SIU has been writing this thing since 2010. That's a massive amount of time for a story about a kid chasing a girl up a magical tower. If you're looking into Tower of God arcs, you’ve probably realized by now that the scale is ridiculous. It’s not just a battle shonen. It’s a political thriller, a mythic epic, and sometimes, honestly, a bit of a mess.
The story follows Twenty-Fifth Bam. He enters the Tower to find Rachel. But the Tower doesn't care about his feelings. It’s a brutal hierarchy where "Regulars" climb floors to become "Rankers," gaining god-like powers and immortality.
What makes these arcs so distinct isn't just the change in scenery. It's the tonal shifts. You go from a survival game to a corporate war to a literal battle against gods. Let's break down how this actually flows and why some parts feel way better than others.
The Floor of Tests: Where the Obsession Starts
Everything begins here. Most fans consider this the "Prologue," but it's legally and technically the first major chunk of the Tower of God arcs. It feels small compared to what comes later, but the stakes were somehow more intimate.
Bam is a "C-rank" protagonist at best here—clueless, weak, and fueled entirely by his obsession with Rachel. You meet Khun Aguero Agnis and Rak Wraithraiser. This trio is the heart of the series. The tests, like the Crown Game, weren't just about power levels. They were about wit. SIU used to focus heavily on the "Position" system—Fishermen, Spear Bearers, Light Bearers, Scouts, and Wave Controllers.
Then the betrayal happens. Rachel pushing Bam off the bubble into the deep sea is still one of the most iconic moments in manhwa history. It changed the DNA of the story. It wasn't about a boy finding a girl anymore. It became a story about a boy surviving a world that wanted him dead.
The Prince of Jahad and the Workshop Battle
After a massive time skip, we get the Return of the Prince. Bam is gone. In his place is Jyu Viole Grace, a cold, long-haired "Slayer Candidate" for FUG. FUG is essentially a religious terror organization that hates the King, Jahad.
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This is where the Tower of God arcs start getting complicated. We're introduced to Team Sweet and Sour, led by Ja Wangnan. Honestly, Wangnan is one of the most tragic characters in the series because he's so clearly outclassed by the monsters around him.
The Workshop Battle is the peak of the early-to-mid series. It’s held on the 30th Floor. This arc is essentially a tournament, but the prizes are living ignition weapons. It’s where the original cast from the Floor of Tests finally reunites with Bam. The emotional payoff when Khun realizes Viole is actually Bam? That’s the stuff that kept people reading for a decade. It’s also where we see the "Thorn," a fragment of a weapon capable of killing the King. From here on out, Bam isn't just a regular; he's a living cheat code.
The Hell Train: A Long, Brutal Ride
If you ask a fan about the Tower of God arcs, they’ll probably groan or cheer when you mention the Hell Train. It’s long. It’s really, really long. It spans multiple sub-arcs including the Revolution Road, the Name Hunt Station, the Floor of Death, and the Hidden Floor.
- The Name Hunt Station: This is a fan favorite. It’s a brutal bureaucratic nightmare where people steal names to turn others into slaves. It features Kaiser (Elaine), a character with one of the most depressing backstories in the manhwa. It showed that the Tower’s "system" is more villainous than any individual boss.
- The Floor of Death: This is where the lore explodes. We learn about Arlene Grace and V, Bam’s parents. We see Urek Mazino, the strongest active Ranker, just flex his pinky and win. It’s the first time we see an administrator-level environment that isn't governed by the King’s laws.
- The Hidden Floor: This felt like a digital RPG. Bam faces a data version of Young Jahad. It’s a crucial character moment. Bam realizes he can’t just copy others; he has to use "his own power."
The Hell Train basically transitioned the series from a "climbing the tower" story into a "war against the establishment" story.
The Last Station and the Shift to High Ranker Warfare
The end of the Hell Train leads into the Last Station. This is a turning point. Up until now, High Rankers were like legends you only heard about. Suddenly, they’re everywhere.
The Last Station is a massive battle where the Jahad Empire tries to wipe out the regulars on the train. We see Evankhell, a top-tier High Ranker with ancient fire powers, absolutely incinerate entire fleets. The scale shifted. Regulars became almost irrelevant. If you weren't a High Ranker or Bam, you were basically just watching the fireworks.
