TL;DR: In the August 2026 network test, Albert and Zork are the safest picks for most players — easy kits, strong Phase I farming, and useful tools at every culling. Sniper Layla and Bloodhand Jan are A-tier specialists. Trang Lanh and Senator Samir Patres are high-skill, high-reward picks that punish bad positioning but demand clean execution. This is a preview ranking based on the closed network test, not the final retail build.
The Duskbloods Tier List (Network Test · Oct 2026)
| Tier | Bloodsworn | Role | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Albert | Balanced duelist | ★★☆☆☆ |
| S | Zork | Tank / disruptor | ★★☆☆☆ |
| A | Sniper Layla | Long-range pick | ★★★☆☆ |
| A | Bloodhand Jan | Bruiser / sustain | ★★★☆☆ |
| B | Trang Lanh | Ambush / control | ★★★★☆ |
| B | Senator Samir Patres | Technique / anti-carry | ★★★★☆ |
How to read this list: tiers measure consistency across a full Dusk Battle, not highlight-reel ceiling. In The Duskbloods, the Grail culls low-Virtue Bloodsworn in Phases II–III — so farming speed and survival matter as much as duel power. A flashy kit that dies in Phase II is not S-tier.
Full kits and lore live on the Bloodsworn roster page. Core loop and Virtue rules are on the gameplay page.
S Tier — Pick These First
Albert — S | The Default Answer
Kit: Lorrik's Jeweled Saber · Submachine Gun · Blood Blade · Light of Hayern
Albert is the most approachable all-rounder in the network test. Clean melee stagger into SMG confirms covers almost every range, and High Lorrik Blood gives extra uses of blood-based skills — which means more uptime whenever you bank Virtue early.
- Why S: never a bad pick; strong in solos and in temporary alliances
- Virtue game: Upriser raises stagger against high-Virtue leaders — steal momentum instead of bullying weak players
- Play it if: you want one character to learn the whole game on
Zork — S | Be the Problem
Kit: Undersea Cable · Speargun / Rockets · Missile · Human Rocket
Zork is a diving-suit wrecking ball. He grows max HP off kills (Law of the Deep Sea), disrupts sightlines, and forces everyone nearby to deal with him. Difficulty 2, but the floor is high: a Zork who survives culling is a final-three threat.
- Why S: tankiness + kill-to-grow snowballs through culling phases
- Virtue game: contest ritual sites early; stolen HP compounds with raw Virtue bonuses in the final phase
- Play it if: you like being the raid boss other teams must answer
A Tier — Strong, With a Job
Sniper Layla — A | Own the Sightline
Kit: Hieroglyph Katars · Verd Gatling Gun · Neb-ra Vanishing · Nighteye
Layla controls elevation and long sightlines, then vanishes to reset. On Lowanro City's multi-layered routes (streets, cave, forest, lake) she picks fights on her terms.
- Why A: elite when terrain favors her; weaker in forced close-range culling brawls
- Play it if: you already know the map routes and want free picks
Bloodhand Jan — A | Win Ugly, Win Long
Kit: Bloodthirsty Axe · Blink · Surrender to My Blood · Bloodhand Lineage
Jan trades HP on purpose, counter-heals, and spellbinds minions to snowball. He is the best long-fight character in the test build.
- Why A: sustain beats burst in later phases; weaker if he gets chain-ambushed before healing online
- Play it if: you like attrition more than one-shot duels
B Tier — Ceiling Is Real, Floor Is Painful
Trang Lanh — B | Decide the Fight From Stealth
Kit: Full Moon Blade · Darkmoon · Mama Nātha · Alluring Bride
Trang Lanh opens from stealth, drinks blood in crowds, and controls tempo. In the right hands she deletes a carry before Phase III. In the wrong hands she dies with zero Virtue to a culling.
- Why B: massive variance; punished hard by AI trespassers and random events
- Play it if: you already have match rhythm and want outplay tools
Senator Samir Patres — B | Outbuild, Then Run Them Over
Kit: Senate Rapier · Bloodstake · Saurian Form · Unshakable Sword
Samir wants perfect guards, skill-level investment, and a Saurian Form finish. He is the anti-carry duelist — excellent into snowballing leaders, mediocre if you fall behind on Virtue.
- Why B: rewards lab time; loses too much tempo when parries miss
- Play it if: you like technical 1v1s and hate being stat-checked
How This List Should Change
This ranking is locked to the August 2026 closed network test. Expect it to move when:
- Launch roster ships (12+ Bloodsworn promised — six names here are not the full game)
- Server / PvP latency fixes land (delayed fights favor grinders like Jan)
- Virtue and ritual-site tuning from the test feedback
- Blood History customization is fully documented
We will rewrite this page with the retail meta after launch. Until then, treat S-tier as "queue these and learn the game," not a competitive gospel.
FAQ
Is this the final The Duskbloods tier list?
No. It is a network-test preview. The full roster and launch balance are still unannounced.
Who is the best Bloodsworn for beginners?
Albert, with Zork as a tankier alternative. Both are difficulty 2 and survive culling more reliably than stealth or tech picks.
Do tier lists even matter in a PvPvE game?
They matter less than in a pure fighter. Virtue farming, Kin compacts, alliances, and trespassers can overturn a "worse" kit. Tiers here measure how often a character survives to Phase IV when players are of equal skill.
Where do I see full skill descriptions?
See the Characters page for weapons, Blood Arts, and Aspects, and Gameplay for the Dusk Battle phase flow.
Sources
- FromSoftware / Nintendo — The Duskbloods network test gameplay guide (character kits, Virtue system, match phases), August 2026
- IGN — Hidetaka Miyazaki interview (Bloodsworn design, matchmaking philosophy)
- Site data: Bloodsworn roster · Gameplay systems · Maps
Related: What Is The Duskbloods PvPvE? · Beginner Matchmaking Explained
Image note: site-hosted crops of public materials (rights remain with their owners). Rankings and commentary are independent fan analysis.