Suikoden+2+tier+list

| Character | Rune / Role | Why | |-----------|-------------|-----| | Riou (Hero) | Bright Shield Rune (default) | Mandatory party slot. Best healing spell (Forgiver Sign), good stats, S-rank friendship with Jowy/Nanami unlocks true power. | | Viktor | Warrior Rune / Double-Beat | Massive HP, high STR, can equip Rage Rune for fire damage. His Star Dragon Sword event makes him even stronger. | | Flik | Thunder Rune / Double-Beat | Fast, high TECH (critical hits), excellent magic and physical hybrid. | | Luc | Cyclone Rune (but give him Flowing / Rage) | Highest MAG in the game. One-shots groups with high-level spells. Fragile but trivializes random encounters. | | Mazus | Multiple Rune slots (unique) | Can equip two top-tier elemental runes. Better MAG than Luc endgame, but joins late. | | Sierra | Moon Rune | Unique drain attacks, immunity to instant death, high SPD. Best dodger in the game. | | Killey | Double-Beat + Fury + Violence | Best physical damage dealer in the game (two open rune slots). Put Double-Beat, Double-Strike, Fury → 4 attacks per turn. | | Sheena | Same as Killey | Identical physical damage potential. Joins earlier. |

Best physical setup: Double-Beat + Double-Strike + Fury (Killey / Sheena).
Best magic setup: Flowing (heal) + Rage / Cyclone / Thunder on high-MAG characters (Luc, Mazus, Rina).
Best tank setup: Rage (counter) + Earth (defense) on Humphrey / Oulan.

| Tier | Meaning | |------|---------| | S | Game-breaking / best in role. Core party members for any hard fight. | | A | Excellent. Strong throughout; fits many team compositions. | | B | Solid. Has clear strengths but noticeable flaws or late availability. | | C | Situational. Usable if you like them, but outclassed. | | D | Weak combat stats or broken gimmicks. Only for challenge runs. |

These characters make the final boss look like a random encounter.

A living legend in the Suikoden world, and his stats back it up.

Here is the “no-questions-asked” best party in Suikoden 2:

This team kills most bosses in 3 rounds and never runs out of healing.

TL;DR: Use Riou, Viktor, Flik, Luc, Clive, and Killey. Bench Gengen, Pesmerga, and anyone holding a flute.

What’s your Suikoden 2 hot take? Do you actually use Tuta? Scream at me in the comments.

— Your strategist at the Mercenary Fort

These characters form the backbone of a successful army. You never feel bad about using them.

This tier list provides a general overview and should serve as a guideline rather than a strict ranking. Suikoden 2's depth comes from its characters' abilities and how well your team works together, making the game rich with strategic possibilities. Experiment with different characters and find the team that works best for you.

Suikoden II , the "tier" of a character isn't just about raw stats; it’s about their Rune slots, speed, and range. With over 100 recruits and only six party slots, the competition is fierce. The best units typically have three open Rune slots and high magic or physical growth, allowing them to adapt to late-game bosses like the Beast Rune. S-Tier: The Game-Breakers

These characters are indispensable for any "ultimate" party. They possess incredible versatility and high damage output.

(Hero): The protagonist is a permanent fixture and earns his spot. The Bright Shield Rune provides some of the best healing and multi-target holy damage in the game. His stats are balanced, making him a reliable "Jack of all trades."

: Widely considered the best physical damage dealer. He has three Rune slots and high Speed and Technique. Equipping him with a combination of Fury, Double-Beat, and Shrike Runes turns him into a whirlwind of destruction.

: The undisputed king of magic. He joins late with massive Magic stats and three slots. While he is a "glass cannon," he can end boss fights in two turns with high-level Earth or Blue Drop spells.

: Another magical powerhouse. His high Magic and Speed ensure he moves first and hits hard. Since he is a True Rune bearer (Wind), his magical potential is nearly unmatched.

: Though often underestimated due to her early-game performance, she is incredibly fast. If you boost her power with Runes, her high Speed allows her to act as a primary healer or item-user before enemies can move. A-Tier: The Powerhouses

These units are nearly as good as S-Tier but might lack a third Rune slot or have slightly lower Speed.

: A back-row specialist with exceptional Speed and damage. His gun, Storm, deals heavy damage from safety, though his physical defense is low.

: A literal tank with massive HP and Defense. He hits like a truck and can stay in the front row forever, though his lack of magical utility keeps him out of S-Tier.

