Solo Leveling Monarchs: All 9 Ranked & Their Insane Powers Explained

Who is the strongest Solo Leveling Monarch? Are they stronger than the Rulers?

Greetings, Hunters. Guild Master Ashu here.

If you’ve been hanging around the Guild long enough, you know my stance: I hate generic villains who exist just to get punched. But Solo Leveling? That’s different. The Monarchs aren’t just dungeon bosses waiting for a raid party—they are literal concepts of destruction.

But let’s be real—the lore gets messy. One second you’re watching Jin-Woo fight an ant, and the next, there are gods, rulers, and fragments of light.

So, I’m breaking it down. No fluff, no confusion. Just the raw stats. Who is the strongest Solo Leveling Monarch? Who gets the “Trash Tier” stamp? And does anyone actually beat Antares in a 1v1?

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Solo Leveling Monarchs at a Glance

The Solo Leveling Monarchs are the 8 primordial forces of destruction created by the Absolute Being to destroy the universe. They have been at war with the Rulers (born of light) for eons.

Later, a 9th Monarch emerged—Ashborn, the Shadow Monarch—who was originally a Ruler but switched sides, becoming the greatest variable in the war.

Here is the quick hierarchy:

• Top Tier: Antares (Destruction) & Ashborn (Shadows)
• High Tier: Baran (White Flames) & Sillad (Frost)
• Mid Tier: Rakan (Fangs) & Yogumunt (Transfiguration)
• Low Tier: Querehsha (Plague) & Tarnak (Iron Body) & Legia (Giants)

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What Are Monarchs? (Origin & Lore)

In the beginning, there was only the Absolute Being. He split the “Light” to create the Rulers (to protect the world) and split the “Darkness” to create the Monarchs (to destroy it).

Unlike Hunters, who borrow power, Solo Leveling Monarchs are the power. They do not have physical bodies in the human world, so they must possess human vessels (hosts) to descend to Earth. If their vessel breaks, they cannot use their full power.

For the official lore, you can always check the Solo Leveling Wiki or read the official release on Tapas.

Monarchs vs. Rulers: The Difference

Feature	Monarchs	Rulers
Origin	Created from Darkness	Created from Light
Goal	Destroy & Consume Worlds	Protect Worlds & Maintain Order
Army	Chaos, Demons, Beasts	Angels, Silver Soldiers
Notable Members	Antares, Ashborn	The Brightest Fragment of Luminosity

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All 9 Monarchs Ranked (From Weakest to Strongest)

We have ranked the Monarchs based on Canonical Feats from the Light Novel and Manhwa.

9. Legia – The Monarch of the Beginning

• Title: King of Giants
• Status: Deceased

Overview:

Legia is technically the first Monarch introduced (captured in Japan), but ironically the weakest in terms of on-screen performance. He was the only Monarch captured by the Rulers before the story began.

Powers & Abilities:

• Wind Pressure: Can generate massive wind blasts with a simple punch.
• Mana Manipulation: Even while bound by “Mana Drain” chains, he could exert immense pressure on Jin-Woo.
• Truth Spells: Can cast ancient spells to enforce honesty.

Why Ranked #9:

He spent his entire screen time chained up. When he finally tried to trick Jin-Woo, he was killed instantly (decapitated) in a single strike. A Monarch who gets one-shot by a not-yet-fully-awakened Jin-Woo belongs at the bottom.

Deep-diving into lore without Murim basics? Understanding character backstories requires knowing martial arts hierarchies, honor codes, and power systems. Our 17 Best Murim for Beginners isn’t just recommendations—it’s a worldbuilding foundation that makes character analysis and lore guides actually make sense.​

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8. Querehsha – The Monarch of Plagues

• Title: Queen of Insects
• Status: Deceased

Overview:

A sadistic Monarch who enjoys watching her victims suffer. She looks like a beautiful woman but transforms into a grotesque spider/insect hybrid.

Powers & Abilities:

• Necromancy (Parasitic): Unlike Ashborn who revives souls, she controls dead bodies by planting parasites inside them.
• Venom: Her poison is potent enough to melt high-ranking Hunters instantly.
• Webbing: Creates mana-infused webs to trap enemies.

Why Ranked #8:

She managed to overwhelm Beru briefly, which is impressive. However, the moment Jin-Woo arrived, she was decimated. She relies on numbers (her insect army) rather than individual strength.

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7. Tarnak – The Monarch of Iron Body

• Title: King of Monstrous Humanoids
• Status: Deceased

Overview:

Tarnak rules over “Monstrous Humanoids” (Ogres, Trolls, Golems). He is arrogant but refuses to descend to Earth without a vessel because he knows he is vulnerable.

Powers & Abilities:

• Hardening: His skin can turn into an indestructible metal/golem material.
• Telepathy: Can communicate mentally across vast distances.
• Brute Force: Relies 100% on physical attacks.

Why Ranked #7:

He is a “Tank” class with zero magical versatility. In the final war, he was easily tricked and killed by Thomas Andre and Bellion. He lacks the “hax” abilities of the higher-tier Monarchs.

