As Wuthering Waves enters its third year since the successful launch in May 2024, the roster of playable Resonators has expanded dramatically with new regions, story chapters, and limited-time banners. However, the foundational cast of 18 characters remains central to the early and mid-game experience, and many of them still hold their ground in high-difficulty content such as Tactical Hologram challenges and the ever-evolving Tower of Adversity. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of every character is essential for building efficient teams and managing resources, especially for free-to-play accounts. This tier list evaluates each launch character based on their performance across multiple roles—primary damage dealer, sub-DPS, and support/healer—while also considering rarity, elemental attribute coverage, weapon flexibility, and synergy within popular team rotations.
评估标准 (Evaluation Criteria)
Before diving into the rankings, it is important to define the metrics used to separate the best Resonators from the rest.
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伤害输出 (Damage Output): Raw numbers in single-target and multi-enemy scenarios, including burst phases and consistent rotation damage.
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辅助能力 (Support Utility): The ability to provide healing, shields, buffs, elemental resistance shred, or energy regeneration for the team.
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易用性 (Ease of Use): How forgiving the character is to play, the simplicity of triggering their core mechanics, and their flexibility in various team compositions.
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突入潜力 (Investment Potential): How well the character scales with duplicates (Sequence Nodes), signature weapons, and late-game Echo sets.
Based on these criteria, the launch characters are sorted into S-Tier, A-Tier, B-Tier, and C-Tier.
tier list: S-Tier – 绝对的核心 (The Absolute Core)
These characters define the meta and are capable of carrying a team through almost any content. They offer overwhelming damage or game-changing support, often with minimal field time.
Verina – 支援/治疗 (Support/Healer)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Spectro
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Weapon: Rectifier
Verina remains the gold standard for sustain and offensive support two years after release. Her ability to heal the entire party while providing a significant All-Type DMG Deepen buff for the next incoming Resonator makes her an irreplaceable component in hypercarry setups. She requires virtually no field time, generating Concerto Energy quickly to trigger her Outro Skill. Even as new healers like Baizhi (a 4-star alternative) have received Sequence Node upgrades, Verina’s team-wide utility and passive healing continue to outshine all other support options. She is a perfect fit for teams centered around Jiyan, Calcharo, or any main DPS that wants to snapshot buffs.
Jiyan – 主DPS (Main DPS)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Aero
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Weapon: Broadblade
Jiyan was the first limited 5-star character and is still one of the most reliable Aero damage dealers. His Resonance Liberation transforms his attacks into a series of sweeping Broadblade strikes with massive range, making him excel in both single-target and AoE situations. With the introduction of new Echo sets in version 2.0 that enhance heavy attack damage, Jiyan saw a resurgence in popularity. When paired with Mortefi, who provides Heavy Attack DMG boosts, Jiyan’s damage ceiling rivals that of newer limited characters. His gameplay is straightforward, requiring only careful management of his Forte Gauge during his enhanced state.
Yinlin – 主/副DPS (Main/Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Electro
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Weapon: Rectifier
Yinlin is a specialist in off-field Electro application and follow-up attacks. Her Skeletal Marionette can be summoned to deal continuous damage and mark enemies, and when paired with another Electro main DPS like Calcharo or Rover (Electro), the team-wide energy regeneration and Electro RES reduction become devastating. Her flexibility to act as a sub-DPS or a quick-swap main DPS gives her a permanent spot in the S-Tier. In 2026, she still occupies the top of Electro team compositions, especially in Viridescent Domain challenges where consistent Electro damage is required.
Calcharo – 主DPS (Main DPS)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Electro
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Weapon: Broadblade
Calcharo demands a high level of mechanical skill due to his unique “Phantom Clones” mechanic, but in the right hands he delivers some of the highest burst damage in the game. His playstyle revolves around executing long combo strings to summon phantoms that mimic his attacks, culminating in a massive finishing move. The release of dedicated support characters like Yinlin and the overhaul of the Lightning Echo set have kept Calcharo competitive, even against newer 5-star main DPS units. He rewards players who invest time in learning precise timing and animation cancels.
tier list: A-Tier – 强力竞争者 (Strong Contenders)
A-Tier characters are excellent in their respective roles and can clear the hardest content with adequate investment, though they may require more specific team synergies or have a slightly lower damage floor than S-Tier picks.
Encore – 主DPS (Main DPS)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Fusion
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Weapon: Rectifier
Encore is a chaotic Fusion damage dealer who enters an empowered state after accumulating enough “Wanton” stacks. Her attack speed and damage skyrocket in this state, and she can trigger devastating Fusion explosions. However, she is a glass cannon, consuming her own HP during her enhanced mode. This makes a shielder like Jianxin or a strong healer like Verina almost mandatory. When executed correctly, Encore’s damage output can reach S-Tier levels, but the risk involved keeps her in the A-Tier for general use.
Jianxin – 副DPS/防护 (Sub DPS/Protection)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Aero
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Weapon: Gauntlet
Jianxin is a versatile utility character who can provide a strong shield, crowd control with her vortex, and consistent Aero damage. She shines in multi-wave content where her grouping ability saves time. As a sub DPS, she can rotate in, unleash her powerful charged attack to pull enemies together, grant a team-wide shield, and then swap out. She pairs well with Lingyang in Glacio–Aero mix teams or as a sustain option for Encore.
