Wuthering Waves has taken the gacha gaming world by storm with its stunning visuals, fluid combat system, and diverse roster of characters. As you progress through this action-packed RPG, knowing which characters to invest your resources in becomes crucial for success. Our comprehensive tier list for November 2025 ranks all available characters based on their combat effectiveness, utility, versatility, and overall impact on your gameplay experience. Whether you’re a new player deciding who to build or a veteran looking to optimize your team composition, this guide will help you make informed decisions about your character investments.
Before diving into the tier list, it’s important to understand the criteria we’ve used to evaluate each character:
| Name | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jiyan | Aero | Broadblade | DPS | Exceptional AoE damage |
| Lingyang | Spectro | Sword | Support | Powerful healing and buffs |
| Yinlin | Fusion | Pistols | DPS | High single-target damage |
| Yangyang | Glacio | Gauntlets | Tank | Excellent survivability |
| Rover (Havoc) | Havoc | Sword | DPS | Versatile combat abilities |
| Name | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baizhi | Aero | Rectifier | Support | Energy regeneration |
| Chixia | Fusion | Broadblade | DPS | Balanced damage output |
| Danjin | Glacio | Sword | DPS | Critical damage potential |
| Encore | Spectro | Broadblade | Tank | Strong defensive abilities |
| Mortefi | Fusion | Gauntlets | DPS | High burst damage |
| Taoqi | Spectro | Rectifier | Support | Crowd control specialist |
| Yuanwu | Aero | Pistols | DPS | Ranged combat effectiveness |
| Name | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aalto | Glacio | Sword | DPS | Decent damage output |
| Calcharo | Havoc | Broadblade | Tank | Good survivability |
| Lumi | Spectro | Gauntlets | Support | Healing capabilities |
| Sanhua | Aero | Pistols | DPS | Consistent damage |
| Yangyang | Glacio | Rectifier | Support | Elemental application |
| Name | Element | Weapon | Role | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jianxin | Fusion | Sword | DPS | Limited utility |
| Liang | Spectro | Broadblade | Tank | Basic defensive abilities |
| Qiaoying | Glacio | Gauntlets | Support | Minimal impact |
| Yinfeng | Havoc | Pistols | DPS | Situational effectiveness |
Jiyan stands at the pinnacle of our Wuthering Waves tier list for good reason. This Aero element user wields a Broadblade with devastating efficiency, delivering some of the highest area-of-effect damage in the game. Her Resonance Liberation ability creates a massive vortex that pulls enemies together while dealing continuous damage, making her invaluable for crowd control. Jiyan’s skill ceiling is relatively high, but once mastered, she can single-handedly turn the tide of battle. Her elemental skill also provides excellent mobility, allowing her to reposition quickly while dealing damage. For players looking to clear content efficiently, Jiyan is an investment that pays dividends across all game modes.
Lingyang has earned his S-tier placement through exceptional versatility as a Spectro element support character. His unique ability to switch between offensive and supportive stances makes him invaluable in diverse team compositions. When equipped with a Sword, Lingyang can provide substantial healing while simultaneously boosting team damage output through his Spectro resonance. His ultimate ability creates a field that both damages enemies and heals allies, making him perfect for prolonged battles or challenging content where survivability is key. What sets Lingyang apart is his energy regeneration capabilities, allowing your main DPS to use their abilities more frequently. For players struggling with sustain or looking to maximize their team’s damage potential, Lingyang is an absolute must-have character.
Yinlin dominates the single-target damage scene with her Fusion element Pistols, earning her well-deserved S-tier status. Her kit revolves around stacking damage bonuses through consecutive hits, culminating in devastating critical strikes that can eliminate elite enemies in seconds. Yinlin’s elemental skill allows her to mark targets, increasing the damage they take from all sources – a valuable asset in team play. Her mobility is exceptional, with quick dashes that make her nearly untouchable while repositioning for optimal damage output. While she requires precise timing to maximize her potential, skilled players will find Yinlin to be one of the most rewarding characters to master. For boss fights and content focused on eliminating high-priority targets, there’s simply no better choice than Yinlin.
