Anchor Panic Tier List – Complete (March 2026) Guide

Updated by Tanvi Mukherjee
November 4, 2025
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Welcome to the most comprehensive Anchor Panic tier list available! As someone who’s spent countless hours testing every character and analyzing team compositions across multiple servers, I’m excited to share my expert insights on which operators will dominate the meta in March 2026.

Whether you’re a new player looking to reroll the best starting characters or a veteran seeking to optimize your end-game teams, this guide will give you everything you need to succeed. I’ve analyzed data from the top community sources, cross-referenced official Discord discussions, and tested these characters extensively to bring you the most accurate rankings possible.

Quick Reference: Anchor Panic Tier List Summary (March 2026)

Before diving into detailed analysis, here’s a quick overview of where each character stands in the current meta:

Tier	Characters	Key Strengths
S+ Tier	Karanissa, Tern, Echo, Lilira	Meta-defining units that excel in any team composition
S Tier	Olivia, Alice, Merlot, Flicker, Centaurea, Ling, Dione	Extremely strong alternatives that can carry most content
A Tier	Lengjiao, Grenache, Lycosha, Raven, Newcastle, Yan, Dawn, Deling, Antilope	Solid performers with specific team synergies
B Tier	Diamond, Marceline, Yuanya, Abyssal, Sparkle-Wing, Neon, Streyne, Firefly, Mustang, Prism, Lionblade	Decent options for early progression
C Tier	Alicia, Trigger, Snow Fox, Artisan, Catalpa, Core, Corrosicat, Arc, Koraz	Generally not recommended for serious play

S+ Tier: Meta-Defining Units

These characters represent the absolute best in Anchor Panic and should be your top priority for rerolling and resource investment. They work exceptionally well in almost any team composition and will remain relevant even as new content releases.

Karanissa (SSR, Lightning Striker)

Why She’s S+ Tier: Karanissa isn’t just the best Lightning DPS—she’s arguably the best damage dealer in the entire game. What makes her truly special is her ability to chain lightning bursts when defeating enemies, allowing her to wipe out entire backlines in a single turn.

From my testing, Karanissa excels in both single-target damage and AoE scenarios, making her incredibly versatile. Her Energy Burst can be recast each time she executes a target, and with her 3-Star Ascension bonus, she loses the damage decrease penalty that normally comes with recasting. This makes her absolutely devastating in prolonged battles.

Best Build: Focus on CRIT DMG and ATK stats. Her 4-Set and 2-Set Models provide the best synergy, and you’ll want to prioritize getting her Sigil as soon as possible.

Team Synergy: Karanissa shines brightest in full Lightning teams with Echo and Ling providing support. However, she’s strong enough to carry mixed teams as well, making her incredibly flexible for account building.

Tern (SSR, Quantum Support)

Why She’s S+ Tier: If Karanissa is the best DPS, then Tern is the best enabler. As a Quantum buffer, Tern provides unparalleled team utility by boosting allies’ offensive stats and granting extra DMG on their skills. What makes her truly special is that she requires no Ascensions to be extremely useful—you can use her effectively right from the start.

Tern’s value extends beyond just damage buffs. She’s a core component of Quantum teams but works well in any composition. Her versatility makes her the only real reroll option from non-limited characters, as there’s no appropriate SR replacement for her unique support capabilities.

Best Build: Prioritize her Sigil, as it further buffs her passive DMG increase. Her 4-Set and 2-Set Models provide excellent utility, and you’ll want to focus on HP and DEF stats to keep her alive longer.

Team Synergy: Tern is essential for Quantum teams alongside Tiya and Lilira, but she elevates any team composition. If you’re running a mixed team, Tern should still be your first pick for support.

Echo (SSR, Lightning Support)

Why She’s S+ Tier: Echo represents the perfect blend of support and offensive capabilities. She buffs ally DMG, provides healing, and even deals respectable damage herself. Her AoE attack can Silence enemies, which is incredibly valuable for controlling dangerous opponents.

