, Jinwoo’s wife, Cha Hae-In is also regarded as possessing powers equal to that of a national-level hunter.
That’s everything we know about national-level hunters in Solo Leveling so far. If you’re curious about how all the national level hunters would rank against each other, find it out in our all the national level hunters ranked guide.
In the meantime, who is your favorite national-level hunter in Solo Leveling? Let us know in the comments below.
