Highlights
- Manhwa often features overpowered main characters who possess abilities far beyond their peers, creating thrilling battles and captivating stories.
- The overpowered trope is not limited to just the protagonist, as there can be multiple overpowered central characters, adding to the engagement of the read.
- Popular manhwa series like “Existence,” “Player,” and “The Great Mage Returns After 4,000 Years” explore themes of power, revenge, and fantasy, making them must-reads for fans of the genre.
The Korean equivalent of manga, manhwa boasts many appealing genres for which the industry is famous. Alongside these genres are subgenres, which are equally as popular and attractive to various audiences, and one such subgenre is that of the ‘overpowered main character.’ These characters usually possess abilities, strengths, and skills far surpassing their peers, making them formidable in their respective stories.
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The best manhwa with these such characters can often combine action properly, character-driven narratives revolving around power dynamics and their consequences, and simultaneously create compelling tales. These overpowered central characters become the focus of thrilling battles and sources of exhilarating entertainment. The best part, however, is that the overpowered trope is not limited to just the protagonist, as there could be multiple overpowered central characters to a manhwa, making for a more engaging read. Below are some of the best manhwa that employ the overpowered trope.
10 Existence
Lee Ja-In
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Author:
Gwang-Jin, Kim Kyungjun -
Other Genres:
Action, Drama -
Release Years:
2022–
Existence embodies the concept of ‘overpowered’ in its two central characters: the protagonist and the antagonist. The story focuses on the protagonist, Lee Ja-In, an existence that has lived countless lives as different forms of energy, constantly reincarnated repeatedly. Now, born a human, Lee Ja-In discovers he has the abilities of every one of his past lives.
For what purpose is he able to retain these abilities? He can only come to a single conclusion: the extermination of all humans. Having experienced the complexity of a human life, however, Lee Ja-In becomes unsure of the true purpose of his existence.
9 Player
Heo Seojin
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Author:
Jong-seok PARK, Hyeon-jun OH -
Other Genres:
Action, Adventure -
Release Years:
2020–
Player is an Isekai manhwa that revolves around Heo Seojin, who is classified at his school as a loser even by those he thought to be his friends. His only escape from his tormenting reality is to read webtoons and imagine himself as one of those heroes in the webtoons he reads, bravely fighting for good.
Seojin’s life, however, is about to take a wildly entertaining turn when he casually comments on the webtoon Player. This comment will lead him to the center of the webtoon’s universe.
8 The Great Mage Returns After 4,000 Years
Frey Blake
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Author:
Nakasan, Redice Studio -
Other Genres:
Action, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2020–
The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years is a reincarnation fantasy manhwa that follows the protagonist, formerly Lucas Traumen, the greatest mage to live four millennia ago, who is reincarnated into the body of Frey Blake, the disgrace of the House of Blake. Now, Frey Blake, the opportunity for revenge against the Demigods and to prevent the destruction of humanity has opened up.
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Filled with hatred for Demigods who came close to destroying humanity four thousand years ago, when he, Lucas Traumen remained, Frey is determined to surpass even the Demigods themselves and prevent the impending destruction at the hands of Lord and the other demigods.
7 Second Life Ranker
Cha Yeon-Woo
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Author:
Do-yeon SA, Nong-nong -
Other Genres:
Action, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2019–
Second Life Ranker is a fantasy tale of revenge, power, and adventure. The story is centered around Cha Yeon-Woo, who finds out about the death of his younger twin brother upon his return from military service.
Left with clues as to his brother’s murder in a pocket watch, Yeon-Woo sets out to join The Obelisk, also known as the Tower, a mysterious structure leading to different dimensions and the place where his brother is murdered. Filled with anger, Yeon-Woo decides to also go to the Tower to find his brother’s killer and become the strongest player while at it.
6 Nano Machine
Cheon Yeon-Woo
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Author:
Hanjungwolya, Geumgangbulgoe -
Other Genres:
Action, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2020–
Nano Machine is a murim manhwa that follows the life of Cheon Yeon-Woo, an illegitimate child and one of the heirs to the seat of the Demonic Cult leader. Constantly berated and repeatedly endangered by other relatives, Yeon-Woo seemed destined to live at the bottom and at the mercy of others for all his life.
