This article contains light spoilers for the playable War Mages, their abilities, and one unlockable character.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
Mac is the best all-purpose choice for most solo players: his ranged damage, trap economy, and Gravity tools let him handle ordinary waves, fliers, heavy enemies, and late-run costs without needing a perfect team. Gabriella is the best co-op control hero because Pox increases trap damage and Warp or Mesmerize can dismantle dangerous groups. Choose Vaan for the safest beginner route, Kalos for healing and frontline defense, Sophie for boss-focused trap play, Wren for flexible trap utility, Harlow for explosive wave clearing, and Maximilian for a straightforward, durable starter experience.
Quick ranking
Character tier list at a glance
There is no official developer tier list, and a hero’s value changes sharply with map geometry, difficulty, enemy composition, available traps, and whether teammates cover missing roles. The ranking below is therefore an evidence-led recommendation based on documented kits, official balance changes, and practical role coverage rather than a claim that one character wins every situation.
- S tier: Mac, Gabriella, Vaan. These heroes have the broadest solo or team value and remain useful when a run becomes expensive or chaotic.
- A tier: Wren, Harlow, Kalos. Each can be excellent, but their strongest contributions depend more heavily on map shape, team composition, or player execution.
- B tier: Sophie, Maximilian. Neither is weak, but they are more specialized or less forgiving when compared with the top generalists.
| Hero | Best role | Main reason to pick them | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac | Solo damage and economy | Strong ranged pressure, Gravity utility, and excellent late-run scaling | Needs accurate targeting and can feel less forgiving while learning enemy priorities |
| Gabriella | Co-op control and debuffs | Pox boosts trap damage, while Warp and Mesmerize control large groups | Her best value depends on setting up her hero trap and using control at the right time |
| Vaan | Beginner-friendly all-rounder | Reliable damage, defensive tools, and trap-support utility | Usually less specialized than the strongest damage or control picks |
| Wren | Flexible trap support | Time Crystals and mobility help teams stabilize awkward lanes | Her impact depends heavily on trap placement and team follow-through |
| Harlow | Wave clearing and area damage | Henry, Boom Barrels, and Windblast give her strong crowd pressure | Less comfortable when enemies approach from several separated angles |
| Kalos | Defensive support | Healing Berries, Nature’s Protection, and Calling Stone improve survival | Limited ranged answers make fliers and distant threats troublesome |
| Sophie | Heavy-target and boss pressure | Rend-oriented tools and strong close-range burst reward careful timing | Melee positioning is riskier, especially when mobility and space are limited |
| Maximilian | Simple starting pick | Durability, familiar controls, and dependable direct combat | He offers less specialized team utility than newer War Mages |
S tier means broadly useful, not automatically strongest in every build. A specialist can outperform an S-tier hero when the stage, trap loadout, or team plan directly supports that specialist.
By mode
Best heroes for solo and co-op
For solo play, Mac is the most reliable recommendation because he can personally answer threats that a team would otherwise divide between several players. His ranged kit helps with fliers and exposed targets, while Gravity abilities create safer firing angles and buy time for traps. Vaan is the better choice if you value forgiveness over maximum damage: his defensive and trap-enhancing tools make recovery from a bad wave less punishing.
For two-player co-op, pair a high-output hero with a control or support specialist. Mac plus Gabriella covers ranged damage, debuffs, teleport control, and trap amplification. Mac plus Kalos is safer on difficult stages because Kalos supplies healing and frontline stability. Vaan plus Wren is a flexible setup when the team wants trap damage, mobility, and a way to recover from enemies breaking the intended lane.
For three- or four-player groups, avoid stacking heroes that all solve the same problem. Gabriella, Kalos, and Wren can make a strong control-and-support core around a damage dealer such as Mac or Harlow. Sophie is more attractive in a coordinated group that can hold enemies in her trap range and protect her during close combat.
- Best solo: Mac. Best safer alternative: Vaan.
- Best duo damage and control: Mac plus Gabriella.
- Best defensive co-op core: Kalos plus Wren, with a damage-focused third hero.
- Best coordinated heavy-enemy plan: Sophie supported by Gabriella, Wren, or Kalos.
