Destiny Rising tier list: Best and worst characters listed in PvE and PvP
A complete Destiny Rising character tier list showcasing the best characters in PvE and PvP based on early gameplay impressions.
Table of Contents
Tier list:
- All characters are ranked for PvE and PvP activities, and the tier list is based on the first week character performance.
- S-Tier Characters: Tan-2, Jolder.
- A-Tier Characters: Wolf, Gwynn, Kabr, Ning Fei.
- B-Tier Characters: Xuan Wei, Finnala, Attal.
- C-Tier Characters: Ikora.
- Not available right now: Estela, Umeko.
- We will update this tier list as soon as more data become available.
Destiny Rising has introduced 12 characters that players are eager to explore. With unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, each hero can make a big impact in different situations in PvE and PvP content. We’ve put together an early tier list ranking of all characters from best to worst.
This ranking is based on early gameplay impressions, offering a snapshot of which characters currently have more potential. We’ll update this post with new insights and statistics as soon as more information is available.
Destiny Rising tier list criteria
This tier list is based on the early post-launch meta and should be seen as a first impression rather than a final verdict. As the game evolves, rankings are likely to change, so the weakest and the best Destiny Rising characters are not yet set in stone.
Our main focus is on PvE performance, though the PvP scene shows similar trends. Characters ranked in S and A tiers excel in both modes, while those in the lower tiers generally struggle across all activities. Below, we’ll break down each character in detail, highlighting their key strengths and weaknesses.
Destiny Rising tier list: All characters
Here is the Destiny Rising tier list, ranking all 12 characters from best to worst:
S-Tier – Best characters: Tan-2, Jolder.
A-Tier – Near the top characters: Wolf, Gwynn, Kabr, Ning Fei.
B-Tier – Good characters: Xuan Wei, Finnala, Attal.
C-Tier – Struggling characters: Ikora.
Not available right now: Estela, Umeko.
Note
This tier list is not final and is subject to change as Destiny Rising evolves and players discover more combos and uses for the characters. Even if you get a C-tier character, you can still make good use of them, especially if you master their gameplay.
S-tier: Best Destiny Rising Characters
Here is the list of the best Destiny Rising characters in the early meta.
Tan-2
- Type: Solar
- Rarity: 5
- Weapons: Scout Rifle, Sniper Rifle
Tan-2 is a true powerhouse and probably the top Destiny Rising character right now. Their single-target damage output is the best in the game, and they also provide a team-wide damage boost, making them a highly desired pick in any group for PvP or PvE. The main weakness, of course, is the lack of AoE abilities.
You need to be precise with your aim to maximize Tan-2’s potential. This skill is especially crucial in PvP, while in PvE landing hits is much easier. In PvP, Tan-2 functions as a Support Sniper. Tan-2 lacks mobility, so you should stick with teammates rather than play solo.
Jolder
- Type: Void
- Rarity: 5
- Weapons: Submachine Gun, Sword
Jolder truly has it all. This character is fast, durable, has crowd control, and dishes out high damage on top of that.
In PvP, Jolder becomes extremely difficult to take down when backed by a skilled support. With a powerful Super, this character excels at controlling objectives. When the fireteam is well-coordinated and communicating, Jolder can serve as the foundation for overall team performance.
In PvE, Jolder don’t even need a support if Rage stacks from Thorns passive are managed correctly.
A-tier: Strong Destiny Rising characters
Here is the list of very strong Destiny Rising characters that might be on top if not for the existence of the S-tier heroes.
Gwynn
- Type: Void
- Rarity: 5
- Weapons: Sidearm, Shotgun
Gwynn excels at dealing damage in almost any scenario, which is their greatest strength. With a damage multiplier and access to two weapon styles, Gwynn offers flexibility for different situations. Gwynn’s damage is most effective in melee or mid-range, but they can quickly close gaps and escape dangerous encounters when needed.
In PvE, Gwynn can clear groups of enemies quickly and sustain themselves through Soul Assault. Collecting Void Spirits from weaker foes is simple, keeping Gwynn effective in long battles.
In PvP, Gwynn is difficult to pin down. Soul Dance provides strong mobility, though it requires practice to use well. Soul Assault restores health while dealing damage, making Gwynn tough to duel and frustrating to chase.
Wolf
- Type: Solar
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Auto Rifle, Grenade Launcher
Wolf excels at AoE damage and movement speed, while also having solid single-target damage and low cooldowns. These strengths make Wolf effective in PvE. As a starter character, Wolf is also newbie-friendly, so it’s a great pick to learn the game’s mechanics.
In PvP, play Wold aggressively but avoid taking longer fights, as this character lacks sustain.