: The iconic duo. Viktor is a physical beast with the Star Dragon Sword, while Flik is a highly capable "Magic Knight" with the Lightning Rune. Both are consistently strong throughout the entire game. suikoden+2+tier+list

: Her Falcon Rune allows for 3x damage without any drawbacks (unlike the Boar Rune). She is one of the most efficient boss-killers in the mid-to-late game. B-Tier: The Specialists

Good characters who fulfill specific roles well but are outshined by the elite tiers.

: Great early-to-mid game back-row fighters with decent magic potential.

: As a vampire, she has unique sustain, but her fixed Rune can sometimes limit customization compared to three-slot units.

: Effective when used together due to their unite attack, but individually, they are overshadowed by more specialized fighters.

: Exceptional defense, but very slow. He is great for surviving long battles but won't help you end them quickly. C-Tier and Below: The Niche & The Weak

: Primarily a support/doctor character; his combat stats are minimal.

: Largely used for flavor or specific unite attacks; he lacks the growth to compete in the endgame. The "Comedy" Recruits: Characters like

or various townspeople are fun for completionists but generally shouldn't be taken into the final dungeon unless you are looking for a challenge. Key Considerations for Your List

Rune Slots are King: A character with three slots is almost always better than one with two, regardless of base stats, because Runes like Double-Beat and Fury provide exponential power boosts.

Unite Attacks: If you use the Star Dragon Sword and Lightning Rune users frequently, their synergy can elevate them a full tier.

Recruitment Timing: Characters like Mazus are S-Tier in power but C-Tier in "availability" since you only get them for the very end of the game.

In Suikoden II Tuta has a girl-like appearance. But he is now a grown up man, a doctor.

The following tier list ranks the 108 Stars of Destiny from Suikoden II

based on their combat effectiveness, rune slot availability, and overall utility. 🏆 S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters possess elite stats, three open rune slots, or unique abilities that can trivialize endgame boss fights.

Suikoden II , character effectiveness is largely determined by Rune slots Magic stats Unite attacks

. While the game features 108 Stars of Destiny, only a small fraction are considered "Top Tier" for endgame combat. S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters possess the best combination of three Rune slots and high stats, allowing them to dish out massive damage.

: Often considered the best physical attacker. He starts with three open Rune slots, allowing for devastating combos like Double-Beat Double-Strike : Similar to

has high speed and three Rune slots, making him a mathematical top-tier physical damage dealer

: The premier mage. He has an enormous MP pool and incredible speed, making him the most effective user of high-level magic runes like

: Arrives late in the game but comes with massive magic power and three Rune slots, rivaling for magical dominance. A-Tier: Highly Efficient | Character | Rune / Role | Why

These characters are exceptionally strong but may have minor limitations compared to S-Tier units. : Her unique Falcon Rune allows her to deal damage every turn without any "unbalanced" side effects.

: A physical tank with high health and two open Rune slots. While he lacks a third slot, his natural strength and plot-important sword make him a mainstay. : One of the strongest long-range attackers. His gun,

, deals damage comparable to front-line fighters while keeping him safe in the back row. : While her raw stats are average, her speed and her Family Unite

with the Hero make her incredibly useful for most of the game. B-Tier: Niche or Reliable Georg Prime

: Boasts some of the highest raw physical stats in the game, but is limited by having only one fixed Rune slot , which prevents him from reaching the damage ceiling of

: A reliable "Magic Knight" with high stats and two Rune slots. He is versatile but doesn't excel in one specific area as much as specialized units. : An incredible physical tank but, like , is hindered by limited Rune slot availability Key Game-Changing Mechanics Double-Beat Rune

: Allows a character to attack twice in a single turn. It is essential for turning any character into a top-tier physical threat. Unite Attacks : Certain combinations, like equipped with Turtle Runes , can provide consistent damage multipliers per turn. for these S-tier characters?

Suikoden II , character effectiveness is primarily determined by three factors: their maximum number of rune slots, their base stats, and their attack range. While many characters can be viable for most of the game, "S-Tier" status is reserved for those who can equip three runes to maximize physical damage output or magic power. S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters are considered the absolute best due to having three open rune slots and high potential for "min-maxing" with combinations like the Fury, Double-Beat, and Double-Strike runes.

: Widely regarded as the strongest physical attacker in the game. His three rune slots and high stats make him a monster at the end-game. : Like

, his three rune slots allow for devastating damage builds, making him a top choice for boss melting.

: Though he starts weak, his three rune slots eventually make him one of the highest damage dealers in the game.

: A top-tier pick for his versatility and three rune slots, though some players find his attack animation slow.

: The undisputed king of magic. His massive Magic stat and three rune slots allow him to clear whole screens of enemies. A-Tier: Elite Consistency

These characters are incredibly powerful but may lack the raw customization of the S-tier or have minor limitations like fixed runes.

