Welcome to the most comprehensive Reverse: 1999 tier list available online! As a dedicated Timekeeper who has spent countless hours analyzing the meta and testing team compositions across all game modes, I’m excited to share my expert insights on the best Arcanists in this time-traveling RPG. Whether you’re struggling to clear challenging Limbo stages, dominating Reveries, or building the perfect team for the latest content, this guide will help you assemble your ultimate squad.
The Reverse: 1999 meta has evolved significantly with the recent Version 3.0 “A Long Long Way” update and the upcoming Version 3.1 “The Midnight Whistle” patch that shook up the character rankings. I’ve meticulously analyzed data from the top tier lists, official patch notes, community consensus from Reddit and Discord, and my own gameplay experience to bring you the most up-to-date and accurate rankings possible.
Before we dive into the detailed rankings, let me explain my methodology and the key factors that determine Arcanist placements:
I evaluate Arcanists based on their performance across four main game modes:
| Game Mode | Weight | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Limbo | 35% | Sustained damage, survivability, team synergy, wave-clearing ability |
| Reveries | 30% | Burst damage, boss-specific utilities, energy generation, AoE effectiveness |
| Mane’s Bulletin | 25% | Consistency, resource efficiency, score optimization |
| Story Mode | 10% | Early-game value, accessibility for F2P players |
Here’s the complete ranking of all Arcanists based on their current performance in the meta:
These Arcanists are the absolute best in Reverse: 1999 right now. If you have them, prioritize their investment above all others.
Game Modes: Limbo, Reveries, Mane’s Bulletin
Role: Damage Dealer (Poison/FUA Hybrid)
Why S+ Tier: Ezio Auditore stands out as the premier damage dealer with his poison-FUA hybrid builds, stacking [Admonition] for massive AoE nukes. His versatility across all game modes makes him indispensable. Pair him with Tuesday for poison spread and Flutterpage for FUA buffs to maximize his potential.
Optimal Build: Prioritize Insight 1 for AP efficiency. His performance in Limbo is exceptional, capable of 2-turn clears with proper team support.
Synergy Teams:
Game Modes: All modes, especially Reveries
Role: FUA Burst Specialist
Why S+ Tier: Windsong will likely be the strongest character in the game for a long, long time. No matter what kind of content you play, it’s very likely for Windsong to dominate. Her Song of Passion shreds bosses and provides incredible team utility.
Optimal Build: Focus on Crit Rate and Crit Damage. Her Euphoria transformation makes her even more devastating in prolonged fights.
Synergy Teams:
Game Modes: Reveries, Limbo
Role: Damage Dealer (Ultimate Spam)
Why S+ Tier: Recoleta is the ultimate spam queen whose Passion Drain ramps damage exponentially in sustain teams. She works best with Melania for Might buffs and fits perfectly in Infinite Bladeworks compositions for aura farming.
Optimal Build: Maximize Ultimate frequency and damage. Her synergy with buff supports makes her incredibly versatile.
Game Modes: All modes
Role: Sub Carry / Dynamo Support
Why S+ Tier: Lucy powers Dynamo loops with incredible efficiency while providing substantial damage output. Her versatility as both a carry and support makes her valuable in virtually any team composition.
Optimal Build: Balance between damage and utility. Her Intellect facet provides excellent team synergy.
These Arcanists are just below S+ tier but still exceptional in their roles.
Game Modes: FUA-focused teams, Limbo
Role: Buffer / FUA Support
Why S Tier: Flutterpage buffs team FUAs with Gust stacks for rapid-fire damage. She shows incredible synergy with Glug Glug 3000, Jiu Niangzi, and Fatutu for maximum FUA uptime.
Game Modes: Sustain teams, Reveries
Role: Support / Healer
Why S Tier: Fatutu is a spirit Shell generator, bouncing heals and buffs for aggressive plays. She synergizes perfectly with Sentinel for Crit + Shell bonuses.
Game Modes: Bloodtithe teams, Reveries
Role: Tank / FUA Specialist
Why S Tier: Nautika is a tanky FUA machine that self-buffs via HP consumption, making her perfect for Bloodtithe teams. Her Euphoria glow-up significantly boosted her viability.
Game Modes: All modes
Role: Support / Debuffer
Why S Tier: While recently dropped from S+ to S tier, Kakania remains the best general Support. Her precise debuffs and utility make her valuable despite archetype-specific supports taking priority in certain teams.
Game Modes: Array teams, Limbo
Role: Buffer / Array Specialist
Why S Tier: Anjo enables Reality DMG spikes through her Array capabilities, making her essential for Array-focused team compositions.
These Arcanists can handle most content reliably, especially in hybrid teams.
Game Modes: Assassin teams, Reveries
Role: Sub Carry / Support
Why A Tier: Kassandra switches modes seamlessly between AP-pos support and proactive damage dealer. Her Ultimate spam setup allows for incredible versatility, though she’s mostly tied to Assassin teams.
Game Modes: Assassin teams, Limbo
Role: Damage Dealer
Why A Tier: Alexios functions like Noire with incredibly frequent Ultimate casts, making him cycle well when paired with Kassandra or the Assassin trio. His damage output is solid though not exceptional.
Game Modes: High enemy count stages, Reveries
Role: Damage Dealer
Why A Tier: With his new Euphoria, A Knight becomes a very solid Carry in stages with high enemy count or multiple waves. While he won’t beat most regular damage dealers, he’s carved out a valuable niche.
