Vampire Survivors Tier List (December 2025) Best Characters

Updated by Ashish Arya
November 4, 2025
Tier ListGaming

Vampire Survivors Tier List ([nmf] [cy]) Best Characters

Welcome to the most comprehensive Vampire Survivors tier list you’ll find anywhere! As someone who’s spent countless hours surviving hordes of monsters and unlocking every character, I’m excited to share my expert analysis of all 207 characters in this incredible roguelike game.

Whether you’re a beginner looking for the best starting character or a veteran player wanting to optimize your runs, this tier list will help you make informed decisions about which characters to invest your time in. I’ve analyzed characters from the base game and all DLCs, including the massive Ode to Castlevania expansion that nearly doubled the character roster.

Quick Overview: Vampire Survivors Tier List (December 2025)

Tier	Character Count	Description
S+	1	Game-breaking power, requires special unlock
S	15	Top-tier performance, excellent for all content
A	28	Strong choices, reliable for most runs
B	42	Good characters with specific use cases
C	58	Average performers, need skill to succeed
D	63	Weakest characters, avoid unless challenging yourself

Vampire Survivors Tier List Rankings (2025)

S+ Tier: The Ultimate Powerhouses

Queen Sigma stands alone in this tier, and for good reason. She’s so overwhelmingly powerful that she deserves her own category above S tier. To unlock Queen Sigma, you essentially need to 100% the base game, which makes her the ultimate reward for dedicated players.

Queen Sigma uses the Victory Sword, one of the game’s most potent weapons, and gains +1% Might and +1% Growth with each level up. Her 333 max health provides incredible survivability, and she can decimate stages with minimal effort. The only downside? She can’t pick up Golden Eggs like other characters, but she doesn’t need them to dominate.

S Tier: Elite Characters

These characters represent the best of the best in Vampire Survivors. They excel in both early game and late game scenarios, making them perfect choices for players of all skill levels.

Base Game S Tier Characters:

Red Death: The fastest character in the game with 100% Movement Speed increase and 20% Might increase. Uses Death Spiral which combines perfectly with Axe builds.
Big Trouser: Incredible support capabilities with unique weapon synergies that scale exceptionally well into late game.
Avatar Infernas: Unlocked via the Piano Puzzle, uses Flames of Misspell with substantial passive bonuses and decreasing cooldowns.
Cosmo Pavone: Despite cute appearance, deadly effective with no primary weapon, allowing maximum build customization.
Leda: Uses Holy Land (improved Magic Wand) with incredible passive bonuses including +100% Might and +5 Armor.

DLC S Tier Characters:

Megalo Menya Moonspell (Legacy of the Moonspell): Best character in this DLC with invincibility periods and high damage output.
Je-Ne-Viv (Tides of the Foscari): Top character in this DLC with Insatiable weapon that scales with Magnet and Greed.
Crewmate Dino (Emergency Meeting): Gains permanent stat boosts when any player’s weapon reaches max level, making him exceptional in co-op.
Colonel Bahamut (Operation Guns): +100 Max Health and +50% Might with Metal Claw weapon for massive area damage.
Alucard & Sonia Belmont (Ode to Castlevania): Both offer excellent damage output, versatility, and healing abilities.

A Tier: Strong Contenders

These characters are reliable choices that perform well in most situations. They might have minor drawbacks but are still excellent for both beginners and experienced players.

Notable A Tier Characters:

Pugnala Provola: Starts with Phiera Der Tuphello and Eight The Sparrow, gains +1% Might per level.
Sir Ambrojoe: Perfect for beginners with La Robba weapon and average stats.
Megalo Syuuto Moonspell: Strong alternative to Megalo Menya with different playstyle.
Luminaire Foscari: Excellent scaling potential with powerful weapon synergies.
Megalo Impostor Rina: High base stats with aggressive playstyle rewards.

B Tier: Solid Choices

These characters are decent but require more skill or specific builds to shine. They’re not bad by any means, but they might struggle in certain situations or against specific enemies.

