One of the most popular genres in South Korea, murim manhwa represents a captivating combination of martial arts, the supernatural, and heroic ventures, usually set in a vast and fantastical world. The word "murim" usually represents a society of martial arts, and the genre draws inspiration from the East Asian martial arts culture.
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The world of manhwa hosts absurdly powerful characters, and these characters embody what it means to be the "strongest."
Heavily dominated by concepts of martial arts culture, the genre explores the relationship between the physical and the metaphysical and creates intense and thrilling narratives. It also incorporates various subgenres, accommodating a broader range of readers. Regarding the best murim manhwa, they are just wildly entertaining.
Updated on October 30, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Murim is starting to become a more well-known term, thanks to manhwa becoming more readily accessible. As more Chinese games are receiving international versions, the genre is also starting to make inroads into the gaming landscape, further introducing people to many glorious fantasy worlds fueled by awesome martial arts. If you are looking to visit a world that is newer than most, we recommend checking out the 2025 murim manhwa we just added: A Regressor’s Tale of Cultivatio.
Nano Machine
Anime-Planet: 4.36/5
- Author: Hanjungwolya, Geumgangbulgoe
- Chapters: 283+
- Status: Ongoing
- Webtoon (Up to Chapter 5)
The protagonist, Yeon-Woo Cheon, seems destined to live a life of weakness and oppression, but he suddenly obtains a unique item, the Nano Machine, that infuses a unique power system into his body. Seizing his window of opportunity, Yeon-Woo quickly rises through the ranks of the demonic with the aid of the Nanomachine, becoming immensely powerful along the way. Determined to reach the pinnacle of strength of the Heavenly Demonic Cult, Yeon-Woo must prove his strength to all. The story combines the classical trope of the overpowered main character, who constantly gets stronger, making for an engaging read.
Nano Machine blends murim, fantasy, and sci-fi surprisingly well, a combination that is quite difficult to find. For the most part, the original driving force behind the story is revenge, and these arcs firmly establish Nano Machine as an all-time great manhwa.
The Breaker
Anime-Planet: 4.34/5
- Author: Jeon Geuk-jin
- Chapters: 72 (Original Series)
- Status: Complete (Original Series)
The Breaker brings the world of the murim to modern society, making for an exciting combination. The story follows Shi Woon Yi, a weak high school student who is the target of constant assault and bullying at his school. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he accidentally discovers that the newly transferred teacher, Chunwoo Han, is a martial arts master. Witnessing his teacher’s skills, he begs Chunwoo to make him his disciple and teach him how to defend himself. With this, Shi Woon becomes a part of the dangerous world of the murim, where only the strong can survive.
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Readers of The Breaker manhwa should take a look at these great manhwa series with similar stories and themes.
An argument could be made that The Breaker is the most influential and important murim manhwa of all time. Debuting in 2007 and lasting until 2010, the original series helped introduce South Korean webtoons to an international audience. It was successful enough to spawn two sequels, and the second one (The Breaker: Eternal Force) is currently ongoing. The Breaker goes against the norm by featuring a protagonist, Shiwoon, who is far from overpowered, to the point of coming across as notably weak at times.
While The Breaker and New Waves are not on Webtoon, The Breaker: Eternal Force is part of the site.
Return of the Blossoming Blade
Anime-Planet: 4.46/5
- Author: Biga, Lico
- Chapters: 152+
- Status: Ongoing (But The Main Story Is Currently On Break)
- Webtoon
Dying in battle is a thing of honor for most martial artists, but the protagonist, Chung Myung, disagrees. Dying in battle, the Sword Saint awakens after a century in the body of a young boy. Determined to reclaim his former status as the Sword Saint, he returns to the Mount Hua Sect, but what he finds on his return is not what he expected.
Disgraced and nearly penniless, the Mount Hua Sect is a shadow of its former self and in rapid decline. Unable to let go of the past, Chung Myung is determined to restore the sect to its former glory. Return of the Blossoming Blade is among the most popular murim manhwa, earning a very positive reputation due to featuring a lovable protagonist, brilliant art, and an interesting take on reincarnation. The manhwa balances action, comedy, and drama incredibly well, all the while focusing on character development.
Legend of the Northern Blade
Anime-Planet: 4.4/5
- Author: Hae-Min, Woogack
- Chapters: 202
- Status: Complete
- Tappytoon (Only 3 Chapters Are Free)
Legend of the Northern Blade is an intense and captivating tale of the Northern Wall. The story follows Jin Mu-Won, who inherits the position of sect leader of the Northern Heavenly Sect from his father, a martial master acknowledged by the whole of Jianghu, another name for murim in the series. Portrayed as weak and hopeless, Mu-Won only uses this as a front as he seeks revenge on the Central Heavenly Alliance, the organization responsible for his father’s death.
Determined to carry out his revenge, Mu-Won disappears without a trace and re-emerges years later, having mastered the Northern sect's ultimate techniques. The story, first thought to be one of revenge, becomes a chaotic storm that threatens to bring the murim world to its knees, with Jin Mu-Won at the heart of it all.
