Identity V Tier List: Best Survivors Ranked (February 2026)

Identity V has grown into a global competitive phenomenon, with over 400 million registered players and a thriving esports scene. The game's asymmetrical gameplay and deep character roster have made survivor tier rankings a constant topic of debate among players.

Season 41 brought significant balance changes that have reshuffled the meta. Characters who dominated previous seasons may no longer hold the same advantage, while previously overlooked survivors are proving their worth in high-tier matches. For players looking to climb or optimize their character pool, understanding the current meta is essential.

This tier list is built on performance data from high-tier ranked matches (Tier V-VII), competitive tournament ban/pick rates, and community analysis. Rankings reflect what's working now, but remember—your mechanical skill and game sense will always matter more than any tier placement.

Identity V Survivors Tier List

Tiers	Survivors
SS	Forward	Cheerleader	Prospector	Matador
S	Seer	Mercenary	Batter	Lanternist	Doctor	Toy Merchant
	Gardener	Grave Keeper	Novelist	Mechanic	Prisoner	Antiquarian	Meteorologist
A	Archer	Postman	Escapologist	Journalist	Coordinator	Painter	Knight	Wildling
	Puppeteer	Aeroplanist	Fire Investigator	Acrobat	Female Dancer	Barmaid	Lucky Guy	Faro Lady
B	Magician	Entomologist	Professor	Patient	Cowboy	Priestess
	Little Girl	The Mind's Eye	Embalmer	Enchantress	Perfumer	First Officer
C	Psychologist	Explorer	Thief	Composer	Lawyer

What Separates Each Tier

Not all strengths are created equal in Identity V. Here's the framework we use to sort survivors, and why certain abilities carry more weight in the current meta.

• Kiting Ability: This is the single most impactful factor. Every second you spend kiting is a second your team spends decoding. Forward and Matador sit in SS because their kiting tools are diverse and proactive.
• Rescue Reliability: Rescues are where matches are won or lost. One botched rescue can snowball into a 3-man or 4-man loss. Mercenary's elbow pads and delayed damage window make his rescues the most consistent in the game. Characters who can technically rescue but do so unreliably simply can't rank higher.
• Team Utility: This is where Season 41's meta gets interesting. Cheerleader reaches SS not purely for her combat performance, but because her team-wide buffs are borderline mandatory in coordinated play. The "team multiplier" abilities are valued more heavily than raw individual strength.
• Hunter Matchups: Meta hunters change every season, and survivor rankings shift accordingly. Characters who perform consistently across diverse matchups rank higher.

📊 Explore More Meta Rankings: While you're refining your team, don't miss out on our other expert guides for the 2026 season:

• Wuthering Waves tier list: Dominate the latest Echo hunts with our top resonator picks.
• Uma racing tier list: Master the tracks and identify the best-performing umas for the current meta.
• Arknights: Endfield character tier list: Get a head start and see which operators are leading the pack in the latest tech test.

💎 Pro Tip: If you've found your next "must-have" character on these lists, visit our recommended game top up center to secure the best deals on premium currency and speed up your progress!

Identity V Survivors Tier List Breakdown

SS Tier Survivors

SS-tier survivors are the backbone of competitive Identity V right now. They deliver consistently high value in nearly every match and hold their own against any hunter.

S Tier Survivors

S-tier survivors perform excellently in most matches and have well-defined roles. Some can reach SS-level impact in specific scenarios. The gap between S and SS comes down to consistency and versatility — S-tier characters are great, but they have more defined matchup limitations or slightly lower team-wide impact.

Character	Role	Core Ability	Strengths & Role
Seer	Support	Owl blocks one hit for teammates	Best passive defense + intel gathering. Fits virtually any team comp
Mercenary	Rescuer	Elbow pad dash + delayed damage (Tide Turner)	Most reliable rescue. Higher chair durability, can bodyblock for teammates after rescue
Batter	Kiter/Rescuer	Bat delivers ranged knockback/stun	Unique ranged control. Can disrupt camping or chases from a distance. Requires practice with ball trajectory
Lanternist	Kiter/Support	Projector disrupts + gathers intel	Balanced offense and defense. Provides vision while confusing hunter reads
Doctor	Support	Continuous healing for self and teammates	Healing drastically improves team error tolerance. Shines in drawn-out matches
Toy Merchant	Kiter/Support	Remote-controlled car scouts and distracts	Remote scouting + splits hunter attention. Intel gathering and support combined
Gardener	Support/Kiter	Destroys rocket chairs + built-in shield	Chair destruction excels on certain maps. Shield adds extra margin for error
Grave Keeper	Rescuer	Burrows underground through obstacles	Most reliable way to bypass camping. Strong advantage against facecamping hunters
Novelist	Kiter/Support	Creates decoy doubles	Doubles effectively confuse hunters. Moderate skill floor with consistent value
Mechanic	Decoder	Robot decodes remotely	Can decode even while chaired. One of the highest decoding efficiency characters
Prisoner	Decoder/Support	Remote connection accelerates ciphers	Speeds up decoding from safe positions. Crucial late-game connections can decide matches
Antiquarian	Kiter/Support	Antiques apply control and slow effects	Diverse practical control options. When mastered, continuously suppresses hunter chase efficiency
Meteorologist	Kiter/Support	Weather effects influence battlefield conditions	Unique area influence. Strong team coordination can shift local engagement dynamics

