Okay, so I’ve been absolutely glued to Soulrift for the past few weeks, and let me tell you, I’ve made some terrible character choices. Like, genuinely awful decisions that made me want to restart entire runs.
When I first started playing, I picked Zephyr because he looked cool. Swordsman with ranged slashing attacks and I was like, Sign me up. And honestly I think he’s fine. But then I started seeing other players absolutely shredding bosses with characters I’d never even heard of, and I realized I was seriously missing out.
So I did what any sane person would do: I grinded like crazy, unlocked every single character, and tested them all extensively. Some were amazing. Some were not. And some completely changed how I approached the game.
Here’s everything I wish someone had told me arranged in a tier list before I wasted my Souls on characters that looked cool but underperformed.
The Starting Characters That’ll Get You Through Early Game
Zephyr – The Reliable Starter
Base Health: 110 | Unlock: Free
Zephyr was my first love. And honestly I think he’s not bad at all.
He’s a swordsman with fast-paced moves and ranged slashing attacks. The ranged aspect is what makes him stand out from other melee characters. You can stay at a safe distance while still dealing solid damage.
I used Zephyr for my first like 20 runs and he never let me down. He’s consistent. He’s reliable. He doesn’t have any cool mechanics or complicated gimmicks. You just fight.
The 110 base health is also solid. Not the tankiest, but definitely not squishy. You can take a few hits without panicking.
Who should pick him: Beginners. Anyone who wants a straightforward, no-nonsense playstyle. He’ll carry you through early content easily.
Cross – The Laser Pointer
Base Health: 100 | Unlock: Free
Cross is the other starter character, and he’s basically the ranged counterpart to Zephyr.
He’s equipped with lasers and grenades, which sounds awesome until you realize his damage isn’t exactly top-tier. But the range is incredible. You can sit back, spam abilities, and never really get close to danger.
The grenades are honestly the highlight. They deal decent AoE damage and can clear groups of enemies pretty efficiently. The lasers are more single-target focused.
I found Cross to be a bit underwhelming compared to Zephyr. The damage just isn’t there. But if you’re someone who hates getting hit and prefers to play at maximum distance, he’s a solid pick.
Who should pick him: Players who prefer ranged combat. Anyone who wants to stay far away from bosses.
The Shop Characters That Are Actually Worth Your Souls
Reviva – The Team’s Best Friend
Base Health: 80 | Cost: 250 Souls
Okay, let me tell you about the first character I bought with Souls. I was skeptical at first, 80 health is terrifyingly low. But Reviva completely changed my runs.
Reviva is a support character that offers constant healing and a team revive. I cannot stress enough how valuable the revive is in this game. Boss fights can go south fast, and having someone who can bring back a fallen teammate is an absolute lifesaver.
The constant healing means you don’t have to rely on health pickups as much. Your team just sustains. It’s beautiful.
The downside is that 80 health. You are squishy. Like, really squishy. One wrong move and you’re dead before you can heal anyone. But if you play carefully and position well, Reviva is a game-changer.
Who should pick her: Anyone playing in a team. Supports are always needed, and Reviva is the best one in the game.
Sunder – The Damage Monster
Base Health: 125 | Cost: 1000 Souls
Holy crap, this character.
Sunder is a close-range DPS character that offers some of the highest damage output in the entire game. I’m talking absolutely melting boss health bars. The numbers are insane.
The 125 base health makes him one of the tankiest characters too. You can get right in the boss’s face and just go absolutely ham without worrying about getting one-shot.
The downside? Close-range only. You have to be right up in the action. And with some bosses that have devastating melee attacks, that can be risky. But if you know boss patterns and can dodge effectively, Sunder is an absolute powerhouse.
I unlocked Sunder after saving up 1000 Souls and immediately regretted not doing it sooner. My boss kill times dropped dramatically. He’s just so, so strong.
Who should pick him: Anyone who loves big damage numbers. Close-range players who aren’t afraid of getting hit.
Ricochet – The Speed Demon
Base Health: 90 | Cost: 1500 Souls
Ricochet is weird. He deals low damage but fires at extremely high speeds. And he has one of the most versatile kits in the game.
The low damage per hit is noticeable at first. You’re like “why am I hitting for so little?” But then you realize you’re firing like five times per second and the damage adds up fast.
The versatility is the real selling point. Ricochet has abilities that let him reposition, deal burst damage, and control the battlefield in ways other characters can’t match. He’s not the best at any one thing, but he’s good at everything.
The 90 health is a bit low, so you have to be careful. But his mobility more than makes up for it. You can dodge attacks that would obliterate slower characters.
Who should pick him: Players who love high APM gameplay. Anyone who wants flexibility in their kit.
Lumina – The Long-Range Nuke
Base Health: 90 | Cost: 2500 Souls
Lumina is expensive. Like, really expensive. I saved up for ages to get her, and honestly I think this is worth every single Soul.
She’s a high-damage character with very long range. Multiple high-damage abilities, but they all have longer cooldowns.
The playstyle is basically: stand way back, drop your abilities, deal massive damage, then wait for cooldowns. It’s a rhythm. You’re not constantly attacking like Ricochet. You’re waiting for the right moment to unload everything.
The damage is genuinely insane. I’ve seen bosses lose chunks of health from a single Lumina ability rotation. She’s a glass cannon in the truest sense.
That 90 health means you die fast if anything gets close. But with that range, nothing should be getting close. Position well and you’ll dominate.
Who should pick her: Players who love burst damage. Anyone who can manage cooldowns effectively.
Raiden – The Versatile God
Base Health: 110 | Cost: 4000 Souls
Four thousand Souls. I had to grind for so long to get Raiden. And let me tell you, it was worth every single second.
