21+ Manhwa Where The MC Starts Weak But Becomes OP

Updated May 9, 2024 by testing

The main characters that are initially weak but become the strongest is a formula that is being used repetitively for a long time. But when this is executed properly, it becomes a compelling device for readers to root for the MC as they follow his/her journey from being the weakest and becoming OP.

What makes this kind of MC charming is that we enjoy more of their progress as we follow them until they become OP, rather than already being OP in the first place which leaves no room for development and even bores the readers.

Without further ado, here is the list of Manhwa titles where the MC starts weak but becomes OP!

KOREAN WEBTOONS WHERE THE MC USED TO BE WEAK AND BECOMES OP (RECOMMENDATIONS)

22. Wizard of Arsenia

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
10/20	6/10	7/10	7/10	30/50

Lee embarks on a journey to become an unrivaled mage. But one huge challenge must be done in order for him to become one. He has to find all the stones of the Dragon’s Heart. As he meets different people in his adventures, who knows what bonds he will form.

What’s left is for us readers to see and for Lee to go on a journey. If you’re expecting an OP MC beating up bad guys, you better enjoy this as a journey of him becoming OP. Seeing Lee’s progress is as interesting as seeing results.

21. Charlotte Has Five Disciples

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
10/20	7/10	7/10	7/10	31/50

Charlotte Eleanor once saved the world before as an archmage. When she used her magic to die, to a surprise, she instead reversed her age into a child. And this is her second life begins as Aria Lissen. Being a savior of the world in her previous life, she has no regrets or unsatisfactions left behind. But you know what’s her only regret? It’s love. She is determined to search for it and make it her purpose of living.

We better expect her to live her second life getting what she never had in her previous life. Being a hero and all may sound great. But love is also a beautiful thing to have because what’s life without love? Following the story, she’s initially OP, becomes weak, and becomes OP again but with love.

20. Legendary Moonlight Sculptor

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
11/20	7/10	6/10	8/10	32/50

The legendary man known as the God of War is forsaken by the world and is enslaved by money in the MMORPG World of Continent of Magic. One day, he decides to say goodbye to this game. Without his knowledge, the legendary avatar is sold for 3,100,000,000 won or 2.5 million dollars. With this amount of money, his happiness is immeasurable. However, he plunged into despair after losing most of his earnings from loan sharks. After knowing that he can earn money from gaming, he then decided to grind from the beginning with another reality MMORPG game called Royal Road.

Knowing his greed, we can expect him to be the weakest until the strongest with the right amount of time and effort he will put in.

19. Long Live the King

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
15/20	7/10	6/10	6/10	34/50

An ordinary student accidentally gets transported into another world. And to his surprise, he became a king of a small kingdom. What’s more, is that he has a “cheat code” in life that enables him to do outstanding feats. And this is a story of a king who conquers different places, spreading his name and deeds to the people, and making a history that will pass down to future generations, hence the title, Long Live the King.

The premise already sounds familiar right? Yes! This is an Isekai. From being an ordinary student struggling in classes to becoming a king who conquers continents. It already sounds crazy enough.

18. Return Survival

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
13/20	6/10	8/10	7/10	34/50

A zombie virus has struck the earth. Putting humanity into despair. It took him three years to survive this worldwide catastrophe. Eventually, our MC couldn’t take it anymore and got infected when he was hit by a zombie horde. But one weird thing happened. The time turned back 6 months ago. This random event of turning back in time begs various questions. Could this be just the retelling of the catastrophic events? Or perhaps could this be a chance for our MC to redo everything?

Regardless of our MC’s choice, being able to know the future and deciding their fate is up to our MC. From being a simple guy striving for survival to being the potential savior of humanity, we follow his journey of redoing everything using his knowledge of the future.

17. Dungeon Reset

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
15/20	6/10	6/10	7/10	34/50

Dawoon is living normally until this one incident. To his surprise, he is summoned to a dungeon where he is forced to participate in deadly games like encountering monsters trying to survive. You thought it sounds fun but his role in this game is nothing more than a craftsman. However, after he fell into a trap and survived, he gained some useful abilities that are up for him to discover.

Being one of the most useless classes in battles like a craftsman can be somewhat overpowered if they utilized the abilities correctly, but in Dawoon’s case, it is up to him how he will use them.

16. Solo Bug Player

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
15/20	7/10	7/10	5/10	34/50

After hours and hours of gaming, Shin-Taepong became the top in his own respective game. But at what cost? His life ended due to the insane amount of gaming he did. But when he died, he reincarnated into his favorite game called Paradiso. And instead of your typical overpowered person with a handsome look, he reincarnated as a fat, worthless noble from the game. This doesn’t stop him from becoming strong. Instead, he uses his knowledge and expertise in the game to become the strongest.

Reincarnating into a game you mastered is already a huge advantage no matter who you are. But what makes this interesting is how he exploited his knowledge and experience to become OP.