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6. Yogumunt – The Monarch of Transfiguration

• Title: King of Demonic Specters
• Status: Deceased

Overview:

An enigmatic figure who appears as a floating old wizard/specter. He is often seen alongside the Monarch of Iron Body but is much smarter.

Powers & Abilities:

• Existence Erasure: He can create “portals” that wipe things from existence.
• Shapeshifting: As the King of Transfiguration, his true form is fluid.

Why Ranked #6:

He is dangerous, but he feared Ashborn and Antares deeply. He is a strategist, not a frontline fighter.

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5. Rakan – The Monarch of Fangs

• Title: King of Beasts
• Status: Deceased

Overview:

The King of Beasts is violent, fast, and incredibly cowardly. He refuses to fight unless he is 100% sure he can win. He famously betrayed Ashborn in the past and tried to ambush a weakened Jin-Woo.

Powers & Abilities:

• Beast Transformation: Turns into a colossal white wolf the size of a skyscraper.
• Regeneration: Can heal from fatal wounds rapidly.
• Spatial Intimidation: His killing intent alone can freeze S-Rank hunters.

Why Ranked #5:

In terms of raw stats (Speed/Power), Rakan is S-Tier. However, his cowardice makes him weak. He panicked and tried to run away from Jin-Woo, which led to his pathetic death. A King who runs is no King.

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4. Sillad – The Monarch of Frost

• Title: King of Snow Folk
• Status: Deceased

Overview:

One of the major antagonists. Sillad was determined to kill Jin-Woo before he fully awakened. Unlike Rakan, Sillad was brave enough to fight Go Gun-Hee (the Korean Association Chairman) and stand his ground against Jin-Woo.

Powers & Abilities:

• Absolute Zero: Can freeze an entire city instantly.
• Ice Golems: Can create massive ice soldiers.
• Sleep Magic: Can induce eternal slumber (used on Go Gun-Hee).

Why Ranked #4:

He pushed Jin-Woo to his absolute limit. It took the full awakening of the Shadow Monarch to defeat him.

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3. Baran – The Monarch of White Flames

• Title: King of Demons
• Status: Deceased (Killed by Ashborn)

Overview:

We only see a “copy” of Baran in the Demon Castle Arc (Level 100 Boss). The real Baran was one of the strongest Monarchs who fought Ashborn in the past.

Powers & Abilities:

• Hellfire: Controls white flames that burn eternally.
• Lightning: Summons storms of red lightning.
• Demon Army: Commands the entire demon race.

Why Ranked #3:

The real Baran was strong enough to fight in the vanguard against Ashborn. Even though he lost, his destructive capability is stated to be near the top.

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2. Ashborn – The Shadow Monarch

• Title: King of the Dead
• Status: Immortal (Merged with Jin-Woo)

Overview:

The OG. Ashborn was originally the “Greatest Fragment of Brilliant Light” (a Ruler) who stayed loyal to the Absolute Being. When he was betrayed, he embraced the darkness and became the Shadow Monarch.

Powers & Abilities:

• Shadow Extraction: Can revive the dead as loyal soldiers.
• Ruler’s Authority: Telekinesis on a planetary scale.
• Immortality: Cannot be killed by normal means; he exists as pure mana.

Why Ranked #2:

He defeated Baran and Rakan simultaneously in the past. He is a one-man army. The only being stronger than him is…

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1. Antares – The Monarch of Destruction

• Title: King of Dragons
• Status: Deceased (Killed by Jin-Woo + Rulers)

Overview:

The Final Boss. Antares was the first Monarch created, born solely for war and destruction. He commands the Army of Destruction (Dragons).

Powers & Abilities:

• Breath of Destruction: A fire breath that erases anything from existence (even Shadows cannot regenerate from this).
• Dragon Fear: His roar paralyzes the entire world.
• Indestructible Scales: Even Jin-Woo’s strongest attacks struggled to pierce his skin.

Why Ranked #1:

Even Ashborn admitted that Antares is stronger in a 1v1. Jin-Woo could not defeat Antares alone; he needed the Rulers to stab him from behind to finally win.

The New Monarchs of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

The war didn’t end with Antares. In the direct sequel, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, the universe expands even further.

While Jin-Woo fights the “Outer Gods” (Itarim) in space, his son, Sung Suho, must defend Earth from a new generation of Monarchs. These aren’t the same villains we know—they are successors and ancient variants that even Jin-Woo never faced.

(Check out my full Solo Leveling: Ragnarok review for a deep dive into the changes from the novel).

Key New Players in Ragnarok:

• Sung Suho: He isn’t just a Shadow Monarch heir; he is becoming a “Monarch of Transcendence,” capable of wielding powers from multiple Monarchs (like Beast Transformation and Shadow Extraction).
• Gray (The New Fang Monarch): A wolf cub that Suho raises, who inherits the power of the Beast Monarch.
• Esil Radiru: The demon noble returns, destined to become the new Monarch of Gluttony.

If you think Jin-Woo was overpowered, wait until you see what his son becomes.

Verdict

There you have it—the official power hierarchy. If you ask me, Ashborn is still the coolest (obviously, I’m a Necromancer class fanboy), but facts are facts: Antares is the stat-check king.

Quest Complete – You have absorbed the knowledge. Now, don’t go back to being an E-Rank reader.

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