Raiden is very versatile, offering both melee and ranged abilities that focus on heavy damage. Plus he has a grappling hook for insane mobility.
I cannot overstate how fun the grappling hook is. You can zip around the arena, reposition instantly, and avoid attacks that would destroy other characters. It adds a whole new dimension to combat.
The damage is fantastic. The mobility is unmatched. The health is solid. There’s really no downside to Raiden. He’s just good at everything.
I’ve been maining Raiden since I unlocked him and I don’t see myself switching anytime soon. He’s that good.
Who should pick him: Anyone. He’s the best all-rounder in the game. If you can afford him, get him.
The Quest Characters That Test Your Patience
Clockwork – The Utility King
Base Health: 90 | Unlock: Awakening Quest
Clockwork was a pain to unlock. The Awakening Quest took me forever. But once I got him, I understood why he’s so sought after.
He’s one of the best utility supports in the game. He provides acceleration, immunity, and movement boosts to teammates. The buffs are insane.
The immunity buff is the real star. Being able to make teammates immune to damage for a short time can turn a boss fight around completely.
The 90 health is low, but you’re not supposed to be tanking hits as Clockwork. You’re supposed to be buffing your team and staying out of danger.
Who should pick him: Support players. Anyone who loves enabling their team.
Crystal – The Ice Queen
Base Health: 100 | Unlock: A Tundra Menace Quest
Crystal focuses on ice and snow. She has multiple great AoE damage moves as well as short- and long-range options.
The AoE damage is fantastic for clearing groups. But in boss fights, the damage feels a bit lacking compared to dedicated DPS characters.
That said, the versatility is nice. You can engage at range, close in when needed, and control the battlefield with ice abilities. She’s a solid all-rounder.
Who should pick her: Players who want a mix of AoE and single-target damage.
Nyx – The Blood Thirsty Assassin
Base Health: 80 | Unlock: Greater Heights Quest
Nyx is interesting. She’s a close-range DPS unit that relies on fast, slashing attacks with a dagger. And she has a unique Blood meter that fills up as the fight goes on.
When you use the Blood meter, it deals massive damage to bosses. The mechanic is super satisfying. You build up Blood throughout the fight, then unleash it for a huge burst.
The downside is that 80 health. You’re fragile. You have to be perfect with your dodges. But the damage potential is absolutely worth the risk.
I’ve had runs where Nyx’s Blood burst basically oneshot a boss. It’s incredible.
Who should pick her: Aggressive players who love risk-reward mechanics. Anyone who wants huge burst damage.
Scar – The Burning Man
Base Health: 105 | Unlock: Burning Soul Quest
Scar utilizes fire for his attacks, which also apply a burn to the boss, dealing ticking damage. He also excels in AoE attacks.
The burn damage is the real selling point. You’re not just dealing damage up front—you’re also dealing damage over time. Against high-health bosses, that ticking damage adds up significantly.
The 105 health is solid. You’re not too squishy, not too tanky. Just right.
The AoE is great for clearing groups, but the single-target damage is where Scar really shines. Those burns are no joke.
Who should pick him: Players who love damage over time. Anyone who wants consistent, sustained damage.
The Ones You Should Unlock First
If you’re like me and you want to maximize your Soul spending, here’s the order I’d recommend:
Reviva first. She’s only 250 Souls and completely changes team runs. Just get her.
Sunder second. 1000 Souls is a grind, but the damage output is unmatched. You won’t regret it.
Raiden eventually. 4000 Souls takes forever, but he’s the best all-rounder in the game.
Skip Lumina unless you really love burst damage. Skip Ricochet unless you want versatility. Focus on the game-changers first.
What I Wish I’d Known From The Start
Don’t sleep on supports. I ignored Reviva for way too long and regretted it. A good support makes everyone’s life easier.
Health isn’t everything. Nyx has 80 health but can outdamage characters with way more. Don’t be scared of low health characters, just learn to dodge.
The quest characters are worth the grind. Clockwork, Crystal, Nyx, and Scar are all excellent. Don’t skip the quests just because they’re hard.
Raiden is worth saving for. Four thousand Souls feels impossible at first, but the grind is worth it.
FAQ
Q: Who’s the best character for beginners?
A: Zephyr. He’s simple, has solid health, and the ranged slashing attacks keep you safe. Cross is also fine if you prefer ranged combat.
Q: Is Reviva worth the 250 Souls?
A: Absolutely. Her constant healing and team revive are game-changing. She’s the best support in the game.
Q: Who deals the most damage?
A: Sunder has the highest consistent DPS. Nyx has the highest burst damage with her Blood meter. Both are incredible.
Q: Is Raiden worth 4000 Souls?
A: Yes, he’s the best all-rounder in the game. The grappling hook makes him insanely mobile and his damage is fantastic.
Q: How do I unlock Clockwork?
A: Complete the Awakening Quest. It’s tough, but Clockwork’s utility buffs are worth the effort.
Q: Are the quest characters better than the shop characters?
A: Not necessarily. They’re all good in different ways. Clockwork is an amazing support, Nyx has incredible burst, Scar has great DoT, and Crystal has solid AoE. But Sunder and Raiden from the shop are also top-tier.
Q: What’s the best team composition?
A: A support like Reviva or Clockwork, a tanky DPS like Sunder, and a ranged DPS like Lumina or Ricochet. That’s a solid core.
Q: Should I buy Lumina or save for Raiden?
A: Save for Raiden. He’s more versatile and has the grappling hook for mobility. Lumina is good, but Raiden is better overall.
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