If you have spent any time wandering the vibrant, anime‑inspired world of Tower of Fantasy, you already know that simulacra are the beating heart of the game’s combat and progression system. These powerful, summonable avatars grant you unique weapons, flashy abilities, and stat boosts that can turn a tough boss fight into a satisfying victory. But with dozens of simulacra to collect, each tied to a different weapon type and elemental affinity, figuring out which ones deserve a spot in your roster can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive Tower of Fantasy simulacra tier list, breaking down the strongest picks, the situational gems, and the ones you might want to skip unless you’re a completionist. Grab your favorite snack, settle in, and let’s dive into the meta that’s shaping the game in 2026.
What Are Simulacra in Tower of Fantasy?
Simulacra are essentially character skins that come bundled with a weapon and a passive skill set. When you equip a simulacrum, you gain access to its weapon’s moveset, its unique passive talent, and often a stat boost that scales with the simulacrum’s level and rarity. Think of them as the game’s version of a “class” system, but with far more flexibility because you can swap them out on the fly. Each simulacrum belongs to a specific element—Fire, Ice, Volt, or Physical—and aligns with a weapon type such as Sword, Greatsword, Bow, or Cannon. This elemental and weapon pairing is crucial for building teams that can exploit enemy weaknesses and maintain consistent damage output.
Beyond combat, simulacra also play a role in the game’s gacha economy. Most simulacra are obtained through the Warp banner system, using either Gold Nucleus (the premium currency) or Black Nucleus (the free currency). Some simulacra are available through limited‑time event banners, while others can be earned via the Battle Pass or special login rewards. Upgrading a simulacrum requires collecting its specific shards, which drop from the same banners or can be purchased in the shop using various currencies. The higher the simulacrum’s rank, the more powerful its passive talent becomes, making investment in top‑tier picks a smart long‑term strategy.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about how we ranked these simulacra. Our tier list takes into account raw damage potential, utility in both PvE and PvP, ease of acquisition, and how well each simulacrum synergizes with popular team compositions. We also considered the current meta as of the latest major update, which introduced new region content and balance tweaks that shifted a few rankings. Keep in mind that tier lists are never absolute—player skill, team composition, and personal playstyle can make a lower‑tier simulacrum shine in the right hands—but this guide should give you a solid starting point for building a formidable roster.
How the Simulacra Tier List Works
We divided the simulacra into four main tiers: S, A, B, and C. S‑tier represents the absolute best of the best—characters that excel in almost every scenario, offer strong offensive or defensive utility, and are relatively easy to fit into a variety of teams. A‑tier simulacra are very strong but may have a slight weakness, such as a narrower elemental coverage or a more situational passive. B‑tier picks are solid choices that can perform well in specific contexts, especially when you need a particular element or weapon type. Finally, C‑tier simulacra are generally outclassed by other options and are only worth investing in if you are a completionist or if you have no better alternatives for a given slot.
Within each tier, we ordered the simulacra roughly by overall effectiveness, but the differences between adjacent entries can be minor. For example, the gap between the top S‑tier simulacrum and the second‑best S‑tier pick might be just a few percentage points in damage output, but both are still considered top‑tier. We also noted any special considerations, such as whether a simulacrum shines more in PvE content like boss raids or in PvP arenas, and whether its passive talent scales well with investment.
It’s worth mentioning that Tower of Fantasy frequently updates its balance, and new simulacra are released regularly. As a result, this tier list reflects the state of the game as of the latest patch (version 3.8, released early 2026). If you’re reading this several months down the line, be sure to check the official patch notes and community discussions for any shifts that might affect the rankings.
S‑Tier Simulacra: The Absolute Best
When it comes to raw power and versatility, these simulacra sit at the pinnacle of the Tower of Fantasy meta. They consistently deliver high damage, provide valuable team buffs, and often possess passive talents that activate under common combat conditions. If you can only invest in a handful of simulacra, these are the ones you want to prioritize.
