AFK Journey Tier List (July 2025) INSANE Meta Heroes
Holy smokes, the AFK Journey meta has absolutely EXPLODED in 2025! After diving deep into patch 1.4.1 and analyzing thousands of battles, I've compiled the most comprehensive tier list you'll find anywhere. Whether you're struggling to push past AFK Stage 700 or getting demolished in PvP, this guide will transform your gameplay overnight.
Let me be real with you - I've made some costly mistakes investing in the wrong heroes (looking at you, Atalanta), and I don't want you to waste your resources like I did. This tier list isn't just theory-crafting; it's based on actual performance data from top players crushing end-game content.
Table of Contents
AFK Journey Best Heroes Tier List 2025
Here's your complete cheat sheet for every single hero in AFK Journey, updated for June 2025:
SS+ Tier Heroes (Meta Defining)
| Hero | Class | Faction | Story | Dream Realm | PvP | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reinier | Rogue | Hypogean | SS+ | SS+ | SS+ | ATK: 8500, DEF: 4200 |
| Lily May | Mage | Graveborn | S+ | SS+ | SS+ | ATK: 8200, DEF: 3800 |
| Odie | Marksman | Wilder | SS+ | SS+ | S+ | ATK: 8000, DEF: 3600 |
| Phraesto | Support | Celestial | S+ | SS+ | S+ | ATK: 4500, DEF: 7800 |
| Thoran | Tank | Graveborn | SS+ | S+ | S+ | ATK: 5200, DEF: 9200 |
S+ Tier Heroes (Core Meta)
| Hero | Class | Faction | Story | Dream Realm | PvP | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smokey & Meerky | Support | Wilder | S+ | SS+ | S | ATK: 4800, DEF: 6500 |
| Koko | Support | Mauler | S+ | S+ | S+ | ATK: 5000, DEF: 6800 |
| Cecia | Marksman | Graveborn | S+ | S | S | ATK: 7800, DEF: 4000 |
| Rowan | Support | Lightbearer | S+ | S | S+ | ATK: 4600, DEF: 6200 |
| Korin | Mage | Wilder | S | S+ | S | ATK: 7500, DEF: 4500 |
| Talene | Mage | Celestial | S | S+ | S+ | ATK: 7800, DEF: 5000 |
| Twins | Support | Celestial | S+ | S+ | S+ | ATK: 5200, DEF: 5800 |
| Mikola | Support | Hypogean | S | S+ | S | ATK: 4900, DEF: 6400 |
S Tier Heroes (Strong Picks)
| Hero | Class | Faction | Story | Dream Realm | PvP | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlita | Warrior | Lightbearer | S | A | A | ATK: 7200, DEF: 6800 |
| Vala | Rogue | Lightbearer | S+ | S | S | ATK: 7600, DEF: 3900 |
| Hewynn | Support | Wilder | S+ | B+ | S | ATK: 4400, DEF: 5800 |
| Carolina | Mage | Wilder | A | B | S+ | ATK: 7400, DEF: 4200 |
| Eironn | Warrior | Wilder | S+ | B | S+ | ATK: 7000, DEF: 6500 |
| Damian | Support | Graveborn | S | A | S+ | ATK: 4700, DEF: 6000 |
| Florabelle | Warrior | Lightbearer | S | B+ | S+ | ATK: 6800, DEF: 7000 |
| Bryon | Support | Mauler | S | A | A | ATK: 4500, DEF: 6300 |
| Temesia | Rogue | Graveborn | S | S | A | ATK: 7400, DEF: 4100 |
| Lyca | Marksman | Wilder | S | A | S | ATK: 7000, DEF: 4300 |
| Brutus | Tank | Mauler | A+ | B+ | A | ATK: 5500, DEF: 8800 |
| Shakir | Warrior | Mauler | S | S | S | ATK: 6900, DEF: 6600 |
| Ludovic | Support | Graveborn | A | S+ | S+ | ATK: 4800, DEF: 6100 |
| Bonnie | Marksman | Lightbearer | S+ | A | S | ATK: 7700, DEF: 4000 |
| Cyran | Warrior | Lightbearer | S | A | S | ATK: 7100, DEF: 6700 |
| Seth | Rogue | Graveborn | S | A | A | ATK: 8000, DEF: 3500 |
| Callan | Tank | Mauler | S | B | S | ATK: 5300, DEF: 8600 |
A Tier Heroes (Situational Excellence)
| Hero | Class | Faction | Story | Dream Realm | PvP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silvina | Rogue | Graveborn | S | C | S |
| Dionel | Mage | Celestial | S+ | B | S |
| Lenya | Rogue | Lightbearer | B | C | S |
| Marilee | Marksman | Lightbearer | A | S+ | B |
| Antandra | Warrior | Mauler | S | C+ | A |
| Arden | Mage | Wilder | S | C | S |
