Wuthering Waves Tier List

Q: What criteria are used to rank characters in this tier list?

We use five ranking factors: (1) Endgame Performance — how well they perform in Tower of Adversity and Hologram bosses; (2) Team Compatibility — synergy with meta supports and team flexibility; (3) Investment Requirement — how much you need to invest (sequences, signature weapon) to unlock their potential; (4) F2P Accessibility — how strong they are at 0+0; (5) Current Meta Relevance — how well they perform in the current version's content rotation.

Q: Which characters should new players prioritize first?

New players should build Verina (free S-tier support from beginner banner) and Rover (Havoc) (free DPS from story progression) as their foundation. Pull for Shorekeeper as your first limited 5-star — she's the highest pull-value character and fits every team. For your first limited DPS, Jinhsi or Camellya are the strongest and most forgiving options.

Q: Which character should I pull first?

If you're a new player: pull Shorekeeper first — she is the highest pull-value character and fits every team. If you already have two strong supports: pull a top-tier Main DPS (Jinhsi, Camellya, or Carlotta) based on which element/playstyle you prefer. Avoid pulling characters that require specific teammates you don't own yet.

All Resonators ranked by endgame performance, team synergy, investment value, and F2P accessibility. Updated for the current meta.

🛠️ Build Planner ⚔️ Compare Characters

The current Wuthering Waves meta is defined by Spectro and Havoc DPS carries. Jinhsi leads as the strongest single-target Main DPS, Camellya dominates AoE content, and Shorekeeper remains the undisputed best universal support. This tier list ranks every Resonator across three roles — Main DPS, Sub-DPS, and Support — based on endgame performance data, team synergy, investment efficiency, and accessibility at 0+0. Rankings are updated with each major version to reflect balance changes and new character releases.

📅 Version 2.x · Last updated August 1, 2026

How We Rank Characters

Every character is evaluated against five ranking factors. No fake formulas — just transparent, qualitative assessment based on community consensus and endgame data.

Ranking Factors

1. Endgame Performance — How well the character performs in Tower of Adversity, Hologram bosses, and other high-difficulty content.
2. Team Compatibility — Synergy with meta supports, flexibility across team compositions, and reliance on specific teammates.
3. Investment Requirement — How many resources (sequences, signature weapon, optimal echoes) are needed to unlock the character's full potential.
4. F2P Accessibility — Performance at 0+0 (no sequences, no signature weapon). Higher scores mean the character delivers value without heavy investment.
5. Current Meta Relevance — How well the character performs against the current version's content rotation, buffs, and enemy lineups.

Tier Definitions

S-Tier — Best-in-class. Dominant performance in their role. Optimal in virtually all content. Highest pull and investment value.
A-Tier — Excellent. Strong performers that compete closely with S-Tier in the right team. Solid investment.
B-Tier — Solid. Viable choices with clear strengths but require more investment or specific teams to shine.
C-Tier — Niche. Usable but outclassed in their role by higher-tier options. Build only if you lack alternatives.
D-Tier — For completionists. Not recommended for resource investment in the current meta.

S-Tier Character Breakdown

Detailed analysis of every S-tier character — why they're at the top, what holds them back, and who to pair them with.

Jinhsi S

Main DPS · Spectro · Broadblade · ★★★★★

Strongest burst DPS in the current meta. Massive single-target damage with minimal field time. Dominant in Tower of Adversity and boss content.

⚠ Damage ceiling drops without coordinated attack teammates like Zhezhi or Yinlin.

Best Team: Zhezhi · Yinlin · Verina — Full Build Guide →

Camellya S

Main DPS · Havoc · Sword · ★★★★★

Best AoE Havoc DPS with exceptional self-sufficiency. High damage floor and ceiling across all content types. F2P-friendly at 0+0.

⚠ Vulnerable during spin animations; needs shielding in high-damage floors.

Best Team: Sanhua · Shorekeeper · Rococo — Full Build Guide →

Carlotta S

Main DPS · Glacio · Pistols · ★★★★★

Top ranged Glacio DPS with safe positioning and high single-target output. Excellent in ToA and hologram bosses. Strong at 0+0.

⚠ Primarily single-target; slower clears in multi-wave AoE content.

Best Team: Zhezhi · Shorekeeper · Sanhua — Full Build Guide →

Jiyan S

Main DPS · Aero · Broadblade · ★★★★★

Best Aero DPS with wide AoE coverage and strong grouping. Exceptional in multi-wave content and open-world farming. Consistent since launch.

⚠ Energy-hungry ultimate rotation; heavily reliant on Mortefi for optimal output.

Best Team: Mortefi · Shorekeeper · Verina — Full Build Guide →

Yinlin S

Sub-DPS · Electro · Rectifier · ★★★★★

Best Electro Sub-DPS. Coordinated attacks deal consistent off-field damage. Essential for Electro teams and strong in any quickswap comp.

