In Punishing: Gray Raven, the evolving meta driven by new Constructs, game modes, and ongoing power creep presents a complex challenge for players deciding which characters to develop. The introduction of the Norman Revival Plan and enhanced bosses in Phantom Pain Cage (PPC) has shifted priorities, making raw damage alone insufficient for success. This 2025 Tier List evaluates every major Construct based on their combat effectiveness, investment potential, and suitability across various modes.
Whether your goal is to conquer Norman, excel in Warzone, or dominate PPC, this comprehensive ranking offers clear guidance on the essential picks and meta-defining choices. For those aiming to maximize their builds quickly, LootBar provides a convenient way to enhance characters efficiently and stay competitive in the ever-changing battlefield.
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How This Tier List Is Constructed
Our evaluation of characters is grounded in several key criteria:
- Effectiveness across primary game modes such as Phantom Pain Cage (PPC) and Warzone
- Compatibility within team compositions and versatility in fulfilling multiple roles
- Return on investment when upgraded to SS or SSS ranks
- Insights drawn from personal gameplay experience and leaderboard performance
Tier Definitions
- S Tier: Meta-defining characters who are essential pulls and excel across multiple modes.
- A Tier: Highly powerful units that offer strong synergy and are worth significant investment.
- B Tier: Characters with niche applications or mode-specific utility; functional but less seamless than A tiers.
- C Tier: Often outdated or overshadowed by stronger options, typically serving as filler or Free-to-Play choices.
- D Tier: Used only in the absence of better alternatives.
- F Tier: Severely power-crept and no longer viable in the current meta.
S Rank Attackers/DPS Tier List
S Tier Attackers/DPS
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes | |
| Lucia: Pyroath | Fire, Plasma | Fast rotation, high burst, synergy with Vera, time-stop | All game modes | |
| Selena:Pianissimo | Physical, Glaciation | Strongest Physical character, excellent for every game mode, time-stop | All game modes |
These characters set the standard for the current meta. If you possess them, prioritizing their development is essential for success in both weekly challenges and competitive ranking modes.
A Tier Attacker/DPS
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes | |
| Lamia: Lost Lullaby | Dark | Fast rotation, high burst, time-stop | All game modes | |
| Bianca: Stigmata | Physical, Trueslash | Strong burst, time-stop | All game modes | |
| Luna: Oblivion | Nihil | Strong burst, flexible on multiple teams, time-stop | All game modes | |
| Qu: Shukra | Ice | Strong burst, high uptime, fast rotation, time-stop | All game mode | |
| Alpha: Crimson Weave | Lightning, Darkflow | Stong burst, fast rotation, time-stop | All game modes |
These attackers deliver strong performance but typically rely on team synergy or narrowly miss universal S-tier status. They remain valuable investments and are worth building when they complement your existing team compositions.
B Tier Attackers/DPS
| Construct | Element | Notes | |
| Lee: Hyperreal | Fire | Heavily outclassed by Lucia: Pyroath. Can only do 1 to 2 bursts per rotation. |
These attackers possess notable power but have highly limited applications and lack multiple burst capabilities.
C, D, and F Tier Attackers/DPS
| Construct | Element | Notes | |
| Lucia: Plume | Ice | Lacks time-stop, heavily orb hungry, and power crept in DPS | |
| Luna: Laurel | Dark | Lacks time-stop, and power crept in DPS | |
| Nier Collab: 2B | Physical | Lacks time-stop, clunky to play, power crept | |
| Lee: Entropy | Physical | Lacks time-stop, clunky to play, power crept | |
| Bianca: Veritas | Lightning | Lacks time-stop, power crept | |
| Lucia: Alpha | Physical | Lacks time-stop, power crept |
S Tier Tanks
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes | |
| Nanami: Star Trail | Lightning, Burn | Fast rotation, high burst, high shred, time-stop, long uptime, long shred uptime, can solo contents. | All game modes |
These tanks define the current meta. If you have them, they’re worth prioritizing to achieve the highest ranks on Warzone and PPC.
A Tier Tanks
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes |
| Ice, Glaciation | Fast rotation, high burst, high shred, time-stop, long shred uptime | All game modes | |
| Fire | Fast rotation, high burst, high shred, time-stop, long shred uptime | All game modes | |
| Physical, Trueslash | Fast rotation, high burst, high shred, time-stop, long shred uptime | All game modes |
These tanks are powerful but fall just short of universal S utility. Very worth building and investing in if they round out your team comps.
