Let's be real: most tier lists for gacha games are just a popularity contest wrapped in a spreadsheet. You see a flashy 5-star at the top, drop all your crystals, and then wonder why your team is getting absolutely bodied in Dimensional Twilight. Chaos Zero Nightmare is a different beast entirely. It’s a deck-builder first and a gacha second. If you aren't thinking about Action Point (AP) economy and card cycling, even an "S-Tier" unit will feel like dead weight.
I've spent way too many hours testing these combatants, and honestly, the "nightmare" isn't the difficulty—it's the misinformation floating around. You’ve probably seen people putting Haru or Khalipe at the absolute top of every chaos zero nightmare tier list, but that’s only half the story.
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Context is everything. A unit that nukes a boss in three turns might be useless in a high-chaos run where you need sustained shielding and AP regeneration just to survive the first wave.
The God Tier: Units That Break the Game
If you’re rerolling, these are the only names you should care about. They don't just "do damage"; they change the rules of the game.
Mika (Support / Order)
It’s kind of wild that a 4-star is the most important character in the game. Seriously. Mika is the engine. Between her massive healing and AP battery capabilities, she makes expensive DPS units actually playable. Without Mika, you’re basically playing with one hand tied behind your back. She reduces stress and keeps the tempo high. If she's not in your squad, you're playing on hard mode for no reason.
Hugo (Ranger / Order)
Hugo is the king of follow-up attacks. His "Commence the Hunt" passive is basically a cheat code. Every time a teammate uses a single-target attack, Hugo just... attacks again. For free. In a game where every Action Point counts, getting free damage is the highest value you can get. He scales incredibly well into the late game, especially when paired with units that have low-cost cards.
Veronica (Ranger / Passion)
There was a lot of debate early on about Veronica, but the community has finally realized she’s a monster. She summons ballistas that deal damage every turn for zero cost. Zero. Plus, she draws cards for the whole team. In a deck-builder, card draw is king. She thins your deck and provides consistent chip damage that adds up faster than you’d think.
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The Heavy Hitters: S-Tier Powerhouses
These characters are phenomenal but usually require a bit more setup or a specific "Epiphany" to truly shine.
Mei Lin (Striker / Passion)
Mei Lin is the queen of combos. If you want to see a boss's health bar disappear in a single turn, she’s your girl. Her kit revolves around "Ember" and "Strikes." If you manage her cards correctly, you can theoretically pull off infinite combos. The catch? You actually have to use your brain. One wrong card play and her momentum dies.
Khalipe (Vanguard / Instinct)
Most people build Khalipe as a pure tank, which is fine, but they’re missing out. She’s a hybrid. She generates shields while doing respectable AoE damage. In the Chaos Manifestation mode, she’s almost mandatory because she stabilizes the front line while you wait for your DPS to ramp up.
Chizuru (Psionic / Void)
Technical. That’s the best way to describe her. Chizuru marks enemies and builds "Will-O-Wisp" stacks. It takes a few turns to get the engine running, but once it does, her finisher "Shadow of the Moon Plus" hits like a freight train. She’s better for bossing than mob clearing.
The A-Tier: Reliable but Niche
You won't regret building these, but they aren't "plug and play" like the ones above.
- Haru: She’s the poster child for the game, and her "Anchor Shot" is iconic. However, she’s incredibly AP-hungry. Without Mika or another battery, Haru is just a flashy paperweight.
- Tressa: A free unit that is actually good? Rare, I know. Her Damage over Time (DoT) stacks are great for high-defense bosses.
- Rin: If you like stance-dancing and complex mechanics, Rin is fun. If you want easy wins, look elsewhere. She requires a very specific deck build to not feel clunky.
- Magna: The definition of "safe." She provides incredible survivability for beginners, but her damage ceiling is a bit low for the ultra-late-game "Zero System."
Why Your Tier List Probably Sucks
The biggest mistake players make is ignoring synergy. A "Tier 2" character like Maribell looks bad on paper because her base stats are mid. But if you pair her with Amir (who attacks whenever a shield is generated), they suddenly become an unstoppable counter-attacking duo.
You also have to consider the "Epiphany" system. An A-tier unit with a specific S-rank Epiphany is often better than an S-tier unit with a trash build. For example, Mei Lin becomes "broken" only when you get the Epiphany that makes her basic attacks cost zero after a recall.
How to Build Your First "Real" Team
Don't just mash your highest-rated units together. It won't work. You need a structure.
- The Battery: You need someone to give you AP or draw cards. (Mika, Cassius, or Veronica).
- The Anchor: This is your main damage dealer. (Hugo, Mei Lin, or Haru).
- The Flex: A tank or a sub-DPS to fill the gaps. (Khalipe, Selena, or Magna).
If you’re just starting, the "Starter Trio" of Mei Lin + Mika + Cassius is arguably better than a team of random 5-stars. It’s stable, has great card flow, and doesn't require high investment to feel good.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Account
If you want to stop struggling and start clearing the "Nightmare" content, do this:
- Stop pulling for every new banner. Focus on getting your core team to level 50+ first.
- Invest in Mika. Even if you have 5-star supports, Mika’s AP generation is currently unmatched in the 2026 meta.
- Farm the right Epiphanies. A character is only half-complete without their signature upgrade. Look for "Resonating Darkness" if you run Void teams.
- Read the cards. I know, I know—reading is hard. But understanding the difference between "Discard" and "Exhaust" will save your run when you’re deep in the Dimensional Twilight.
The meta will shift, and nerfs happen, but the fundamental mechanics of AP and card advantage aren't going anywhere. Build your team around those, and you'll stay ahead of the curve.