- Anime Ascension tier list: Rankings built from real Anime Ascension 2020 top-four bracket results.
- Top performers: Full Moon Ries and C/Kohaku carried both grand finalists to first and second place.
- Key insight: Corner carry, hard knockdowns, and oppressive okizeme define the top tier.
- Beginner pick: Wara (Nrvnqsr Chaos) offers strong normals and a real anti-air for new players.
- Meter matters: Moon style choice (Crescent, Full, Half) can swing matchups as much as character choice.
Anime Ascension Tier List Overview
The Anime Ascension tier list ranks characters in Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code based on how they performed at the Anime Ascension tournament series. Rather than theorycrafting, this list leans on actual top-bracket evidence: which characters won sets, which tools cracked open elite defense, and which picks struggled to convert damage.
At Anime Ascension 2020, the top four featured full moon Ries (winner, Boltstrike), solo C-Kohaku (runner-up, CT Warrior), full moon Ciel (third place, Rikir), and Wara (fourth place, Alligory). That results-driven sample gives us a reliable snapshot of the competitive meta.
Video Highlights:
- Boltstrike's Full Moon Ries takes the event over CT Warrior in a bracket-reset grand finals
- C-Kohaku shows off cactus oki, dust setplay, and Yaya loops
- Commentary names Kohaku "like top three, easy" after the set
- Wara's 2B highlighted as one of the few true anti-airs in the game
Tiers reflect a mix of tournament results, commentator consensus, and tool-by-tool evaluation. Player skill always outweighs tier placement — the fourth-place Wara proved a "non-top-10" character can reach top four with strong fundamentals.
Full Tier Rankings
The core Anime Ascension tier list is summarized below. Rankings weigh damage output, corner carry, okizeme quality, neutral buttons, and execution barrier.
| Tier | Character | Moon Style | Key Strengths | Event Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | Kohaku | C | Hard knockdowns, cactus oki, dust setplay, huge meter gain | Runner-up finish, called "top three, easy" |
| S | Riesbyfe | F | Massive burst damage, corner carry, great normals | Tournament winner |
| A | Ciel | F | Frame-advantage normals, charged overhead, IH damage | Third place, quick set wins |
| A | Kohaku/Hisui (maids) | C | Tag cross-ups, dust pressure, tech traps | Runner-up's alternate pick |
| B+ | Wara | C | Strong normals, real 2B anti-air, solid neutral | Fourth place |
| B | Hisui (solo) | C | Setplay tools, decent buttons | Seen in loser's bracket pools |
S-Tier: Kohaku
- Hard knockdown into cactus oki
- Dust cloud controls space for ages
- Builds meter extremely fast
- High execution requirement (5C chains)
S-Tier: Riesbyfe
- Half-life combos from a few hits
- Full-screen hard knockdown option
- Wake-up shield shenanigans
- Less execution than C-Kohaku
A-Tier: Ciel
- Charged overhead knowledge checks
- Great frame advantage on normals
- Strong instant-heat conversions
- Needs corner to maximize damage
C-Kohaku's top-tier payoff only unlocks after significant training-mode grind. Commentators noted she earns hard knockdowns and big damage "via many hours of blood, sweat, and tears." Casual players may get more value from F-Ries or C-Wara.
Matchup Breakdown: Why the Top Tier Wins
Two matchups from the event illustrate exactly why the S-tier characters sit on top.
| Matchup | Result | Deciding Factor |
|---|---|---|
| F-Ries vs F-Ciel | 3-0 winners finals | Ries corner pressure and 236 mix-up; Ciel couldn't guess |
| C-Kohaku vs C-Wara | 2-0 | Kohaku damage, corner carry, oki, and "godly normals" |
| F-Ries vs C-Kohaku (GF set 1) | Kohaku wins | Dust setplay, tech traps, unrelenting bento pressure |
| F/H-Ries vs C-Kohaku (GF set 2) | Ries wins | Saved meter for 236C to blow through dust, adapted moon style |
The grand finals adjustment is the tier list in miniature. Boltstrike lost the first set to Kohaku's EX-dust crutch pressure, then won the reset by hoarding meter for 236C — the exact answer commentators identified. Top-tier characters force opponents to solve problems; mid-tier characters have to solve them.
Switching between Crescent, Full, and Half moon changes the same character's tier position. H-Ries picked up a run, rebeat pressure, and a sliding anti-air at the cost of 236C — a swap that won Boltstrike a game in grand finals.
How to Pick Your Main: Step-by-Step
Assess Your Execution Level
If you can't commit to long lab sessions, skip C-Kohaku's 5C chains and start with F-Ries or C-Wara. Both deliver results with cleaner, simpler routes.
Choose a Moon Style
Full moon rewards frame advantage and big normals; Half moon adds rebeat pressure and run mobility; Crescent offers balanced mechanics. Test all three before locking in.
Learn One Knockdown Route
Every top character at Anime Ascension converted into hard knockdown and oki. Master one bread-and-butter corner route before expanding combos.
Build a Meter Plan
Decide in advance when to spend meter — instant heat for red-life recovery, EX moves to blow through setplay, or supers for punishes. Meter discipline decided the grand finals.
Enter Bracket
Local and regional events (Combo Breaker, CEO Taku, Climax of Nights all hosted Melty Blood) are the fastest way to test your pick against real pressure.
Commentators explicitly recommended Wara as a beginner character: "the buttons are so good" and he has "an actual anti-air, which is huge in this game."
Tier List Comparison Summary
| Criteria | C-Kohaku | F-Ries | F-Ciel | C-Wara |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burst Damage | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Corner Carry | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Oki Quality | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Neutral Buttons | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Execution Barrier | Very High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Overall Tier | S | S | A | B+ |
Main Character Checklist:
- Confirm your character has a hard knockdown route
- Lab one anti-air answer (2B or shield)
- Practice a corner combo above 4K damage
- Establish a meter-spending rule for each game
- Test your pick in at least one local bracket
Boltstrike won the event by switching Ries from F moon to H moon mid-set, then back. Moon-style flexibility is an underrated tier-list multiplier — learn a secondary style for bad matchups.
FAQ
Q: What is the Anime Ascension tier list based on?
This tier list is built from Anime Ascension tournament top-four results, commentator analysis, and character tool evaluation in Melty Blood: Actress Again Current Code. C-Kohaku and F-Ries top the list after reaching grand finals at the event.
Q: Is C-Kohaku the best character in the game?
Commentators at Anime Ascension called Kohaku 'like top three, easy' thanks to hard knockdowns, cactus oki, dust setplay, and godly normals. However, her execution requirement is very high, so weaker players get more consistent results from F-Ries.
Q: Which character is best for beginners?
Wara (Nrvnqsr Chaos) is the recommended beginner pick. He has strong normals, one of the few true anti-airs in the game (2B), and doesn't require heavy execution, though his burst damage and air conversions are limited.
Q: Does moon style change a character's tier?
Yes, significantly. The Anime Ascension winner switched Ries from Full moon to Half moon mid-grand-finals to gain rebeat pressure and a sliding anti-air, winning a key game before switching back. Moon choice can swing matchups as much as character choice.