Tier placement is a recommendation based on current SS13 coverage, official balance notes, and reported community testing. The game does not provide one official universal tier list, and performance varies with gear, pets, trait access, skill setup, player experience, and the content being farmed.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The best overall choice for most players is Selena 2, Dance of the Deep. Her mobile Terra fields provide strong area clear while leveling and reduce the need for precise positioning. Youga 2, Spacetime Elapse, is the easiest low-investment alternative, while Rehan 2 and Iris 1 offer safer progression. Erika 1 is excellent for fast mapping once funded. Rosa 2 remains an endgame specialist with a high ceiling, but it is a poor first character if you want immediate power. The best solo class depends on your goal: Selena 2 for balance, Youga 2 for simplicity, Rehan 2 for toughness, and Erika 1 for speed.
At a glance
Best heroes by mode and player goal
There is no single winner for every activity. A build that reaches endgame bosses quickly may be awkward during campaign progression, while a comfortable starter may lose efficiency once high-tier mapping demands more damage. The table below separates early progression, regular farming, and high-investment pushing.
The rankings are deliberately practical. S-tier means a strong recommendation for the stated goal, not a guarantee that every version of the build will outperform every alternative.
| Goal or mode | Best pick | Why it fits | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall starter | Selena 2: Dance of the Deep | Mobile Terra coverage, broad clear, and a smooth transition into mapping | Paid or restricted access may affect availability, and later gearing still matters |
| Easiest low-investment start | Youga 2: Spacetime Elapse | Strong baseline clearing with very little early gear pressure | Less direct control may feel passive to some players |
| Safest solo progression | Rehan 2: Seething Silhouette | Tougher play pattern with strong spirit-based damage | Usually slower than the fastest dedicated farmers |
| Minion-focused solo play | Iris 1: Growing Breeze | Summons provide distance, coverage, and forgiving progression | Boss damage and endgame scaling depend heavily on the final setup |
| Fastest mapping goal | Erika 1: Wind Stalker | Excellent movement and clear-speed potential | Community reports warn that the finished version can be expensive and is not ideal as a first-day character |
| Highest endgame ambition | Rosa 2: Unsullied Blade | Very high late-game ceiling when its scaling pieces come together | Expensive, gear-dependent, and noticeably weaker during early progression |
| Flexible damage-over-time route | Sage: Licorice Note or Sent Weaver | Works well with affliction and elemental-penetration scaling | Recent changes reduced her margin for error compared with earlier seasons |
The official patch notes verify that SS13 changed hero traits, support effects, and core mechanics. The ordering above is a practical recommendation drawn from current season guides and community reports, not an official ranking published by XD.
Progression
Best choices for leveling and early maps
If this is your first character of the season, prioritize a build that reaches useful clear speed without requiring a rare legendary, expensive pet, or complicated conversion chain. Current SS13 starter coverage consistently places Selena 2, both Youga variants, Rehan 2, Iris 1, and Erika 1 near the top of the early progression conversation.
Selena 2 is the simplest answer for most new or returning players. Dance of the Deep allows Terra effects to follow the hero, so the build can keep moving instead of repeatedly placing fields. That makes campaign rooms and early maps feel forgiving. The recommended progression is to use a functional leveling skill first, then transition to the final Terra or Starfall setup after the necessary supports and gear are available.
Youga 2 is the better choice if you want a low-maintenance character that performs before the market supplies expensive upgrades. Rehan 2 is preferable when dying or losing momentum is more frustrating than clearing slightly slower. Erika 1 can level effectively, but do not confuse fast movement with cheap endgame scaling; its strongest versions may demand substantial investment.
- Use the in-game recommended skills only as a starting point; compare their actual tags and support requirements before buying gear.
- Spend early currency on resistances, life or energy shield, recovery, and reliable clear rather than chasing a perfect damage item.
- Do not copy a previous-season build code without checking every skill, trait, and support against SS13 changes.
- Keep your first character until it can farm consistently; rerolling too early often costs more than upgrading a merely adequate starter.
Endgame
Best builds for farming, bosses, and pushing
For routine mapping, clear speed and movement usually matter more than a theoretical single-target maximum. Erika 1 is the specialist pick if your priority is moving quickly through repeated maps and you already understand the gearing path. Selena 2 remains more balanced because it combines strong area coverage with a less punishing learning curve. Bing 1, Blast Nova, is another credible option after its SS13 bomb changes, but it is more mechanically distinct and is better suited to players who enjoy managing projectile and detonation timing.