Sakura (Kasumi) – Flame Sword
Sakura remains a fan favorite and a meta staple. Her Flame Sword weapon delivers fast, combo‑heavy attacks that scale well with attack speed, and her passive talent, "Blossoming Fury," grants a significant attack boost after landing a certain number of hits. This makes her exceptionally effective in prolonged fights where you can maintain a steady combo chain. Sakura’s Fire element also gives her excellent coverage against Ice‑weak enemies, which are abundant in many early‑game and mid‑game areas. She is relatively easy to obtain through the standard Warp banner, and her shards drop frequently, making upgrades painless.
In PvE, Sakura shines in boss encounters where you can safely dodge and counter‑attack, allowing her to stack her passive multiple times. In PvP, her quick attack speed lets her interrupt enemy casts and apply pressure, especially when paired with a crowd‑control simulacrum like Frigg. Many top‑ranked players consider Sakura a core component of any Fire‑centric team, and she often appears in the "best simulacra team comps tier list" guides on community sites.
Frigg (Zephyr) – Ice Bow
If you need reliable crowd control and consistent burst damage, Frigg is hard to beat. Her Ice Bow weapon allows her to fire charged arrows that deal area‑of‑effect damage and apply a chill effect, slowing enemies and setting them up for follow‑up attacks. Her passive, "Glacial Grace," increases critical hit chance against chilled targets, turning her into a potent crit machine when paired with other Ice or Volt simulacras that can apply chill.
Frigg excels in both PvE and PvP. In boss fights, her ability to slow large enemies gives your team more windows to unleash burst damage. In PvP arenas, her chill effect can disrupt enemy movement, making it easier for your team to land skill shots. She is also relatively accessible, appearing regularly in the limited‑event banners, and her upgrade materials are farmable through daily missions.
Meryl (Void) – Greatsword
Meryl brings a unique blend of high burst damage and survivability to the table. Her Greatsword weapon delivers slow but devastating swings that can cleave through multiple enemies, and her passive, "Abyssal Resolve," grants a shield that absorbs damage based on her maximum HP when she lands a heavy hit. This makes her surprisingly tanky for a damage dealer, allowing her to stay on the front line longer than many other pure DPS simulacras.
Meryl’s Void element gives her excellent coverage against enemies that are resistant to more common elements like Fire or Ice, and her passive scales well with HP investment, making her a great pick for players who like to build a bit of tankiness into their damage dealers. She is a bit rarer than Sakura or Frigg, often appearing in special event banners, but her power level justifies the effort to obtain her.
A‑Tier Simulacra: Strong Contenders
A‑tier simulacra are just a step below the S‑tier elite, but they are still excellent choices for most players. They may have a slightly narrower niche, require a bit more team support to reach their full potential, or have a passive that shines only under specific conditions. Nonetheless, investing in any of these will noticeably boost your combat effectiveness.
Coco (Sun) – Cannon
Coco’s Cannon weapon excels at delivering long‑range, explosive damage that can hit multiple targets simultaneously. Her passive, "Solar Flare," increases her attack power after she lands a critical hit, encouraging a playstyle that focuses on landing big, bursty shots. Coco is particularly strong in PvE scenarios where you can maintain distance from enemies, such as fighting large bosses with telegraphed attacks.
Her Fire element gives her solid coverage against Ice‑weak foes, and her cannon’s splash damage makes her useful for clearing waves of weaker enemies. While she may not have the same consistent DPS as a sword‑based simulacrum, her burst potential can turn the tide in tough encounters. Coco is relatively easy to obtain through the standard banner, and her upgrade materials are common.
King (Scythe) – Volt Scythe
King brings a unique mix of high mobility and sustained damage. His Volt Scythe weapon allows him to dash forward with each attack, making him excellent at chasing down enemies or repositioning during fights. His passive, "Storm Rider," grants increased movement speed and attack speed after landing a certain number of hits, turning him into a whirlwind of damage when you can keep the combo going.
King’s Volt element pairs well with other Volt or Fire simulacras that can apply shock or burn, creating powerful elemental reactions. He is especially effective in PvP, where his mobility lets him evade skill shots and close gaps quickly. Obtaining King may require a bit more luck, as he often appears in limited‑time banners, but his versatility makes him worth the chase.