Fist Demon of Mount Hua
Anime-Planet: 3.93/5
- Author: Woogack
- Chapters: 182
- Status: Canceled
Born with a lame leg and discriminated against, Dam-Ho has the worst possible condition for a martial artist due to his disability. Despite being severely mocked and told that it is impossible to become a martial artist, Dam-Ho is persistent in his training to overcome his limits. Thought to be dead in an unfortunate expedition, Dam-Ho is abandoned by his sect under the rubble of a mountain. Still, with a burning desire to survive and go beyond his limits, Dam-Ho re-emerges as a master at the mention of whose name all the murim will come to fear and acknowledge.
Due to being canceled, Fist Demon of Mount Hua is a bit harder to recommend nowadays since the story will likely never be complete. That said, the available content is generally fantastic, offering great art and a fascinating story with a strong protagonist. Even in its current state, Fist Demon of Mount Hua is still one of the best murim manhwa.
Chronicles of a Doomed Prodigy
Anime-Planet: 4.3/5
- Author: Cheongsiso, Seung-Ki Yoon
- Chapters: 58+
- Status: Ongoing
- Webtoon
A relatively new manhwa, Chronicles of a Doomed Prodigy has spent the last year building up momentum, and its Webtoon accessibility has brought some eyes to it. As far as stories go, this manhwa tells a fairly typical murim tale about an outcast with immense energy and the potential to become a supremely powerful martial artist. Sadly, he is born into a family that does not respect or nurture his abilities, and he also has a seemingly limited lifespan. Consequently, Yeonshin is not only trying to find a way to improve his skills, but also to expand his limited time among the living.
Chronicles of a Doomed Prodigy does not hold too many surprises, opting to tell a fairly conventional murim story with a largely average MC. Don't misunderstand, Yeonshin is quite powerful and has a talent for creating new martial arts, which allows him to stay a step ahead of most opponents. However, personality-wise, he is fairly unspectacular and nowhere near as unpredictable and dangerous as most murim leads.
Absolute Sword Sense
Anime-Planet: 4.12/5
- Author: TI, Durumi Kim, Hanjungwolya
- Chapters: 155+
- Status: Ongoing
- Webtoon
Absolute Sword Sense is like the quintessential murim manhwa. Not necessarily in terms of popularity, but the story is about as "traditional" for the genre as it gets. Woonhwi So, a weakling who can't use this universe's main power source, dies while on a mission for his clan, only to be sent back in time to the day that changed his life forever. More importantly, he gains a unique ability that gives him an edge in battle. After that, we get the usual clan warfare, epic battles, politics, and an MC who goes on a gradual journey to become stronger.
Yes, Absolute Sword Sense can come across as slightly generic or predictable at times, but this formula is popular because it works. While not telling the most original story ever, this manhwa excels in nearly every other aspect, be it art, pacing, fight sequences, or just plain old world-building. Absolute Sword Sense might not be the best in class in any specific area, but it is respectable in all of them.
Return of the Mad Demon
Anime-Planet: 4.29/5
- Author: JP, Jinseong Yu
- Chapters: 175+
- Status: Ongoing
- Webtoon
Return of the Mad Demon has a catchy title that raises some expectations, primarily of a protagonist who is a bit more outlandish and over-the-top than usual. Surprisingly, the manhwa sticks to its title and premise, as Jaha Lee is genuinely quite ridiculous and often acts in ways that defy logic. He lives up to the "mad demon" moniker, which is refreshing.
So, what is the story? Well, Jaha aspired to become the God of Martial Arts, but he never quite managed to reach that level. His dream also saw him making plenty of enemies, all setting the stage for a climactic and, ultimately, fatal battle. However, rather than drift into the unknown, Jaha travels back in time and reawakens in his 20s. Armed with details of the future and the martial arts skills he acquired over decades, Jaha has to now decide how to use this knowledge, while fully aware that decisions have consequences.
Gosu
Anime-Planet: 4.15/5
- Author: Giun Ryu
- Chapters: 231
- Status: Complete
- Webtoon (Up to Chapter 21)
Gosu follows the protagonist, Gang Ryong, a martial artist burdened with his master’s revenge. His master, Dokgo Ryong the Heavenly Destroyer , once the most feared martial master of the murim, was betrayed by his followers and allies.
As a dying wish of his master, Gang Ryong takes up his master’s request for vengeance, armed with his master’s overwhelming martial arts. Raised to be the ultimate weapon for his master’s enemies, Gang Ryong grows immensely powerful and ensures to fulfill his master’s dying wish. While a bit long in the tooth at times, at its peak, Gosu is phenomenal, featuring some of the best fight sequences in the murim genre. The manhwa should be receiving an anime soon, which is exciting.
Before reading Gosu, I recommend checking out Yongbi the Invincible, which is essentially a prequel. It is also great.
Murim Login
Anime-Planet: 4.27/5
- Author: Zerobic, Cheol-Byuk Jang
- Chapters: 239+
- Status: Ongoing
The story, set in a world of monsters and hunters, follows Jin Tae-Kyung, a low-ranking monster hunter struggling to make a living. He comes across a peculiar VR machine and accidentally logs into a game, which is, in fact, another world: a murim world.
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With no choice but to survive in the hope of escaping the game, he is forced to level up, and after several attempts, he finally returns to his world. He soon finds out that all the skills and abilities gained in the game have been transferred back to his reality. Out of care for the comrades he makes in the game, he chooses to return to the game. Incorporating isekai elements, Murim Login manages to do justice to all its popular themes, with top-notch fights and art. While the real world is kept around by the plot, the majority of the story takes place in the murim realm, and that is for the better.