Epic Seven RTA Tier List 2026
Epic Seven RTA tier list for 2026: pick rates, first-pick priorities, counter picks and the draft rules that decide matches.
RTA is not the same game as Arena. In Arena you pick a team to beat a known defense; in RTA you draft against an opponent who can ban one hero and counter-pick the rest. A hero's value depends on how early they can be picked and how many answers exist.
This tier list uses pick rate and draft flexibility, not raw damage.
The 2026 RTA picture
Recent pick rates show a clear pattern: the strongest heroes are flexible first picks that are hard to ban out.
| Hero | Pick rate | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Fallen Cecilia | 42.17% | Tank / support |
| Boss Arunka | 37.14% | Damage / disruption |
| Genesis Ras | 31.79% | Support / CR |
| School Nurse Yulha | 27.07% | Healer / cleanse |
| Belian | 23.96% | Tank / control |
| Setsuka | 17.79% | Damage / debuff |
| Rinak | 17.58% | Speed / utility |
| Empyrean Ilynav | 17.32% | Support / damage |
| Frieren | 13.54% | Damage |
| Ruele | 10.89% | Reviver / healer |
| Harsetti | 7.88% | Control |
Pick rate is not a tier by itself. A high pick rate can mean a hero is strong, or that it is the only accessible answer to a common threat. Both matter for drafting.
S tier: first-pick material
| Hero | Why | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Fallen Cecilia | Fits almost any draft, tanky, hard to punish | Can be out-scaled by heavy damage |
| Boss Arunka | Pressure and disruption in one slot | Needs support to survive focus |
| Genesis Ras | Enables the team, flexible | Less impactful alone |
| School Nurse Yulha | Cleanse and healing in one slot | Vulnerable to control |
| Belian | Tank that controls the pace | Slow against cleave |
These heroes are first-pick because they do not reveal a strategy. Picking a pure damage dealer first invites a counter draft; picking a flexible support keeps options open.
In RTA, the first pick should be the hero you can play into the most matchups, not the hero with the highest damage.
A tier: strong answers
| Hero | Role | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Setsuka | Damage / debuff | The opponent lacks cleanse |
| Rinak | Speed / utility | You need to contest turn order |
| Empyrean Ilynav | Support / damage | The draft needs a flexible bridge |
| Frieren | Damage | The opponent is light on mitigation |
| Ruele | Reviver | The opponent drafts single-target burst |
| Harsetti | Control | The opponent has no immunity |
A-tier heroes are often better as second or third picks. They answer a specific problem rather than define the draft.
Counter matrix
| Threat | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cleave | Belian, Fallen Cecilia, immunity | Survives the first wave |
| Single-target burst | Ruele, School Nurse Yulha | Revive and heal through it |
| Control | Cleanse, high Effect Resistance | Breaks the lock |
| Stall | Defense break, sustained damage | Out-damages the healing |
| Speed contest | Rinak, speed imprint | Wins the opener race |
Drafting is about covering two threats at once. A team that answers cleave but loses to control is not a finished draft.
The ban rule
Each player bans one hero. The ban changes the value of every pick:
- If the opponent has one obvious opener, ban it and force a slower draft.
- If your team depends on one cleanser, ban the opponent's control.
- If you first-pick a flexible hero, ban the best answer to it.
Do not ban the highest pick-rate hero by default. Ban the hero that beats your specific draft.
Speed and turn order
RTA is decided by the first two turns more often than by stat totals.
| Role | Target speed |
|---|---|
| Opener | As high as possible |
| Control | 230+ |
| Support | 220-260 |
| Damage | 180-220 |
| Tank | 180-220 |
These are guidelines. A 250-speed support with no Effect Resistance loses to a 220-speed control team that lands its debuffs.
Speed imprint on the team matters. An imprint that pushes your opener above the opponent's opener can win the draft before the first skill.
Draft patterns
First-pick support
Pick Fallen Cecilia or Genesis Ras. Keep the damage and control slots open. Ban the opponent's best answer to your intended carry.
First-pick damage
Only do this with a damage dealer that is hard to counter, such as Boss Arunka. Otherwise the opponent drafts two counters and your first pick becomes a liability.
Reaction draft
Pick two flexible heroes, then commit to damage or control based on the opponent's first two picks. This is the safest pattern for players with a wide roster.
Gear priorities for RTA
| Role | Set | Key stats |
|---|---|---|
| Opener | Speed | Speed, Effectiveness |
| Support | Speed + Immunity | Speed, HP%, Effect Resistance |
| Damage | Speed or Destruction | Crit cap, Crit Damage, Attack |
| Tank | Health or Defense | HP%, Defense%, Effect Resistance |
Immunity is close to mandatory on supports. A support that gets controlled on turn one never uses its kit.
What the tier list does not tell you
- Whether you have the gear to play the hero.
- Whether your draft has a cleanse.
- Whether your opener is faster than the opponent's.
- Whether the hero fits your ban plan.
A tier list is a starting point for drafting, not a substitute for it. The PvP tier list covers Arena and general PvP roles, and the Arena defense guide covers the defensive side.
Common RTA mistakes
Picking damage first. It invites a counter draft.
Ignoring cleanse. Control teams punish drafts with no answer.
Building one opener. If the opener is banned, the team falls apart.
Chasing pick rate. A hero with a high pick rate may not fit your gear.
Forgetting Effect Resistance. A support that gets disabled is worse than a support with lower speed.
FAQ
What are the best RTA heroes right now?
Fallen Cecilia, Boss Arunka and Genesis Ras lead the current pick rates. School Nurse Yulha, Belian and Setsuka are the next most contested picks.
How important is pick rate?
It shows what high-level players trust across many matchups. A high pick rate is stronger evidence than a single tier label.
What should I ban in RTA?
Ban the hero that completes your opponent's draft, not the highest pick rate automatically. If your team loses to a specific enabler, remove that enabler.
Related reading
- Epic Seven PvP Tier List for Arena and PvP roles.
- Epic Seven Arena Defense Teams for defense building.
- Epic Seven Speed Tuning Guide for turn order.
- Epic Seven Gear Guide for PvP stat targets.
- Epic Seven Hero Tier List 2026 for PvE priorities.
Epic Seven official notices announce season resets and balance patches that move the PvP meta.
Official sources: Epic Seven on Steam, Epic Seven DB, and Epic Seven official notices.
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