10 Strongest B-Rank and C-Rank Hunters, Ranked (2025)

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In the world of Solo Leveling, Hunters are humanity’s last line of defense against the magical beasts that live inside the mysterious gates that span all across the globe. To ensure that the monsters inside don’t spill out into the real world, these Hunters head inside, fighting against the dungeon bosses to close the gate before the mana within the gate causes it to crack open.

To better ensure that the right Hunters enter gates at their level, Hunters are classified into ranks based on their strength and skills, with the gamut ranging from the formidable and rare S-Rank Hunters to the weaker and more common E-Rank Hunters. In between these two groups are the B-Rank and the C-Rank Hunters, who play a vital role in clearing the middling gates. Aside from series protagonist, Sung Jinwoo, no other Hunter can level up their skills, with their ranking firmly etched in stone from the moment they awaken. From C-Ranked swordsman turned mage Cho Kyuhwan to Kang Taeshik, the criminal assassin hiding in plain sight at the Korean Hunters Association, these C and B-Rank Hunters are the strongest in the Solo Leveling series.

10 Yoon Kijoong Is a C-Rank Tank Left Behind by Kim Chul During the Red Gate Incident

Yoon Kijoong Does not Appear in the Anime Series

10 Strongest B-Rank and C-Rank Hunters, Ranked (1)

Yoon Kijoon is a C-Rank Hunter and Tank class, known for his defensive prowess in battle. As a Tank, his primary role is to shield his squishier teammates from harm, absorbing damage and drawing the attention of the magical beasts during raids. Further, his robust physique and resilience make him a reliable frontline defender, with his defensive inclination ensuring the safety of his comrades behind him.

Despite not being featured in the anime adaptation, Yoon Kijoong joins in on the Red Gate Incident. He’s originally left behind by Kim Chul and the other B-Rank Hunters who decide to follow him, and forced to stick with Sung Jinwoo and the other lower ranked Hunters in the frosty forest, yet this move inadvertently saves his life. Not much of his battle prowess is shone, as Jinwoo insists on solo-leveling the dungeon, but his C-Rank status hints at a robust strength that’s sure to prove useful in dungeons closer to his skill level.

9 Go Myung-Hwan Is a C-Rank Martial Artist Who Survives the Red Gate Thanks to Being a Part of Jinwoo’s Group

First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 1, “You Aren’t E-Rank, Are You?”

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While his official debut was during the Red Gate Incident Arc, Go Myung-Hwan was part of the White Tiger team to retrieve Sung Jinwoo after the Double Dungeon Incident in the anime series.

Go Myung-hwan is another C-Rank Hunter affiliated with Korea’s White Tiger Guild, and his preferred class is martial artist. His combat style relies on physical prowess, agility and hand-to-hand combat techniques, similar to a monk’s role in Dungeons and Dragons. As a martial artist, Myung-hwan possesses enhanced reflexes and strength, allowing him to engage the magical beasts inside the dungeons without relying on weapons like swords or bows.

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Myung-hwan's close-quarters combat skills make him a valuable asset in raids, though his introduction into the Solo Leveling world saw him in over his head as he was a part of the group trapped in the Red Gate Incident. Like a few of his fellow lower-ranked Hunters, team leader Kim Chul abandoned him, leaving him to follow Jinwoo instead. As such, viewers didn’t get to see much of his fighting spirit during the Red Gate Incident, but the move did ultimately ensure that he escaped the Red Gate alive.

8 Goo Juntae Is the First Human Jinwoo Kills During the Dungeon & Lizard Arc

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 5, “A Pretty Good Deal”

10 Strongest B-Rank and C-Rank Hunters, Ranked (4)

Goo Juntae is a C-Rank Hunter, and given his propensity to fight with swords, is most likely either a Fighter or Tanker class. He wields his sword with a notable proficiency, preferring to engage enemies head-on, as seen when he handily defeated the ants during the Dungeon & Lizard Arc. His combat style is straightforward yet effective, and one that relies on strength and sword technique to overcome his enemies.

