The Solo Leveling fandom is in turmoil after the official trailer for the upcoming game Solo Leveling: Karma inadvertently revealed some of the most shocking and emotional deaths from the series’ later arcs. In what can only be described as a catastrophic spoiler event, thousands of anime-only fans had their future viewing experience completely ruined by the stunning animated sequences that showcased major character deaths that won’t occur until Season 4 of the anime adaptation.
This unprecedented spoiler incident has sent shockwaves through the community, raising serious questions about marketing oversight and the protection of story integrity for one of the most popular manhwa-to-anime adaptations in recent years. Let’s dive deep into what exactly was spoiled, why it matters so much, and what this means for the future of Solo Leveling’s anime adaptation.
The Karma Trailer Catastrophe: What Went Wrong?
The Solo Leveling: Karma trailer, released during G-STAR 2025, was meant to be an exciting announcement for the upcoming action RPG roguelite game developed by Netmarble. Animated by the same studio behind the anime, A-1 Pictures, the trailer featured stunning animation that had fans initially thrilled. However, that excitement quickly turned to horror as viewers realized they were witnessing canonical scenes from the manhwa’s final arcs—scenes that anime-only fans had no business seeing yet.
What makes this particularly devastating is that these aren’t minor spoilers or early plot points. These are some of the most emotionally charged and significant deaths in the entire Solo Leveling story, moments that were carefully crafted by author Chugong to deliver maximum emotional impact when they eventually air in the anime.
The trailer shows these death scenes as part of a montage where Jinwoo is walking through what appears to be a memoryscape, witnessing these tragic moments from his past—essentially confirming that these characters die and that their deaths profoundly affect him. For anime-only fans, this is like learning the ending to a mystery novel before you’ve even reached the middle chapters.
Go Gun-hee’s Death: The S-Rank Among S-Ranks Falls
Perhaps the most devastating spoiler revealed in the Karma trailer was the death of Go Gun-hee, the revered chairman of the Korean Hunters Association and one of the most powerful characters in the series. In the manhwa, Go Gun-hee’s death occurs during the Monarch War arc, specifically at the hands of Sillad, the Monarch of Frost, who attacks him in his own office at the Korean Hunters Association.
Why This Death Matters So Much?
Go Gun-hee’s character represents the pinnacle of what hunters can achieve—earning the moniker “S-Rank Among S-Ranks” for his incredible power and wisdom. His death is particularly impactful because:
- He’s a father figure to Jinwoo: Throughout the series, Go Gun-hee serves as a mentor and protector to Jinwoo, often going out of his way to shield him from political fallout and provide guidance.
- His death shows the Monarchs’ threat level: If someone as powerful as Go Gun-hee can be killed, it truly demonstrates how dangerous the Monarchs are.
- It happens in a place considered safe: The fact that Sillad can strike him down in the heart of the Korean Hunters Association shows nowhere is truly safe.
- His age and declining health make it tragic: Go Gun-hee is already past his prime, making his death feel particularly unfair and sad.
The trailer not only shows his death but implies that this moment is one of the key traumas that motivates Jinwoo during his 27-year war against the Monarchs—a context that completely changes how viewers will perceive their interactions in earlier seasons.
Sung II-Hwan’s Sacrifice: A Father’s Final Stand
Equally devastating was the spoiler of Sung II-Hwan’s death, Jinwoo’s father who had been missing for most of the series. In the manhwa, Sung II-Hwan dies after a brutal battle against two of the most powerful Monarchs: Sillad (Frost Monarch) and Rakan (Beast Monarch).
The Emotional Weight of This Death
Sung II-Hwan’s death is arguably even more emotionally charged than Go Gun-hee’s for several reasons:
- Family reconciliation: After being missing for years, Sung II-Hwan finally reunites with his family, only to die protecting them.
- His body couldn’t handle the Rulers’ power: Unlike Jinwoo, Sung II-Hwan’s body wasn’t adapted to handle the immense power granted to him by the Rulers, making his sacrifice even more tragic.
- He dies saving Jinwoo: His final moments are spent protecting his son, creating a powerful emotional payoff to their reunion.
- It represents the cycle of sacrifice: Like many parent figures in the series, Sung II-Hwan sacrifices himself so the next generation can survive.
The Karma trailer shows this death scene in a way that makes it clear this is one of the defining moments of Jinwoo’s character development—something that should have been experienced fresh by anime viewers.
The Monarch War Arc: Context These Spoilers Destroy
To understand why these spoilers are so damaging, we need to appreciate the Monarch War arc where these deaths occur. This arc represents the climax of Solo Leveling’s story, where Jinwoo faces off against the Monarchs who seek to destroy humanity.
What Anime-Only Fans Have Lost
By revealing these deaths, the Karma trailer has robbed anime-only fans of:
- The shock factor: These deaths come completely unexpectedly in the manhwa, making them genuinely shocking moments that leave readers reeling.
- Emotional buildup: The anime will spend seasons building up these characters, making their eventual deaths far more impactful when they occur.
- Strategic storytelling: The timing of these deaths is carefully calculated to maximize emotional impact and advance the plot in specific ways.
- Character development moments: How Jinwoo reacts to and grows from these losses is crucial to his character arc.