B‑Tier Simulacra: Situational Picks
B‑tier simulacra are not bad by any means; they simply excel in more specific situations. You might pick one of these when you need a particular element to counter an enemy weakness, or when you want to fill a weapon type gap in your team. Think of them as specialist tools that shine when the circumstances are right.
Nemesis (Dark) – Bow
Nemesis offers a dark‑themed Bow that deals steady damage and applies a debuff that reduces enemy defense. Her passive, "Abyssal Shot," increases her critical damage against debuffed targets, making her a great secondary damage dealer when paired with a simulacrum that can apply the defense down debuff (such as certain Ice or Volt characters).
She shines in PvE content where you can set up debuffs before unleashing her burst, such as in multi‑stage boss fights. In PvP, her debuff can disrupt enemy tanks, making them more vulnerable to your team’s focus fire. Nemesis is relatively rare, often showing up in special event banners, so you may need to save your Nucleus for her.
Eula (Frost) – Greatsword
Eula’s Frost Greatsword delivers heavy, slow swings that deal massive burst damage and apply a freeze effect on hit. Her passive, "Frozen Heart," increases her damage against frozen enemies, encouraging a playstyle where you first apply freeze with her attacks and then follow up with additional damage.
She is particularly effective against enemies that are vulnerable to Ice, and her freeze can interrupt enemy casts, giving your team valuable windows to act. However, her slower attack speed means she can struggle in fast‑paced encounters where you need to maintain constant pressure. Eula is obtainable through the standard banner, but her shards drop at a moderate rate, so upgrading her takes a bit of patience.
C‑Tier Simulacra: Avoid Unless You Have No Choice
C‑tier simulacra are generally outclassed by other options in the same role. They may have lower base stats, passives that are difficult to trigger, or elemental coverage that overlaps poorly with the current meta. That said, if you are a completionist or simply love the character’s design, there’s no harm in investing a little—just don’t expect them to carry you through end‑game content.
Ling (Light) – Sword
Ling’s Light Sword offers decent speed and average damage, but her passive, "Radiant Grace," only provides a minor heal on hit, which is negligible compared to the healing options available from other sources like food or support simulacras. Her Light element also lacks strong elemental reactions in the current meta, making her less versatile than Fire, Ice, or Volt alternatives.
You might consider Ling if you really enjoy her aesthetic or if you have no other Sword simulacra available, but for most players, there are better choices in the S‑ or A‑tier that will outperform her in nearly every scenario.
Gepard (Shield) – Shield
Gepard’s Shield weapon focuses on defense, offering a strong block and a passive that reflects a small portion of incoming damage. While tanky, his damage output is low, and the current meta favors hybrid damage‑tank builds or pure damage dealers with self‑sustain. Unless you are running a very specific tank‑heavy strategy in PvP, you’ll likely find better utility from simulacras that offer both offense and defense, such as Meryl or certain support‑oriented picks.
Again, Gepard can be fun to collect for his design, but he is not a top priority for competitive play.
Building the Best Team: Synergies and Role Coverage
Knowing which simulacra are strong is only half the battle; you also need to assemble them into a cohesive team that covers all the necessary roles: damage dealer, secondary damage, support/tank, and elemental coverage. A well‑rounded team will be able to handle a variety of enemy types and adapt to different game modes, from story bosses to PvP arenas.
Start by picking a primary DPS simulacrum that aligns with your preferred playstyle. If you enjoy fast, combo‑heavy combat, Sakura or King are excellent choices. If you prefer big, bursty hits, consider Meryl or Eula. Next, add a secondary DPS that can complement your primary’s element—for example, pairing a Fire DPS like Sakura with a Volt DPS like King can create powerful burn‑shock reactions. Finally, fill any gaps with a support or tank simulacrum that provides healing, shields, or crowd control. Frigg’s ice‑based chill and Meryl’s shield make them great options for this role.
