In the world of manhwa, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of following an overpowered protagonist who leaves a trail of amazement in their wake. These are the tales where the heroes aren’t just strong; they redefine the very concept of power. What makes these stories so captivating is the variety in how these protagonists come into their power.

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Some start from humble beginnings, gradually ascending to god-like status. Others experience rapid, explosive growth, while a few wield their intelligence to manipulate those around them and reach incredible levels of power. From adrenaline-pumping action to fantastical realms, there’s a manhwa here to enchant every enthusiast.

***SPOILER ALERT: This list contains major spoilers on the protagonists of popular manhwa and their abilities!!!***

10 The Return Of The Disaster-Class Hero

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.40

OP Abilities

• Super Regeneration Regrows Limbs And Changes His Appearance
• Act Forbidden By The Gods Can Cut Through Anything From Foes To Memories And Even Emotions

Abandoned and left to perish within a tower by his celestial allies, Geon resurfaces two decades later, stronger than ever before. In a world where constellations rule, he is able to interfere with the spiritual world thanks to his 13th Sense. Endowed with the ability to regenerate lost limbs and revert his appearance to youthful vigor, Geon stands resilient against the treachery he endured.

Not only can he self heal, but Geon holds also an SSS skill that grants resistance to all types of poison. It is, though, his unique ability to cut through anything, be it flesh, monsters, emotions, or memories, that makes him a force of unyielding power.

9 The World After The Fall

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.45

OP Abilities

• Stab Allows Him To Stab Reality Itself
• Suspicion Helps Him Acquire Hidden Information And See The Truth

As a tower materializes on Earth, beckoning chosen individuals to ascend and save humanity, Jaehwan alone perseveres, facing challenges that break the resolve of others. Scaling the tower’s heights, he withstands trials that claim the lives of many, until he stands alone at its pinnacle. Through sheer determination, and after mastering the skill of stab, Jaehwan conquers the tower’s guardian.

Years of relentless practice grant him the power to stab not only physical enemies but also reality itself, peeling away mirages and illusions that obscure the world. Jaehwan can see through the veils of deception, piercing through opponents with ease in his quest to understand the true purpose of his never-ending battle. After all, the tower was only the beginning.

8 After Ten Millennia In Hell

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.47

OP Abilities

• Power Of Predation Allows Oh Kang Woo To Absorb The Powers And Memories Of Those He Slays
• Master Of Hell Creatures Allows Him To Summon The Demons He Used To Govern

After a reign of over 10,000 years, the former demon lord of hell, Oh Kang Woo, yearns to return to Earth, and enjoy its simple pleasures. Finally armed with the power to traverse through dimensions, he leaves his domain behind, only to find himself in an unfamiliar Earth. His skills are initially sealed, but he soons starts unlocking them, and gaining newfound ones.

One of his most overpowered abilities allows Kang Woo to summon the demons he once governed, each addition enhancing his own power and soul. The power of predation, however, is the one that helps him quickly retrieve his old status, by allowing him to absorb memories and powers from those he devours.

7 How To Use A Returner

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.51

OP Abilities

• Mind’s Eye Allows Kiyoung To Peek Into Others’ Status and Hidden Talents
• Regressor Instruction Manual Allows The Manipulation Of The OP Returner

Lee Kiyoung is the main character in a survival game, where he uses his intellect and manipulation skills to navigate through it. Despite being initially overshadowed by Kim Hyunsung, an overpowered seasoned returner, Kiyoung quickly turns the tables by unlocking the Regressor Instruction Manual. This unique ability allows him to manipulate emotions, memories, and command the regressor, becoming a master manipulator who orchestrates events from the shadows with confidence.

Kiyoung’s Liar’s Temptation characteristic allows him to persuade anyone and even make people of the opposite gender fall for him. He is not just a shadow operator, though, but also a genius warlock and alchemist, capable of casting dark magic and using dragon alchemy.

6 Nano Machine

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.95

OP Abilities

• Nano Machine Injected Into His Body Brings Multiple Abilities Such As Perfect Body And Self Healing
• Able To Analyze Data Fast ANd Copy Others’ Martial Arts

Cheon Yeo-Woon was born into the complex hierarchy of a lord’s family, facing restrictions on martial arts until the age of 15 to appease the lord’s official wives. His life takes a drastic turn when, on the brink of assassination, a future descendant intervenes, injecting nano-machines into his bloodstream. These machines gift Cheon with the perfect martial arts physique, purging impurities and granting rapid self-healing abilities.

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His nano-machines allow him to copy, analyze, and even comprehend future martial arts recorded within. Cheon can also master any written knowledge, further enhancing his skills. Last but not least, he gains an emergency defense mode, which protects him from any surprise attacks.

