Log in
Free Trial

Suikoden 2 Tier List [top] -

Suikoden II features over 100 recruitable characters, but in combat, some clearly outshine the rest. This tier list focuses on damage output magic affinity unique utility to help you build the ultimate six-person party. 🏆 S-Tier: The Game Breakers

These characters can trivialise even the hardest boss fights. Riou (Hero):

Incredible stats, the Twin Fang Rune for high damage, and the Bright Shield Rune for the best healing in the game.

The premier magic user. With four rune slots and massive Magic stats, he can wipe entire enemy groups in one turn.

A physical powerhouse. He has three open rune slots, allowing you to stack Double-Beat, Fury, and Shrike runes for insane damage.

A late-game magic powerhouse who rivals Luc. His elemental magic is devastating.

A heavy-armoured tank with massive physical attack. He doesn't need complex setups to be effective. 🥇 A-Tier: Elite Specialists Highly reliable characters that excel in specific roles.

Often underrated. Her "Family Attack" with Riou is free and powerful, and her speed makes her a great item-user.

High HP and Strength. His Star Dragon Sword scales incredibly well throughout the game.

Surprisingly high magic stats for a diplomat. Great for support magic.

Exceptional speed and magic. Her unique Soul Eater-lite abilities provide great sustain.

The king of long-range damage. His accuracy and "Long-Range" status make him safe and deadly. 🥈 B-Tier: Solid Contenders

Good characters that perform well but have minor drawbacks or are outclassed by S-Tiers.

A great "Red Mage" style character (good at physical and magic), though he excels at neither. suikoden 2 tier list

The ultimate tank. He won't die, but his damage output is lower than Pesmerga’s.

Her Falcon Rune is great for consistent damage, though it lacks the "burst" potential of multi-slot characters.

Very similar to Flik; versatile and capable of holding three runes later in the game. 🥉 C-Tier: Situational or Average

These characters are usable but usually require specific equipment or runes to keep up.

Reliable early-game, but falls off due to limited rune slots. Decent long-range magic/physical hybrid, but fragile.

Balanced stats but doesn't excel in any particular category.

Useful for his unite attack with Yam Koo, but mediocre otherwise. 💀 D-Tier: The Benchwarmers

Characters generally used only for their recruitment requirements or "joke" runs.

Outclassed by almost every other physical attacker immediately.

Very low combat stats; strictly a support/medic role that others do better. Low damage, low defense, and limited utility. 💡 Pro Tips for Team Building Rune Slots are King:

In the late game, the number of rune slots a character has (1, 2, or 3) is more important than their base stats. The "Double-Beat" Meta: Characters who can equip the Double-Beat Rune (allows two hits per turn) instantly move up a tier. Balance your Rows:

Always keep high-defense characters like Viktor or Humphrey in the to protect your mages in the custom party recommendation based on where you are in the story, or perhaps a guide on where to find the best runes for these characters?

The strongest characters in Suikoden 2 are typically defined by their number of free rune slots, their natural Speed and Strength stats, and the power of their unite attacks. While most of the 108 Stars are viable for the main story, a select few rise to "S-tier" status by being able to exploit the game's most broken rune combinations—specifically the Fury, Double Beat, and Double Strike setup. S-Tier: The Rune Masters Suikoden II features over 100 recruitable characters, but

These characters are considered the absolute strongest because they possess three open rune slots, allowing them to stack massive damage multipliers.

: Widely cited as the mathematically strongest physical damage dealer in the game. With three rune slots and high offensive stats, a fully optimized can deal upwards of 40,000 damage. : A close second to

. He also has three rune slots and exceptional speed, making him a mainstay in high-level endgame parties.

: Though he requires a high level (65+) to unlock his full potential, he is one of the elite few with three slots. : The premier magic users. While

is glass-cannon fragile, his massive Magic stat and multiple slots for high-tier runes (like Cyclone or Flowing) allow him to wipe out entire enemy groups in one turn. A-Tier: Elite Powerhouses

These units are incredibly strong but may be limited by a fixed rune or having only two open slots. Suikoden's Best Early Characters You NEED to Recruit

Suikoden II , character effectiveness is primarily determined by their number of open Rune slots (maximum of three), their speed, and their specific elemental affinities. While nearly any character is viable for a casual playthrough, specific "S-Tier" units dominate the endgame due to their ability to equip powerful rune combinations like Fury, Double-Strike, and Double-Beat simultaneously. S-Tier: The Powerhouses

These characters possess three open rune slots and exceptional base stats, allowing them to deal the highest potential damage in the game.

: Often cited as the mathematically strongest physical attacker when fully optimized with three rune slots and high strength.

: Another three-slot powerhouse. While he joins late, his high potential makes him a staple for endgame "min-maxing".

: The premier mage. His massive Magic stat and high speed allow him to end most encounters with a single spell. Riou (Hero)

: While his middle rune is fixed (Bright Shield), his exceptional speed, balanced stats, and early availability make him a permanent top-tier unit.

: Frequently ranked in the top 5 for maximum potential damage due to their three rune slots and high multi-hit potential. A-Tier: Reliable & Versatile McDohl (transfer data) – S-Tier if imported

These units are consistently strong throughout the game, often featuring high base stats or useful fixed runes, though they may lack the three-slot flexibility of S-tier units. : The "backbone" of many parties. has high HP/Strength and two open slots, while

excels as a hybrid fighter-mage with strong Lightning affinity. Georg Prime

: Boasts some of the highest base attack and defense stats in the game. His only drawback is his late recruitment and lack of additional rune slots for customization.

: A top-tier magic user with high speed and unique Darkness rune abilities, though she is slightly limited by her inability to use certain support runes.

: Highly valued for her exceptional speed and her powerful Unite Attack with , which is effective for clearing regular enemy mobs. B-Tier: Niche & Solid Contenders

: A fantastic tank who can spam her "Angry Dragon" rune. She is particularly strong if given a Fury Rune early on.

: Can be extremely powerful if equipped with a Fire Sealing Rune to negate the self-damage from his Fire Dragon Rune.

: One of the strongest physical attackers from the first game who remains potent here, though she doesn't unlock her second rune slot until higher levels. D-Tier: The "Joke" or Underwhelming Units

These characters are generally avoided for serious combat due to poor stats or a lack of useful abilities.

: Notoriously weak stats, though sometimes used for his "Medic" ability early on.

: Generally considered bottom-tier due to low growth and limited utility compared to the 100+ other allies.

For more in-depth data, fans often refer to the comprehensive Character Database on GameFAQs or the community discussions at Suikosource. Best? - Suikoden - GameFAQs

5. Pesmerga

Role: Heavy Armor Knight Why S-Tier: Pesmerga joins late (near the end of the game), but his stats are astronomical. The highest Strength in the game, incredible Defense, and a permanent Darkness Rune. His swing hits twice by default. Give him a Fury Rune and a Double-Strike Rune, and he will kill final bosses in 3 turns. The only reason he isn’t #1 is his poor Speed and late join time.

Honorable Mentions

B-Tier (Solid and Reliable)

Good characters, but require more setup or are outclassed by S/A.

11. Rina

Role: Blue Mage / Magical Nuke Why A-Tier: Rina is statistically the best pure mage in the game. Her Magic stat is second only to Luc, but her Speed is much higher. Give her a Flowing Rune, Cyclone Rune, and Mother Earth Rune. She will obliterate enemy rows. However, her defense is paper-thin.