Notable B Tier Characters:

Arca Ladonna: Good starting weapon but requires specific item combinations to excel.
Mortaccio: Solid all-around stats but lacks the punch of higher-tier characters.
Krochi Freetto: Interesting mechanics but needs careful build planning.
Genevieve Gruyère: Good support capabilities but lacks raw damage output.

C Tier: Average Performers

These characters often start with weak weapons or have significant drawbacks that make them challenging to use effectively. They can still complete content with enough skill and the right builds.

Notable C Tier Characters:

Antonio Belpaese: The starting character with weak Whip weapon.
Imelda Belpaese: Good experience gain but weak starting weapon.
Pasqualina Belpaese: Decent stats but lacks standout features.
O’Sole Meeo: Awkward weapon control but can be effective with Duplicator.

D Tier: Challenging Choices

These characters have significant weaknesses that make them difficult to recommend. They might be fun for challenge runs or specific achievements, but most players should avoid them for serious gameplay.

Notable D Tier Characters:

Bianca Ramba: Very weak starting weapon and poor stats.
Exdash Exiviiq: Heavy stat penalties make runs extremely difficult.
Gennaro Belpaese: Limited effectiveness compared to other projectile characters.
Toastie: Severe stat penalties despite some unique mechanics.

DLC-Specific Tier Lists

Legacy of the Moonspell DLC Tier List

Tier	Characters
S+	Megalo Menya Moonspell
S	Megalo Syuuto Moonspell, Syuuto Moonspell
A	Miang Moonspell, Menya Moonspell
B	McCoy-Oni
C	Gav’Et-Oni, Babi-Onna

Megalo Menya Moonspell stands out as the best character in this DLC due to her invincibility periods and high damage output. She’s perfect for speed clearing stages and surviving tough encounters.

Tides of the Foscari DLC Tier List

Tier	Characters
S+	Je-Ne-Viv
S	Luminaire Foscari
A	Genevieve Gruyère
B	Maruto Cuts, Eleanor Uziron
C	Rottin’Ghoul, Sammy, Keitha Muort

Je-Ne-Viv dominates this DLC with her Insatiable weapon that scales exceptionally well with Magnet and Greed stats. Her area-of-effect damage capabilities make her a top choice for any content.

Emergency Meeting DLC Tier List

Tier	Characters
S	Crewmate Dino
A	Megalo Impostor Rina, Scientist Rina
B	Engineer Gino, Impostor Rina
C	Guardian Pina, Shapeshifter Nino
D	Ghost Lino, Horse

Crewmate Dino excels in co-op play with his unique ability to gain permanent stat boosts when any player’s weapon reaches max level. This makes him increasingly powerful as runs progress.

Operation Guns DLC Tier List

Tier	Characters
S	Colonel Bahamut
A	Bill Rizer, Ariana
B	Probotector, Sheena Etranzi
C	Lance Bean, Brad Fang
D	Browny, Newt Plissken, Simondo Belmont

Colonel Bahamut leads this pack with his impressive +100 Max Health and +50% Might bonuses. His Metal Claw weapon provides excellent area damage and scales well with Greed and Curse mechanics.

Ode to Castlevania DLC Tier List

This massive DLC added 96 characters, nearly doubling the game’s roster. Here are the top performers:

Tier	Characters
S	Alucard, Sonia Belmont
A	Richter Belmont, Trevor Belmont
B	Simon Belmont, Charlotte Aulin, Jonathan Morris
C	Grant Danasty, John Morris, Hector
D	Maria Renard, Sypha Belnades, Yoko Belnades

Alucard and Sonia Belmont are the clear standouts in this DLC, offering excellent damage output, versatility, and healing abilities that make them top-tier choices for any content.