A Tier Survivors

A-tier survivors handle their roles well in most matches. The gap from S tier typically comes down to slightly lower versatility, higher execution requirements, or vulnerability to specific meta hunters.

Character	Role	Why A Tier
Archer	Kiter	Unique ranged marking + slow. Strong on open maps, struggles in tight spaces
Postman	Support	Letters provide varied buffs but have delays. Better in coordinated teams than solo queue
Escapologist	Kiter	Excellent debuff removal and solid kiting ceiling, but lower margin for error against aggressive hunters
Journalist	Support/Kiter	Powerful intel gathering but limited combat ability. Requires team coordination
Coordinator	Rescuer	Flare gun is the most direct rescue tool, but limited ammo. Pressure spikes after missing shots
Painter	Kiter/Support	Paintings force hunters to pause pursuit, but setup takes time
Knight	Kiter/Support	Balanced offense and defense. Can protect teammates and himself, but needs experience
Wildling	Kiter	Boar provides excellent mobility and collision damage, but summoning takes time and getting hit dismounts you
Puppeteer	Support/Kiter	Puppet offers solid remote disruption and scouting, but managing both requires high multitasking
Aeroplanist	Kiter/Rescuer	Flight negates certain abilities + decoding buff. Reliable for both rescue and kiting
Fire Investigator	Kiter	Unique area control. Strong on certain maps, but limited tool count requires smart placement
Acrobat	Kiter	Bombs offer flexible kiting options. High skill ceiling but steep learning curve
Female Dancer	Support/Kiter	Music box speed boost/slow is practical. Placement positioning matters
Barmaid	Support/Kiter	Drinks provide healing + buffs. Mixing alcohol gives temporary power spikes
Lucky Guy	Flex	Extremely flexible, can fill different roles, but random items create inconsistency
Faro Lady	Kiter/Support	Card deck offers rich tactical choices. High potential when mastered, but steeper entry barrier

B Tier Survivors

B-tier survivors aren't bad. They can still contribute in matches, especially if you've invested time mastering them. However, they're generally outperformed by higher-tier alternatives in the same roles.

B Tier Survivors
Kiter	Magician	Entomologist	Professor	Patient	Enchantress	Perfumer
Rescuer	Cowboy	First Officer
Support	Priestess	Little Girl	Embalmer
Decoder	The Mind's Eye

Notable mentions: Perfumer and Enchantress both dropped this season. Perfumer's perfume timing is less forgiving against current meta hunters who punish predictable dodges. Enchantress still stacks curse well, but the ramp-up time leaves her vulnerable early.

C Tier Survivors

C-tier survivors face fundamental kit limitations that make them unreliable in competitive play. They can occasionally surprise opponents in lower-tier matches, but against experienced hunters, their weaknesses are consistently exploited.

C Tier Survivors
Kiter / Support	Psychologist	Thief
Decoder	Exporer	Composer	Lawyer

Lawyer and Thief, in particular, have kits that haven't kept pace with the game's evolving meta. Their abilities feel outdated against hunters with modern mobility and pressure tools. If you enjoy playing these characters casually, more power to you.

But for climbing ranked, consider transitioning to a higher-tier alternative in a similar role.

Season 41 New Character Spotlight: Matador

The biggest shakeup in Season 41 is the new character Matador, Hernando Romero. This bullfighter from a small town in southern Spain launched on February 5, 2026, and immediately landed in SS tier as a "kiter/support hybrid."

Core Abilities Overview

Why Immediate SS Tier?

Matador combines three core abilities in one character: kiting, control, and rescue support. Each effect is genuinely powerful. The 50% slow drops hunter speed from 4.6m/s to 2.3m/s. 

