Suikoden 1 Character Tier List 2025

Suikoden 1 Character Tier List, a classic RPG released for the PlayStation in 1995, is one of the most beloved titles in the genre. It introduced players to a rich world filled with intricate politics, unforgettable characters, and turn-based combat. One of the most exciting aspects of Suikoden is the vast roster of characters that players can recruit throughout the game. Each character has their unique abilities, storylines, and personal traits, making it an enjoyable experience to figure out which characters are best suited to your playstyle.

In this blog post, we’ll dive into a Suikoden 1 character tier list, breaking down the different characters and ranking them based on their usefulness, abilities, and overall impact on the game. Whether you’re replaying the game or playing for the first time, this tier list will help you decide which characters are worth your time.

What Makes a Suikoden 1 Character Tier List?

Before diving into the list, let’s define what makes a character good or bad in Suikoden 1. Here are the key factors we’ll be looking at:

1. Stats: This includes a character’s attack, defense, and magic power. Characters with high stats in these areas are generally better in combat.
2. Rune Abilities: Each character can use a different rune, which grants them special abilities in battle. Some runes are stronger and more versatile than others, making characters with these runes more desirable.
3. Skills: Many characters come with unique skills, such as increased speed or higher damage output. These make certain characters stand out as stronger choices.
4. Recruitment Difficulty: Some characters are harder to recruit than others, and a character’s ease of recruitment can influence how much value they bring to your team. But recruitment difficulty is only part of the equation—some characters are still amazing despite being tough to get.

S-Tier: The Best of the Best

These characters shine above the rest. Their stats, runes, and overall versatility make them invaluable assets to your team.

Hero (Tenkai)

• Role: Main Character
• Rune: True Rune of the Circle (The Tenkai Rune)
• Why He’s Great: As the protagonist, the Hero has the special ability of the True Rune. This gives them access to some of the best abilities in the game, including powerful magic and huge stat boosts. They are often the most well-rounded character and can fill nearly any role. If you’re playing Suikoden 1, the Hero is an absolute must-have.

Flik

• Role: Warrior/Attacker
• Rune: Lightning Rune
• Why He’s Great: Flik is one of the strongest physical attackers in the game. His high attack stats make him a powerhouse in battle, especially with the Lightning Rune, which adds magical firepower to his already impressive offensive capabilities. Flik’s high speed and ability to hit multiple enemies at once make him one of the top characters in the game.

Viktor

• Role: Warrior/Attacker
• Rune: Star Rune
• Why He’s Great: Viktor is one of the best pure damage dealers in the game. His Star Rune increases his strength and gives him an additional boost to attack power. He’s perfect for dealing devastating blows to enemies and has a strong presence in any battle. His recruitment is relatively easy, making him a solid pick for anyone playing through Suikoden 1.

Tengaar

• Role: Warrior/Attacker
• Rune: Fire Rune
• Why She’s Great: Tengaar may be a bit overlooked, but she’s one of the best physical attackers in the game. With her Fire Rune, she can deal high amounts of damage, especially when paired with the right weapons and equipment. Her speed and attack stats are among the best, making her an essential character for any party.

A-Tier: Strong and Reliable

These characters are highly effective and versatile, but they may lack the extreme power or versatility of the S-tier characters. However, they are still fantastic additions to any party.

Kirkis

• Role: Mage
• Rune: Wind Rune
• Why He’s Great: Kirkis is one of the best spellcasters in the game. His Wind Rune provides powerful magic attacks that can hit multiple enemies, making him a key support character in battles. His speed and ability to cast spells quickly make him an essential part of any team looking to deal consistent damage over time.

Gremio

• Role: Warrior/Support
• Rune: None
• Why He’s Great: Gremio is a well-balanced character, offering decent attack stats and solid defense. He’s one of the few characters with a great balance between offense and defense, making him a reliable support character in battle. He’s also easy to recruit and available early in the game, so he serves as a solid backbone to your team.

Pahn

• Role: Warrior
• Rune: None
• Why He’s Great: Pahn is a reliable physical attacker with decent stats. He’s particularly useful in the early stages of the game when you need a dependable fighter. While his stats are not as high as the likes of Viktor or Flik, his solid all-around stats make him a solid choice for those looking for a dependable fighter.

B-Tier: Solid Choices with Some Drawbacks

These characters are by no means bad, but they are somewhat overshadowed by others in the game. They can still be useful, but there are often better options available.

Riou

• Role: Warrior/Attacker
• Rune: None
• Why He’s Good: Riou is the leader of the rebel army, but he doesn’t bring anything particularly special to the table. While his attack and defense stats are solid, he lacks a unique rune or ability that would make him stand out among other characters like Flik and Viktor. He’s a good all-rounder, but nothing extraordinary.

Kasumi

• Role: Thief/Support
• Rune: None
• Why She’s Good: Kasumi is a fast and reliable character, but she doesn’t offer much in terms of pure damage. Her Thief skills allow her to steal from enemies, which can be useful, but overall, her stats don’t stack up against the higher-tier characters. She’s good for utility, but her combat abilities aren’t as strong as some of the other characters.

Shiro

• Role: Mage
• Rune: Earth Rune
• Why He’s Good: Shiro is another solid character, especially if you’re looking for a magic user. However, compared to some of the other mages like Kirkis, Shiro doesn’t have as much power or versatility. His Earth Rune can be useful, but he’s often overshadowed by other characters in terms of overall usefulness.

C-Tier: Underwhelming Characters

These characters are not terrible, but they tend to be weaker or less effective than the others on this list. You might find them useful in niche situations, but generally, they’re better left on the bench.

Chaco

• Role: Support
• Rune: None
• Why He’s Underwhelming: Chaco doesn’t offer much in terms of combat abilities, and his support role is less effective than other characters like Gremio. His low stats and lack of a powerful rune make him a character you might want to avoid.

Eilie

• Role: Mage
• Rune: None
• Why She’s Underwhelming: Eilie is a healer and support character, but her magic abilities are pretty basic. She doesn’t have the utility or power of other mages like Kirkis, so she’s often relegated to a lower tier.

Final Thoughts

Suikoden 1 Character Tier List1 offers a wide range of characters, each with their strengths and weaknesses. This tier list should help you make informed decisions about who to recruit and use in your party. While the S-tier characters like the Hero, Flik, and Viktor are undeniably powerful, many of the A-tier and B-tier characters can still offer unique benefits depending on your playstyle and strategy.

Ultimately, your team composition will depend on the type of playthrough you want. While certain characters might be stronger than others, Suikoden’s charm lies in the fact that you can recruit a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique stories and abilities. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect team for your journey through the world of Suikoden 1!