The Monarch War arc is essentially the endgame of Solo Leveling, and knowing these key deaths in advance fundamentally changes how viewers will experience the entire lead-up to these events.
The 27-Year Time Skip: Karma’s Canon Connection
What makes this spoiler situation particularly ironic is that Solo Leveling: Karma is actually exploring a part of the story that was glossed over in the original manhwa—the 27-year war where Jinwoo fights the Monarchs after using the Cup of Reincarnation to reset the timeline.
The Game’s Canonical Nature
Unlike many anime-based games, Solo Leveling: Karma is being positioned as canonical content that fills in important story gaps. The game follows Jinwoo during this 27-year period, showing his solo war against the Monarchs and explaining what happened during this time that was only briefly mentioned in the manhwa’s epilogue.
This canonical connection makes the spoilers even more egregious, as the game is essentially showing both the past (these deaths) and the future (Jinwoo’s war to prevent them) simultaneously, completely ruining the narrative tension for anime-only fans.
Fan Reaction: Outrage and Disappointment
The reaction from the Solo Leveling community has been overwhelmingly negative, with fans expressing their frustration across social media platforms, forums, and discussion boards.
Common Fan Complaints
- “Why would they show this?”: Many fans are questioning the decision-making process that led to including such major spoilers in what was supposed to be a game trailer.
- “Ruined the anime experience”: Anime-only fans feel their future viewing experience has been permanently damaged.
- “No warning”: The trailer didn’t come with sufficient spoiler warnings, catching many fans off guard.
- “Marketing oversight”: Fans are criticizing Netmarble and A-1 Pictures for what they see as a major marketing blunder.
The controversy has become so significant that it’s overshadowing what should have been an exciting announcement about the Solo Leveling: Karma game.
The Bigger Picture: Anime Spoiler Culture
This incident raises important questions about spoiler culture in the age of cross-media franchises. As anime, manga, games, and other media increasingly overlap, how can companies protect the integrity of the original story while still promoting their various adaptations?
Precedents and Lessons
This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, but it’s certainly one of the most high-profile cases. Other franchises have faced similar issues:
- Attack on Titan: Game adaptations have occasionally spoiled manga plot points for anime-only fans.
- Demon Slayer: Movie promotions sometimes revealed key developments ahead of the anime.
- Jujutsu Kaisen: Season announcements have occasionally spoiled manga developments.
However, the Solo Leveling case is particularly egregious because of the emotional weight of the spoiled content and how far in advance these spoilers came (potentially years before the anime reaches these points).
What This Means for Solo Leveling’s Future?
The fallout from this spoiler incident could have lasting effects on how Solo Leveling’s various media adaptations are handled going forward.
Potential Consequences
- Increased scrutiny: Future marketing materials will likely face much closer scrutiny to prevent similar spoilers.
- Damage control: The studios may need to address this controversy directly, possibly with clarifications or apologies.
- Anime adaptation changes: There’s speculation that the anime might make some changes to these death scenes to maintain surprise for viewers who’ve seen the trailer.
- Fan trust issues: This incident could damage trust between the creators and the fanbase, affecting how future announcements are received.
How to Protect Yourself from Future Spoilers?
For fans who want to preserve their Solo Leveling anime experience, here are some recommendations:
Protective Measures
- Avoid game trailers and promotions: Until the anime catches up, it’s safest to avoid any Solo Leveling: Karma content.
- Be careful on social media: Spoilers will inevitably spread, so be cautious about Solo Leveling discussions online.
- Use spoiler blockers: Browser extensions that block keywords can help protect you from accidental spoilers.
- Find spoiler-free communities: Seek out fan groups that actively enforce spoiler policies for anime-only viewers.
The Silver Lining: Karma’s Story Potential
Despite the spoiler controversy, there’s reason to be excited about Solo Leveling: Karma as a canonical addition to the story. The game promises to explore the 27-year war in detail, potentially answering many questions fans have had about this period.
What We Might Learn?
- Jinwoo’s growth during the war: How did 27 years of fighting change him?
- The Monarchs’ backgrounds: More information about the antagonists’ motivations and histories.
- The Rulers’ plans: Deeper insight into what the Rulers were really trying to achieve.
- The cost of victory: What did Jinwoo sacrifice to win the war?
If handled well, Karma could enrich the Solo Leveling universe significantly, even if the marketing around it has been problematic.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Spoiler Management
Solo Leveling Just Spoiled The Biggest Deaths in the Series, and the fallout from this marketing misstep will likely be felt for years to come. The deaths of Go Gun-hee and Sung II-Hwan are pivotal moments in the story, emotional gut-punches that were meant to be experienced fresh by anime viewers.
This incident serves as a cautionary tale for content creators and marketers about the importance of spoiler management in an era where franchises span multiple media types. As fans, we can only hope that lessons will be learned from this controversy and that future Solo Leveling content will be handled with more care and consideration for the viewing experience.
For now, anime-only fans must navigate a spoiler-filled landscape, trying to preserve what surprise they can for when these emotional moments eventually air in the anime adaptation. And while the excitement for Solo Leveling: Karma remains, it’s now tinged with the bitter taste of spoilers that should never have been revealed.