Character strength changes with unlocked weapons, runes, skill-tree progress, ascension effects and player skill. The rankings below separate verified game information from practical recommendations and do not claim that lower-ranked characters are unusable.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
Choose Myrmidon if you want one character that performs reliably across high curses, Titan Hunt and long runs. Choose Cursed Captain for farming and damage-focused builds, Arcane Weaver for flexible spell-based progression, Sentinel for mobility, or Barbarian for the simplest strong starting experience. These are practical recommendations rather than an official tier list: Soulstone Survivors gives every Void Hunter different weapons, skill trees, runes and ascension options, so the best pick depends on your mode, stage and build goal.
Direct recommendation
Best overall characters ranked by practical value
The most useful way to rank characters is by the job you want them to do. The game has a large roster, hundreds of skills, character-specific weapons and multiple modes, so a universal S-to-D list would hide more than it explains. The official store describes the core loop as combining skills, weapons, characters and synergies, while the developers continue to adjust runes and skills between updates.
For a single recommendation, start with Myrmidon. Its high-curse identity is built around durability, control and strong scaling, which gives you more room to learn difficult enemy patterns. Cursed Captain is the best alternative if you already understand positioning and want to build around critical hits, curses or status effects. Arcane Weaver is the best flexible mage choice, while Sentinel is valuable when movement and extra dashes solve more problems than additional health.
- S tier recommendation: Myrmidon for difficult clears, bosses and long runs.
- A tier recommendation: Cursed Captain for farming, critical builds and advanced scaling.
- A tier recommendation: Arcane Weaver for flexible spell combinations and progression.
- A tier recommendation: Sentinel for mobility-heavy play and evasive clears.
- A tier recommendation: Barbarian for a forgiving first character and direct melee builds.
- Specialist picks: Necromancer, Beastmaster, Engineer, Samurai and Shaman can be excellent when their preferred build is fully supported.
| Goal | Recommended character | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Best one-character investment | Myrmidon | Durability and dependable scaling make mistakes less punishing. |
| Best damage and farming focus | Cursed Captain | Rewards critical, curse and status-effect combinations. |
| Best flexible caster | Arcane Weaver | Broad magical skill access supports several build directions. |
| Best evasive option | Sentinel | Mobility and extra dash access help on dangerous maps. |
| Best first character | Barbarian | Straightforward melee power and a forgiving early-game profile. |
Verified sources establish the roster, character systems, modes, maps and recent balance changes. The tier placements are Quest Meridian recommendations based on those systems and current community build experience, not official developer rankings.
Mode guide
Best choices for Titan Hunt, Void Fields and endless runs
For Titan Hunt, prioritize characters that can maintain damage while surviving repeated boss mechanics. Myrmidon is the safest recommendation because defensive mistakes are less immediately fatal. Cursed Captain is better when you can keep enemies debuffed and want a faster boss kill. Arcane Weaver is a good middle ground for players who prefer ranged spell coverage and adaptable damage types.
For Void Fields, consistency matters more than a perfect damage ceiling. Myrmidon and Sentinel are the easiest recommendations because surviving dangerous patterns is usually worth more than a small increase in theoretical damage. Cursed Captain becomes attractive once your runes and weapon choices are developed enough to support its scaling. Summon-focused characters such as Necromancer and Beastmaster are worth testing if you prefer letting units create space, but their performance depends heavily on the skills offered during the run.
For endless or very long runs, choose a character with a plan for both damage and defense. Myrmidon is the safest starting point, Cursed Captain has a high ceiling for experienced players, and Necromancer or Beastmaster can provide a different form of pressure through summons. Do not judge a character only by the first few minutes: long runs expose weaknesses in mobility, crowd control, sustain and boss damage.
- Titan Hunt: Myrmidon for reliability, Cursed Captain for damage, Arcane Weaver for flexibility.
- Void Fields: Myrmidon or Sentinel for safer navigation; Cursed Captain for developed builds.
- Endless: Myrmidon for consistency, Cursed Captain for ceiling, Necromancer or Beastmaster for summon-focused play.
- If a mode feels too punishing, lower the curse before switching characters. Difficulty settings can matter more than a one-tier ranking difference.
| Mode | First choice | Second choice | Main concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titan Hunt | Myrmidon | Cursed Captain | Boss survival and sustained damage. |
| Void Fields | Myrmidon | Sentinel | Movement, crowd control and recovery. |
| Endless | Myrmidon | Cursed Captain | Scaling without losing defensive options. |
There is no verified evidence that a character receives a universal built-in bonus simply for entering a particular map. Stage recommendations below are based on how a character's strengths interact with enemy density, space and boss pressure.
Stage guide
Best characters by stage and map problem
For Scorching Valley, Pyromancer is the most natural thematic specialist because the character is built around fire and mage-style damage. Arcane Weaver is the safer general recommendation if you want more freedom in the skill draft. Barbarian is also dependable when you prefer to fight close to enemies rather than manage a fragile caster.
