“I played Hunter for dailies and tasks, got completely outplayed in chase, and it broke me.” “I still haven’t found my go-to Hunter, one that actually fits my playstyle.” “I’m stuck at Tier V and can’t close out games.” If any of that sounds familiar, you’ve probably hit a wall in Identity V.
With Survivor coordination as refined as it is right now, just queuing up over and over won’t get you more wins than losses as Hunter. So, drawing on years of grinding top-tier Ranked, we’ve put together a complete Identity V Hunter tier list for the current meta.
Beyond the rankings, we cover underrated picks that shine in the current meta, which the big guide sites miss, map-by-map ways to deal with strong kiting spots that directly affect your win rate, counterplay to shut down annoying harassment-heavy teams, and how to pick an efficient Persona Web setup.
And if you’re planning to go all the way to pity for the new Essence’s limited UR costumes or the big upcoming collab skins, you’ll need a solid stack of IDV Echoes. To keep the cost down, GamsGo offers them at up to 30% off the usual price. Put the savings toward the costumes or new Hunters you’ve been eyeing.
Want to know how Survivors stack up in the current meta? Check out our Identity V Survivor Tier List. It’s also useful from a Hunter’s perspective when you’re deciding who to ban and how to counter them.
How We Rank Hunters in the Current Meta
Since the major Persona Web overhaul in July 2026, Survivors have an easier time healing and recovering, and closing out wins as Hunter is harder than before. On top of that, nerfs to The Shadow, “Goatman,” and “Dentist,” along with buffs to Gamekeeper and Clerk, have shifted the balance between Hunters.
This ranking ignores past reputations. Every Hunter is judged on chase, camping, and cipher pressure in the current meta, and on how consistently they can secure ties or wins.
| Tier | Criteria and Meta Position |
|---|---|
| S+ | The Undisputed Top of the Meta Outstanding chase, camping, and cipher pressure. These Hunters keep a high win rate even when Survivors know exactly how to counter them. Map and team comp barely matter, and they can control the entire match. |
| S | Top-Tier, Consistent Win Rate Led by the so-called “new top seven” of the current meta, these are top-class Hunters that can post high win rates in Ranked. Each has clear strengths in chase, camping, or cipher pressure, and wins consistently even in high-tier rank. |
| A | Reliable Performers and Strong Secondary PicksNot as versatile as S-tier, but reliable at securing ties. Hit hard on specific maps or against specific comps and can still close out wins. This tier is full of all-rounders and counter-picks that make easy-to-build secondary mains. |
| B | Held Back by the Meta or Clear Weaknesses Hunters who used to be strong but dropped after meta shifts or nerfs, plus Hunters with obvious weaknesses that Survivors can easily play around. |
| C | Struggling Badly in the Current Meta Big weaknesses in their kit and easy for Survivors to counter. At worst, Survivors will dismiss them as weak. They seriously need a buff, and we don't recommend starting to practice them now. |
Identity V Hunter Tier List 2026: Every Hunter Ranked
| Tier | Best Hunters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S+ |  "Dentist" |  "Herztier" |  Dream Witch |  "Queen Bee" | |
| S |  Opera Singer |  "Goatman" |  "Cueist" |  "Hullabaloo" |  The Shadow |
 Clerk |  The Breaking Wheel |  Peddler | |||
| A |  Gamekeeper |  Mad Eyes |  Bloody Queen |  Guard 26 |  Wax Artist |
 "Disciple" |  Naiad |  Evil Reptilian |  Smiley Face | ||
| B |  Axe Boy |  Soul Weaver |  Geisha |  Sculptor |  "Undead" |
 Hermit |  "Fool's Gold" |  Photographer |  Hell Ember |  Wu Chang | |
| C |  The Ripper |  Violinist |  Night Watch |  "Nightmare" |  The Feaster |
S+ and S Tier Breakdown
Unfortunately, I don’t think there’s a true T0 Hunter left in this meta. Even the classic “big four,” the Hunters who once defined the meta, have lost their peak dominance, which feels a little sad for someone who’s played Hunter for as long as I have.
That said, Dream Witch can still tear a match apart by exploiting the weak spots in a Survivor team if you’re highly skilled, so she’s arguably still T0, but only just. “Queen Bee” is easy to play and gives a huge return for the practice you put in.
“Dentist” and “Herztier,” on the other hand, have been nerfed repeatedly, and I originally planned to drop them to S. But counterplay against them still hasn’t fully caught on, so they stay at S+ for now.
Most of the S-tier Hunters are familiar faces you could call the “new top seven” of the current meta. Peddler is part of that seven, but Clerk is rated separately. The Breaking Wheel, meanwhile, plays at an S+ level on large maps.
Clerk is very comfortable to play if only the rescuer on the Survivor team runs Borrowed Time. These days, though, two or three Survivors often bring it, and if they drag the game out into the late game, closing out a win gets tough. Against comps with fewer Borrowed Times, Clerk has a big edge.
A Tier Breakdown
Gamekeeper’s Chain Hook got buffed, but he can no longer use it to pull himself toward walls, so you’ll need to adjust how you play him. “Disciple” and Wax Artist are strong against harassment-heavy comps and make great secondary picks.
You rarely run into a Mad Eyes, but when you do, it’s usually a specialist who knows the maps inside out. In skilled hands, Smiley Face can also down Survivors who struggle in chase in no time. Wolves’ ChoAi in particular sometimes puts on S+-level performances even at IVL and COA.
B and C Tier Breakdown
In July, “Nightmare” got a 3% slow added to the Survivor his Raven is tracking, but honestly, that’s not what needed fixing. Teleporting to a Raven with Bad Omen has way too much startup and recovery, the cooldown is long, and on top of that, the range for catching Survivors along the Raven’s flight path is narrow. Those were the things that needed fixing before a 3% slow.
