You’ve probably spent way too much time staring at the summoning screen in Ash Echoes, wondering if that shiny 6-star you just pulled is actually worth the investment. It happens. The game is beautiful, sure, but its mechanics are dense. Between the tactical positioning and the way Echo Shards interact with your Memory Veda, picking the right characters—or Resonators—isn't just about who hits the hardest. It’s about who doesn’t die in three seconds when the difficulty spikes.
Building an Ash Echoes tier list is a bit like trying to predict the weather in a multidimensional rift. Things change fast. However, after hours of testing team synergies and banging my head against the harder tactical challenges, some clear winners have emerged. You don't need every top-tier unit to win, but you definitely need a plan.
Most people look at a character’s rarity and assume that’s the end of the story. Big mistake. In Ash Echoes, a well-placed 4-star with the right elemental synergy can often outperform a premium unit that doesn't fit your current "Memory Veda" build. It’s all about the echoes.
The Absolute Powerhouses (S-Tier)
When we talk about the top of the Ash Echoes tier list, we’re looking at units that basically ignore the rules of the game. They provide so much utility or raw damage that you’re doing yourself a disservice by not running them.
Beibei Nei is the name on everyone’s lips for a reason. She’s a Vanguard who doesn't just sit there and take hits; she manipulates the battlefield. Her ability to gather enemies makes your AoE (Area of Effect) dealers ten times more effective. If you’ve ever felt like your mages were missing their shots because enemies were too spread out, Beibei is the fix. She’s basically the glue holding high-level compositions together.
Then there’s Sakura Akane. If you want someone to just... delete things? She’s your girl. As a Striker, her single-target DPS is frankly absurd. But it’s not just the numbers. It’s the way she scales. In Ash Echoes, some characters fall off once the enemy armor gets too high. Sakura just keeps scaling. Honestly, if you’re struggling with boss timers, she’s usually the answer.
Don't sleep on Dionys. He’s a support, but calling him a "healer" feels like an insult. He provides massive buffs that turn your mediocre DPS units into monsters. He’s the backbone of most "meta" teams because he allows you to play more aggressively than the game usually intends.
The Specialized Heavy Hitters (A-Tier)
These units are incredible. They are. But they usually require a specific setup or a certain "Echo" to really shine. They aren’t "plug and play" like the S-tier units, but in the right hands, they are just as lethal.
Long Qing is a fantastic example. She’s a Tactician who excels at controlling the flow of combat. Her kit is built around defense and mitigation, which is vital for the later chapters where the "trash mobs" start hitting like trucks. She doesn't have the raw offensive pressure of the top tier, but she’ll keep you alive long enough to win the war of attrition.
- Zilong: A high-skill-cap Resonator. If you time his skills perfectly, he’s S-tier. If you mess up, he’s a liability.
- Cai Chen: Great for elemental reactions. If you’re running a specific element-heavy team, he becomes mandatory.
- Wuyu: A solid all-rounder who fits into almost any gap in your roster.
The thing about A-tier units in Ash Echoes is that they often define your "secondary" team. Since the game encourages having multiple squads for different types of content, these are the characters you’ll spend 60% of your time playing. They are reliable. They are strong. They just aren't "broken."
Why Your Memory Veda Matters More Than Rarity
Here is the truth: a tier list is only half the battle. You could have a full team of S-tier Resonators and still get wiped in the Echo Realms if your Memory Veda is trash.
The Memory Veda system is what separates Ash Echoes from your standard gacha RPG. It’s a roguelite-inspired progression system where you run through "dives" to build a permanent stat stick for your team. If you prioritize Attack on a team that needs Defense to survive, your tier list rankings don't matter. You’ll die.
I’ve seen players use "low-tier" units like Tang Yu to clear end-game content because they built a Veda that perfectly compensated for his weaknesses. It’s about synergy. Does your Echo Shard give you a bonus to lightning damage? Then maybe that B-tier lightning mage is actually your best bet.
