Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is Arc System Works' follow-up to the 2020 fighter, published by Cygames and released on 14 December 2023 for PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The launch roster ran to 28 fighters, with Anila, Siegfried, Grimnir and Nier joining the 24 who came across from the first game. The defining change is Bravery Points, a three-point per round defensive resource that Raging Strikes, Brave Counters and Skybound Arts all pull from.
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
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gran | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Charlotta | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Vaseraga | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Ferry | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Lancelot | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising tier list.
A-Tier: Gran
Gran is a top-performing option in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Skybound Art | The full-gauge super. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Bravery Points | Both players start every round with 3. |
How to Play Gran
Gran focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Skybound Art does the damage and Bravery Points keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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: Charlotta
Charlotta is a strong option in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Super Skybound Art | The stronger version, available only with a full SBA gauge and less than 30 percent of your own health remaining. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Guard Crush | The state a Raging Strike forces on a blocking opponent, opening them up for a punish. |
How to Play Charlotta
Charlotta focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Super Skybound Art with Guard Crush and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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: Vaseraga
Vaseraga is a strong option in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Ultimate Skill | An upgraded version of a character's normal skill that costs 50 percent of the SBA gauge and briefly slows the opponent's movement, opening routes into combos or punishes that the base skill cannot reach. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Simple and Technical inputs | Rising removed the damage and property gap between one-button Simple inputs and full motion Technical inputs. |
How to Play Vaseraga
Vaseraga focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Simple and Technical inputs covers the gap Ultimate Skill leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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: Ferry
Ferry is a specialized option in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Raging Strike | A meter-spending attack that guard crushes a blocking opponent and takes one Bravery Point off them, leaving them briefly defenceless. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Rollback netcode and crossplay | Rising ships with rollback netcode and crossplay between PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, so the online population is pooled rather than split three ways. |
How to Play Ferry
Ferry focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Rollback netcode and crossplay rather than raw numbers, and Raging Strike is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Lancelot
Lancelot is a specialized option in Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Brave Counter | A counterattack performed from block or from a guard crush at a cost of 1 Bravery Point. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Per-character Versus Rank | Your rank is tracked separately for each character, so picking up a second fighter does not put your main's rating at risk. |
How to Play Lancelot
Lancelot focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Brave Counter and Per-character Versus Rank pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons 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 Charlotta: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Gran once you understand core mechanics and have access to Skybound Art
- Keep a Vaseraga setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Lancelot 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 weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Watch the opponent's Bravery Point count, not just their health. Both players start each round with 3, and an opponent at zero cannot Brave Counter, which turns your safest pressure sequence into a genuinely free one.
- Simple inputs deal the same damage and carry the same properties as Technical inputs in Rising, which was not true in the 2020 game. If motion inputs are the thing keeping you from playing, use Simple and spend that practice time on spacing instead.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Guides
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Overview
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Tier List
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Walkthrough
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Beginner's Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Tips & Tricks
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Weapons Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Combat Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Boss Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Maps & Locations
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Crafting Guide
- Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Classes & Characters
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