For a safer solo experience, Rehan 2 and Iris 1 are more forgiving than fragile speed builds. Rehan is the better direct-combat option, while Iris lets minions absorb attention and maintain pressure while you reposition. These are good choices for players learning endgame encounters or playing without a group to cover defensive mistakes.
For deep endgame pushing, Rosa 2 is the high-risk recommendation. Current guides describe it as one of the strongest late-game options, but also one of the worst starters because its payoff depends on expensive scaling. Treat it as a second-character project unless you already know the build and have a reliable plan for funding it. Sage remains viable for damage-over-time enthusiasts, although SS13 changes mean older claims about effortless dominance should not be trusted without updated testing.
- Farm with Selena 2 or Erika 1 when time per map is your main metric.
- Choose Rehan 2 or Iris 1 when survival and relaxed solo play matter more than maximum speed.
- Move to Rosa 2 only after you can identify its key breakpoints and afford the required upgrades.
- For boss progression, compare real encounter results rather than map-clearing videos; wide-area clear does not automatically mean strong single-target damage.
Some current guides rank Selena 2 and Youga 2 highest for starting, while others place Rosa 2 or Erika 1 higher for late-season performance. That is not necessarily a contradiction: starter rankings measure early power and cost, whereas endgame rankings measure ceiling after investment.
Decision guide
How to choose your first character
Start by deciding whether you want to fund a second character or keep one hero for the whole season. A starter is judged by how quickly it reaches profitable maps with ordinary equipment. A finisher is judged by how far it can scale after you have currency, crafted gear, and a settled support setup.
For most players, the safest route is Selena 2 first, followed by a specialized reroll only if a particular farming or bossing goal demands it. If Selena 2 is unavailable, Youga 2 is the closest low-friction substitute. Select Rehan 2 or Iris 1 when you value defensive comfort. Select Erika 1 only if you enjoy speed-focused play and accept a higher investment curve. Select Rosa 2 when the build itself is the goal rather than the quickest route to progression.
- New player: Selena 2.
- Free or low-investment start: Youga 2 or Rehan 2.
- Relaxed solo play: Rehan 2 or Iris 1.
- Fast map farming: Erika 1 after checking current costs.
- Endgame experiment or second character: Rosa 2.
- Damage-over-time preference: Sage, but use an SS13-specific setup.
Hero traits and seasonal systems can be rebalanced during a season. Verify the live trait description, skill tags, support gems, and current build guide immediately before spending scarce currency.
FAQ
Common questions
What is the best class in Torchlight: Infinite for a new player?
The best practical starting choice for most new players is Selena 2, Dance of the Deep, because it combines broad clear with a forgiving mobile play pattern. If that trait is unavailable, Youga 2 is the easiest alternative, while Rehan 2 is better for players who value toughness.
What is the best solo class for Torchlight: Infinite?
For balanced solo progression, choose Selena 2. Choose Rehan 2 if surviving mistakes is the priority, or Iris 1 if you prefer minions and distance. Erika 1 can be the fastest solo farmer once geared, but it is less forgiving and may cost more to finish.
Do old build guides still work in SS13 Afterlight?
Not automatically. SS13 changed Terra skills, hero traits, support effects, and several scaling interactions. An older guide may still provide a useful concept, but verify every skill, support, talent, and item interaction against the current client before following it.
Is Rosa 2 better than Selena 2?
Rosa 2 may have the higher endgame ceiling, but Selena 2 is usually the better first character. Rosa 2 takes longer to come online and depends more heavily on gear, while Selena 2 offers stronger early consistency and a smoother path through progression.
Is there one permanent builds tier list for every season?
No. Seasonal mechanics and balance changes can alter which hero traits are efficient, affordable, or easy to play. Use tier lists as snapshots for a named season and activity, then confirm the date and patch before investing.
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 SS13 Afterlight patch notes from XD Games
- ReferenceSS13 Afterlight starter comparison with progression and gear-dependence criteria
- CommunitySS13 starter and endgame comparison covering hero traits
- CommunitySS13 build overview covering Selena 2, Sage, Gemma 2, Rosa 2, and Erika 1
- CommunityRecent player discussion on Erika 1 costs and low-investment alternatives