So, you’ve probably spent the last three hours staring at the "Trekker" recruitment screen in Stella Sora, wondering if that shiny new 5-star you just pulled is actually worth the resources or just pretty window dressing. I get it. Yostar’s latest venture into the "Monolith" labyrinths of Nova is flashy, chaotic, and frankly, a little confusing when you first look at the elemental mark system.
The reality is that a lot of early guides got things wrong because they looked at raw DPS numbers instead of how these characters actually behave during a high-stakes Ascension Tower run. You can have the highest attack stat in the world, but if your Vanguard gets stuck in a long animation while a boss is charging a wipe mechanic, that "top tier" unit is just a liability.
Let's break down the actual Stella Sora tier list as it stands in early 2026, focusing on who genuinely carries you through the endgame and who is just a "newbie bait" unit.
The God Tier: Trekkers Who Break the Game
If you're rerolling or looking to spend your hard-earned gems, these are the only names that should make you jump out of your seat. These units don't just deal damage; they fundamentally change how the game’s mechanics work in your favor.
Chitose (Aqua Vanguard)
Honestly, Chitose is the "blender" of this game. She’s a 5-star Aqua Vanguard who dual-wields katanas, and her skill, Torrent Flash, lets her dash through enemies like they aren't even there. What makes her S+ tier isn't just the damage—it's the mobility and the fact that she applies the Chill status and Aqua Marks effortlessly. Every two casts, her skill upgrades, making her one of the most consistent DPS units for both clearing mobs and shredding bosses.
Nazuna (Terra Support)
If you aren't running Nazuna, you're playing on hard mode. Period. She’s a 5-star Terra Support who literally rides a shopping cart into battle. It sounds ridiculous, but her Dream Spiral ultimate and the penguin plushies she summons provide the best damage amplification in the game. In a Terra-focused team (the current meta-heavy hitter), she turns your Vanguard into a god. The RNG "raffle buffs" she gives out might seem annoying, but even her "bad" buffs are better than most other supports' best efforts.
Shia (Lux Vanguard)
Shia is the newest heavy hitter on the block. For a long time, the Lux element was kinda struggling because it lacked a dedicated, high-burst main carry. Shia fixed that. She’s fast, explosive, and fills the screen with light-based AOE that triggers Lux Marks faster than most players can keep track of. If you pulled her during the recent banner, congrats—you just unlocked the "Easy Mode" for Umbra-heavy stages.
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The High Performers: Solid S-Tier Units
These characters are fantastic. They might have one or two tiny flaws—maybe they’re a bit "clunky" to pilot or require specific teammates to really shine—but you’ll never regret investing in them.
- Gerie (Terra Vanguard): She’s the anchor of the "Terra Comp" everyone talks about. Her Thorned Inferno creates an Iron Cage that grants her a "Lethal" status. If you like seeing big, green numbers and having a character that’s basically impossible to kill, Gerie is your girl.
- Fuyuka (Ignis Vanguard): Raw fire power. Fuyuka uses a unique bullet mechanic that makes her basic attacks hit like a truck. She’s the backbone of mono-Ignis teams.
- Minova (Lux Versatile): A hybrid tank-support who carries a baseball bat. She provides incredible team sustain. Some people find her a bit slow, but in high-floor Ascension runs, her invulnerability frames on her skill are a literal lifesaver.
- Nanoha (Ventus Vanguard): She’s the queen of AOE. She throws sunflower shurikens and creates clones. While some players find her single-target damage a bit lacking compared to Chitose, her ability to control a crowded room is unmatched.
The "A-Tier" Trap: Good, But Not Great
This is where things get controversial. A lot of players see a 5-star like Chixia and assume she belongs at the top.
Kinda, but not really.
Chixia (Ignis Versatile) is powerful, but she requires a lot of manual finesse. If you’re playing on auto or just aren't great at dodging, she dies... a lot. Her Purifying Flames deal great damage over time, but she lacks the defensive utility that makes the S-tier units so stable.
Then you have characters like Ann and Ridge. They are 4-star units that punch way above their weight class. Ann is basically a "budget Nazuna" for Ventus teams, and Ridge is a solid off-field Terra DPS. They are "A-tier" because they eventually get outscaled by the 5-star monsters, but for the first 40 hours of the game? They’re basically essential.
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Why Element Marks Actually Matter More Than Rarity
You'll see people complaining on Reddit that their 5-star team is losing to a team of 4-stars. The reason is usually Elemental Marks. In Stella Sora, the synergy between your team members is everything.
If you run an Ignis character with a Ventus character, you're triggering the Breeze and Burn interactions. If you just throw your three strongest 5-stars together without looking at their elements, you’re leaving about 40% of your potential damage on the table. This is why a "mid-tier" unit like Flora (4-star Ignis Support) is actually S-tier if you’re running a mono-fire team. She boosts crit rate and crit damage specifically for her element, which makes the whole team explode.
Don't Sleep on the Ascension Tower "Records"
One thing most people ignore when looking at a Stella Sora tier list is how much the roguelike "Ascension Tower" changes things. You don't just "build" a character once. You run the tower, collect "Potential cards" and "Music notes," and create a Record.
A character like Mistique (Umbra Versatile) might seem average in story mode, but if you get a lucky run in the Tower and build an "Evasion kit" Record for her, she becomes an untouchable shadow goddess. You should be dismantling your low-floor Records constantly to get Journey Tickets and keep rolling for those "OP" card combinations.
Actionable Strategy for Your Account
If you want to actually progress without hitting a wall, stop spreading your resources thin. Pick one main element—usually Terra or Aqua since they have the most accessible high-tier units right now—and dump everything into a core three-member team.
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- Check your roster for Nazuna or Chitose. If you have either, build around them immediately.
- Focus on "Discs" that match your element. Don't just auto-equip based on rarity; the elemental set bonuses are massive.
- Dismantle old Tower Records. Use those Journey Tickets to target-farm the specific Potential cards that make your main DPS shine.
- Ignore the "Tier 4" units like Laru or Coronis unless you literally have no other choice. They fall off a cliff once you hit the mid-game Bounty Trials.
The meta in Stella Sora shifts every time a new Monolith opens up, but for now, sticking to high-mobility Vanguards and heavy-buffing Supports is the only way to survive the grind. Focus on the synergy, keep your dodge finger ready, and stop over-investing in "glass cannon" units that can't survive a single boss stomp.