Suikoden 2 Tier List Now

A special tier reserved for characters who are actively bad or hinder the player.

Role: All-Rounder / Tank Healer Why S-Tier: The protagonist is arguably the best character in the game. His unique Bright Shield Rune provides the single best healing spell in the game (compounded by a massive AoE full-heal + resurrection). He has excellent Speed and Defense, decent Strength, and his weapon swing speed is fast. Furthermore, equipping a Double-Beat Rune or Double-Strike Rune turns him into a damage machine. He never leaves your party, so invest everything in him.

Suikoden II is widely praised for its large playable cast, deep story, and party-building options. This tier list groups notable characters by overall usefulness across combat roles, skill access (e.g., rune synergy, magic), recruitment ease, and late-game viability. It assumes a typical playthrough aiming to recruit most characters. Rankings focus on single-character strength, party flexibility, and unique contributions (not every character is listed — only the most impactful or commonly debated).

S-tier — Core game-changers

A-tier — Extremely strong and often essential

B-tier — Reliable, situational, or slightly outclassed

C-tier — Niche picks, harder to justify late-game

D-tier — Situational or underpowered

How to use this list

Recruitment & availability notes

Quick party templates (typical balanced builds)

Final tips

Related search suggestions (You may use these to refine research or find detailed builds and recruitment guides.)

Would you like a full recruit-by-chapter checklist or detailed rune/equipment recommendations for a specific endgame boss?

Suikoden II features over 100 recruitable characters, but in combat, some clearly outshine the rest. This tier list focuses on damage output magic affinity unique utility to help you build the ultimate six-person party. 🏆 S-Tier: The Game Breakers

These characters can trivialise even the hardest boss fights. Riou (Hero):

Incredible stats, the Twin Fang Rune for high damage, and the Bright Shield Rune for the best healing in the game.

The premier magic user. With four rune slots and massive Magic stats, he can wipe entire enemy groups in one turn.

A physical powerhouse. He has three open rune slots, allowing you to stack Double-Beat, Fury, and Shrike runes for insane damage.

A late-game magic powerhouse who rivals Luc. His elemental magic is devastating.

A heavy-armoured tank with massive physical attack. He doesn't need complex setups to be effective. 🥇 A-Tier: Elite Specialists Highly reliable characters that excel in specific roles.

Often underrated. Her "Family Attack" with Riou is free and powerful, and her speed makes her a great item-user.

High HP and Strength. His Star Dragon Sword scales incredibly well throughout the game.

Surprisingly high magic stats for a diplomat. Great for support magic.

Exceptional speed and magic. Her unique Soul Eater-lite abilities provide great sustain.

The king of long-range damage. His accuracy and "Long-Range" status make him safe and deadly. 🥈 B-Tier: Solid Contenders

Good characters that perform well but have minor drawbacks or are outclassed by S-Tiers.

A great "Red Mage" style character (good at physical and magic), though he excels at neither.

The ultimate tank. He won't die, but his damage output is lower than Pesmerga’s.

Her Falcon Rune is great for consistent damage, though it lacks the "burst" potential of multi-slot characters. suikoden 2 tier list

Very similar to Flik; versatile and capable of holding three runes later in the game. 🥉 C-Tier: Situational or Average

These characters are usable but usually require specific equipment or runes to keep up.

Reliable early-game, but falls off due to limited rune slots. Decent long-range magic/physical hybrid, but fragile.

Balanced stats but doesn't excel in any particular category.

Useful for his unite attack with Yam Koo, but mediocre otherwise. 💀 D-Tier: The Benchwarmers

Characters generally used only for their recruitment requirements or "joke" runs.

Outclassed by almost every other physical attacker immediately.

Very low combat stats; strictly a support/medic role that others do better. Low damage, low defense, and limited utility. 💡 Pro Tips for Team Building Rune Slots are King:

In the late game, the number of rune slots a character has (1, 2, or 3) is more important than their base stats. The "Double-Beat" Meta: Characters who can equip the Double-Beat Rune (allows two hits per turn) instantly move up a tier. Balance your Rows:

Always keep high-defense characters like Viktor or Humphrey in the to protect your mages in the custom party recommendation based on where you are in the story, or perhaps a guide on where to find the best runes for these characters?

Suikoden II , the "best" characters are often defined by their Rune Slots and Rune Affinities rather than just base stats. Characters with three open rune slots are generally superior because they can equip powerful combinations like the Fury, Double-Beat, and Double-Strike runes to maximize physical damage. S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters possess the highest damage potential due to multiple rune slots or unique, high-tier abilities.

(Tenkan Star): Widely considered the best mage in the game. He has incredible Magic and Speed stats and can equip three runes, making him a devastating force with the Cyclone or Flowing runes.

