If you’re scanning this AFK Journey tier list because patch 1.6.3 just dropped Frieren and Himmel and you’re trying to figure out whether to pull or save for the next banner, I’ve been there. Season 6 has shifted the meta hard since the Twins (Elijah & Lailah) released, and the gap between SS and S has tightened up across all three game modes.
Here’s what’s inside:
- The full ranking from SS down to C tier for May 2026
- Separate tier lists for AFK Stages, Dream Realm, and PvP Arena
- Why the Twins (Elijah & Lailah) sit alone at the top
- Patch 1.6.3 changes and what to do with Galahad
- Best charm investments and EX weapon priorities
- Reroll guide for new Esperia recruits
I learned the hard way that investing Magic Charms into a hero before checking if they have an upcoming nerf is a great way to waste two weeks of farming. Cecia got buffed in 1.6.2, Lily May got nerfed in 1.6.0, and the cycle continues. Patch awareness matters here. That regret is the framing for everything below.
Table of Contents
How I’m Ranking Every Hero in Season 6 Patch 1.6.3
This list weighs three things: AFK Stages performance (your main progression and Battle Power test), Dream Realm boss damage (where high-deficit pushing pays the best resources), and PvP Arena viability (Supreme Arena and Honor Duel rankings).
I’m separating the rankings by mode because comparing Galahad against the Twins makes no sense if you don’t say what for. Galahad is god-tier in Dream Realm. The Twins are god-tier across every single mode. That’s the whole tier list philosophy in two sentences.
I’m also weighing recent patch changes heavily. Patch 1.6.2 buffed Cecia (now SS-tier reliably) and Patch 1.6.3 added Frieren and Himmel as the latest collab heroes. Older heroes like Eironn have fallen off as their archetype meta died. That’s why this tier list looks different from anything written before February 2026.
The Full AFK Journey Tier List for May 2026
Here’s the combined ranking. Tier definitions: SS is meta-defining. S+ is best in role. S is solid mainstay. A+ is conditional or mode-specific. A is solid investment. B is niche. C is don’t bother for endgame.
| Hero | Tier | Faction / Class | Why They’re Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elijah & Lailah (Twins) | SS | Celestial / Support | Universal utility across every mode |
| Cecia | SS | Graveborn / Marksman | Best damage dealer post-1.6.2 buff |
| Galahad | SS | Lightbearer / Warrior | Reshaped Dream Realm meta |
| Hewynn | SS | Lightbearer / Healer | Best healer in the game |
| Faramor | S+ | Wilder / Rogue | True damage + ally empowerment |
| Koko | S+ | Mauler / Support | Damage reduction + team buffs |
| Daimon | S+ | Hypogean / Tank | Top AFK Stages pusher |
| Ulmus | S+ | Wilder / Tank | CC synergy + hybrid support |
| Lily May | S+ | Wilder / Marksman | Survived nerfs, still top PvP |
| Shemira | S+ | Graveborn / Mage | F2P-friendly carry |
| Frieren | S | Collab / Mage | New patch 1.6.3 release |
| Himmel | S | Collab / Warrior | New patch 1.6.3 release |
| Hepler | S | Wilder / Healer | Sustain support |
| Contess | S | Lightbearer / Warrior | Solid frontline |
| Pippa | S | Wilder / Support | Versatile buffer |
| Gunnar | S | Mauler / Tank | Released with Alna in 1.6.1 |
| Alna | S | Hypogean / Tank | New tanking option |
| Zorya | S | Hypogean / Mage | Strong burst mage |
| Silven | S | Graveborn / Rogue | February 2026 release |
| Solise | S | Wilder / Healer | Healer alternative |
| Aurora | S | Celestial / Support | Healing + utility |
| Tilaya | A+ | Hypogean / Specialist | Niche but situational top |
| Kordan | A+ | Hypogean / Warrior | Released January 2026 |
| Phraesto | A+ | Lightbearer / Tank | Energy battery + tank |
| Reinier | A+ | Lightbearer / Mage | Buff + control |
| Smokey & Meerky | A+ | Wilder / Support | Reroll target #2 piece |
| Rowan | A+ | Lightbearer / Support | Energy battery king |
| Scarlita | A+ | Graveborn / Warrior | PvP shield carry |
| Eironn | A | Wilder / Mage | Fell off, archetype dead |
| Korin | A | Mauler / Marksman | Strong in Dream Realm |
| Talene | A | Lightbearer / Mage | EX-dependent damage |
| Shakir | A | Mauler / Mage | Lategame Mauler core |
| Odie | A | Wilder / Marksman | Mythic+ scaling |
| Mikola | A | Mauler / Marksman | Solid mid-tier |
| Bryon | A | Mauler / Tank | Reliable tank |
| Vala | A | Wilder / Rogue | Functional rogue |
| Marilee | A | Wilder / Marksman | Niche assassination |
| Thoran | A | Graveborn / Tank | Old reliable |
| Antandra | A | Mauler / Warrior | Solid frontline |
| Lucca | B | Wilder / Healer | Outclassed by Hewynn |
| Brutus | B | Mauler / Tank | Fell off |
| Granny Dahnie | B | Lightbearer / Healer | Reset assist niche |
| Sonja | B | Graveborn / Tank | Functional |
| Walker | B | Lightbearer / Marksman | Mid-tier filler |
| Soren | B | Lightbearer / Marksman | Outclassed |
| Cassadee | B | Lightbearer / Healer | Powercrept |
| Berial | C | Hypogean / Tank | Outclassed |
| Lyca | C | Wilder / Marksman | Eironn-meta dependent |
| Nara | C | Graveborn / Rogue | Glass cannon, no role |
| Atalanta | C | Wilder / Marksman | Powercrept hard |
| Seth | C | Graveborn / Rogue | Niche assassin, weak early |
| Carolina | C | Graveborn / Marksman | Not relevant |
| Igor | C | Hypogean / Tank | Damage too low |
| Bonnie | C | Wilder / Healer | Suicide kit |
| Smokey | C | Wilder / Support | Pure filler outside reroll |
| Kruger | C | Hypogean / Tank | Story-only filler |
| Salazer | C | Hypogean / Mage | Skip |
That’s the meat of the list. SS tier is locked to four heroes who genuinely break the meta in their respective lanes. The drop from SS to S+ is real but smaller than it’s been in past patches.