Don’t forget to consider weapon type diversity. Having at least one sword, one bow, and one cannon or greatsword in your team ensures you can respond to different enemy attack patterns. Many top players also run a "dual elemental" setup, where two simulacras share the same element to maximize reaction damage, while the third provides coverage for a weak spot.
If you’re looking for ready‑made team ideas, check out our detailed Tower of Fantasy character guide, which breaks down optimal squads for PvE bosses, PvP arenas, and co‑op missions. Remember that the best team is the one that feels comfortable to you—experiment with different combinations and adjust based on the content you’re tackling.
How to Obtain and Upgrade Simulacra
Getting your hands on the top simulacra requires a mix of luck, patience, and smart resource management. The primary method is through the Warp banner system, where you spend either Gold Nucleus (premium) or Black Nucleus (free) to pull for new simulacra and weapons. Gold Nucleus can be purchased with real money or earned through certain in‑game events and achievements, while Black Nucleus is awarded daily through login rewards, mission completion, and event participation.
Each banner has a specific rate for featured simulacras, and the game guarantees a 5‑star (the highest rarity) pull after a certain number of attempts—a mechanic known as "pity." Keep an eye on the banner schedule; limited‑time event banners often feature the newest and strongest simulacras, making them worth saving your Nucleus for. If you’re aiming for a specific S‑tier pick like Sakura or Frigg, consider setting a personal pity limit (e.g., 80 pulls) to avoid overspending.
Once you have a simulacrum, upgrading it involves collecting its unique shards, which drop from the same banners or can be bought in the shop using various currencies like Dark Crystals or Gold. The upgrade process increases the simulacrum’s level, which in turn boosts its base stats and enhances the potency of its passive talent. Maxing out a simulacrum to level 20 (or higher, depending on the game’s current cap) will unlock its full potential, so prioritize upgrading your S‑tier picks first.
Don’t forget about the importance of weapon refinement. Each simulacrum comes with a weapon that can be refined using specific materials to increase its attack power and unlock additional passive effects. Refining weapons is often just as important as leveling the simulacrum itself, especially for damage‑focused builds. Check the weapon refinement guide on the official Tower of Fantasy website for detailed material lists and tips.
Meta Shifts and Future Updates
The Tower of Fantasy meta is never static. With each major update, the developers introduce new simulacras, adjust existing passive talents, and sometimes rebalance weapon stats to keep the gameplay fresh. Staying informed about these changes is key to maintaining a competitive edge.
Recent updates have leaned toward enhancing hybrid builds that combine offense and defense, which has slightly increased the value of simulacras like Meryl and certain support‑oriented picks. Additionally, the introduction of new region content has brought enemies with unique elemental resistances, making elemental coverage more important than ever. As a result, players are seeing a rise in teams that prioritize having at least one simulacra of each element to ensure they can exploit weaknesses across the board.
Looking ahead, the developers have hinted at upcoming collaborations that could bring exclusive simulacras tied to popular anime or gaming franchises. While details are still scarce, it’s wise to keep a reserve of Nucleus for these limited‑time banners, as they often feature powerhouses that can shift the meta overnight. Follow the official Tower of Fantasy Twitter account, join the community Discord, and regularly check the news section on the game’s website to stay ahead of the curve.
Final Thoughts
Building a strong simulacra roster in Tower of Fantasy is part strategy, part luck, and a whole lot of fun. By focusing on S‑tier picks like Sakura, Frigg, and Meryl, you’ll establish a solid foundation of damage and utility that can carry you through most of the game’s content. From there, you can experiment with A‑ and B‑tier simulacras to fine‑tune your team for specific challenges, whether you’re tackling a tough boss raid or climbing the PvP ladder.
Remember that the best team is the one that suits your playstyle and makes you excited to log in each day. Don’t be afraid to try out unconventional combinations—sometimes a surprising synergy can outperform the established meta. Keep upgrading your favorites, stay updated with patch notes, and most importantly, enjoy the journey through the vibrant, ever‑evolving world of Tower of Fantasy. Happy hunting, and may your pulls be ever in your favor!