Kaiju No. 8 The Game Tier List — Who’s Meta (2025)
Yo — if you’re reading this, you’ve probably jumped into Kaiju No. 8 THE GAME (2025) and are wondering: who’s worth investing in? This guide is exactly for that. I’m writing as a player — the kind who’s pulled a couple 5-stars, rerolled a few times, and spent long nights farming materials for gear or ascension. Let’s get real about who’s meta, who’s just “meh,” and who’s your early-game carry.
I. Introduction to Kaiju No. 8 The Game Tier List
A. Game Overview: Turn-Based RPG Combat
Kaiju No. 8 The Game dropped globally on August 31, 2025 for mobile, with a PC (Steam) release following in early October. +2rpgsite.net+2
It’s a free-to-play, gacha-style title rooted in the hit manga/anime, offering 3D graphics, full voice acting, and turn-based squad combat where you bring a team of four officers to slay monstrous kaiju. +2Steam 商店+2
B. Why a Tier List Matters
With dozens of characters, various weapon/attribute types, and multiple game modes — story, memories, character episodes, raids — it’s easy to get overwhelmed. A solid tier list gives you a map: who to aim for, who to reroll for early, and who to bench for later.
C. Tier List Evaluation Methodology
In building this ranking, I considered multiple factors:
DPS & damage output (how much raw damage a character deals, single-target or AoE)
Utility & versatility (survivability, buffs/debuffs, team synergy, support roles)
Accessibility and resource requirement (how much investment for a hero to perform well)
Performance across content types (story, farming, boss raids, harder modes)
D. Multiple Content Types Requiring Different Rankings
Note: a hero that crushes in farming or story may underperform in high-level raid content or boss battles. Thus, I weigh versatility and high-end stability heavily for SS/S tiers.
E. Tier List Update Frequency
This is based on the current build as of late 2025, tied to launch content + first patches. As new characters or balance updates come, this list can change — treat this as a living guide.
II. Complete Character Tier List Rankings
Here’s how I break down the heroes: from SS “must-get” picks to lower-tier fillers or budget starters.
A. SS Tier: Game-Changing Priority Characters
These are your dream pulls. High damage, high utility, and solid across most content — from story mode to endgame raids.
Gen Narumi (Future Sight) — Top-tier attacker, insane damage output, great scaling.
Hikari Shinomiya (The Valkyrie) — Strong blend of offense and utility; her kit shines especially in prolonged fights.
Chester (The All-Rounder) — Premium support: buffs/debuffs + sustain support that boosts any team.
Sagan Shinomiya (Dimensionally Distorted) — Top-tier defender/tank: high survivability and utility; great for tough content.
Kikoru Shinomiya (The Inherited Will) — Powerful attacker with strong burst and scaling, ideal for boss-heavy content.
Soshiro Hoshina (United Front) — Balanced attacker with good versatility — solid single-target and AoE potential.
Reno Ichikawa (The Compatible User) — Ranged/gunner style attacker, useful especially in content where range and speed matter.
Why SS matters: These units often remain viable even with later updates, gear investment, and are versatile enough across modes — story, raids, farming, etc.
If you pull one of these, you’re golden.
B. S Rank: Extremely Versatile and Strong
Great units — maybe not alpha-dog, but very dependable, especially if you don’t want to rely only on top-tier pulls.
Base version of Kaiju No. 8 — solid blunt-attacker; good early-game investment and decent scaling.
Isao Shinomiya — dependable tank/defender; extra defensive utility without overly high resource requirements.
Mina Ashiro — ranged/shot-attacker, useful especially in modes where mobility or range helps.
Other S-tier units provide strong utility or specific strengths, making them good for a main or secondary slot depending on team needs.
S-tier units are excellent if you didn’t get an SS hero — they offer a safe, stable base and can handle most mid- to high-level content.
C. A Rank: Strong and Situational Picks
These characters aren’t game-breakers — but under the right conditions, they can perform.
Variants or lower rarity versions of mid-top heroes — e.g. some versions of Kikoru, Mina, or Soshiro.
Good as secondary or flex units: maybe not carry-level, but fine as support, filler, or if you want to experiment.