| Igor | Warrior | Graveborn | S | C | S |
| Granny Dahnie | Tank | Wilder | S | C+ | S |
| Cassadee | Mage | Lightbearer | A | S | B |
| Viperian | Mage | Graveborn | S | C+ | S |
| Berial | Rogue | Hypogean | A | B | S |
| Alsa | Mage | Wilder | A+ | A | S |
| Rhys | Marksman | Lightbearer | A | A | B |
| Hugin | Support | Lightbearer | A | B | S |
| Nara | Tank | Graveborn | A | C | A |
| Sinbad | Tank | Mauler | A | B | A |
| Cryonaia | Mage | Hypogean | A | B | A |
| Ulmus | Tank | Wilder | A | C | S |
| Lorsan | Support | Wilder | A | B | A |
| Valka | Warrior | Graveborn | A | B | A |
| Niru | Mage | Graveborn | S | C | B |
| Satrana | Warrior | Mauler | C | B | A |
B Tier Heroes (Niche Uses)
| Hero | Class | Faction | Story | Dream Realm | PvP | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walker | Marksman | Lightbearer | B+ | A | B | ATK: 6500, DEF: 4800 |
| Lucius | Tank | Lightbearer | B | B | B | ATK: 5100, DEF: 8000 |
| Parisa | Support | Mauler | B | B | A | ATK: 4300, DEF: 5700 |
| Soren | Warrior | Wilder | A | C | A+ | ATK: 6800, DEF: 6500 |
| Kruger | Marksman | Mauler | C | S+ | C | ATK: 6700, DEF: 4600 |
| Fay | Support | Wilder | B | B | B | ATK: 4200, DEF: 5500 |
| Kulu | Mage | Wilder | B | B+ | B | ATK: 6400, DEF: 4900 |
| Indris | Support | Lightbearer | B | B | B+ | ATK: 4400, DEF: 6000 |
| Natsu | Warrior | Dimensional | A | B+ | B | ATK: 7000, DEF: 6300 |
| Lucy | Support | Dimensional | B+ | B | B | ATK: 4500, DEF: 5800 |
| Sonja | Rogue | Mauler | A | C | B | ATK: 7100, DEF: 3600 |
| Athalia | Warrior | Celestial | B+ | B | B+ | ATK: 6900, DEF: 6200 |
| Gerda | Support | Mauler | B | B+ | B | ATK: 4300, DEF: 6100 |
| Faramor | Tank | Hypogean | B | B | B+ | ATK: 5400, DEF: 8100 |
| Shemira | Mage | Graveborn | B | B | C+ | ATK: 6800, DEF: 5200 |
C Tier Heroes (Avoid Unless Necessary)
| Hero | Class | Faction | Story | Dream Realm | PvP | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirael | Mage | Lightbearer | B | B | C | ATK: 5800, DEF: 4000 |
| Salazer | Warrior | Graveborn | C | B | C | ATK: 5900, DEF: 6000 |
| Atalanta | Marksman | Wilder | C | C | C | ATK: 5500, DEF: 3800 |
| Kafra | Warrior | Mauler | C | C | C | ATK: 5600, DEF: 5800 |
| Lumont | Tank | Lightbearer | C | C | C | ATK: 4900, DEF: 7600 |
| Valen | Tank | Graveborn | C | C | C | ATK: 4800, DEF: 7400 |
Detailed Hero Analysis
Reinier - The Hypogean Assassin King
When I first pulled Reinier, I couldn't believe my luck. This absolute unit has single-handedly carried me through content I had no business clearing. His backline disruption is unmatched - he literally teleports behind enemy supports and deletes them before they can react. In Dream Realm, he consistently tops damage charts across all bosses. The only downside? Being Hypogean makes him incredibly expensive to build, but trust me, he's worth every single resource.
Lily May - The Meta Warper
I've watched Lily May completely demolish teams twice her power level. Her ultimate denial mechanic is absolutely broken in PvP - she prevents enemies from using their ultimates while nuking them with insane burst damage. She hard counters the popular Eironn compositions that dominated for months. If you see her in the shop, buy her immediately. She's that game-changing.
Odie - The Poison Master
Here's the thing about Odie - he starts slow but becomes an absolute monster at Mythic+. His poison stacks have no limit, meaning his damage scales infinitely in longer fights. I've seen him solo Dream Realm bosses when the rest of my team died. His energy recovery on kills makes him snowball incredibly hard. Just be patient during his awkward early ascension levels.
