I made this Type Soul Shikai tier list after testing every single ability across PvP and PvE. Some Shikai look cool but underperform. Others seem basic but dominate the meta. 200+ hours of experience went into these rankings.
Here’s the thing about Type Soul tier lists. The meta shifts with updates. What was S tier six months ago might be A tier now. I’ll keep this updated as patches drop, but understand that balance changes happen.
This Shikai tier list focuses on overall viability. Some abilities excel in specific situations but fall off elsewhere. I’ll note those cases.
Quick Reference
| Tier | Shikai |
|---|---|
| S | Warden, Berserk, Lightning, Blood |
| A | Fire, Ice, Shadow, Ink, Creation |
| B | Wind, Gravity, Explosion, Confusion |
| C | Water, Illusion, Beast |
| D | Currently none |
S Tier (Meta Defining)
These Shikai dominate. If you roll one, keep it.
Warden
The utility king. Warden creates barriers and zones that control the battlefield. In team fights, a good Warden player changes everything.
Why it’s S tier:
- Area denial is incredibly strong
- Protects teammates during raids
- Forces opponents to reposition
- Scales well into Bankai
I’ve seen Warden players carry entire faction raids. The barriers block projectiles and create safe zones for healing. In 1v1s it’s slightly weaker but still top tier.
Berserk
Raw damage. Berserk turns you into an aggressive monster with enhanced M1s and devastating abilities.
Why it’s S tier:
- Highest damage potential
- Simple to use effectively
- Bankai form is terrifying
- Punishes defensive players
The downside is you’re committed once you activate. No defensive options. But if you’re confident in your mechanics, Berserk rewards aggression.
Lightning
Stun combos for days. Lightning abilities chain into each other and your M1s, creating extended combo strings.
Why it’s S tier:
- Best combo potential
- Stuns enable teammates
- Fast ability animations
- Strong in both PvP and PvE
I main Lightning on my Soul Reaper. The stun into M1 into ability into M1 loop feels unfair when you land it. Requires execution but the ceiling is high.
Blood
The sleeper pick. Blood got buffed recently and now competes with the best.
Why it’s S tier:
- Sustain through lifesteal
- DoT pressure
- Self-healing in fights
- Bankai is underrated
Blood lets you win attrition fights. Other Shikai burst harder but Blood outlasts them. In longer fights or multiple opponent scenarios, the sustain is clutch.
A Tier (Excellent)
Strong picks that work in most situations.
Fire
Damage over time pressure. Fire abilities apply burns that tick for significant damage.
Why it’s A tier:
- Consistent damage
- Forces defensive play
- Good AoE options
- Solid Bankai
Fire isn’t flashy but it’s reliable. The burns add up fast. Opponents have to respect your damage even when you’re not actively attacking.
Ice
Crowd control specialist. Ice slows and freezes opponents, setting up combos for you or teammates.
Why it’s A tier:
- Best CC in the game
- Team fight monster
- Defensive options
- Freeze combos are satisfying
Ice struggles in pure 1v1s against mobile opponents. But in any team scenario, Ice is invaluable. The freezes create free damage windows.
Shadow
Mobility and repositioning. Shadow lets you teleport, create clones, and confuse opponents.
Why it’s A tier:
- Best mobility
- Mind games potential
- Hard to pin down
- Escape options
Shadow players are annoying to fight. You think you have them and they’re behind you. The skill ceiling is high but mastered Shadow is scary.
Ink
Unique mechanics. Ink creates zones and traps that opponents have to navigate around.
Why it’s A tier:
- Zone control
- Trap setups
- Creative plays
- Underrated in team fights
Ink is slept on. Most players don’t know how to fight against it because it’s rare. The traps catch people off guard constantly.
Creation
Versatile toolkit. Creation summons objects and constructs for various purposes.
Why it’s A tier:
- Flexible playstyle
- Good in all content
- Interesting mechanics
- Solid damage
Creation does a bit of everything. Not the best at any one thing but competent across the board. Good choice if you want variety.
B Tier (Solid)
Viable but outclassed by higher tiers.
Wind
Mobility focused but weaker than Shadow. Wind has movement abilities but lacks the damage to compete.
Why it’s B tier:
- Good mobility
- Weak damage
- Needs buffs
- Outclassed by Shadow
Wind was better before Shadow got buffed. Now there’s little reason to pick Wind over Shadow unless you really like the aesthetic.
Gravity
Control through weight manipulation. Gravity slows opponents and has some pull abilities.
Why it’s B tier:
- Interesting concept
- Inconsistent execution
- Some abilities feel weak
- Niche uses
Gravity has potential but the numbers aren’t there. The pull abilities are fun but don’t deal enough damage to justify the setup.
Explosion
Burst damage with AoE. Explosion abilities hit hard but have long cooldowns.
Why it’s B tier:
- High burst
- Long cooldowns
- Punishable
- Feast or famine
When Explosion lands, it hurts. But good players dodge the telegraphed abilities and punish during cooldowns. Inconsistent.
Confusion
Debuff focused. Confusion messes with opponent controls and vision.
Why it’s B tier:
- Annoying to fight
- Doesn’t kill
- Relies on opponents making mistakes
- Team dependent
Confusion is a support Shikai. You’re not killing anyone alone but you enable teammates. In solo content it struggles.
C Tier (Needs Work)
Playable but you’re handicapping yourself.
Water
The classic underperformer. Water has been bottom tier since I started playing.
Why it’s C tier:
- Low damage
- Abilities feel weak
- No clear identity
- Needs rework
I’ve tried to make Water work. It doesn’t. The abilities look cool but deal no damage and provide no utility. Reroll if you get this.
Illusion
Mind games without payoff. Illusion creates fake clones and misdirection but can’t capitalize.
Why it’s C tier:
- Clones are obvious
- No damage
- Gimmicky
- Opponents adapt quickly
First time fighting Illusion is confusing. Second time you know the tricks. The Shikai has no depth beyond the initial surprise.
Beast
Summons and transformations. Beast has cool concepts but poor execution.
Why it’s C tier:
- Summons are weak
- Transformations underwhelming
- Clunky gameplay
- Needs buffs
Beast should be cooler than it is. The summons die fast and don’t deal damage. The transformations have long animations that get you killed.
Reroll Priority
Based on this tier list, here’s my reroll advice:
Keep immediately: Any S tier Consider keeping: A tier if it fits your playstyle Reroll: B tier unless you love the aesthetic Always reroll: C tier
Use Type Soul codes for free Shikai rerolls. The compensation codes give you tons of chances to hit S tier.
Bankai Considerations
Some Shikai have better Bankai upgrades than others. This matters for long-term planning.
Best Bankai upgrades:
- Berserk (becomes a monster)
- Lightning (extended combos)
- Blood (insane sustain)
Disappointing Bankai:
- Wind (still weak)
- Water (still weak)
- Illusion (still gimmicky)
If you’re planning to grind to Bankai, factor this into your Shikai choice.
Meta Shifts
The current meta favors aggressive Shikai. Berserk and Lightning dominate high level PvP. But metas change.
Previous metas have favored:
- Defensive play (Ice was S tier)
- Zone control (Warden dominated)
- Sustain (Blood had its moment)
Don’t chase meta too hard. Pick something you enjoy because you’ll be using it for hundreds of hours.
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