| Character | Notes | |-----------|-------| | Clive | Fast, high TECH. But no rune slots hurts. Still decent with a Double-Beat rune (if hacked in). | | Tir McDohl (transfer from Suikoden 1) | Soul Eater is powerful, but only if you grinded in S1. Falls off slightly without good rune setup. | | Millie | Good MAG, but random rune affinity (can fail spells). | | Futch | Balanced stats, gets Bright Shield optional scene. | | Tengaar | High STR, but slow. | | Kinnison (with Shiro) | Wolf + hunter combo. Good physical damage. | | Gadget (robot) | High defense, thunder attacks. Slow but tanky. | | Sigfried (unicorn) | Can heal, decent damage. But takes a party slot like a human. | | Bob (werewolf) | Transform ability → high damage. No rune slots in human form though. |
Why C Tier: The giant. He uses a "Sword" (it's a pillar). He has high HP and Strength, but his Accuracy is the lowest in the game. He will miss 1 out of 3 swings against flying enemies. Equip him with a Skill Ring and he becomes B-Tier. Without it, he is frustrating.
Why C Tier: Bright the dragon is cool. The problem is that Futch and Bright count as one unit, but take up two rune slots (they share a turn). Their unite attack is strong, but you lose a full party member's worth of rune customization. Only useful for the "Dragon" aesthetic.
Before we dive into the characters, here is the criteria:
Suikoden II, released in 1998 (Japan) and 1999 (West) for the PlayStation, is widely regarded as one of the best examples of 1990s JRPG design: deep political storytelling, a large playable roster, memorable characters, and interconnected systems (base-building, rune magic, large-scale battles). This essay organizes the game’s many characters, mechanics, and narrative elements into a clear “tiered” evaluation that balances mechanical usefulness, narrative importance, and lasting fan appeal. The goal is not to present a single objective ranking but to offer a useful framework for players—new and returning—to think about which characters and systems matter most for different playstyles and appreciation of the game.
Tier methodology (how to read this list)
This tiering weighs three axes: combat effectiveness (levels, stat growth, unique abilities), party-role flexibility (physical attacker, magic, support/healer, ranged), and narrative/character impact (story scenes, player attachment). For some characters, narrative importance raises their practical tier despite middling combat utility.
S-Tier — Cornerstones (mechanically excellent and/or irreplaceable narratively)
A-Tier — Reliable and versatile
B-Tier — Situationally solid, valuable for flavor
C-Tier — Niche picks, often kept for story or specific builds
D-Tier — Rarely optimal in combat; primarily for story/collection
Systems and Mechanics — Tiered importance
Narrative & Emotional Weight
Practical party-building advice (short, actionable)
Legacy and why Suikoden II endures
Closing assessment Suikoden II’s strengths are its characters, rune-driven customization, and emotional narrative. Mechanically, a relatively small core of characters (S/A tiers) will carry most playthroughs; a broader set (B/C tiers) offers flavor, niche utility, and completionist satisfaction. D-tier recruits are generally best appreciated for story rather than stats. Above all, the game’s design rewards player attachment—its tier list is useful for optimization, but the true value often lies in following the characters and scenes that resonate most with you.
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With over 100 recruitable characters, building the "ultimate" party in Suikoden 2 can be overwhelming. While the game is beatable with almost any team, certain characters possess stat growths, rune slot potential, and unique abilities that place them in a league of their own.
This tier list ranks the 108 Stars of Destiny based on their endgame viability, rune flexibility, and overall combat utility. S Tier: The Game-Breakers
These characters are the gold standard. They typically possess three open rune slots, allowing for the "broken" combo of Fury, Double Beat, and Double Strike runes.
Killey: Widely considered the strongest character in the game. His three rune slots and high attack stats allow him to dish out tens of thousands of damage when properly equipped.
Sheena: A close second to Killey. He also boasts three open rune slots and excellent magic stats, making him a versatile powerhouse for both physical and magical offense. suikoden+2+tier+list
Luc: The undisputed master of magic. With the highest magic stat and three rune slots (including his unique True Wind Rune), he can wipe out entire enemy groups in a single turn.
Tir McDohl (Hero of Suikoden I): Accessible only via save data transfer. He is an all-around titan with one of the best runes in the series (Soul Eater) and a powerful unite attack with Riou.