Phraesto - The Energy Enabler
Don't let Phraesto's support tag fool you - this guy is tankier than most actual tanks. His energy generation turns your entire team into an ultimate-spamming machine. I initially slept on him, but after investing in his EX weapon, he became irreplaceable. He's particularly insane when paired with heroes like Lily May or Odie who have game-ending ultimates.
Thoran - The Cheese King
Thoran is the definition of "stats don't matter." I've cleared stages 200 levels above my power rating using his invincibility cheese strategies. When he "dies," he becomes invulnerable and reflects massive damage based on what he received. The beautiful part? You don't even need to heavily invest in him - even at low ascension, he can carry you through impossible content.
Smokey & Meerky - The Buffing Duo
These two completely trivialize Dream Realm content. Their healing keeps your team alive indefinitely while their buffs turn even mediocre DPS heroes into killing machines. They got nerfed recently (no more full-map range), but they're still S+ tier in any content requiring sustained combat. I run them in literally every Dream Realm team.
Koko - The Reflective Support
Koko does everything - healing, buffing, and reflecting damage. She's the Swiss Army knife of supports. What makes her special is her consistency across all game modes. Whether you're pushing campaign, competing in PvP, or challenging Dream Realm bosses, Koko provides value. Her reflection damage scales with enemy power, making her better the harder the content gets.
Cecia - The Puppet Master
Cecia plus Mr. Carlyle equals battlefield domination. Her summon inherits all her stats, essentially giving you a ninth team member. In AoE-heavy stages, she absolutely destroys everything. I've found her particularly effective in multi-battle stages where Mr. Carlyle can tank damage while Cecia safely deals damage from the backline. Pro tip: position her carefully to maximize Mr. Carlyle's impact.
Rowan - The Classic Support
Some heroes transcend game versions, and Rowan is one of them. His energy generation remains unmatched, and his healing potions have saved my team countless times. While he's not the flashiest hero in AFK Journey, he enables everyone else to be flashy. Every late-game team needs an energy battery, and Rowan is still the best.
Korin - The Shield Master
Initially, I underestimated Korin because his damage seemed low. Then I realized his true value - keeping your team alive through anything. His shields and crowd control make him essential for Dream Realm, where one mistake means starting over. Once you unlock his exclusive gear, he becomes nearly mandatory for high-level content.
Talene - The Phoenix Reborn
Talene requires serious investment, but she pays it back tenfold. Her resurrection mechanic means she essentially has two health bars, and her damage potential when staying in enemy range is astronomical. I've seen properly built Talenes top Dream Realm leaderboards consistently. Just be prepared to invest heavily in her exclusive weapon.
Twins - The Ultimate Synergy
The Twins were initially considered too fragile, but the meta has proven otherwise. Their link buff is incredibly powerful, and their ultimate can single-handedly win battles. They fit into almost every arena team composition now. The key is protecting them long enough to get their ultimate off - then watch the magic happen.
Carolina - The Late Bloomer
Don't write off Carolina early - she's designed for late-game Eironn teams. Once you have the full composition (Eironn, Carolina, Alsa, Arden), she becomes a damage-dealing machine. Her synergy with Eironn's pull mechanics creates devastating combos. I ignored her for months and seriously regret it.
Vala - The Invisible Assassin
Vala excels at one thing: deleting enemy backlines. Her invisibility at higher ascensions makes her untargetable while she picks apart squishy damage dealers. In PvP, she's my go-to counter for teams relying on glass cannon mages. Just be aware she struggles against tanky compositions.
Hewynn - The Battlefield Medic
As the only healer with true map-wide range, Hewynn provides unmatched sustain. She trivializes content where chip damage slowly whittles down your team. Her universal damage reduction at higher ascensions is secretly one of the strongest defensive buffs in the game. Every account needs a built Hewynn.
Brutus - The Immortal Wall
While Brutus isn't the meta-defining hero he once was, his invincibility shield still provides crucial moments of survival. He's particularly valuable early game when you need someone to absorb initial burst damage. I still use him in specific cheese strategies where you need 7-8 seconds of guaranteed tanking.
Silvina - The PvP Specialist
In Story mode, Silvina is mediocre. In PvP? She's a terror. Combined with the Stormstrike artifact, she can instantly delete priority targets. I've climbed hundreds of ranking spots just by adding her to my arena defense. She's the definition of a specialized hero - bad at most things, godlike at one thing.
Kruger - The Dream Realm Necessity
Here's a weird one - Kruger is terrible everywhere except Dream Realm, where he's absolutely mandatory. His physical damage debuff is required for maximizing damage against certain bosses. I literally only use him for Dream Realm, but not having him built costs you millions of damage. Sometimes you need to build heroes for one specific purpose.