B Tier Tanks
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes | |
| Karenina: Scire | Dark, Plasma | Fast rotation, high shred, time-stop | All game modes | |
| Vera: Garnet | Lightning | Fast rotation, high shred | All game modes |
These tanks are good but are heavily outclassed by newer-generation tanks.
C and D Tier Tanks
| Construct | Element | Notes | |
| Rosetta: Rigor | Physical | Lacks time stop, and has high shred but not having time-stop severely destroys her use on PPC and Warzone | |
| Nanami: Starfarer | Fire | Very clunky to use, power crept. | |
| Nanami: Pulse | Fire | Power crept |
Tanks in this range are either older or have very niche value. They may help in early stages or F2P setups but aren’t long-term investments for high-tier play.
Tier S Amplifier/Support
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes | |
| Vera: Geiravor | Fire, Darkflow | Fast rotation, high burst, time-stop, very good buffer | All game modes | |
| Lilith: Daemonissa | Dark, Plasma | Current Dark DPS, fast rotation, high burst, time-stop, very good buffer | All game modes | |
| Ishmael: Parhelion | Nihil | High burst, time-stop, fast rotation, very good buffer | All game modes |
These amplifiers/support elevate your attackers and tanks a tier above. Super viable sub-dps. Very worth to invest. Takes them a long time before they get power.
Tier A Amplifiers/Supports
| Construct | Element | Strengths | Best Modes | |
| Ayla: Kaleido | Ice | Fast rotation, good burst, time-stop, good buffer | All game modes | |
| Alisa: Echo | Physical, Glaciation | Fast rotation, good burst, time-stop, good buffer, flexible | All game modes | |
| Liv Empyrea | Fire | Good burst, time-stop, fast rotation, very good buffer | All game modes | |
| No 21: Feral | Lightning | Good burst, time-stop, fast rotation, very good buffer | All game modes |
These amplifiers/supports are powerful, the only thing they lack is newer generation amplifiers’ damage potential.
B and C Tier Amplifier/Support
| Construct | Element | Notes | |
| Selena: Capriccio | Dark | Very clunky to use, requires so many resources, very little damage. | |
| Liv: Luminance | Physical | Low damage, sub-par buffs, no time-stop. |
Amplifiers/Supports in this range are very old and denied a leap. They may help in early stages or F2P setups but aren’t long-term investments for high-tier play.
Should You Pull or Invest?
For Free-to-Play (F2P) players and light spenders, the primary objective is to build a well-rounded team for each element, focusing initially on the element of the current PPC boss or Warzone challenge.
F2P Tips:
- Focus on acquiring S-rank Constructs from event banners.
- Prioritize Amplifiers, as they significantly boost DPS across your teams.
Light and Whale Spender Tips:
- Aim to pull for signature weapons, such as Deathless Flame for Vera.
- Push upgrades to SS or SSS ranks to benefit from orb cycling and skill cooldown refunds.
- Invest in top-tier CUBs to enhance overall team performance.
If you want to accelerate your progress or secure specific pulls, LootBar offers a safe way to top up and access Construct bundles that include valuable upgrade materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is this tier list updated?
The tier list is updated regularly to reflect changes from new patches, game modes, and meta shifts, ensuring you have the latest recommendations.
Should I focus on upgrading Constructs or Amplifiers first?
Prioritize Amplifiers initially, as they provide a consistent DPS boost across multiple teams. Afterward, focus on upgrading your main Constructs based on your team composition.
Are signature weapons essential for every Construct?
While not mandatory, signature weapons significantly enhance a Construct’s performance and can be a worthwhile investment, especially for top-tier units.
Can I rely on lower-tier Constructs for late-game content?
Lower-tier Constructs may be viable in specific niche scenarios or early game stages, but investing in higher-tier characters is recommended for sustained success in late-game and competitive modes.
What’s the best way to maximize investment returns?
Focus upgrades on Constructs that excel across multiple modes and offer strong team synergy. Prioritizing SS/SSS rank upgrades unlocks valuable abilities and improves combat efficiency.
Conclusion
In summary, mastering Punishing: Gray Raven’s evolving meta requires strategic selection and investment in Constructs that align with current game modes and team synergies. This 2025 Tier List serves as a comprehensive guide to help you prioritize your resources effectively, whether you are Free-to-Play, a light spender, or aiming for competitive dominance.