While Juntae's strength is teased during the battle with the ants — with even Jinwoo commenting that he fights with a strong sense of teamwork with the other members of his strike squad — he’s not given much of a chance to show his skills during the fight with Jinwoo later on in the dungeon. Juntae's arrogance in dismissing Jinwoo’s power leads him to be the first human who Jinwoo slays at the behest of the weird and mysterious System, with the C-Ranked Hunter hardly registering how the tables have turned before he dies.

7 Lee Chul-Jin Tries to Kill Jinwoo in the C-Ranked Dungeon

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 5, “A Pretty Good Deal”

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Lee Chul-Jin is another C-Ranked Hunter who wields a sword, which could make him a Fighter class, a Tanker or even an Assassin class. Similar to the other members of his strike team, he engages in close combat, relying on his sword to deal damage to his enemies — a dangerous endeavor, given that his party operates without a healer to back them up. Yet his consistent performance in multiple raids with Hwang Dongsuk and the rest of his strike team speaks to his competency in battle, with his sword skill undoubtedly the cause for that reliability.

After Hwang Dongsuk and the rest of his party set the plan in motion for using Sung Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho as bait to pacify the spider dungeon boss during the Dungeon & Lizards arc, Lee Chul-Jin joins in the rest of his team in trying to take down the surviving Jinwoo. Unable to keep up with Jinwoo’s speed, Chul-Jin fell victim to Jinwoo’s Bleeding dagger, causing him to die quickly after being stabbed. While he met an inglorious end, the fact that he and his fellow strike team were able to continue for as long as they did speaks somewhat to Chul-Jin’s proficiency in battle, to say nothing of his deplorable morals.

6 Cho Kyuhwan Wields Fire Magic as a Mage & Is Part of the Ruthless Murder Scheme Run by Hwang Dongsuk

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 5, “A Pretty Good Deal”

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Unlike most of the other members in Hwang Dongsuk’s murderous strike squad, Cho Kyuhwan is a mage instead of a swordsman, specializing in fire magic. As a mage, he utilized his magical abilities to attack enemies from a distance, focusing on offensive spells to deal damage. His use of fire magic allows him to light up dark spaces or incinerate foes, making him a versatile Hunter and a formidable fighter.

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Kyuhwan demonstrates the strength of his fire magic during the Dungeon & Lizards arc, where he and the rest of his strike squad turn against Jinwoo and Jinho in the boss’ lair of a C-Rank dungeon. He decimates the ant monsters within the lair, proving that his abilities are strong against multiple enemies at once. His skills prove useless against the leveling-up Jinwoo, yet his inclusion on Hwang Dongsuk’s team proves that he has some level of strength and battle competency that makes him strong even among C-Rank Hunters.

5 Lee Joohee Excels in Healing Magic but Is Fearful of Battle

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Used to It”

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As a B-Rank Hunter and part of the Healer class, Joohee is renowned for her exceptional healing and buffing abilities. As a Healer, her primary responsibility is to restore the health of her teammates during raids, while also ensuring their survival by outfitting them with buffs meant to improve their strength, speed and stamina. This allows the Hunters to contend with ferocious and dangerous creatures, such as high orcs, goblins and wolves. Her healing skills make her an indispensable asset to any raid party.

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However, Joohee’s hesitations, fears and lack of mental fortitude have driven her to participating in lower-ranked dungeons, despite her stronger skills as a B-Rank Hunter. Despite the vital importance of her class, she tends to shy away from conflict, eventually hanging up her Hunter mantle and opting for a less violent life as the series goes on. Still, her innate magical abilities make her stronger than most C-Rank Hunters, with only herself holding her back.

4 Hwang Dongsuk Leads the Murderous Strike Squad & Is the Brother of S-Ranked Hunter Hwang Dongsoo

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 5, “A Pretty Good Deal”

10 Strongest B-Rank and C-Rank Hunters, Ranked (10)

Hwang Dongsuk is a C-Rank Tanker class Hunter, recognized for his defensive capabilities, his ability to enhance his physical stats during combat and his leading the team known by their Lizards epithet (as his team would leave behind their weakest member during dungeon raids as a distraction or so they wouldn’t have to split the loot, like a lizard with its tail). As a Tanker, Dongsuk served as a formidable frontline defense, absorbing damage and protecting his teammates from enemy attacks. His imposing statue, enhanced strength and resilience in combat made him exceptionally suited for dungeon raids.

