In Solo Leveling, awakened hunters are officially classified into six different classes: Healers, Rangers, Tankers, Assassins, Fighters, and Mages. But on what basis are they assigned to their designated class? Depending on the abilities/powers a hunter awakens with, their role in a party is determined. And these roles are what are referred to as classes. Each class even has its own pros and cons.
Now here’s a ranked list of the six main hunter classes based on their individual combat strength in 1v1 scenarios. So, let’s check it out, shall we?
6. Healers
Notable Examples: Min Byung-Gyu, Akari Shimizu, Han Semi
In most RPG games or stories, healers are often the weakest. Similarly, in Solo Leveling, they play more of a supportive role and do not exactly excel at individual combat. In fact, they rarely possess any significant offensive abilities. For example, Min Byung-Gyu could literally bring people back from the brink of death, but had little individual combat strength. Therefore, healers rank at the bottom.
5. Rangers
Notable Examples: Lim Tae-Gyu, Jinsuk
As Lim Tae-Gyu proves, rangers specialize in long-range attacks. So, they surely have high precision and greater combat strength than healers. But that is only as long as they can maintain their distance from the enemy. Usually, against stronger opponents, rangers find it difficult to keep that distance. And thus, they eventually have to taste defeat. That is why rangers are ranked only 5th on the list.
4. Tankers
Notable Examples: Thomas Andre, Kim Chul
Again, similar to many MOBA games, tankers in Solo Leveling have exceptional defense and endurance. So, you would always love to have a tanker in the party who serves as the first line of defense. Generally, tankers also have significant offensive power. After all, a great build comes with great strength too. But they are still not comparable to the top three hunter classes in terms of raw strength.
3. Assassins
Notable Examples: Kang Taeshik, Ippei Izawa
Assassins usually possess the highest speed and agility. Their stealth skills also come in handy to finish a fight in the blink of an eye, as we saw with Ippei Izawa. So, healers, tankers, and rangers would stand no chance against assassins. However, against stronger opponents, their initial charge may prove useless. And if the fight continues for long, assassins will be at a disadvantage. That’s why they rank 3rd.
2. Mages
Notable Examples: Choi Jong-In, Yuri Orloff, Park Heejin, Cho Kyuhwan
Technically, mages have the greatest destructive potential, and Choi Jong-In is a prime example. A single spell can wipe out entire enemy armies. Depending on the spells a mage knows, they can be powerful in both long-range and close-range fights. However, because their physical durability isn’t as high and they often depend on casting time, mages rank as the 2nd strongest hunter class.
1. Fighters
Notable Examples: Liu Zhigang, Christopher Reed, Cha Hae-In
Balancing offense and defense, fighters are the strongest hunter class in Solo Leveling. Although Fighters generally do not possess magic abilities like Mages do, they can channel their mana to increase the stats for their raw strength, durability, and speed, which ultimately helps them overpower even mages and other Hunter classes in a typical 1v1 scenario. For instance, among the human hunters, we have seen Christopher Reed, who is a prime example of a fighter-class hunter.
Honorable Mention: The Necromancer Class
There is also another special class called Necromancer. However, since it is not a normal hunter class that one can awaken and was specifically inherited by Sung Jinwoo through the System created by the Architect, we have not counted it in the list. That said, if it had to be ranked against the other Hunter classes in Solo Leveling, then Necromancer would’ve been infinitesimally stronger.
Let other Solo Leveling fans know your thoughts on the ranking in the comments.
