Fast answer
The answer before the background
A reliable tier list cannot rank gods by rarity or maximum screenshot damage alone. Compare equal investment on one platform, version, mode and difficulty. Score the passive and unique card, class compatibility, starting-deck consistency, defense, setup turns, artifact dependence and recovery from a poor draw. A god belongs in the highest practical tier only when the deck reaches its plan repeatedly without requiring a narrow event, rare artifact or perfect opening.
Scoring model
Use repeatable value rather than one highlight
| Axis | Question | High score means |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency | How often is the engine assembled on time? | Few dead draws and several useful openers. |
| Survival | Can it live through setup and bad rewards? | Defense or control is built into the plan. |
| Scaling | Does the payoff keep pace with the mode? | Damage or value grows before the failure timer. |
| Flexibility | Can more than one class or reward path work? | The run survives imperfect card offers. |
| Investment | What unlocks or artifacts are mandatory? | Useful performance arrives before rare dependencies. |
| Mode coverage | Where was it tested? | Results repeat across the named content, not every mode by assumption. |
Tier definitions
Make each label falsifiable
- S: repeatable core, resilient opening and broad value in the tested mode at equal investment.
- A: strong result with one visible condition, narrower class fit or modest setup requirement.
- B: viable but needs a specific artifact, card sequence, event or higher investment.
- C: works in a specialist route yet loses consistency or survival in the benchmark.
- Unrated: current tooltip, platform parity or comparable test data is missing.
Patch sensitivity
Characters can move when another system changes
Mobile history reworked Aquamancer, Berserker, Venomancer, Oracle-related options, character passives, unique skills, card costs and artifacts. A god can change tier without a direct base-stat edit because its class, starting deck, card keyword or required artifact changed.
Version 1.18 introduced the artifact system and later releases added multiple named artifact sets. A pre-artifact tier list and a 1.22 list do not measure the same build space. Preserve the old table with its version instead of changing its date and presenting it as current.
Benchmark
Run the same worksheet for every candidate
Choose one mode and difficulty, normalize character and class investment, fix the artifact rule, and run enough attempts to expose bad draws. Record clear rate, turns, damage taken, dead cards and the turn on which the engine became active. Use median behavior rather than the best run.
Publish the tested roster and leave untested gods Unrated. Steam and mobile receive separate tables unless their client data and rules are demonstrably identical. This avoids turning a useful comparison into an unsupported universal order.
FAQ
Common questions
Who is the best character in Ancient Gods?
There is no permanent universal answer. The result depends on platform, patch, mode, class, artifact, investment and draw consistency.
Does rarity determine tier?
No. A high-rarity option can still need narrow support, while a lower-cost character may produce a more reliable deck.
How often should a tier list be updated?
Recheck after character, class, card, artifact or mode changes and label every table with the tested version.
Can Steam use the mobile tier list?
Only as a hypothesis. The official storefronts show different product models and roster descriptions, so PC needs its own verification.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.