One of the vital fashionable genres in South Korea, murim manhwa represents a fascinating mixture of martial arts, the supernatural, and heroic ventures, often set in an unlimited and fantastical world. The phrase “murim” often represents a society of martial arts, and the style attracts inspiration from the East Asian martial arts tradition.
10 Most Powerful Manhwa Protagonists, Ranked
The world of manhwa hosts absurdly highly effective characters, and these characters embody what it means to be the “strongest.”
Closely dominated by ideas of martial arts tradition, the style explores the connection between the bodily and the metaphysical and creates intense and thrilling narratives. It additionally incorporates numerous subgenres, accommodating a broader vary of readers. Relating to the finest murim manhwa, they’re simply wildly entertaining.
Up to date on October 30, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Murim is beginning to grow to be a extra well-known time period, due to manhwa turning into extra readily accessible. As extra Chinese games are receiving worldwide variations, the style can be beginning to make inroads into the gaming panorama, additional introducing folks to many wonderful fantasy worlds fueled by superior martial arts. In case you are trying to go to a world that’s newer than most, we advocate trying out the 2025 murim manhwa we simply added: A Regressor’s Story of Cultivatio.
Nano Machine
Anime-Planet: 4.36/5
The protagonist, Yeon-Woo Cheon, appears destined to reside a lifetime of weak spot and oppression, however he abruptly obtains a singular merchandise, the Nano Machine, that infuses a unique power system into his physique. Seizing his window of alternative, Yeon-Woo rapidly rises via the ranks of the demonic with assistance from the Nanomachine, turning into immensely highly effective alongside the way in which. Decided to achieve the head of power of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, Yeon-Woo should show his power to all. The story combines the classical trope of the overpowered important character, who always will get stronger, making for an interesting learn.
Nano Machine blends murim, fantasy, and sci-fi surprisingly nicely, a mixture that’s fairly tough to search out. For probably the most half, the unique driving pressure behind the story is revenge, and these arcs firmly set up Nano Machine as an all-time nice manhwa.
The Breaker
Anime-Planet: 4.34/5
- Writer: Jeon Geuk-jin
- Chapters: 72 (Authentic Sequence)
- Standing: Full (Authentic Sequence)
The Breaker brings the world of the murim to trendy society, making for an thrilling mixture. The story follows Shi Woon Yi, a weak highschool pupil who’s the goal of fixed assault and bullying at his faculty. Nevertheless, his life takes a drastic flip when he by accident discovers that the newly transferred trainer, Chunwoo Han, is a martial arts grasp. Witnessing his trainer’s abilities, he begs Chunwoo to make him his disciple and train him the best way to defend himself. With this, Shi Woon turns into part of the damaging world of the murim, the place solely the robust can survive.
7 Best Manhwa Like The Breaker
Readers of The Breaker manhwa ought to check out these nice manhwa collection with comparable tales and themes.
An argument may very well be made that The Breaker is probably the most influential and essential murim manhwa of all time. Debuting in 2007 and lasting till 2010, the unique collection helped introduce South Korean webtoons to a world viewers. It was profitable sufficient to spawn two sequels, and the second (The Breaker: Everlasting Power) is presently ongoing. The Breaker goes towards the norm by that includes a protagonist, Shiwoon, who is much from overpowered, to the purpose of coming throughout as notably weak at instances.
Return of the Blossoming Blade
Anime-Planet: 4.46/5
- Writer: Biga, Lico
- Chapters: 152+
- Standing: Ongoing (However The Essential Story Is At present On Break)
- Webtoon
Dying in battle is a factor of honor for many martial artists, however the protagonist, Chung Myung, disagrees. Dying in battle, the Sword Saint awakens after a century within the physique of a younger boy. Decided to reclaim his former standing because the Sword Saint, he returns to the Mount Hua Sect, however what he finds on his return will not be what he anticipated.
Disgraced and almost penniless, the Mount Hua Sect is a shadow of its former self and in speedy decline. Unable to let go of the previous, Chung Myung is set to revive the sect to its former glory. Return of the Blossoming Blade is among the most popular murim manhwa, incomes a really constructive popularity attributable to that includes a lovable protagonist, good artwork, and an attention-grabbing tackle reincarnation. The manhwa balances motion, comedy, and drama extremely nicely, all of the whereas specializing in character improvement.
Legend of the Northern Blade
Anime-Planet: 4.4/5
Legend of the Northern Blade is an intense and fascinating story of the Northern Wall. The story follows Jin Mu-Gained, who inherits the place of sect chief of the Northern Heavenly Sect from his father, a martial grasp acknowledged by the entire of Jianghu, one other identify for murim within the collection. Portrayed as weak and hopeless, Mu-Gained solely makes use of this as a entrance as he seeks revenge on the Central Heavenly Alliance, the group answerable for his father’s demise.
Decided to hold out his revenge, Mu-Gained disappears with no hint and re-emerges years later, having mastered the Northern sect’s final strategies. The story, first regarded as considered one of revenge, turns into a chaotic storm that threatens to carry the murim world to its knees, with Jin Mu-Gained on the coronary heart of all of it.
Fist Demon of Mount Hua
Anime-Planet: 3.93/5
- Writer: Woogack
- Chapters: 182
- Standing: Canceled
Born with a lame leg and discriminated towards, Dam-Ho has the worst attainable situation for a martial artist attributable to his incapacity. Regardless of being severely mocked and instructed that it’s not possible to grow to be a martial artist, Dam-Ho is persistent in his coaching to beat his limits. Regarded as dead in an unfortunate expedition, Dam-Ho is deserted by his sect beneath the rubble of a mountain. Nonetheless, with a burning want to outlive and transcend his limits, Dam-Ho re-emerges as a grasp on the point out of whose identify all of the murim will come to concern and acknowledge.
