Strikeborn Tier List
An honest early-access snapshot — two complete kits, two unfinished portraits.
A tier list for a paid early-access battlegrounds game with two complete characters is mostly a warning label. If a graphic online ranks four fighters S through D, it is already lying. This hub ranks what you can actually play in the SSSStudio build, then tells you how we will re-rank when the third finished kit arrives.
Pair this page with starter picks if you only want a main for week one, and with the Players hub if you want lore-free kit notes.
Early-access tiers (August 2026)
Criteria: completeness, confirm ease, range, air convert potential, and how often the kit throws you into a void death on the waterfall map. This is not a tournament sample. Player count is still in the low thousands and lab footage outnumbers ranked sets.
| Rank | Character | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Yuji (Vessel Sorcerer) | Fastest complete M1s, easiest air convert, counter kick, default learner. |
| S | Guts (Black Swordsman) | Complete kit, better range, named tech already, slower confirms. |
| — | Jinchuriki | Incomplete. Not ranked as a real fighter. |
| — | Gon | Incomplete. Not ranked as a real fighter. |
Yuji and Guts share S because they are the only two legal mains. Inside that band, Yuji is easier and Guts is stronger if you space. That is a playstyle split, not a 5% win-rate claim we cannot measure yet.
How to read this without getting baited
- Completeness beats fantasy. A Naruto portrait with M1s only is not “secret S tier.” It is unfinished content.
- Air converts beat damage screenshots. The character who can keep you in the sky on this map will feel better than a one-shot clip filmed in an empty server.
- Range beats pride. Guts wins rooms Yuji should not walk into. Yuji wins rooms Guts should not swing in.
- Lobby size beats matchup charts. A 100-player server punishes long cinematics. Kits with a simple dump toward the ravine rise in practice.
When someone posts a four-row tier list with Sukuna, Gojo, and Vergil, they are ranking a wishlist. This wiki will not.
What would move a character
- A finished third kit automatically enters the table. If it has poor air tools on this map, it might open at A. If it is another complete convert monster, it joins S and we split the band.
- A Guts ultimate that becomes real can push him ahead of Yuji in isolated duels. It will not matter in a blender lobby until the super is fast.
- A Yuji counter nerf would make Guts the default learner. We will note that on Updates.
- Mobile-only changes (dash pip counts, lock options) can split the list into PC / mobile later. We are not there yet.
Related pages instead of a fake 12-character graphic
- Starter picks — Yuji versus Guts for your device.
- Yuji guide and Guts guide — how to actually play the S band.
- Combat — the shared layer that makes both S.
- Roadmap — when the table should grow.
- Review — whether the game feels good enough to main anyone at all.
Until SSSStudio ships a third complete character, ignore every list that has more names than this page. Spend the time in the air. The Getting Started loop will raise your win rate more than arguing whether Guts is S or S+.
If you catch this hub still ranking only two fighters a month after a third kit ships, ping the wiki by checking Updates — the snapshot should have moved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers for Strikeborn early-access players.
Who is S tier in Strikeborn?
Yuji and Guts, because they are the only complete kits. Jinchuriki and Gon are not ranked until they have finished movesets.
Is Guts worse than Yuji?
No. He is slower and harder to confirm, with better range. Both sit in S for early access. See starter picks for device-specific advice.
Why isn't Naruto on the list?
Jinchuriki is incomplete. Ranking M1-only slots as D-tier still pretends they are real characters. They are not, yet.
When will this tier list change?
When a third complete character ships, or when a patch clearly nerfs counters, range, or air converts. Watch Updates.