Here is the “no-questions-asked” best party in Suikoden 2:
| Position | Character | Rune Setup | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Front row left | Viktor | Rage Rune / Double-Beat | | Front row middle | Riou (Hero) | Bright Shield / Double-Strike | | Front row right | Flik | Thunder Rune / Cyclone | | Back row left | Luc | Mother Earth Rune | | Back row middle | Clive | Double-Beat / Rage Rune | | Back row right | Killey | Double-Beat / Double-Strike |
This team kills most bosses in 3 rounds and never runs out of healing.
TL;DR: Use Riou, Viktor, Flik, Luc, Clive, and Killey. Bench Gengen, Pesmerga, and anyone holding a flute.
What’s your Suikoden 2 hot take? Do you actually use Tuta? Scream at me in the comments.
— Your strategist at the Mercenary Fort suikoden+2+tier+list
Suikoden II , character effectiveness is primarily determined by three factors: their maximum number of rune slots, their base stats, and their attack range. While many characters can be viable for most of the game, "S-Tier" status is reserved for those who can equip three runes to maximize physical damage output or magic power. S-Tier: The Powerhouses
These characters are considered the absolute best due to having three open rune slots and high potential for "min-maxing" with combinations like the Fury, Double-Beat, and Double-Strike runes.
: Widely regarded as the strongest physical attacker in the game. His three rune slots and high stats make him a monster at the end-game. : Like
, his three rune slots allow for devastating damage builds, making him a top choice for boss melting.
: Though he starts weak, his three rune slots eventually make him one of the highest damage dealers in the game. Here is the “no-questions-asked” best party in Suikoden
: A top-tier pick for his versatility and three rune slots, though some players find his attack animation slow.
: The undisputed king of magic. His massive Magic stat and three rune slots allow him to clear whole screens of enemies. A-Tier: Elite Consistency
These characters are incredibly powerful but may lack the raw customization of the S-tier or have minor limitations like fixed runes.
Why D Tier: The little kid. He has the lowest HP, Strength, and Defense. His only "value" is the Medicine rune for free healing, but any character can use that. Putting Tuta in your party is a handicap. He is the game's "weak child" trope personified.
These characters need a tiny bit of setup, but are absolute monsters. TL;DR: Use Riou, Viktor, Flik, Luc, Clive, and Killey
A living legend in the Suikoden world, and his stats back it up.
Why S Tier: The "Bear" of the group is a physical specimen. Viktor boasts the highest HP pool in the game, high Strength, and comes pre-equipped with the Fury Rune (Double damage, but lose control). Even without the rune, his standard attack hits like a truck. His true value is the "Double-Beat Rune" synergy, allowing him to counter-attack multiple times. He joins early and never leaves your party.
Only use these if you love their story or need a specific Unite attack.
Why B Tier: The Kung Fu master. High evasion, high critical rate. She can equip Double-Beat and Counter runes effectively. However, her HP is too low for the front row and her magic is useless. A worse version of Nanami.
Why B Tier: The man with the "S" on his shirt. Georg has the highest natural Strength growth. On paper, he should be S-Tier. The problem? He joins in the final hour of the game (Rockaxe Castle). By then, your party is already optimized. He also has only 1 rune slot. A beast for the final boss, but useless for 98% of the game.