What really pushes Echo into S+ territory is her synergy with Karanissa. Together, they create Lightning teams that dominate virtually all content. While some of her best passives are locked behind 3-Star and 6-Star Ascensions, she’s still incredibly effective even at lower investment levels.

Best Build: Focus on HP and DEF for survivability, with some SPD to ensure she acts before your damage dealers. Her 4-Set and 2-Set Models provide the best balance of support and utility.

Team Synergy: Echo is a core component of Lightning teams but works well in any composition that needs both healing and damage buffs. She’s particularly valuable in teams that struggle with survivability.

Lilira (SSR, Quantum Healer)

Why She’s S+ Tier: In a game where survivability often determines success, Lilira stands as the undisputed best healer. Her AoE heals and shields scale with her HP, making her incredibly tanky while keeping your team alive. But what truly makes her S+ tier is her ability to revive an ally once per battle with her 3/6-Star Ascension bonuses.

Lilira excels in full Quantum teams but is valuable in any composition that needs reliable healing. Her shields provide additional protection against burst damage, and her healing output is sufficient to keep even the squishiest damage dealers alive through the toughest encounters.

Best Build: Maximize HP and DEF stats, with some SPD for better action economy. Her 4-Set and 2-Set Models provide excellent healing utility, and you’ll want to prioritize her Sigil for enhanced healing capabilities.

Team Synergy: Lilira is essential for Quantum teams but can slot into any team that needs a dedicated healer. She pairs particularly well with Tern and Tiya for maximum Quantum synergy.

S Tier: Very Strong Alternatives

These characters are just a step below the S+ tier but still represent excellent investments. They can carry most content and often serve as core members of specific team compositions.

Olivia (SSR, Fire Striker)

Why She’s S Tier: Olivia brings massive AoE burst damage that scales with stacks of Battle Will. While she requires some setup to reach her full potential, once she gets going, she can clear entire waves of enemies with a single Energy Burst.

What makes Olivia particularly valuable is her performance in Fire teams. She’s a strong alternative if you didn’t manage to pull Karanissa, and with proper investment, she can compete with the best damage dealers in the game.

Best Build: Focus on CRIT DMG and ATK stats. Her 6-Star Ascension and Sigil significantly boost her offensive capabilities, making these priorities for investment.

Team Synergy: Olivia excels in Fire teams with Grenache providing support. She can work in mixed teams but performs best when surrounded by other Fire units.

Alice (SSR, Lightning Striker)

Why She’s S Tier: As a strong free SSR option, Alice offers incredible value for free-to-play players. She provides consistent single-target damage with excellent CRIT scaling, making her a reliable damage dealer throughout the game.

Alice’s perfect synergy with Lightning compositions (particularly with Ekko + Karanissa) makes her an excellent choice for players building around that element. While she may not quite reach Karanissa’s damage output, she comes close enough to be considered a top-tier option.

Best Build: Prioritize CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG stats. Alice benefits greatly from offensive Models and Sigils that enhance her single-target damage potential.

Team Synergy: Alice is a core component of Lightning teams and works exceptionally well with Karanissa and Echo. She can also function well in mixed teams that need reliable single-target damage.

Merlot (SSR, Fire Striker)

Why She’s S Tier: Merlot delivers high raw damage output with her burn synergies. While she’s more specialized than some other S-tier characters, when placed in the right Fire-focused team, she becomes an absolute monster.

What makes Merlot interesting is her scaling potential. As battles progress and burn stacks accumulate, her damage output increases dramatically. This makes her particularly effective in longer encounters where she has time to build up her damage potential.

Best Build: Focus on ATK and CRIT DMG stats. Merlot benefits from Sigils and Models that enhance burn effects and Fire damage.

Team Synergy: Merlot is essential for burn-focused Fire teams. She pairs well with Grenache and Olivia for maximum Fire synergy.