By stage and goal
Match the hero to the problem
On open stages or maps with long sightlines, Mac and Wren gain value because they can exploit distance and place utility where several lanes overlap. Gabriella is especially good when enemies gather in a predictable approach, since Warp can relocate eligible targets into a prepared kill zone and Mesmerize can temporarily turn dangerous enemies against the horde.
On cramped stages with short corridors, Harlow and Sophie can convert close-range pressure into fast wave clears, but they need a clear escape route. Kalos is valuable when the layout forces repeated frontline contact or when teammates are likely to take incidental damage. His healing and defensive effects are more useful when the group cannot simply remain behind barricades.
For fliers and ranged enemies, prefer Mac, Wren, Gabriella, or Harlow over a purely melee plan. Official updates gave all heroes movement abilities, but mobility does not replace a dependable ranged answer. For bosses and heavy enemies, Sophie can be excellent when her trap and Rend-oriented damage are consistently applied; otherwise Mac or Gabriella are safer generalists.
For high difficulty or late mission counts, prioritize heroes who remain useful after the first kill box stops carrying the run. Mac’s economy and sustained damage, Gabriella’s trap amplification, and Vaan’s defensive utility all become more valuable as costs, health pools, and mistakes compound.
- Open lanes: Mac or Wren.
- Dense kill boxes: Gabriella or Harlow.
- Forced melee and attrition: Kalos or Vaan.
- Boss-focused runs: Sophie with team protection, or Mac for a safer independent plan.
- Fliers and scattered threats: Mac, Wren, Gabriella, or Harlow.
Choose after checking the entrances, elevation, rift exposure, and likely flier routes. A hero’s ranking cannot account for a map that removes their preferred attack range or trap placement.
Practical recommendations
How to choose your first main
Start with Vaan if you are learning Deathtrap or moving up difficulty. He teaches the central loop of shooting, placing traps, protecting the rift, and spending abilities for emergencies without forcing a narrow build. Move to Mac when you want faster clears, stronger personal answers, and a higher ceiling for solo play.
Choose Gabriella when your priority is controlling the battlefield rather than simply dealing damage. Place her Warp Return where the team’s kill box is already prepared, then use Warp on eligible enemies instead of spending it casually. Her Pox passive makes her particularly valuable beside trap-heavy teammates.
Choose Kalos or Wren when you regularly play with friends and want your hero to improve the whole defense. Kalos directly supports survival; Wren improves positioning and trap timing. Choose Harlow when you enjoy active wave management and explosive abilities, and choose Sophie when you are comfortable staying close to dangerous targets.
Before judging a hero, play several missions with a build that matches the kit. A support hero can look weak when used as a pure damage dealer, while a melee hero can seem poor on a stage that gives no safe approach. Compare successful wave control, rift damage prevented, and consistency across multiple runs rather than one impressive boss kill.
- New player: Vaan.
- Solo progression: Mac.
- Team control: Gabriella.
- Team defense: Kalos.
- Trap utility: Wren.
- Explosive area damage: Harlow.
- Heavy-target specialist: Sophie.
- Straightforward classic combat: Maximilian.
FAQ
Common questions
Who is the strongest hero for solo play?
Mac is the best general solo recommendation because he combines ranged damage, economy, mobility, and tools for awkward targets. Vaan is a safer alternative if you value defense and recovery more than peak damage.
Who is the best hero for beginners?
Vaan is the most forgiving first choice. His kit supports damage, defense, trap improvement, and emergency control without requiring a highly specialized map or team plan.
Is Gabriella better than Mac?
Not universally. Gabriella is better for coordinated crowd control and trap amplification, while Mac is usually better when one player must cover many threats alone. Pick Gabriella when the team can prepare a kill zone for Warp.
Which hero is best for bosses?
Sophie can excel against heavy targets when her trap and Rend-focused tools are used consistently and teammates protect her. Mac is the safer all-purpose boss choice when the arena is open or the boss is accompanied by fliers and ranged enemies.
Are the lower-ranked heroes bad?
No. The lower placements describe specialization and consistency, not unusability. Kalos, Sophie, Harlow, Wren, and Maximilian can all be excellent when the map, trap selection, and team composition fit their strengths.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.