Netmarble’s newest ARPG, Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive, launched November 24, 2025, bringing the beloved webtoon to life with stunning action combat and deep RPG mechanics. Whether you’re a franchise newcomer or a seasoned hunter, these essential beginner tips will accelerate your progression and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Table of Contents
Solo Leveling Reference Guide
| System | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Starting Class | Match to your playstyle (see breakdown below) |
| Weapon Focus | Upgrade 1-2 weapons only, avoid spreading resources |
| Artifact Strategy | Match damage-type sets to Hunter roles |
| Stat Priority | Upgrade stats that scale with your equipped weapons |
| Level Progression | Complete all optional Gates for balanced growth |
| Hunter Levels | Auto-scaled to main character (upgrade Abilities/Growth manually) |
Choose Your Starting Class Wisely
Your first major decision shapes your entire combat experience. Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive offers four distinct classes, each with unique playstyles:
Assassin – High-speed melee combatant dealing massive bonus damage when attacking from stealth. Perfect for players who love aggressive, positioning-based gameplay.
Duelist – Slower but incredibly powerful. Specializes in parrying enemies to inflict the Daze effect and create devastating openings. Ideal for tactical players who prefer calculated strikes.
Elementalist – Ranged mage class delivering powerful AoE elemental attacks from safe distances. Best for players who want to control space without close-quarters risk.
Ruler – Balanced hybrid featuring Sung Jinwoo’s signature shadow abilities from the webtoon. Combines ranged and melee attacks for versatile combat. Recommended for franchise fans wanting the authentic experience.
Learn more about advanced class mechanics on the official Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive website.
Master Resource Management
Weapon Upgrading Strategy
When selecting your class, you’ll receive two starter weapons matching that playstyle. Resist the temptation to upgrade every weapon you acquire. Focus on enhancing just 1-2 weapons to maximize your limited crafting materials during early progression.
For normal Hunters in your roster, each has a signature weapon providing unique bonuses. Prioritize farming materials to craft and upgrade these optimal choices rather than experimenting broadly.
Artifact Optimization
Artifacts become critical as you progress into mid-game content. Match artifact sets to each Hunter’s primary role:
- DPS Hunters: Equip sets boosting outgoing damage for their specific element
- Tank Hunters: Prioritize defensive sets with survivability bonuses
- Support Hunters: Focus on team-wide buff artifacts
While builds matter less during early story missions, proper artifact selection becomes essential for challenging Gates and co-op raids.
Leverage Auto-Scaling and Smart Stat Distribution
Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive includes a generous quality-of-life feature—all Hunters automatically scale to your main character’s level. However, you must manually upgrade their Abilities and Growth systems for combat effectiveness.
Strategic Stat Upgrades
Each level grants stat points for Sung Jinwoo. Rather than distributing evenly, focus on stats that scale with your equipped weapons. Check weapon descriptions to identify which stats provide optimal scaling, then invest accordingly. This targeted approach dramatically increases your combat efficiency.
How to Watch Your Progression
Track your advancement through multiple in-game systems:
- World Map: Monitor story progress and recommended levels for upcoming missions
- Gate Completion: Optional Gates display rewards before attempting
- Hunter Growth Menu: View all Hunters’ Ability levels and Growth progression
- Artifact Inventory: Compare set bonuses and optimize loadouts
- Weapon Crafting: Track materials needed for upgrades
For comprehensive build guides and Hunter optimization strategies, visit our Solo Leveling: Arise character tier list featuring the latest meta analysis.
Don’t Skip Optional Gates
The main story’s recommended level increases rapidly—often faster than normal progression allows. Optional Gates appearing on the World Map provide crucial rewards, experience, and materials to keep pace.
These side missions take minimal time but deliver maximum value. Skipping them creates frustrating difficulty spikes later. Make completing every available optional Gate a habit early on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I reroll my starter class if I don’t like it?
No need! Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive allows weapon and playstyle changes as you progress. Your initial class choice primarily affects early-game combat feel, but the skill tree system eventually unlocks diverse playstyles regardless of starting selection.
Q: How do I know which stats scale with my weapons?
Open your Equipment menu and examine your currently equipped weapons. Each weapon displays stat scaling information in its description—look for indicators like “scales with Strength” or “bonus damage based on Intelligence.” Prioritize upgrading those specific stats.
