Almost all the manhwa are worth reading, and the beauty of their art makes them memorable. However, manhwa where MC starts weak but becomes strong later on, is what the readers admire these days. Seeing the main characters strong from the beginning is no fun. Well, it is fun to see strong MCs from the start, only if they are confident, arrogant, and absolutely badass. Otherwise, watching the hero undergo hellish training to achieve unprecedented strength is what folks these days enjoy!
That’s why so many popular manhwas focus on the hero’s character development throughout the story. These stories show us the main character, who is not strong physically. Still, as the story progresses, they manage to become quite powerful, some even becoming the strongest in their universe!
And if you are a sucker for this kind of manhwa where MC start weak but becomes OP, then I have some recommendations for you. In this article, we are going to have a look at some of the top titles that you should be reading. So, let’s not waste any more time and jump right in!
Best Manhwa Where MC Starts Weak But Becomes Strong (2023)
20. The Advanced Player Of The Tutorial Tower
Do you like the MC beating the monsters? Well, who doesn’t? The Advanced Player of the Tutorial Tower is especially for you, where the MC will take good care of the monsters with zeal. The story begins in a world where everything changes due to the sudden arrival of monsters.
They were strong enough that the military found it difficult to fight against them. Along with the monsters, a tower named ‘Tutorial’ also appeared on earth. This tower used to select certain people globally, forcing them all to endure an ordeal. Many die during it, but those who survive are bestowed with supernatural abilities strong enough to beat the monsters.
This manhwa is Kim’s sad yet entertaining story as he was trapped inside a tower for over 12 years. Having no way out, he has to fight against several monsters to survive. Spending more than a decade in a place where you are constantly forced to fight will eventually make you strong. So the same happens with our protagonist, who becomes one of the strongest monster hunters.
19. The Gamer
For all you game lovers looking for a game-themed manhwa, this is what you should be reading! The Gamer revolves around a high schooler who has a unique power, and that power is named “the gamer.” This ability makes his life different from others as he can view the world as a game.
During his daily tasks, a question alert screen would usually appear in front of his eyes. Like a game, the screen has some tasks written on it, which he must complete. In short, his reality is nothing less than a game.
The twists unfold, and our hero learns he is not alone in living like this and that many others have the same ability. There is suspense and fun, and overall it is an entertaining story.
18. Dungeon Reset
What if you are summoned to another world where dangers surround you from all sides? I know it sounds thrilling, but it’s even more exciting to watch the same happen with our MC, Dawoon. Surviving dangers and facing trials become his daily life when he wakes up in the dungeon.
However, unlike other heroes, Dawoon lacks fighting abilities which makes it interesting. This hero is more talented than one could expect and has his own way of coping with troubles. If you want to experience thrills and chills throughout, Dungeon Reset is a worth-reading manhwa where the MC starts weak but becomes OP.
17. The Max Level Hero Strikes Back
The Max Level Hero Strikes Back is the story of a boy named Davey who returned after being in a coma for many years. Before going into a coma, his life was tough. Everyone used to consider him a useless brat. However, all changes when he falls into a coma; his soul meets a lion named Hercules, who vows to train his body to survive difficult situations. Hercules sympathized with the boy and treated him like a family.
The story begins when our boy opens his eyes after staying asleep for 6 years, and the first thing he does is get used to the powers he developed while training. It’s a manhwa full of fun, entertainment, and adventure.
16. Heavenly Demon Reborn
As one can guess from the name, this manhwa is about reincarnation.
Unseong is our primary lead, living a tough life where he has experienced heartbreaking scenarios. His master was accused of practicing forbidden demonic arts, so people killed him as a punishment. Unseong tries to find the ones behind his master’s death; however, he almost dies in the process.
Things become entertaining when he finds himself reincarnated. His mission is still the same; he vows to take revenge on the ones who made his life a living hell. There is revenge, action, and suspense. I am sure you can’t afford to miss reading Heavenly Demon Reborn because it’s pretty good!
15. The Lazy Lord Masters The Sword
Those who don’t find any way to cope with their daily life problems wish to spend their time sleeping. The same is the case with Airen, who finds sleeping the only way to cope with the death of his mother.
He continues to live like this despite being hated for his attitude. His life took a 180-degree turn when he started dreaming about a swordsman who kept practicing his swordsmanship. He kept practicing for over 30 years, and nothing could stop him except death. The dream was so real that Airen could feel the thrill. Now, what’s the dream’s meaning, and how would this dream change his life?
Airen gets up from his bed, picks up the sword, and starts swinging it, just like the swordsman from his dreams. To know more, you need to start reading The Lazy Lord Masters The Sword. Trust me, you won’t regret reading this manhwa!