Hidden and Secret Characters Tier List

Beyond the standard characters, Vampire Survivors features numerous hidden and secret characters that require special methods to unlock. Here’s how the best of them rank:

S Tier Secret Characters:

Vlad Tepes Dracula: High damage output with area damage abilities
Lisa Tepes: Excellent support with healing and buff capabilities
Cornell: Strong offensive capabilities with transformation mechanics
Mask of the Red Death: Already mentioned but worth noting again as a secret character
Big Trouser: Incredible support and scaling potential

A Tier Secret Characters:

Rinaldo Gandolfi: Balanced stats with good weapon synergies
Albus: Strong offensive capabilities with unique mechanics
Mina Hakuba: Good support abilities with decent damage output

Character Selection Strategy

When choosing a character in Vampire Survivors, consider these factors:

For Beginners:

Start with Sir Ambrojoe or Imelda Belpaese. These characters have straightforward mechanics and good starting weapons that make learning the game easier. Imelda’s experience bonus helps you level up faster, unlocking more options quickly.

For Speed Runs:

Red Death is your best bet with his incredible movement speed and solid damage output. Queen Sigma (once unlocked) can also clear stages incredibly quickly.

For High-Difficulty Content:

Queen Sigma is unmatched for difficult content due to her overwhelming power. Megalo Menya Moonspell is excellent for survival with her invincibility periods.

For Co-op Play:

Crewmate Dino becomes increasingly powerful in co-op as he gains permanent stat boosts from all players’ weapon levels. Lisa Tepes provides excellent support with healing and buffs.

Advanced Tier List Considerations in 2025

Weapon Synergies

Some characters excel not just because of their stats but because of their weapon synergies:

Leda with Holy Land benefits from Magic Wand evolution paths
Pugnala Provola with dual weapons offers incredible build flexibility
Cosmo Pavone with no primary weapon allows maximum customization

DLC Progression

If you’re playing through DLCs in order, here’s my recommended character progression:

Start with base game characters until you unlock Red Death
Move to Legacy of the Moonspell and unlock Megalo Menya Moonspell
Progress through Tides of the Foscari for Je-Ne-Viv
Try Emergency Meeting for Crewmate Dino (especially if you play co-op)
Conquer Operation Guns with Colonel Bahamut
Dive into Ode to Castlevania for Alucard and Sonia Belmont

Meta Considerations

The Vampire Survivors meta shifts with updates, but some constants remain:

Queen Sigma consistently tops tier lists due to her overwhelming power
Characters with area damage effects generally perform better than single-target specialists
Movement speed is increasingly valuable in later stages when screen management becomes crucial
Characters with healing or survivability mechanics excel in longer runs

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Based on my experience analyzing thousands of runs, here are common mistakes players make with character selection:

Ignoring DLC Characters: Many players stick to base game characters and miss out on powerful DLC options like Megalo Menya Moonspell and Je-Ne-Viv.
Overlooking Secret Characters: Secret characters like Vlad Tepes Dracula and Lisa Tepes offer unique playstyles that can be incredibly effective.
Focusing Only on Damage: While damage is important, characters with utility, healing, or movement speed often perform better overall.
Not Experimenting: Each character has unique mechanics. Try different characters to find what suits your playstyle best.
Ignoring Weapon Synergies: Some characters seem weak but become powerhouses with the right weapon combinations.

2025 Pro Tips for Character Mastery

Build Optimization

Queen Sigma: Focus on Might and Growth upgrades to maximize her already impressive stats
Red Death: Combine with Axe and focus on movement speed for maximum effectiveness
Megalo Menya Moonspell: Time her invincibility periods with difficult enemy waves
Alucard: Balance damage upgrades with healing capabilities for sustained runs

Stage Selection

Different characters excel on different stages:

Open Stages: Characters with area damage like Je-Ne-Viv excel here
Confined Spaces: Characters with single-target focus like Colonel Bahamut perform better
Boss Rush Stages: Characters with high burst damage like Red Death are ideal

Achievement Hunting

If you’re working on achievements, consider:

