With the official launch of Destiny Rising just around the corner, many players are already asking one big question: which character should I start with?
Unlike Destiny 2, where you create your own Guardian, Destiny Rising gives you pre-made heroes. Each one comes with a defined role, ability kit, weapons, and elemental alignment. Picking the right character early can make a huge difference in your gameplay experience.
This guide breaks down how the character system works, introduces confirmed heroes, and explains how weapon matchups affect different enemy types.
How Characters Work in Destiny Rising
Every hero in Destiny Rising is designed with unique traits that set them apart. Here are the main systems you’ll need to understand:
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Damage Type: Arc, Solar, or Void. These determine how effective you are against enemy shields.
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Combat Style: Close, Medium, or Long Range, which dictates your ideal fighting distance.
Role Category:
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Support (healing & buffs)
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Offense (damage dealers)
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Defense (tanks & protectors)
On top of this, each hero has a Relic (artifact that strengthens abilities and Supers), Signature Abilities, a Super, Passives, and Weapon Mastery. These can all be upgraded as you progress.
Perfect, let’s turn the Destiny Rising characters into a tier list format so players can quickly see who’s worth building first. I’ll break it down into S, A, B, and C tiers based on their roles, abilities, and overall flexibility.
Destiny Rising Character Tier List, Abilities & Weapons
S-Tier (Best to Invest Early)
These heroes stand out for their strong kits, versatility, and usefulness across most content.
- Ning Fei (Arc Offense – Mythic): Clone creation, chain lightning, and huge AoE burst damage make her one of the strongest offensive heroes.
- Tan-2 (Solar Support – Mythic): Dual-mode healing and damage boost support. Works in any team setup.
- Estella (Solar Long Range Offense – Mythic): Illusions and debuffs allow her to control enemies and deal heavy ranged damage.
- Wolf (Solar Offense – Free): A strong free hero with AoE, roaming super, and speed buffs. Reliable for beginners and endgame alike.
A-Tier (Strong but Situational)
Great heroes that shine in certain modes or team setups, but not as universally dominant as S-tier.
- Umeko (Void Support – Event): Invisibility and confinement make her excellent for stealthy or tactical teams.
- Jolder (Void Defense – Mythic): Overshields and durability make him one of the best tanks, but less impactful in fast DPS missions.
- Kabr (Arc Defense – Free): Free tank option with shield support and crowd control. Reliable for new players.
- Gwynn (Void Offense – Mythic): Deadly in close combat with shotgun & sidearms, plus hybrid healing. Requires risky playstyle.
B-Tier (Good, but Niche)
Solid picks for specific content, but not must-haves.
- Ikora (Void Offense – Free): Nova Bomb crowd control is strong, but her kit is less versatile compared to others.
- Finnala (Solar Defense – Event): Protection zones are useful in co-op, but her damage output is lower than other defenders.
- Attal (Arc Support – Event): Reliable healer and buffer, but overshadowed by Tan-2 in high-end support roles.
C-Tier (Playable but Weak Compared to Others)
Still usable if you like their playstyle, but generally less efficient than higher-tier heroes.
- Maru (Void Offense – Mythic): Resonance gimmick is interesting but not as consistent as other AoE heroes.
- Xuan Wei (Arc Offense – Event): Grappling and aggressive melee style is fun but risky, often outclassed by stronger ranged damage dealers.
Destiny Rising balances its roster well, meaning even free characters like Wolf or Kabr can keep up with premium Mythics in the right situations. However, if you’re chasing efficiency, Ning Fei, Tan-2, Estella, and Wolf stand out as the best investments early on.
Remember, team synergy and weapon matchups against Shinka enemies also matter. A lower-tier hero can outperform a Mythic if their weapon directly counters the enemy type.