Solo Leveling Season 2 is right around the corner and fans are excited to see where the series’s protagonist Sung Jinwoo’s journey leads him next. With Production I.G. Studios at the helm of this anime, many anticipate great things from Season 2.
Unless you’ve read the series’s source material, waiting for Season 2 to come around can feel irritating. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right spot if you want to brush up on your Solo Leveling knowledge until Season 2 arrives. In this article, we’re discussing Season 1 and giving you information about what you should know before Season 2 airs.
How does Solo Leveling Season 1 begin?
The story begins with Guildmaster Choi and his men battling large ants on an island. After that, we receive an overview of this world’s origins. One day, several gates housing magic beasts appeared around the world. Human S to E-Rank hunters must fight these monsters for humanity’s sake.
In the present timeline, Jinwoo attends a raid meeting with fellow hunters, Joohee, Park, and Kim. Song Chihul (Song) is leading this mission. Eventually, Jinwoo and his comrades head inside. After they fight monsters and chat, Jinwoo and his allies find and enter a second dungeon.
Meanwhile, Chairman Go discusses the administration, dungeon breaks, and essence stones with a colleague. Go reveals that the government wants to generate electricity using specific dungeon items.
He argues the government wants to produce a clean worldwide energy source. Meanwhile, Choi and an agent discuss one B-rank hunter and two C-rank hunters. Choi tells the agent to make them an offer. However, Choi argues these hunters aren’t on Cha Hae-in’s (Cha) level. Cha is an S-Rank hunter.
What happens during Jinwoo and his comrade’s second dungeon expedition? Does Jinwoo die?
One of the hunters tells Song to read a scripture. Song reads it line by line and the second dungeon’s entrance closes. The second dungeon’s statues and hazards kill most hunters and Song gets wounded. Jinwoo ponders the scripture and encourages everyone to bow before the giant “God” statue. This is the scripture’s first commandment.
Jinwoo tells everyone the second commandment, but many hunters die trying to fulfill it. He realizes they must pray to the instrument-carrying statues to fulfill the second commandment. Jinwoo loses a leg in this phase. The God Statue summons an altar and Jinwoo says the third commandment requires them to prove their faith to God.
Jinwoo has two people accompany him to the altar so he can investigate it. Then, Jinwoo asks the others to head to the altar. After everyone gathers around the altar, living statues approach them. The second dungeon’s entrance opens seconds later. This encourages every hunter besides Song, Joohee, and Jinwoo to flee.
Jinwoo notices Joohee’s broken leg and tells Song to escape the second dungeon with her. Song accepts, leaving Jinwoo alone. The statues pulverize Jinwoo. Before Jinwoo perishes, a Player Log appears, asking Jinwoo if he’d like to become a “Player.” Jinwoo accepts and wakes up in a hospital bed, realizing he survived.
What details does Jinwoo uncover about the Player Log system? Does Jinwoo explore an instant dungeon?
Two Hunter Association members named Woo and Kang enter Jinwoo’s room. They tell Jinwoo what happened to Song, Joohee, and the other surviving hunters. Woo and Kang test Jinwoo’s mana levels to see if he underwent a “second awakening.” They realize Jinwoo didn’t go through that and depart.
Then, Jinwoo examines the Player Log. Jinwoo learns about its system and requirements. After Cha accepts Choi’s “instructor role request,” Jinwoo gets sent to a desert because he didn’t complete the Player Log’s daily quest. Jinwoo completes his penalty quest, returns to the hospital, and receives a reward.
Jinwoo completes his Strength Training quest and rambles about the types of rewards he can get for doing so. Jinwoo receives a key to an instant dungeon via his lootbox reward. In a flashback, the story reveals that Jinwoo’s mother’s undergoing Final Rest, an eternal sleep disease.
Jinwoo’s mother’s physician tells him and his sister, Jinah, that he can only provide their mother with life support. After Jinwoo completes more daily quests, he devotes his skill points to his strength stat. Then, Jinwoo visits Hapjeon Station and uses his key to enter an “instant dungeon.”
