Quick answer (2026)
- What it is: a Korean action manhwa by Chugong, with art by the late Jang Sung-rak (DUBU) of Redice Studio.
- Status: the main webtoon is complete (KakaoPage, 2018–2021). The sequel, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, is ongoing.
- Read legally: Tapas and Tappytoon (digital), and Yen Press (print).
- Note: Tapas plans to close in March 2027, so Tappytoon and print are the long-term options.
Last updated: November 12, 2026 · By Robert
- What is Solo Leveling?
- Was Solo Leveling on Reaper Scans?
- Where can I read Solo Leveling legally?
- Is Solo Leveling finished?
- What is the Solo Leveling reading order?
- Why did Solo Leveling become a global hit?
- Who are the main characters in Solo Leveling?
- Is there a Solo Leveling novel or anime?
- Is it safe to read Solo Leveling on free sites?
- What manhwa are similar to Solo Leveling?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Solo Leveling is the series people mention most often when they talk about Reaper Scans and other scanlation sites. This guide shows where to read it officially in English, explains the novel, the anime and the Ragnarok sequel, and introduces the main characters, without sending you to unsafe mirror sites.
What is Solo Leveling?
Solo Leveling follows Sung Jin-woo, the weakest E-Rank hunter, who gains a mysterious system that lets only him level up. It started as a web novel by Chugong on KakaoPage in 2016, and the webtoon ran on KakaoPage from March 2018 to December 2021.
Jang Sung-rak (DUBU) of Redice Studio drew the webtoon. He died in July 2022, and a later side story used a new art team with Chugong returning as writer (Wikipedia). The series is widely credited with bringing Korean action manhwa to a global audience.
Was Solo Leveling on Reaper Scans?
Many readers searched for Solo Leveling together with “Reaper Scans”, but the title had several unofficial translations online. We can’t confirm which group translated which chapters, and it no longer matters.
Reaper Scans shut down permanently in May 2025 after a cease-and-desist from Kakao Entertainment, the company behind Solo Leveling’s original platform, KakaoPage (The Outer Haven). Solo Leveling has been officially available in English for years.
Where can I read Solo Leveling legally?
Solo Leveling has several official English homes. The table shows the format and US availability for each.
| Platform | Format | Cost | Available in the US? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tappytoon | Digital webtoon (official English translation) | Coins; some free episodes | Yes |
| Tapas | Digital webtoon, plus Solo Leveling: Ragnarok | Wait-or-pay / coins | Yes, until it closes (March 2027) |
| Yen Press | Print and ebook volumes (webtoon and novel) | Paid | Yes |
| KakaoPage | Korean original | Free and paid episodes | Korean only |
Kakao announced that Tapas will close, with service ending in March 2027 (Anime News Network). If you read on Tapas, consider Tappytoon or the Yen Press volumes for a long-term copy.
Is Solo Leveling finished?
Yes, the main Solo Leveling webtoon is complete. Season 2 ended with chapter 179 in December 2021, and a side story ran in 2023.
The story continues in Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which follows Jin-woo’s son, Suho. The Ragnarok webtoon by Redice Studio premiered on July 31, 2024, and is published in English on Tapas.
What is the Solo Leveling reading order?
- Solo Leveling (main webtoon): chapters 1–179, from Jin-woo’s first double dungeon to the end of the war with the Monarchs.
- Solo Leveling side story: the 2023 bonus chapters, which take place after the main story.
- Solo Leveling: Ragnarok: the sequel webtoon from 2024, which follows Jin-woo’s son, Suho.
Prefer prose? The original novel covers the same main story and adds more of Jin-woo’s inner thoughts. The anime adapts the early arcs, so you can watch it first and then pick up the webtoon from the start for the full art.
Why did Solo Leveling become a global hit?
Solo Leveling turned a simple idea into a fast, satisfying power fantasy: the weakest hunter becomes the strongest, one level at a time. Each chapter gives a clear sense of progress, and readers can see it in Jin-woo’s stats, his gear and his growing shadow army.
DUBU’s art set a new standard for action webtoons, with dark, glowing effects and full-page fight panels that work well on a phone screen. The official English editions, and later the A-1 Pictures anime, brought the series to readers who had never tried manhwa before.
Its success also changed the industry. Publishers saw how big the English-speaking audience was for Korean action stories, and many more titles got official licenses afterwards. That is part of why legal options exist today for so many series people once read on Reaper Scans.
Who are the main characters in Solo Leveling?
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Sung Jin-woo | The protagonist: once the weakest E-Rank hunter, later the Shadow Monarch. |
| Cha Hae-in | An S-Rank hunter and expert swordswoman; Jin-woo’s love interest. |
| Yoo Jin-ho | A D-Rank hunter, Jin-woo’s sworn brother and his guild’s vice-chairman. |
| Sung Jin-ah | Jin-woo’s younger sister, a high school student. |
| Ashborn | The former Shadow Monarch, who chooses Jin-woo as his successor. |
| Igris and Beru | Powerful shadow soldiers loyal to Jin-woo. |
Is there a Solo Leveling novel or anime?
Yes to both. The original web novel by Chugong is published in English by Yen Press, and it appeared earlier on Webnovel as “Only I Level Up”.
A-1 Pictures produced the anime. Season 1 aired from January to March 2024, and Season 2, “Arise from the Shadow”, aired from January to March 2025. A film, “Beyond the System”, has been announced. The Ragnarok sequel novel by Daul is available on Wuxiaworld.
Is it safe to read Solo Leveling on free sites?
No. Because Solo Leveling is so popular, it is one of the most copied titles on unofficial sites. Those sites often use the series name to attract clicks and then show pop-ups, fake download buttons or redirects.
Tappytoon and Tapas both have free or wait-to-unlock options, so you can start safely without paying. If you want to own the series, the Yen Press volumes are sold at major US bookstores and as ebooks.
What manhwa are similar to Solo Leveling?
- Return to Player: a survivor replays a deadly game set by the gods.
- Limit Breaker: another hunter story about breaking power limits.
- Nano Machine: martial arts and sci-fi power-ups in a demonic cult.
See every title and its official platform in our Reaper Scans manhwa list, and compare safe apps in our Reaper Scans alternatives guide. To learn why the old site disappeared, read what happened to Reaper Scans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I read Solo Leveling legally?
On Tappytoon and Tapas (digital) and in Yen Press print and ebook editions. Tapas plans to close in March 2027.
Is Solo Leveling complete?
Yes. The main webtoon finished in December 2021 with chapter 179. The sequel, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, continues the story.
Was Solo Leveling on Reaper Scans?
Readers often searched for it together with Reaper Scans, but several unofficial groups covered it. Reaper Scans shut down in 2025.
Is there a Solo Leveling anime?
Yes. A-1 Pictures made two seasons, which aired in 2024 and 2025, and a film has been announced.
Who made Solo Leveling?
Chugong wrote the original novel, and Jang Sung-rak (DUBU) of Redice Studio drew the webtoon.
Solo Leveling is easy to read legally, even without Reaper Scans. We update this guide when platforms change. Back to the Reaper Scans guide.
