Quick answer
For raw launch-version dominance, full-release testing puts Smert, Genessa and Gragu at the top because their core loops can deny bosses normal opportunities to attack. Lazlo, Tiel, Proxima and Eredrim are strong A-tier choices with clearer trade-offs. Sariel is the most specialized/least generally dominant at launch. The Week 1 Update (2026-08-29) fixed several launch bugs — Eredrim’s Shoulder Bash, Genessa’s dashes, Proxima’s hook shot — so the lower tiers are closer to where their designers intended them.
Week 1 Update impact on this tier list
| Shell | Week 1 Update change | Effect on tier |
|---|---|---|
| Eredrim | Shoulder Bash no longer stows primary weapon permanently; ripostes scale with enemy health | A-tier case stronger (was held back by a real bug) |
| Genessa | Dashes fixed (incl. corrupted version); Intangible works during grabs; astral copies stop drifting; Doubles switch targets on death | S-tier case stronger — her summon loop was unreliable at launch |
| Proxima | Biosampler fixed; no longer stuck in hook shot; riposte alignment fixed | A-tier case stronger |
| Smert | Can destroy projectiles in permanent fight stance | S-tier unchanged, slightly better in ranged fights |
| Gragu | Heart of Vatra no longer trails in sheep form; summon/helmet fixes | Cosmetic/fairness fixes, tier unchanged |
Because the Week 1 Update fixed gameplay bugs rather than nerfing raw numbers, the launch-version ordering is still mostly accurate — but the gap between S and A is now narrower than it looked on day one.
Tier list
| Tier | Shells | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Smert, Genessa, Gragu | Time control, summons/safe ranged pressure, repeatable stagger/sustain |
| A | Lazlo, Tiel, Proxima, Eredrim | Excellent identities but more encounter/mechanics dependent |
| C | Sariel | Curse/Pain kit is more situational and less explosive at launch |
This is not an official ranking and it is not a permanent truth. It combines a full-release all-Shell test with two independent launch-week comparisons.
S tier: Smert
Smert’s Miracle/time-stop loop is the most obvious “the boss does not get to play” tool. A finished Bond can chain windows of Chaos burst while minimizing normal retaliation.
The downside is taste: if freezing time and repeating a solved sequence feels cheesy, the strongest Shell on paper may be the least fun for you.
S tier: Genessa
Faithful Doubles create damage, Phantom stacks and distraction at range. That combination is unusually safe in both packs and bosses. Genessa is fragile, but her summons reduce how often the enemy is actually attacking her.
S tier: Gragu
Gragu’s Staggering Blow can become a repeatable answer to both ordinary enemies and bosses, while Revered Heart gives him a strong sustain engine after he has accumulated kills.
His weakness is monotony: the same powerful punch loop can dominate so much of the kit that a long playthrough becomes repetitive.
A tier: Lazlo
Highest-end tank identity, excellent AoE and strong Heat bonuses. His weakness is the Overheat vulnerability window and less direct boss lockdown than the S-tier control loops.
A tier: Tiel
Tiel becomes a devastating boss killer once deeper back-attack/crit synergies come online. Early Tiel feels much less impressive than late Tiel, which is why a fresh unlock and a max-Bond ranking can feel contradictory.
A tier: Proxima
Bio Sampler gives her excellent flow and Shock AoE. She clears groups quickly and stays active, but her boss control is less oppressive than Smert/Genessa/Gragu.
A tier: Eredrim
Eredrim has durability and reliable Break pressure. He shines when Shoulder Bash and ripostes can repeatedly control a boss, but he still has to interact with attack patterns more honestly than the top cheese loops.
C tier: Sariel
Sariel’s Curse/Pain concept is interesting, but launch comparisons report that some of his strongest-looking passive conditions are difficult to exploit consistently. That does not make him unusable; it makes him a specialist rather than the easiest recommendation.
The tier list should not choose your Glimpse investment by itself
A Shell you enjoy and execute cleanly is better than an S-tier Shell whose loop you hate. Collect several bodies, test their abilities, then use the tier list as a tiebreaker — not as a command.