Does Jinwoo defeat the instant dungeon’s boss? Does Jinwoo murder the dungeon break boss?
Jinwoo learns he must defeat the instant dungeon’s boss or use a teleportation stone to retreat. During Jinwoo’s exploration, he develops knowledge of the monsters’ different strength levels and an understanding of his log shop. Then, Jinwoo fights the instant dungeon’s boss, Kasaka.
Jinwoo defeats Kasaka, levels up, and gains more rewards. Then, Jinwoo returns to Earth and stumbles upon several hunters fighting a dungeon-break boss. Jinwoo spots Joohee among them. He throws a broken sword at the boss and kills it. Jinwoo flees the area before another hunter can introduce him to the others.
Joohee questions if Jinwoo defeated the dungeon break boss.
Why does Jinwoo accept Hwang Dongsuk’s C-Rank dungeon request? Does Hwang betray Jinwoo and Yoo Jinho?
Eventually, Jinwoo gets discharged from the hospital and greets Jinah at home. At home, Jinwoo’s landlord calls and reminds him about his late rent payment. Jinwoo tells his landlord he’ll pay him soon and hangs up. Jinwoo ponders ways to pay his landlord. He attends a dungeon raid meeting held by Hwang Dongsuk.
Jinwoo accepts his request to pay his landlord the rent he owes him. He meets a D-Rank hunter named Yoo Jinho and enters the C-Rank dungeon with him and the others. During their expedition, we learn that Jinho comes from a wealthy family.
After these hunters fight insect beasts, they stumble upon a cave filled with mana crystals, a type of dungeon reward. Hwang and his friends ask Jinwoo and Jinho to remain here while they return to his ally’s truck to acquire excavation tools. Then, Hwang has his allies seal the area, leaving Jinwoo and Jinho trapped inside.
Jinho’s upset but Jinwoo tells him to stand back. The area’s spider boss Buryura confronts the two.
Does Jinwoo defeat Buryura? Why does Jinwoo murder Hwang Dongsuk and his allies?
Jinwoo fights Buryura. He relies on his strength, skills, and weapons to defeat it. While Jinwoo gathers the rewards, Jinho speculates that he’s a “false ranker,” a hunter who loves murdering things. Hwang and his allies return surprised by the spider’s demise. He reveals his ploy to Jinho and orders him to kill Jinwoo.
Jinho refuses. Jinwoo receives a quest from his Player Log, ordering him to kill the people who want to murder him. After strong contemplation, Jinwoo murders Hwang and his allies. Jinwoo and Jinho depart the C-Rank dungeon. Jinho explains what happened to a female worker and thanks Jinwoo for his assistance.
Jinwoo looks through the rewards he got from his quest and learns he’s obtained the “murderous intent” skill.
Does Jinwoo accept Jinho’s 19-dungeon raiding request? What is the Elixir of Life?
A gentleman presents Woo with documents regarding Jinwoo, Jinho, and Hwang’s mission. Woo tells the gentleman he’ll investigate it since Jinwoo’s involved. After Jinwoo catches up with Jinah about money and dungeon raiding, he meets Jinho at a cafe. Jinho tells Jinwoo he’s forming a Strike Team and needs him to join 19 raids.
He also wants to become a licensed guild master. Jinho reveals his father (Myunghan) wants to build a guild for business purposes. Myunghan requires an S-Rank Hunter guild master and his brother to serve as second-in-command. Yoo shows Jinwoo building documents Myunghan wants to use for the guild’s headquarters.
Jinho also shares the monetary reward Jinwoo will receive if he accepts. Jinwoo declines the offer and departs. Meanwhile, Hwang’s brother, Dongsoo, receives paperwork regarding Hwang’s final expedition with Jinwoo and Jinho before Hwang’s passing. He wants to avenge Hwang once his schedule is free.
