UNIST Tier List

Our UNIST tier list will show you the best fighters in UNIST (Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st]). Win more fights by playing these fighters!

Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st], or better known as UNIST, is a 2d fighting game that is technically complex and balanced as fans might hope for. It has a fantastic roster of 20 fighters, each with their unique move sets and playstyles. The game was added as an event at EVO 2019, which cements its place as one of the more popular fighting games to date.

In the same vein as the other giants in the genre, UNIST has deep technical complexity when it comes to matches. Naturally, some fighters are inherently better than others because of their stats and moves.

In this tier list, we’ll detail which fighters are the best to use in UNIST so you can quickly judge which ones deserve your time investment.

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S-Tier

UNIST Tier List Tier S

The best fighters in the game. They will give you an advantage over any opponent if you’re at the same skill level.

FighterStyleSpecialty/WeaponDescription
VatistaZoner, Charge, Pressure, TrapperNullify CountersVatista’s special counters counterattacks. Take a moment to understand that. This means that she can effectively lock out an opponent who focuses too much on punishes and tech counters. This is an overpowered skill by itself, but when partnered with Vatista’s arsenal of projectiles, she becomes almost impossible to beat.   The only downside to Vatista is probably the difficulty of playing and mastering her.
PhononMulti-ranged zonerMuniel (whip)Phonon is another zoner but has a more versatile range than Vatista. She can attack from long range using her soundwaves or use her whip for mid-ranged attacks. Her whip can be effective at pulling opponents close to her or pushing them away.
LinneMobility, Rushdown, BullyDouble Jump, Dash CancelLinne excels at all facets of the game, in varying ranges as well. She’s quick, has long combos, and has a double jump to set up fantastic aerials. She’s best utilized in close-range, but she can play it safe in the neutral game if needed.
HildaAggressive zonerDress of Darkness: MasqueradeHilda is best played aggressively because she can easily bully her way into a win without ever opening herself up for punishment. The only way to counter her is to get in close so she can’t use her mid-ranged initiate attacks.

A-Tier

UNIST Tier List Tier A

Fighters in this tier are powerful and can even win whole tournaments under the right players.

FighterStyleSpecialty/WeaponDescription
GordeauOffensive, mix-upsAssimilationGordeau’s weapons complement each other well. He uses his scythe from mid-range to set up his close-ranged claw combos. He’s also safe to use for beginners because his scythe’s length allows him to control the entire screen.
WagnerRushdownFlame Brand and AncileWith her sword and shield in hand, Wagner is a potent combo specialist who utilizes quick setups to launch her opponent in the air. She’s very good at pushing her opponent in the corner and can be devastating if her opponent doesn’t know how to crouch spam.

Wagner could benefit from more projectiles or gap closers, but she’s a strong fighter overall.
WaldsteinGrapplerDestroyersWaldstein is quite fast, considering his size. He has good long-ranged attacks as a fallback from his excellent close-quarters proficiency. He’s a good counter fighter as well because his grabs can halt an opponent’s combo setup in an instant.
ByakuyaOffensive, stage control, trapperChelicerataByakuya is one of the faster fighters in the game. His webs can trap opponents or set them up for long aerial combos. Because of his decent mid-ranged arsenal, Byakuya is also a master of the neutral game. His long-ranged weapons are nearly non-existent, however.
HydeAll-rounder, mix-upsThe InsulatorEverything about Hyde is just well-refined. He’s not overpowered in any area, but he does all aspects well. He can be utilized as a rushdown fighter towards the corner or as a master of the neutral game. The problem with Hyde is that he’s easy to kill because of lax defense and poor HP stats.

B-Tier

UNIST Tier List Tier B

Good fighters who need a bit more practice to dominate in matches.

