Tier List: Everything Ranked
Our rankings for abilities, gadgets, bosses, and collectible priorities. Built from demo data, gameplay footage, and developer coverage. Updated after launch!
Abilities & Movement Tier List
S
- Time-Freeze Dodge — The #1 mechanic. Extending the freeze window is the highest-priority skill tree upgrade. Without this, the game is significantly harder.
- Grapple (Hook-Shot) — Essential for traversal AND boss fights. Unlocks new areas, enables combat mobility, and is required for Metroidvania backtracking.
A
- Double Jump — Core platforming ability. Covers absurd distance, especially with roll extension.
- Jump Roll Extension — Hidden tech: dodge roll at the end of double jump stretches gap coverage. Many "unreachable" ledges become reachable.
- Target Swap — Essential for crowd control. Switch enemies mid-combo while leaping. Without this, groups overwhelm you.
- Combo Extensions — More hits = more energy restored + more damage per combo string.
B
- Blast Attack — Solid damage + knockback repositioning. Good for crowds and creating space.
- Rail Grinding — Niche but necessary for specific areas (Mount Cinder mines).
- Wall Jump — Required for vertical sections but not universally useful.
- Projectile Deflect — Situational but satisfying. Bats enemy shots back for bonus damage.
C
- Chronoblast ("Shotgun") — Ranged option in a melee game. Nice to have but not essential. Energy cost makes it impractical for spamming.
- Glide — Useful for specific platforming but limited combat application.
- Flip — Stylish dodge with i-frames, but the time-freeze dodge is strictly better.
- Air Dash — Extra mobility, but jump roll extension often suffices.
Gadgets Tier List
S
- Grapple — The undisputed king of gadgets. Traversal, combat, Metroidvania progression — it does everything. Get it ASAP from Arpeggio.
- Teleport Pads — Fast travel is essential for backtracking. Always activate new pads.
A
- Blast Attack — Your bread-and-butter special. Damage + knockback + crowd control. Energy-efficient.
B
- Chronoblast — Decent ranged option but energy cost limits usefulness. Good for specific enemy types.
C
- Minutero Transformations (late) — Not bad, but the base form + Blast Attack handles most situations. Late transformations are more about style than necessity.
Boss Difficulty Tier List
S
- Despair (Final Boss) — The ultimate test. Multi-phase fight in the Clock Tower. Tests every mechanic. Expected to be the hardest fight in the game.
A
- The Watcher — Arena mechanics stack up: a fire ring to shut down, a red force field that sends you along a pylon route, and shields that only heavy attacks break.
- Sadness — Bubble shields lock you out of damage entirely and the clock phases add a health-drain timer on top.
Collectible Priority Tier List
Which collectibles should you prioritize? Here's our ranking by impact on your playthrough:
S
- Clock Heart Pieces (Health) — More health = more survivability = easier everything. Always prioritize these.
- Upgrade Gears — Your skill tree currency. Every gear makes you stronger. Grab them whenever you see them.
- Rainbow Ingots (Sword) — Minutero upgrades increase your damage output significantly. Find them in each region.
A
- Time Energy Upgrades — More energy = more special attacks. Synergizes with Blast Attack and Chronoblast.
- Star Shards (Currency) — Needed for shop purchases (Shopaholic achievement). Don't waste on consumables.
B
- Music Boxes — Arpeggio quest. 80G achievement. Collect as you explore naturally.
- Tailord's Kittens — Come Here Right Meow quest. 80G achievement. Invest in Item Finder skill.
- Cards — Collection completion. 80G achievement. Check every chest and enemy.
C
- Outfits/Cosmetics — Only needed for the "mask of pain" achievement (15G). Low priority.
- Wally Encounters — 15G achievement but missable. Look carefully but don't stress.
- Multicoloured Flasks — Side quest items. Low impact on gameplay.
Skill Tree Investment Priority
| Tier | Upgrade | Branch | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Time-Freeze Window | Zirian | The core mechanic. Longer freeze = more free hits = easier everything. |
| S | Grapple upgrades | Gadgets | Grapple is used in every region and every boss fight. |
| A | Combo Extensions | Minutero | More hits per combo = more energy + more damage. |
| A | Double Jump Power | Zirian | Better platforming = more reachable secrets. |
| A | Item Finder | Cuckoo | Pings hidden collectibles. Essential for 100%. |
| B | Special Attack Power | Minutero | Blast Attack + Chronoblast damage. |
| B | Dodge i-Frames | Zirian | More forgiving dodge timing. |
| B | Time Extension | Cuckoo | Synergizes with Zirian's time-freeze upgrades. |
| B | Combat Assist | Cuckoo | Cuckoo attacks during combos. Nice damage boost. |
| C | Energy Efficiency | Minutero | Lower special cost. Nice but not essential. |
| C | Distraction | Cuckoo | Draws aggro. Situational. |
| C | Healing Support | Cuckoo | Minor healing. Bonfire refills are usually enough. |
NPC Importance Tier List
S
- Arpeggio — Gives you the Grapple (essential gadget) AND accepts Music Boxes (80G achievement). The most important NPC by far.
- Dr. Peppermint — Health upgrade NPC. Visit regularly to turn Clock Heart Pieces into max health increases.
- The Traveler — Sells items and upgrades. Buy everything for the Shopaholic achievement (80G).
A
- Tailord — Kittens quest (80G). Also has story significance (escape Academy, 15G).
- Cuckoo — Your companion. Not a traditional NPC but the skill tree branch is important.
- Grandpa / Master XII — Story significance (help cross the Veil, 30G) + secret (90G Gold).
B
- N1-C0 — Befriend for 15G. The robot NPC; befriending him is the “You’ve got a friend in me” achievement. Talk to him every time you see him.
- Palette — Fashion NPC. Show best outfit for 15G.
- Canyon Granny — Gives money. 15G achievement.
- Desert Explorer / Traveler — Meet for 15G + buy items for 80G.
C
- Wally — Hidden character. Find every time for 15G. Easy to miss.
- Cloudie Guard — Break their pots for 15G. Minor NPC.
- Wilson — Kill for 15G. A pure novelty achievement (“You seriously didn’t see that one coming?”). He does not stay still, so swing the moment you spot him.
- Cloudie with strange crown — Confront for 15G. A hidden Cloudie variant. Cloudies are the cloud-like spirits scattered through every region of Tearfeld, and this one is easy to walk straight past.