For Whispering Grove, Hound Master and Beastmaster are sensible choices for players who enjoy ranged or summon-oriented runs. Sentinel is the practical alternative when the main problem is getting trapped by enemies rather than dealing damage. The map is also an appropriate place to learn how much space your character needs before attempting higher curses.
For Frozen Wastelands, Myrmidon is the clearest recommendation. Its defensive profile and control-oriented identity suit a map where positioning mistakes can become expensive. Sentinel works well for players who would rather dodge than absorb hits, while Arcane Weaver can succeed if you keep enough area coverage to prevent enemies from closing in.
For Unholy Cathedral and Peak of Laments, use the same rule: pick for the encounter, not the map name. Cursed Captain is a strong option for boss-focused curse and critical builds, Myrmidon remains the safest blind pick, and Sentinel helps when avoiding overlapping attacks is the priority.
- Scorching Valley: Pyromancer for fire-focused play; Arcane Weaver for a safer flexible caster.
- Whispering Grove: Hound Master or Beastmaster for ranged and summon builds; Sentinel for mobility.
- Frozen Wastelands: Myrmidon for durability; Sentinel for evasive play.
- Unholy Cathedral and Peak of Laments: Myrmidon for consistency or Cursed Captain for experienced damage builds.
| Stage or situation | Recommended pick | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Scorching Valley | Pyromancer | Natural fire-focused specialist. |
| Whispering Grove | Hound Master | Ranged and area-focused profile. |
| Frozen Wastelands | Myrmidon | Durability and control suit difficult positioning. |
| Unholy Cathedral | Cursed Captain | Strong fit for curse and critical-oriented builds. |
| Peak of Laments | Myrmidon | Reliable blind pick for difficult boss pressure. |
These are matchup suggestions, not verified map-specific multipliers. Your unlocked weapons, runes and skill-tree progress can make another character the better choice.
Build advice
How to choose when two characters are close
First, decide whether the run is about clearing quickly, farming materials, defeating a boss or learning a difficult stage. Then choose the character whose natural strengths solve that problem. Do not force a damage ranking onto a survival problem: Sentinel may outperform a stronger damage dealer if extra mobility prevents repeated deaths.
Next, check your account progression. A character with better weapons and a completed skill tree can outperform a theoretically stronger character that is still missing key upgrades. The developers have also changed the value of several runes and skills in Update 1.5d, including Elemental Flow, Generalist, Multicast Mastery, Head Start and several status or critical interactions.
Finally, build around a coherent plan. Cursed Captain generally wants a clear curse, critical or status direction. Myrmidon benefits from a balanced damage-and-survival approach. Arcane Weaver rewards flexible spell selection, while Barbarian is a good place to learn basic melee positioning. If a run dies before the first major boss, improve movement, area coverage and defensive choices before chasing a more ambitious damage combination.
- Use Myrmidon when you want consistency more than speed.
- Use Cursed Captain when your runes and weapon pool support advanced scaling.
- Use Arcane Weaver when you want to adapt to whatever skills appear.
- Use Sentinel when deaths come from positioning rather than insufficient damage.
- Use Barbarian when you are still learning enemy patterns and melee spacing.
After a major balance update, retest the character's starting weapon, ascension effect and preferred status interactions. A small numerical change can move a specialist up or down without making the character unusable.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Myrmidon the strongest character in every mode?
No. It is the best all-purpose recommendation because it is reliable across difficult content, but Cursed Captain can produce faster or higher-ceiling damage in experienced hands, while Sentinel may be better when mobility is the deciding factor.
Who is the best character for beginners?
Barbarian is the simplest starting choice because its melee identity is direct and forgiving. Arcane Weaver is a good second choice if you prefer ranged spell play. Myrmidon is excellent later, but its best results are easier to appreciate after you understand defensive positioning.
Which character is best for farming materials?
Cursed Captain is the strongest recommendation for experienced farming runs because its damage and scaling can shorten repeated clears. Myrmidon is the safer alternative when the farm stage is dangerous or your build is not yet complete.
Does the game have an official character tier list?
No official developer tier list was located. The developers publish updates and balance changes, but the ranking in this guide is a practical comparison based on character roles, current systems and community-tested build patterns.
Can lower-ranked characters still clear high curses?
Yes. Soulstone Survivors is built around skill, weapon, rune and character synergies. A well-supported specialist can outperform a generalist, and player familiarity can matter more than a small difference in ranking.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialOfficial Steam store page: game systems, modes and progression
- OfficialOfficial Update 1.5d: Gift of the Veil and balance changes
- ReferenceCommunity reference: current character roster and character systems
- CommunityCommunity guide updated for version 1.5d: Cursed Captain build context
- CommunityCommunity guide updated for version 1.5d: Myrmidon build context