Wuthering Waves (WuWa) Tier List (March 2026) BEST Characters
I’ve been grinding Tower of Adversity since launch, and let me tell you – knowing which Resonators to invest in can make or break your endgame experience. After hundreds of hours testing every character in multiple game modes, I’ve created the most comprehensive tier list for Wuthering Waves in 2026.
This tier list evaluates characters based on their performance across Tower of Adversity, Whimpering Wastes, and general endgame content. Remember, Wuthering Waves is a skill-based game where team synergy often matters more than individual power levels. Even lower-tier characters can shine with the right setup and player skill!
Character Ranking Factors
I evaluate each character based on these key criteria:
- Damage Output: Raw DPS potential in optimal conditions
- Team Synergy: Flexibility in different team compositions
- Ease of Use: Skill floor and mechanical complexity
- Endgame Viability: Performance in Tower of Adversity and Whimpering Wastes
- Investment Efficiency: Performance without signature weapons or high constellations
Complete Wuthering Waves Tier List (March 2026)
S-Tier Characters (Meta Defining)
| Character | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aemeath | Fusion | Sword | Main DPS | Digital Ghost mechanics, high damage ceiling |
| Camellya | Havoc | Sword | Main DPS | Multi-hit combos, excellent single target |
| Jiyan | Aero | Broadblade | Main DPS | AoE king, excellent crowd control |
| Carlotta | Glacio | Pistol | Main DPS | Moldable Crystals, consistent damage |
| Shorekeeper | Spectro | Rectifier | Support | Best healer, crit buffs, team utility |
| Verina | Spectro | Rectifier | Support | Healing, damage amplification |
| Cartethyia | Aero | Gauntlets | Main DPS | HP scaling, insane damage potential |
| Zani | Fusion | Rectifier | Sub-DPS | High burst damage, team support |
| Jinhsi | Spectro | Broadblade | Main DPS | Versatile damage, enhanced attacks |
A-Tier Characters (Excellent Choices)
| Character | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luuk Herssen | Spectro | Gauntlets | Main DPS | Aerial combat, Ichor mechanics |
| Augusta | Electro | Sword | Main DPS | High mobility, burst damage |
| Changli | Fusion | Sword | Main DPS | Enflamement mechanic, high ceiling |
| Xiangli Yao | Electro | Gauntlets | Main DPS | Time manipulation, Hypercubes |
| Phoebe | Spectro | Pistol | Main DPS | Consistent damage output |
| Brant | Fusion | Broadblade | Sub-DPS/Support | Team buffs, sustain |
| Ciaccona | Spectro | Sword | Sub-DPS | Buffing/debuffing capabilities |
| Yinlin | Electro | Rectifier | Sub-DPS | Electro application, support |
| Phrolova | Havoc | Main DPS | Skill/Resonance scaling | |
| Mornye | Sub-DPS | New character, strong support |
B-Tier Characters (Solid Performers)
| Character | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcharo | Electro | Broadblade | Main DPS | Balanced damage profile |
| Encore | Fusion | Rectifier | Main DPS | Good AoE potential |
| Roccia | Havoc | Gauntlets | Main DPS | Decent single target |
| Lumi | Spectro | Gauntlets | Sub-DPS | Support capabilities |
| Zhezhi | Glacio | Rectifier | Sub-DPS | Glacio application |
| Sanhua | Glacio | Sword | Sub-DPS | Cryo support |
| Danjin | Havoc | Sword | Sub-DPS | Melee specialist |
| Youhu | Glacio | Gauntlets | Support | Healing capabilities |
| Jianxin | Aero | Gauntlets | Support | Defensive utility |
| Baizhi | Glacio | Rectifier | Support | Basic healing |
C-Tier Characters (Situational)
| Character | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lingyang | Glacio | Gauntlets | Main DPS | Limited team synergy |
| Rover (Havoc) | Havoc | Sword | Main DPS | Starter character |
| Rover (Spectro) | Spectro | Sword | Support | Versatile but limited |
| Rover (Aero) | Aero | Sword | Support | Basic utility |
| Taoqi | Havoc | Broadblade | Support | Limited healing |
| Yangyang | Aero | Sword | Sub-DPS | Basic support |
| Chixia | Fusion | Pistol | Sub-DPS | Limited damage |
| Aalto | Aero | Pistol | Sub-DPS | Situational use |
| Yuanwu | Electro | Gauntlets | Support | Very limited utility |
Detailed Character Analysis
Aemeath (SS-Tier)
Aemeath is a game-changing 5-star Fusion Sword Resonator who functions as both a Main DPS and System-Enabling Sub-DPS. Her unique “Digital Ghost” combat style allows her to seamlessly unleash massive Resonance Liberation damage while coordinating with team-wide elemental mechanics. She excels in both Tune Rupture and Fusion Burst compositions, making her incredibly versatile. Her high damage ceiling during Resonance Liberation windows and ability to remain combat-effective even when falling in battle make her the premier DPS character in 2026.
