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What is a necromancer in Solo Leveling? Explore this class, the different abilities under it and what makes Jinwoo unique.
Solo Leveling is a popular manhwa and anime that tells the tale of superhuman hunters fighting against monsters coming out of the gates. It features a variety of intriguing abilities, with many of the exciting ones being wielded by the protagonist – Sung Jinwoo. As he gradually became the strongest hunter, Jinwoo gained several overpowered skills. However, at the root of his strength lies his identity as a necromancer. So, what is a necromancer in Solo Leveling?
A necromancer in Solo Leveling refers to Jinwoo’s ability to raise the dead as his shadow soldiers. This offers a twist on the classic understanding of necromancy while allowing Jinwoo to fight the supreme villains threatening the world. Let us take a closer look at this.
What Is Necromancy in Solo Leveling?
Solo Leveling’s world typically has 6 classes of hunters – Mage, Fighter, Assassin, Healer, Tanker, and Ranger. Most characters fall under one of these banners, contributing in either attack, defense, or support. While many consider necromancy to be an extension of a mage, Jinwoo’s Shadow Extraction is distinctively different.
Hence, necromancy in Solo Leveling refers to the ability to raise the dead as shadows, making them undying shadow soldiers who obey the user’s command. This is different from the traditional understanding of necromancy, where the body of the undead being is resurrected, making them lack intelligence and prone to decay.
As the Shadow Monarch, Jinwoo can extract the shadows of any fallen targets, typically weaker than him. He has 3 attempts to resurrect them, using the signature phrase “Arise”. Once resurrected, these soldiers, referred to as shadows, remain faithful to Sung Jinwoo while retaining a part of their original personalities, abilities, and memories.
It is important to note that Jinwoo’s necromancy only works on the bodies of those with mana. Hence, normal humans would be exempt from his abilities.
How Did Sung Jinwoo Become a Necromancer?
Jinwoo’s necromancy powers did not belong to him originally but were passed down from Ashborn – the first Shadow Monarch. In hopes of finding a new vessel, he worked with the Architect to bestow Jinwoo with the System.
After Jinwoo reached level 40 due to his relentless hard work, he got the opportunity to take a job change quest. Upon accepting, he faced Igris in a dungeon, resulting in one of the most exhilarating battles in the series.
Despite being severely outmatched, Jinwoo managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. When relishing in the spoils of his victory, the System revealed a twist. It explained how the quest was just beginning, and Jinwoo had to survive against hordes of monsters immediately. The longer he lasted, the higher his job class would be.
Following a hard-fought battle that pushed him physically and mentally, Jinwoo leveled up rapidly. He put all his new gear into use, defeating every single monster and finishing the quest. Upon completion, he got the opportunity to become a necromancer.
While initially hesitant, he couldn’t refuse when finding it was a hidden class. Immediately after this, he added Igris to his army of shadows, taking pride in his new ability.
How Is Jinwoo’s Necromancy Unique?
Jinwoo’s necromancy is inherently unique in Solo Leveling simply because no one can use an ability like it. While the Mage Class’s Summoning Magic comes close, it requires mana and is highly restrictive in the summoned creatures.
Jinwoo’s Shadow Extraction, on the other hand, takes no mana, with the only limit being the number of soldiers he can add to his army. As he levels up, this number drastically rises, with him having millions of shadows by the end of the series.
As we have seen earlier, regular necromancy resurrects the dead body, giving it a tangible presence. This results in the body breaking down after some time. Jinwoo’s shadows, in contrast, are immortal. They live in the user’s shadow and can be regenerated as long as he is fine. Moreover, with abilities such as Shadow Exchange, the protagonist can swap places with his shadows, allowing him to teleport instantly.
Due to their lack of presence, even strong hunters cannot detect them. Notably, Jinwoo’s most powerful shadows completely retain their sense of self. Their features of knightliness, loyalty and simply being comic relief add to the depth of the series.
Jinwoo’s Most Notable Shadows
Sung Jinwoo’s necromancy has resulted in a rich addition of memorable shadow soldiers. These include:
- Igris – Jinwoo’s first powerful shadow soldier, extracted immediately after the job change quest. He is known for sword mastery and chivalrous nature.
- Beru – The former Ant King who joined Jinwoo after the Jeju Island Raid. Beru is the funniest servant of Jinwoo but is powerful enough to overpower S-Rank Hunters.
- Bellion – The strongest shadow of the protagonist, who was gifted to him by Ashborn. He is a warrior honed through years of experience, powerful enough to easily defeat Beru.
- Tusk – As Jinwoo’s main mage, Tusk is the shadow of the orc shaman Kargalgan. He was defeated in the Hunters Guild Gate Arc, serving faithfully with his destructive magic.
- Kaisel – After climbing the demon castle and defeating Baran, Jinwoo resurrected his wyvern Kaisel. This creature is not necessarily strong, but can majestically fly.
- Iron – The former A-Rank Hunter Kim Chul’s shadow, extracted from him in the Red Gate Arc. Iron is strong and durable, but also a hilarious dunce.
Conclusion
Necromancy in Solo Leveling is more than just the ability to raise the dead; it represents the culmination of Sung Jinwoo’s journey to power. With his abilities as the Shadow Monarch, he makes his army an unbeatable force, strong enough to protect the world from the other Monarchs.
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