Best used when you lack better options, or want to run niche content, or fill roles without spending too many resources.
If you plan to play casually or take your time building, A-tier heroes can give a solid experience without deep investment.
D. B and C Tiers: Beginner and Niche Picks
B-Tier: Often inexpensive (or early-game friendly), but start to show weaknesses mid-game — lower damage, scaling issues, limited utility.
C-Tier: Mostly filler/joke characters — might have a gimmick or situational usefulness, but generally not worth heavy investment.
Use these for fun runs, early-game learning, or until you get better heroes. Don’t rely on them for endgame.
III. Tier List Evaluation Criteria (What makes or breaks a hero)
Understanding why heroes are placed where helps you make informed pulls or investments. Here’s what I looked at:
A. DPS (Damage Per Second) & Output Potential
Top priority. For attackers — how much damage per skill, per turn, AoE or single target. Higher DPS = easier clears, faster farming, easier boss fights.
B. Versatility & Utility
Can this hero fit multiple roles? Tank + buffer + DPS? Survivability + crowd-control? Heroes that offer flexibility (defense, offense, utility) rank higher.
C. Rarity & Accessibility
A 5-star limited character with high power may be amazing — but if drop or pull rates are low, the risk vs gain matters. More accessible heroes (stable banners, 4-star, easier to get) have value especially for F2P or casual players.
D. Early-Game / Low Investment Performance
Some characters perform well even without maxed gear or high-level investment — good for new players. Others need deep investment to feel worthwhile. The former tend to have more beginner-friendly ranking potential.
IV. Reroll Tier List and Starting Strategy
If you’re brand new — rerolling (rolling again for a better starting character) might just give you a huge advantage early on.
A. Why Reroll Matters
Because SS-tier heroes make or break your progression curve. Starting with them saves hours of grinding, farming, and frustration — especially in early/ mid-game stages.
B. Top Reroll Targets (Best Starting Characters)
Gen Narumi — top DPS carry
Hikari Shinomiya — balanced attacker/utility
Chester — support backbone, fills often-needed roles early
Sagan — sturdy tank for early content
Reno Ichikawa — ranged gunner — good if you like ranged or speed playstyle
If you roll one of these — land it, build around it.
C. Efficient Reroll Process
From what I observed:
Use the free 5-star-choice and initial gachas (pre-reg bonus) to attempt reroll. Game gives a ★5 pick + extra pulls at launch.
If you don’t get a desired hero — wipe and reroll quickly (takes maybe ~10–15 minutes).
Once you get a “good enough” start (top tier or solid S-tier + useful support), roll with it — early progression is more valuable than chasing perfection forever.
D. When to Stop Rerolling
If you get:
an SS hero, or
a strong S-tier + supporting units (tank or buffer)
… that’s already a solid foundation. Avoid over-rerolling — it wastes time and early-game resources.
V. Character Roles and Combat Classifications
It helps to think of characters not just by name, but by role: attacker, defender, supporter, ranged DPS, etc. Here’s a breakdown:
A. Attacker Roles (DPS / Melee / Ranged)
Slash / Melee DPS — high close-range damage. Good against many kaiju types and bosses.
Blunt / Hybrid DPS — sometimes trade speed for survivability or crowd-control.
Shot / Ranged DPS — distance combat, useful vs. flying or ranged kaiju, or when positioning matters.
Role value depends on content: bosses vs. crowds vs. survivability.
B. Support & Buffer Units
Provide buffs/debuffs, utility effects (e.g. defense boost, crit buffs, status effects)
Often underappreciated early game — but crucial for harder content or party synergy
C. Defender / Tank Roles
Shield providers or tanky units who soak damage, give stability
Especially useful early game — simpler than purely DPS builds, easier to manage
D. Healer Roles (if any)
Depending on the build/system (if healing or sustain is supported), these can be invaluable for long fights or high-level raids.
VI. Plate System and “Core Exposure” Mechanics — What Makes Combat Strategic
The combat depth in Kaiju No. 8 The Game isn’t just about who has the biggest number — it's about smart plays. A big part of that is the plate / core-exposure system.
