PokeSurvivor has no official tier list. The published lists are editorial models or stat scores, not player-usage data. One October model weighs attack, speed and HP; another ranks all 966; a third covers only the 29 starters. Use them to narrow a role, then check the starting move, typing and your own mode. Do not treat a top rank as a guarantee for a first partner, a solo run or co-op.
Is there an official tier list?
No. The game’s official pages document moves, items, rifts, achievements and the roster, but they do not publish a ranking. Every list in search results is an editorial page, a stat model or a community post. A list can still be useful if you read its method and version.
The models also disagree because they measure different things. A ranking built from attack, speed and HP will put a fragile attacker above a defensive partner. A list built from kill power and survival will move the same partner. Neither is a win-rate table.
The community models
| Model | What it measures | What it does not measure |
|---|---|---|
| pokesurvivor.co (15 October 2026) | Unupgraded attack multiplier 50%, movement speed 30% and starting HP 20%, using percentile ranks. S/A/B/C cutoffs at 80/65/45/25. | Move pool, items, evolutions, player skill, co-op roles and current balance after later patches. |
| pokesurvivors.org (October 2026) | All 966 sorted into five tiers. The page reports S 49, A 145, B 290, C 289 and D 193. | It does not publish a playtest sample or win rate. The tier labels are model output. |
| pokesurvival.com | The 29 starters only, using a stated starter-stat comparison. | It explicitly says it is not a tested gameplay ranking. It cannot rank the full roster. |
| Reddit community list | Kill power 45%, survival 40%, speed 15%, with a stated game version. | One player’s estimate, not official data or a large sample. |
The leading names differ by model. The pokesurvivor.co top group begins with Eternatus, Mewtwo, Spectrier, Slaking and Bramaluna. The pokesurvivors.org page highlights Eternatus, Darmanitan and Entei at the top. Kartana is fifth in a separate stat model. These are not contradictory data points if you keep the criteria attached.
First partner vs later collection
A first run can only use one of the 29 starters. A tier list that ranks all 966 is mostly a collection guide, not a starter picker. Choose a starter by the opening move you can use well: Vine Whip, Ember, Water Gun, Razor Leaf, Bubble or Confusion. The starter guide lists every partner and its opening move.
For a later collection, the top model names are reasonable targets if their role fits your account. Eternatus is a Poison/Dragon special attacker with a very high stat total. Mewtwo is a fast Psychic attacker. Slaking has a high raw stat line but a different practical rhythm. A high rank does not make a partner automatically better in every run.
Check availability before spending tickets. A 5★ model pick can be much harder to obtain than a 4★ partner, and the gacha uses regional banners with separate pity counters. The gacha guide explains the rates, pity and ticket sources.
Solo and co-op picks
| Goal | What to prioritize | Why the top model pick may not fit |
|---|---|---|
| First solo runs | One reliable attack, one area or coverage move, enough HP and speed to leave a pocket. | A glass-cannon attacker can top a damage model and still punish a player who is learning movement. |
| Later solo pushes | A partner whose move pool covers its weak types, plus a defensive item for rifts. | Stat models often ignore move access, cooldowns and evolution cards. |
| Co-op | Different type coverage, shared experience, a revive plan and a partner that can survive while helping. | There is no official co-op tier list. A solo S-tier damage pick can leave the group without support or coverage. |
| Collection | Regional banner targets and partners you actually enjoy using. | A rank does not reduce the ticket cost of a specific pull. |
For co-op, coordinate around the enemies rather than the tier label. If two players bring the same coverage, one can switch to a different type without changing partners. Experience is shared, so a support role does not fall behind.
Poison-type choices
Poison is a useful coverage type because it hits Grass and Fairy for ×1.6 and is resisted by Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost and Steel. The models put several Poison partners in strong groups, but they do different jobs.
- Eternatus (Poison/Dragon): the headline name in the pokesurvivor.co leading group. It is a 5★ legendary and a special-attacker profile.
- Nihilego (Rock/Poison): in the same leading group. Rock coverage is valuable against Fire, Flying, Bug and Ice; Poison covers Grass and Fairy.
- Munkidori (Poison/Psychic): in the leading group. Psychic covers Fighting and Poison; Poison covers Fairy and Grass.
- Sneasler (Fighting/Poison): in the leading group. Fighting and Poison together cover Normal, Rock, Steel, Grass and Fairy, with a Ghost immunity problem.
- Naganadel (Poison/Dragon): in the leading group. Dragon adds neutral coverage; Poison handles Fairy.
- Gengar (Ghost/Poison): S-tier in the pokesurvivor.co model and the subject of the Gengar build guide. It is fast and fragile, so positioning matters.
- Glimmora (Rock/Poison) and Fezandipiti (Poison/Fairy): strong comparison picks in the pokesurvivors.org model, not headline top-three names.
Poison alone is not a build. Match the second type to the enemies you expect, and keep a move that can hit Steel and Ground. The type chart shows the full multipliers.
Kartana, Gengar and conflicting ranks
Kartana is a Grass/Steel physical attacker with 97 HP, 124 speed and a 1.70 physical multiplier. One stat model ranks it fifth of 966 and S-tier; the pokesurvivors.org headline top three are Eternatus, Darmanitan and Entei. Both can be true because the methods differ. The Kartana profile keeps the model attribution and the physical/special limit.
Gengar is S-tier in the attack/speed/HP model, but its 97 HP makes it less forgiving than the rank suggests. The current build uses special-attack buffs after the 18 October physical/special split. Older advice that gives Gengar Swords Dance is out of date. See the Gengar build for the current move logic.
How to use a tier list
- Check the publication date and game version. A list from before 18 October may use the old physical/special rules.
- Read the criteria. Attack-heavy models undervalue defense, move access and co-op support.
- Check whether the partner is available to you. A first run cannot pull a 5★ legendary from the starting board.
- Use the rank to start a shortlist, then test the partner’s starting move and type coverage.
- Keep the tier label out of the build. A strong partner with the wrong moves or item can still fail.
There is no universal “best Pokémon” claim in this guide. A partner is best for a stated goal, collection state and mode. The Pokédex gives the roster and stats; the build guide turns a pick into a run plan.
Quick answers
Is there an official PokeSurvivor tier list?
No. The official site publishes the roster, moves, items and systems, but no developer ranking. Published tier lists are editorial or model-based.
Who is the best first partner?
There is no verified universal best starter. Pick by the opening move and type you can use, then check the full starter table. A 966-Pokémon ranking is not a starter-only ranking.
Why do tier lists disagree about Kartana and Gengar?
They use different criteria and cutoffs. One model weights attack, speed and HP; another uses kill power and survival. Kartana is also a physical attacker, so special-move assumptions change its value.
Which poison-type should I use?
Eternatus, Nihilego, Munkidori, Sneasler, Naganadel and Gengar appear in strong model groups. Choose by second type, availability and whether you need special or physical damage.
Sources and scope
These sources were checked on 22 October 2026. This is source-based guidance, not a claim that the site played every route. The live game can change after an update.
- pokesurvivor.co tier list — Editorial model, 15 October 2026; attack 50%, speed 30%, HP 20%.
- pokesurvivors.org tier list — Community model covering all 966; not an official ranking.
- pokesurvival.com starter tiers — Starter-only stat comparison; the page says it is not a tested gameplay ranking.
- Official Pokédex data (GitHub main) — Stats and typing used to check individual claims.