The Budget Kings: Don't Ignore the 4-Stars
You don't need to swipe your credit card to have a good time. Some of the most consistent units on any Ash Echoes tier list are actually the lower-rarity ones.
Take Luo Yan, for instance. As a 4-star, she’s incredibly easy to max out. Her kit is straightforward but effective, providing consistent chip damage and decent crowd control. In a game where resources are scarce, being able to fully upgrade a character without spending a fortune is a massive advantage.
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Another hidden gem is Huo Hou. She’s often overlooked because she doesn't have the flashy animations of the 6-stars, but her ability to shred enemy resistances is vital for physical-heavy teams. She makes everyone else better. That’s the hallmark of a high-value unit.
Common Mistakes When Following Tier Lists
Don't just blindly follow a chart. I see it all the time in the community Discord—players benching a character they love because some website labeled them "C-tier."
First off, "C-tier" in Ash Echoes doesn't mean "garbage." It usually means "niche." A character might be C-tier because they only work against one specific boss or require a very rare Echo to function. If you happen to have that Echo, that character is suddenly an S-tier for you.
Secondly, elemental balance is king. If you build a team of five S-tier Fire units and walk into a stage filled with Water-resistant enemies, you are going to have a bad time. You need a spread.
- Check the stage weaknesses: Always. No exceptions.
- Balance your roles: You need a Vanguard, a Healer, and at least one solid DPS. Running four DPS units is a recipe for a quick restart.
- Invest in your Echoes: Your characters are only as good as the cards you equip them with.
Where the Meta is Heading in 2026
The game is evolving. We’re seeing a shift away from "raw power" and toward "mechanical utility." The newest challenges in the game aren't just DPS checks; they are positioning checks.
Characters who can teleport, knock back enemies, or create barriers are becoming increasingly valuable. This is why units like Beibei Nei stay at the top of the Ash Echoes tier list regardless of power creep. Her utility is timeless.
As more Resonators are added, look for those who offer unique interactions with the environment or the elemental field. Raw damage numbers are easy for developers to inflate, but a unique mechanic is much harder to replace.
Real-World Team Examples
If you’re just starting out or feeling stuck, try one of these compositions. They use a mix of high-tier and accessible units to ensure you aren't stuck grinding for weeks.
The "Safety First" Team:
This build focuses on staying alive. It’s slower, but it’s safe for clearing new content where you don't know the enemy patterns.
- Vanguard: Beibei Nei (or any solid tank like Nan He)
- Support: Dionys (The healing is mandatory here)
- DPS: Sakura Akane (To actually kill things eventually)
- Flex: Long Qing (For extra shields)
The "Elemental Burst" Team:
This is for when you need to clear a stage fast to get that 3-star rating.
- Tactician: Cai Chen (To set up the field)
- Mage: Any high-AoE elemental dealer (Like Zong Yu for frost)
- Vanguard: A unit that can grouped enemies together
- Support: A buffer that increases elemental damage
Making the Final Call
Ultimately, your personal Ash Echoes tier list should be dictated by what you actually have in your inventory. It’s better to have a perfectly built A-tier team than a half-baked S-tier team.
Focus on the Memory Veda. It is the heart of the game. Spend your time learning how the Echo Shards interact with your specific Resonators. Once you understand the "why" behind a character's strength, you'll stop needing a guide to tell you who to play.
Start by picking one "Carry" unit—someone like Sakura Akane or even a well-built 5-star—and build your entire team and Veda around them. Once that core is solid, you can start swapping in situational units to handle specific threats.
Next Steps for Your Account:
- Check your current roster against the elemental requirements of your next major story milestone.
- Focus all your "Echo" farming on a single Veda build that supports your strongest Resonator.
- Don't spend your premium currency on every new banner; wait for units that offer "crowd control" or "utility" rather than just higher damage numbers.
- Experiment with 4-star units in the training room to see if their skill rotations feel better for your playstyle than the "meta" picks.
The rift is waiting. Stop worrying about the "perfect" pull and start optimizing the team you've already got. You'd be surprised how far a little strategy goes.