Action Manhwa With Weak Protagonists

Key Takeaways

• Weak characters in manhwa add unique twists to storytelling by focusing on creativity and strategy over physical strength.
• Overpowered protagonist genres in action manhwa are becoming saturated, leading readers to crave stories with weak heroes.
• Manhwa featuring weak protagonists showcase unexpected character development and unconventional paths to success.

It’s common in manhwa to see protagonists start from rock bottom and then get stronger as the plot progresses. This always makes for a great story, especially when superpowers and magic are involved. Seeing the main character gain new abilities and skills is fun, and watching them beat their tormentors with said abilities can be extremely satisfying.

However, being weak doesn’t mean being useless. Without the strength to fight strong opponents, weak characters need to be more creative to accomplish their goals, which usually leads to even more interesting developments. Manhwa that feature weak protagonists are great because they progress in a way that one wouldn’t typically expect.

Updated October 31, 2024 by Garrett Huon: This update will add the manhwa How to Live as a Villain and How to Use a Returner to the existing list. These manhwa include a dark protagonist who begins the story a step behind other characters or who lacks the skills to succeed in the new scenario. The plots are also very similar, but one is executed better than the other, which will be reflected in their placement.

1 Surviving In A School Bully Webtoon

A Fodder Character Who Is Destined To Die In The First Chapter

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2023 to 2024
• Genre/Themes: Action, Isekai, Reincarnation, School
• Author: Hyeonsil Anjuhyeong
• Illustrator: Hyeonsil Anjuhyeong

​​​​Top webtoon artist Noh Cheolmin has finally finished his ten-year-long project, but just as he’s laying down for some well-deserved rest, he’s transported into the world of his comic. What’s worse is that he’s the fodder character who dies in the first chapter, Kim Dajin, and he’s not the only one. His former assistant is in the body of the protagonist, Kang Cheolmin.

Being reincarnated into a story is nothing new, but this manhwa puts a slight twist on the idea and actually makes it more fun and interesting. Rather than an isolated experience, it focuses on two people working together to get out of an unbelievable situation, which leads to many funny moments.

2 King Game

A Bullied Student Who Uses Manipulation Tactics

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Action, Psychological, School
• Author: Hyungwuk Shin
• Illustrator: Beomgorae

While living each day being harassed and bullied, Hwang Chomin is surprised to learn of his brother’s death, but he’s even more surprised to find out his brother was the leader of an Imperial Gang. Using his brother’s phone, Chomin issues orders to the gang, pitting bullies against bullies. His fun ends, however, when his brother’s girlfriend learns the truth.

When it comes to school bullying stories, the most common solution to the main conflict is almost always to become stronger. This manhwa steps away from that idea and focuses on manipulation and trickery, helping the story stand out and doing wonders to characterize the protagonist. It offers a truly unique take on bullying.

3 The Apothecary Prince

A Terminally Ill Prince Who Levels Up His Organs

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.87
• Published: 2023 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai, Reincarnation
• Author: Back-kyung Moon
• Illustrator: Dadaeng

Lamenting the state of his clinic, a Korean doctor accidentally falls into the Han River and wakes up as Prince Rachiel, a sickly side character destined to die young. In order to escape an early death, he must treat his own body and restore his health by using modern medicine.

When talking about weak characters, it’s usually in the context of fighting or combat, so a physically weak character like Rachiel is very interesting. Rather than track levels and skills, this character measures the state of his internal organs so he can function as a normal human. It’s a fun twist on typical game-like action stories.

4 How To Live As A Villain

The Protagonist Chooses The Evil Route To Survive

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.94
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Isekai, Psychological, Survival
• Author: Rundgreen
• Illustrator: Masik Lee

Usually, the villain of the story has some degree of power for the hero to overcome, but in this manhwa, the protagonist is the villain. After suddenly being transported to another world, Yoo Sunghoon is placed into a game of life or death with many other people. Unfortunately, he’s neither the strongest person nor the most skilled. The only way for him to get by is to scheme his way through.

The story starts with a bang as Sunghoon ends the lives of three people without explanation, and it quickly sets the tone of the story. He is ruthless and cunning, doing whatever it takes to get ahead. Although Sunghoon is interesting as an antihero, the plot itself doesn’t offer much excitement since it often repeats story points and patterns.