After jogging with Jinah, Jinwoo checks his rewards. Jinwoo obtains “The Demon Castle’s Key.” He can enter an S-Rank dungeon called the Demon’s Castle with this key. If Jinwoo conquers this dungeon, he’ll receive the “Elixir of Life,” which can cure all illnesses. Jinwoo thinks this reward will cure his mother’s “Final Rest” problem.
Later, Jinwoo heads somewhere and uses the key to enter an S-Rank dungeon. Jinwoo locates the dungeon’s boss, Cerberus, and defeats it. He receives various rewards and a document. The document informs Jinwoo that he must find three items to make the Elixir of Life. The items are stored inside the Demon’s Castle.
Jinwoo argues he’s not ready to tackle that task yet. He departs from the dungeon and plans to gather those items later.
What must Jinho do to get Jinwoo to accept his 19-raid request? What does Guildmaster Choi want to do on Jeju Island?
Jinwoo meets with Jinho and accepts his 19 raid request. However, Jinwoo tells Yoo that he only wants him and Yoo to enter these dungeons. Jinwoo says they can hire hunters and have them on standby while they explore the dungeons. Myunghan discusses other guilds, hunters, and dungeons with Jinho.
Meanwhile, Jinwoo receives an email about a D-Rank raid request. Jinwoo accepts the task despite knowing it’ll possibly give him lackluster rewards. Elsewhere, Baek Yoonho, an S-Rank Hunter visits Choi. Choi tells Baek that Myunghan is forming a guild and wants to discuss something else with him.
After Joonhee accepts the D-Rank raid request Jinwoo received, Cha visits Choi. Cha reveals she declined Myunghan’s business opportunity and requires information about what Choi and Baek discussed. We learn from Baek’s thoughts that he and Choi discussed the Jeju Island incident.
The Jeju Island incident was the ant attack shown at the beginning of episode one. Nevertheless, Choi isn’t thrilled that everyone has forgotten about Jeju Island and dreams of clearing it up.
Who is Inspector Kang? Who dies during Jinwoo’s D-Rank Dungeon raid?
Jinwoo meets Song, Joohee, Kim, and other hunters at the D-Rank raid expedition. Then, a female associate, several prisoners, and Inspector Kang Taeshik arrive. The associate says the prisoners will serve as substitutes and promise to be on their best behavior. After that, Jinwoo, Kang, and the others enter the D-Rank dungeon.
Jinwoo and the others reach an area with three pathways. Kang and the prisoners take the right path and Jinwoo, Song, and Joohee take the left path. Meanwhile, Kim and his ally take the middle. Kang and the prisoners discuss the art of murder. The prisoners tell Kang they don’t mind killing goblins or fellow humans.
In a flashback, Kang meets with a client. The client wants Kang to murder the prisoners and promises to pay him in return. Kang accepts the offer and starts killing them. Kim and his ally stumble upon Kang as he murders the last prisoner. Kang turns his attention to Kim and his friend. He wants to kill them to erase evidence of his crime.
Jinwoo, Song, and Joohee find Kim and his ally. Kim’s ally died and Kim’s on the brink of death. Kim apologizes to Jinwoo for abandoning him during the second dungeon incident and dies. Kang approaches our trio and wants to kill them. Joohee applies a strength buff on Jinwoo and Jinwoo grabs Kim’s sword. Jinwoo fights Kang.
During their fight, we learn Kang accepted his client’s task because it’ll let him fulfill his lust for murdering people. Jinwoo defeats Kang and Kang dies after giving Jinwoo advice. Jinwoo asks Joohee and Song to leave the dungeon. He plans to defeat the dungeon’s boss alone. Joohee and Song thank Jinwoo and depart.
Does Joohee retire from hunting? What does Ahn Sangmin ask Jinwoo at the cafe?
Woo and a dungeon supervisor arrive at the D-Rank dungeon’s gate to interrogate Jinwoo, Joohee, and Song about the raid. Song tells Woo he killed Kang and credits Joohee for helping him. He tells Jinwoo this is payment for the second dungeon expedition. Joohee meets with Jinwoo at a park and offers him an essence stone.