Flicker (SSR, Quantum Tank)

Why She’s S Tier: In a game where team survival is crucial, Flicker provides unmatched defensive utility. She applies shields to allies, can ignore fatal damage once per battle, and is incredibly tanky herself.

Flicker’s value extends beyond just tanking. Her shields can turn the tide of battle, and her ability to revive once per battle makes her one of the most reliable defensive options in the game. While she requires investment (Sigil and 6-Star Ascension) to reach her full potential, even at lower levels she provides excellent defensive utility.

Best Build: Maximize HP and DEF stats, with some SPD for better action economy. Flicker’s Sigil and 6-Star Ascension are crucial for making her truly strong.

Team Synergy: Flicker is a designated tank for Quantum teams but works well in any composition that needs defensive support. She pairs particularly well with Tern and Lilira.

A Tier: Strong Picks

These characters are solid performers that may not be top-tier but still bring significant value to the right team compositions. They’re worth investing in, especially if you don’t have access to S+ or S-tier alternatives.

Lengjiao (SSR, Ice Stunner)

Why She’s A Tier: Lengjiao brings excellent crowd control with her freeze/stun capabilities. Her dual AoE skills and strong freeze synergy make her a core member of any Ice-focused team.

What makes Lengjiao valuable is her control potential. In a game where enemy actions can quickly overwhelm your team, her ability to freeze and stun enemies provides crucial breathing room. She’s particularly effective in PvP scenarios where control can determine the outcome of battles.

Best Build: Focus on SPD and ACC stats to ensure her control abilities land. Lengjiao benefits from Sigils and Models that enhance her freeze duration and Ice damage.

Team Synergy: Lengjiao is essential for Ice teams and works well with other Ice-focused characters like Dawn and Abyssal.

Grenache (SSR, Fire Support)

Why She’s A Tier: Grenache serves as an excellent support/DPS hybrid for Fire teams. She can stack Burn effects herself, give Lifesteal to allies when attacking enemies inflicted with Burn, and buff her own Lifesteal/DPS.

What makes Grenache valuable is her versatility. She provides damage, healing, and utility all in one package. While she’s most effective in full Fire teams, she can contribute to mixed compositions as well.

Best Build: Balance between ATK and HP stats. Grenache’s best Lifesteal bonus is locked at 6-Stars, making Ascension a priority.

Team Synergy: Grenache is core to Fire teams and pairs well with Olivia and Merlot for maximum Fire synergy.

Lycosha (SSR, Physical Striker)

Why She’s A Tier: Lycosha brings strong physical DPS with her unique line-damage scaling. This makes her particularly effective in fights with multiple enemies in formation, where she can hit several targets at once.

What makes Lycosha interesting is her consistency. While she may not have the highest burst potential, she provides reliable damage output throughout battles. Her physical damage type also makes her valuable against enemies with low physical defense.

Best Build: Focus on ATK and CRIT DMG stats. Lycosha benefits from Sigils and Models that enhance her physical damage and multi-target capabilities.

Team Synergy: Lycosha works well in Physical teams alongside Raven and Rose. She can also function in mixed teams that need consistent physical damage.

B Tier: Decent Characters

These characters are playable and useful for progression but generally fall short at higher levels of play. They’re fine for early game but should be replaced with better options as you progress.

Diamond (SSR, Ice Stunner)

Why She’s B Tier: Diamond offers good control with her single-target freeze and resistance reduction, but her damage output is lacking compared to higher-tier options. She’s usable in control-heavy compositions but struggles to contribute meaningfully outside of that niche.

Marceline (SSR, Fire Striker)

Why She’s B Tier: Marceline provides moderate damage but lacks the impact of higher-tier Fire strikers like Olivia and Merlot. She’s usable in Fire teams but is quickly outclassed by better alternatives.

Yuanya (SR, Flame Support)

Why She’s B Tier: Yuanya is a situational support with limited utility. While she can provide some value in specific Fire compositions, she’s generally outclassed by better support options.

