Updated for the 2026 Meta
Fellowship is a cooperative dungeon-crawling action RPG built around endgame PvE challenges. It removes traditional MMO barriers like mandatory quest chains or subscriptions, focusing entirely on skill-based dungeon runs and group coordination. Following the major December balance cycle and the Hearthwarming event (running through Jan 15, 2026), the meta has solidified around high-tier Eternal clears. Players select from a roster of distinct Heroes—each with their own combat mechanics, roles, and growth paths—and form balanced four-person teams to take on increasingly difficult leagues and modifiers.
In this guide we’ll cover:
- Full tier list overview (Data-driven vs. Editorial perspectives)
- Role breakdowns across Tanks, DPS, and Healers in the 2026 meta
- Core mechanics and resource systems for each Hero
- Spirit Abilities and how they define each playstyle
- 2026 stat priorities and gearing focus post-December patch
- Recommended team compositions for Eternal 26+ runs
Game Overview
In Fellowship, parties are composed of four players, typically consisting of one tank, two DPS, and one healer. As groups progress through various leagues, the difficulty scales, and new modifiers (called Curses or Ascensions in-game) are introduced to the dungeons. The December 11 patch introduced significant UI and economy updates, making character specialization more accessible for the 2026 season. Higher difficulty levels yield better gear, allowing for character progression and specialization.
Fellowship Heroes Tier List (2026 Hearthwarming Era)
Quick Picks for January 2026:
- Best for PUG climbing: Helena / Vigour / Rime / Elarion
- Best coordinated push comp: Meiko / Vigour / Mara / Elarion
- Best trash-clear: Meiko / Sylvie / Rime / Ardeos
Eternal 26+ refers to high-end clears where consistency, mitigation uptime, and burst windows matter more than leveling efficiency. Data tiers reflect representation + success rate in recent logs; editorial tiers reflect kit ceiling and comp value. Tier placement reflects January 2026 conditions and may shift with encounter design more than raw balance changes.
| Role | Hero | Data Tier (Logs) | Editorial Tier (Comp Meta) | Meta Stability | 2026 Rationale |
| Tank | Helena | S | A | Very High | Best when: Stable mitigation is needed. Falls off when: Massive burst threat is required. |
| Tank | Meiko | S | A | Medium | Best when: Carry potential is needed. Falls off when: Combos are interrupted. |
| Healer | Sylvie | S | A | High | Best when: Group needs DPS contribution. Falls off when: Reactive burst is required. |
| Healer | Vigour | S | B | High | Best when: Surviving “one-shots.” Falls off when: Forced into pure defense. |
| DPS | Elarion | S | S | High | Best when: Spacing is maintained. Falls off when: Movement is heavily restricted. |
| DPS | Mara | B | S | Low | Best when: Focused on boss-killing. Falls off when: Uptime is inconsistent or tuning reduces burst windows. |
| DPS | Rime | S | A | High | Best when: Consistent burst is required. Falls off when: Orb generation is unlucky. |
| DPS | Ardeos | B | A | Medium | Best when: Clearing dense trash packs. Falls off when: On single-target/low ramp. |
| DPS | Tariq | B | B | Low | Best when: Coordinated stagger is used. Falls off when: Team coordination is low. |
How Power Grows (Quick Reference)
A hero’s effectiveness is defined by more than their base kit. Progression is central to unlocking their full potential for all types of dungeon running, especially in the 2026 “Eternal” bracket.
- Talent Tree (per hero): Unlock augments and playstyle variants as you gain experience. The December 11 patch streamlined several nodes for better late-game scaling.
- Skill/Ability Unlocks: Core buttons, passives, and an ultimate Spirit Ability unlock over time by progressing through the Starmap.
- Leagues & Modifiers: Curses are rotating weekly modifiers; seasonal events may introduce limited-time modifiers or reward loops.
- Why it matters for tiers: Scaling dungeons reward reliable mitigation, proactive healing, and kits with flexible damage profiles, supporting clears at all tiers.
The Tanks
In the current meta, tanks act as the primary anchors of a group. They are responsible for drawing the attention of enemies, absorbing damage, and leading the group through dungeons.
Warmaster Helena
At-a-Glance
Role: Tank | Complexity: Low
Strengths: Mitigation uptime, route control
Weaknesses: Limited burst threat without cooldowns
Helena remains the S-Tier choice for reliability. Her playstyle revolves around managing her unique Toughness mechanic, a damage-reduction shield represented by a blue bar.
Core Mechanic: Toughness
- Toughness: This acts as a damage-reduction shield. It decreases as damage is taken and must be actively generated.
- Shields Up: This is the primary ability for generating Toughness. Haste is a valuable stat as it reduces the cooldown of Shields Up.
Abilities and Rotation
- Measured Strike & Power Strike: Core attacks that reduce the cooldown of Shield Slam and Shield Throw.
- Shield Slam: A powerful AoE attack that also generates Toughness.
- Shield Throw: A bouncing shield that reduces the cooldown of Shockwave.
- Shockwave: A large AoE attack that lowers the cooldown of Shields Up.