Combined with his own 3.8m/s movement, landing a sweep creates 15+ meters of distance easily. Add in Gaonera Pass's forced lure and Faena's teammate protection, and his contribution to "helping the team win" reaches the highest standard in Season 41.

Recommended Survivor Team Compositions

Understanding individual character strength is essential, but Identity V is a 4v1 game — team composition matters just as much as individual picks. Here are three compositions performing well in Season 41 ranked, each designed for different playstyles and communication levels.

Composition 1: Aggressive (Best with voice comms)

Forward + Matador + Seer + Mechanic

This comp's core strategy is "frontline pressure + backline fast decoding." Forward and Matador handle kiting and rescues. Two powerful kiters rotating keeps the hunter unable to focus.

Seer's owl blocks hits for chased teammates at critical moments. Mechanic accelerates decoding from the back with her robot. Perfect for teams with good communication. When kiting is on point, decoding finishes extremely fast.

Composition 2: Balanced (Best for solo queue)

Prospector + Mercenary + Doctor + Batter

Solo queue's biggest fear is poor communication causing role overlap. This comp has clear responsibilities for each position: Prospector handles first kite, Mercenary is the dedicated rescuer, Doctor maintains team sustain, Batter provides ranged disruption or rescue support.

Composition 3: Rush Decoder (Counters camping hunters)

Grave Keeper + Cheerleader + Prisoner + Coordinator

When you predict the opponent will pick a camping hunter, this comp is especially effective. Grave Keeper's underground movement bypasses camping blockades. Coordinator's flare gun provides rescue insurance.

Cheerleader's team buffs accelerate everyone's action efficiency. Prisoner's remote connections speed up the final ciphers. The core strategy is fast decoding and efficient rescues, giving the hunter no opportunity to stall.

Finding the right team synergy is key to consistent wins. Since the meta is always shifting, platforms like GamsGo provide regular updates on these trends, helping you stay informed and ready for any competitive changes throughout the season.

Map-Specific Character Recommendations

Tier lists provide general guidance, but experienced players know that map selection can shift character value significantly. Here are some map-specific adjustments worth considering:

• Arms Factory: Wide open spaces favor kiters with ranged tools. Archer jumps from A to near S-tier here. Prospector's magnets also benefit from the longer sightlines.
• Red Church: Strong pallet density and window loops make this a kiter-friendly map. Forward and Matador thrive. Gardener's chair destruction is especially impactful because chair placements are spread out.
• Lakeside Village: The largest map with scattered cipher placements. Mechanic's remote decoding and Prisoner's connections are more valuable here because travel time between ciphers is significant. Toy Merchant's scouting also gains value.
• Moonlit River Park: Compact with tight corridors. Kiters who rely on open space (Archer, Wildling) struggle. Prospector and Acrobat are better picks for close-quarters kiting.
• Chinatown: Multi-level verticality rewards characters with creative movement. Priestess, despite being B-tier overall, gains noticeable value on this map with her portal placements.

Final Thoughts

Identity V's competitive scene is constantly shifting. Each season brings balance changes, new character launches, and evolving meta strategies. We'll keep monitoring the latest survivor strength updates and refresh our tier list regularly so you can stay current with the strongest team compositions.

Building a competitive roster means unlocking multiple characters, which requires Echoes. If you're looking to save, GamsGo's Identity V Echoes top-up service offers around 25% off official pricing with instant delivery. 

Whether you're unlocking this season's Matador, pulling his S-Tier skin from S41 Essence 1, or filling out your character pool, it's an easy way to stretch your budget further.

FAQ

Is Matador Worth Prioritizing?

Absolutely. Matador has quickly proven his SS-tier strength since release. His skill set covers kiting, crowd control, and teammate support—three critical dimensions. If you play the contain role, Matador should be your top practice priority for Season 41.

Why Are Some Characters Ranked Lower Here Than in Other Tier Lists?

Different tier lists use different criteria. Our rankings prioritize practical reliability and versatility over theoretical potential. Some characters have extremely high skill ceilings but demand precise execution with little room for error. We adjust these characters downward to reflect real-world performance for most players.

Should I Prioritize SS or S-Tier Characters in ranked?

It depends on your proficiency. If you're already highly skilled with an S-tier character, it may perform better for you than an unfamiliar SS-tier pick. This tier list reflects a character's ceiling and consistency, not a rule that only these characters can win.

How Often Is This Tier List Updated?

We update after major patches or balance changes each season. If Season 41 brings substantial character adjustments, this list will be revised accordingly.

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