Hai Yo: Don’t let the chef outfit fool you; at level 65, he unlocks a third rune slot. Combined with his high technique and speed, he becomes an auto-attacking monster. A Tier: Elite Specialists
These characters are top-tier but often have one minor limitation, such as a locked rune or slightly lower stat growth.
Selecting the best party in Suikoden II often comes down to balancing raw physical power, magical utility, and Rune slot availability. While almost any character can be viable with the right setup, a few stand out as "game-breakers" due to their multi-rune potential and high stats. S-Tier: The Powerhouses
These characters are universally considered the best in the game due to having three open Rune slots or unique abilities that trivializing boss fights.
: Widely cited as the strongest physical attacker. With three open Rune slots, he can equip the Fury, Double-Beat, and Double-Strike Runes simultaneously, resulting in massive damage output. : Similar to
, his three open Rune slots and high technical stats make him a top-tier damage dealer. Riou (Hero)
: Your protagonist remains top-tier throughout the game thanks to his Bright Shield Rune, which provides both powerful healing and decent offense.
: The premier mage in the game. While fragile, his incredibly high Magic stat and three Rune slots allow him to devastate groups of enemies with high-level elemental magic.
: A late-game recruitment, but arguably the strongest pure caster alongside , boasting elite Magic stats. A-Tier: Elite Reliability
These characters are exceptionally strong and can easily carry you through the endgame with minimal effort.
Suikoden II characters with three Rune slots, such as Killey and Mazus, dominate the S-tier due to high damage output, while high-HP units like Viktor and versatile mages like Luc provide top-tier utility. Optimal party building emphasizes equipping characters with Fury and Double-Beat runes for maximum damage. For more detailed character, skill, and recruitment information, explore the discussions on GameFAQs and the Suikoden Wiki.
Suikoden II , character strength is generally determined by a combination of base stats, the number of open rune slots (up to 3), and their unique fixed runes. The game’s "meta" often revolves around physical powerhouses who can equip high-damage rune combinations like Fury + Double-Beat + Double-Strike S-Tier: The Powerhouses
These characters are the absolute best for endgame content due to high damage potential and versatility.
: Often cited as the strongest physical attacker when equipped with the Fury/Double-Beat/Double-Strike combo due to his three open rune slots and high stats.
: The premier mage of the game. Despite low defense, his massive Magic stat and high-level spell slots make him a boss-melting machine. Georg Prime
: Boasts the highest base attack power in the game. Even without complex rune setups, his raw physical strength and speed make him a top-tier recruit.
: A versatile fighter with three open rune slots, allowing him to match the damage output of with the right setup : A late-game powerhouse mage who rivals in magical destruction, often used for final boss battles A-Tier: High Utility & Reliable Damage
These characters are excellent additions to any team and often provide unique utility or strong consistent damage. Riou (Hero) : While his strength is balanced, his unique Bright Shield Rune provides indispensable healing and high-damage AOE spells.
: A reliable "tanky" physical hitter with high HP and base attack. He is a mainstay for much of the game. : Similar to
but with better magical capability, often specializing in Thunder magic | Character | Notes | |-----------|-------| | Clive
: While not the strongest in combat, his presence in the party allows for double movement speed on the world map, making him a "utility S-tier" for many players.
: A top-tier long-range mage/fighter hybrid with three rune slots, providing great flexibility from the backline. B-Tier: Solid but Specialized
These characters are effective but may be outclassed by the tiers above or require specific setups to shine.
The following tier list ranks the 108 Stars of Destiny from Suikoden II
based on their combat effectiveness, rune slot availability, and overall utility. 🏆 S-Tier: The Powerhouses
These characters possess elite stats, three open rune slots, or unique abilities that can trivialize endgame boss fights.
Because Suikoden II allows for a 6-character active party, the "meta" generally revolves around characters who can act multiple times per turn (the "Double Beat" meta), characters with powerful Unite attacks, and characters with access to the game's strongest rune slots.
Below is a breakdown of the rankings, followed by detailed explanations of the top tiers.
Good for the mid-game or specific boss fights. No shame in using them.
The vampire hunter.
