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Tier list

Blue Archive Student Tier List (September 2026)

Last checked September 7, 2026

By the Claude Gaming team

This Blue Archive student tier list ranks the 34 students that actually decide your Total Assault and Grand Assault clears on Global as of September 2026. Hoshino (Swimsuit), Mika, Hina (Dress) and Ako (Dress) are still the four you build a raid roster around.

We merged the three most recent rankings we could find, updated between April and September 6, and gave the newest one the most weight because two raid seasons have rotated since spring.

Strikers and Specials are ranked together on purpose. A support that makes every clear faster earns the same tier as a carry, and a carry that only works with one buffer sits a step lower.

S
Hoshino (Swimsuit) Hoshino (Swimsuit)
Mika Mika
Hina (Dress) Hina (Dress)
Ako (Dress) Ako (Dress)
Iori Iori
Cherino Cherino
Himari Himari
Ako Ako
Kisaki Kisaki
Seia Seia
Noa (Pajamas) Noa (Pajamas)
Hoshino (Armed) Hoshino (Armed)
Kanna Kanna
Fuuka (New Year) Fuuka (New Year)
A
Rio Rio
Iroha Iroha
Serina Serina
Hibiki Hibiki
Aru Aru
Kazusa Kazusa
Shiroko Shiroko
Yuuka (Pajamas) Yuuka (Pajamas)
B
Hina Hina
Nonomi Nonomi
Wakamo Wakamo
Nagisa Nagisa
Karin Karin
C
Noa Noa
Serika Serika
Hasumi Hasumi
Neru Neru
D
Izumi Izumi
Tomoe Tomoe
Kaho Kaho
Download this tier list as an image

Student icons from the Blue Archive community wiki

How we rank

A student ranks by how much she shortens Insane and Torment raid clears and by how many teams she fits into. Damage type matters: a Sonic or Mystic carry that lines up with the current boss rotation scores higher than an Explosive one with the same numbers. Ease of use counts too, so a free farmable unit that works with basic gear can outrank a limited banner unit that needs three specific partners. PvP and Joint Firing Drill are ignored, and students only available on the Japanese server are left out.

Tier by tier

S Tier, the meta

  • Hoshino (Swimsuit): Tank that also nukes, staple of every Mystic team
  • Mika: Highest single target Mystic burst in the game
  • Hina (Dress): Sonic AoE carry that wipes whole raid waves
  • Ako (Dress): Striker crit buffer, mandatory in Sonic teams
  • Iori: Pierce single target ceiling against heavy armor
  • Cherino: Cost engine that also buffs the whole team
  • Himari: Best cost regen Special, doubles your damage windows
  • Ako: Crit buffer that every raid team still wants
  • Kisaki: Support Special that turbo charges Mystic carries
  • Seia: Special whose EX stacks damage for the whole team
  • Noa (Pajamas): Sonic support that keeps carries alive and buffed
  • Hoshino (Armed): Sonic tank that carries on defense and damage
  • Kanna: Pierce tank that clears waves on her own
  • Fuuka (New Year): Cost cutter Special, makes every rotation cheaper

A Tier, excellent

  • Rio: Special buffer built for the newest raid bosses
  • Iroha: Explosive Special that drops a tank for AoE
  • Serina: Cheap healer, still fine for mid game clears
  • Hibiki: Explosive AoE mortar Special, easy to build
  • Aru: Explosive single target damage, free to farm
  • Kazusa: Mystic sniper with big burst once buffed
  • Shiroko: Free Explosive dealer that starts every account
  • Yuuka (Pajamas): Tank alt that slots into current raid teams

B Tier, solid

  • Hina: Base Hina still nukes, but Dress outclasses her
  • Nonomi: Explosive AoE gunner, fine early, falls off
  • Wakamo: Single target Mystic that needs a dedicated team
  • Nagisa: Buffing Special that works but stays niche
  • Karin: Special sniper, good early, later replaced

C Tier, situational

  • Noa: Base Noa's shields are too small now
  • Serika: Explosive starter that falls behind fast
  • Hasumi: Pierce sniper outshone by Iori and Kanna
  • Neru: Melee glass cannon, dies before she pays off

D Tier, skip

  • Izumi: Low damage tank filler, skip
  • Tomoe: Buffs too small to justify a slot
  • Kaho: Outdated kit, never worth the resources

Playing Blue Archive right now? Grab the freebies too: our Blue Archive codes page is checked daily, with every working code and what it pays out.

Blue Archive tier list FAQ

Who is the best student in Blue Archive right now?

Hoshino (Swimsuit) is the safest answer. She tanks, deals top Mystic damage and fits nearly every Total Assault team, which is why all three sources we checked keep her at the top.

Should I reroll for Mika or Hina (Dress)?

If you only get one, Hina (Dress) is the better long term pick because Sonic teams clear more of the current raid rotation. Mika is still the best single target Mystic burst and worth pulling on a rerun.

Are the free students like Shiroko and Aru still good?

Yes for early and mid game. Shiroko, Aru and Serina carry you through the story and the first raid difficulties, but they drop to A tier because they fall off on Insane and Torment.

How often does this Blue Archive tier list change?

We re-check it after every new raid season and every limited banner. Big moves usually come from a new limited student or a boss that favours one damage type, not from balance patches, which are rare in Blue Archive.