14. Murim Login
Murim Login is again a perfect manhwa for the ones who love games. Jin Tae’s life changes after his encounter with a virtual reality machine that takes him straight to the world of martial arts. Before that, you should know that he wasn’t a regular kid in the real world.
He was an F-rank hunter, the lowest rank; therefore, not many considered him worthy. His world wasn’t ordinary, as there used to be a war between monsters and humans that ended when hunters successfully defeated the demon king.
After putting on the VR gear, Jin Tae found himself in the body of a Chinese man, which was the beginning of a new chapter of his life. The experience was nothing less than a reality. If you enjoy reading fantasy-based manhwa, you might find this intriguing from the beginning.
13. A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special is about Desir Arman, who spent approximately a decade in the Shadow World, where he worked to defeat the dragon of destruction. There he experienced a lot of heartbreaking scenarios, including the death of his loved ones. The worst he met was his death, but fortunately, he found himself back in time when he was still a student.
The universe had some other plans, and now Desir knows the future, so he vows to save his loved ones from facing terrible deaths. There is magic, action, fantasy, and whatnot, making it one of the best manhwa where MC starts weak but becomes strong!
12. Trash Of The Count’s Family
Trash of the Count’s Family is yet another intriguing story of a boy named Kim Roksu whose world changes when he opens his eyes inside the novel he read. That sounds like a dream come true, but for Kim, it was nothing less than a nightmare as he was born not as the novel’s hero but as Cale Henituse. As per the novel, he was the drunken noble who was supposed to be beaten by the novel’s primary lead. Instead of being a hero, he is now a minor guy!
Things become intriguing when Kim vows never to let that happen. He tries his best to change the storyline to save himself from the main lead’s wrath while also trying not to alter the story too much.
11. The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor
The Legendary Moonlight Sculptor is a game-themed manhwa that highlights the harsh life of Hyun. His family was facing a financial crisis, and to help his loved ones, he sold his famous character from the game. Hyun never thought that his character would actually give him some money, so he decided to sell it without bothering anything. It was auctioned for more than he could have imagined, for 3.1 billion won.
It earned him a lot of money, but he soon lost it all for specific reasons. His father was in a lot of debt, but the one who gave him the loan took all his money. Now with no other option left, he vows to earn a lot of money by enrolling himself in a VR game. But it isn’t like anyone knows what fate is planning for him exclusively, right?
10. Return of the Blossoming Blade
If you like reading historic manhwa, this one is good for you. Return of the Blossoming Blade follows the story of Cheongmyeong. He died fighting against the evil and mighty master of the demonic cult, Cheonma. Even after defeating him, our hero regretted not saving his people. Besides, watching his beloved land in chaos made him heartbroken, and he died.
However, the story begins when Cheongmyeong finds himself with another chance to live. He finds himself in the body of a young boy, 100 years in the future, after his death. He discovers this his sect, the mighty Mount Hua Sect, is now in ruins, and he decides to do something about it and bring it back to its glorious days. There is action, thrill, and suspense accompanied by a historical touch making it one of the best manhwa where MC starts weak but becomes strong!
9. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint
We all dream of our favorite stories becoming a reality; however, some stories are nothing less than a nightmare. That’s the main premise of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint! Kim Dokja’s world shatters when the novel he reads becomes a haunting reality. The novel describes how to survive when the world is near its end.
Amidst all the misfortunes, we also have a plus point: Kim knows how to survive. He teams up with the hero to survive in a world that is in a state of chaos. Here, the MC starts weak but becomes strong by overcoming his life’s daily troubles and challenges. The art is captivating, and one can easily see the artist’s efforts in portraying the story.
8. The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years
Lucas Trauman was considered one of the greatest mages, but his life became nothing less than a living hell after his encounter with the demigod. He was imprisoned in a dark end, an abyss where he had spent thousands of decades.
Finally, Lucas gets a chance to live his life freely, but this time in the body of a boy named Frey Blake. The boy is famous for being the weakest student who lacks even the basics of skills. Frey was bullied and beaten every day, so he decided to end his life. When he ends his life, Lucas ends up taking over his body.
The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years is one of the most popular manhwas that spellbind its readers with incredible art, action, magic, and an excellent story.
7. The Beginning After The End
The manhwa showcases the tale of King Grey, whose life was full of mistakes, and he regrets that. He was lucky enough to get another chance to live when he reincarnated as a child in a world filled with magic. This time he was mature enough to use his past experience as a key to succeed in this world. This new world was on a whole different level; there was magic and unique creatures. He gained everything he lacked in his past life, especially a loving family.
I hope we can guess that getting another chance to live isn’t a coincidence, but there is a purpose behind his reincarnation. Now to know the purpose of his life, get down to reading The Beginning After The End! You won’t regret it!