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This is a point of contention among readers. Some love the DBZ-style explosions. Others miss the tactical games of the 20th Floor. Regardless, this arc cemented Bam as a legitimate threat to the hierarchy. He’s no longer just a kid; he’s a god in training.
The Cage and the Wall of Peaceful Coexistence
After the Last Station, we move into the "Houndborn" territory. We meet Yama, the Slayer of FUG who leads a bunch of canine people. This part of the Tower of God arcs feels a bit like a side quest that got really big. It deals with internal FUG politics and the history of the "Ancient Ones."
Then we hit the Wall of Peaceful Coexistence. This introduces Kallavan’s obsession with order and the return of Dowon and Cha, warriors from an ancient war. It’s a lot of setup. SIU was clearly moving the pieces on the chessboard to get to the big one: The Nest.
The Nest: Total War
The Nest is the most ambitious arc to date. The goal? Rescue Bam’s master, Ha Jinsung, from a high-security prison. It’s an all-out siege. FUG vs. The Jahad Army.
This arc has everything:
- The Cat Tower: A weird game-within-a-war where Yasratcha toys with the canine people.
- White vs. Bam: This is arguably the best fight in the entire series. White (Hoaqin) is a soul-eating psychopath who represents everything Bam hates. Their clash isn't just physical; it's ideological.
- The Lo Po Bia Family Head: Traumerei appears. This changed everything. Seeing a Family Head—one of the ten "gods" who conquered the tower—showed just how far the ceiling actually goes. They don't fight; they just exist, and everyone else dies.
The Nest showed that Bam can now stand on a battlefield with the strongest beings in existence, but he's still a small fish compared to a Family Head.
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The Marriage Tournament and the Current Chaos
Post-Nest, we’ve entered a weirdly political phase. The Lo Po Bia and Po Bidau families are at each other’s throats. Bam is being forced into a marriage competition. It sounds like a rom-com, but it’s actually a high-stakes diplomatic nightmare.
We’re finally seeing the 10 Great Families start to crumble from the inside. Gustang (the Po Bidau head) and Traumerei are heading toward a conflict that could reset the entire Tower. This is the "Endgame" phase. We are no longer talking about floors; we are talking about the fate of the entire world.
Why Some Arcs Feel Better Than Others
If you feel like the Tower of God arcs vary wildly in quality, you’re right. SIU has struggled with health issues for years, leading to multiple hiatuses. This sometimes affects the pacing.
The early arcs worked because of the mystery. We didn't know what was on the next floor. Now, the mystery is gone, replaced by "Lore." Lore is great, but it can be heavy. The shift from "Games" to "War" is the biggest hurdle for new readers. If you like Hunter x Hunter, you’ll love the early stuff. If you like Bleach or Dragon Ball, the later arcs will be your bread and butter.
Actionable Ways to Tackle the Series
If you’re planning to dive into these arcs or catch up, here’s how to do it without burning out:
- Don't skim the dialogue in the Floor of Death. Most of the answers to the series' biggest mysteries are buried there. If you skip it, the later stuff with the Family Heads won't make any sense.
- Pay attention to the Shinsu shapes. Every character has a specific way they use Shinsu (like orbs, swords, or animals). It’s not just "magic power"; it reflects their personality.
- Use the Fan Wiki for names. SIU uses a lot of Korean names and complex titles. If you get confused between a "Slayer" and a "Branch Candidate," look it up immediately so you don't lose the plot thread.
- Watch the Anime for the vibe, but read the Manhwa for the depth. The anime cuts a lot of the tactical explanations that make the first arc special.
The story is far from over. With the conflict between the Po Bidau and Lo Po Bia families reaching a boiling point, the "Great War" that’s been teased since 2010 is finally here. Whether Bam can actually kill a King remains to be seen, but the journey through these arcs is one of the most unique experiences in modern fantasy.
Don't expect a quick read. Expect a marathon. And keep an eye on the background characters; SIU loves bringing back someone you haven't seen in 400 chapters just to wreck your soul.