Guan Yu: The Worst Starter Hero in Godforge?

In this article, we go behind the scenes of Guan Yu’s performance in Godforge to see if he truly deserves the reputation of being the worst starter hero. Since Wave 1, my opinion has been clear: Guan Yu seemed underwhelming compared to other starter units. But with Wave 2 underway, I’ve taken the time to level him up, test his abilities, and reflect on whether my initial judgment was fair.

Starting with the basics, I compared Guan Yu with Lady Xoc for a realistic benchmark. Using similar gear setups with around 2k attack, crit cap, and 200% crit damage, I tested their basic attacks and core abilities across Wave 142.

• Lady Xoc’s damage: Basic attacks ranged from 12,000–13,000, while her core ability dealt 12,000–18,000 consistently.
• Guan Yu’s damage: Basic attacks averaged slightly lower, around 10,000–13,000, with the core ability performing similarly.

Ultimately, Lady Xoc and Ramses outperform Guan Yu in wave clear, making them more reliable for climbing tower floors. This aligns with my initial skepticism: if your goal is consistent floor progression, Guan Yu struggles to keep pace.

The story changes when we focus on boss encounters. Despite underwhelming wave clear, Guan Yu shines against tougher opponents like the Golden Guardian on Floor 120. Adjusting his build setup and pairing him with the right team, his ultimate and core abilities deliver significant damage, proving his worth in high-stakes fights.

Guan Yu may not excel at clearing waves quickly, but his scaling and strong single-target output make him a valuable asset for boss battles. This insight is key for players who prioritize progression in challenging floors over general wave efficiency.

After extensive testing, it’s clear that my initial judgment was too harsh. Guan Yu might not be the best starter hero for wave clear, but his performance in boss fights demonstrates that he has unique strengths worth considering. For players focused on tower progression and endgame content, he can be a powerful tool when used strategically.

In summary, Guan Yu is not the “worst” starter hero; he’s situational. Understanding when and how to deploy him can turn initial weaknesses into significant advantages, especially for boss-heavy floors.