Best Etheria Restart Tier List (July 2025) SSS Characters
I've been diving deep into Etheria: Restart since launch, and let me tell you - picking the right Animus can make or break your experience. After countless hours of testing and collaborating with the community, I'm excited to share my comprehensive tier list for 2025 that'll help you dominate both PVE and PVP content.
Whether you're a new Hyperlinker just starting your journey or a veteran looking to optimize your team, this guide will show you exactly which characters deserve your precious resources and which ones you should skip.
Table of Contents
Etheria Restart Tier List Overview July 2025
Let's dive into the complete character rankings for Etheria: Restart. I've tested and ranked every single Animus in the game across all content:
SSS Tier - Must-Have Characters
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lian | DPS | Fire | Burst AOE damage + delays | Terrormaton, Aurora |
| Massiah | DPS/Debuff | Dark | Vulnerable debuff + invincibility | All content |
| Rosa | DPS | Water | Sustained damage + utility | All except Terrormaton |
| Lingluo | Healer | Wood | Best healing + cleanse | All except Terrormaton |
| Freya | Support | Light | Auto-cleanse + DEF buffs | All except Aurora |
| Heinrich | Debuff | Dark | Disable heals/buffs | All content |
| Beyontin | Support | Light | Revive + ATK/CRIT buffs | All content |
SS Tier - Extremely Strong
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lily | Support | Dark | Turn meter manipulation | PVP, speed teams |
| DokiDoki | Support | Light | Team buffs + cleanse | Offensive teams |
| Kloss | Debuff | Water | Turn meter steal + DEF shred | PVP, most PVE |
| Valerian | Sustain | Light | Immunity + shields + CC | All content |
| Helkid | Tank/DPS | Fire | Self-sustain + damage | All content |
| Rahu | DPS | Thunder | Damage + cleanse utility | All except Aurora |
| Sania (Withered Shadow) | DPS | Dark | DoT synergies | DoT teams |
| Dinah | Debuff | Water | Delays + team advances | All except DokiDoki |
| Gray | Debuff | Thunder | AOE DEF reduction | Burst teams |
S Tier - Very Good
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khloros | DPS | Wood | Highest raw damage | Union bosses |
| Marvell | Debuff | Dark | Silence + delays | PVP dominant |
| Tiamat | Sustain/DPS | Water | Balanced kit | Beginner-friendly |
| Diting | DPS | Fire | Single target burst | PVP, bosses |
| Fangus | DPS | Dark | DoT + follow-ups | Sustained fights |
| Xiada | DPS | Thunder | Best AOE damage | DokiDoki, AOE content |
| Mia | Healer | Water | Heals + shields + cleanse | All except Aurora |
| Sania | Healer | Wood | Flexible heal/revive | All except Aurora |
| Tsukiyo Mi | Support | Light | Silence for PVP | PVP focused |
| Kazuyo (The Reverie) | Debuff | Dark | Sleep + ATK debuffs | DokiDoki, PVP |
| Veronika | Debuff | Fire | Soul Ward protection | All content |
| Kraken | Debuff | Water | Freeze + CC specialist | DokiDoki, PVP |
| Obol | Debuff | Dark | %HP DoT + stun | Aurora, PVP |
| Viper | Debuff | Wood | Flexible debuffer | All content |
A Tier - Strong Picks
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rilmocha | DPS | Thunder | CC + burst damage | DokiDoki, Terrormaton |
| Victor | DPS/Tank | Fire | Damage scales with low HP | Terrormaton |
| Rin (The Unbowed) | DPS | Water | Sustained damage + delays | Most content |
| Chiaki (The Echo) | Support | Wood | Turn meter immunity | All except Aurora |
| Turandot | Support | Fire | ACC buffs + damage | All except DokiDoki |
| Yang | Support | Thunder | ATK/CRIT + cleanse | All except Terrormaton |
| Celince | Debuff | Dark | Unique debuffs + reflect | PVP, bosses |
| Cachi (The Guard) | Debuff | Light | Delays + team protection | All content |
| Lilith | Debuff | Dark | Mixed debuffs + stuns | General use |
| Chiaki | Healer | Wood | Heals + damage reduction | All except DokiDoki |
B Tier - Situational
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tsutomu | DPS | Dark | Buff steal + disable | Union bosses |
| Oboro | DPS | Dark | DoT combos + delays | Aurora, Union bosses |
| Dorothy (The Wisher) | Support | Light | Life leech buffs | All except DokiDoki |
| No. 41 | Support | Fire | Anti-healing | DokiDoki specific |
| Kazami Kazuyo | Debuff | Water | Dispel + speed control | Aurora, Terrormaton |
| RC-77 | Debuff | Fire | Stuns + mixed debuffs | General PVE |
| Dorothy | Healer | Light | Strong heals + cleanse | General use |
| Rin | Tank/Healer | Fire | Taunt + shields | Terrormaton, bosses |
C Tier - Niche Use
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew (Odd) | DPS | Fire | Basic debuffs | Early game |
| Andrew (Reason) | DPS | Fire | Taunt utility | Early game |
| Cachi | Support | Light | Stun focused | PVP only |
| Asshu | Debuff | Wood | Mixed kit | Limited use |
D Tier - Low Priority
| Character | Role | Element | Key Strength | Best Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sybil | DPS | Thunder | Low damage + DEF reduction | Early game only |
| Vice | Tank/Debuff | Dark | Taunt + self-heal | Very limited use |
Quick Team Building Reference
Meta PVE Team: Lian + Lingluo + Heinrich + Freya
Meta PVP Team: Lily + Marvell + Massiah + Gray
F2P Friendly: Lian (free) + Lingluo (free) + SR Kraken + chosen selector
DoT Team: Sania (Withered Shadow) + Fangus + Obol + support
Speed Team: Lily + Rosa + Dinah + burst DPS
Best Characters by Role
Top DPS Characters
I've tested every damage dealer extensively, and these are the ones that consistently deliver:
Lian (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Lian brings the best burst damage for both single target and AOE situations. Her kit is perfect for Terrormaton and Aurora bosses.