Her Spirit Ability, Siegebreaker, allows Helena to become nearly invincible for a short period.
Meiko
At-a-Glance
Role: Tank | Complexity: High
Strengths: High personal damage, self-sustain, high skill ceiling
Weaknesses: Punishing if combos are dropped
Meiko is the “Skill Ceiling” pick. Her abilities are based on combining three core techniques: Spirit Palm (Pink/Purple), Wind Kick (Blue), and Earth Fist (Yellow).
Core Mechanic: Combo Finishers
- Pink → Blue: Double Palm Strike (Magic damage reduction + parry)
- Pink → Yellow: Spirited Vortex (Aura, dodge, slow)
- Blue → Pink: Rising Storm (AoE builder)
- Blue → Yellow: Lashing Stormkick (AoE spender)
- Yellow → Pink: Rising Earth (Single-target builder)
- Yellow → Blue: Earthfist Barrage (Single-target spender)
Defensive Cadence: Maintain at least one Pink-starter defensive buff. Layer Stone Shield for incoming spikes. Her Spirit Ability, Twin Souls: Army of One, unleashes a powerful spiritual combo that deals massive damage and grants a significant haste buff.mary defensive cooldown, for large incoming damage spikes. Her Spirit Ability, Twin Souls: Army of One, unleashes a powerful spiritual combo that deals massive damage and grants a significant haste buff.
The Damage Dealers (DPS)
The role of a DPS hero is to defeat enemies as quickly as possible. The initial roster focused on three DPS heroes, now expanded for launch.
Rime
At-a-Glance
Role: Ranged DPS | Complexity: Low
Strengths: Flexible burst (ST/AoE), accessible rotation
Weaknesses: Reliant on orb generation
Rime is a frost mage and a favorite in recent logs due to her consistency in high-level play.
- Spender Priority: Use a 2-Orb Glacial Blast for single-target. Use a 2-Orb Ice Comet for 3+ targets.
- Core Mechanic: Anima converts into Winter Orbs when full.
Mara
At-a-Glance
Role: Melee DPS | Complexity: High
Strengths: Top-tier single-target damage, the “Melee Carry” of high-end comps
Weaknesses: Resource-starved if played incorrectly
Mara is valued for her high ceiling in boss encounters, despite her lower stability in the meta.
- Rule of Three: Builder (Backstab) → Widow’s Bite (restores Energy) → Spender.rgy consumption with cooldown usage, allowing for peak boss damage.
- Core Mechanic: Energy and Combo Points.
Ardeos
At-a-Glance
Role: Ranged DPS | Complexity: Medium
Strengths: Dominant AoE damage, safe playstyle
Weaknesses: Damage is ramp-up based
Ardeos uses Cinder and Burning Embers to trigger Detonations. While recent logs place him lower in “raw speed” runs, his ability to clear massive trash packs remains vital.
The Healers
Healers are the “Anchors” of the 2026 meta.
Sylvie
At-a-Glance
Role: Healer | Complexity: Medium
Strengths: High sustained healing (HoTs), significant damage contribution
Weaknesses: Less effective at reactive burst healing
Sylvie is the “Proactive” choice. Her damage (Nettlebolt) reduces the cooldown of her Life Petal heal. Her ability to contribute to the group’s total DPS is highly valued.
Vigour
At-a-Glance
Role: Healer | Complexity: Medium
Strengths: Powerful reactive burst healing, strong shields
Weaknesses: Vigour struggles if forced to be purely defensive, relying heavily on dealing damage to heal.
Vigour is the “Reactive” choice, often paired with Meiko in high-end “Anchor” comps. His Radiant Runes allow for instant, on-the-move safety shields.
Endgame Stat Priorities (2026 Post-Patch)
Stat priorities reflect January 2026 scaling trends and can shift with tuning patches.
| Hero | Primary Stat | Secondary Priority |
| Helena | Strength | Haste → Spirit → Expertise → Crit |
| Meiko | Strength | Spirit → Expertise → Crit → Haste |
| Rime | Intellect | Haste → Crit → Expertise → Spirit |
| Mara | Agility | Haste → Crit → Expertise |
| Ardeos | Intellect | Haste → Expertise → Crit |
| Tariq | Str/Agi | Crit → Haste ≈ Expertise → Spirit |
| Elarion | Agility | Crit → Haste → Expertise → Spirit |
| Sylvie | Intellect | Haste → Crit → Expertise |
| Vigour | Intellect | Crit → Haste → Expertise |
Team Composition Tips
- Trash-Clear Speed: Meiko + Sylvie + Rime + Ardeos. Focused on maximizing AoE output and proactive healing.mina are key defensive gearing priorities.
- The “Meta Anchor” (High-End Eternal): Meiko + Vigour + Mara + Elarion. Leverages Meiko/Vigour’s synergy with the two highest-ceiling DPS carries.
- Data-Driven “Safe Climb”: Helena + Vigour + Rime + Elarion. Combining the most reliable tank/healer with the most successful ranged DPS in recent logs.
Glossary
- Hearthwarming: The 2025-2026 winter event; seasonal events may introduce limited-time modifiers or reward loops.
- AoE: Area of Effect.