⚠ Requires on-field time for mark setup. Can feel clunky in fast rotations.

Best Team: Jinhsi · Xiangli Yao · Calcharo — Full Build Guide →

Zhezhi S

Sub-DPS · Glacio · Rectifier · ★★★★★

Best Glacio Sub-DPS with skill damage amplification. Core support for Jinhsi and Carlotta. Strong coordinated attack uptime.

⚠ Energy-dependent rotation. Limited value outside of skill-damage-focused teams.

Best Team: Jinhsi · Carlotta · Shorekeeper — Full Build Guide →

Sanhua S

Sub-DPS · Glacio · Sword · ★★★★

Best 4★ character in the game. Fastest Concerto generation in the roster. Buffs basic attack damage. Fits virtually every team.

⚠ Low personal damage. Primarily a buffer — not a damage contributor herself.

Best Team: Camellya · Encore · Lingyang — Full Build Guide →

Shorekeeper Wuthering Waves Tier S Support

Shorekeeper S

Support · Spectro · Rectifier · ★★★★★

Best universal support in the game. Provides team-wide ATK buff, healing, and damage reduction. Fits any team. Fully functional at 0+0. Highest pull value in the game.

⚠ Signature weapon adds significant team value. Long ultimate animation can be interrupted.

Best Team: Any team — universal support — Full Build Guide →

Verina S

Support · Spectro · Rectifier · ★★★★★

Free S-tier support from beginner convene. Reliable ATK buff and healing. Second-best universal support. Core for any account.

⚠ Long animations on buff application. Slightly lower buff values than Shorekeeper.

Best Team: Any team — universal support — Full Build Guide →

Best DPS Characters in Wuthering Waves

The strongest Main DPS characters in the current meta — each excels in different combat scenarios. Pick based on your preferred playstyle and available supports.

Jinhsi — Best Single-Target DPS

Jinhsi's burst damage is unmatched. Her Resonance Liberation delivers massive Spectro damage in a short window, making her the top choice for Tower of Adversity boss floors and Hologram challenges. She pairs best with coordinated attack Sub-DPS units like Zhezhi and Yinlin.

Camellya — Best AoE DPS

Camellya's spinning Havoc attacks cover wide areas, making her the fastest clearer for multi-wave content and open-world farming. She's highly self-sufficient and one of the best DPS picks at 0+0. Sanhua is her ideal partner for rapid Concerto cycling.

Carlotta — Best Ranged DPS

Carlotta's pistol-based Glacio kit lets her deal high single-target damage from a safe distance. She excels against aggressive bosses where melee characters struggle. Pairs perfectly with Zhezhi for skill damage amplification.

Best Support Characters in Wuthering Waves

Supports are the backbone of every team. A strong support increases your entire team's damage output and survivability — invest in them first.

Shorekeeper — Best Universal Support

Shorekeeper provides the complete package: team-wide ATK buff, consistent healing, and damage reduction. She fits into literally any team composition and functions at full capacity at 0+0. If you can only pull one limited character, make it Shorekeeper.

Verina — Best F2P Support

Verina is available for free from the beginner convene and performs at an S-tier level. Her ATK buff and healing are slightly below Shorekeeper's but more than sufficient for all content. Every account should build Verina.

Baizhi — Best 4★ Healer

Baizhi is the strongest 4★ healer and a solid budget alternative if you lack Shorekeeper or Verina. Her revive passive can save runs in difficult content, making her especially valuable for newer players.

Best Characters for Beginners

Starting Wuthering Waves today? Here's who to build first — and who to avoid until you have more resources.

First Main DPS to Build

Start with Rover (Havoc) — you earn them for free through story progression, and they're viable through endgame content. For your first limited 5★ DPS, target Jinhsi or Camellya. Both are strong at 0+0 and don't require complex rotations to deal good damage.

First Support to Build

Build Verina immediately — she's free from the beginner convene and is an S-tier support. If you pull Baizhi from standard banner, build her as your second healer for Tower of Adversary (which requires two teams).

Easy-to-Use Picks

For players who want straightforward gameplay: Camellya (hold attack button, spin to win), Carlotta (ranged, safe positioning), and Jiyan (ultimate mode with wide AoE) are the most forgiving top-tier options.

Characters to Avoid Early

Skip Calcharo and Danjin as a new player. Calcharo requires precise animation cancels to deal competitive damage, and Danjin's HP drain mechanic is unforgiving if you're still learning enemy patterns. Both are strong in skilled hands but punishing for beginners.

Best F2P Characters — 0+0 Value Ranking

These characters perform excellently without sequences or signature weapons — ideal for free-to-play accounts. For a complete F2P resource guide, see our F2P survival guide.