As the leader of the Lizards, Dongsuk was the last to be killed by Jinwoo during their fateful C-Rank dungeon adventures. Dongsuk even admitted to being stronger than the rest of his team, thanks to his abilities to buff his physical capabilities. While those skills proved useless in the end, his strength and willingness to do whatever it took to achieve victory made him a strong Hunter.

3 Song Chi-Yul Led the Doomed Party During the Double Dungeon

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 1, “I’m Used to It”

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In an ironic twist of fate, Song Chi-Yul is a C-Rank Mage class Hunter despite his many years training in swordsmanship before the gates first appeared, easily cementing his place among other anime characters who became powerful despite being regular people. He’s able to wield fire type magic, summoning flames both in and out of combat. Unlike most traditional mages, however, who rely solely on spells and prefer to position themselves in the backline and away from the melee range, Chi-Yul instead integrates his magical abilities with close-combat techniques, as best seen during his fight with B-Rank Hunter Kang Taeshik.

With a calm mind and a resolute demeanor, Chi-Yul’s steadfast personality makes him a capable Hunter. He’s able to lead his team to adapt to various combat scenarios, recognizing talent when it appears — such as when he realized Jinwoo’s ideas in the Cartenon Temple were sound, leading to six members of the raiding party surviving the encounter. His innovative approach, his versatile fighting styles and his zen-like calm make him a highly effective Hunter, with a skill far beyond his C-Rank limitations.

2 Park Heejin’s Astute Observations Save Her Life in the Red Gate Incident

First Appearance: Season 2, Episode 1, “You Aren’t E-Rank, Are You?”

10 Strongest B-Rank and C-Rank Hunters, Ranked (12)

While her official debut was during the Red Gate Incident Arc, Park Heejin was part of the White Tiger team to retrieve Sung Jinwoo after the Double Dungeon Incident in the anime series.

Park Heejin is a skilled B-Rank Hunter and a powerful Mage who specializes in devastating magic attacks. As a Mage, she relies on ranged magical abilities instead of close physical combat and stands behind the Tankers to cast her spells outside of melee range. She has a strong sense of awareness and quick decision-making skills, enabling her to react swiftly and decisively in high-stress situations. She’s also observant, reading the terrain of the dungeon to better inform herself about the challenges ahead of her.

While Heejin's battle prowess isn’t fully realized during the Red Gate Incident — as Jinwoo steps in to fight all the magical beasts and accumulate experience points based on his victories — Heejin’s clever wit is teased nonetheless. Heejin instantly recognizes that her best chances at surviving the Red Gate lie with Jinwoo rather than Kim Chul, and she even recognizes when their small group wanders into ice bear territory.

1 Kang Taeshik Hides His Criminal Actions by Working for the Hunter’s Association

First Appearance: Season 1, Episode 3, “It’s Like a Game”

10 Strongest B-Rank and C-Rank Hunters, Ranked (13)

Kang Taeshik is a B-Rank Assassin known for his deadly combat skills and ruthless personality. As an Assassin, he specializes in stealth, speed, and precise attacks, making him one of the most dangerous B-Rank Hunters. He excels in close-quarters combat, using daggers to deliver quick and lethal strikes to his enemies. His agility and reflexes allow him to move unpredictably, making it difficult for opponents to land hits on him. Unlike many other Hunters, Kang Taeshik does not hesitate to kill — whether they’re human or magical beast — and enjoys the hunt, succinctly showcasing the harsh reality of living in Solo Leveling’s world.

One of Jinwoo’s earliest tests pits him against Kang Taeshik, after the hitman uses his position at the Hunters Association to carry out the murders of the rest of their raiding party. The Assassin proves himself to be a strong Hunter, first overcoming Song Chi-Yul despite the buff he received from Joohee. Even Jinwoo struggles at the outset of their fight, thanks to Taeshik’s Stealth ability, and barely manages to overcome thanks to his Bloodlust skill.