It's common in manhwa to see protagonists start from rock bottom, and then get stronger as the plot progresses. This always makes for a great story, especially when superpowers and magic are involved. Seeing the main character gain new abilities and skills is fun, and watching them beat their tormentors is extremely satisfying.
However, being weak doesn't mean being useless. Without the strength to fight strong opponents, weak characters need to be more creative to accomplish their goals, which usually leads to even more interesting developments. Stories with weaker protagonists are great, because they progress in a way that isn't expected.
Updated April 7, 2024, by Garrett Huon: It can be hard to commit to reading a manhwa when there isn't enough information. Some people prefer to wait until a story is finished before they binge the entire thing. Others don't mind waiting for weekly updates. Providing information like the genre, themes, and status can help a reader decide to pick up a title. While updating this list, there will also be two new entries for those who enjoy main characters on the weaker side.
12 Best Manhwa With Criminal Protagonists, Ranked
Although squeaky-clean protagonists can be fun to like, these main characters in manhwa operate outside the law.
12 I'm Not That Kind Of Talent
MyAnimeList Score: 7.27
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
- Author: Denpi
- Illustrator: Meona
Humans and demons are at war in many manhwa, and stories usually pick one side to portray. This manhwa is about the world's weakest human, Deon Hart. He bleeds if he moves too much, and too much excitement will cause him to faint.
However, he must hide this fact from everyone because he's also the secret weapon of the Demon King's army. Known as Demon Arut, he's famous for his cruelty and viciousness in battle. He's faking it to survive, but something is strange. Both of these personalities seem real.
11 Hand Jumper
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Drama, Superpowers
- Author: Sleepacross
- Illustrator: Sleepacross
In a world full of superpowered people called Aberrants, society is constantly teetering on the edge of chaos. Normal humans live in constant fear of aberrants and their aggressive behavior, especially with a string of murders constantly on the news. Sayeon Lee hates aberrants. She wants to go to law school and help uphold justice to make the world a better place.
It's just too bad that she's an aberrant herself. All aberrants are required to do military service, and she's no exception. With her dreams crushed, she needs to quickly figure out what she wants and who she wants to be. 80% of aberrants die during training, but she's going to make sure she survives.
10 Dungeon Reset
MyAnimeList Score: 6.93
- Published: 2020 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Author: Daul
- Illustrator: Ant Studio
It's all too common for people to suddenly be transported into a dungeon that forces them to fight for their lives. For Jung Dawoon in Dungeon Reset, it's even worse since he falls into a trap and gets left behind. By the time his teammates clear the first stage, the Dungeon thinks he's dead. Only he isn't.
The dungeon resets for the next group of players, and Dawoon is healed. With just his skill "Purify," he needs to survive and meet up with the others.
9 Legend Of An Asura: The Poison Dragon
MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts
- Author: Senior
- Illustrator: Yeonggwang
In Legend of an Asura, after his entire clan is annihilated, Zhen Ziqiang swears vengeance on the Venom Clan, who is responsible. Coming from the Medicine Sect, he doesn't know many martial arts, and the techniques he does know won't be strong enough to defeat his enemies.
Ziqiang must rely on his wits and strategy to defeat the people that killed his family. However, his path of revenge is full of secrets that may change how he sees the world and what he must do.
8 The S-Class That I Raised
MyAnimeList Score: 7.24
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Theme: Time Travel, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Author: Geunseo
- Illustrator: Biwan
In this manhwa, the experience of being a hunter depends entirely on rank. Of course, being S-class is leagues better than F-class. Han Yujin in The S-class That I Raised knows this all too well as he struggles to survive.
10 Best Isekai Manhwa, Ranked
These manhwa share significant similarities with the famous isekai medium, featuring series that involve traveling or reincarnating into other worlds.
However, after a terrible accident, Yujin has a chance to right all his wrongs by going back in time. With this second chance, he decides to live comfortably as an F-class, but through many different circumstances, he gets into the business of many S-class individuals, including his own brother.
7 Solo Farming In The Tower
MyAnimeList Score: 7.37
- Published: 2023 to Present
- Genre/Theme: Fantasy, Action
- Author: sdcknight
- Illustrator: Hakyung Lee
In some universes, magical towers that appear are golden opportunities to make it big. In Solo Farming in the Tower, Park Sejun is an average guy who dreams of a life without worry. For him, the only solution is the Tower. Through sheer luck, a portal into the Tower appears before him, and he jumps at the opportunity.
