In Kaiju No. 8: The Game‘s September 2026 meta (version 2.1.1), the strongest units are Kaiju No. 8, Reno Ichikawa, and Kikoru Shinomiya, all ranked S+ tier. This guide breaks down every S+ and S tier character, plus who’s worth pulling for if you’re a newer player building your first real team.
Last updated September 7, 2026, for game version 2.1.1.
S+ tier: the best characters in Kaiju No. 8: The Game
S+ is the highest tier in the current meta, per Pocket Gamer’s tier list, last updated September 7, 2026 for version 2.1.1. Kaiju No. 8 himself anchors the tier as a starter character that never falls off: he’s an Attacker capable of dealing heavy damage through his Transcendence Arts and doesn’t even need a weapon equipped to hit hard, which is unusual for a gacha protagonist normally built to be outgrown. Reno Ichikawa (The Reigning King of Kaiju) is the tier’s best Support, buffing ally damage and himself at once, while Kikoru Shinomiya (The Valkyrie’s Successor) is the tier’s premier Attacker, built around Extra Attacks and an Enhanced Ultimate. Rounding out the top band are Haruichi Izumo, Sagan Shinomiya, Hikari Shinomiya, Gen Narumi, Soshiro Hoshina, Chester Lochburn, and Mina Ashiro, each in one of their higher-rarity variants.
S tier: strong, but not launch-team mandatory
S tier covers the second band of viable 5-star pulls, including 5-star versions of Kaiju No. 8, Soshiro Hoshina, Isao Shinomiya, Mina Ashiro, and Kikoru Shinomiya, plus specific variant units like Wang Meixing (Negotiator of Wit and Charm) and Rin Shinonome (Aspiration and Honor). These characters clear high-difficulty content but are more situational than the S+ band — several fill a single role well rather than contributing across every mode.
| Tier | Notable characters | Role summary |
|---|---|---|
| S+ | Kaiju No. 8, Reno Ichikawa, Kikoru Shinomiya, Haruichi Izumo, Sagan Shinomiya | Best-in-slot attackers and supports for every mode |
| S | 5-star Kaiju No. 8, Soshiro Hoshina, Isao Shinomiya, Mina Ashiro, Wang Meixing | Strong but role- or team-dependent |
| A | Iharu Furuhashi, Rin Shinonome, Akari Minase, Ryo Ikagura | Solid budget picks, best as early-game carries |
| B/C | 4-star base versions of top-tier units, Tae Nakanosima, Aoi Kagurari | Usable but outclassed once you have S/S+ pulls |
Best free-to-start team for new players
Kaiju No. 8 himself is a free starter and one of the strongest Attackers in the game, so new players already have an S+ unit before pulling anything. Pairing him with a Support like Reno Ichikawa or Soshiro Hoshina (Ax Technique Proficiency variant) covers damage buffs, and rounding out a third slot with any A-tier Attacker like Iharu Furuhashi is enough to clear most early and mid-game content without needing a single 5-star pull beyond what the game gives you.
The August 2026 anniversary update, briefly
This tier list reflects the game’s 1st Anniversary update, which added Reno Ichikawa (August 10, 2026) and Kikoru Shinomiya (August 20, 2026) as new 5-star characters, per developer Akatsuki Games’ anniversary roadmap. Both launched into S+ tier immediately, which is why they anchor this list — expect the meta to shift again with the next major content drop.
If you’re new to the series
Kaiju No. 8: The Game is based on Naoya Matsumoto’s manga and its anime adaptation, co-produced by Akatsuki Games, TOHO, and Production I.G. If you’re coming to the game from other gacha anime titles, our best One Piece games ranked and best Naruto games ranked guides cover similar team-building basics in other long-running shonen properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best character in Kaiju No. 8: The Game?
Kaiju No. 8, Reno Ichikawa, and Kikoru Shinomiya are the top S+ tier characters as of the September 7, 2026 meta (version 2.1.1).
Is Kaiju No. 8 (the starter character) worth using long-term?
Yes. Unlike most gacha starter characters, Kaiju No. 8 stays in S+ tier because his Transcendence Arts deal heavy damage without needing a weapon equipped.
When were Reno Ichikawa and Kikoru Shinomiya added to the game?
Reno Ichikawa launched August 10, 2026, and Kikoru Shinomiya launched August 20, 2026, as part of the game’s 1st Anniversary update.
What platforms is Kaiju No. 8: The Game on?
It’s available on Android, iOS, and PC via Steam.
