For a standard run with no or few Golden Eggs, the strongest Vampire Survivors characters are the ones whose starting weapons keep you safe early and whose passive bonuses remain useful as your build develops. This is an editorial ranking for version 1.16.107, not an official tier list. It separates reliable picks from high-ceiling specialists because the best character for a first clear may not be the strongest with a tuned late-game build.
The ranking includes base-game and DLC characters available by September 2026. It assumes ordinary unlock progression and access to the character’s required content; it does not treat maximum Golden Eggs, a particular stage, Arcana combination, or other specialized setup as the baseline.
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Who are the best characters in Vampire Survivors?
There is no single best character for every run. For a dependable ordinary run, favor characters with a starting weapon that handles early threats and a passive bonus that helps multiple builds. For maximum late-game output, a character whose abilities scale exceptionally well with a specific weapon, Arcana, or stage can outrank a more consistent generalist.
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#1 Best Overall
- Play as an immortal Successor - You are a Successor, an immortal warrior empowered by the gods Lu, Ashuran, and Harnia. When you die, you revive with your gear, runes, and unlocks intact and head back out from Cliffshire to push further into corrupted zones. Choose your Successor - You'll start as the Spellblade and unlock additional Successors as you progress. Each has its own skill tree, weapons, and playstyle
- Playable Classes - Spellblade-Element-focused hybrid with close and mid-range attacks built around fire, frost, and lightning. Berserker - Heavy melee bruiser that trades its own HP and positioning for huge damage and armor. Hunter - Mobile ranged fighter using thrown weapons, poison, and beast abilities to apply damage over time and control space.
- 2D Roguelite Hack-and-Slash Combat - Combat revolves around precise dodges, reading telegraphed attacks, and committing to aggressive combos. Areas are multi-layered 2D stages that reshuffle enemy layouts, hazards, and loot each run. When you fall, you lose gold and temporary bonuses, but your gear and runes stay with you and form the base of your next attempt.
- Loot, Runes, and Artifacts - Hunt Elites and Bosses to claim Rune Stones, then craft them into Legendary and Mythic equipment. Runes and class skill trees interact to define your build, while artifacts you pick up mid-run stack into powerful synergies.
- Bonus Goodie - Poster is packed inside.
| Tier | How to read it |
|---|---|
| S | Excellent all-round value: strong early safety and useful scaling without requiring a narrow setup. |
| A | Powerful and dependable, with a meaningful limitation such as a slower start or less universal passive. |
| B | Capable in ordinary runs, but more dependent on build choices, progression, or player familiarity. |
| Specialist | Can excel under particular late-game conditions, but is not a general-purpose recommendation. |
This is a version-stamped framework, not a claim of measured win rates. The available current third-party ranking takes late-game power as its focus, which is useful context but not proof of universal placements: Pocket Gamer’s Vampire Survivors tier list.
How to use this ranking
- For a first clear: prioritize early-run safety and a weapon that can reliably clear nearby threats. Do not choose solely for a theoretical late-game ceiling.
- For a normal progression run: weigh the starting weapon and passive together. Broad bonuses usually help more builds than bonuses that demand a particular weapon or plan.
- For a late-game build: consider how the character scales after you have the weapons, passives, evolutions, and Arcanas your plan needs. A specialist may perform better than a generalist in its intended setup.
- For content access: check whether the character is unlocked in your save and whether it belongs to DLC you own. A strong placement does not make a locked pick available.
These are editorial comparison axes inferred from character kits and the late-game framing of the third-party list, not an official scoring rubric. Stage difficulty, Arcana choices, Limit Break, weapon evolution, and Golden Eggs can all change the result. This ranking uses no or low Golden Eggs as its baseline and does not assume one optimal setup for every character.
What changed with Legacy of the Bloodmoon?
The cutoff matters because Legacy of the Bloodmoon expanded the roster and the options available for builds. In its August 28, 2026 announcement, publisher poncle described the expansion as adding 12 friendly villains, 16+ weapons and evolutions, one Adventure, and one large stage. The announcement identified version 1.16.100 as the update associated with that content: poncle’s Legacy of the Bloodmoon announcement.
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- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered modernises the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay.
The newest official update found for this ranking is version 1.16.107, with a hotfix announcement dated August 30, 2026: poncle’s version 1.16.107 hotfix announcement. The tier framework is therefore current to that researched build, not a promise that balance or roster details have remained unchanged after it.
Legacy of the Bloodmoon requires the base game, according to its Steam listing. That means the DLC portion of the ranking applies only if you own the expansion; regional storefront availability and pricing can change. Steam’s Vampire Survivors store listing.
Why a character’s kit matters more than the tier label
Starting weapon: survival before the build comes together
The starting weapon determines what a character can do before a full set of weapons and passives is assembled. A weapon that clears threats reliably can make a run safer and give you room to collect experience. A less forgiving start may still be worthwhile if the character’s later scaling is strong, but it raises the cost of reaching that point.
Rank #3
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Passive bonus: broad value versus a narrow plan
A passive bonus that helps many weapon choices is generally a safer recommendation than one whose value depends on a specific build. Specialized bonuses are not inherently weak: they can be excellent when you deliberately select compatible weapons and other upgrades. Their narrower usefulness is why they should be judged as specialists rather than assumed to be universally best.
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Scaling: ordinary strength versus a tuned ceiling
Late-game power depends on more than the character’s starting kit. Weapon evolution, passive selection, Arcanas, Limit Break, stage conditions, and other systems interact with character abilities. A high-ceiling character may need the right combination before its advantage becomes clear; a reliable generalist can be the better choice when you want a straightforward run.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Unlocks, DLC, and roster-count caveats
Character recommendations are only useful if you can access them. The character reference material describes characters through their starting weapons, passive bonuses, and unlock requirements, but its reported total of 165 characters predates the 2026 expansion and should not be treated as the current roster count. The latest official expansion announcement confirms new content, but does not establish a complete current character total. Vampire Survivors Wiki character reference.
Rank #4
- Relic Expedition Cycle – Throughout their journey in the kingdom of Norgan, the Arisen must unearth and appraise forgotten relics to unlock powerful new weapons and skills.
- New Dungeon Challenges – The 12 freshly uncovered Lost Rites dungeons house trials designed by the Pathfinder to sharpen the Arisen’s skills and recover rare equipment once held by past Arisen that now lay dormant.
- Deeper Character Customization – New tattoo and hair options have been added to the already robust character creation tool in Dragon’s Dogma 2 so Arisen and Pawns can have even deeper personalization.
- Now on Nintendo Switch 2 – Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen brings the classic fantasy world of Dragon’s Dogma 2 and the Dark Arisen Expansion to the Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time.
- Pre-order Bonuses – The Norgan Fashion Set - Northern Attire will be available as a pre-order bonus, which can be accessed via in-game storage at launch.
Before planning around a pick, verify its unlock condition in your own game and confirm whether it comes from a DLC you own. Steam states that Legacy of the Bloodmoon requires the base game; the expansion announcement describes its additions but does not provide a complete, durable roster count.
When to revisit the tier list
Use the version label as part of the ranking, not decoration. Reassess placements after a balance patch, a new character release, or a DLC that changes weapons and build options. A change to a starting weapon, passive bonus, or relevant system can alter a character’s early safety or scaling even if the tier names stay the same.
For the current cutoff, the official references are the August 30, 2026 version 1.16.107 hotfix announcement and the August 28 Legacy of the Bloodmoon release announcement. The September 18 third-party guide offers one late-game-oriented perspective, not an official verdict or a controlled comparison of every character.
Quick Recap
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