All that changes, however, when he is paid a visit from the future by his descendant. A visit that will change his life drastically and set him on the path to becoming the greatest martial artist of his era.
5 Legend Of The Northern Blade
Jin Mu-Won
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Author:
Hae-Min, Woogack -
Other Genres:
Action, Adventure, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2019–
The Legend of The Northern Blade series is a murim manhwa based on revenge, martial arts, and war. The story centers on Jin Mu-Won, the fifth-generation leader of the Northern Heavenly Sect. The Northern Heavenly Sect, created during the period of chaos and bloodshed, had the sole purpose of ensuring the protection of the Central Plains, and under the watch of Jin’s father, Jin Kwan-Ho, the world came to know peace.
However, as time passed, conspiracies began to rise against the Northern, ultimately destroying sect bar one: Jin Mu-Won. Having witnessed the downfall of his becoming the last surviving member, Mu-Won bides his time, masking his martial ability and training in secret. At the appropriate time, he will begin his quest for revenge and shake the martial world to its core.
4 Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint
Kim Dokja
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Author:
Singsyong, Sleepy-C -
Other Genres:
Action, Adventure, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2020–
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint is an apocalyptic dark fantasy manhwa based on survival, blending fictional and direct allusions to real-life lore and legends, mainly from Korea. The story focuses on the ordinary life of Kim Dokja, the sole reader of Ways of Survival: a novel written and published over a decade.
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All is well until the world is suddenly plunged into the premise of the novel Ways of Survival, making Kim Dokja’s knowledge of the novel a vital part of his survival. With his unrivaled knowledge, he quickly becomes the center of unforeseen attraction and will become the singular cause of the derailment of the novel’s original storyline. Determined to survive with his comrades, Kim Dokja will surpass the already set confines of his new reality.
3 Noblesse
Cadiz Etrama Di Raizel
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Author:
Je-Ho SON, Gwang-Su LEE -
Other Genres:
Action, Comedy, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2007–2019
Noblesse focuses on the being known as the Noblesse, Cadiz Etrama Di Raizel, who is known as the most powerful vampire. The story does a really great job of blending the fantastical with the mundane, creating an engaging and unique blend. After sleeping for the best part of a thousand years, Raizel awakens and realizes the world is no longer as he once knew.
Finally reunited with his loyal servant, Frankenstein, and having the semblance of an everyday life, Raizel is determined to keep this new life of his and will do everything he can to ensure it, regardless of whoever his enemies are. Being the Noblesse, Raizel must protect the balance between the ordinary society and the supernatural and defend against all those who seek to destroy that balance.
2 Solo Leveling
Sung Jin-Woo
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Author:
Chugong -
Other Genres:
Action, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2018–2023
Solo Leveling tells a tale of how the story’s weakest becomes the strongest of all. The series is set in a fictional Earth where a Gate connecting to the monster world appears, connecting both together. With this new development, some humans develop special abilities and powers and can become hunters.
The story follows the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo, the infamous E-rank hunter, thus the weakest hunter ever. However, Jin-Woo’s status as the lowest-ranked hunter is about to change when he is miraculously the lone survivor of a genuinely horrific dungeon expedition he happens to be part of. Jin-Woo is chosen by a mysterious entity known as ‘System’ and is given the rare ability to level up beyond any known limits. With his newfound skill, Jin-Woo begins to become the strongest there is.
1 God Of High School
Jin Mori
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Author:
Yong-Je Park -
Other Genres:
Action, Fantasy -
Release Years:
2011–2022
Only befitting to be at the peak of the collective, The God of High School series takes the ‘Overpowered trope to near inconceivable heights with not just one overpowered but three overpowered main characters.
The story follows Jin Mori, a high school student and Taekwondo specialist who enters to participate in the God of High School competition. He meets the story’s other central characters, Han Daewi and Yoo Mira, and together, they compete to be the next God of high school. Unknown to them, the competition is only the first step to something transcending even the world itself.
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