The best characters in Vampire Survivors are the ones whose starting weapon and bonus carry you through the first few minutes. This tier list ranks them by decision value. It weighs how strong the opening weapon is, what the bonus rewards, and how forgiving the early game feels.
Four criteria set the order. The starting weapon decides your first level-ups. The character bonus rewards a playstyle from minute one. Early forgiveness measures how much room you have for mistakes. Late scaling asks whether the character still helps once the run passes the halfway mark.
How this tier list is ranked
Every rank below answers one question: what does this character let you do that another cannot?
Starting weapon quality comes first, because it shapes your opening minutes. A wide or auto-aiming weapon survives the early waves without luck. A narrow opener forces you to lean on gem drops and upgrade cards.
The bonus comes next. A bonus that adds damage, area, or extra revives lifts the whole run. A bonus that smooths one stat helps less. Availability also counts, since some strong characters unlock only after a goal.
These tiers track community consensus and the game’s own mechanics. They do not come from a private test run. A character can shift a tier depending on your build, so treat the order as a starting point, not a verdict.
Which characters belong in each tier?
The table lists each character and the reason for its rank. Read the reason column first, since that is where the decision lives.
| Tier | Character | Why it ranks there |
|---|---|---|
| S | Queen Sigma | A late unlock with wide stat bonuses and a fast start, so she forgives weak play. |
| S | Krochi Freetto | Starts with Cross and adds extra revives, so a mistake costs less time. |
| S | Gennaro Belpaese | Starts with Knife, and his bonus adds an extra projectile to your weapons. |
| S | Antonio Belpaese | Starts with Whip, and his damage bonus lifts every weapon he picks up. |
| A | Imelda Belpaese | Starts with Magic Wand, and her experience bonus speeds each level-up. |
| A | Pasqualina Belpaese | Starts with Runetracer, and her bonus suits fast, bouncing projectiles. |
| A | Arca Ladonna | Starts with Fire Wand, and her bonus shortens weapon cooldowns. |
| A | Porta Ladonna | Starts with Lightning Ring, and her bonus widens weapon area. |
| A | Pugnala Provola | Opens with both pistols, so you field two weapons from the first second. |
| A | Lam Ladonna | Starts with Axe, a wide overhead strike that covers a large area. |
| A | Poppea Pecorina | Starts with Song of Mana, so you get wide coverage without a passive. |
| B | Dommario | Starts with King Bible, a strong weapon, but his slow movement costs positioning. |
| B | Clerici | Starts with Santa Water, which leaves damage pools for steady area control. |
| B | Christine Davaï | Starts with Pentagram, which clears the screen on a long cooldown. |
| B | Mortaccio | Starts with Bone and adds projectiles, yet the base weapon stays narrow. |
| B | Cavallo | Starts with Cherry Bomb, whose delayed burst asks for timing. |
| B | Giovanna Grana | Starts with Gatti Amari, whose wandering cats give uneven output. |
| B | Big Trouser | Starts with a money bonus, which helps the shop more than a single run. |
| C | Poe Ratcho | Starts with Garlic and a small health recovery, but his damage trails early. |
| C | Ramba | Starts with Carrello, a weapon that rolls away from the enemies you want. |
| C | O’Sole Meeo | Starts with Santa Javelin, a narrow arc that leaves your flanks open. |
| C | Concetta Caciotta | Starts with Shadow Pinion, a short reach that demands close range. |
| C | Zi’Assunta Belpaese | Starts with Vento Sacro, a tight spin that needs enemies pressed in. |
S-tier characters
These four characters reward almost any build. Each one opens with a weapon that clears early waves, so you survive the learning phase. Their bonuses keep paying off as the run grows. If you own one of them, start there.
A-tier characters
The A tier holds strong picks that need a little planning. Imelda and Pasqualina scale with a specific weapon style. Arca and Porta reward builds built around cooldowns or area. Pugnala fields two weapons at once, which speeds up early scaling. Each one wins games, yet none carries a run alone.
B-tier characters
B-tier characters do a job well but ask for support. Dommario brings a strong weapon and slow feet, so positioning matters more. Christine trades steady damage for a screen-clearing burst. Mortaccio and Cavallo need the right passive to patch their base weapons. Big Trouser earns gold instead of power.
Best characters for beginners
A beginner wants forgiveness over peak power. Start with a character whose weapon hits more than one enemy, because spread damage keeps the screen clear. Krochi, Antonio and Imelda all open without a rare setup. Avoid characters whose weapon drifts or covers a narrow arc until you know the loop.
Characters to avoid
Some characters cost more than they return at the start. Poe Ratcho heals a little but hits softly, so early waves drag. Ramba and O’Sole Meeo point their weapons away from the press of enemies. Concetta needs foes close before her weapon does anything. None are unplayable, but each wants a build that patches its weakness.
Picking a character for your next run
A ranking guides one choice, not the whole run. Your build still decides the win. Start with a top-tier character, then take weapons that fit your plan.
For the order behind those weapons, read the weapon tier list. For a loadout that fits a forgiving start, see the best early game build.
Next: Weapon tier list and passive item tier list.