This Void War tier list ranks every major option by overall effectiveness. Rankings factor in damage output, survivability, versatility, gear requirements, and how well each option scales.
Tier definitions: S = best in class, always a strong pick. A = strong and competitive, minor weaknesses. B = solid but clearly outperformed in most situations. C = viable only for players who enjoy the playstyle.
Builds Rankings
| Tier | Build | Rating | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | The Empire | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Raider Clans | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | War Cult | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Death Cult | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
| A | Technocult | 8.5/10 | Balanced approach |
Detailed Builds Analysis
The Empire (A-Tier)
The Empire is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Cannons. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Raider Clans (A-Tier)
Raider Clans is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Beam Armaments. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
War Cult (A-Tier)
War Cult is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Lances. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Death Cult (A-Tier)
Death Cult is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Ion Armaments. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Technocult (A-Tier)
Technocult is a competitive option in the current meta.
Best with: Missile Bays. See our builds guide for full setup. Stat focus: Balanced stats
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Best With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cannons | Stripping shield layers so a beam or boarding party can do the real work | Armaments that fire one or more physical rounds or energy bursts per salvo. |
| Beam Armaments | Follow up damage across three or more rooms once shields are already down | Beams fire in one continuous burst over several seconds and cut through multiple rooms on a single pass, which makes them the highest total damage option in the game per shot. |
| Lances | Opening bursts against heavily shielded ships and High Threat Targets | Lances begin every battle pre charged, travel at high projectile speed and pierce shielding outright, which no other armament category does reliably. |
| Ion Armaments | Permanently suppressing enemy shields or medical systems during a boarding action | Ion weapons attack a system's capacity to draw power rather than the hull. |
| Missile Bays | Answering a specific problem mid fight when your main weapons cannot solve it | A Missile Bay holds up to three Missile Templates simultaneously and you switch between them manually during a battle. |
Check our weapons guide for in-depth stats and comparisons.
Equipment Analysis
Cannons: Armaments that fire one or more physical rounds or energy bursts per salvo. Cannon fire never penetrates shields, but each shot that lands strips one shield layer, and depending on the type a hit can damage hull, injure crew, start fires, flood a room with toxic gas or open a breach.
Beam Armaments: Beams fire in one continuous burst over several seconds and cut through multiple rooms on a single pass, which makes them the highest total damage option in the game per shot. Most beams do not penetrate shields or reduce them at all, so they need a partner weapon that clears the barriers first.
Lances: Lances begin every battle pre charged, travel at high projectile speed and pierce shielding outright, which no other armament category does reliably. The catch is a hard limit on how many times each can fire per engagement, so they are an opening move rather than a sustained one.
Ion Armaments: Ion weapons attack a system's capacity to draw power rather than the hull. A shields room held under continuous ion fire never comes back up, which is the standard answer to the shield boosters carried by the Doom Engine, the Necropolis Barge and the Ariokine Starflayer.
Missile Bays: A Missile Bay holds up to three Missile Templates simultaneously and you switch between them manually during a battle. That flexibility is unmatched, but every shot consumes ammunition and Point Defense Turrets on later enemies will shoot a proportion of them down before impact.
Meta Analysis
The current meta in Void War centers on Reactor power across nine system slots and Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates. Builds that leverage both systems outperform those that focus on only one. Our combat guide explains these interactions in depth.
What's strong right now:
- The Empire with Cannons is the benchmark. Everything else is measured against it.
- Boarding actions with faction crew and wargear builds are gaining ground as players find new combinations.
- War Cult remains essential for learning hard content. See the boss guide.
What's underrated:
- Raider Clans is consistently overlooked despite being the most flexible option.
- Lances offers excellent performance for its investment level.
What's overhyped:
- Pure Technocult builds. High ceiling but the consistency isn't there for most players.
Quick Picks by Situation
| Situation | Best Build | Best Gear | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall best | The Empire | Cannons | Highest consistent performance |
| New player | Raider Clans | Beam Armaments | Most forgiving, teaches mechanics |
| Hard content | War Cult | Lances | Survivability when you need it |
| Group play | Death Cult | Ion Armaments | Utility and team support |
| Experienced player | Technocult | Missile Bays | Unique challenge and high ceiling |
More Void War Guides
- Void War Void War Overview
- Void War Best Builds
- Void War Walkthrough
- Void War Beginner's Guide
- Void War Tips & Tricks
- Void War Weapons Guide
- Void War Combat Guide
- Void War Boss Guide
- Void War Maps & Locations
- Void War Crafting Guide
- Void War Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Void War, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Tier List: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Tier List: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Tier List: roguelike game with similar mechanics
