Closed Beta 3 Tier List
If you’ve been diving into Etheria: Restart during CBT3 and wondering which units deserve your precious resources, you’re not alone. With so many characters to choose from—and limited materials to invest—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Fortunately, top player and community guide ZoxaskunX (Zox moving forward) has your back with a fully fleshed-out CBT3 progression tier list that cuts through the noise and helps you focus on what really matters: efficient, smart progression.
Let’s break down the key insights from his video and look at which characters are must-builds, who dominates early-game content, and which ones you might want to avoid (at least for now).
What Makes a Unit “Progression-Worthy”?
Before we dive into rankings, it’s important to understand the methodology. Zox and other top players evaluated units based on:
- Attribute flexibility: Can they work across multiple content types?
- Multi-utility: Do they function in PvE, PvP, boss fights, and more?
- Investment efficiency: How much do you have to put in to get real value?
This tier list is focused squarely on progression efficiency—so it’s all about the best bang for your buck early on.
Triple S Tier – The Cream of the Crop
These are the units that should be on your radar from day one. Whether they’re free, easy to build, or just too strong to ignore, they’ll carry you hard through the game’s toughest early hurdles.
Your first SSR and a red-attribute powerhouse. She’s a must-build not just because of her solid AOE, turn meter steal, and lifesteal potential—but also because huge resource chunks are locked behind her. You have to build her, and thankfully, she delivers immediate value.
An incredibly strong control unit with HP scaling, innate tankiness, and utility for days. Her choice-box presence makes her a no-brainer pick among Xiada and Khloros. AOE, action delay, stuns—Lilith brings it all.
This free 7-day login reward is arguably the best healer in the game. Immunity, AOE healing, regen, speed buffs—she does it all. Even PvP-ready straight out of the gate.
A defensive juggernaut who stacks rage for massive follow-up attacks. He provides buffs, debuffs, and crazy synergy with defense-scaling damage. Fantastic even with beginner gear.
The first rate-up banner unit and absolutely worth pulling. AOE defense breaks, action gauge manipulation, and the unique, undispellable “Hacking Progress” debuff make her a top-tier support/control pick.
Tanky, self-sustaining, and capable of transforming into a dragon that nukes everything based on missing HP. Her sustain and utility make her a pseudo-healer and DPS in one.
This dark-element Godslayer is perfect for Chapter 10 and beyond. AOE buff block, lockdowns, heal blocks, and scaling crit damage make him a monster in both PvP and PvE.
An under-the-radar monster. His unique Shroud Barrier grants immunity and shielding. Toss in AOE attack down, stuns, and big scaling damage—he’s a must-have DPS/support hybrid.
A top-tier light unit with undispellable buffs, action bar increases, debuff cleanses, and scaling speed/damage. Think “Ethan from Dislyte” but better. Huge PvP and PvE presence.
Rin (SR)
A standout SR tank/support. Her AOE taunt works on every boss in CBT3 (rare!). She brings shields, defense buffs, and real control value with taunt on both S1 and S3.
Sania (SR)
The top SR healer with revive, scaling max HP buffs, and a passive AOE heal. She’s low-investment, highly efficient, and a great pick alongside Ling Lao.
Gray (SR)
A free crit-rate buffer and AOE defense breaker. Excellent synergy, great damage, and super low investment. Ideal for progressing early content quickly.
Chiaki the Echo (SR)
A progression staple with AOE attack buffs, turn meter boosts, and one of the strongest team buffs in the game: Hymm of Madonna. Pure utility, great scaling, and hard to replace.
Valerian (SR)
Think Leon from Dislyte—deep slumber, invincibility, auto-revive, shields. While RNG-based, she’s incredibly effective once built and great at sustaining during tough content.
Double S Tier – Amazing, But With Caveats
These units are still fantastic, but they either require higher investment, have niche use cases, or get outshined by more versatile options.
Standouts include:
- Withered Shadow Sania: Incredible DoT detonation damage—but only in content that allows DOTs.
- Obol, Fangus, Asshu: Amazing DOT units—when DOTs aren’t disabled.
- Lily: Cooldown manipulator with Bunny Trick. Great with setup, but niche.
- Yang: Action bar manipulation and buffs, but slightly outclassed.
- Kazami Kazuyo: Cooldown reducer with strong utility—mid-game monster.
Single S Tier – Good But Not Great
As stated above these units are solid. But there are either better options available for what they do or other limiting factors.
A Tier – Limited Use or High Investment
These characters may look cool, but they’re just not worth your time in the early game.
- Khloros: The weakest of the starter picks. Single-target, low utility.
- Massiah: Big defense-ignoring damage—if you fully invest. Not beginner-friendly.
- Dorothy, Sybil, Cachi, Viper: Too much investment for little payoff.
- Tsutomu, Diting, Oboro, Victor: Mostly single-target, selfish kits. You need broader AOE utility for progression.
B Tier – Hard Pass
These are the units you can safely skip. They either underperform or are outclassed in every meaningful way. Sorry, Andrew Shields.
Final Thoughts: Your Early Game Dream Team
For pure progression power, don’t stray below S tier. Focus on building:
These characters are either free, low-investment, or capable of carrying your team through the game’s hardest early content with ease.
As we inch closer to the official launch, a reroll guide will be coming soon to help you target the right units from day one. Until then, take this tier list as your Etherian blueprint for success.
What do you think of the list? Who are your favorite CBT3 units?