FighterStyleSpecialty/WeaponDescription
MerkavaMix-upFlightMerkava is one of the more difficult fighters to master in the game. The payoff is immense, however, because Merkava can control the field from just about anywhere. He has powerful long-ranged attacks that can open up an air combo with his flight ability.   Merkava’s disadvantage comes from his lack of defensive options. His dash is slow, and his hitbox is large, so opponents often capitalize on that.
EltnumRushdown, BullyPistols, Mid-air throwDespite having a gun, Eltnum should prefer to fight in close range as soon as possible. She has quick moves that enable her to bully the opponent into the corner. The catch with all these quick moves is their very short range. Playing as Eltnum requires air-tight execution at all points of the match.
OrieRushdown, BullyThe RulerOrie is a milder version of Eltnum. You should play her the same way: get in close for her fast attacks. Orie does have a more polished toolkit, though. She has good zoning abilities with range, and poke attacks for players who like to play safe.
ChaosOffensive, Mix-ups, TrapperAzhi DahakaChaos is a unique fighter who relies on tight technical execution to dominate foes. His lizard, Azhi Dahaka, can be used to provide decent poke damage at varying ranges. With this tandem, Chaos has solid control of the field at all times.

C-Tier

UNIST Tier List Tier C

These are situational fighters that you use for specific matchups against opponents.

Without proper practice, they are usually at a disadvantage against most of the roster.

FighterStyleSpecialty/WeaponDescription
AkatsukiVersatile, Mix-upsDouble Jump, Alt Normal attackAkatsuki generally plays a safe neutral game at the beginning of a match. He has all the tools to open his opponent up for huge combos. Double jump and midair throws are just some of his good abilities.   Akatsuki suffers from a short dash which is why he’s better utilized when punishing opponents for their mistakes.  
SethRushdown, Mobility, PressureMidair dash, backstepSeth relies on speed to confuse the enemy into his set plays. While he lacks decent zoning abilities, his speed allows him to close gaps in an instant. The bad thing about all this speed is it’s very tricky to master it. You have to be a very skilled player to pull off Seth’s combos under pressure.
NanaseRushdownZephyrNanase is a good option for offense. She has several approaches to her combos, which, aren’t that complicated to execute at all. Despite this, she needs a lot of momentum to confirm some hits because her neutral game is one of the worst of any character.

D-Tier

UNIST Tier List Tier D

Fighters who are seldom picked in competitive matches.

They have glaring flaws and their strengths are often outshined by some of the other characters.

FighterStyleSpecialty/WeaponDescription
CarmineMix-ups, Pressure, TrapperDissolveCarmine is a unique fighter in that he can use a portion of his health to create blood pools on the stage. These pools set up Carmine for devastating combos, provided he can execute all of these flawlessly. Against skilled players, Carmine is at a disadvantage because of the health loss, and the frame animations it takes to just set up combos.
LondrekiaMid-range, Mix-upsFreeze CountLondrekia is good at controlling the neutral but falls flat when it’s time to pressure the opponent. The meta in UNIST right now is to have decent defense paired with an overpowering offense and Londrekia just doesn’t have a place in all that.
YuzurihaMix-ups, Zoner, MobilityBattoujutsu StanceIt’s always a guessing game for both players whenever Yuzuriha is fighting. Her battoujutsu stance can be one of the most effective zoning abilities in the game, but you need to be an expert to pull it off effectively. She specializes in delayed attacks to throw the enemy off guard.   Not many players use Yuzuriha because of her high skill cap that demands the player’s expertise as well as their concentration at all times.
MikaBullyPachelbel CannonMika is a strong fighter, but she suffers from a one-dimensional move set. She needs to be close to the opponent to deal significant damage, but any farther and she’ll be bullied by the opponent’s zoning attacks.

F-Tier

UNIST Tier List Tier F

The worst fighters to main in competitive play. They are far outclassed by the rest of the roster.

They can still be viable for casual play and can be a good alt pick if you’re confident about your skills.

FighterStyleSpecialty/WeaponDescription
EnkiduAggressive, Mix-upsHavocEnkidu is a simple fighter to pick up. This simplicity is his undoing because he doesn’t have many tools to fit different scenarios in a match. He’s best utilized as a counter attacker because of his special ability.

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Samuel Stewart

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