Plates: different types (physical/elemental/attribute) — breaking the right plate type deals more damage.
Core Exposure: once a kaiju’s core plate is broken, it triggers a stagger, opens for “follow-up attack,” big damage, or ultimate finishers.
Strategic targeting of plates + timing attacks makes fights engaging — not just stat-check simulations.
Heroes with dual attributes / multi-attack styles that can break multiple plate types (slash, blunt, elemental) scale better in late-game when bosses resist certain attributes.
Thus, unit versatility + plate-breaking capability + attribute matching becomes a major factor in ranking — not just raw attack numbers.
VII. Team Building and Squad Composition Guide
A. Four-Member Squad — Balanced Is Best
A good team usually mixes roles:
Main attacker (DPS, melee/ranged)
Sub-attacker or secondary DPS (burst or AoE)
Tank or defender (to absorb damage)
Support / buffer / utility (to boost team or debuff enemies)
This balance allows you to tackle story, farming, raids, or boss fights without changing team too often.
B. DPS-Heavy vs Balanced vs Utility Compositions
DPS-Heavy Team: Great for quick clears, farming mobs, or when you have overpowered attackers (SS tier).
Balanced Team: Best for higher-difficulty content (boss, raid) — stability, sustain, utility balanced with offense.
Utility Team: For niche fights — maybe heavy defense, debuffs, or buff stacking (less common but sometimes needed).
C. Meta Team Examples
Hard-boss squad: Tank + high-DPS + support buffer + utility (debuff or shield)
Farming squad: AoE attackers + maybe ranged DPS + minimal support — fast clears, low resource drain.
Range-heavy squad: Ranged DPS + support + defender — useful when mobility/position matters or enemies are dangerous up-close.
VIII. Beginner Guide & Early Game Progression Strategy
If you just started, here’s my personal “what I wish I knew when I began” section:
Reroll early — try to get at least one SS or strong S-tier + support/tank.
Build around what you get: don’t chase meta immediately — early-game efficiency with what you have matters.
Use AoE or ranged attackers for early farming — they clear mobs faster, save time.
Balance your squad — avoid “all DPS” or “all glass cannon” early on.
Invest resource wisely: gear & skill upgrades matter more on strong characters; don’t waste on weak or niche picks early.
Beginners with this mindset will progress smoothly and avoid “resource burnout.”
IX. Combat & Battle Mechanics: What Makes Kaiju No. 8 The Game Deep
What I like most — it’s more than just “spam skill, see big number.” There are mechanics that reward strategy:
Turn-based order & speed — speed / turn order affects when you act, ability to pre-empt, capitalize on weak points.
Plate & core exposure system — targeting right plate types, breaking cores, follow-up attacks, ultimate finishers.
Attribute / element / weapon types matter — choosing appropriate attacker (slash, blunt, ranged, elemental, etc.) per kaiju type or mission.
Team synergy & role balance — overlap of attacker, defender, support — not just stacking DPS.
It makes combats more tactical than many gacha games I’ve tried.
X. What to Do (and Who to Aim For) in 2025 Meta — Final Recommendations
If you’re coming into the game now, here’s my personal advice as a fellow player:
Try to get one SS-tier hero: Gen Narumi, Hikari, Chester, Sagan, Kikoru, Soshiro, or Reno — they give you the best head start.
Build a balanced team first — attacker + tank + support/utility or buffer. Versatility trumps power gap early on.
Don’t waste resources on filler heroes — invest in your core squad.
Adapt to content type — farming, story, raids, boss — don’t force the same team for everything.
Enjoy the game and have fun — meta is important, but so is playing the heroes you like.
XI. Ending — My Verdict as a Player
Kaiju No. 8 The Game manages to respect its source material while giving a surprisingly deep gacha-RPG structure. The tier list isn’t about elitism — it’s a guide to help you allocate time, pulls, and resources intelligently.
If you manage to get one of the SS-tier picks, that’s your ticket to early dominance. If not — a well-built S-tier or even good A-tier squad will carry you through most content with a bit of patience and strategy.
Bottom line: build smart, adapt, and enjoy the ride. See you out there slicing kaiju and chasing endgame gear.