Why the Twins (Elijah & Lailah) Sit Alone at the Top
Elijah and Lailah are the best heroes in AFK Journey right now and have been since they released. Their universal utility across every game mode makes them invaluable for any team comp. Energy generation, haste buffs, and ultimate refunds combine into a kit that enables entire archetype-based teams.
The reason they’re SS instead of just S+ is straightforward: they fit into every team. AFK Stages? Top pick. Dream Realm? Top pick. Supreme Arena? Top pick. Most other SS-tier heroes get edged out in at least one mode. The Twins don’t.
The trade-off: they’re locked behind dual-hero pulling, which means investing Hero Focus on them costs more than a single hero. If you have them, build them first. If you don’t, save your Diamonds for their next rate-up banner.
Cecia is the cleanest single-target damage dealer in the game post-1.6.2 buffs. Her Queen’s Summons ultimate spawns Mr. Carlyle who inherits her stats, effectively doubling her damage output. She’s also the first guaranteed S-rank pull from the new player banner, which means most accounts have her.
Galahad is the Season 6 Dream Realm headliner. He completely outperforms previous top damage dealers like Shemira against most Dream Realm bosses. If you’re chasing high-deficit Dream Realm rankings, Galahad goes second after the Twins.
Hewynn is still the best healer in the game. Almost every team comp needs a healer, and Hewynn is the highest ceiling pick for that role. She’s the 4th SS slot for that single reason.
AFK Stages Tier List
AFK Stages is your primary progression game mode. Power level matters most when you’re pushing high deficit (fighting enemies above your team’s Battle Power).
| Slot | Top Picks |
|---|---|
| Carry | Cecia, Galahad, Daimon, Shemira |
| Support | Twins (Elijah & Lailah), Hewynn, Koko |
| Tank | Daimon, Ulmus, Phraesto |
| Crowd Control | Twins, Pippa, Reinier |
Daimon is the most impactful AFK Stages pusher we’ve had in seasons. His tanky support kit handles the high-deficit pushing better than pure DPS picks. Pair him with the Twins and Cecia for a high-Battle-Power team comp that clears most stage walls.
Dream Realm Tier List
Dream Realm rewards high single-target burst damage against specific bosses. Hero performance varies significantly per boss, so I’m ranking the most consistent picks.
| Slot | Top Picks |
|---|---|
| Main DPS | Galahad, Cecia, Odie, Shemira |
| Support | Twins, Rowan, Phraesto |
| Mage | Korin, Zorya, Frieren |
| Sub-DPS | Faramor, Lily May |
Galahad has dethroned previous Dream Realm carries like Shemira against many encounters. If you have him, prioritize building him for Dream Realm Endless mode where the resource generation pays the most. Korin and Kruger remain Dream Realm specialists despite low rankings elsewhere.
PvP Arena Tier List
Supreme Arena and Honor Duel reward different team archetypes than PvE. Lily May survived multiple nerfs and stays in S+ specifically for PvP.
| Slot | Top Picks |
|---|---|
| PvP Carry | Lily May, Cecia, Faramor |
| PvP Support | Twins, Aurora, Velara |
| PvP Tank | Ulmus, Daimon, Scarlita |
| PvP CC | Pippa, Reinier, Arden |
Scarlita’s shield-then-ramp playstyle is meta in defensive PvP teams, especially when fully invested into her Exclusive Weapon. Eironn used to be a top PvP pick, but the Eironn-meta archetype has fallen off in Season 6.
Patch 1.6.3 Changes and Frieren / Himmel Verdict
Patch 1.6.3 dropped on May 4, 2026 and added Frieren and Himmel as collab heroes. Both are S-tier on release, which is solid but not meta-defining. Frieren brings strong AoE mage damage, Himmel slots in as a Warrior frontline.
Should you pull? Only if you’re roster-deep already. New collab heroes typically don’t return for many months after their debut, so missing them means waiting a long time for reruns. But if you’re still building core heroes (Twins, Cecia, Galahad, Hewynn), prioritize those over collab content.