Yangyang’s placement in S-tier comes from her unmatched versatility as a Glacio element Gauntlet user who can function as both a tank and sub-DPS. Her defensive capabilities are extraordinary, with abilities that not only shield herself but also provide damage reduction to nearby allies. What makes Yangyang truly special is her ability to convert defensive actions into offensive opportunities – her counter-attack mechanics deal significant Glacio damage while maintaining her defensive posture. Her ultimate ability creates a frozen field that both damages and slows enemies, giving your team significant control over the battlefield. Yangyang’s resource efficiency is also noteworthy, as she requires less investment than other top-tier characters to reach her full potential. For players looking for a character who can both protect the team and contribute meaningful damage, Yangyang is an exceptional choice.
As the protagonist character, Rover (Havoc) delivers on all fronts with a versatile kit that adapts to various combat situations. Wielding a Sword with the Havoc element, Rover combines solid damage output with impressive utility. His elemental skill allows for quick repositioning while dealing damage in a wide arc, making him effective against both single targets and groups. Rover’s ultimate ability transforms his weapon temporarily, significantly increasing his damage output and attack speed. What truly sets Rover apart is his growth potential – as players progress through the story, Rover unlocks new abilities and enhancements that keep him relevant throughout the game. For players who prefer a jack-of-all-trades character that can handle any situation, Rover (Havoc) is an excellent investment that will serve you well from early game to endgame content.
Baizhi earns her A-tier placement through specialized support capabilities that focus on energy management and team sustainability. As an Aero element Rectifier user, her primary value comes from her ability to accelerate team energy regeneration, allowing your main DPS to use their ultimate abilities more frequently. Her elemental skill creates a wind current that both damages enemies and boosts the attack speed of allies within its range. Baizhi’s ultimate ability provides a substantial energy boost to the entire team while dealing moderate Aero damage over time. While she lacks the raw healing power of dedicated supports, her energy management capabilities make her invaluable for teams that rely heavily on ultimate abilities. For players looking to maximize their team’s damage output through more frequent ability usage, Baizhi is an excellent choice that synergizes well with most DPS characters.
Chixia represents the epitome of balanced gameplay as a Fusion element Broadblade user who delivers consistent damage without extreme specialization. Her kit focuses on sustained damage output rather than explosive bursts, making her reliable in extended battles. Chixia’s elemental skill creates a fusion explosion that deals damage in a wide area and applies a burn effect to enemies. Her ultimate ability enhances her attacks with additional Fusion damage while increasing her critical rate for a limited time. What makes Chixia valuable is her accessibility – she’s relatively easy to use effectively even for new players, yet still has room for optimization through proper timing and combo execution. For players seeking a dependable DPS character that performs well across all content types without requiring extensive practice, Chixia is an excellent choice that delivers consistent results.
Danjin’s A-tier placement comes from her exceptional critical damage potential as a Glacio element Sword user. Her kit is designed around maximizing critical strikes, with abilities that increase her critical rate and damage under specific conditions. Danjin’s elemental skill creates ice shards that seek out enemies, with each hit increasing her critical rate for a short duration. Her ultimate ability transforms her sword into a crystalline blade that guarantees critical hits for several seconds, allowing for devastating damage output when timed correctly. Danjin requires careful team composition to maximize her potential, as she benefits greatly from characters that can increase her critical rate or set up enemies for her attacks. For players who enjoy high-risk, high-reward gameplay and can build a team around her strengths, Danjin offers some of the highest damage potential in the game.
Encore has earned her A-tier status through exceptional defensive capabilities as a Spectro element Broadblade tank. Her kit focuses on damage mitigation, crowd control, and protecting allies in the heat of battle. Encore’s elemental skill creates a spectral shield that absorbs damage and reflects a portion back at attackers. Her ultimate ability generates a protective barrier around the entire team while taunting enemies to attack her instead of more vulnerable allies. What sets Encore apart is her ability to convert defensive actions into offensive opportunities – her counter-attacks deal significant Spectro damage while maintaining her defensive posture. Encore’s resource efficiency is also noteworthy, as she requires less investment than other top-tier tanks to reach her full potential. For players struggling with survivability or looking to protect their damage dealers, Encore is an exceptional choice that provides both security and meaningful damage contribution.