Game Modes: Debuff teams, Limbo
Role: Sub Carry / Debuffer
Why A Tier: Argus has access to one of the best debuffs in the game ([Pinpointed]), and with her new Euphoria, she now has significant damage output. She’s optimized for Marcus teams but works well in Rank Up compositions too.
Game Modes: Ultimate-oriented teams
Role: Support
Why A Tier: While her damage output has fallen behind other Sub Carries, Melania remains BiS for any Ultimate-oriented team and can be slotted into many top-tier compositions.
B-tier Arcanists work for casual play or specific Limbo waves, serving as F2P alternatives. They include:
C-tier Arcanists struggle without heavy investment:
D-tier Arcanists have niche kits that are difficult to justify:
E-tier Arcanists should generally be avoided:
If you’re looking for the best meta teams within your Reverse: 1999 characters, here are the top PvE comps using S-tiers:
Characters: Nautika, Semmelweis, Sentinel, Rubuska (swap for Medicine Pocket)
Roles: DPS (Nautika/Semmelweis), Buffer (Sentinel), Healer (Rubuska)
Why It Clears: HP manipulation + Crit stacks for 2-round nukes; ungodly damage in Reveries. This team excels at burst damage and can clear challenging content quickly.
Characters: Lucy, Charon, Ulrich, Medicine Pocket
Roles: DPS (Lucy/Ulrich), Generator (Charon), Debuffer (Pocket)
Why It Clears: Endless Electric Field for AFK sustains; high output in Limbo. This team provides consistent damage with minimal player input.
Characters: Windsong, Flutterpage, Lopera, Vila
Roles: DPS (Windsong), Buffer (Flutterpage), Channel (Lopera), Healer (Vila)
Why It Clears: Rapid FUAs with Gust + heals; burst bosses fast. Perfect for multi-target content and boss fights.
Characters: Ezio Auditore, Recoleta, Tuesday, Fatutu
Roles: DPS (Ezio/Recoleta), Spreader (Tuesday), Sustainer (Fatutu)
Why It Clears: Poison ramps + Shell bounces; aura farms efficiently. Excellent for sustained damage over time.
Characters: Jiu Niangzi, Flutterpage, Sentinel, Fatutu
Roles: DPS (Jiu), Buffer (Flutterpage/Sentinel), Sustainer (Fatutu)
Why It Clears: Max FUA frequency + Crit/Shell; sustainable multi-target. Great for prolonged fights and wave content.
The upcoming Version 3.1 “The Midnight Whistle” brings significant changes to the meta:
Role: Survival / Healer
Why Important: The new BiS healer for the Bloodtithe Archetype, Rubuska is finally the first to really hone in on the HP Loss mechanic. She has a slew of buffs scaling with lost HP, can prevent allies from dying, and can superbuff one ally with her Ultimate.
Optimal Use: Fantastic in Bloodtithe teams specifically, matching Fatutu’s performance in her archetype.
Role: Damage Dealer
Why Important: A very strong [Dynamo]-oriented Carry, Corvus can stack up ridiculous amounts of stats through her [Arc] buffs, grant additional buffs through [Electric Field], and shred enemy Mental DEF.
Optimal Use: While she requires considerable setup time, she beats out Lucy in Mane’s Bulletin. If you don’t have Lucy, she’s an excellent alternative.
With his new Euphoria, A Knight becomes a very solid Carry in stages with high enemy count or multiple waves. Think of Lucidscape or some rotational gamemodes like Phototaxis.
Argus gains significant damage output with her new Euphoria, finally giving her an edge beyond her stupidly powerful [Pinpointed] debuff. She’s now a proper Sub Carry for Marcus teams.
S+ tier Arcanists excel in multiple game modes, have versatile team synergy, and can significantly impact battle outcomes with minimal setup. They’re typically the foundation of most meta teams and provide exceptional value regardless of the content type.
The meta evolves with each major version update, typically every 6-8 weeks. However, S+ tier Arcanists usually remain relevant for several months unless significant balance changes or new power-creeping characters are introduced.
Focus on S+ and S tier Arcanists first, as they form the backbone of 90% of high-score teams. New characters can be powerful, but established top-tier performers generally offer more consistent value across different content types.
For beginners, I recommend starting with versatile Arcanists like Sonetto, Voyager, and Regulus. They provide early-game DPS with debuff cleanse, Crit nukes, and survival options. As you progress, gradually build toward meta teams like FUA Snowball or Poison Infinite.
Euphoria upgrades can significantly boost an Arcanist’s performance, often moving them up by a full tier. However, they’re not essential for basic functionality. Prioritize Euphoria for your most-used Arcanists in S+ and S tiers.
The CN server typically receives updates 1-2 months earlier than Global, giving us insight into future meta shifts. However, balance adjustments often occur between versions, so the exact meta may differ slightly between servers.
So, are you ready to master the Storm? Use this comprehensive Reverse: 1999 tier list to identify which Arcanists can elevate your gameplay to the highest level. Remember to focus primarily on S+ and S tier Arcanists, as they’ll be your go-to picks for the best performance across all game modes.
The meta continues to evolve with Version 3.1 “The Midnight Whistle” bringing exciting new characters like Rubuska and Corvus, along with significant Euphoria buffs for A Knight and Argus. Stay updated with the latest changes, and don’t forget to check out our other tier list guides for more gaming insights!
Whether you’re a seasoned Timekeeper or just starting your journey through the reversed eras, this tier list will help you make informed decisions about which Arcanists to invest in and how to build the most effective teams. The Storm awaits—will you be ready?
Looking for more gacha game insights? Check out our comprehensive Wild Rift tier list or dive into our Genshin Impact tier list for the latest meta analysis across your favorite games!