- DoT/HoT: Damage/Heal Over Time.
- Eternal 26+: The high-end competitive bracket for 2026 dungeon runs.
- Stagger: A mechanic that briefly disables enemy actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tier is Meiko in Fellowship?
Meiko is currently ranked B Tier, serving as a balanced melee hero with a focus on sustained damage and adaptability. She excels in prolonged encounters thanks to her Vigour-based talents and self-buff mechanics, which allow her to maintain consistent performance against both elite enemies and dungeon bosses.
Why is Meiko considered B Tier instead of A Tier?
Meiko is placed in B Tier mainly because her power curve is steady but not explosive. She relies heavily on cooldown management and self-buffs to reach full efficiency, which means she can’t deliver instant burst damage like top-tier classes such as Helena. Despite this, Meiko remains a dependable pick in dungeon crawler scenarios where consistency outweighs raw output.
What is Meiko’s main role in Fellowship?
Meiko’s main role is that of a sustained fighter, combining offensive abilities with defensive uptime. She bridges the gap between a damage dealer and a secondary support, providing utility through self-buffs that enhance both personal survivability and team performance. Her design favors calculated aggression and precise timing rather than reckless offense.
What are the best Meiko builds for damage?
The best Meiko builds focus on Vigour scaling, critical chance, and cooldown reduction. Players should enhance her buff duration and ability uptime to fully benefit from her self-synergizing damage potential. Pairing her with items that increase attack speed and energy recovery results in optimal long-term performance in dungeons and boss arenas.
How do Meiko’s self buffs work?
Meiko’s self buffs are short-term enhancements that temporarily raise her attack speed, physical resistance, and overall damage output. Each buff can stack with others depending on talent investment. Timing them before or during key combat phases allows Meiko to outlast her opponents and steadily increase her damage numbers over time.
What talents should I prioritize for Meiko?
Prioritize Vigour, Focus, and Fortitude in Meiko’s talent tree to achieve balance between offense and endurance. Vigour strengthens her self-buff potential, Focus enhances skill effectiveness, and Fortitude improves her ability to endure longer encounters. This combination allows her to operate efficiently without over-relying on external support.
How does Meiko compare to Helena in Fellowship?
Tier Helena is built around rapid burst damage and area control, while Tier Meiko focuses on consistent, single-target output. Helena’s strength lies in fast wave clearing and quick critical strikes, whereas Meiko’s value comes from her steady uptime and resilience. For players who prefer tactical pacing, Meiko offers a more controlled combat style.
Is Meiko good for dungeon crawler content?
Yes, Meiko is a solid choice for dungeon crawler content due to her self-sustaining mechanics and adaptive playstyle. Her defensive scaling makes her well-suited to prolonged encounters, where managing buffs and cooldowns determines success. She thrives in environments where players must balance aggression with endurance rather than burst-only tactics.
Can Meiko solo dungeon bosses?
Meiko is capable of soloing dungeon bosses effectively when built correctly. Her self-buffs and Vigour talents allow her to maintain pressure and recover from incoming damage. To maximize efficiency, players should focus on cooldown cycling, timed parries, and buff synchronization, turning her into a self-reliant duelist during endgame encounters.
How do I increase Meiko’s damage numbers?
Increasing Meiko’s damage numbers involves enhancing her gear synergy and buff timing. Prioritize critical chance, attack power, and cooldown efficiency to sustain offensive flow. Upgrading weapons and infusing abilities with Vigour-based scaling further boosts her consistent output, especially when maintaining uptime between buff cycles.
Does Meiko appear in all the content or only certain modes?
Meiko is accessible across all Fellowship content, including main quests, story missions, and dungeon crawlers. Her flexible kit allows her to adapt to different encounter types, whether solo or in a team setting. Because of her versatile design, Meiko remains relevant throughout the game’s evolving content updates.
Are there more stories featuring Meiko in Fellowship?
Yes, new lore chapters and stories for Meiko are planned in future Fellowship content updates. These expansions explore her personal history, discipline as a martial artist, and her connection to the Fellowship’s greater narrative. Players can expect more dialogue-driven missions and character development tied to her journey.
Is there a post tag or affiliate link related to Meiko builds?
Some Fellowship build guides and class breakdowns include post tags or small affiliate commissions to support content creators. These tagged posts often include detailed loadouts, rotation guides, and optimal builds for Meiko. They are useful for players seeking trustworthy, community-tested configurations.
What is the best Meiko team composition?
The best team composition for Meiko includes support allies that enhance her damage uptime or defensive scaling. Pairing her with healers or buffer classes helps her stay in the fight longer, while offensive allies benefit from her ability to hold aggro and deal steady DPS. A balanced setup allows Meiko to fulfill both offensive and supportive roles effectively.
What should players expect from Meiko’s learning curve?
Meiko’s learning curve is moderate, focusing on timing, rhythm, and resource management. Players must learn to coordinate her self-buffs with ability rotations for optimal efficiency. Once mastered, Meiko provides a deeply satisfying experience, rewarding patience and precision rather than raw speed, making her one of the most reliable B Tier heroes in Fellowship.