Attributable to being canceled, Fist Demon of Mount Hua is a bit more durable to advocate these days for the reason that story will doubtless by no means be full. That stated, the accessible content material is mostly incredible, providing nice artwork and an enchanting story with a robust protagonist. Even in its present state, Fist Demon of Mount Hua remains to be one of many finest murim manhwa.
Chronicles of a Doomed Prodigy
Anime-Planet: 4.3/5
- Writer: Cheongsiso, Seung-Ki Yoon
- Chapters: 58+
- Standing: Ongoing
- Webtoon
A comparatively new manhwa, Chronicles of a Doomed Prodigy has spent the final 12 months build up momentum, and its Webtoon accessibility has introduced some eyes to it. So far as tales go, this manhwa tells a reasonably typical murim story about an outcast with immense power and the potential to grow to be a supremely highly effective martial artist. Sadly, he’s born right into a household that doesn’t respect or nurture his skills, and he additionally has a seemingly restricted lifespan. Consequently, Yeonshin will not be solely looking for a manner to enhance his abilities, but additionally to increase his restricted time among the many residing.
Chronicles of a Doomed Prodigy doesn’t maintain too many surprises, opting to inform a reasonably standard murim story with a largely common MC. Do not misunderstand, Yeonshin is sort of highly effective and has a expertise for creating new martial arts, which permits him to remain a step forward of most opponents. Nevertheless, personality-wise, he’s pretty unspectacular and nowhere close to as unpredictable and harmful as most murim leads.
Absolute Sword Sense
Anime-Planet: 4.12/5
- Writer: TI, Durumi Kim, Hanjungwolya
- Chapters: 155+
- Standing: Ongoing
- Webtoon
Absolute Sword Sense is just like the quintessential murim manhwa. Not essentially by way of recognition, however the story is about as “conventional” for the style because it will get. Woonhwi So, a weakling who cannot use this universe’s important energy supply, dies whereas on a mission for his clan, solely to be despatched again in time to the day that modified his life perpetually. Extra importantly, he positive aspects a singular means that offers him an edge in battle. After that, we get the standard clan warfare, epic battles, politics, and an MC who goes on a gradual journey to grow to be stronger.
Sure, Absolute Sword Sense can come throughout as barely generic or predictable at instances, however this method is fashionable as a result of it really works. Whereas not telling probably the most authentic story ever, this manhwa excels in almost each different side, be it artwork, pacing, battle sequences, or simply plain outdated world-building. Absolute Sword Sense may not be the perfect at school in any particular space, however it’s respectable in all of them.
Return of the Mad Demon
Anime-Planet: 4.29/5
- Writer: JP, Jinseong Yu
- Chapters: 175+
- Standing: Ongoing
- Webtoon
Return of the Mad Demon has a catchy title that raises some expectations, primarily of a protagonist who is a little more outlandish and over-the-top than normal. Surprisingly, the manhwa sticks to its title and premise, as Jaha Lee is genuinely fairly ridiculous and sometimes acts in ways in which defy logic. He lives as much as the “mad demon” moniker, which is refreshing.
So, what’s the story? Properly, Jaha aspired to grow to be the God of Martial Arts, however he by no means fairly managed to achieve that degree. His dream additionally noticed him making loads of enemies, all setting the stage for a climactic and, in the end, deadly battle. Nevertheless, relatively than drift into the unknown, Jaha travels again in time and reawakens in his 20s. Armed with particulars of the longer term and the martial arts abilities he acquired over many years, Jaha has to now resolve the best way to use this data, whereas absolutely conscious that choices have penalties.
Gosu
Anime-Planet: 4.15/5
Gosu follows the protagonist, Gang Ryong, a martial artist burdened together with his grasp’s revenge. His grasp, Dokgo Ryong the Heavenly Destroyer, as soon as probably the most feared martial grasp of the murim, was betrayed by his followers and allies.
As a dying want of his grasp, Gang Ryong takes up his grasp’s request for vengeance, armed together with his grasp’s overwhelming martial arts. Raised to be the ultimate weapon for his grasp’s enemies, Gang Ryong grows immensely highly effective and ensures to meet his grasp’s dying want. Whereas a bit lengthy within the tooth at instances, at its peak, Gosu is phenomenal, that includes among the finest battle sequences within the murim style. The manhwa needs to be receiving an anime quickly, which is thrilling.
Earlier than studying Gosu, I like to recommend trying out Yongbi the Invincible, which is basically a prequel. Additionally it is nice.
Murim Login
Anime-Planet: 4.27/5
- Writer: Zerobic, Cheol-Byuk Jang
- Chapters: 239+
- Standing: Ongoing
The story, set in a world of monsters and hunters, follows Jin Tae-Kyung, a low-ranking monster hunter struggling to make a residing. He comes throughout a peculiar VR machine and by accident logs right into a recreation, which is, in actual fact, one other world: a murim world.
Best Martial Arts Anime Of All Time
Anime consists of assorted subgenres, and among the many most entertaining is martial arts.
With no alternative however to outlive within the hope of escaping the sport, he’s pressured to degree up, and after a number of makes an attempt, he lastly returns to his world. He quickly finds out that each one the talents and talents gained within the recreation have been transferred again to his actuality. Out of look after the comrades he makes within the recreation, he chooses to return to the sport. Incorporating isekai parts, Murim Login manages to do justice to all its fashionable themes, with top-notch fights and artwork. Whereas the true world is stored round by the plot, nearly all of the story takes place within the murim realm, and that’s for the higher.