Mortefi’s explosive damage output secures his A-tier position as a Fusion element Gauntlet user specializing in burst damage. His kit revolves around building up fusion energy through his basic attacks, then unleashing devastating abilities that can eliminate groups of enemies. Mortefi’s elemental skill launches a fusion projectile that creates a large explosion on impact, dealing damage to all enemies in the area. His ultimate ability causes a massive chain reaction of explosions that can clear entire waves of enemies when properly positioned. While Mortefi’s sustained damage is lower than some other DPS characters, his burst damage potential is unmatched, making him invaluable for time-limited challenges or content with large groups of enemies. For players who enjoy explosive gameplay and want a character capable of turning the tide of battle with a single well-timed ability, Mortefi is an excellent choice.
Taoqi earns her A-tier placement through specialized crowd control capabilities as a Spectro element Rectifier support. Her kit focuses on manipulating enemy positions and controlling the battlefield to create advantages for her team. Taoqi’s elemental skill creates a spectral field that pulls enemies toward its center while dealing continuous Spectro damage. Her ultimate ability generates a larger field that not only damages and traps enemies but also reduces their elemental resistance, making them more vulnerable to attacks from all team members. What makes Taoqi particularly valuable is her ability to set up devastating combos with other characters – her crowd control creates perfect opportunities for area-of-effect abilities from your DPS characters. For players looking to maximize their team’s damage output through strategic positioning and enemy manipulation, Taoqi is an invaluable support that can dramatically increase your combat effectiveness.
Yuanwu secures his A-tier position through exceptional ranged combat effectiveness as an Aero element Pistols user. His kit is designed around maintaining distance while delivering consistent damage to enemies from afar. Yuanwu’s elemental skill fires a gust of wind that damages enemies and creates an updraft, allowing him to quickly reposition to advantageous locations. His ultimate ability summons a storm that continuously damages enemies in a large area while increasing Yuanwu’s attack speed. What makes Yuanwu particularly valuable is his safety – he can deal significant damage while remaining outside the range of most enemy attacks. Yuanwu also excels at targeting flying or otherwise difficult-to-reach enemies that might give melee characters trouble. For players who prefer ranged combat or need a character that can safely deal damage from a distance, Yuanwu is an excellent choice that delivers consistent results.
Aalto finds himself in B-tier as a Glacio element Sword user who delivers decent but unremarkable damage output. His kit focuses on straightforward combat without the specialized mechanics or exceptional damage potential of higher-tier characters. Aalto’s elemental skill creates a wave of ice that damages enemies in a line and applies a chill effect, slowing their movement speed. His ultimate ability enhances his sword with ice for a limited time, adding Glacio damage to each attack and occasionally freezing enemies. While Aalto’s damage output is respectable, he lacks the versatility or specialized strengths that would elevate him to higher tiers. For players looking for a simple, straightforward character who can deal consistent damage without complex mechanics, Aalto is a serviceable choice, though he may struggle in more challenging content where specialized abilities are more valuable.
Calcharo’s B-tier placement comes from his role as a Havoc element Broadblade tank with basic defensive abilities but limited utility. His kit focuses on absorbing damage and protecting allies, though without the advanced mechanics of higher-tier tanks. Calcharo’s elemental skill creates a Havoc shield that absorbs damage and increases his resistance to interruption. His ultimate ability taunts nearby enemies while providing a damage reduction buff to himself and nearby allies. While Calcharo can effectively protect your team in most situations, he lacks the damage output or additional utility that would make him a standout choice. For players in need of a basic tank who can reliably absorb damage and draw enemy attention, Calcharo serves his purpose adequately, though he may be outclassed in more challenging content where advanced defensive capabilities are required.
Lumi earns her B-tier position as a Spectro element Gauntlet user with basic healing capabilities but limited impact beyond sustain. Her kit focuses primarily on keeping the team alive through healing and minor buffs. Lumi’s elemental skill creates a spectral aura that heals nearby allies over time while dealing minor Spectro damage to enemies. Her ultimate ability provides a substantial burst of healing to the entire team while temporarily increasing their elemental resistance. While Lumi’s healing capabilities are adequate for most content, she lacks the additional utility or damage contribution that would elevate her to higher tiers. For players struggling with survivability or in need of a dedicated healer for their team, Lumi can fill this role effectively, though she may feel underwhelming in situations where healing is less critical than damage or utility.
