Nikke Tier List 2025: Best DPS and Burst Picks

I’ve ranked gacha rosters for 10+ years, tested more squads than I can count, and yes my thumbs are tired. If you want the fast hit: the current top damage dealers and supports are clear, and your burst rotation matters more than your gear. When people say “nikke tier list,” they’re really asking, “Who carries my PvE, who helps in PvP, and what team comp won’t make me cry as F2P?” In my experience, best characters, burst types, and squad synergy decide 80% of your wins.

What is the Nikke Tier List?

The Nikke tier list ranks the best characters in Goddess of Victory: Nikke based on their roles and burst skills.

• S-Tier (Best): Liter (B1), Dorothy (B2), Modernia (B3), Scarlet (B3)

• A-Tier: Harran, Maxwell, Dolla, Centy

• Situational Picks: Laplace, Noise, Noir/Blanc

Instant Picks If You’re In A Rush

I’ll answer directly, because I hate fluff too. For general PvE, I lean on a core like: Liter (B1 support), Dorothy or Dolla (B2 utility), and Modernia or Scarlet (B3 DPS). Toss in an extra DPS or flex support/healer depending on the stage. For bosses, I swap in single-target snipers like Maxwell or Laplace and a defender if my reflexes are sleepy.

If you’ve never heard of the game, it’s the shooter RPG also known as Goddess of Victory: Nikke. It’s a character-collection grind, but more technical than it looks.

What Actually Makes A Unit “S-Tier”

Burst Timing And Roles

Every team needs a clean Burst 1 ➜ Burst 2 ➜ Burst 3 chain. No chain, no burst window, no happy numbers. I’ve always found that one sticky B1 support (like Liter) makes your life easy because she opens the door for the rest.

• Burst 1: Sustain, cooldown cuts, utility. This is your engine starter.
• Burst 2: Buffs, shields, or AoE setup. Bridge to big damage.
• Burst 3: Nukers. This is where your meter becomes meat.

Damage Math For Humans

You don’t need spreadsheets unless you enjoy pain. I watch three things: uptime on buffs, hitting weak points, and not wasting bursts into invuln/boss transitions. SMG and shotgun units mow mobs; sniper rifle and rocket launcher units bully bosses. If a character helps you hit your burst window on time and keeps shots on target, that’s your S-tier behavior.

I talk about this like a sport because it kind of is high APM, pattern reading, pressure. If you care about “is gaming a sport?” takes, this piece is fun: esports vs sports: what makes video games a sport?

Quick Rank Snapshot (Cheat-Sheet Vibes)

Not a perfect “table,” but here’s the gist I give friends.

S-Tier Core

• Liter (B1): absurd utility, lowers friction on every comp.
• Dorothy (B2): strong bridges and buffs for burst rotations.
• Modernia (B3): farm queen, PvE machine, vacuum of bullets.
• Scarlet (B3): high-risk, high-reward crit monster.

A-Tier Staples

• Harran (B3): AoE slayer; bosses fear her dot ticks.
• Maxwell (B3): boss delete button with good setup.
• Dolla (B2): cooldown magic, makes rotations smooth.
• Centy (B2): shields and comfort in rough content.

Situational Picks

• Laplace (B3): boss beam fun when stages align.
• Noise (B1): defensive meme that sometimes isn’t a meme.
• Noir/Blanc duo: synergy candy; great in the right comps.

For how players and athletes overlap in mindset and prep, this write-up nails the crossover vibe: esports and traditional sports crossover.

Early-Game Vs Late-Game (And F2P Sanity)

Early on, level your first competent 5 to speed to campaign progress. Use the Synchro Device to keep newbies leveled. Don’t overinvest in off-meta SRs unless you must. Late-game, your power spikes with limit breaks, skill levels, and a sensible burst rotation. This is a tier list reality: early picks feel godlike until scaling caps hit. Then the true meta shows its teeth.

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Team-Building Made Simple

What I think is: build around your best B3. If it’s Modernia, give her cooldown help and protection. If it’s Maxwell, feed her crit and a clean bridge into burst. I also respect manufacturer synergies (Pilgrim, Elysion, Missilis, Tetra) for small boosts, but I won’t break a great comp to chase a logo bonus.

• One B1: support with cooldown or healing.
• One B2: buffer/shielder or utility.
• Two B3: damage dealers (one can be flex utility).
• Adjust weapons to stage: shotguns/SMGs for mobs, snipers/rockets for bosses.

I’ve debated “Is esports a sport?” more times than I’ve missed headshots. This sums it cleanly: esports is a sport.

