Deltarune is Toby Fox's followup to Undertale, released in episodic chapters starting in 2018. It blends a fixed party RPG with bullet hell dodging in battle, and your choice to fight or spare shapes the tone of each encounter.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kris the silent vessel | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Susie the reckless bruiser | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Ralsei the healer prince | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Noelle the ice mage | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Berdly support | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Deltarune tier list.
A-Tier: Kris the silent vessel
Kris the silent vessel is a top-performing option in Deltarune.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Kris's various swords | Best option for this build. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Bullet dodging battles | Defending means steering a heart through bullet patterns, so dodging skill protects the whole party each turn. |
How to Play Kris the silent vessel
Kris the silent vessel focuses on a balanced approach to content.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Kris's various swords and Bullet dodging battles creates a gameplay loop that outperforms other options. 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: Susie the reckless bruiser
Susie the reckless bruiser is a strong option in Deltarune.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Susie's axes | Best option for this build. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | ACT and mercy system | You can ACT on enemies to calm them and then spare instead of killing, opening a pacifist route. |
How to Play Susie the reckless bruiser
Susie the reckless bruiser focuses on a balanced approach to content.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Susie's axes and ACT and mercy system creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. 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: Ralsei the healer prince
Ralsei the healer prince is a strong option in Deltarune.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Ralsei's ribbons | Best option for this build. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Tension Point magic | Grazing bullets and defending build TP, the resource that powers healing and attack spells. |
How to Play Ralsei the healer prince
Ralsei the healer prince focuses on a balanced approach to content.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Ralsei's ribbons and Tension Point magic creates a gameplay loop that offers reliable performance. 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: Noelle the ice mage
Noelle the ice mage is a specialized option in Deltarune.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Noelle's snowring | Best option for this build. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Party of three combat | Unlike Undertale's solo battles, you command a three character party each with distinct spells and roles. |
How to Play Noelle the ice mage
Noelle the ice mage focuses on a balanced approach to content.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Noelle's snowring and Party of three combat creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. 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: Berdly support
Berdly support is a specialized option in Deltarune.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Hammer of Justice | A hidden powerful weapon tied to the Weird Route in Chapter 2. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Branching route choices | Decisions and an optional hidden route change events, dialogue and the darker Weird Route outcomes. |
How to Play Berdly support
Berdly support focuses on a balanced approach to content.
What makes this build work: The synergy between Hammer of Justice and Branching route choices creates a gameplay loop that provides a unique approach. 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 Susie the reckless bruiser: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Kris the silent vessel once you understand core mechanics and have access to Kris's various swords
- Keep a Ralsei the healer prince setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Berdly support 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.
- Spare enemies after ACTing them down if you want the intended pacifist route and its lighter tone.
- Build TP by grazing bullets close and defending, then spend it on healing and key spells.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Deltarune Guides
- Deltarune Deltarune Overview
- Deltarune Tier List
- Deltarune Walkthrough
- Deltarune Beginner's Guide
- Deltarune Tips & Tricks
- Deltarune Weapons Guide
- Deltarune Combat Guide
- Deltarune Boss Guide
- Deltarune Maps & Locations
- Deltarune Crafting Guide
- Deltarune Classes & Characters
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