9 Best Rivalries In Manhwa, Ranked

Highlights

• Rivals in manhwa add flavor to the stories, from love to battle, creating enticing character dynamics.
• Lauren vs. Kieran, Yuseong vs. Gihu, Haneul vs. Dahae – examples of memorable rivalries in manhwa.
• From enemies to lovers, rivals in manhwa like Jeok-Yeon vs. Doha show compelling character development.

A good story is only possible through the various plot arcs and character interactions that authors give readers. It aids in the development of each minor detail, which can further elevate the feelings of each reader when they reach scenes that carry action, mystery, or suspense. Aside from the basic character relationships such as friends and acquaintances, there is one peculiar relationship that always keeps readers on their toes: the rivals. Rivals add a little “spice” to many stories and some of the best written ones can be found in manhwa.

Readers will not only just find rivals in love (which is a very popular trope) but also rivals in academics, skills, and battle, especially enticing. The term rival can be easily mixed up with the term enemy, as many elude the latter with its villainous characteristics. Enemies are usually two characters who have zero interest in competing with one another and choose to only with each other out of existence. The same cannot be said for rivals, as they are merely characters who have the same objective with different methods of reaching it. It’s situations like this that make them memorable characters and here are some of the best to remember.

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9 Lauren Sinclair vs Kieran White

Purple Hyacinth MAL Score N/A

A game of lies, secrets, and murder, Purple Hyacinth takes readers on a wild ride through the messy and turbulent city of mayhem. The protagonist of the story is Lauren Sinclair, and she has a peculiar condition which enables her to detect lies. She’s a police officer with a past that haunts her and the only successful lead she’s got is from the city’s most notorious assassin, the Purple Hyacinth (Kieran White). The two of them eventually, albeit begrudgingly, decide to partner up in hopes of bringing down the terrorist organization Phantom Scythe.

Lauren and Kieran’s ‘relationship’ starts off pretty rusty. Their rivalry is quite poetic in a sense, as the two of them are polar opposites when it comes to their jobs. Kieran is the type of guy that Lauren puts behind bars and Lauren is the type of woman that Kieran silences for good. The lines between good and evil are often blurred between the two of them, but they still hold on to their responsibilities. The best part about Lauren and Kieran is that they are an unlikely duo that somehow manage to make it work. Yes, they’re at each other’s throats a majority of the time or don’t agree with each other’s life decisions, but when it comes down to it, they work well together to bring justice in their own way.

8 Yuseong Dan vs Gihu Gang

Infinite Leveling: Murim – MAL Score N/A

As a low level warrior and one of the last soldiers on the battlefront against the demomic cult, Yuseong Dan loses his life in an instant when his government sends his troops on a suicide mission. His hard work, dedication and perseverance had been all for naught. But, lo and behold, he wakes up a second later in the body of his 15-year-old self, one day before he’s drafted into the Murim troops. Except this time, he’s got a status menu to help him level up much further than his peers in comparison to his first life. He meets a particularly crass young man named Gihu Gang at the academy, and despite being polar opposites, the two of them make one of the best rivals in Infinite Leveling: Murim.

Yuseong Dan has many rivals, or so to say, enemies in this manhwa, but when looking at a character’s interactions with each other, their camaraderie and healthy rivalry, Yuseong and Gihu easily surpass everyone else. The two of them are the prime example of talent vs hard work, with Yuseong being the main prodigy of the latter. Gihu is somewhat of a muscle-brain, but his brute strength and fierceness yields results that have heads turning ablaze. He was a force to be reckoned with in Yuseong’s past life and as the two of them work towards earning their place in the Murim Alliance, they not only train individually, but build off each other’s strengths and weaknesses as time goes on.

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7 Haneul Lee vs Dahae Jung

Goodbye, In-Law! – MAL Score 7.47

Haneul Lee and Dahae Jung have been at each other’s throats since day one. Ever since Dahae overheard Haneul talking about her in their freshman year of high school, she has made it her life’s mission to give him a taste of his own medicine. He’s nothing but an uptight jerk to her, and she’s just an aggressive, immature brat to him. Fast-forward a good eight years later, the two of them find out that their siblings are dating to marry, and it’s quite possibly the worst outcome for each of them. They try to get along and just when things seem to be going alright, they lose their siblings in a tragic accident and the two of them are sent eight years back in time to when they first met in high school.

