Summary
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Manhwa outsiders rising to power offer captivating plots.
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The main characters show growth, hard work and bonds of friendship.
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Stories like Eleceed and Tower of God captivate fans with twists and turns.
outsider were part of the manhwa culture for a long time, but recently the popular image of these seemingly weak characters rising to power has become popular has gained strength. For fans who are specifically looking for stories like this, with hard-working heroes or fast-growing protagonists, there are various recommended series.

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Characters with few chances in life who rise through sheer force of will, heroes not by chance but by choice, and especially those who are often seen as underdogs create some of the best plots in fiction. So this topic highlights a few manhwa about outsiders' rise to power that fans should read.
1
Eleceed
A meek and shy boy becomes the best student
- Genres: Action, Martial Arts, Comedy, Urban Fantasy, Dystopia
- author: Son Jae-ho
- artist: ZHENA
Jiwoo was always afraid of being discovered as a superhuman, and a lifetime of hiding his abilities caused them to stagnate, making him one of the weakest Awakened. When he was discovered by chance by Kayden, the (supposedly) most powerful man in the world saw something special in him.

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So not only did Kayden develop an endearing friendship and an incredibly well-written student-mentor relationship, but she also made sure that Jiwoo's efforts weren't in vain. It's great to see this underdog who never strayed from the right path finally getting the recognition he deserves.
2
Summoner Academy
A group of misfits work together to survive
- Genre: Action, School Life, Comedy, Sword and Sorcery, Drama
- Author: Tarzyan
- Artist: Grami
What started out as one of the best new fantasy manhwa has now transformed into the struggle of four misfits to stay afloat in one of the harshest school life environments readers will see in a fantasy trope. With a thrilling plot, unexpected dark twists, and a pace that will leave readers dizzy, this underrated series tells the story of several wizards from diverse backgrounds as they search for their place in the world.
But a dark secret buried deep within the academy will test not only their courage, but also their bonds of friendship. Will they survive the onslaught or will they fall victim to the evil plans of the mysterious elf director, who seems determined to make them suffer? A big underdog becomes the frontrunner.
A down-at-heel but hard-working character becomes indispensable
- genre: Action, Isekai, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen, Drama
- Authors: Korita
- artist: Girin Geurin
The Extra Academy survival guide has an outsider as its main protagonist: a trash character named Ed Rothtaylor, who has been expelled from the school's dorms and must live in a cabin in the woods in order to provide himself with food and clothing while staying on top of his studies. He's not a particularly gifted character: his magic is terrible, his physical stats are subpar, and he has no allies.
But as the others witness how hard-working and relentless Ed becomes after being partially expelled from the academy, they begin to see him in a new light. It turns out that someone else is occupying his body, and this former low-budget villain slowly becomes an integral part of the plot. Despite some questionable decisions, Ed's decisions were always for the greater good. Even the pseudo-harem that grows around him starts to become interesting to read.
4
Nano machine
An exiled prince receives a gift from the future and rises to the top
- Genres: Martial Arts, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Drama, Tragedy, Time Travel
- author: Jeolmu Hyeon
- artist: Geumgangbulgoe
An exiled prince of a martial cult, a visitor from a distant future and nanotechnology that enables martial arts; All of these tropes form the script for a truly fascinating underdog story, in which a seemingly defeated martial artist becomes powerful again using strange technology that seems out of this world.
Honor, revenge and the feeling of taking the right (if sometimes morally complex) path round out this gripping story of the rise to power. But readers should beware: unexpected twists and extremely difficult moral decisions abound in this story. This isn't just an underdog becoming the top dog and getting a revenge story, it's a truly deep and twisted story about the path to power.
5
Tower of God
A weak boy, a big dream and many morally complex decisions
- genre: Psychological, Thriller, Drama, Mystery, Fantasy, Action, Shounen
- Author and artist:SIU
Tower of God has become one of the fan-favorite “underdog rise to power” stories in modern manhwa. With its fascinating main characters, a plot full of betrayals, unexpected twists and bloody battles for supremacy, it is one of the best in the Shonen genre.

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History holds many secrets. So if readers don't have a chance to figure it out for themselves at first, it's a good excuse to reread the early storylines and flip through the pages and try to understand the connections. And for those who have never learned, prepare for the journey of a lifetime because Bam's story of how he rose to the top against all odds will give you no quarter.
6
Weak hero
The best strategy against bullying is to band together
- Genres: Action, School, Drama, Martial Arts
- author: SEOPASS
- artist: Razen
Weak hero is one of the best underdogs to rise to the top stories, and the best part is that an interesting anti-bullying message is clearly visible. The main character is not particularly strong, but he is smart and knows how to move.
Tired of his school bullies doing whatever they want, he stands firm and his example leads others to slowly but steadily become an anti-bullying force. It has some of the greatest and most endearing friendship moments and also some of the best character development and villain redemption arcs.
7
Reality search
From bullied student to street thug and local hero
- Genre: Urban fantasy, martial arts, drama
- Author: Lee Joo-woon
- Artist: Lee Joo-woon
When Reality Quest began, it was about a bullied boy who suddenly finds a path to power through a mysterious system. But now, as Han Do-Wan's intentions increasingly focus on uncovering the connection between his father and the infamous Bully Council, this outsider has become a powerful dog seeking justice.
With incredible action scenes, this series is about overcoming weaknesses through sheer willpower. There is no room for doubt as the main character connects his dead father's past with his present situation and moves forward energetically as he takes the reins of his own future. Great character development here, ripe for any reader who enjoys drama, action and martial arts.

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