Unfortunately, that portal was a mistake, and he's sent to an unknown cave with only the groceries he'd just bought. There's only one way for Sejun to survive: farming.
6 A Returner's Magic Should Be Special
MyAnimeList Score: 7.53
- Published: 2018 to Present
- Genres/Themes: School, Time Travel, Action, Fantasy
- Author: So-nan Yu
- Illustrator: Uk-jakga
Another common theme in manhwa is going back in time. Desir Arman in A Returner's Magic Should Be Special is sent back from his apocalyptic future to his time as a student at Hebrion Acadamy, where aspiring mages come to learn.
7 Most Iconic Black-Haired Manhwa Characters
From an assertive leader to the weakest hunter, these are some of the most iconic black-haired characters in the Manhwa world.
In order to stop the disaster of the future, Desire decides to use his meager magical skills to train and recruit the best mages of the generation. But first, he needs to face the rampant classism at the academy.
5 The Ember Knight
MyAnimeList Score: 7.54
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Author: Hwandaeng
- Illustrator: Hwandaeng
In The Ember Knight, the main character, Nagyunn, uses his incredible perceptive skills to blend in with knights with extraordinary power. After his brother Najin is killed by an unknown group, Nagyunn sets off on a journey for answers and revenge, posing as a trainee knight under his brother's name.
Unfortunately, Najin was incredibly gifted as a fighter with great power, and Nagyunn has no way to emulate that power. He must trick and manipulate everyone around him into thinking he's just as strong, in order to play the role of his brother.
4 The Novel's Extra
MyAnimeList Score: 7.65
- Published: 2022 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation, School, Action, Fantasy
- Author: Gapsong Ji
- Illustrator: Carrot Studio
After responding to an email late at night, Kim Hajin wakes up to find he's been transported into the world of his own novel. Just as the title The Novel's Extra implies, he becomes a random character that wasn't present in the original story. However, that's not the only thing that's different.
Characters have changed slightly, and certain events are happening too early. With new twists and problems appearing, Kim Hajin needs to survive long enough to get to where he stopped writing.
3 Trash Of The Count's Family
MyAnimeList Score: 7.75
- Published: 2020 to Present
- Genre/Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation, Fantasy
- Author: Ryeo Han Yu
- Illustrator: PAN4
Kim Roksu is the name of the protagonist in Trash of the Count's Family, but in this manhwa, he gets transported into the novel "Birth of a Hero." There, he takes over the body of Cale Henituse, a minor villain that was meant to be dealt with at the beginning of the story.
However, the new Cale quickly changes his attitude and behavior in order to gain the two things needed to survive in a turbulent, magical world: protection and money.
2 Weak Hero
MyAnimeList Score: 7.96
- Chapters: 267
- Published: 2018 to 2023
- Genres/Theme: Action, Drama, School
- Authors: Seopass
- Illustrator: RAZEN
Bullying is prevalent everywhere, and manhwa would have readers believe that it's incredibly brutal in South Korea. Gray Yeon is the protagonist in Weak Hero. Intelligent and cunning, Gray hates bullies and does not tolerate any of the harassment that goes on in the classroom or elsewhere.
15 Best Manhwa With OP Main Characters
These manhwa series are filled with immensely powerful characters, which makes them more thrilling to read.
His short stature and aloof nature attracts bullies endlessly, but it's not much of a problem. Strategy, preparation, and knowledge are all Gray needs to take out bullies who are bigger and stronger. Unfortunately, beating one bully means having to beat them all.
1 The Greatest Estate Developer
MyAnimeList Score: 8.34
- Published: 2021 to Present
- Genres/Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation, Adventure, Fantasy
- Author: Back-kyung Moon
- Illustrator: Hyunsoo Kim
In The Greatest Estate Developer, main character Kim Suho is transported into the book he read before falling asleep. He wakes up on a dirt road as Lloyd Frontera, the son of a poor noble family, with the orginal main character Javier as his bodyguard.
Lloyd realizes he and his entire family may end up dead soon, and he needs a way to stop it. Luckily, Kim Suho was getting his degree in Civil Engineering. Using his skills from his alternate life, Lloyd begins reconstructing his territory with new buildings and amenities.
15 Best Gender Bender Manhwa You Should Read
These are some of the most interesting gender bender stories the manhwa medium has to offer.