The world of Solo Leveling is full of characters that are capable of destroying entire cities with their power. And yet even among these characters, the Monarchs are on an entirely different scale. Sung Jinwoo, the Shadow Monarch is a prime example of this.
While Jinwoo ends up becoming the strongest Monarch by the end of Solo Leveling, the power of the other Monarchs isn’t something to gloss over. Here are a few Monarchs, who according to us are the strongest (aside from Jinwoo).
5. Querehsha is a walking Plague
The Monarch of Plague is an incredibly violent individual, whose lust for bloodshed might even surpass the likes of Antares. Equipped with the power to control insects, necromancy, and even regeneration, Querehsha is a massive threat to any opponent.
She aided Rakan, the Monarch of Beasts, in his rampage and even played a part in the death of Christopher Reed who was a Ruler’s vessel. And yet, despite having such a diverse range of skills, her inability to judge the strength of an opponent caused her to die at Jinwoo’s hands, ending her rampage.
4. Even Baran’s copy was enough to make Jinwoo struggle
When Solo Leveling fans found out that the Baran that Jinwoo fought in the Demon’s Castle was a copy, and that the original Baran, who lived Eons ago, was even stronger, they couldn’t help but wonder about how an unawakened Jinwoo would fare against him.
Honestly, an unawakened Jinwoo would lose. Eons ago, Baran was strong enough to wipe out a sizeable portion of Ashborn’s Army and was only defeated when Ashborn himself stepped in. No Monarch other than the ones mentioned above are capable of such a feat.
3. Sillad is a Cold mastermind
On first look, Sillad might look like a weakling and undeserving of the title of ‘Monarch of the Frost. ‘ But those who make the mistake of underestimating him come to regret it. Unlike the Beast Monarch, who relies solely on strength, Sillad is both strong and smart.
His mastery over the element of Ice is unquestioned, and his instinct for battle is matched by few in Solo Leveling’s universe. He is a clever fighter, who attacks a distracted Jinwoo without a second thought, in hopes of wounding him. And while an awakened Jinwoo made a joke out of him, he is not someone to be taken lightly.
2. Ashborn was the Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light
Ashborn, the first Shadow Monarch is second in power only to Jinwoo, and Antares. During his time commanding the shadow army, the sheer mention of his name was enough to send the Monarchs into panic.
The nature of his dark powers made him grow limitlessly, and during his time as the Shadow Monarch, he was so strong that he could only be defeated by betrayal. Even after his death, the notion of Jinwoo being his successor is enough for the Monarchs to reconsider attacking him. Such is the power of Ashborn.
1. Antares was the Apex Being before Jinwoo arrived
The Monarch of Destruction, and the King of the Dragons, Antares serves as Solo Leveling’s final antagonist. Anteras is the oldest Monarch and was created from pure chaos to terminate all life, which makes him evil-incarnate.
As his titles suggest, Antares commands an army of Dragons and destroys all that exists. He was so powerful in fact, that even a full-powered Sung Jinwoo had to rely on the help of the Rulers to defeat him, and to bring him down to that point was a challenge in itself.
While every one of the Monarchs mentioned above is strong in their own right, the power of the Shadow Monarch and the diverse set of skills that come with it were just too much for them to handle.
Solo Leveling is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the strongest Monarchs in Solo Leveling besides Sung Jinwoo?
The article ranks five: Querehsha the Monarch of Plague (5th), Baran the Demon Monarch (4th), Sillad the Monarch of Frost (3rd), Ashborn the first Shadow Monarch (2nd), and Antares the Monarch of Destruction and King of Dragons (1st). It places Antares at the top as the oldest Monarch and the apex being before Jinwoo, with Ashborn just behind him.
Who is the most powerful Monarch other than Sung Jinwoo?
The article names Antares, the Monarch of Destruction and King of Dragons, as the strongest. It describes him as the oldest Monarch, created from pure chaos to end all life, and Solo Leveling’s final antagonist, noting that even a full-powered Jinwoo needed the Rulers’ help to defeat him. Ashborn, the first Shadow Monarch, is ranked second, surpassed only by Jinwoo and Antares.
Could any of these Monarchs actually defeat Sung Jinwoo?
No. The article’s whole argument is that none of them match the Shadow Monarch. Querehsha was killed by Jinwoo, Sillad was outmatched once Jinwoo awakened, and Ashborn willingly passed his power to Jinwoo as his successor. Only Antares pushed Jinwoo to his limit, and even then Jinwoo prevailed with the Rulers’ aid.