Beyond the 108: The Definitive Suikoden II Combat Tier List Building a party in Suikoden II isn't just about collecting all 108 Stars of Destiny—it's about optimizing rune slots, weapon ranges, and stat growth to turn your team into a boss-shredding machine. Whether you’re preparing for the final showdown at L'Renouille or just want to breeze through the Dunan Unification War, understanding which characters truly shine is essential. The S-Tier: The Gods of Dunan

These characters are undisputed powerhouses. Their primary advantage is having three open rune slots, allowing for the "broken" physical setup: a Fury Rune, Double-Beat Rune, and Double-Strike Rune.

Suikoden II tier list is more than just a ranking of stats; it is an exploration of how 108 different characters intersect with a combat system that rewards both raw physical power and specialized utility. While every character is viable, the truly "S-Tier" units are those that can abuse the game's mechanics—specifically the interaction between Rune slots multi-hit capabilities The S-Tier: The Overpowered Elite Suikoden II

, a character’s worth is often determined by their Rune slots. Those with three open slots at high levels allow for the devastating "Fury + Double-Beat + Double-Strike" combination, which can triple or quadruple a character's damage output.

Widely considered the game's premier mage. His massive Magic stat and high-level spell slots allow him to vaporize entire boss encounters with a single

Both are physical powerhouses because they possess three open Rune slots and high speed. With the right setup, they can attack multiple times per turn, consistently hitting for maximum damage. Georg Prime

Though he lacks three Rune slots, his base stats—specifically his

—are so high that he remains one of the most reliable damage dealers in the game. Best physical setup: Double-Beat + Double-Strike + Fury

A late-game recruitment, but arguably the strongest pure caster alongside , coming pre-equipped with high-level elemental affinities The A-Tier: Reliable Workhorses

These characters are the backbone of most playthroughs, offering high reliability and accessibility throughout the mid-to-late game. Who is Best in Suikoden II (Tier List)

In Suikoden II, character effectiveness is often defined by Rune slots, Speed (SPD), and Magic (MAG) stats. While the game's difficulty allows you to win with almost anyone, certain "Stars of Destiny" stand out for their ability to end boss fights in a single turn. S-Tier: The Game Breakers

These characters possess three open Rune slots or unique permanent Runes that allow for astronomical damage output.

Riou (Hero): Essential due to his unique Bright Shield Rune, which provides top-tier healing and decent offense. Late-game, his stats make him one of the best physical and magical hybrid attackers.

Luc: The undisputed king of magic. With nearly 400 MAG at Level 60, high SPD, and three Rune slots, he can wipe out entire enemy groups or bosses before they take a turn.

Mazus: Joins late but matches Luc in raw power. He comes with massive MAG and multiple slots for high-level elemental magic like the Rage or Thunder runes.

Killey: Often cited as the best physical attacker. He has three Rune slots and high versatility, allowing him to stack damage-boosting runes like Fury, Double-Beat, and Shrike.

Pesmerga: A physical tank with high HP and massive ATK. While he has limited rune slots compared to Killey, his sheer base stats and defense make him an immovable force. A-Tier: High-Utility Powerhouses

Strong characters that are either slightly slower than S-tiers or have one less Rune slot.

Flik & Viktor: The iconic duo. Flik is a reliable magic/physical hybrid with the Thunder Rune, while Viktor is a physical powerhouse who excels when equipped with a Fury Rune.

Clive: A long-range specialist with exceptional SPD. His gun, Storm, deals high damage from the back row, though he is physically fragile.

Nanami: Extremely fast. Her Flower Rune is useful early on, and her high SPD ensures she always acts first for healing or items.

Humphrey: A pure defensive wall. His heavy armor and high HP make him perfect for the front row, though his low magic defense is a liability. B-Tier: Niche & Reliable Solid choices that require specific setups to shine.

Zamza: A well-rounded fighter with high HP. His Fire Dragon Rune is strong but causes self-damage, requiring specific equipment or healing to manage.

Tengaar: A back-row mage with high MAG. She is excellent for support roles using Flowing or Mother Earth runes.

Sheena: Very similar to Flik; a solid hybrid with three Rune slots, though his base stats are slightly lower. C-Tier & Below: The Underperformers

Characters generally used only for completionism or specific "Unite" attacks.

Gengen & Gabocha: Their Kobold Attack is decent early but falls off quickly.

Tuta: Primarily a healer, but outclassed by Riou or specialized mages.

Gilbert: While a great war general, his individual combat stats are mediocre. Key Build Recommendation

To maximize any character's tier, look for the Fury Rune (found as a special item in Muse's Rune shop) which increases ATK by 1.5x.