Skills & Raids Tier List
Character, skill, and gear rankings for optimal party builds.
About This Tier List
This tier list reflects launch-week meta as of July 29, 2026—one day after the Steam release on July 27. Rankings come from early player feedback, developer balance notes (including easier The Sinking Graves and Cold Peaks), and observed extraction success rates across beginner and mid-game zones.
Expect shifts. Skills & Raids is a new release; patch 1.0 already renamed Fading Core Skills to Free Skills and adjusted healing nodes. When the developer ships balance changes, revisit Updates and adjust your Builds accordingly. We update this page after major patches—not after every minor hotfix.
Character Tier List
S Tier
- Shelldon — Essential tank with high survivability and taunt abilities. Launch-week extractions fail most often when Shelldon dies first; his shield and defensive skills enable longer, loot-rich runs.
- Owlivia — Critical healer for sustaining the party through tough extractions. Focus management and regeneration keep triple-hero parties alive when launch-week players overextend.
A Tier
- Clawrk — High DPS but requires good positioning, pause timing, and Controls mastery. His combo skills deal massive damage when used correctly—lower tier in solo survivability, higher in speed clears.
B Tier
- No characters sit here. All three are viable when played well—the ranking reflects role priority for launch-week extraction success, not permanent power.
Skill Synergy Rankings (Launch Week)
Top Synergies
- Shield + Heal Combo — Shelldon’s taunt + Owlivia’s area heal forms the default defensive core
- DPS Burst — Clawrk combos plus Shelldon debuff windows
- Defensive Rotation — Tank cooldowns + healer sustain for extended fights
Situational Synergies
- AoE Clear — Early zones with weak enemy packs
- Single Target Burst — Elite and mini-boss encounters
Gear Rarity Rankings
Legendary (S Tier)
- Best-in-slot with unique effects; extremely rare from high-difficulty extractions
Epic (A Tier)
- Strong endgame equipment defining build power spikes
Rare (B Tier)
- Solid mid-game gear—launch-week priority after Common sets
Uncommon / Common (C–D Tier)
- Transition and starter gear; replace quickly as crafting unlocks
Investment Priority (July 2026 Meta)
- Shelldon’s Gear — Tank survivability unlocks longer extractions
- Owlivia’s Healing — Reduces wipe rate for new players
- Clawrk’s DPS — Faster kills once the front line is stable
When Rankings May Change
Watch for patch notes affecting cooldowns, Free Skills, enemy drop rates, or zone difficulty. Post-launch sale traffic may also surface new combos as more players share skill drop discoveries on Discord and Steam guides.
Related Guides
- Character Builds — Apply tier rankings to party setups
- Skill System — Free Skills, enemy drops, and combinations
- Updates — Patch history that shifts meta
- Crafting Guide — Craft gear matching tier priorities
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Is this tier list still accurate after launch?
It reflects July 28, 2026 launch-week meta. Expect rankings to shift as patches balance skills, zones, and drop rates.
Who is the best character in Skills & Raids right now?
Shelldon and Owlivia rank S-tier for launch-week extraction survival; Clawrk is A-tier DPS requiring stronger mechanics.
Will Free Skills changes affect the tier list?
Yes. The Fading Core to Free Skills rename and future balance passes can reorder skill synergies—check Updates after patches.
What gear rarity should I aim for first?
Complete Common sets, push into Rare during launch week, then Epic as you master extractions—per the rarity section above.
How often will this page update?
After major patches listed on Updates—not daily. Launch-week meta is a snapshot, not permanent gospel.