Goodbye-In-Law blends a lot of different tropes, but the most prominent one of all is the subtle character development between Haneul and Dahae. The two of them hate each other’s guts, but traveling back in time to the very moment where it all went wrong in their relationship, has opened new doors for them. They’re the best kind of rivals which blend the classic enemies-to-lovers-trope, and readers can’t help but be enamored by their amazing development. The two of them are absolute polar opposites but similar, and it is extremely enjoyable to watch them fight, grow and learn from their own mistakes.

6 Yuder Baiel vs Cordelia Chase

Ending Maker – MAL Score 7.53

Ranking first in his favourite game has been a smooth ride for Outboxer009. It’s only when he wakes up one morning in the body of his chosen character, Yuder Baiel, that things take a slight turn for the worst. He knows he’s in the world of Legend of Heroes 2, but he’s gone back 10 years into the past when his character was a mere sickly kid. What’s even more unbelievable is the arrival of Cordelia Chase, his future wife in the story, who also used to be the character skin used by his rival in the game – Yellowstorm. Yellowstorm always ranked second to Outboxer009 and the two of them were in constant rivalry, butting heads whenever the opportunity arose.

Thus, when Yuder finds out that Cordelia is actually Yellowstorm, he’s pretty much at a loss for words. For the two of them, they’re now stuck in a game during its most crucial moments with the person they want to be around the least. Yuder tries to be accommodating and mature about the situation, but Cordelia is a nervous trainwreck. It takes the two of them to get through multiple arguments, silly confrontations, and awkward thank-you’s to make one mission successful. Ending Maker forces these two rivals into unfortunate situations that are the perfect test of their faith towards each other as fellow gamers.

5 Rosa Park vs Doryeong Han

Villain With A Crush – MAL Score 7.67

After confessing to her first ever crush, Rosa Park is harshly rejected, leaving her despondent for days. It’s only after receiving a few words from the local special hero, Doryeong Han, does she soon feel better and develop another crush. The two of them live in a world where certain people are granted Superpowers at various ages, and depending on their choice, they can either join the Superpowered Police Force, become an ordinary citizen, or become a villain. Doryeong Han is known to be one of the good guys, dedicating all his time to fighting crime and catching all sorts of bad guys. He is the epitome of purity and this can also be seen with his superpower. Rosa Park, on the other hand, is just a misunderstood villain.

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The best part about these two in Villain With A Crush is that Rosa is quite possibly the worst villain to ever exist. She’s not even trying to be a villain. She’s just a girl with a massive crush, trying to confess her feelings. And every single time, something goes wrong and Doryeong has no choice but to see them in a villainous light. The two of them easily rival each other in powers and skills. As this hilarious story continues, readers will begin to see that the two of them have no choice but to be rivals using their alternate identities, whilst simultaneously being lovers in their original identities.

4 Sirone Arian vs Iruki Mercodyne

The Infinite Mage – MAL Score 7.78

The only dream that Sirone Arian ever had was to become a mage, but due to his societal circumstances, achieving such a phenomenon was impossible. It’s only when he turns fifteen does he suddenly get the opportunity to work for a noble family, befriend their son and eventually be granted the opportunity to study at the famous Alpheus Academy of magical arts. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime and his only step available to hone his innate talent for the mystic arts. Sirone in Infinite Mage is a little late to the party in comparison to the other students, but his aptitude for magic is far greater than expected. Sirone’s growth is pegged against each challenge that arises in the story, which keeps readers on the edge of their seats wanting to see how far his ability can take him.

