Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Fixes the Anime’s Only Objective Flaw

by

This anime is currently the most popular new series, but it definitely has its flaws. While many people have valid criticisms, most of them are open to debate.

The biggest weakness of the series is that most of the villains aren’t well-developed characters. Up until a certain point, the main antagonists are usually magical creatures who appear briefly and are quickly defeated. The Monarchs are a notable exception, appearing later in the story. However, the new sequel to Solo Leveling is making a conscious effort to improve this by creating more complex villains.

The manhwa adaptation of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is the only confirmed continuation of the series, and it’s notable for finally featuring villains with compelling motivations and depth.

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Introduces The Series’ Best Main Villain By Far

I’ve been following Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, and it’s really centered around Sung Suho, Jinwoo’s son, and his journey to become a powerful fighter. While the Itarim are a looming danger, it’s the enemies Suho confronts directly that really drive the story and pose the biggest challenges for him as he tries to live up to his father’s legacy.

I’ve been watching Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, and the biggest bad guy they’ve introduced so far is Tiel, who goes by the name Park Dojin. She’s an Apostle of Itarim, and she’s pretending to be someone else to secretly take over Earth for her people.

Tiel is a unique character because he gets stronger at the same rate as Suho, but in his own way. Since he can only send small pieces of his power to Earth gradually, his strength increases the longer he stays on the planet. Other characters didn’t succeed because they couldn’t keep up with Jinwoo’s rapid growth, meaning they were only useful for a single story arc before becoming overshadowed.

I’ve noticed something really compelling about Tiel: as he gets stronger, he also changes as a person. The more time he spends here on Earth, the more he seems to connect with people, and honestly, he starts to feel more and more like one of us.

I’ve been really struck by Tiel’s story. He’s grappling with the idea of free will for the first time, and it’s causing him to really rethink his entire existence. It’s fascinating to watch, and honestly, it’s been a pleasant surprise. I always thought Solo Leveling focused more on action, but Tiel’s arc proves there’s a surprising amount of depth to the characters and the story as a whole.

Ragnarok Benefits From the Return of Recognizable OG Solo Leveling Characters

Early on, Solo Leveling didn’t have a truly compelling villain for quite some time, but it did attempt to establish a few. One of the first significant human antagonists was Hwang Dongsoo, whose desire for revenge for his brother’s death created a promising storyline. However, by the time Dongsoo finally faced Sung Jinwoo, Jinwoo had grown so powerful as the Shadow Monarch that the fight felt uneven.

This meant Jinwoo ended up fighting Thomas Andre, but that fight was also quick and decisive. Although neither hunter posed a significant threat or got much development as a villain, their backstory still adds to the overall story.

Interestingly, Lee Minsung might be the most successfully revamped villain in Ragnarok. While he was just a minor character originally, he becomes a central villain with a compelling storyline, making him more engaging than the earlier antagonists in the first arcs of Solo Leveling.

Lee Minsung was a compelling character for more than just being memorable. His flaws actually helped Sung Suho grow. Minsung’s large ego ultimately caused problems for him, but it also taught Suho a valuable lesson. Suho, on the other hand, sometimes struggled because he didn’t have enough ego, showing that both extremes can be harmful.

Solo Leveling: Ragnarok’s Current Manhwa Arc Is Already Setting Up an Exciting New Villain

The sequel series, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, is bringing back familiar villains with enhanced abilities, and introducing even stronger new enemies than the original Solo Leveling had. Excitingly, recent story developments hint that a particularly popular and powerful villain from the first series might reappear in future storylines.

The current storyline in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok focuses on Suho trying to rally the descendants of the Monarchs to help him fight the Itarim. However, these descendants are secretly being controlled by a hidden manipulator who has developed a new, altered version of the System. This new System seems connected to the original System from Solo Leveling, hinting that a familiar figure may be working with the Itarim in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok.

Watching the latest developments in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, it feels like the story is trying to have it both ways with its villains. Now that Kandiaru is back while Sunt Suho is still fighting Tiel, it’s almost as if the narrative wants to keep everyone relevant, even when it creates some conflicting storylines.

I’ve been following the weekly releases of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, and while those are coming out regularly, the physical volumes are a different matter. It’s exciting to hear that the first official English volume is finally scheduled to be released this July! I think this will be a great way to introduce the story to a new audience, and hopefully clear up some misunderstandings people have about the series.

The English version of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Volume 1 will be released on July 21, 2026. You can currently read the rest of the Solo Leveling story in English on Tappytoons and the Tapas app.

5 Questions
Ragnarok’s Villains: Solo Leveling’s Big Upgrade?
Your Top Score
—
Attempts
—
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-04-16 19:59