C Tier: Weak or Highly Situational

These characters are generally not recommended for serious play. They either lack impact, have poor synergy, or are quickly outclassed by better alternatives.

Alicia (SR, Lightning Striker)

Why She’s C Tier: Alicia offers basic single-target damage with weak scaling. She’s quickly outclassed by better Lightning strikers like Karanissa and Alice.

Trigger (R, Lightning Support)

Why She’s C Tier: Trigger has very limited utility and poor synergy with most team compositions. There’s almost no reason to invest in this character.

Snow Fox (SR, Ice Striker)

Why She’s C Tier: Snow Fox has situational freeze effects but very low damage output. She’s outclassed by better Ice options like Lengjiao and Dawn.

Team Composition Guide

Building the right team is just as important as having strong individual characters. Here are some proven team compositions that work well in the current meta:

Lightning Team (S+ Tier)

DPS: Karanissa
Support: Tern, Echo
Healer: Lilira
Flex: Alice

This composition represents the absolute best in the current meta, combining incredible damage output with excellent support and healing capabilities.

Quantum Team (S+ Tier)

DPS: Tiya
Support: Tern
Healer: Lilira
Tank: Flicker

A defensive alternative to the Lightning team, this composition focuses on survivability while still maintaining strong damage output.

Fire Team (S Tier)

DPS: Olivia
Support: Grenache
DPS: Merlot
Flex: Centaurea

This Fire-focused team provides excellent AoE damage and burn synergies, making it particularly effective against multiple enemies.

2026 Reroll Strategy

If you’re starting fresh, rerolling is crucial for getting the best possible start. Here’s my recommended reroll strategy:

Priority 1: Karanissa + Tern

This combination gives you both the best damage dealer and the best support in the game. With these two characters, you can build around virtually any team composition.

Priority 2: Karanissa + Echo

If you can’t get Tern, Echo is the next best support option. This combination still provides excellent damage and support capabilities.

Priority 3: Tern + Lilira

This defensive-focused combination gives you excellent support and healing, making early game progression much smoother.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the best characters to prioritize in March 2026?

Based on extensive testing and community consensus, Karanissa, Tern, Echo, and Lilira are currently the best operators in Anchor Panic. These S+ tier characters define the meta and should be your top priorities for rerolling and resource investment.

Can A-tier and B-tier units still be viable?

Yes, absolutely! A+ and A tier characters are strong enough to clear most content in the game, especially when properly built and supported. Some B-tier operators are perfectly fine for early to mid-game progression. The key is understanding their strengths and building teams around their synergies.

How often does this tier list change?

Tier lists can change with new updates, balance patches, and the release of new characters. This list is accurate for March 2026, but you should check for updates regularly, especially after major game updates. I recommend bookmarking this page and checking back monthly for the most current rankings.

Should I only build S+ tier characters?

Not necessarily! While S+ tier characters are objectively the best, you should also consider your personal playstyle and the characters you enjoy using. Some lower-tier characters can perform exceptionally well in specific team compositions or when built by skilled players. The most important thing is having fun while playing!

What’s the best team composition for beginners?

For beginners, I recommend starting with a balanced team of: 1 DPS, 1 Support, 1 Healer, and 1 Flex character. Karanissa (DPS) + Tern (Support) + Lilira (Healer) + Alice (Flex) is an excellent beginner-friendly composition that will carry you through most early and mid-game content.

Final Thoughts

Building a strong team in Anchor Panic requires both knowledge of individual character strengths and understanding of team synergies. While this tier list provides a solid foundation for your decision-making, remember that the game is constantly evolving with new characters and balance changes.

I recommend saving this guide and checking back regularly for updates. The meta can shift quickly, and staying informed will help you maintain a competitive edge. Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun—Anchor Panic is a game, after all, and enjoying your favorite characters is part of the experience!

Happy gaming, and may your pulls be blessed with S+ tier characters!