She tells Jinwoo she’s retiring and moving back in with her folks. Joohee departs. After Woo tells Sung to be weary of Dongsoo, Jinwoo meets with Jinho. Jinho introduces Jinwoo to their strike team and reminds the strike team of his rules and consequences. Jinwoo and Jinho enter a dungeon and return, much to the strike team’s shock.
Then, Jinwoo receives a job-change quest from the Player Log. Meanwhile, two Hunter association employees Hyun Kichul and Ahn Sangnim discuss Jinwoo and Jinho’s C-Rank dungeon gate ownership activities. Ahn speculates that Jinwoo’s gone through a second awakening and wants to recruit him.
After some failed attempts, Ahn meets with Jinwoo at a cafe. Ahn tells Jinwoo he is the White Tiger’s Guild’s Second Administration Team Manager and wants him to join the guild. Jinwoo declines at first. However, Ahn shares more details with him. Jinwoo makes Ahn an offer.
He says he’ll grant Ahn ownership of three C-Rank gates. Ahn understands and accepts. Jinwoo meets with Jinho to discuss the deal he made with Ahn. Ahn returns and learns Jinwoo scammed him. He doesn’t mind because he got Jinwoo’s contact details.
How does Jinwoo’s job-change quest mission go? What happens between Guilmaster Choi, Cha, Go, and Woo?
Jinwoo visits a location to accept his job-change quest. He enters a portal and finds himself in a dungeon. While Jinwoo fights foes, Jinho, Myunghun, and Jinho’s brother, Jinsung, meet somewhere. Jinsung updates Myunghun on his S-Rank hunter recruitment plans and tells Jinho not to get in his way.
Meanwhile, Choi, Cha, and other hunters meet at an aircraft. Choi receives a call from Go. He thanks Go for funding his Jeju Island reconnaissance operation. Choi confirms this mission requires him and his allies to assess threat levels. At the same time, Jinwoo meets Igris the Bloodred and fights Igris.
Jinwoo defeats Igris and acquires rewards for his victory. Then, more portals appear and knights exit each of them. Jinwoo fights the knights. Meanwhile, Go and Woo discuss the third Jeju Island raid and the people who died and survived it. Back to Jinwoo, the Player Log tells him to complete his daily quest, but Jinwoo can’t.
The system sends Jinwoo to the penalty zone. Jinwoo uses potions to recover his injuries. He fights numerous centipedes to heal his non-potion-effective injuries. After Jinwoo equips himself with new skills and weapons, he returns to the job-change quest dungeon to fight the knights.
How does Solo Leveling Season 1 end?
After Jinwoo successfully defeats the knights, mages, and golems, the Player Log tells Jinwoo his new job class is a necromancer. Jinwoo accepts the offer and the Player Log gives him the “Shadow Monarch” class. The Player Log asks Jinwoo to input a command word for his “Shadow Extraction” skill and he chooses “Arise.”
The Player Log gives Jinwoo intel about the “Shadow Extraction” and “Shadow Storage” skills. One allows Jinwoo to drain mana to create shadow soldiers while the other lets him hold on to those soldiers and summon them whenever he pleases. Jinwoo extracts Igris’s shadow and Igris and other soldiers bow before Jinwoo.
Meanwhile, Choi and Cha observe Jeju Island’s magic beasts. Solo Leveling Season 1 ends with Choi telling Cha that the beasts are evolving.
Do you have a full recap of Solo Leveling’s Season Finale?
We’ve covered Solo Leveling’s Season Finale with a lengthy recap that touches on all major plot points. Within that article is an accompanying review. You can find that link below.
Read more: Solo Leveling – Episode 12 Recap, Review & Ending Explained
Conclusion
Solo Leveling is one of the most popular webcomics today. It gained more fans when it aired in early 2024, and many are excited to see what awaits Sung and his allies in Season 2.
As always, thank you for reading our season 1 recap! If you want to read our season 1 review of Solo Leveling, click here!
Are you a big Solo Leveling fan? What was your favorite moment from Season 1? Let us know in the comments below!