Heroes to Absolutely Avoid
Let me save you some heartache. Atalanta is the biggest trap in the game - S-tier rarity with C-tier performance. Kafraoffers nothing unique and dies instantly. Lumont seemed promising but lacks any real tanking ability. Valen becomes fodder after chapter 10. Don't waste a single resource on these heroes unless you literally have no other options.
Meta Team Compositions
The Immortal Cheese Comp
- Thoran (Tank) + Brutus (Off-tank) + Rowan (Support) + Smokey & Meerky (Support) + Lily May (DPS)
- This team abuses invincibility windows to survive impossible fights
The Pull & Destroy
- Eironn (Pull) + Carolina (DPS) + Alsa (Control) + Arden (CC) + Lyca (Buffer)
- Classic AoE destruction that still dominates in 2025
The Energy Spam
- Phraesto (Energy) + Rowan (Energy) + Twins (Link) + Lily May (Burst) + Odie (DPS)
- Ultimates every 5 seconds - it's as broken as it sounds
Investment Priority Guide
F2P Players (Limited Resources)
- Rowan - Works at low investment
- Thoran - Cheese doesn't need stats
- Smokey & Meerky - Game-changing even at Epic+
- Lyca - Easy to ascend, always useful
- Brutus - Tank that works without investment
Dolphins (Moderate Spenders)
- Lily May - Meta defining
- Odie - Scales incredibly well
- Cecia - Versatile carry
- Hewynn - Best healer
- Korin - Dream Realm essential
Whales (Heavy Spenders)
- Reinier - Best hero in the game
- Phraesto - Needs full investment
- Talene - Expensive but dominant
- Twins - Game-changing at high investment
- Mikola - Hypogean support god
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the absolute best hero in AFK Journey?
Without question, Reinier dominates every single game mode. He's incredibly expensive being a Hypogean faction hero, but his backline disruption and execution abilities make him worth every resource. I've seen Reinier solo entire teams in PvP and consistently top Dream Realm damage charts.
Should I focus on Story Mode or PvP heroes first?
Always prioritize Story Mode progression first! Story Mode unlocks resources, features, and provides the bulk of your progression materials. I made the mistake of building PvP heroes early and hit a wall in campaign progression. Build a solid Story Mode team first, then branch into PvP specialists.
Are the new Season 4 heroes worth pulling for?
The recent additions have been hit-or-miss. Twins became meta-defining in PvP, while Valka disappointed despite the hype. Cyran successfully replaced Lumont in Lightbearer teams. I'd say wait for community testing before going all-in on new heroes - the PTR isn't always accurate for predicting performance.
How important are faction bonuses in team building?
Faction bonuses become absolutely crucial after Chapter 20. The HP and Attack bonuses from running 3+ heroes from the same faction can mean the difference between victory and defeat. I've cleared stages just by switching from a rainbow team to a faction-focused composition. Always aim for at least a 3-2 faction split.
What's the biggest mistake new players make?
Spreading resources too thin! I see new players trying to build 15 heroes simultaneously. Focus on 5-8 core heroes maximum. It's better to have one maxed Supreme+ hero than five Legendary+ heroes. Also, never use S-tier heroes as fodder - I still regret feeding my first Hewynn.
Is the game really F2P friendly in 2025?
More than ever! With proper resource management and focusing on the right heroes (like Thoran and Rowan who work at low investment), F2P players can compete. I have F2P friends consistently in the top 100 Dream Realm rankings. The key is patience and smart investment choices.
How often does the meta change?
Major meta shifts happen every 2-3 months with new hero releases and balance patches. Lily May completely warped the PvP meta, while the Twins addition created new team possibilities. Stay flexible and don't over-invest in one single strategy. I've seen "unbeatable" teams become obsolete overnight.
Should I reset heroes that fall out of meta?
Generally no, unless they're complete trash tier. The meta is cyclical - heroes like Igor went from S-tier to C-tier back to A-tier across different patches. I reset my Scarlita when she got nerfed and now regret it since she's seeing play again. Only reset true bottom-tier heroes like Atalanta or Kafra.
Conclusion
There you have it - the most comprehensive AFK Journey tier list for 2025! Remember, while tier lists provide crucial guidance, team synergy and proper investment matter just as much as individual hero strength. I've seen well-built B-tier teams destroy poorly constructed S-tier teams.
Focus on building a core team first, then expand based on your game mode preferences. Don't chase every new hero - sometimes the classics like Rowan and Smokey & Meerky provide more value than the flashy new releases.
Keep this guide bookmarked as I update it with every balance patch. The meta evolves constantly, and what's SS-tier today might be A-tier tomorrow. Stay flexible, invest wisely, and most importantly - have fun on your journey through Esperia!