2026 NIKKE Tier List: Best Characters for PvE & PvP

Welcome to the 2026 Goddess of Victory: NIKKE Tier List! 🚀

As of January 29, 2026 (Velvet version), there are now 180 characters in the game. Since items like Skill Books, Core Dust, and Overload Gear are always hard to get, which characters you choose to upgrade first will directly decide how fast you clear stages and how well you do in the Arena.

We checked the Top 100 Solo Raid teams, Special Arena win rates, and feedback from players fighting at high power gaps. This guide ranks every NIKKE from T0 to T4 based on their overall strength in both PVE and PVP, helping you spend your limited resources on the best characters.

🎁 Quick Tip: Don't forget to redeem the latest  NIKKE codes  for free rewards to speed up your character progression. Let’s dive into the meta! 👇

Overall NIKKE PVE Tier List: Campaign, Raids, and Anomaly

This tier list ranks Goddess of Victory: NIKKE characters for PVE, covering the main campaign, Solo/Union Raids, and Anomaly Interception.

Characters are evaluated on damage output, utility, versatility, and investment value to determine their overall PVE strength in the current version.

🔰 About T4: These characters underperform in the current meta and are not recommended for pulls or resource investment. They're listed separately at the bottom of the page for collection reference only. 

Burst I: Best Supports and Healers

In the current meta, Burst I characters play a vital role in keeping teams running smoothly. Their main job is providing cooldown reduction (CDR) to maintain consistent burst rotations, while also boosting team damage through attack buffs and sustaining fights with healing. 

Their performance directly affects your team's burst timing, making them essential for high difficulty PVE content and stable campaign progression.

Burst II: Top Tanks and Buffers

Burst II characters act as the critical bridge in your rotation. This slot is primarily reserved for support units who either scale your main DPS with potent attack buffs, or utilize shields and damage reduction to tank incoming fire and stabilize the team. 

Your choice of Burst II directly determines your team’s survivability under pressure and dictates your overall damage ceiling.

Burst III: Top Damage Dealers

Burst III marks the start of full burst mode, where team damage peaks. This slot is reserved for your main DPS characters who unleash maximum firepower during the burst window, quickly clear high-density enemy waves, and secure boss kills before time runs out.

NIKKE PvE T4 Tier List

T4 characters currently see limited play in the PVE meta. Whether for campaign efficiency, damage output, or utility value, they struggle to compete with higher tier options, so investing resources in them isn't recommended as a priority.

However, T4 doesn't mean completely useless. Some characters may still have niche value in specific mechanics, low resource situations, or future balance updates. Consider keeping them for collection purposes or future potential. 

For the best return on investment, we suggest focusing your primary resources on characters in T0 through T2.

NIKKE Arena PvP Tier List

Arena plays very differently from PVE. In PVP, character strength isn't just about raw damage. It depends on burst generation speed, initiative advantage, skill disruption, and team composition counters. 

This tier list evaluates burst charge rate, first move potential, and early round impact to rank characters for the current PVP meta, helping you build winning teams from your available roster.

Arena teams typically consist of four core roles: Battery, Tank, DPS, and Buffer. All characters generate burst gauge for the team when dealing damage. Once the team gauge hits 100%, Full Burst triggers and skills activate in order from Burst I to II to III.

Most arena matches end within one full burst cycle. Whoever triggers full burst first, or successfully counterattacks after surviving the enemy's opening burst, usually wins the match.

Weapon type dictates burst speed:

• Top Tier: Rocket Launchers (RL) and Shotguns (SG).
• Mid Tier: Sniper Rifles (SR) and Assault Rifles (AR).
• Low Tier: Submachine Guns (SMG) and Machine Guns (MG).

This is why RL users like Jackal rank higher here than in Campaign. Their splash damage hits multiple targets, filling the gauge faster.

🔔 Power Gap Warning: When the attacker's total power falls below 84.6% of the defender's (over 15.4% difference), the system applies severe stat penalties, reducing attack, defense, and HP across your team. Even with favorable matchups, win rates plummet in this state. Best to skip these fights.

Given these mechanics, some PVE powerhouses rank lower in arena due to weapon type or slow activation, while certain campaign mediocrities shine in PVP thanks to better charge rates or survivability.

This tier list focuses on arena team building and character selection. When power gaps are manageable, prioritizing high tier characters significantly improves your first move advantage and overall win rate.

