Shape of Dreams Tier List, Best Travelers & Memories for Nightmare!

In Shape of Dreams, every Traveler can shine with the right setup, and most Memories have their uses. But when you step into higher difficulties like Nightmare, some choices stand out far more than others.

Certain Travelers come with strong base kits that don’t need much setup, while others rely heavily on specific builds to perform well. The same applies to Memories—some are universal must-haves, while others are situational or even underwhelming.

This guide breaks down the Shape of Dreams Memory Tier List and the Traveler Tier List, highlighting the best options for pushing through tougher stages.

Shape of Dreams Memory Tier List

The effectiveness of a Memory depends on your build, whether you need damage, defense, or utility. Here’s a breakdown by tier:

S-Tier Memories (Best Overall)

• Arrow Storm – High DPS scaling with attack speed; great for most characters.
• Chain Lightning – Reliable AOE damage that even works well on Nightmare.
• Undo – A universal reset tool for abilities, always useful.
• Purgatory – Top-tier sustain, especially in solo play against bosses.
• Her World – Amazing if paired with essences like Iron Body; deals huge AOE damage while keeping you alive.
• Burrow – Grants invulnerability and mobility, great for dodging.
• Shadow Overdrive – Boosts attack and movement speed, strong on nearly any Traveler.

A-Tier Memories (Strong, Flexible Options)

• Frostbite – Fast attacks, armor, and extra damage.
• Chomp – Free healing if timed well, works on melee and ranged Travelers.
• Swift Slash – Excellent for Shell or melee-focused builds.
• Ice Shield – Shields, AOE damage, and sustain if used right.
• Radiant Explosion – Huge crowd-clearing potential with repeats.
• Cutthroat – Healing and mobility when aimed correctly.
• Shout of Oblivion – Strong AOE damage and stun, great for Nightmare.

B-Tier Memories (Situationally Good)

• Butcher’s Strike – Strong early, weaker later.
• World Cracker – High damage but risky since you’re locked in place.
• Shadow Walk – Mobility that forces risky positioning.
• Searing Charge – Useful with kill resets, less reliable otherwise.
• Shadow Volley & Spinning Whirlwind – Great on attack speed builds.

C-Tier Memories (Weak Choices)

• Pyrana’s Fireball – Risky to use, doesn’t offer enough defense.
• Coin Explosion – Eats into your gold for mediocre damage.
• Glacial Stomp – Forces dangerous positioning.
• Flame Jet – Locks you in animation, punishing if mistimed.
• Glacial Hammer – Too short-ranged and underwhelming for Nightmare.

Anything below C-Tier generally isn’t worth keeping for high-level play.

Shape of Dreams Traveler Tier List

All Travelers can be viable, but some are easier to build and stronger by default. Here’s how they rank:

S-Tier Travelers

• Bismuth – Safest ranged DPS, especially strong with Arrow Storm and sustain essences. Great in solo or team play.
• Aurena – High healing and damage potential with Clemency essences. Mastering her kite playstyle makes her deadly.
• Mist – Extremely safe thanks to 3 dashes and parry mechanics, making her ideal for Nightmare survival.

A-Tier Travelers

• Nachia – Can act as a one-Traveler army with tanky summons. Works in solo and team setups.
• Lacerta – Reliable sustained DPS with almost any build. Flexible and beginner-friendly.

B-Tier Travelers

• Yubar – High-damage artillery playstyle but suffers from poor mobility with just one dash. Needs Undo + Tranquility to shine.
• Vesper – Strong brawler in early stages, but falls off in Stage 3 due to slow movement and risky melee combat.

C-Tier Travelers

• Shell – High damage potential but heavily build-dependent. Without the right setup, struggles on Nightmare.

Shape of Dreams offers flexibility, but some Memories and Travelers simply perform better when the difficulty spikes. S and A-Tier picks are reliable across most situations, while B and C-Tier options can still work but demand very specific setups and more careful play.

If you’re climbing into Nightmare mode, focus on Survivability tools, high DPS Memories like Arrow Storm, and reliable Travelers such as Bismuth, Aurena, or Mist. With the right build, you’ll have a much smoother time clearing the toughest stages.