Best Hunters by Rank and Goal
Beginner to Mid-Rank (Tiers I–IV): Hunters That Teach the Fundamentals and Win
As a beginner, we don’t recommend jumping straight into maining Hunters that take a long time to learn, like Opera Singer, or ones that demand deep game knowledge, like The Shadow. Plenty of well-known top Hunter players hold S badges on “Disciple” or Guard 26, which shows how much the fundamentals matter.
Opera Singer in particular has a trap: practicing nothing but shadow-based mobility and chase before you’ve built up game sense and macro play. Your chases and downs will be fast, but your cipher control and mind games won’t keep up, and you can end up stalling around Tier V.
High-Tier Rank: Best Hunters for Climbing Ranks and Stars
If you want to raise your win rate in Ranked and push for higher tiers or more stars, go for The Breaking Wheel, “Queen Bee,” Opera Singer, or Gamekeeper. “Dentist” and “Herztier” have been nerfed multiple times and could get hit again, so we don’t really recommend picking them up from scratch now.
The Breaking Wheel is strong on small maps too, but on large maps he’s extremely hard to stop. Survivors practically need dedicated chase practice just to handle him. “Queen Bee,” on the other hand, has a low practice cost and becomes usable in a short time, so she’s a perfectly good pick even for beginners.
As a former S-badge Opera Singer main, I honestly have to ask: how many more times are they going to nerf her? Even so, her chase is still among the best of any Hunter, and that overwhelming pressure she puts on Survivors is still there. Seeing her hold on to S-tier after all these nerfs makes me genuinely happy as a former main.
Gamekeeper might be a surprising pick here. But a specialist who has Chain Hook movement from Presence Tier II and trap placement down can take over games just like the current top seven. He’s a Hunter whose rating changes a lot depending on who’s playing him.
Anti-Harassment Picks: Best Hunters Against Offense, Prospector, and Batter
Seeing a harassment-heavy comp with Offense, Prospector, and Batter in Ranked is honestly exhausting on its own. You finally get a down, then get interfered with again and again, can’t get anyone on a chair, and the ciphers just keep popping. If you’re struggling with comps like that, try “Undead,” “Disciple,” Wax Artist, or Wu Chang.
“Undead”’s attacks and skills are hard to interrupt during Energy Surge, so he can play aggressively even against harassment-heavy teams. “Disciple” can shut down harassers with her cat’s area stun and Intimidation, and is especially strong against Offense, but watch out for Prospector’s magnets.
Wax Artist can coat Survivors in wax with Sputter, and his trait Waxen Coat also coats nearby Survivors in wax when he gets stunned. Once his Presence builds up, Molten Wax can turn the tables on harassers.
Wu Chang’s strength is handling interference with Black Guard’s shorter stun duration and closing distance with White Guard’s faster movement speed. That said, you still need to judge when to switch with Dual Soul.
Friendly Hunter Picks: Forget About Winning Once in a While
Best Hunters for Each Map
| Map | Recommended Hunters | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Arms Factory |
| |||
 Red Church |
| |||
 Sacred Heart Hospital |
| |||
 Lakeside Village |
| |||
 Moonlit River Park |
| |||
 Eversleeping Town |
|
Final Thoughts: Picking the Right Hunter and Leveling Up
A tier list is just a reference. What matters is picking Hunters that fit your rank goals and your playstyle. For chase, look at Peter’s Opera Singer. For macro play, DongX’s Dream Witch. For specialist-level execution, ChoAi’s Smiley Face.
But if you want to climb, the fastest route is sharpening your chase and macro play on a Hunter you’re already good at, not forcing yourself to practice a hard character.
What separates players at high tiers isn’t just chase skill. Reading cipher progress and rescue timing matters just as much. Don’t just copy a template Persona Web either. Adjust it to the map, the Survivor comp, and your own win condition. If you’re confident in your early chase and never struggle to build Presence, dropping Insolence is a valid option.
Identity V Hunter FAQ (2026)
Who Is the Strongest Hunter in October 2026?
“Queen Bee,” Dream Witch, “Dentist,” and “Herztier” are rated S+ in the current meta. That said, there’s no T0 Hunter right now who dominates no matter who’s playing. Ratings also shift with the map and the player’s skill.
Who Should You Ban When Playing Hunter in Ranked?
If you’re unsure, Seer or Priestess are good candidates. But the right ban depends on your Hunter and the map. If you struggle against harassment-heavy teams, consider Antiquarian or Offense. If rescues are the problem, consider Mercenary. You don’t need to ban the same Survivor every game.
Are “Dentist” and “Herztier” Still Strong After the Nerfs?
Neither is as overwhelming as before, but both are still rated S+ for now. As Survivor counterplay catches on, they could drop to S. If you’re planning to main either one from scratch, keep an eye on upcoming balance changes.
Can You Win Ranked by Practicing Just One Meta Hunter?
At low to mid ranks, one strong main is plenty. At high tiers, though, bans and map matchups come into play, so you’ll want secondary picks beyond your main. I wouldn’t rely on a frequently banned Hunter as my only pick.
What Should You Do When Offense or Prospector Keeps Body-Blocking?
Having a secondary Hunter that handles harassment-heavy teams well, like “Disciple” or Wax Artist, is a good option. But you don’t have to engage with the harassers every time. Watch cipher progress and decide when to switch targets or which area to defend.
Should You Just Use the Template Persona Web for Hunter?
Treat the template as a reference. Adjust it to the map, the Survivor comp, and your own chase skill. If you’re confident in your early chase and never struggle to build Presence, dropping Insolence for another talent is a valid option.
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