NIKKE Tier List Ranking Explained

PVE strength is judged across two main areas: campaign and boss battles. For campaign: power gap tolerance > mob clearing speed > sustain. For boss fights: core hits > elemental damage > part breaking. Hybrid characters who excel at both score highest.

PVP strength prioritizes burst charge speed first, survival mechanics like invincibility or grit second, and opening burst damage last. Weapon type directly affects charge efficiency, giving Rocket Launcher and Shotgun users a clear edge in arena.

To maximize resource efficiency, characters who perform well across multiple PVE modes or excel in both PVE and PVP rank higher. Tier breakdown below:

• T0 - Meta Defining / Universal God: Multi-Mode Dominance. Must dominate Campaign, Raids, Anomaly, or PvP simultaneously. Irreplaceable mechanics that ignore environment. Maximum investment priority (10/10/10 skills, T10 elemental gear, top-tier collections).
• T1 - Core Meta / High-Tier: Top-tier in a specific core area (Raid DPS or PvP Defense) or perfect T0 substitutes. Cornerstone units often paired in duos (Tia/Naga, Blanc/Noir). High investment priority (10/10/10 skills).
• T2 - Strong Niche / Elemental Counter: Essential for specific mechanics (Elemental Advantage, Part Breaking) or PvP Team 2/3 cores. Great for high-difficulty Raids/Towers. Medium investment (skills to 4/7/7 or 7/7/7).
• T3 - Viable Filler: Decent mechanics but capped potential. Used for Raid Team 4/5 or Tribe Tower filler. Minimal investment (4/4/4 skills, no T10 required).
• T4 - Underwhelming: Low stats or completely outdated. Collection only or waiting for Treasure buffs.

NIKKE New Character Update: Velvet

We have updated our tier list to include the newly released SSR unit, Velvet. She enters the rankings at Tier 1 (PvE). The following is her basic information:

Is the New NIKKE Velvet Worth Pulling?

🥈 Recommended for Raid Veterans & PvE Main

Velvet is a Tier 1 PvE unit who shines in bossing content, specifically for Solo Raid and Union Raid.

• For Competitive Players (Top 3% / Union Raid): Pull 1 Copy. Velvet is a key puzzle piece for the "Weak-Wind" meta. She is essential for players looking to construct a high-damage 5th Wind Team for Solo Raids. She pairs exceptionally well with Rosanna: Chic Ocean ("Little Mermaid"), acting as a dedicated battery and damage cap extender.
• For Casual / F2P Players: Skip / Wishlist. If you are not pushing for the top 3% in Solo Raid rankings, Velvet is not a "must-have" immediately. You can safely skip her banner and add her to your Wishlist later to save gems for Limited or Pilgrim banners.
• Skin Note: Her "Bunny Girl" costume is aesthetically top-tier. 🐰

Combat Mechanics & Role: Velvet functions as a unique Hybrid Attacker/Support:

1. On-Axis (During Burst): She abandons team buffs to focus purely on Main DPS Output, dealing massive personal damage.
2. Off-Axis (Off Burst): She shifts to a support role, providing Full-Uptime Attack (ATK) and Part Damage buffs to the team.
3. Synergy: She creates a powerful synergy with Rosanna: Chic Ocean, Maid Privaty, or Crown, and fits perfectly into Shotgun (SG) teams or 100% Crit rate compositions.

NIKKE New Character Update:Label

We have updated our tier list to include the newly released SSR unit, Label. She enters the rankings at Tier 1 (PvP) and Tier 4 (PvE).The following is its basic information:

Is the New NIKKE Label Worth Pulling?

🥈Recommended for PvP Specialists

Label is a great addition to the PvP Defense team but is not essential for general content.

• For PvP (Arena): She is a high-value unit. Her ability to grant Invulnerability to her shield allows her to survive the initial Burst nuke from popular Electric DPS units. We recommend pulling if you want to stabilize your Defense team in Challenger rank.
• For PvE (Story/Raids): She can be skipped. While her survivability is decent, she does not offer enough offensive buffs (ATK/Core Dmg) to replace standard T0 supports like Liter or Crown in the Campaign.

How to Upgrade Your NIKKEs Efficiently？

Smart investment isn't about maxing everything. Focus on characters you'll use long term, and make every resource serve your burst rotation and current meta needs.