(Tenbi Star): A "min-max" favourite. He has three open rune slots and strong offensive stats. Equipping him with Fury and Double-Beat runes makes him one of the highest physical damage dealers. (Tenfu Star): Similar to

boasts three open rune slots and excellent stat growth, allowing for extreme customization and damage output. Georg Prime

(Teni Star): Though he only has one rune slot, his base Attack and Defense are massive. He is often used for his raw "pummeling" power and reliability as a front-line tank. (Chikai Star): A late-game mage that rivals

in power. He comes with high-level MP and excellent affinities for elemental magic. A-Tier: Versatile Elites

Reliable characters that often form the backbone of a strong mid-to-late game party. Who is Best in Suikoden II (Tier List)

Suikoden II , character effectiveness is primarily determined by their number of open Rune slots (maximum of three), their speed, and their specific elemental affinities. While nearly any character is viable for a casual playthrough, specific "S-Tier" units dominate the endgame due to their ability to equip powerful rune combinations like Fury, Double-Strike, and Double-Beat simultaneously. S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters possess three open rune slots and exceptional base stats, allowing them to deal the highest potential damage in the game.

: Often cited as the mathematically strongest physical attacker when fully optimized with three rune slots and high strength.

: Another three-slot powerhouse. While he joins late, his high potential makes him a staple for endgame "min-maxing".

: The premier mage. His massive Magic stat and high speed allow him to end most encounters with a single spell. Riou (Hero)

: While his middle rune is fixed (Bright Shield), his exceptional speed, balanced stats, and early availability make him a permanent top-tier unit.

: Frequently ranked in the top 5 for maximum potential damage due to their three rune slots and high multi-hit potential. A-Tier: Reliable & Versatile

These units are consistently strong throughout the game, often featuring high base stats or useful fixed runes, though they may lack the three-slot flexibility of S-tier units. : The "backbone" of many parties. has high HP/Strength and two open slots, while

excels as a hybrid fighter-mage with strong Lightning affinity. Georg Prime

: Boasts some of the highest base attack and defense stats in the game. His only drawback is his late recruitment and lack of additional rune slots for customization.

: A top-tier magic user with high speed and unique Darkness rune abilities, though she is slightly limited by her inability to use certain support runes. A special tier reserved for characters who are

: Highly valued for her exceptional speed and her powerful Unite Attack with , which is effective for clearing regular enemy mobs. B-Tier: Niche & Solid Contenders

: A fantastic tank who can spam her "Angry Dragon" rune. She is particularly strong if given a Fury Rune early on.

: Can be extremely powerful if equipped with a Fire Sealing Rune to negate the self-damage from his Fire Dragon Rune.

: One of the strongest physical attackers from the first game who remains potent here, though she doesn't unlock her second rune slot until higher levels. D-Tier: The "Joke" or Underwhelming Units

These characters are generally avoided for serious combat due to poor stats or a lack of useful abilities.

: Notoriously weak stats, though sometimes used for his "Medic" ability early on.

: Generally considered bottom-tier due to low growth and limited utility compared to the 100+ other allies.

For more in-depth data, fans often refer to the comprehensive Character Database on GameFAQs or the community discussions at Suikosource. Best? - Suikoden - GameFAQs

Here’s a Suikoden II character tier list write-up, focusing on combat viability, rune slots, unite attacks, and overall utility (excluding story bias unless it impacts gameplay).

This is the tragedy of Suikoden II. Some characters have amazing stats but are ruined by a permanently attached, mediocre rune that occupies a slot you cannot change.

Suikoden 2 is not a difficult game, but using D or C-tier characters forces you to grind for hours. The S-Tier characters (Riou, Viktor, Flik, Pesmerga, Luc) trivialize even the hardest encounters.

When building your team, remember the golden rule: Speed + Rune Slots > High HP.

If you are playing Suikoden 2 for the first time, stick to the A and S tiers listed above. Save the novelty runs with Gengen and Vincent for your second or third playthrough.

What do you think? Did we rank Killey too high? Is Sierra truly S-Tier? Let us know in the comments below and share your own Suikoden 2 tier list!

Suikoden II , a character's effectiveness is primarily determined by their rune slots (up to three), and rune affinities

. While the game is flexible enough to allow for many viable teams, certain characters stand out as elite based on their damage potential and versatility. God Tier: The Game-Breakers

These characters possess exceptional stats and access to three rune slots, allowing for the most powerful combinations (such as Double-Beat Double-Strike Tir McDohl

: As the protagonist of the first game, he has arguably the best stats and the powerful Soul Eater

rune. He remains a top-tier physical and magical powerhouse.

: Widely considered the best mage in the game due to his massive magic stat and speed. He is highly effective with : Both are elite physical attackers because they gain three open rune slots

early and have high speed and power, making them the best candidates for pure damage setups.