5 I’m Not That Kind Of Talent

A Soldier Suffering In Both Body And Mind

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.27
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy
• Author: Denpi
• Illustrator: Meona

Humans and demons are at war in many manhwa, and stories usually pick one side to portray. This manhwa is about the world’s weakest human, Deon Hart. He bleeds if he moves too much, and too much excitement will cause him to faint.

However, he must hide this fact from everyone because he’s also the secret weapon of the Demon King’s army. Known as Demon Arut, he’s famous for his cruelty and viciousness in battle. He’s faking it to survive, but something is strange – both of these personalities seem real.

6 Hand Jumper

An Aberrant Who Knows How To Manage Time

• MyAnimeList Score: N/A
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Fantasy, Drama, Superpowers
• Author: Sleepacross
• Illustrator: Sleepacross

In a world full of superpowered people called Aberrants, society is constantly teetering on the edge of chaos. Normal humans live in constant fear of aberrants and their aggressive behavior, especially with a string of murders constantly on the news. Sayeon Lee hates aberrants. She wants to go to law school and help uphold justice to make the world a better place.

It’s just too bad that she’s an aberrant herself. All aberrants are required to do military service, and she’s no exception. With her dreams crushed, she needs to quickly figure out what she wants and who she wants to be. 80% of aberrants die during training, but she’s going to make sure she survives.

7 Dungeon Reset

A Survivor Who Is Good With His Hands

• MyAnimeList Score: 6.95
• Published: 2020 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Author: Daul
• Illustrator: Ant Studio

It’s all too common for people to suddenly be transported into a dungeon that forces them to fight for their lives. For Jung Dawoon in Dungeon Reset, it’s even worse since he falls into a trap and gets left behind. By the time his teammates clear the first stage, the Dungeon thinks he’s dead. Only he isn’t.

The dungeon resets for the next group of players, and Dawoon is healed. To regroup with the others, he must use his production-based skills to survive, and it becomes much easier when he learns to abuse the system.

8 Legend Of An Asura: The Poison Dragon

A Vengeful Child Who Outwits His Enemies

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.20
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Action, Fantasy, Martial Arts
• Author: Senior
• Illustrator: Yeonggwang

In Legend of an Asura, after his entire clan is annihilated, Zhen Ziqiang swears vengeance on the Venom Clan who is responsible. Coming from the Medicine Sect, he doesn’t know many martial arts, and the techniques he does know won’t be strong enough to defeat his enemies.

Ziqiang must rely on his wits and strategy to defeat the people that killed his family. However, his path of revenge is full of secrets that may change how he sees the world and what he must do.

9 The S-Class That I Raised

An F-Rank Hunter Who Is Good At Parenting

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.24
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Theme: Time Travel, Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Author: Geunseo
• Illustrator: Biwan

In this manhwa, the experience of being a hunter depends entirely on rank. Of course, being S-class is leagues better than F-class. Han Yujin in The S-class That I Raised knows this all too well as he struggles to survive.

However, after a terrible accident, Yujin has a chance to right all his wrongs by going back in time. With this second chance, he decides to live comfortably as an F-class, but through many different circumstances, he gets into the business of many S-class individuals, including his brother.

10 Solo Farming In The Tower

An Average Guy Who Grew Into An Accidental Success

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.37
• Published: 2023 to Present
• Genre/Theme: Fantasy, Action
• Author: sdcknight
• Illustrator: Hakyung Lee

In some universes, magical towers that appear are golden opportunities to make it big. In Solo Farming in the Tower, Park Sejun is an average guy who dreams of a life without worry. For him, the only solution is the Tower. Through sheer luck, a portal into the Tower appears before him, and he jumps at the opportunity.

Unfortunately, that portal was a mistake, and he was sent to an unknown cave with only the groceries he’d just bought. There’s only one way for Sejun to survive: farming. By developing his small plot of land, he can survive and even make a living for himself.

11 How To Use A Returner

The Weakest Hero Latches Onto A Returner

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.65
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Isekai
• Author: Heuksujeo
• Illustrator: Midnight Studio

In a life-or-death setting, any advantage is beneficial. When Lee Giyoung is suddenly trapped in a survival game, he learns he has the worst stats possible, meaning he’ll probably die soon. Fortunately, he also has a special trait that allows him to see other people’s status screens. Using this ability, he soon makes allies with useful people, including a regressor.

