Wuthering Waves keeps adding Resonators with wildly different play styles, and since you only ever field three at once, knowing who actually carries endgame content matters more than raw star count. The Version 3.6 meta leans heavily on amplifying supports, Tune Break drivers, and DPS units that can self-buff, so a few older carries have slipped even though their kits never changed. Below is where every character lands right now, followed by role-specific breakdowns and the reasoning behind the biggest placements.
Quick answer: The strongest overall picks in Version 3.6 are Yangyang Xuanling, Suisui, Hiyuki, Sigrika, Aemeath, Cartethyia, Shorekeeper, and Mornye — build a DPS from that group plus Suisui or Shorekeeper and you can clear the hardest content.
Wuthering Waves Version 3.6 tier list
These rankings reflect overall performance in the current patch, judged on damage output, team flexibility, and how well each unit fits today’s Tune Break and amplification-focused meta.
| Tier | Resonators |
|---|---|
| SS | Yangyang Xuanling, Suisui, Lucilla, Hiyuki, Sigrika, Aemeath, Iuno, Phrolova, Cartethyia, Ciaccona, Lupa, Lynae, Shorekeeper, Augusta, Galbrena, Mornye |
| S | Lucy, Rebecca, Luuk Herssen, Verina, Jiyan, Carlotta, Zani, Chisa, Sanhua |
| A | Brant, Cantarella, Qiuyuan, Encore, Spectro Rover, Xiangli Yao, Buling, Mortefi, Changli, Camellya, Jinhsi, Phoebe, Zhezhi, Aero Rover |
| B | Calcharo, Havoc Rover, Danjin, Jianxin, Roccia, Yinlin, Yuanwu, Baizhi |
| C | Chixia, Lingyang, Youhu, Lumi, Aalto, Yangyang, Taoqi |
How this was ranked: each Resonator was weighed on personal damage, off-field contribution or buffing value, and how many meta teams it slots into at a baseline investment. Freshness: this reflects the Version 3.6 meta as of September 2026.
Why the SS tier looks the way it does
The top tier is a mix of carries who can solo hard content and supports who fit almost any team. Yangyang Xuanling is currently the strongest DPS in the game, dealing most of her damage through Heavy Attacks and comfortably soloing the majority of challenges. Suisui rounds things out on the support side, stacking buffs, debuffs, and strong healing while fitting into nearly every comp.
Element coverage is what keeps this tier crowded. Cartethyia is the best Aero DPS, scaling entirely on HP so she stays tanky while dealing heavy damage, and she applies Aero erosion without help. Hiyuki has become the standard Glacio Chafe carry thanks to very high multipliers and her ability to both apply and consume Chafe herself. Sigrika is the go-to Aero option built around Echo Skill damage, and Phrolova keeps mono-Havoc alive with strong on-field and off-field output. Augusta and Galbrena bring high Heavy Attack and split-scaling damage respectively, while Aemeath flexes between Tune Rupture, Fusion Burst, and Mono Fusion setups.
Iuno, Lucilla, Ciaccona, Lynae, and Lupa hold their spots as sub-DPS and enablers. Iuno is the most versatile unit in the roster but wants Augusta beside her to peak. Ciaccona pairs directly with Cartethyia to stack Aero Erosion and Spectro Frazzle. Lupa exists to shred Fusion resistance and hunt bosses, while Lynae drives Tune Break and amplifies all damage. On the support end, Shorekeeper remains a plug-and-play Crit buffer and healer who can prevent knockouts, and Mornye is a top-tier healer who boosts damage amplification and Off-Tune buildup.
Strong picks that fell short of SS
The S tier is full of units that are still excellent but held back by team dependency or a meta shift. Lucy has huge front-loaded damage and time-stop tools, yet her limited team options tie her closely to Rebecca, who in turn synergizes almost exclusively with Lucy. Luuk Herssen is the premier Tune Strain DPS but needs Lynae and Mornye to stack fast enough.
Carlotta and Zani are victims of the current rotation. Carlotta is still the best Glacio DPS, but Glacio teams sit outside the main meta. Zani remains the strongest Spectro DPS through Spectro Frazzle, only slipping because the meta moved toward Tune Break. Chisa is a universal debuffer that could jump higher if amplification supports fall out of favor. Verina and Sanhua remain the standout free options, with Verina soloing sustain for any team and Sanhua outperforming several 5-star Glacio DPS when built well.