Sanhua finds herself in B-tier as an Aero element Pistols user who delivers consistent damage without exceptional strengths or specialized mechanics. Her kit focuses on straightforward ranged combat with basic elemental abilities. Sanhua’s elemental skill fires a concentrated gust of wind that pierces through enemies, dealing damage to all in its path. Her ultimate ability creates a small tornado that continuously damages enemies in a small area while pulling them toward its center. While Sanhua’s damage output is consistent and reliable, she lacks the burst potential or specialized utility that would make her a standout choice. For players looking for a simple ranged character who can deal consistent damage without complex mechanics, Sanhua is a serviceable choice, though she may be outclassed by more specialized characters in challenging content.
This alternate version of Yangyang earns her B-tier placement as a Glacio element Rectifier support focused on elemental application with minimal impact beyond that role. Her kit centers around applying Glacio element to enemies and creating basic elemental reactions. Yangyang’s elemental skill creates ice shards that seek out enemies, applying the Glacio element to each target hit. Her ultimate ability generates a field of ice that continuously applies the Glacio element to enemies within its range while dealing minor damage. While Yangyang can effectively apply her element to enemies, she lacks the additional utility, damage output, or supportive capabilities that would make her a more valuable team member. For players specifically needing a character to apply Glacio element for elemental reactions, Yangyang serves this purpose adequately, though she may feel underwhelming in situations where broader utility is more valuable.
Jianxin’s C-tier placement reflects her limited utility as a Fusion element Sword user with basic damage output and minimal team impact. Her kit focuses on straightforward combat without the specialized mechanics or exceptional abilities of higher-tier characters. Jianxin’s elemental skill creates a small fusion explosion that damages enemies in a small area. Her ultimate ability enhances her sword with fusion energy for a short duration, increasing her damage output slightly. While Jianxin can deal damage effectively in early game content, she quickly falls behind other characters as game difficulty increases. Her lack of specialized abilities or team utility makes her difficult to justify in optimized team compositions. For players who have already invested in Jianxin or simply enjoy her character design, she can still serve as a basic damage dealer, though most players will find better alternatives among higher-tier characters.
Liang finds himself in C-tier as a Spectro element Broadblade tank with basic defensive abilities but limited effectiveness in challenging content. His kit focuses on simple damage absorption without the advanced mechanics or utility of higher-tier tanks. Liang’s elemental skill creates a spectral shield that absorbs a limited amount of damage. His ultimate ability increases his defense and draws enemy attention for a short duration. While Liang can provide basic protection for your team in early game content, he lacks the damage reduction, crowd control, or team support capabilities that would make him valuable in more challenging situations. For players in need of a basic tank for early game content, Liang can serve this purpose adequately, though most players will want to replace him with a more capable tank as they progress through the game.
Qiaoying earns her C-tier position as a Glacio element Gauntlet user with minimal impact as a support character. Her kit focuses on basic supportive abilities with limited effectiveness. Qiaoying’s elemental skill creates a small ice field that slightly slows enemies while dealing minor damage. Her ultimate ability provides a small buff to allies’ attack speed for a short duration. While Qiaoying can provide minimal support to your team, her impact on battles is noticeably less than that of higher-tier support characters. Her buffs are too small to significantly affect combat outcomes, and her damage output is negligible. For players who have already invested in Qiaoying or simply enjoy her character design, she can still provide basic support, though most players will find better alternatives among higher-tier characters.
Yinfeng’s C-tier placement reflects his situational effectiveness as a Havoc element Pistols user with limited utility outside specific scenarios. His kit focuses on damage output that is only effective in particular situations. Yinfeng’s elemental skill fires a projectile that deals more damage to enemies with low health. His ultimate ability increases his damage against stunned or immobilized enemies. While Yinfeng can be effective in specific team compositions that focus on crowd control, he lacks the versatility to perform well in most situations. His damage output is unremarkable without specific conditions being met, making him unreliable for general content. For players who have already invested in Yinfeng or specifically need a character to finish off low-health enemies, he can serve this niche purpose, though most players will find more consistent damage dealers among higher-tier characters.