- Best for: Players who want to delete enemies quickly
- Pairs well with: Heinrich (for damage amplification)
Massiah (SSS Tier)
- Why he's amazing: The Vulnerable debuff he applies is one of the strongest damage amplifiers in the game. Plus, his self-invincibility makes him surprisingly tanky.
- Best for: All game modes - seriously, he's that versatile
- Pairs well with: Any burst damage team
Rosa (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Rosa delivers consistent AOE and single-target damage while bringing utility through delays and debuffs.
- Best for: Everything except Terrormaton
- Pairs well with: Speed manipulation supports
Khloros (S Tier)
- Why he's amazing: If you need raw damage numbers, Khloros is your guy. He lacks utility but makes up for it in pure DPS.
- Best for: Union bosses and general PVE
- Skip for: DokiDoki (needs more burst)
Top Support Characters
Support characters can make or break your team composition. Here are my top picks:
Freya (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Auto-cleanse with Dreamwave is game-changing. She turns your team into an unkillable fortress.
- Best for: Any content with heavy debuffs
- Skip for: Aurora (less useful there)
Lily (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Turn meter and speed manipulation at its finest. Shadow Trick's critical damage boost is the cherry on top.
- Best for: Speed teams and PVP
- Pairs well with: Burst damage dealers
DokiDoki (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Massive team-wide damage and speed buffs. She can even cleanse debuffs as a bonus.
- Best for: Offensive team compositions
- Pairs well with: AOE damage dealers
Top Debuff Characters
Debuffers control the battlefield. These are the ones worth investing in:
Heinrich (SSS Tier)
- Why he's amazing: Completely shuts down enemy healing and buffs. His Farewell Shot increases critical damage taken AND critical chance!
- Best for: All content - he's universally useful
- Pairs well with: Critical-focused DPS
Kloss (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Turn meter stealing combined with defense shredding creates incredible control.
- Best for: PVP and most PVE content
- Skip for: Aurora
Marvell (S Tier)
- Why he's amazing: Silence is rare and powerful in PVP. His turn meter stealing is just gravy.
- Best for: PVP dominance
- Pairs well with: Speed teams
Top Sustain/Healer Characters
Keeping your team alive is crucial for harder content:
Lingluo (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Simply the best pure healer. Cleanses debuffs and keeps everyone topped off.
- Best for: All content except Terrormaton
- Note: You get her free after 7 days!
Valerian (SSS Tier)
- Why she's amazing: Provides immunity to damage, shields, minor heals, AND crowd control with Slumber.
- Best for: Teams that need protection over raw healing
- Pairs well with: Squishy DPS characters
Helkid (SSS Tier)
- Why he's amazing: Tank/DPS hybrid with incredible self-sustain through Shield Barrier.
