Nimble Neuron's Eternal Return left early access on July 20, 2023 after three years, and it drops eight teams of three onto Lumia Island for 24 players a match. It plays like a MOBA folded into a battle royale: you level skills, farm wild animals for materials, and craft gear from recipes instead of buying it from a shop. There is no shrinking ring, only restricted areas that go red on a timer, and eliminations buy that timer back.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Aya | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Hyunwoo | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Fiora | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Yuki | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Eternal Return tier list.
A-Tier: Jackie
Jackie is a top-performing option in Eternal Return.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Two-handed Sword | A short range melee line with heavy per hit damage, shared by several characters including Jackie, Fiora and Yuki. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Crafting from gathered materials | Gear is built rather than bought. |
How to Play Jackie
Jackie focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Two-handed Sword does the damage and Crafting from gathered materials 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: Aya
Aya is a strong option in Eternal Return.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Rapier | A short range fencing weapon built around repeated quick connects rather than one heavy swing, which pairs with characters whose damage scales on consecutive hits. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Weapon Mastery breakpoints | Masteries cap at level 20 and rise from crafting and from dealing damage. |
How to Play Aya
Aya focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Rapier with Weapon Mastery breakpoints 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: Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo is a strong option in Eternal Return.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Dagger | The classic assassin line, low range and high burst, rewarding you for opening a fight on your terms against an isolated target. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Restricted areas | Areas turn red on a timer instead of a circle closing in, and staying inside one drains the time you have left. |
How to Play Hyunwoo
Hyunwoo focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Restricted areas covers the gap Dagger 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: Fiora
Fiora is a specialized option in Eternal Return.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Glove | An unarmed melee line suited to bruisers who need to survive the first exchange rather than end it, and one of Hyunwoo's two mastery options alongside Tonfa. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Boss monsters and special materials | Alpha, Omega and Wickeline are the three bosses. |
How to Play Fiora
Fiora focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Boss monsters and special materials rather than raw numbers, and Glove 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: Yuki
Yuki is a specialized option in Eternal Return.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Pistol | A ranged line offering safe damage output, and one of Aya's two masteries alongside Assault Rifle. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Hyperloops and supply drops | Hyperloop phone boxes move you between distant areas but broadcast your position to enemies while they charge. |
How to Play Yuki
Yuki focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pistol and Hyperloops and supply drops 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 Aya: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Jackie once you understand core mechanics and have access to Two-handed Sword
- Keep a Hyunwoo setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Yuki 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.
- Pick a route before the match starts rather than improvising. A route fixes which areas you visit and in what order, which decides your weapon tier, your armour and who you run into, and improvising usually means arriving at a fight one tier behind.
- Treat Weapon Mastery 5, 10 and 15 as scheduled power spikes. The weapon skill unlocks at 5 and ranks up at 10 and 15, so crafting extra weapons purely to push mastery is often worth more than the item you actually equip.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Eternal Return Guides
- Eternal Return Eternal Return Overview
- Eternal Return Tier List
- Eternal Return Walkthrough
- Eternal Return Beginner's Guide
- Eternal Return Tips & Tricks
- Eternal Return Weapons Guide
- Eternal Return Combat Guide
- Eternal Return Boss Guide
- Eternal Return Maps & Locations
- Eternal Return Crafting Guide
- Eternal Return Classes & Characters
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