Creating the perfect team composition in Wuthering Waves requires balancing different elements, roles, and abilities. Here are some team combinations that work exceptionally well:
This team focuses on maximizing damage output while maintaining enough energy regeneration to frequently use ultimate abilities. Jiyan and Yinlin provide exceptional damage, while Baizhi ensures they can use their abilities frequently, and Taoqi sets up enemies with crowd control.
This team offers a good balance of damage, support, and survivability. Rover provides versatile damage, Lingyang offers healing and buffs, Yuanwu contributes consistent ranged damage, and Lumi ensures the team stays healthy.
This team is accessible for new players while still being effective. Chixia provides reliable damage, Encore protects the team, Sanhua contributes consistent damage from range, and Yangyang applies elements for reactions.
Our Wuthering Waves tier list is updated monthly to reflect new character releases, balance changes, and shifts in the meta. The game is still relatively new, so we may see more frequent updates as the developers continue to refine character abilities and introduce new content. We recommend bookmarking this page and checking back regularly, especially after major game updates or new character announcements.
While S-tier characters generally offer the highest performance potential, they may not always be the best choice for every player or situation. Factors to consider include your playstyle, team composition needs, and resource investment. Some S-tier characters require specific team setups or have high skill ceilings that might not suit all players. Additionally, sometimes a well-built A-tier character can outperform an under-invested S-tier character. Choose characters that you enjoy playing and that fit your specific needs rather than blindly following tier placements.
Yes, lower-tier characters can absolutely be viable in endgame content when built properly and used in the right team compositions. Tier lists primarily evaluate characters based on their potential with optimal investment and team setup. A well-built B-tier character with proper artifacts, weapons, and team support can often outperform an under-invested S-tier character. Additionally, some lower-tier characters excel in specific niches or against particular enemies that might make them valuable in certain endgame scenarios. Don’t be afraid to use characters you enjoy even if they’re not at the top of the tier list.
For most players, we recommend focusing your resources on 2-3 main characters rather than spreading them too thin across many characters. Prioritize S-tier and A-tier characters that fit your preferred playstyle and team composition needs. Your main DPS should typically receive the highest investment, followed by a key support character that enables your DPS. Remember that weapon and artifact investments often provide more significant returns than character constellations, especially for F2P or low-spending players. Finally, consider future-proofing your investments by focusing on characters who are likely to remain strong even as the meta evolves.
No, you don’t need to pull for every new character to stay competitive in Wuthering Waves. While new characters often bring exciting abilities and may temporarily shake up the meta, most existing S-tier and A-tier characters remain viable even after new releases. We recommend saving your pulls for characters that either significantly improve your current teams or fill a specific role you’re missing. It’s also worth waiting a bit after new character releases to see how they perform in practice rather than pulling immediately based on hype. Remember, a well-invested existing character will almost always outperform a new character with minimal investment.
Element diversity is quite important in Wuthering Waves as it enables powerful elemental reactions and provides coverage against different enemy types. Most effective teams include 2-3 different elements to maximize reaction potential. However, element diversity shouldn’t come at the cost of individual character strength or team synergy. Sometimes, a mono-element team with exceptional characters can outperform a more diverse team with weaker characters. The key is finding the right balance between element coverage, character strength, and team synergy based on your specific goals and the content you’re tackling.
Wuthering Waves offers a diverse roster of characters with unique abilities and playstyles. Our tier list for November 2025 aims to help you make informed decisions about which characters to invest in, but remember that the best team is ultimately one that you enjoy playing and that fits your specific needs. While S-tier characters generally offer the highest potential, don’t be afraid to experiment with different combinations and find what works best for you.
As the game continues to evolve with new updates and character releases, we’ll keep this tier list updated to reflect the current meta. Be sure to check back regularly for the latest rankings and analysis. Happy gaming, and may your pulls be ever in your favor!
For more Wuthering Waves content, guides, and tier lists, be sure to check out our other articles on Boundbyflame.com.