Kabr
- Type: Arc
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Pulse Rifle, Machine Gun
Two factors make Kabr exceptionally strong. The first is their Blinding Shield ability, which gains two charges thanks to the Twofold Threat talent. Blinding Shield provides crowd control, deals damage, and even heals—making it a nearly complete toolkit for PvE. The second factor is access to the Furies III Exotic Pulse Rifle, currently one of the best weapons in the game due to its outstanding damage output.
In PvP, you can use Resistor Barricade to protect yourself and your allies.
Ning Fei
- Type: Arc
- Rarity: 5
- Weapons: Submachine Gun, Auto Crossbow
Ning Fei’s main strength is AoE damage, though it isn’t the highest in the game right now. However, the character makes up for it with fast movement and clone abilities that can tank or disorient enemies, making Ning Fei especially dangerous in PvP. You can track split enemies and deny healing with Corrupt, although direct face-to-face combat isn’t the most effective way to play this character.
In PvE, Ning Fei can also shine if you understand the encounter mechanics. With the right approach, you can speedrun content by skipping some mobs with clones and clearing others quickly with AoE.
B-tier: Good Destiny Rising characters
B-tier characters are still quite good, and you can’t call them hopeless, especially if you master their gameplay properly.
Xuan Wei
- Type: Arc
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Fusion Rifle, Shotgun
Xuan Wei is a melee-focused character with a mix of powerful but situational abilities. In PvP, Xuan Wei shines thanks to moves like Mighty Tether, pulling enemies out of position for an easy Shotgun finish. Fist of the Warpath can also knock opponents back and apply an explosive debuff, making this character a real threat in one-on-one fights.
However, these same tools are less effective in PvE. Against AI enemies, Xuan Wei’s damage is lower than characters like Wolf, and crowd control feels less impactful. That said, finishers create explosions that scale with relics, letting Xuan Wei deal steady damage and stay fun to play.
Overall, Xuan Wei can be strong in the right hands, but in PvP the character requires careful play. And in PvE, there are stronger alternatives.
Finnala
- Type: Solar
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Auto Rifle, Sword
Finnala has strong AoE damage with Funerary Flames and Reaper’s Descent, but both abilities cause Finnala to draw more enemy focus than teammates. This wouldn’t be a problem if Finnala had solid sustain, but the main defensive tool, Blazing Barrier, only reduces projectile damage and provides no healing. As a result, Finnala often struggles to stay alive.
In PvE, Finnala can use Taunt to protect fragile allies, but the overall impact is still weaker compared to other tanks.
Attal
- Type: Arc
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Hand Cannon, Linear Fusion Rifle
Attal ranks as the second-best support overall. In PvE, Attal is reliable thanks to steady healing that scales with ability use, and landing weapon shots against AI makes gameplay smoother.
In PvP, the Super allows Attal to deal damage while still providing strong heals, instantly restoring health to allies or self for extra sustain. While not as impactful as Tan-2, Attal remains useful in the right team setups. The kit includes Mint Mend for healing, Song of Faith for damage, and Arc Missile for spreading status effects. However, large-scale battles can be harder when abilities are on cooldown.
C-tier: Struggling Destiny Rising characters
C-tier characters are currently missing something in their design, or players haven’t yet figured out the proper playstyle for them.
Ikora
- Type: Void
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Light Grenade Launcher, Rocket Launcher
Ikora is a mixed bag as a character. In PvE, Ikora pairs well with burst-damage weapons and can clear mobs effectively, but the Super, Nova Bomb, is held back by a long cooldown and limited add-clear potential. Gemini Satellite doesn’t add much as a DPS tool since it needs setup, leaving Gravitational Collapse as the most reliable ability for crowd control.
In PvP, Ikora can still shine when played carefully, using both signature abilities followed by Nova Bomb – this combo can wipe teams, but the weapon options drag Ikora down. Light Grenade Launchers and Rocket Launchers hit hard but reload slowly, forcing more downtime than action. Overall, Ikora has moments of power, but weak weapon choices and situational abilities make this character much less consistent than others
Coming soon
These characters have not yet appeared in Destiny Rising, but beta testing suggests they are quite strong.
Estela
- Type: Solar
- Rarity: 5
- Weapons: Pulse Rifle, Machine Gun
Estela has the strongest Super in the game, and that fact is hard to ignore. While it’s their greatest strength, it’s also their biggest weakness. Most of Estela’s gameplay revolves around the Super, and without it the character struggles to make much impact, often leaving you waiting for its cooldown.
Umeko
- Type: Void
- Rarity: 4
- Weapons: Scout Rifle, Sniper Rifle
Umeko has a lot of potential, with the ability to handle many tasks effectively: dealing damage, debuffing enemies, and moving quickly. The best part is the low cooldowns on their abilities, but they require precise execution. This makes Umeko powerful in the right hands, though not the easiest character to master.
If you need help in the game, you can count on our Destiny Rising boosting services for any task.
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