Best DPS Resonators
These are the on-field carries with the highest personal damage. Pick based on the element and playstyle you want to build around.
| Tier | Resonator | Role |
|---|---|---|
| SS | Yangyang Xuanling | Highest damage dealer in the game |
| SS | Hiyuki | Glacio Chafe carry with huge multipliers |
| SS | Sigrika | Aero DPS with self-buffing and crowd control |
| SS | Aemeath | Flexible Tune or Fusion Burst DPS |
| SS | Cartethyia | Strongest Aero DPS, scales on HP |
| SS | Phrolova | Havoc DPS carrying mono-Havoc teams |
| SS | Augusta | High Heavy Attack damage with time stop |
| SS | Galbrena | Split-scaling DPS with very high output |
| S | Rebecca | High Tune-shifting damage |
| S | Jiyan | Heavy Attack DPS with strong AoE |
| S | Zani | Strongest Spectro DPS via Frazzle |
| S | Iuno | Versatile hybrid who can main-DPS |
| S | Carlotta | Best Glacio DPS |
| S | Luuk Herssen | Premier Tune Strain DPS, Basic Attack scaling |
| A | Phoebe | Sub-DPS that can main-DPS |
| A | Changli | Flexible DPS at max Forte stacks |
| A | Camellya | On-field Havoc DPS with self-buffs |
| A | Calcharo | Electro DPS with strong Liberation |
| A | Brant | Sub-DPS with main-DPS capability |
Best sub-DPS Resonators
Sub-DPS units live in the off-field slot, dealing damage between swaps while buffing allies or shredding enemy resistance.
| Tier | Resonator | Role |
|---|---|---|
| SS | Lucilla | Best Glacio Chafe applier |
| SS | Iuno | Top off-field damage output |
| SS | Ciaccona | Aero buffer/debuffer with high off-field damage |
| SS | Lynae | Tune Break driver, amplifies all damage |
| SS | Sanhua | Free pivotal Glacio sub-DPS |
| SS | Lupa | Shreds Fusion resistance for mono-Fusion |
| S | Rebecca | Good Tune-shifting off-field damage |
| S | Brant | Sub-DPS with strong buffs |
| S | Phoebe | Hybrid Spectro with solid off-field damage |
| S | Qiuyuan | Premier Echo Skill damage buffer |
| S | Cantarella | Mono-Havoc enabler with light healing |
| S | Zhezhi | Buffs Resonance Skill scalers, amplifies Glacio |
| A | Spectro Rover | Jack-of-all-trades off-field damage |
| A | Changli | Main DPS that flexes to sub-DPS |
| A | Roccia | Basic Attack and Havoc buffs |
| A | Mortefi | Coordinated Fusion attacks |
Best support Resonators
Supports keep your team alive and multiply its damage. If you can only build one, prioritize a universal healer that fits every comp.
| Tier | Resonator | Role |
|---|---|---|
| SS | Suisui | Buffs, heals, and debuffs at once |
| SS | Shorekeeper | Universal Crit buffer and healer |
| SS | Mornye | Healer with Off-Tune buildup and damage amp |
| S | Verina | Free healer and buffer with coordinated attacks |
| S | Chisa | Universal negative-status support |
| A | Buling | 4-star healer applying Electro Flare |
| A | Aero Rover | Applies negative effects |
| A | Baizhi | Dedicated healer |
The lower tiers, and who to skip
B-tier units like Calcharo, Havoc Rover, Danjin, Jianxin, Roccia, Yinlin, Yuanwu, and Baizhi work fine early and into the mid-game, but most have been power-crept out of the meta. Danjin is still genuinely strong, just locked behind a niche, punishing playstyle that not everyone enjoys.
The C tier — Chixia, Lingyang, Youhu, Lumi, Aalto, Yangyang, and Taoqi — is where the weakest options sit. They handle early content but fall off sharply once mid-to-late game difficulty ramps up, so there’s little reason to spend limited pulls chasing them on purpose.
Use this ranking as a priority map rather than a strict rulebook. Wuthering Waves rewards skill and team synergy, so a well-built A-tier unit on the right comp will still outperform a neglected SS pick. Build your carry, pair it with one of the top supports, and expand from there as new banners rotate in.
