Not all characters in Kaiju No. 8: The Game perform the same. Some dominate boss fights, while others are best left on the bench. Here’s a launch tier list that highlights who’s worth investing in and who’s better for filler slots.
Kaiju No. 8 Character Tier List (Launch Edition)
SS Tier – Must-Haves
The game’s best characters. They bring damage, utility, and mechanics no one else can replace.
Reno Ichikawa (Weapon Six Suit)
Freeze control, SP recovery, and Ice Crystal damage make him the undisputed strongest unit. Reno is not in the standard pool, which makes him even more valuable.
Kaiju No. 8 (Kafka Hibino)
High burst damage with his Fighting Spirit stacks, plus the ability to one-shot smaller Kaiju under 50% HP. He’s reliable in every type of content.
Gen Narumi
The only character with two resistance-breaking attributes (Slash and Ranged). Narumi’s flexibility makes him essential for boss mechanics.
S Tier – Reliable Core Picks
Strong units that can clear difficult content, but lack the versatility or unique traits of SS tier.
Kikoru Shinomiya – Buffs herself as the fight goes on and lowers enemy defense with her Ultimate.
Mina Ashiro – Consistent critical hits and bonus damage against giants make her great for bosses.
Soshiro Hoshina – Excels at mowing down small Kaiju with high crit damage.
Isao Shinomiya – The only 5★ Defender at launch, offering shields and team damage boosts.
A Tier – Situational but Useful
Good characters in the right setup, but not strong enough to build a team around.
Rin Shinonome – AoE damage dealer that shines against groups of smaller Kaiju.
Akari Minase – Provides healing and faster Ultimate gauge charging for the squad.
Ryo Ikaruga – Passive ATK and speed buffs that scale well once ascended.
B Tier and Below – Early Game Fillers
Characters in these tiers can help you at the very start, but their impact fades as you unlock better 5★ units. They include side characters like Haruichi Izumo, Aoi Kaguragi, Keiji Itami, and others who lack strong mechanics or scaling.
How We Ranked Them
Meta Impact: Characters that break core mechanics (like resistance plates or action order) score highest.
Damage Value: Big DPS wins in most modes, so raw output is critical.
Team Role: Buffers, healers, or defenders get extra points if they fit into any squad.
Rarity Access: Units locked to limited banners (like Reno) are valued higher for their exclusivity.