AFK Arena tier list (January 2025): Best heroes in patch 1.157

AFK Arena’s 1.157 update has transformed the game, bringing exciting changes to the Hero rankings. Here’s our latest hero tier list to guide you through the game’s dynamics this January 2025!

In AFK Arena, heroes rise and fall with each update, reshaping the mobile game’s strategy. This tier list pinpoints the Heroes who’ve maintained their edge and those newly risen stars, ensuring your team is always at its strongest.

We’ve broken down our Heroes in which ones are the best in PvE and PvP, as well as overall if you want to play a bit of both. Don’t forget to check out our AFK Arena codes too.

Best Heroes Tier List

Here are the overall best Heroes to play in AFK Arena:

Tier	Heroes
SS	Lavatune – Abyssal Rocker, Grezhul, Lady Simona – Bell Ringer, Awakened Shemira, Daemia, Emilia, Olgath, Haleus, Awakened Belinda, Mulan, Palmer, Elijah & Lailah, Talene, Rowan, Merlin, Ezizh, Eironn, Tasi, Mehira, Shemira – Corpsemaker, Liberta, Eironn – Frostglade Paladin, Stormbringer-Skylan
S	Knox – Cursed Conjurer, Thoran – Deathlord, Randle , Kregor – Dragonrealm Guardian, Raoul – Rogue Detective, Melion , Antandra – Dragonflame Spear, Shuna, Villanelle ,Hildwin, Pulina, Lucilla, Ivan, Awakened Safiya, Trishea, Ginneas, Awakened Athalia, Rem, Crassio, Maetria, Edwin, Veithael, Yennefer, Awakened Solise, Awakened Brutus, Awakened Thane, Audrae, Scarlet, Framton, Treznor, Daimon, Saurus, Izold, Zikis, Zaphrael, Hodgkin, Athalia, Lucretia, Gwyneth, Rosaline, Ferael, Lyca, Thoran, Mortas, Nara, Albedo, Arthur, Ezio, Mezoth, Silas, Orthros, Wu Kong, Flora, Zolrath, Safiya, Alna, Skreg, Nakoruru, Khazard, Light Martyr, Malkrie, Atheus, Lucius, the Oath of Radiance, Aurelia – Goddess of Fertility
A	Misha – Gloaming Enchantress,Shadow Scorpion Villanelle, Demon Lord Rimuru, Pulina, Bronn – The Gravekeeper., Adrian & Elyse – Dance of Endurance, Robin Hood, Naroko, Jerome, Tamrus, Salaki, Geralt, Tarnos, Eorin, Oku, Fane, Baba Yaga, Prince of Persia, Numisu, Titus, Ainz Ooal Gown, Queen, Pippa, Lorsan, Gorvo, Fawkes, Nemora, Hendrik, Drez, Oden, Tidus, Cecilia, Kren, Kelthur, Joker, Warek, , Lucius, Shemira
B	Nyla, Vika – Whip-Wielding Wanderer, Anasta, Joan of Arc, Alaro, Awakened Ezizh, Melusina, Estrilda, Brutus, Granit, Vurk, Morrow, Belinda, Kaz, Theowyn, Solise, Khasos, Torne, Raine, Anoki, Satrana
C	Astar, Thesku, Antandra, Baden, Ukyo, Isabella, Rigby, Ulmus
D	Oscar, Thane, Seirus

If you want to just jump straight into AFK Heroes with the best characters and dabble in both PvE and PvP then the above tier list will help you know who to pick after the latest patch.

There’s a vast array of SS-ranked Heroes in the meta this time around, so you’ll be spoiled for choice. However, we’d avoid playing as any below the A class if you’re playing competitively. But if you’re just diving in for fun then play as whoever you like!

Best Heroes for PvE

Here are the best Heroes in the game for PvE battles only:

Tier	Heroes
SS	Lavatune – Abyssal Rocker, Grezhul, Awakened Safiya, Trishea, Daemia, Maetria, Olgath, Haleus, Awakened Belinda, Mulan, Palmer, Talene, Elijah & Lailah, Ainz Ooal Gown, Rowan, Merlin, Alna, Thoran, Ezizh, Eironn, Tasi, Mehira, Shemira – Corpsemaker, Eironn – Frostglade Paladin, Stormbringer-Skylan
S	Thoran – Deathlord, Randle , Kregor – Dragonrealm Guardian, Melion , Robin Hood, Liberta, Jerome, Ivan, Ginneas, Awakened Athalia, Rem, Emilia, Crassio, Edwin, Tamrus, Veithael, Salaki, Yennefer, Awakened Solise, Awakened Brutus, Awakened Thane, Audrae, Scarlet, Framton, Treznor, Daimon, Knox – Cursed Conjurer, Saurus, Zaphrael, Izold, Athalia, Gwyneth, Titus, Gorvo, Lyca, Mortas, Zikis, Hodgkin, Nara, Arthur, Albedo, Ezio, Rosaline, Ferael, Lucretia, Mezoth, Silas, Orthros, Wu Kong, Flora, Nakoruru, Khazard, Skriath, Numisu, Safiya, Aurelia – Goddess of Fertility
A	Naroko, Lucilla, Geralt, Tarnos, Eorin, Oku, Fane, Baba Yaga, Prince of Persia, Pippa, Queen, Morrow, Lorsan, Zolrath, Fawkes, Nemora, Hendrik, Drez, Oden, Tidus, Cecilia, Kren, Kelthur, Joker, Warek, Skreg, Lucius, Vurk, Solise, Shemira
B	Anasta, Joan of Arc, Alaro, Awakened Ezizh, Melusina, Estrilda, Brutus, Granit, Belinda, Khasos, Torne, Isabella, Raine, Anoki, Satrana, Kaz, Theowyn, Antandra, Vika – Whip-Wielding Wanderer
C	Astar, Thesku, Baden, Ukyo, Rigby, Seirus, Oscar, Ulmus
D	Thane

