Verdict: Banger. Silent is still the best character in v0.106, but Ironclad's buffs closed the gap from 'unplayable' to 'actually good.' The Regent remains the ultimate high-roll character—either godlike or useless.
How We Actually Ranked These
I didn't theorycraft this in a spreadsheet. I played 40+ runs across all characters in v0.106 beta, tracked win rates by Ascension level, and cross-checked with three other regular players who don't stream and don't care about engagement farming.
Our criteria are simple and brutal:
- Consistency: Can this character win with average draws, or do you need the perfect hand every fight?
- Archetype diversity: How many different builds actually work? One-trick ponies get dropped.
- Boss matchups: Does this character have a plan against Aeonglass, or do they just fold and restart?
- Fun factor: Do I want to play another run immediately after winning, or do I need to touch grass first?
If you disagree with where your main landed, I want to see your run history. Screenshots or it didn't happen.
The Big Story: Ironclad Got Saved
Pre-v0.106 Ironclad was in a rough spot. His scaling was fine—his late game could compete with anyone—but his early game was so passive that you'd bleed half your HP against every Act 1 elite. You weren't building a deck. You were praying to survive long enough for your good cards to show up.
v0.106 changed that. His front-loaded damage options got honest buffs. He can end fights before they end him. The buffs aren't flashy enough for YouTube thumbnails, but they completely changed the rhythm of his runs. He went from "wait and scale" to "fight and scale."
That's the difference between a character that feels like homework and a character that feels like a game.
Why Silent Is Still Queen
Silent defenders will tell you she's "well-designed." Silent haters will tell you she's "overtuned." Both are right.
The truth is simpler: Silent has the best defensive toolkit in the game, multiple scaling paths, and the draw smoothing to make bad hands playable. In a patch that punishes slow starts and rewards consistency, that's an unbeatable combination.
Aeonglass hates her because she doesn't need to stall. Infested Prism hates her because she can block and damage in the same turn. Every fight in v0.106 asks "can you do multiple things at once?" and Silent's answer is always yes.
Is she too strong? Maybe. But nerfing her wouldn't make other characters better. It would just make the game harder for no reason.
The Regent Problem
I want to love the Regent. When Tyranny triggers Bombardment and you watch the enemy explode, it's one of the most satisfying moments in the game. But here's the thing: that moment happens in maybe 30% of runs.
The other 70%? You're playing a character with half a kit, desperately searching for combo pieces while Aeonglass laughs at your setup turns. Against Infested Prism, his defensive options are too slow. Against hallway fights, his tempo is awkward.
He's not Doomed because the ceiling is real. But he's not Certified because the floor is too low for consistent climbing. If you want to high-roll, play Regent. If you want to win, play Silent.
FAQ
Is Silent really that much better than everyone else?
In v0.106? Yes. Her defensive toolkit is deeper, her scaling is more reliable, and she has three viable archetypes. The gap isn't massive, but it's real. If you track your win rates honestly, Silent wins more.
Why is the Regent rated lower than Ironclad?
Regent has a higher ceiling but a much lower floor. When Tyranny into Bombardment hits, he's unstoppable. When you don't find the pieces, he's a worse Ironclad with extra setup turns. Ironclad is more consistent across runs.
Will this tier list change after the next patch?
Absolutely. That's the whole point of Early Access. We update these lists every significant patch. If your main got nerfed, don't yell at us—yell at Mega Crit.