15. The Gamer

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
17/20	7/10	6/10	6/10	36/50

Han Jee-han has an intense passion for gaming. But one day, he got a superpower that resembles RPG game elements in the real world. He realizes that he’s practically become a game character. Knowing that he is trapped in this game-like setting, he also has quests and tasks to do. But the twist begins when monsters appear and he is required to kill them. He could also get special skills and items.

Mixing the game and real-world sounds cool but dangerous. Imagine putting yourself in quests filled with dangerous monsters just to progress and survive. But since Han Jee has experienced it, it is up to him if he could use his passion as motivation to get stronger in this current world he is in.

14. Ultimate Outcast

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
16/20	7/10	7/10	7/10	37/50

Outcasts are usually defined as people who are ostracized for various reasons such as social standing, physical looks, different lifestyle, and many more that is borne from prejudice and ignorance of others. Here comes the story of the outcast Kang Haneul, who suffered horribly when he saw his friend suffer an accident. Because of this, Kang Haneul decided to start his vengeance using the ability without his knowledge of its existence.

If you’re curious about his newfound ability, better find it out yourself because it’s part of the story’s immersion and the little mystery is best seen directly with your eyes as a reader. This is how revenge can power up a character. From being a weak outcast to becoming an ultimate tool for revenge.

13. The Scholar’s Reincarnation

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
15/20	8/10	8/10	6/10	37/50

Hwang Jung-woo is a young martial artist who is feared for his title as the martial god of dark arts and claiming himself to be a murderer. He was then defeated by a suicide attack and died in battle. Instead of straight-up dying, he reincarnated as a firstborn child of the local lord of Sojoo City. This gave him an opportunity to have a fresh start in life and change everything about him. Instead of repeating himself to become a murderer, he decided to change because of his kind family and especially his little sister.

Having our MC’s character develop in his second life is already a big thing. From being regarded as a murderer to becoming a simple big brother protecting his sister, who knows maybe he could use his abilities and knowledge from his past life to protect his loved ones.

12. The Player Who Can’t Level Up

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
15/20	8/10	7/10	8/10	38/50

Kim Gigyu, a player, has awakened since he reached the age of 18. This initially gave him thoughts of climbing the tower in the game and opening the gates successfully. However, unlike your normal games, you get to level up after clearing the tutorial. But this is not the case for Kim. He is stuck at level 1 for some reason after clearing the tutorial. What’s more is that no matter how long he played and killed monsters, he is still stuck at level 1 for 5 years. Yes, you read it right. 5 years!

Who could have thought that such a player exists? Perhaps there will be twists regarding his situation. Maybe he’s already strong enough because it didn’t mention anything about him being weak. Only you can find out the truth and secret behind Kim’s inescapable level 1 attribute.

11. Solo Auto-Hunting

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
17/20	7/10	7/10	7/10	38/50

Oh Yunsing is a simple person who works in a meatshop. The world is under attack by monsters and hunters exist to hunt them. One day, Oh Yunsing awakened his ability that enables him to automatically hunt monsters like an AFK botting in an MMORPG game. Moreover, he has the perfect attributes and techniques to defeat them.

The concept itself already sounds cool because of his world changing into some kind of game. For gamers out there, this could be a perfect chance to imagine yourself in the MC’s situation. Being able to grind experiences in real life with promising rewards could be a great motivation for gamers.

10. Skeleton Soldier Couldn’t Protect the Dungeon

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
16/20	8/10	7/10	7/10	38/50

A succubus queen has her own dungeon. One day, it was raided and wiped out her servants. And there is this one soldier who failed to protect everything important to him. But this is where the story begins when he went back to the past. And because of his respectable loyalty, he pledged to serve and protect his master one more time.

As the title says, this is pretty much about a soldier who is given a second chance to redo everything and protect the ones precious to him despite being a simple skeleton. This soldier’s loyalty is something we should never underestimate. This could be used for his development and means to become OP.

9. Nano Machine

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
16/20	7/10	8/10	8/10	39/50

Cheon Yeo-won is an orphan from the Demonic Cult and his life was put in danger. He has an unexpected visit from his descendant who came from the future and inserted a nanomachine into his body. After this moment, his life dramatically changed and his journey to becoming the strongest martial artist started.

From being an orphan to becoming someone who could be the strongest, thanks to his future descendant. Knowing that this Manhwa has time-travel, we will never know what could be the twists regarding his future. But what’s more important is we follow his journey to becoming the best martial artist and bypassing the Demon Cult he is in.

8.DICE

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
15/20	9/10	8/10	7/10	39/50

Dongtae is the worst at everything in life. Physique, looks, personality, grades, you name it. He’s bad at everything. One day, a popular transfer student named Taebin gave him an opportunity to change everything in his life and make things right for him. And here comes the dice. A single roll of a die can change your entire life.

Having the opportunity to change everything might sound awesome. Would you risk playing this game just to try to make everything better for you? We will only know the twists and consequences of him doing so if we follow his story.