Lingyang – 主DPS (Main DPS)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Glacio
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Weapon: Gauntlet
Lingyang is a swift melee combatant who freezes enemies and performs rapid flurries of blows. His playstyle revolves around applying Glacio marks and then detonating them for burst damage. He has benefitted greatly from the introduction of the “Blizzard Stalker” Echo set, which synergizes perfectly with his hit-and-run style. While he lacks the raw area-of-effect coverage of Jiyan, he is a top choice for players who enjoy a fast-paced, single-target focused Glacio DPS.
Mortefi – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Fusion
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Weapon: Pistols
Mortefi is the premier damage buffer for characters reliant on Heavy Attacks, such as Jiyan and some builds of Calcharo. His Outro Skill provides a generous Heavy Attack DMG bonus, and his coordinated pistol attacks deal respectable Fusion damage even when off-field. As a 4-star, he is much easier to obtain Sequences for, and his sixth Sequence Node significantly enhances his supportive capabilities, making him a high-value unit.
Danjin – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Havoc
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Weapon: Sword
Danjin is a Havoc sub DPS who sacrifices HP to enter a berserk state, increasing her damage and providing Havoc damage bonuses to the team. Her playstyle is high-risk, high-reward, similar to Encore. When managed carefully, she can drastically shorten boss fight durations. Her Resonance Skill allows her to quickly close distances and apply Havoc debuffs, making her a staple in Havoc-focused teams alongside Taoqi.
tier list: B-Tier – 特定场景可用 (Situational Viability)
These characters are solid but either face competition from better alternatives or fulfill very niche roles. They can perform well with hyperinvestment, but newer players should prioritize resources on higher-tier units.
Sanhua – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Glacio
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Weapon: Sword
Sanhua is a straightforward Glacio sub DPS who specializes in dealing burst damage through her charged attacks. Her Outro Skill boosts the next character’s Glacio DMG, making her a good partner for Lingyang. However, her personal damage is average, and she requires a significant amount of field time to set up her full combo, which can be a drawback in quick-swap compositions.
Chixia – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Fusion
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Weapon: Pistols
Chixia provides consistent ranged Fusion damage and can apply marks that explode after a delay. She works well in double-Fusion setups with Encore or as a supplementary damage dealer. Her popularity waned after the release of more specialized Fusion supports, but she remains a dependable choice for players lacking 5-star options.
Yangyang – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Aero
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Weapon: Sword
Yangyang is a versatile Aero character whose main strength lies in her ability to gather enemies and provide Aero DMG bonuses to the team. She is often used as a budget replacement for Jianxin when the team needs grouping utility. Her damage output is on the lower side, but her support capabilities and ease of use make her a decent early-game addition to an Aero-focused squad.
Aalto – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Aero
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Weapon: Pistols
Aalto is a ranged Aero sub DPS who creates a decoy and then attacks from a distance. His playstyle is safe but not particularly outstanding. He can be useful in the overworld and against certain slow-moving bosses, but his lack of powerful buffs or on-demand burst damage relegates him to the lower echelons of the tier list.
Yuanwu – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Electro
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Weapon: Gauntlet
Yuanwu is a defensive Electro sub DPS who can interrupt enemies with his gauntlet strikes and provide Electro RES reduction. He is often compared unfavorably to Yinlin, who outperforms him in every aspect of Electro support. His primary use case is in budget Electro teams where his interruption ability can help control aggressive enemy waves.
Baizhi – 支援/DPS (Support/DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Glacio
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Weapon: Rectifier
Baizhi is a hybrid healer and damage dealer. She can heal the team based on her own HP and deal Glacio damage simultaneously. While she is the only 4-star healer at launch, Verina completely overshadows her in pure support. Baizhi can function as a main DPS if heavily invested, but her damage potential is still below true carry units. She is a decent stopgap until a better support is acquired.
Taoqi – 副DPS (Sub DPS)
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Rarity: 4-Star
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Attribute: Havoc
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Weapon: Broadblade
Taoqi is a Havoc Broadblade user who relies on charged slashes and a sustained Havoc state. Her damage is slow to ramp up, making her less viable in timed challenge content. She can be paired with Danjin to take advantage of Havoc synergy, but her overall package is outclassed by other sub DPS options.
tier list: C-Tier – 入门选择 (Starter Option)
Rover – 主DPS (Main DPS)
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Rarity: 5-Star
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Attribute: Electro (initially), later obtains Spectro form
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Weapon: Sword
Rover is the protagonist and the first character players obtain. In 2026, Rover’s Electro form is still the starting kit, and while it is functional for clearing story content and open-world exploration, it falls off sharply in endgame modes. The damage scaling is mediocre, the combos are basic, and there are no standout buffs or utility effects. The later-acquired Spectro form, unlocked through story progression in version 1.x, offers better support capabilities but still doesn’t reach the power level of dedicated 5-star units. Rover is placed in C-Tier not because the character is unplayable, but because almost any other 5-star or well-built 4-star will perform better in the same role. The silver lining is that Rover’s gender can be selected, and the character holds nostalgic value for veterans who started their journey in Huanglong.
结论与未来展望 (Conclusion and Future Outlook)
Even after two years of updates, the launch roster of Wuthering Waves remains surprisingly balanced. S-Tier units like Verina and Jiyan continue to anchor countless teams, while investment into 4-star supports like Mortefi can yield high returns due to their accessible Sequences. The game’s element system and Echo build diversity mean that even lower-tier characters can be elevated with the right equipment and team composition. As Wuthering Waves continues to release new regions—most recently the expansion into the New Federation territory in version 3.2—the meta will inevitably shift. However, the fundamental strengths of the original cast ensure that they will never be truly obsolete. Players are encouraged to experiment, build around their favorite designs, and above all, enjoy the fluid combat and breathtaking world that Kuro Games has crafted.