Here is the “no-questions-asked” best party in Suikoden 2:
| Position | Character | Rune Setup | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Front row left | Viktor | Rage Rune / Double-Beat | | Front row middle | Riou (Hero) | Bright Shield / Double-Strike | | Front row right | Flik | Thunder Rune / Cyclone | | Back row left | Luc | Mother Earth Rune | | Back row middle | Clive | Double-Beat / Rage Rune | | Back row right | Killey | Double-Beat / Double-Strike |
This team kills most bosses in 3 rounds and never runs out of healing.
TL;DR: Use Riou, Viktor, Flik, Luc, Clive, and Killey. Bench Gengen, Pesmerga, and anyone holding a flute.
What’s your Suikoden 2 hot take? Do you actually use Tuta? Scream at me in the comments.
— Your strategist at the Mercenary Fort
Beyond the 108: The Definitive Suikoden II Combat Tier List Building a party in Suikoden II isn't just about collecting all 108 Stars of Destiny—it's about optimizing rune slots, weapon ranges, and stat growth to turn your team into a boss-shredding machine. Whether you’re preparing for the final showdown at L'Renouille or just want to breeze through the Dunan Unification War, understanding which characters truly shine is essential. The S-Tier: The Gods of Dunan
These characters are undisputed powerhouses. Their primary advantage is having three open rune slots, allowing for the "broken" physical setup: a Fury Rune, Double-Beat Rune, and Double-Strike Rune.
Suikoden II , a character's power is largely determined by their Rune Slots and Speed rather than just raw Attack stats. Because you can "break" the game using powerful rune combinations like Fury + Double-Beat + Double Strike, characters with three open slots are almost always considered top-tier. S-Tier (The Game Breakers)
These characters have 3 open Rune slots (allowing for the ultimate physical or magic setups) and high Speed/Magic stats.
: Widely considered the best mage in the game due to a massive Magic stat and high speed.
: An elite mage who can attack from the backline and has 3 open rune slots, making her incredibly versatile. Why C Tier: The giant
: A late-game powerhouse with 3 slots and the highest magic potential, though limited by late availability.
: Top-tier physical attackers. Because they have 3 slots, they can equip the Fury/Double-Beat/Double-Strike combo to deal massive damage. A-Tier (Powerhouses & Core Members)
Highly effective characters that usually have 2-3 slots or unique strengths that make them staples.
Suikoden 2: A Timeless Classic - A Tier List Review
Released in 1999 for the PlayStation, Suikoden 2 is a tactical RPG masterpiece that has stood the test of time. Developed by Konami, this sequel to the original Suikoden builds upon its predecessor's success, offering an engaging story, memorable characters, and addictive gameplay. In this review, we'll dive into the game's strengths and weaknesses, and provide a comprehensive tier list to help you navigate its extensive cast of characters.
Story and Setting
The game takes place three years after the events of the first Suikoden. The story follows a young protagonist, Riot, as he attends a prestigious military academy, only to find himself embroiled in a conflict between rival nations. The narrative is well-developed, with a complex web of characters, plot twists, and themes that explore the consequences of war and the importance of friendship.
Gameplay
Suikoden 2's gameplay is where it truly shines. The battle system, a turn-based strategy mechanic, requires careful planning and execution. The game features an impressive cast of over 100 characters, each with their unique abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. This allows for a high degree of customization and flexibility when building your team.
Tier List
To help you navigate the game's extensive cast, we've compiled a tier list, ranking characters based on their overall effectiveness in battle.
Tier 1: The Elite
Tier 2: The Strong
Tier 3: The Average
Tier 4: The Weak
Conclusion
Suikoden 2 is a timeless classic that still captivates gamers today. Its engaging story, memorable characters, and addictive gameplay make it a must-play for fans of tactical RPGs. While some characters may not be as powerful as others, the game's depth and replay value more than make up for its minor shortcomings.
Final Verdict: 9.5/10
If you're a fan of Suikoden or tactical RPGs in general, Suikoden 2 is an absolute must-play. Even if you're new to the series, the game's intuitive mechanics and gentle learning curve make it easy to jump in.
Recommendation:
Overall, Suikoden 2 remains a phenomenal gaming experience that continues to entertain and challenge players to this day. If you haven't already, join the fight and experience it for yourself!