One student that Sirone meets along the way rivals his intellect and power, and that is Iruki Mercodyne. The ‘psychopathic deadbeat’ student who only cares about numbers. Iruki is believed to have Savant Syndrome, and it is the reason why he is exceptionally gifted in all mathematics and scientifically based subjects. His talent and mind is considered to be one of the best in the academy despite his lack of empathy, and when he meets Sirone, he’s nothing but intrigued. The two of them have similar goals of wanting to unlock the key to what true magic is, and as they push each other, challenging the laws of physics and science, they not only grow individually in their competition, but together as well.

3 Jeok-Yeon vs Doha

The Mystic Prince – MAL Score 7.87

Set in a world ruled by the remnants of foreboding Gods, Mystic Prince is set against an ancient Korean background with themes of magic and spirits. The main character, Jeok-Yeon, is a prince of the palace and holds a secret which could very well break the balance of it all. Disguised as a man, Jeok-Yeon has only one goal, and it’s to be the Empress of the Empire, so that women all around the world will be given the same opportunities as men. The throne is a bloody battle and only men who have significant spiritual power are allowed to join the fight. A group of only twenty princes are chosen from all over the country and brought together as “sons” of the current Emperor.

Despite the gripping plot that has readers on the edge of their seats, Mystic Prince brings characters that leave a lasting impression. It’s a given fact that all the Princes are rivals due to their ambition for the throne, but among all of them, only Jeok-Yeon and Doha manage to catch readers’ eyes. The best thing about the two of them is that they are misunderstood rivals. Jeok-Yeon is so obsessed with her claim to the throne that she believes Doha is the number one person standing in her way, since he’s the only blood-related son of the current Emperor.

2 Kayden vs Kartein

Eleceed – MAL Score 8.54

The most unlikely duo that deserves a special place in the manhwa hall of fame are Kayden and Kartein from Eleceed. Kayden is the all-powerful lightning user with a penchant for fighting, whilst Kartein is the elegant healer that cannot stand him. The two of them are neither friends nor enemies, yet the perfect example of what it means to have a rival in power. They are both equally strong in their respective abilities as Awakened Ones and the only time they can ever agree on something is when it’s related to Kayden’s apprentice, Jiwoo Seo. It’s quite laughable, since Kayden knows just what to say to trick Kartein into healing someone – even though he’s known to never do anything without a sufficient price, and Kartein knows exactly what to say to get Kayden to agree with him – when the situation is clearly not in his favor.

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They’re two peas-in-a-pod and at the same time not. They know how and when to use their arrogant traits against one another to also make the most of their own selfish wants. Since the two of them don’t acknowledge each other as friends and merely acquaintances in passing, they can’t seem to stop competing against each other, despite being Awakened Ones who have been recognised by the Top 10 Awakened Ones in the world. Their petty squabbles and hilarious predicaments in their cat forms all amount to nothing at the end of the day, because if Jiwoo or one of his friends is in trouble, the two of them are always there to help. It’s the only and only time they’d drop their quiet rivalry and head straight into battle and rescue.

1 Sung Jinwoo vs Antares

Solo Leveling – MAL Score 8.68

Sung Jinwoo of Solo Leveling is a character beloved by many readers, not only for his exceptional strategic skills, but also for his resolve to completely annihilate any enemy he comes across. He’s overpowered and definitely a formidable foe, which makes it exceptionally exciting when he finally meets his match towards the end of the manhwa. Jinwoo meets Antares, the King of Dragons and the Monarch of Destruction. Antares is the final boss of his years-long fight to become the best and advance through the System, and much like all the other Monarchs, he too is extremely disdainful towards humans.

Their fight was a long-awaited one, and many readers finally got the chance to see both Antares and Jinwoo at their peak performance. At one point in time, Antares’s power was far greater than Jinwoo’s, and after descending to the human world, all he wanted to do was find out why the Shadow Monarch (Ashborn) had betrayed them. When he finds Ashborn’s vessel, A.K.A. Jinwoo, he’s more than impressed when Jinwoo takes his challenge head on and kills ten million souls of his army. What’s so great about this fight is witnessing how two powerful entities come face to face, not backing down until one is annihilated. Jinwoo takes a smarter approach during their fight, whilst Antares’ arrogance eventually becomes his downfall.

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Fuente: successacademy.edu.vn
Categorías: Anime