Who’s Worth the Pull? Ranking Wuthering Waves 2.6’s New Arrivals

Wuthering Waves 2.6 is here, and it’s a patch that doesn’t hold back. With an expanded roster, updated banners, and a few tweaks that shift how we think about team building, players—both free-to-play and deep-pocketed—are lining up to make their pulls count. The big question isn’t if you should pull. It’s who deserves your limited resources.

If you’ve already skimmed through the banners and are still unsure who deserves that hard-earned Lustrous Tide, you’re not alone. There’s plenty of discussion around the Wuthering Waves 2.6 new characters, but what’s missing is a clear, honest look at which units truly shine and which ones feel more like filler. That’s where this list comes in.

Let’s break down the 2.6 newcomers—ranked by usefulness, synergy, and raw star power. Whether you’re a story-focused explorer or someone chasing meta dominance, this ranking will help you prioritize the pulls that make sense for you.

Photo by RDNE Stock project

S-Tier: Must-Have Characters That Redefine Teams

These are the game-changers. Characters that offer unique mechanics or absurd efficiency, and slot easily into multiple team types.

1. Jinhsi — The Elegant Annihilator

Jinhsi is that rare blend of grace and devastation. Her kit combines elemental AoE control with powerful single-target bursts, making her a reliable carry and a crowd-clearer in one. She excels in sustained fights, especially when paired with support characters that amplify her energy gain or buff her ultimate.

Why she ranks high: She doesn’t need a hyper-specific build to thrive. Whether you’re early-game or prepping for high-difficulty Abyss content, Jinhsi scales beautifully.

Recommended team-up: Mortefi or Verina to amplify her burst damage and extend combos.

2. Changli — High Risk, High Reward DPS

Changli is a fiery menace—literally. Her combustion-based skill set encourages quick, decisive aggression, and her stacking burn mechanic makes her ideal for tearing through tanky enemies.

She’s not as plug-and-play as Jinhsi, but in the right hands? Devastating.

Why she ranks high: With the right rotation and timing, Changli outpaces most standard DPS characters. Just be mindful—her damage output hinges on keeping stacks and staying active.

Recommended team-up: Sanhua for freeze-based control or Baizhi for fast heals during combustion build-up.

A-Tier: Strong, Reliable, and Worth the Pull

A-Tier characters shine in the right setups. They may not break the game, but they’re far from filler.

3. Jianxin — The Reactive Tank You Didn’t Know You Needed

Jianxin is a support-tank hybrid with a defensive toolkit that absorbs damage and redirects it back at enemies. She’s especially useful in solo challenges or when running squishier DPS units.

Why she ranks high: With proper timing, her parry mechanic nullifies burst attacks that would usually wipe your front line. She also pairs well with most resonance types.

Great synergy: Use with Encore or Lingyang to create counter-heavy lineups.

4. Danjin — Fast Hands, Faster Crits

Danjin is your crit-scaling melee burst DPS with high mobility and snappy skill animations. While she can feel squishy without proper support, her speed and crit scaling let her zoom through elite mobs and bosses.

Why she’s A-tier: A strong single-target duelist that benefits from speed buffs and shields. She’s fun, flashy, and great for boss farming.

Support suggestion: Pair her with a sustain buffer like Baizhi or Calcharo to boost uptime.

5. Rover (Spectro Form) — Better Than You’d Expect

Yes, we’re ranking the default protagonist here—and surprisingly, Spectro Rover brings solid value to the table. The AoE juggle potential in their kit makes them a respectable choice in clearing out multiple enemies, especially early in progression.

Why they land in A-tier: They don’t outclass Jinhsi or Changli, but if you’re between pulls or just like playing the story character, Spectro Rover holds their own in patch 2.6.

Best use case: Early game. Good filler in elemental resonance teams.

B-Tier: Niche Picks and Situational Units

These characters have potential—but their usefulness depends heavily on context or specific build investment.

6. Taoqi — Sturdy, But That’s About It

Taoqi is a traditional tank with solid taunt mechanics, but her damage output is limited, and she doesn’t synergize well outside of defensive comps.

Why she’s B-tier: She’s not bad—just predictable. Players looking for more interactive or dynamic support roles may find her boring.

Best use case: Tower defense or overworld exploration where survivability > speed.

7. Yuanwu — Techy Support That Takes Effort

Yuanwu buffs electric characters and offers field control with lightning orbs. Problem is, his setup time is clunky and requires micromanagement.

Why he’s B-tier: He can be good, but not without effort. There are smoother support picks out there unless you love electro-based lineups.

Try this pairing: Works okay with Calcharo if you’re running a stun-heavy strategy.

C-Tier: Consider Skipping (Unless You’re a Collector)

These are the characters that just don’t offer enough value in the current meta—either because their kits are outdated or they’re overshadowed by better alternatives.

8. Chixia — Cute, But Outclassed

Chixia is fun, cheerful, and full of personality. Unfortunately, her DPS is low, and her elemental resonance doesn’t line up with the strongest units in 2.6.

Why she’s C-tier: Too slow, too soft, and too niche. Still great for fans of her story arc.

Still want to use her? Focus on burst builds and pair her with someone who can hold the line—like Jianxin.

9. Yangyang — Style Over Substance

Yangyang looks cool, but her current skillset lacks the numbers to back up her presence. She’s a fine early-game unit but quickly falls off once you get stronger alternatives.

Why she’s C-tier: Lacks impact in late-game content. Her buffs are minor, and her cooldowns feel punishing.

Only pull if: You really like her design or need a filler slot for exploration.

How to Decide Who’s Really Worth It

Let’s be honest—”meta” doesn’t always equal fun. Your best pick might not be S-tier, and that’s okay. That said, if you’re after performance or prepping for harder content, prioritize units that:

• Have flexible kits (like Jinhsi)
  
• Synergize well with your existing team
  
• Scale with investment instead of needing full meta lineups
  

Free-to-play? Focus on high-efficiency picks like Spectro Rover or Jianxin. Whale? Go for Changli and push those DPS ceilings. Somewhere in the middle? Look for units that grow with you, like Danjin or Yuanwu (if you like a challenge).

Photo by Yan Krukau

Closing Thoughts: Pull Smart, Not Just Hard

Patch 2.6 is one of the most exciting updates we’ve seen in Wuthering Waves yet—not just for the visuals or story, but for how thoughtfully these new characters were designed. There’s variety, creativity, and just enough chaos to keep combat fresh.

But limited banners mean limited chances. So while every character might look cool on paper, it pays to be strategic. Go for the units that excite you and complement your roster. After all, a perfect team is the one you actually enjoy playing.