: Joins late but arrives with incredibly high magic stats and multiple rune slots, rivaling for magical dominance S-Tier: Top-Tier Combatants

Highly reliable characters that often anchor most endgame parties. Georg Prime

: Boasts some of the highest physical stats in the game. Although he lacks a third rune slot, his innate power and rune make him a monster on the front lines. : Similar to

, he has massive defense and attack power. He is a "tank" who can dish out heavy damage without much setup

: A powerful mage and fighter with a unique rune that provides high sustainability. Riou (Hero) : While forced into the party, his Bright Shield Rune makes him the best healer and a solid all-around combatant. A-Tier: Strong & Versatile

Characters that are consistently strong but may be slightly outclassed by the God/S-tiers in raw output. Who is Best in Suikoden II (Tier List) 7 Jul 2021 —

Recruiting the 108 Stars of Destiny is only half the battle in Suikoden II. With over 70 playable characters to choose from, building an efficient party can be overwhelming. While the game is beatable with almost any team, certain characters stand out for their devastating rune combinations, high-speed magic casting, or sheer physical power.

This tier list ranks characters based on their late-game potential, specifically focusing on their rune slot availability, stat growth, and accessibility. S-Tier: The Powerhouses A-tier — Extremely strong and often essential

These characters are essentially broken. They possess three open rune slots (often unlocked at high levels), allowing for the legendary "Steamroll" setup: Fury, Double-Beat, and Double-Strike runes.

Killey: Widely considered the best physical attacker in the game. With three open rune slots and high stats, he can dish out tens of thousands of damage when properly equipped with items like the Fire Emblem.

Sheena: A close second to Killey. His three rune slots and high overall stats make him a versatile elite fighter, though his magic is slightly lower than dedicated mages.

Hai Yo: Don't let the chef's hat fool you. Once he reaches level 65, he unlocks a third rune slot. With the right setup, he is one of the most powerful damage dealers in the game.

Chaco: His high speed and three rune slots make him an offensive monster. Some players dislike his slow attack animation, but his damage output is undeniable.

Tir McDohl (Hero of S1): Only available if you load a save from the first game. His Soul Eater rune is arguably the strongest in the franchise, and his stats are off the charts. A-Tier: Elite Specialists

These characters are nearly as good as S-Tier but might have a fixed rune or slightly fewer slots. Best? - Suikoden - GameFAQs

Suikoden II combat meta typically favors high physical DPS characters who can equip the "Power Trifecta": Fury, Double-Strike, and Double-Beat runes. While mages like

have the highest magic stats, physical attackers often outclass them in the endgame because they don't rely on limited spell slots. Combat Tier List

Suikoden II , character effectiveness is generally measured by rune slot availability (up to 3), speed, and magic affinity. While nearly any party can finish the game, certain characters consistently stand out as powerhouses. S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters possess exceptional stats or unique abilities that make them staples for any endgame party. McDohl (Tir)

: The protagonist of the first game. He has the best unique rune ( Soul Eater ) and incredible physical stats.

: A magic monster with the highest Magic stat in the game and early access to three rune slots. : Similar to

, he is a late-game magic powerhouse with naturally high stats and multiple rune slots : Her unique Falcon Rune

allows her to deal 3x damage every turn with no penalty, making her one of the best physical DPS units. Georg Prime

: Boasts some of the highest physical attack and defense stats in the series, often dealing massive critical damage. : As the protagonist, his Bright Shield Rune provides essential healing and high-tier holy damage. A-Tier: Highly Reliable

Strong units that excel in their roles but may be slightly outclassed by S-tier specialists. : The iconic duo. is a strong magic-knight hybrid, while is a pure physical tank with a massive health pool

: One of the few characters who can reach three rune slots. With the right setup (e.g., Double-Beat runes), his damage output is enormous.

: A back-row sniper with exceptional speed and accuracy. His gun deals heavy damage from safety.

: A vampire with high speed and magic stats, plus a unique rune that drains HP from enemies.

: An excellent back-row mage with high magic growth and versatility. B-Tier: Solid Role Players

Effective characters that usually require specific setups or "Unite" attacks to shine.

: Extremely fast and reliable, though her physical damage can lag in the late game without runes.

: A versatile fighter who can reach three rune slots but lacks the raw base stats of

: A pure tank. While he lacks speed, his defense is nearly unmatched.

: Reliable physical fighters with decent availability throughout the story. C-Tier & Below: Niche or Underwhelming

Characters that are often outclassed by others in the same range or have poor stat growth.

: His unique rune causes him self-damage unless equipped with fire-protection gear, making him high-maintenance.

: While charming, their stats generally don't scale well into the late game.

: Primarily a support character who is quickly outclassed by better mages or healers. rune setup recommendation for one of these top-tier characters? How to prevent Nanami from dying in Suikoden? - Facebook Apr 15, 2568 BE —

These characters are largely outclassed or possess gimmicks that are too cumbersome for a standard playthrough. They are recruits for the castle, not for the battlefield.