Common Mistakes I Keep Seeing

• Greeding Bursts: Popping B3 into boss invulnerability. Feels bad. Don’t do it.
• Ignoring Coverage: Five single-target guns into a mob wave. Ouch.
• Chasing Every Banner: Save for upgrades that actually change comps.
• Skipping Skill Levels: Skills move the needle more than tiny raw ATK gains.

If you like listening while grinding dailies, I rotate this on commutes: gaming and sports podcasts.

Is It Just A Gacha Mood Swing?

It’s a gacha game, so banners and balance patches shift the meta. But fundamentals burst chain, weapon coverage, clear roles don’t change. That’s why my picks rarely whiplash week to week. I like consistency. Also, my wallet enjoys breathing.

If you’re curious how the “sports vs esports” convo got here, this long-read is worth a coffee: surprising crossover revolution.

My Current Picks And Why They Stick

Core Units I Keep Rebuilding Around

• Liter (B1): Short cooldowns, team gas pedal, saves scuffed runs.
• Dorothy (B2): Makes rotations neat and buffs stick.
• Modernia (B3): For PvE and campaign, she erases problems you didn’t know you had.
• Scarlet (B3): High ceiling, demands attention, rewards clean play.
• Harran (B3): Still mean. Bosses hate damage-over-time when they can’t shake it.
• Maxwell (B3): If you love big yellow numbers, she’s your poet.

Content-Specific Swaps

• Bossing: Maxwell/Laplace for single-target; Centy for comfort; Dolla for cooldown loop.
• PvE Waves: Modernia/Harran with a shotgun sidekick; shields never hurt.
• PvP Quirks: I test but don’t obsess; latency and roster gaps skew results.

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How I Test (So You Know I’m Not Guessing)

My Repeatable, Low-Drama Method

• Pick 3 to 4 benchmark stages, one mob-heavy, one boss and one mixed.
• Standardize burst chains and skill levels across runs.
• Run each comp five times to smooth out RNG and my coffee jitters.
• Track time-to-clear, damage share, and “oh no” moments where saves happen.

Quick Self-Check You Can Do

• Does your comp hit Burst 3 on cooldown without awkward gaps?
• Do you have at least one AoE and one single-target threat?
• Is someone protecting you from chip damage while you aim?
• If one unit dies, can the run still finish? If not, you’re too brittle.

Some days I just vent about the mental load of competitive play. If that’s your jam, this post hits the pressure angle: pressure and training.

Budget Path For F2P

I’ve always found that a clean “good-enough” comp crushes a messy “perfect” comp on paper. For free players, focus on these steps:

• Secure a reliable B1 (Liter if possible). If not, any decent healer/utility.
• Use a cooldown B2 (Dolla/Centy) to smooth your cycle.
• Invest in one marquee B3 and a backup with different coverage.
• Level skills before chasing tiny gear upgrades. Skills multiply everything.

If you like hearing real humans talk shop, I did a segment on interviews and player rituals that still makes me laugh: insights and humor.

When A “nikke tier list” Misleads You

Tier lists freeze time. The game doesn’t. New units, events, and balance passes all poke holes. In my experience, it’s better to read why a unit is ranked than just the letter next to their name. The “why” tells you if that rank applies to your box, your stage, your sanity.

One day I’ll do a long rant comparing sports tape study to boss pattern study. Until then, this primer scratches the itch: what makes games a sport.

Final Notes I Keep On A Sticky

• Plan your burst chain first. Everything else is garnish.
• Match weapons to content. Don’t bring a sniper to a shotgun fight.
• Skills > small gear bumps. Spend mats where they multiply.
• Save currency for banners that change teams, not sidegrades.

If you want the “textbook” idea of ranking characters, the concept of a tier list explains why we argue about S vs A like it’s a court case.

FAQs

• What’s the easiest starter team that still works?

  One B1 support (Liter if you have her), one B2 cooldown/buffer (Dolla or Centy), and two B3 DPS (Modernia/Scarlet/Harran). It’s simple and clears most PvE.

• How many DPS do I actually need?

  Usually two. One AoE for mobs and one single-target for bosses. Your third slot flexes between utility or more damage.

• Why does my burst chain feel off?

  You’re missing cooldown help, or your B1/B2 timings don’t line up. Try a B2 like Dolla, and don’t pop bursts into boss invuln phases.

• Is it worth pulling on every banner?

  Nope. Save for units that open new comps or fix rotation problems. Sidegrades drain gems and change nothing.

• Do I need a perfect meta team to finish story?

  Nah. A clean rotation, decent skills, and smart weapon coverage will carry you. Meta helps, but fundamentals win.

I could keep going, but my coffee’s cold and my Modernia is glaring at me from the lobby. You get it.