Solo Leveling: Monarch Of Shadows Officially Announced

2 hours ago 6

Solo Leveling close-up from press kit images

Published Jul 17, 2026, 8:47 AM EDT

Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond.

Solo Leveling has quickly become a global phenomenon, with A-1 Pictures' adaptation shattering streaming records and dominating anime awards around the globe. As such, Sung Jinwoo fans are eagerly awaiting the continuation of his journey following the announcement of Solo Leveling: Beyond the System. While a third season has yet to receive a firm premiere date, the franchise's future remains bright as the upcoming film is expected to bridge the gap before the anime eventually returns.

Outside the anime, Solo Leveling continues to expand with multiple games, such as Solo Leveling: KARMA and other titles in development. However, Netmarble's Solo Leveling: ARISE remains the franchise's flagship action RPG, and gamers have started to grow impatient waiting for new content in the past few weeks. But thanks to a new announcement, the wait is officially over, with Solo Leveling: The Monarch of Shadows arriving at the end of the month (via Netmarble).

Solo Leveling: ARISE's next major update is shaping up to be one of the game's biggest yet, headlined by the long-awaited debut of the Monarch of Shadows Successor. Unlike previous characters, the Dark-element fighter will use an entirely new acquisition system, allowing players to unlock him simply by clearing Chapter 11 and completing missions rather than relying on limited-time banners.

A permanent Monarch of Shadows Special Draw will also let players steadily recruit and fully upgrade the character over time. Combat is receiving a major overhaul as well, with Sung Jinwoo gaining the ability to transform into the Monarch of Shadows and execute flashy combo attacks alongside his Shadow Army.

Outside the new protagonist, Netmarble is revamping the Workshop of Brilliant Light into a rotating seasonal challenge featuring changing bosses and elemental weaknesses, beginning with Baran, the Monarch of White Flames, while September will introduce Adan, the Monarch of Fangs. A new high-end mode, Corridor of Monarchs, is also planned for August, letting players customize difficulty for greater rewards and leaderboard rankings.

Igris fights against Baran in Solo Leveling Karma.

The update additionally introduces Fire-element support Hunter Jung Yerim, a new Hidden Chapter centered on Adan and a berserk incident within the White Tiger Guild, plus a 2026 summer event starring Agnes Rivera and several fan-favorite Hunters. Other notable improvements include raising Sung Jinwoo's level cap to 160, Guild Boss balance changes, buffs for Choi Jong-in and Christopher Reed, and artifact reworks designed to better reward class-specific builds.

Overall, it's a huge update that fans of Solo Leveling: ARISE and the franchise in general are sure to enjoy, and it's slated to arrive by the end of July.