BlazBlue Entropy Effect is a 2D action roguelite from 91Act, and it is not a fighting game, which is the first thing most people get wrong about it. It borrows the BlazBlue cast but plays as a side-scrolling run-based action game: Early Access opened on 15 August 2023 and version 1.0 landed on 14 February 2024, with the Steam page listing sixteen playable characters. A run is called Mind Training and moves through five fixed stages: Night City, the Laboratory, the Ruins, Sakura City, and Space Omega.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ragna the Bloodedge | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Hakumen | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Noel Vermillion | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Es | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Taokaka | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our BlazBlue Entropy Effect tier list.
A-Tier: Ragna the Bloodedge
Ragna the Bloodedge is a top-performing option in BlazBlue Entropy Effect.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Attack tactics | The family that upgrades your basic offense. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Mind Training stage order | Official patch notes describe Mind Training as five phases in a fixed order: Night City, Laboratory, Ruins, Sakura City, and Space Omega. |
How to Play Ragna the Bloodedge
Ragna the Bloodedge focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Attack tactics does the damage and Mind Training stage order keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Hakumen
Hakumen is a strong option in BlazBlue Entropy Effect.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Skill tactics | Upgrades to special moves and their cooldowns. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Tactic Codex slots | Upgrades slot into the Tactic Codex, and community guides describe five families: attack, skill, dodge, legacy, and summon. |
How to Play Hakumen
Hakumen focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Skill tactics with Tactic Codex slots and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Noel Vermillion
Noel Vermillion is a strong option in BlazBlue Entropy Effect.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Dodge tactics | Turns evasion into an offensive tool through cancels and follow-ups. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Evotype abilities | Each playable Prototype has an Evotype Ability plus an unlockable Evotype Talent that reshapes how their kit works. |
How to Play Noel Vermillion
Noel Vermillion focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Evotype abilities covers the gap Dodge tactics leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Es
Es is a specialized option in BlazBlue Entropy Effect.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Legacy tactics | Tied to the legacy skills that persist between runs and reward playing more than one Prototype. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Prototype Analyzers | New characters are unlocked with Prototype Analyzers rather than by random drop. |
How to Play Es
Es focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Prototype Analyzers rather than raw numbers, and Legacy tactics is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Taokaka
Taokaka is a specialized option in BlazBlue Entropy Effect.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Summon tactics | Adds allied damage that fights alongside you. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Legacy skills between runs | Progress carries between runs through character legacy skills, which is why the game rewards rotating the roster instead of mastering one Prototype. |
How to Play Taokaka
Taokaka focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Summon tactics and Legacy skills between runs pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Hakumen: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Ragna the Bloodedge once you understand core mechanics and have access to Attack tactics
- Keep a Noel Vermillion setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Taokaka for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Understand what you bought: this is a run-based action roguelite from 91Act, not a versus fighting game. The BlazBlue cast is here, but there is no traditional matchmaking ladder or fighting-game training mode.
- Tactic Codex slots lock to a family once filled. Deciding early whether a slot is attack, skill, dodge, legacy, or summon is more important than any single upgrade you pick up.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More BlazBlue Entropy Effect Guides
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect BlazBlue Entropy Effect Overview
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Tier List
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Walkthrough
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Beginner's Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Tips & Tricks
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Weapons Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Combat Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Boss Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Maps & Locations
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Crafting Guide
- BlazBlue Entropy Effect Classes & Characters
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