Looking to just relax and play some PvE? Then the above list will help you pick the right Hero for you. Of course, you could still be playing competitively even in PvE, so if that’s the case, stick to the SS and S-tier Heroes.

However, if you’re just having some fun, then feel free to pick from one of the lower tiers. Just know that the ones ranked SS are top of the tree – and likely will be for a while.

Best Heroes for PvP

Here are the best Heroes to play in PvP battles:

Tier	Heroes
SS	Antandra – Dragonflame Spear, Lavatune – Abyssal Rocker, Liberta, Ivan, Daemia, Awakened Athalia, Emilia, Maetria, Olgath, Haleus, Awakened Belinda, Palmer, Framton, Talene, Elijah & Lailah, Ainz Ooal Gown, Merlin, Rowan, Alna, Ezizh, Eironn, Tasi, Saurus, Athalia, Lyca, Gwyneth, Zaphrael, Mezoth, Orthros, Wu Kong, Flora, Zolrath, Skreg, Nakoruru, Nara, Shemira – Corpsemaker, Eironn – Frostglade Paladin, Stormbringer-Skylan
S	Knox – Cursed Conjurer, Kregor – Dragonrealm Guardian, Grezhul, Lucilla, Awakened Safiya, Ginneas, Edwin, Randle , Veithael, Mulan, Salaki, Yennefer, Awakened Solise, Awakened Brutus, Scarlet, Prince of Persia, Lucretia, Izold, Rosaline, Ferael, Thoran, Zikis, Mortas, Lorsan, Arthur, Albedo, Ezio, Mehira, Khazard, Skriath, Numisu, Pippa, Nemora, Tidus, Kaz, Silas
A	Thoran – Deathlord, Melion ,Robin Hood, Naroko, Jerome, Trishea, Rem, Crassio, Tamrus, Geralt, Tarnos, Audrae, Awakened Ezizh, Baba Yaga, Treznor, Safiya, Titus, Queen, Daimon, Fawkes, Hendrik, Cecilia, Kren, Drez, Joker, Lucius, Hodgkin, Rigby
B	Vika – Whip-Wielding Wanderer, Anasta, Joan of Arc, Eorin, Awakaned Thane, Oku, Fane, Melusina, Gorvo, Warek, Morrow, Shemira, Estrilda, Brutus, Oden, Theowyn, Solise, Khasos, Torne, Raine, Anoki, Kelthur, Granit
C	Alaro, Astar, Thesku, Vurk, Satrana, Baden, Ukyo, Isabella, Ulmus, Antandra, Belinda
D	Oscar, Thane, Seirus

If you’re playing AFK Heroes to battle other players, then we’d strongly advise choosing from the SS and S-class tiers. Of course, tier lists matter more for PvP, so choosing a character that’s ranked less than S-class will put you at a disadvantage.

If you’re feeling brave or are exceptionally skilled, though, then go for it and pick anyone you like. However, if you want to beat the competition, listen to the meta.

Our tiers explained

Here is a short breakdown of each tier and what they mean:

• SS: The very best Heroes in the game.
• S: Just under the best, but still amazing.
• A: Very good Heroes that are also worth picking.
• B: Viable options but there are much better choices.
• C: Average and nothing special.
• D: Avoid playing these Heroes unless you have an affinity for them.

Heroes that feature in the A and B tiers are those that you should be looking to use in your combat party for most purposes. However, you should also note that it is important to ensure that you’ve selected the proper faction of heroes for the specific quest that you’re about to start.

However, if you’re looking for more tier lists, check out our Mobile Legends: Adventure tier list, Arknights tier list, Clash Royale tier list, or even our ranking of the best Genshin Impact characters for our recommendations in each game’s current meta.

Alternatively, if you’re hunting for additional titles to pick up and play, our best mobile games of 2025 list will ensure you stay up-to-date with the best titles to play right now.