1.Skill Investment Strategy

Skill Manuals are always the scarcest resource. Invest based on usage frequency × mode coverage. Prioritize core characters who excel in both PVE and PVP, then Raid DPS or frontline staples. Unless a character has irreplaceable mechanics, avoid pushing single purpose units to 10/10/10 skills.

2. Gear and Overload Planning

Remember, once Tier 9 Manufacturer Gear (T9M) evolves to Tier 10 (Overload), it permanently binds to that character. Only Overload units you'll use long term. 

Resource priority: Main DPS > Core Tanks > Key PVP Units. 

For substats, Elemental Damage comes first. It boosts CP (Combat Power) and combat performance more than standard stats. Don't reroll it unless absolutely necessary.

3. Harmony Cube Setup

Many cube types exist, but the most useful are Reload Speed, Ammo Refund, Charge Speed, and Max HP. 

Charge Damage cubes work but rank lower. Only use them when other options run short. Level PVE cubes to 7 first, then work on PVP cubes. 

Cube priority: Bastion / Resilience Cubes (Level 7+) > Wingman / Adjutant Cubes (Level 4+).

 Focus on Bastion Cube (Ammo Refund), Resilience Cube (Reload Speed), and Adjutant Cube (Charge Speed).

4. Collection (Doll) Development Path

For most players, aim for SR Phase 15 first on Nikkes useful in both PVE and PVP. For others, reach SR Phase 5 then decide based on needs. Recommended route: Use Blue Maintenance Kits to max R Dolls, upgrade to SR Phase 5. Use Purple Maintenance Kits to reach SR Phase 10. Save Gold Maintenance Kits for the final push to SR Phase 15.

5. Resource Supply

Now that you have a roadmap for upgrading, obtaining resources at a lower cost is a key part of the strategy.

If you hit a resource wall while upgrading T10 gear or rushing skill levels, I recommend topping up via GamsGo to save budget compared to direct in-game purchases.

For example, a Monthly Pass is only $4.19, which is perfect for long-term hoarding; if you need an urgent NIKKE gem top-up, the 60+1 Gem pack is just $0.87, and the massive 6200+1500 Gem pack is only $66.10.

Using these cheap resource to get more pulls and upgrade materials will help you reach your graduation lineup faster and at a minimal cost.

Top up NIKKE on GamsGo and save up to 35%!Top up NIKKE on GamsGo and save up to 35%!

Popular NIKKE Team Comps

Here is a collection of the core team recommendations for the current version, covering powerful PVP Arena squads, general PVE Campaign teams, and specialized Boss combinations. The best character configurations are shown below:

GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE 2026 Tier List Summary

With the dominance of Cinderella and Crown firmly established, the 2026 meta in GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE has shifted from raw stat-stacking to deep mechanic synergy.

For Commanders aiming for maximum efficiency, the most effective strategy to handle high CP Deficits is to funnel scarce resources (Skill Manuals and T10 Overload Gear) into your T0/T0.5 core units. While we always respect the "Waifu over Meta" playstyle, we highly recommend finalizing one strong Campaign Team first before investing heavily in niche characters.

Finally, smart budget planning is essential for any veteran Commander. If you are looking to top up, consider checking out GamsGo. They provide nikke cheap recharge services, helping you get more resources for your money so you can save up for those premium skins.

Want more? If you are also interested in other popular games, don't miss our latest game guide！👇

FAQ

Who is the best defender in Nikke?

For PVE, Crown is currently the undisputed Tier 0 defender, providing massive attack buffs alongside protection. For PVP, Noah is irreplaceable due to her invincibility shield. Tia (when paired with Naga) is also a top-tier choice for high-damage mitigation in Boss fights.

What is the strongest squad in Nikke?

It depends on the mode. For Campaign, the "meta" team is usually Crown, Liter, Red Hood, Modernia, and Naga. For PVP, high-burst teams featuring Scarlet and Noah dominate. For Bosses, squads built around Alice and the Blanc/Noir (Bunnies) or Tia/Naga (Schoolgirls) duos deal the highest damage.

Should I use gems to recruit Nikke?

Yes, Gems are vital for recruiting powerful units. Save them for Limited or Pilgrim banners. To maximize your pulls, GamsGo offers cheaper rates than the in-game store, allowing you to recruit more Nikkes for less money.