7. The Max Level Hero Has Returned

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
18/20	8/10	7/10	6/10	39/50

Davey is a prince from a weak country that has no significance to others. One day, he went into a coma. His soul left him, escaping to a temple where the heroes’ souls reside and gather. Afterward, he trained and was grinding hard for thousands of years until his great comeback with a max-level hero. We could say that a thousand years is too long but it’s definitely worth it for Davey. His story of royal life, glory, and revenge is now beginning.

What makes this interesting is that he used the opportunity to train instead of getting random power ups without effort being put into it. If you were in his shoes, would you resolve yourself and train for a thousand years? Regardless of your choice, Davey did the right choice to take on his enemies.

6. The Breaker

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
17/20	8/10	7/10	7/10	39/50

Shioon is being constantly bullied. He unexpectedly witnessed his teacher’s ability and fighting power and then Shioon begs his teacher to make him become his disciple. However, Chun-woo, his teacher, claims that he can teach Shioon under some conditions. He will teach him only if he is fully determined by jumping off a bridge into a deep river to prove it. But it turns out that his powers are nothing that you would expect. Shioon then enters the world of martial arts! Together with the best of mentors that he could have.

From being a bullying victim to becoming a martial arts master. Sounds cool right? This could give you the chance to beat up those bullies.

5. Trash of the Count’s Family

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
16/20	9/10	8/10	8/10	41/50

When MC opened his eyes, he realized that he was inside a novel titled The Birth of a Hero. The mentioned novel is about a young boy named Choi Han, a high schooler who is transported into another dimension together with the various heroes of the continent. But here’s the twist. Instead of being the hero, our MC entered the novel as the character who is the trash of the count’s family, the family that was overseeing the territory where Choi Han visits. He didn’t know that the character he is in is the one who messes with Choi Han and beats him up. But he decided that it’s worth trying this new life.

Being part of a novel already gives you all of the events that will happen and it’s a huge advantage for our MC. Moreover, how will he deal with the predicament he is in?

4. The Beginning After The End

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
18/20	8/10	9/10	8/10	43/50

King Gray is a peerless king because of his unrivaled power, wealth, and strength. But because of this, he lost his sense of purpose in life because he easily acquires everything. As he faced his death, he reincarnated as a newborn baby. This time, the world is full of magic, and this is his second chance to live. But instead of doing something about the remaining regrets he had in his previous life, other problems arise when his precious ones in his new life are being threatened.

Our MC is able to become strong easily because of his talent and knowledge from his previous life. However, that is not the point of this story. King Gray lives his second life as he questions his purpose and reason for having the new life he has now.

3. Tower of God

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
19/20	9/10	9/10	7/10	44/50

In this world, there is a tall tower filled with unimaginable challenges and enemies to face. But what makes this interesting is that when you reach the top, any wish of yours can be granted. Here lies the story of Bam. A simple boy who has been following his friend Rachel for a very long time by climbing the towers and facing the challenges. But when he finally reunited with Rachel, it only became worse because she ran away from him and something way worse that I can’t spoil for you.

You better have patience reading this manhwa because once you reach the end of the prologue of the story, I guarantee you that you will witness one of the best character developments of Manhwa MCs.

2. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
18/20	9/10	9/10	9/10	45/50

Kim Dokja is a simple salaryman who is fond of this one specific novel that he has been following for a very long time. One day, he rides in a train while reading that novel and suddenly everything in his surroundings changes, affecting people around him. Catastrophic events occur one after another until Kim Dokja realises something. All of the scenarios are actually from the novel. Because of this development, he exploited his knowledge to survive as the reader who finished the novel alone.

If we were in Dokja’s shoes, this would be cool or terrifying depending on what the story would be if we were to enter into a novel. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint has this interesting concept of making two stories into one.

1. Solo Leveling

MC’s power-up:	Plot:	Character Writing:	Art:	Total:
19/20	9/10	9/10	10/10	47/50

The world is filled with portals for dungeons with monsters. And this is the job of hunters to protect humanity. Sung Jin Woo is regarded as the weakest hunter with no special skill or talents. One day, when they dived in a dungeon, various overpowered monsters appeared and almost wiped out his party. Sung Jin Woo luckily survived. And he received a system similar to a gaming interface. It shows various quests and guides for him to level up and get stronger. And to no surprise, he eventually became OP.

I won’t be surprised if you have heard of this series before. This title deserves to become mainstream because of how it appeals for all ages. Solo Leveling is a simple power fantasy filled with an interesting grinding system for our MC as he becomes OP.

Conclusion

Every weak MC that becomes OP, later on, has their own ways and motivations to become what they are now. But one thing that is common between these characters is that their power-ups are tools for their character development. And what’s interesting is that we enjoy following their journey from becoming weak to becoming powerful in their own world through their effort and hard work. And that pretty much applies to real life. We can be the better or best version of ourselves if we put enough work into it together with the correct foundation and right support from other people.