Let's be real for a second. Most of us downloaded Run! Goddess because the anime art looked clean, and the idea of a parkour-shooting hybrid sounded like a fun way to kill ten minutes while waiting for the bus. Then you hit Chapter 4. Suddenly, the zombies aren't just fodder anymore; they’re absolute tanks, and your "dream team" is getting shredded in seconds. You start wondering if you need to whale out or if you just picked the wrong girls to invest your precious EXP potions into.
The truth is, this game is a massive trap for players who just auto-equip whatever has the highest "Combat Power" number. A high CP doesn't mean anything if your goddess has the wrong elemental kit for the boss you're staring down. If you want to actually survive the Last War without emptying your wallet, you need to know who genuinely carries and who is just taking up space in the barracks.
I’ve spent way too many hours testing these Dawn Valkyries to see who actually holds up when the screen is literally covered in purple slime and projectiles. Here is the actual state of the run goddess tier list as we head into 2026.
The UR Heavy Hitters (S-Tier)
If you pull one of these, you’ve basically won the lottery. Don't think; just dump every resource you have into them.
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Mina – Elemental Rhapsody
Honestly, Mina is broken. She arrived late in 2025 and completely shifted how we look at elemental builds. Her Ultimate Weapon, the Iridescent Catalyst, lets her cycle through elements, meaning she never hits a wall where she's "weak" to a stage. She’s the queen of versatility. If you’re pushing high-level towers or tricky story stages, Mina is the cheat code.
Irene – Midnight Fireworks
Irene is all about that "Midnight Dominator" life. She specializes in massive AoE burst. In the later chapters where the game throws literal hundreds of zombies at you at once, Irene just clears the lanes. It’s satisfying, kinda scary, and incredibly efficient. Her damage scaling is so high that even if you’re slightly under-leveled, she can carry a weak backline.
Liz – Mech Sakura
Liz is the tankiest "DPS" you’ll find. Her shield mechanics from the Critical Collapse weapon make her almost unkillable in parkour sections. Most goddesses die if you clip an obstacle twice; Liz just laughs and keeps shooting. She’s perfect for players who maybe don't have the fastest reflexes for the "Run" part of Run! Goddess.
The Reliable SSR Staples (A-Tier)
You can beat 90% of the game with these. They aren't as flashy as the URs, but they are much easier to "Star Up" because their shards actually drop occasionally.
Scarlet (Fire / Fighter)
Scarlet is the bread and butter of most F2P (Free to Play) accounts. She has a Burn DoT (Damage over Time) that is essential for taking down bosses with massive health bars. You pair her with a decent supporter, and she just melts things. She's been meta since the early days and honestly, she’s not going anywhere.
Leticia (Electric / Slayer)
Leticia is the PvP queen. If you care about Arena rankings, you need her. Her electric burst and cloud summons can one-shot most squishy targets before they even realize the match started. In PvE, she’s a bit more situational, but her "Slayer" role means she excels at finishing off elites.
Fenchela (Wind / Slayer)
Fenchela is all about mobility. Her dodge rating is naturally higher than almost anyone else in the roster. In a game where "Run" is literally half the title, being able to phase through damage is a godsend. She’s a 1v1 monster.
Why Some "High Rank" Goddesses Are Actually Bait
Here is where it gets tricky. If you look at some older lists, you’ll see names like Clerant or Dana ranked at the very top. Don't get me wrong, they are good, but they are "Synergy Baits."
Dana is a fantastic supporter, but if you don't have a Fire DPS like Scarlet to pair her with, she’s basically a wet noodle. She buffs Fire damage. If your team is Water and Wind, Dana is essentially a wasted slot. Same goes for Clerant. She’s a "Trickster" who relies on freezing enemies. If the boss is immune to CC (Crowd Control)—which a lot of the late-game ones are—Clerant loses half her value instantly.
Basically, stop looking at individual tiers and start looking at the tags. A B-Tier goddess that completes an elemental resonance is often better than an S-Tier that doesn't fit the vibe.
Investing Your Shards Wisely
You’re going to get a lot of SR characters like Grace or Jan. It’s tempting to Star Up Grace because she’s a great healer early on. But please, be careful. SR units have a hard cap on their stats that no amount of upgrading can fix.
- Priority 1: Your main UR or SSR damage dealer (Mina, Irene, or Scarlet).
- Priority 2: A specific elemental support that matches your dealer.
- Priority 3: A "Breaker" like Roan or Cathy to handle shields.
If you spread your experience potions across ten different girls, you’ll end up with a team of "jacks of all trades" who get stomped by the Chapter 8 boss. Focus. Pick three and stick with them until they hit the level cap.
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The "Secret" Base Mechanic
A lot of people ignore the Base Building side of Run! Goddess, thinking it’s just a side distraction. Big mistake. Your base level directly affects your Armory Box. The Armory Box is how you get higher rarity gear for free.
If you aren't upgrading your base, your run goddess tier list rankings won't matter because your S-Tier Mina will be wearing "Common" shoes and doing 40% less damage than she should. Log in, tap your chests, upgrade the base, and then go out and shoot zombies. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Making the Most of the 2026 Meta
The game is constantly evolving. With new SP Valkyries like Eve & Ashe (the Time Rift Twins) entering the fray, the power creep is real. These newer units often have "Ultimate Weapons" that change their entire playstyle.
If you’re a new player, the best move right now is to reroll until you hit at least one UR. The 3% summon rate is rough, but the 100-pull pity system is there to catch you if you’re truly unlucky. Don't settle for a mediocre start; those first few pulls define your first month of gameplay.
Check the "Twilight Mandate" or "Samsara Concerto" events whenever they pop up. These are usually the only times you can reliably get shards for the top-tier goddesses without spending a fortune. Stay focused on your core three, keep your Armory Box leveling up, and you'll actually see the end of the story.
To stay ahead of the curve, focus your daily stamina on the Daily Trials that match your lead character's element. If you're running a Wind team with Fenchela, don't waste time in the Fire dungeons until your main squad is fully maxed out. Efficiency is the only way to stay competitive in the high-tier rankings without opening your wallet every week.