5 SSS-Class Revival Hunter

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 7.99

OP Abilities

• I Want To Become Just Like You-Skill Allows Him To Copy One Skill Of His Murderer
• Returner’s Clockwork Watch-Skill Allows Him To Return 24 Hours Prior To His Death

Once a weak hunter, Gong-Ja Kim’s relentless envy grants him the S-rank ability, I Want To Become Just Like You, allowing him to absorb one of his killer’s abilities. An unfortunate encounter with the strongest hunter becomes a turning point as he gains the power of Returner’s Clockwork Watch, rewinding time 24 hours before his death.

As he seeks revenge, Gong-Ja unwittingly stumbles into misunderstandings, troubles, and battles, accumulating a diverse array of abilities by copying skills from various hunters. Notably, he acquires the Sword Constellation, bringing the ghostly counsel of the powerful Bae Hu-ryeong into his daily life, offering advice and aiding in skill selection. Gong-Ja’s repertoire expands further with skills to control the dead and even reincarnate those he defeats as loyal followers.

4 The Greatest Estate Developer

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.32

OP Abilities

• Multiple Summons With Varying Powers Ideal For Battle And Construction
• Mana Heart Allows To Absorb Surrounding Mana, Revive Oneself, Neutralize Poison, And Control The Undead

Suho Kim is transported into the world of a novel and finds himself trapped in the form of Frontera Lloyd, one of the least significant villains. Lloyd aspires to transform his fate and become a landlord, creating a sprawling city destined for immense profit. Throughout his journey, he acquires overpowered abilities and uses his knowledge of the novel’s events to his advantage.

With the ability to summon creatures, he defies convention by using them for construction rather than battle, from digging to processing metals. Later, he commands undead forces and an orc tribe as unpaid labor for monumental projects. Supported by Javier, a skilled sword master, and a mana heart, Lloyd wields extraordinary powers—absorbing mana, launching devastating attacks, and even reviving from the brink of death.

3 Tower Of God

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.38

OP Abilities

• Dragon’s Breath Allows Baam To Shoot Multiple Bangs At A Single Point
• Power Of Souls Amplifies Other Abilities But Can Also Create Blades And Arrows

Twenty-Fifth Bam’s power transcends bounds from the moment we first encounter him. Much like Sung Jinwoo, Bam’s strength intensifies with the increased use of shinsu, making his growth potential limitless. As an irregular he already has a set of skills unique to him, but as he progresses, he gains power over vengeful souls, a force he adeptly amplifies and integrates into other abilities.

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Over time, Bam’s mastery extends, transforming these souls into formidable weapons, taking the shape of blades or arrows. His martial prowess ascends to staggering heights, and he also learns the Dragon’s Breath technique, which he uses to create powerful blast attacks.

2 Omniscient Reader

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.42

OP Abilities

• Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Allows Him To Read Characters’ Thoughts And Emotions
• Bookmark Allows Dokja To Mimic The Abilities Of His Allies

Kim Dokja’s power stems from being the sole reader to finish the novel, foreseeing the impending apocalypse. Dokja’s abilities are as diverse as they are potent, providing him with a strategic edge. His unique insight allows him to delve into the thoughts, emotions, and stats of characters foretold in the novel.

Thanks to the Bookmark skill, Dokja can replicate the skills of characters he comprehends well, a particularly handy trick when channeling the formidable abilities of the novel’s protagonist, Joonghyuk. Dokja can also maintain an unwavering focus in battles, thanks to his mysterious Fourth Wall skill, which serves as a psychological shield, insulating him from negative emotions or physical anguish.

1 Solo Leveling

My Anime List (MAL) Score – 8.67

OP Abilities

• Monarch’s Domain Boosts His And Allies’ Stats
• Ruler’s Authority Grants Telekinetic Abilities
• Acausality Enables Him To Control Time Itself

Solo Leveling is a masterpiece that pioneered the surge in stories featuring gates and hunters. At its heart is Sung Jinwoo, initially one of the weakest hunters destined for obscurity. However, his fate takes a dramatic turn when abandoned in a dungeon, chosen to become the Player of the System. This grants him the unparalleled ability to level up limitlessly.

Jinwoo evolves into a formidable force, acquiring multiple classes, including Necromancer, which transforms into Shadow Lord, enabling him to command the dead. His knack for creating shadows from fallen foes, though limited to three chances, adds to his arsenal. Yet, it’s the titles of Ruler and Monarch that truly set him apart, granting telekinetic powers and a 50% boost to allies’ stats. Solo Leveling indeed lives up to its name, as Jinwoo single-handedly stands as a force capable of taking on entire armies.

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