Speed Clear Achievements: Use Red Death or Queen Sigma
Survival Achievements: Choose Megalo Menya Moonspell for invincibility frames
Kill Count Achievements: Area damage specialists like Je-Ne-Viv work best

Future-Proofing Your Character Choices

With Vampire Survivors still receiving updates and new DLCs, consider these factors when investing time in characters:

Versatility: Characters like Queen Sigma and Red Death perform well across all content types
Scaling Potential: Characters that scale well with levels and items remain relevant longer
Unique Mechanics: Characters with unique abilities (like Crewmate Dino‘s co-op bonuses) often remain valuable
DLC Integration: Characters that work well with multiple DLC mechanics offer more longevity

FAQ

What is the best character in Vampire Survivors?

Queen Sigma is widely considered the best character in Vampire Survivors. She’s so powerful that she deserves her own S+ tier above all other characters. To unlock her, you need to essentially 100% the base game, making her the ultimate reward for dedicated players.

How many characters are in Vampire Survivors?

As of December 2025, there are 207 official playable characters in Vampire Survivors. This includes 54 base game characters (32 standard + 22 secret) and 153 DLC characters across all expansions, with Ode to Castlevania alone adding 96 characters.

What’s the easiest character to start with in Vampire Survivors?

Sir Ambrojoe is the easiest character for beginners. He has average stats, no special abilities to manage, and uses La Robba as his primary weapon, making him straightforward to play while you learn the game mechanics.

Are DLC characters better than base game characters?

Generally, yes. DLC characters tend to have more powerful abilities and unique mechanics. Characters like Megalo Menya Moonspell, Je-Ne-Viv, and Alucard often outperform most base game characters. However, Queen Sigma (base game) remains the overall best character.

How do I unlock secret characters in Vampire Survivors?

Secret characters are unlocked through various methods including killing specific hidden enemies, finding Easter eggs, entering special codes, and completing specific challenges. The exact methods are only hinted at in the secret menu to maintain the mystery.

What makes a character S-tier in Vampire Survivors?

S-tier characters typically have: strong starting weapons, excellent passive bonuses, good scaling potential, versatility across different stages, and minimal drawbacks. Characters like Red Death, Megalo Menya Moonspell, and Alucard excel in all these areas.

Can low-tier characters be viable with good builds?

Yes! While tier lists provide general guidance, skilled players can make any character viable with the right builds, weapon combinations, and item choices. Characters like Imelda Belpaese (C-tier) can perform exceptionally well with experience-focused builds.

How often are tier lists updated for Vampire Survivors?

Tier lists should be updated after major game updates or DLC releases. With Vampire Survivors still receiving regular content updates, tier lists typically need revision every few months to account for balance changes and new character additions.

What’s the best character for co-op play in Vampire Survivors?

Crewmate Dino is the best character for co-op play. He gains permanent stat boosts whenever any player’s weapon reaches max level, making him increasingly powerful as the co-op session progresses.

Are there any characters that are completely unviable?

While some characters (like Exdash Exiviiq and Bianca Ramba) are considered D-tier due to significant weaknesses, no character is completely unviable. With enough skill and the right strategy, any character can complete content in Vampire Survivors.

Final Thoughts

This Vampire Survivors tier list represents the culmination of extensive research, gameplay experience, and community analysis. With 207 characters available across the base game and numerous DLCs, there’s truly a character for every playstyle and skill level.

Remember that tier lists are guides, not absolute rules. The best character is ultimately the one you enjoy playing the most. Whether you prefer the overwhelming power of Queen Sigma, the speed of Red Death, or the unique mechanics of DLC characters like Megalo Menya Moonspell, Vampire Survivors offers incredible variety and depth.

As the game continues to evolve with new updates and DLCs, I’ll keep this tier list updated to ensure you always have the most current information. Happy surviving, and may your runs be filled with epic loot and satisfying monster-slaying!

Bookmark this page and check back regularly for updates as new characters and balance changes arrive in Vampire Survivors!