6. Nano Machine
One could guess from its name that this manhwa focuses on an advanced technology that is capable of doing wonders. Imagine someone getting their hands on this technology decades ago. It sounds impossible, and I know it. However, in the world of manhwa, there is nothing impossible because imagination has no limits.
Nano Machine focuses on Cheon Yeo Woon’s life, which takes a sharp turn when someone inserts a nanomachine inside his body. The twist is the one who inserted the technology was none other than his descendant from the future.
What makes the story captivating is that our protagonist is not a silly guy but an intelligent man who knows how to value precious items. I can give you a list of reasons why this manhwa sells so well but let’s work with three only for now. Number one is its wholesome action; two is its art; and last, the blend of the historical and advanced world.
5. Eleceed
Eleceed focuses on the life of Jiwoo, a teenager with supernatural abilities. As the protagonist, one can expect him to be kind and caring. Jiwoo can’t see anyone in trouble and always runs to save others’ lives by risking his own.
His love for cats is immense, and you would mostly see him nurturing them. One day he brings a cat to his home, unbeknownst to the fact that the cat isn’t an ordinary animal.
In reality, the cat is a human who has transformed into one for specific reasons. The art of this manhwa is worth admiring, and the story is equally captivating. If you like reading stories where the MC starts weak but becomes strong, like really strong, you will enjoy it. The entertainment is guaranteed.
4. Tower of God
If you are unaware of Tower of God, you might have heard about the anime with the same name. The manhwa became so popular that it ended up being released as an anime. Bam, the protagonist of the story, lived a lonely life, and the only person he was close to was a girl named Rachel.
He could never think of the idea of losing her. Things start becoming tough for Bam when Rachel decides to leave him and enter the Tower. It’s not your ordinary Tower; the Tower comprises approximately 135 floors. Each floor is so big that it makes the tower 11 times greater than this world in size. Besides, monsters and dangers are roaming here and there.
What lies at the top, and why is Rachel risking her life to reach there? I can spoil it for you; however, discovering all the secrets while reading the manhwa will surely add to the thrill and fun. This story highlights Bam’s life, who decides to enter the Tower to follow Rachel but later finds out that his fate is already entwined with that of the Tower!
3. The Legend Of The Northern Blade
The Legend of the Northern Blade features another excellent story worth spending your time on. It is the revenge story of Moowon, whose father was accused of joining hands with the enemy. It is set in historical times when some evil started causing chaos. The masters created an alliance named the Central Heavenly Alliance to keep the land safe from them.
They kept trying their best to save their land, and Moowon’s father became the 4the leader of the Northern Heavenly Sect, whose job was to protect the mainland from the dangers of the evil Silent Night sect. He did his job exceptionally well, but he was soon accused of betrayal, which resulted in his death.
Moowon’s life became a living hell after his father’s demise. Therefore, he decided to take revenge on the people responsible for his miserable life by learning the martial arts left behind by his father. There is a commendable change in the MC’s character throughout the story. You would love to see the hero’s transformation from being the weakest to the strongest.
2. Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling is one of the most popular manhwa that is praised globally for almost everything. It has incredible art, action, fantasy, and powers, and above all, the character development of the MC is worth admiring.
Monsters are not uncommon in the world where Sung Jinwoo is living. He is one of the hunters who risk their lives to fight against the monsters to save humanity. Though he starts weak, he becomes incredibly strong with time. No one has ever imagined that this low-rank hunter would surpass them in all aspects and become OP.
His life starts changing for good, and his powers level up after overcoming the dangers. If you like reading adventure stories accompanied by action and superpowers, you should definitely read this one.
1. Lookism
There is no other manhwa better than Lookism that starts with the main character being weak but becomes OP in the later parts of the story.
The story is about Daniel Park, who’s bullied by his peers in school daily because he is unattractive, poor, and fat. But one day, he wakes up in a perfect body; it’s not just an attractive body but also a powerful one. He discovers that he can switch between his original body, which was fat, and his new body, which is fit, whenever he wants. When he’s in one body, the other body goes to sleep, and so he starts living his life anew.
But that’s just the beginning of the story because Lookism is a top-rated manhwa featuring tons of action with one insane fight scene after another, and if you think that Daniel’s new body is just the one that’s powerful, while his old, original body is useless, think again.
Daniel Park starts making a change when he realizes he shouldn’t rely on his new body too much, so he starts working out. Long story short, he is now pretty powerful in his old body too!
Conclusion
So, I hope you will enjoy reading the above-listed best manhwa where MC starts weak but becomes strong. All the manhwa featured here are spectacular in their own way. Some are known for their action, and some for their captivating plot and art. Undoubtedly, there will be at least one that matches your tastes; I am betting on it secretly.
When you finally choose one of these manhwa where MC is weak but becomes OP, let us know about it and tell us how you like its story!
Also Read: Best School Manhwa with OP MC