Recent patch history worth knowing:
- Patch 1.6.2 (current core): Cecia buffed to SS, Galahad established as Dream Realm core
- Patch 1.6.1: Alna and Gunnar released, multiple balance tweaks
- Patch 1.6.0: Lily May nerfed, Galahad introduced
- Patch 1.6.3 (latest): Frieren and Himmel added
Patch cycles run roughly every 4 to 6 weeks. Plan your Diamond saving around banner schedules.
EX Weapon and Magic Charm Investment Order
Magic Charms and EX Weapons matter more than tier rankings once your roster is built. The investment order I follow:
- Twins (Elijah & Lailah) EX Weapon and full charms before anything else.
- Cecia EX Weapon priority since her DPS scales hard with it.
- Galahad EX Weapon for Dream Realm pushes.
- Hewynn charms before EX Weapon (her healing scales differently).
- Faction-specific tanks (Ulmus or Daimon) charms third.
Don’t invest charms into B or C tier heroes ever. The materials are too expensive to waste, and any of them would be replaced once you have the meta picks.
The Heroes I Wasted Diamonds On
I dumped 80 pulls on Eironn during his banner because I was running a Wilder team and the Eironn-meta was hyped at the time. Six months later, his archetype died and he’s now A-tier filler. Should’ve held those Diamonds for the Twins.
I also invested Magic Charms into Atalanta early on because her design slapped. She’s pretty. She’s also C-tier in every mode. Those charms are gone.
Lesson: never invest in heroes based on cool kit videos or aesthetic preference. Check the current patch tier list, check upcoming banner schedules, and prioritize meta picks for first investment. Save your aesthetic pulls for after your competitive roster is set.
New Player Reroll and Pull Priority
If you started during patch 1.6.3 or after, here’s the order:
- Use your guaranteed first S-rank which is Cecia (the best damage dealer).
- Use your second guaranteed pull which gives you Rowan, Hewynn, or Smokey & Meerky (all great supports).
- Claim All-Hero login rewards to grab every A-level and S-level hero from the six factions for free.
- Save Diamonds for the next Twins banner. They’re the priority single pull target.
- Build one full team before chasing more heroes. Cecia + Twins + Hewynn + Daimon + Ulmus is a clean starter comp.
Reroll only if you have multiple Google emails ready and you’re targeting specific banner heroes. The All-Hero login system makes rerolling less critical than in most gacha games.
FAQs
Should I pull Frieren or save for the next Twins rerun?
Save for the Twins. They’re SS-tier across every mode and reruns are infrequent. Frieren is solid S-tier but doesn’t break meta. Unless you’re roster-deep with all SS heroes built, the Twins are the better long-term investment.
Is Cecia really better than Shemira post-buff?
Yes, in most contexts. Her buff in patch 1.6.2 elevated her to SS-tier reliably, while Shemira sits at S+ now. Cecia’s Queen’s Summons mechanic doubles her damage output through Mr. Carlyle, which Shemira can’t replicate. Shemira is still a great F2P carry since she comes from normal summons.
Are Frieren and Himmel worth pulling on banner?
For roster-deep players yes, for new players no. They’re S-tier collab heroes who likely won’t rerun for months, so missing them is permanent for a long time. But if you’re still building core heroes like the Twins, Hewynn, or Galahad, those should come first.
Why did Eironn fall off so hard?
The Eironn-meta team archetype that made him strong has been outdated since Season 6 launched. New SS support heroes like the Twins enable different team comps that don’t need Eironn’s pull-and-burst playstyle. He’s still functional in some PvE content but not meta anywhere.
Can I clear Dream Realm Endless without Galahad?
Yes for early floors, no for high-deficit rankings. Cecia, Shemira, and Odie can substitute as main DPS for Dream Realm bosses where they have favorable matchups. Galahad just makes high-deficit clears smoother and faster, especially for resource generation in Endless mode.
Should I focus on Hero Focus or EX Weapon resources?
Hero Focus first for your top 3 meta heroes (Twins, Cecia, Galahad), then EX Weapon resources. Hero Focus enables their full kits at higher star levels, while EX Weapons add scaling on top. Hero Focus is the bigger early-game power lever.
Is the Mauler faction still viable in Season 6?
Yes, especially with Koko at SS+ and Shakir as a Dream Realm specialist. Mauler teams need late-game investment to fully shine, but they’re competitive in PvP and Dream Realm specific encounters. Just don’t expect Mauler-only comps to dominate AFK Stages.
Final Take
That’s my AFK Journey tier list for May 2026. The headline takeaway: the Twins (Elijah & Lailah) are the single most important pull in the game, Cecia buffs in patch 1.6.2 made her reliable SS-tier, and Galahad reshaped Dream Realm. Build one full team around your SS picks before chasing collab banners.
Patch awareness matters in this game. Heroes get buffed, nerfed, and powercrept on a 4-6 week cycle, so check tier lists monthly when major patches hit. Don’t blow Diamonds on aesthetic pulls before your competitive roster is built. Save Hero Focus for the meta picks.