Camellya (SS-Tier)
Camellya sits at the pinnacle of Havoc DPS with her complex kit that rewards skilled players. Her multi-hit combos devastate both single targets and groups, while her Havoc damage scaling is unmatched. She particularly excels in single-target scenarios like Tower of Adversity boss floors. Pair her with Sanhua and Shorekeeper for maximum destruction. While her rotations can be complex, the damage output is absolutely worth the investment.
Jiyan (SS-Tier)
Jiyan remains the undisputed AoE king in Wuthering Waves. His broadblade attacks cover massive areas, making him invaluable for floors with multiple enemies and Whimpering Wastes content. The recent buffs have solidified his position as a must-have for any serious player. His crowd control abilities combined with consistent damage make him incredibly reliable in all game modes.
Carlotta (SS-Tier)
Carlotta brings unprecedented Glacio damage with her unique Moldable Crystals mechanic. She’s particularly effective in single-target scenarios and synergizes perfectly with supports like Ciaccona. Her pistol-based gameplay offers excellent range and safety, while her damage output remains consistently high across all content types.
Shorekeeper (SS-Tier)
Shorekeeper is arguably the most valuable support character in the game. She provides critical buffs, consistent healing, damage amplification, and even K.O. prevention. Her ability to grant crit buffs to any ally within her Resonance Liberation field makes her the go-to third-slot support for almost all teams. If you can only invest in one support character, make it Shorekeeper.
Verina (SS-Tier)
Verina offers an excellent balance of healing and damage amplification. Her Spectro abilities provide team-wide utility while keeping your team alive through the toughest content. While she may have been slightly power-crept by newer characters, her reliability and versatility keep her in the top tier.
Cartethyia (S-Tier)
Cartethyia is currently the best Aero DPS character in the game, capable of dealing insane amounts of damage while applying Aero Erosion herself. Her HP scaling gives her basically unlimited potential, and she has completely overshadowed Jiyan as the premier Aero DPS unit. She’s particularly valuable in the current meta with the resurgence of Aero teams.
Zani (S-Tier)
Zani punches her way into the S-tier with impressive burst damage capabilities and excellent team support. Her Fusion abilities allow for devastating combos when paired with the right supports. While she may require specific team compositions to shine, her damage ceiling is incredibly high.
Jinhsi (S-Tier)
Jinhsi offers versatile Spectro damage with enhanced basic and resonance attacks. She excels with coordinated attack supports and can adapt to various team compositions. Her broadblade gameplay feels smooth and responsive, making her accessible to players of all skill levels.
Luuk Herssen (A-Tier)
Luuk Herssen is a high-mobility Spectro Gauntlet Resonator who excels in aerial combat. His unique “Ichor” mechanics allow him to cycle through multiple Resonance Skill forms, delivering precise strikes both on ground and in mid-air. He’s particularly strong in teams that can trigger “Interfered” states.
Augusta (A-Tier)
Augusta brings high mobility and impressive burst damage as an Electro Sword user. Her quick animations and Electro application make her valuable in many team compositions. While she may not reach the damage heights of S-tier characters, her consistency and ease of use keep her solidly in A-tier.
Changli (A-Tier)
Changli provides consistent Fusion damage through her Enflamement mechanic. While she needs specific team setups to reach her full potential, her damage ceiling is incredibly high. She’s particularly valuable in mono-Fusion teams where she can truly shine.
Brant (A-Tier)
Brant is an incredibly versatile Fusion character who can provide team-wide buffs and sustain without sacrificing personal damage. His ability to convert Energy Regen to Attack makes him valuable in many team compositions, especially F2P teams focusing on Basic Attacks.
Building Your Perfect Team
Based on my extensive testing, here are some team compositions that work incredibly well in 2026:
Meta Team: Aemeath + Changli + Shorekeeper Beginner Friendly: Calcharo + Yinlin + Verina
AoE Focus: Jiyan + Sanhua + Shorekeeper Fusion Power: Changli + Brant + Verina
Remember to check out our Wuthering Waves 3.1 characters guide for more detailed information about new characters and events!
FAQs
Who is the best character in Wuthering Waves?
Aemeath is currently considered the best character in 2026 due to her incredible versatility, high damage ceiling, and ability to fit into multiple team compositions. Her “Digital Ghost” mechanics and dual-form capabilities make her meta-defining.
Which characters should F2P players focus on?
For F2P players, I recommend investing in Shorekeeper (if available), Calcharo, and Verina. These characters provide excellent value without requiring heavy investment or signature weapons.
How often do tier lists change?
Tier lists typically update with each major version update (every 6 weeks) and when new characters are released. The meta can shift significantly with new character releases and balance changes.
Is Tower of Adversity the best way to judge character strength?
Tower of Adversity is one of the best indicators because it tests both single-target and AoE capabilities while requiring proper team synergy. However, characters should also be evaluated based on their performance in other content like Whimpering Wastes.
Should I pull for limited characters or save for standard ones?
Limited characters typically offer unique mechanics and higher power ceilings, making them worth pulling for if they fit your playstyle. However, standard characters like Shorekeeper and Verina provide consistent value across all content.