What are the powers of Hwang Dongsoo in Solo Leveling? Explained

Hwang Dongsoo in Solo Leveling is a minor antagonist who holds a deep-seated grudge for Sung Jin-Woo. This enmity towards Sung Jin-Woo has led fans to ask, “What are the powers of Hwang Dongsoo?” He is an S Rank Hunter, one of the first in Solo Leveling, who was once aligned with the Republic of Korea. He was later recruited by the Scavengers Guild and joined the United States, an act that led his country to look down on him.

Hwang Dongsoo's anger and thirst for revenge stem from his suspicion of Jin-Woo for the death of his brother. This leads him to enter South Korea on numerous occasions to find Sung Jin-Woo. Though he does this search unsuccessfully, eventually, he meets up with Jin-Woo and fights him.

Disclaimer: The article reflects the author’s opinion and contains spoilers from Solo Leveling.

---

Hwang Dongsoo's powers and abilities in Solo Leveling

Hwang Dongsoo is one of Korea's few S Rank Hunters (Image via A-1 Pictures)

The Solo Leveling manhwa has no clear answer about Hwang Dongsoo's powers. He holds the S Rank, making him one of the strongest hunters in South Korea. His power also turns him into a bully, as he knows he can do anything to most people and get away with it.

Hwang Dongsoo is similar to Thomas Andre, the leader of the Scavenger Guild. They are both Fighter-Tank Hybrids without the drawbacks associated with any of those Hunter types. Hwang Dongsoo is quick and agile and can also deliver blows with heavy power behind them. He is also capable of taking blows from opponents that exceed his level.

During his brief fight with Sung Ilhwan, the entire building where the fight occurs is destroyed, but Hwang Dongsoo steps out of the rubble without many injuries. He also takes a blow from Sung Jin-Woo without losing his life. This is an impressive feat, considering Sung Jin-Woo’s status as a National Level Hunter. Hwang Dongsoo is also quick enough to keep up with Sung Jin-Woo initially before eventually losing his life.

---

Why Hwang Dongsoo is such an exceptional Hunter

Hwang Dongsoo is a tank-fighter hybrid just like Thomas Andre (Image via A-1 Pictures)

Hwang Dongsoo is an outlier among Hunters in Solo Leveling. He is one of the few Hunters scouted from South Korea to join the USA. He is also a unique Hunter Type.

Hwang Dongsoo can be best described as a Fighter-Tank hybrid. He embodies the best of two worlds, as he can take heavy blows and deliver them. While many of Hwang Dongsoo’s abilities are not shown in Solo Leveling, most characters heavily imply his strength. Even his brother, Hwang Dongsuk, has total faith in his abilities, as he yells out his brother’s capabilities before he is killed.

Hwang Dongsoo also had an upgrade on his abilities before he joined the Scavenger Guild. The upgrade would have made him stronger than he already was. Hwang Dongsoo’s runtime in the series coincided with him meeting powerful opponents.

---

Final thoughts

Hwang Dongsoo was a heavily disliked character in the webtoon, and that dislike crossed over to the anime. He was a repulsive bully with little consideration for anyone except his brother. He is hinted to be very strong but no match for the National Level Hunters.

His obsession with revenge leads him to defeats that put his life at risk. The first defeat was to Sung Jin-woo’s father, and the next was to Sung Jin-Woo, which resulted in his death. His irrational action nearly leads to the destruction of the Scavengers Guild and Thomas Andre.

---