- Best for: Teams needing a frontline that can also deal damage
- Pairs well with: Offensive supports
Game Mode Specific Rankings
Different game modes require different strategies. Here's what works best:
PVE Tier List
Campaign & Story Mode
- You can clear story with almost any team, but these make it easier:
- Best team: Lian (DPS) + Lingluo (Healer) + Lily (Support) + Heinrich (Debuff)
Threshold Boss Rankings
- Aurora: Focus on sustained damage - bring Khloros, Rosa, Heinrich
- DokiDoki: Burst is king - use Lian, Massiah, Kazuyo (The Reverie)
- Terrormaton: Balance is key - Lian, Victor, Rilmocha excel here
Union Boss Meta
- Varies by element, but universally strong picks include:
- Rosa, Massiah, Heinrich, Lily, Lingluo
PVP Tier List
PVP is where team composition really matters:
AI PVP Champions
- Marvell - Silence wins games
- Massiah - Vulnerable + burst = dead enemies
- Lily - Speed manipulation is crucial
- Gray - AOE defense shred devastates teams
RTA PVP Meta
- Speed teams dominate: Lily + Marvell + burst DPS
- Tank teams counter with: Helkid + Valerian + sustained damage
Reroll Guide & Target Characters
I know rerolling can be tedious, but trust me - starting with the right characters saves you months of progress.
How to Reroll Efficiently
- No guest accounts - you'll need a new email for each attempt
- Skip the prologue cutscenes to save time
- Complete Chapter 1 to unlock mail and get free currency
- You'll always get Lian from the tutorial (she's great!)
- Aim for at least one SSS tier character in your first pulls
Best Beginner Banner Selector
The directed summon banner guarantees your chosen SSR in 40 pulls. My recommendations:
- For damage: Choose Massiah or Rosa
- For support: Choose Lily (if you're patient, wait for Lingluo free)
- For versatility: Choose Heinrich
Priority Targets for F2P
If you're not spending money, focus on:
- Lingluo - Free after 7 days, best healer
- Lian - Guaranteed from tutorial, top DPS
- Heinrich or Lily - From selector banner
- Save for limited banners featuring SSS tier characters
Team Building Guide
Building synergistic teams is more important than having individual strong characters.
Meta Team Compositions
Speed Cleave (PVP)
- Lily (speed boost) + Marvell (control) + Lian (AOE burst) + flex
Sustain Team (PVE)
- Lingluo (heals) + Valerian (protection) + Rosa (sustained DPS) + Heinrich (debuffs)
Burst Team (Thresholds)
- Massiah + Heinrich + Lian + Lily
Synergy Tips
- Pair Vulnerable appliers (Massiah) with burst damage
- Combine turn meter manipulation with slow, powerful ultimates
- Mix cleanse supports with debuff-heavy teams
- Always include one sustain character for harder content
Module and Shell Recommendations
- DPS: Focus on Critical Rate/Damage sets
- Support: Speed sets are mandatory
- Tanks: HP% and Defense% sets
- Debuffers: Accuracy is crucial - aim for 200+
Character Investment Priority
Resources are limited, so invest wisely:
Who to Max First
- Your main DPS (Lian, Massiah, or Rosa)
- Your primary healer (Lingluo)
- Your speed support (Lily)
- Your debuffer (Heinrich)
- Everyone else
Resource Management Tips
- Don't spread resources thin - focus on 4-5 characters initially
- Skill level 5 is the sweet spot for most characters
- Save SSR promotion materials for SSS tier characters only
- Farm modules daily - correct sets matter more than rarity
FAQs
Q: Who is the best character to pick from the beginner selector banner?
A: I recommend Massiah for damage/utility or Lily for support. Skip Lingluo since you get her free after 7 days. Tiamat is also a solid choice for beginners despite recent nerfs.
Q: Should I reroll in Etheria Restart?
A: Yes, if you're willing to invest 30 minutes to a few hours. Aim for at least one SSS tier character from your initial pulls. The game makes rerolling relatively easy compared to other gachas.
Q: Can R and SR characters compete with SSRs?
A: Absolutely! Characters like Kraken (SR) can outperform many SSRs. All characters can be ascended to 6 stars, so rarity mainly affects initial investment costs.
Q: What's the difference between PVE and PVP tier lists?
A: PVE values sustained damage and survivability, while PVP prioritizes burst damage, speed manipulation, and crowd control. Characters like Marvell excel in PVP but are average in PVE.
Q: How important are team synergies vs individual character strength?
A: Team synergy trumps individual power every time. A well-built team of A-tier characters will outperform a random collection of SSS-tier units.
Q: Which game mode should I focus on first?
A: Focus on clearing the campaign and building a solid PVE team first. This unlocks resources for building specialized teams for Thresholds, Union Bosses, and eventually PVP.
Q: Are limited banner characters always better?
A: Not necessarily. Many permanent pool characters like Lian, Heinrich, and Lily are top-tier. Limited characters often have unique mechanics but aren't mandatory for success.
Q: How often do tier lists change?
A: Expect major shifts with each balance patch (roughly monthly). I update this list within 48 hours of any significant changes to keep you informed.
That's my complete Etheria Restart tier list for 2025! Remember, while tier lists provide valuable guidance, the best team is one that fits your playstyle and available resources. Focus on building a core team of 4-5 characters first, then branch out as you progress.
Happy gaming, and may your pulls be ever in your favor!