The story is very reminiscent of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint, especially given the existence of a regressor and a skill that gives extra information. However, Lee Giyoung makes this manhwa different by being much more cunning and self-serving. In fact, the juxtaposition between his kind persona and his inner monologue creates some funny moments throughout the story.

12 A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special

A Commoner Who Can Out-Analyze Everyone

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.53
• Published: 2018 to Present
• Genres/Themes: School, Time Travel, Action, Fantasy
• Author: So-nan Yu
• Illustrator: Uk-jakga

Another common theme in manhwa is going back in time. Desir Arman in A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special is sent back from his apocalyptic future to his time as a student at Hebrion Acadamy, where aspiring mages come to learn.

To stop the disaster of the future, Desire decides to use his meager magical skills to train and recruit the best mages of the generation. But first, he needs to face the rampant classism at the academy.

13 The Ember Knight

A Normal Person Who Can Parlay With Knights

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.54
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• Author: Hwandaeng
• Illustrator: Hwandaeng

In The Ember Knight, the main character, Nagyunn, uses his incredible perceptive skills to blend in with knights with extraordinary power. After his brother Najin is killed by an unknown group, Nagyunn sets off on a journey for answers and revenge, posing as a trainee knight under his brother’s name.

Unfortunately, Najin was incredibly gifted as a fighter with great power, and Nagyunn has no way to emulate said strength. He must trick and manipulate everyone around him into thinking he’s just as strong to play the role of his brother.

An Author Who Knows What Will Happen Next

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.65
• Published: 2022 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation, School, Action, Fantasy
• Author: Gapsong Ji
• Illustrator: Carrot Studio

After responding to an email late at night, Kim Hajin wakes up to find he’s been transported into the world of his own novel. Just as the title The Novel’s Extra implies, he becomes a random character that wasn’t present in the original story. However, that’s not the only thing that’s different.

Characters have changed slightly, and certain events are happening too early. With new twists and problems appearing, Kim Hajin needs to survive long enough to get to where he stopped writing.

15 Trash Of The Count’s Family

A Spoiled Noble Who Has Many Great Friends

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.75
• Published: 2020 to Present
• Genre/Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation, Fantasy
• Author: Ryeo Han Yu
• Illustrator: PAN4

Kim Roksu is the name of the protagonist in Trash of the Count’s Family, but in this manhwa, he gets transported into the novel “Birth of a Hero.” There, he takes over the body of Cale Henituse, a minor villain who was meant to be dealt with at the beginning of the story.

However, the new Cale quickly changes his attitude and behavior in order to gain the two things needed to survive in a turbulent, magical world: protection and money.

16 Weak Hero

A Good Student Who Fights Bullies With His Head

• MyAnimeList Score: 7.96
• Published: 2018 to 2023
• Genres/Theme: Action, Drama, School
• Authors: Seopass
• Illustrator: RAZEN

Bullying is prevalent everywhere, and manhwa would have readers believe that it’s incredibly brutal in South Korea. Gray Yeon is the protagonist in Weak Hero. Intelligent and cunning, Gray hates bullies and does not tolerate any of the harassment that goes on in the classroom or elsewhere.

His short stature and aloof nature attract bullies endlessly, but it’s not much of a problem. Strategy, preparation, and knowledge are all Gray needs to take out bullies who are bigger and stronger. Unfortunately, beating one bully means having to beat them all.

17 The Greatest Estate Developer

A College Student Who Knows Civil Engineering

• MyAnimeList Score: 8.34
• Published: 2021 to Present
• Genres/Themes: Isekai, Reincarnation, Adventure, Fantasy
• Author: Back-kyung Moon
• Illustrator: Hyunsoo Kim

In The Greatest Estate Developer, the main character Kim Suho is transported into the book he read before falling asleep. He wakes up on a dirt road as Lloyd Frontera, the son of a poor noble family, with the original main character Javier as his bodyguard.

Lloyd realizes he and his entire family may end up dead soon, and he needs to find a way to stop it. Luckily, Kim Suho was getting his degree in Civil Engineering. Using skills from his alternate life, Lloyd begins reconstructing his territory with new buildings and amenities.