Shorekeeper — Fully functional at 0+0. Universal support that instantly improves any account. Highest pull value in the game.
Verina — Free from beginner banner. S-tier support with no investment needed.
Sanhua — 4★ S-tier Sub-DPS. Only needs C0. Fastest Concerto generation. Fits every team.
Rover (Havoc) — Free from story. Full sequences from exploration. Viable DPS through endgame.
Baizhi — 4★ healer from standard banner. Reliable and accessible. Revive passive is great for new players.
Danjin — 4★ with high skill ceiling. Can solo-clear content at C0 with no 5★ weapon. For players who enjoy a challenge.

Who Should You Pull in Wuthering Waves?

Pull decisions depend on your account state. Use this framework to decide.

✅ Pull If You…

Are a new player → Shorekeeper first, then a top-tier DPS
Lack a support → Shorekeeper or Verina are essential
Need a Main DPS → Jinhsi (single-target), Camellya (AoE), Carlotta (ranged)
Play F2P / low spender → Shorekeeper, Sanhua, and one versatile DPS

❌ Skip / Wait If You…

Already own a comparable character in the same role and element
Lack the teammates the character needs to function optimally
Are low on pulls and the character requires S2+ or signature weapon to shine
Know a stronger character in the same role is coming next patch

Tier List Update History

All ranking changes are tracked here. Major updates occur with each game version.

Version 2.x— August 1, 2026

• Jinhsi: Maintained S-Tier — remains the strongest single-target DPS
• Camellya: Maintained S-Tier — best AoE Havoc DPS
• Carlotta: Maintained S-Tier — top ranged Glacio DPS
• Shorekeeper: Maintained S-Tier — best universal support
• Verina: Maintained S-Tier — best F2P support
• Sanhua: Maintained S-Tier (Sub-DPS) — best 4★ in the game
• Expanded ranking methodology with detailed character breakdowns
• Added F2P, beginner, and pull recommendation sections

Major page upgrade: expanded from basic tier list to comprehensive decision-making tool with character analysis and FAQ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Wuthering Waves tier list is the most accurate?

Accuracy depends on methodology and update frequency. This WutZone tier list is based on endgame performance data (Tower of Adversity, Hologram), team synergy analysis, investment efficiency, and community consensus — updated per version. Rankings include detailed reasoning so you understand why each character is placed where they are, not just a letter grade.

Why do different Wuthering Waves tier lists rank characters differently?

Different tier lists prioritize different factors. Some focus purely on speedrun potential, others on casual play. Some assume high-investment (signature weapon + sequences), others rank at 0+0. Our tier list balances endgame performance, team flexibility, F2P accessibility, and investment cost — and we explain the reasoning behind every ranking.

What criteria are used to rank characters in this tier list?

We use five ranking factors: Endgame Performance, Team Compatibility, Investment Requirement, F2P Accessibility, and Current Meta Relevance. See the "How We Rank Characters" section above for detailed explanations of each factor.

Who is the strongest Main DPS in Wuthering Waves?

Jinhsi is widely considered the strongest Main DPS in the current meta for single-target content. Camellya is the best AoE DPS, and Carlotta excels as a ranged option. The "best" DPS depends on the content you're tackling and your available supports.

Who is the best Support character in Wuthering Waves?

Shorekeeper is the best universal support — she provides team-wide ATK buffs, healing, and damage reduction, and fits into virtually any team composition. Verina is the second-best and is available for free from the beginner convene.

Which characters should new players prioritize first?

Build Verina (free S-tier support) and Rover (Havoc) (free DPS) as your foundation. Pull Shorekeeper as your first limited 5★ — she's the highest pull-value character. For your first limited DPS, Jinhsi or Camellya are the strongest and most forgiving options.

Is there a Wuthering Waves tier list for F2P players?

Yes — this tier list includes F2P accessibility as a ranking factor. Shorekeeper, Verina, Sanhua, and Rover (Havoc) are top-tier picks at 0+0. See the "Best F2P Characters" section above for the full breakdown.

Which character should I pull first?

New players: pull Shorekeeper first — she fits every team. If you already have two strong supports: pull a top-tier Main DPS (Jinhsi, Camellya, or Carlotta) based on your preferred playstyle. Avoid pulling characters that require teammates you don't own yet.

Can I clear endgame content with A-tier or B-tier characters?

Yes. Tier rankings reflect relative power and efficiency, not viability. Well-built A-tier or B-tier characters with proper teams, weapons, and optimized echoes can clear all content including Tower of Adversary. The tier list helps you prioritize who to invest in — not who is "usable."

How often is this tier list updated?

This tier list is updated with every major game version (approximately every 6 weeks). Rankings are adjusted based on new character releases, balance changes, new echo sets, and shifts in the endgame meta. Check the Update History section for a record of all changes.

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