Community tier list
Grades below summarize the current launch-window snapshot. Treat them as a starting point: difficulty, unlocks, and the offers in your run still change the practical answer.
| Tier | Hunter | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Amber fights permanently at her side; her breath follows the main weapon's element, and Fury adds a large burst window for bosses. | |
| S | Dismantle economy returns weapon parts over time, and Wildcat Bomb turns that value into strong room-wide pressure. | |
| A | Dodge-triggered counter-fire gives high sustained damage in skilled hands; ceiling depends on dodge timing. | |
| A | Novice's Luck avoids hits and Justice Heart buffs fire rate and reload — the most forgiving strong pick for newer players. | |
| B | Extra-shot engine is readable and consistent, but several triggers are RNG-dependent, so output varies run to run. | |
| C | Coin economy can guarantee rare shop access but demands heavy micromanagement, and his ultimate raises damage taken. | |
| — | Not consistently ranked by launch-window outlets yet; her Tarot-interaction ceiling is real but harder to benchmark. |
Ranking sources: Game Geek Fusion tier list (2026-07-28) · Destructoid Hunter tier list (launch)
Quick role chart
The launch roster contains seven Hunters. Their current core skill names and branch identities are mapped below.
| Hunter | Core identity | Best for | Core skills |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunfire / extra-shot engine | The first decision model and sustained shooting research | Geminate Shot + Fatal Silver Bullet | |
| Luck / crit burst | Testing a protected conditional damage window | Novice's Luck + Justice Heart | |
| Dismantle economy / bombs | Testing whether unwanted drops can fund a coherent run | Waste to Treasure + Wildcat Bomb | |
| Tarot / Starlight | Testing rule-changing combinations and Sub Weapon planning | Wheel of Fate + Starlit Card Formation | |
| Marks / elemental range | Testing priority-target marks and one elemental payoff | Hunting Mark + ranged elemental pressure | |
| Amber companion / element chain | Testing companion damage with the active weapon element | Amber + Dragon Breath | |
| Treasure / economy | Testing when economy should convert into immediate power | Trading Expert + All or Nothing |
Best first pick: Marcus
Marcus has the most readable beginner engine. Ordinary shooting feeds Geminate Shot and Fatal Silver Bullet, so Fire Rate, Reload Speed, extra-shot skills, and the current weapon element all point in the same direction. The build remains functional even when the run misses one specific relic.
Best decision-training pick: Jenny
Jenny turns unwanted weapons and parts into an active resource loop. She is useful for learning when to keep a working weapon, enter another weapon room, and dismantle the result. Her bomb also inherits the current weapon element, which rewards a coherent elemental plan.
Highest combination ceiling: Stella
Stella's Starlight shots and Tarot branches reward more system knowledge. She becomes especially interesting when The Lovers makes a Sub Weapon contribute an effect or battle skill. New players can use her, but each Tarot choice asks for more reading than Marcus. The full route, including why Lovers' Gift and The Lovers belong together, is on the Stella build page — which also explains the extra setup her route needs.
Other strong identities
- Jester: crit burst when Novice's Luck can be preserved.
- Elena: mobile shot-and-dodge windows.
- Long Tong: Amber companion chains tied to the current weapon element.
- Lanny: coin, treasure, shop, and reserve management.
How to read this list
Role and skill identities are summarized from the current English character database. Treat the grades as a starting point, then choose the role that fits your difficulty, drops, and preferred pace.