Evaluation Criteria
This tier list is based on v1.4.1. Three evaluation axes:
- Passive universality: Does the unique passive deliver value across varied builds and run conditions without requiring a specific setup?
- Scaling ceiling: Does the Crawler grow meaningfully stronger as gems, arcanas, and deck quality accumulate?
- Approachability: Does the Crawler perform reliably even when the player isn't actively optimizing around the passive?
Personal skill and build quality can shift practical performance by an entire tier in either direction. Use this list as a starting point, not a verdict.
S Tier
Christine (クリスティーネ)
The only Crawler who starts with Pentagram, giving direct access to the Gorgeous Moon evolution path — arguably the strongest evolution in the game. After evolving, the sweeping card-annihilation effect negates enemy volume in long runs. The cost-5 investment feels heavy early but becomes irrelevant once Mana Books and Mana Syphon arcana are in place. With the right arcana draw, Christine becomes the undisputed best Crawler in any given run.
Build hint: Secure 2 Mana Books per cost tier first, then chase the Mana Syphon arcana. Post-evolution, stack Wild and Yin-Yang gems on Gorgeous Moon to fish for double-activation turns.
Lama (ラマ)
The unique damage buff scaling with current Curse value reaches +50% at high stacks — the highest ceiling of any Crawler passive. Requires active curse farming (unique relics, curse arcanas), which demands game knowledge, but the payoff once the engine runs is unmatched. A mid-to-advanced Crawler who rewards investment heavily.
Pugnala (プニャーラ)
Drawing a card each time a yellow card is played keeps the hand perpetually full, enabling infinite-loop builds that never run dry. This synergy with the 5-card hand limit means high-cost finishers can always be funded. Combined with Phieraggi (La Borra + Phiera Der Tuphello evolution), global damage output reaches a tier of its own.
Build hint: Pack yellow cards (Mana Books and tomes) densely. Run Chain Link arcana to extend combo persistence. Phieraggi is the natural finisher.
Poppea (ポッペア)
Special abilities tied to a full 5-card hand activate more reliably for Poppea than any other Crawler. Consistent combo maintenance from floor 1 to the final boss makes her the most stable S Tier pick. Unlike Christine or Lama, Poppea does not demand a specific build — she makes almost any deck better.
A Tier
Imelda (イメルダ)
Starts with 3 mana, allowing more cards per turn without relying on Mana Books in the very early game. Her unique bonus for reaching level 20 in Inlaid Library unlocks Pasqualina as a companion, effectively running two Crawler passives at once. Easiest entry point for new players: generous mana budget, clear level goal, strong synergy with the library dungeon.
Pasqualina (パスカリーナ)
The 4-card hand bonus improves combo stability in a simple, passive way. Unlocked through Imelda's level-20 route, so reaching her requires investment — but once available, she is one of the most consistent A Tier choices with low variance runs.
Antonio (アントニオ)
Plays a red card, gains armor. That simplicity is the design intent. Stacking armor while attacking creates a natural defense loop that covers the common early-run failure mode of dying before a finisher is assembled. The most beginner-friendly Crawler in the roster.
Dommario (ドンマリオ)
Rare double bonus: 3 starting mana and a 4-card hand. Both axes reduce the friction of combo construction. Excellent coin efficiency on top means the blacksmith and shops are accessible earlier than with most Crawlers, compounding the run advantage over time.
Poe (ポー)
Blue card plays trigger draws. Starting with Garlic makes Vicious Hunger (Garlic's evolution) the most accessible evolution route in the game for Poe. Drawing while dealing area damage creates a self-sustaining loop that dominates the mid-to-late run.
Suor Clerici (クレーリチ)
Armor scaling from healed HP converts healing builds into defensive ones simultaneously. Pairing with Experimental Medicine arcana produces near-invulnerable levels of armor generation. One of the strongest arcana synergies in the game.
Gallo (ガロ)
80 base HP is the highest starting durability in the roster. The Wild card plus Greed gem coin-farming build comes online faster with Gallo's HP buffer as insurance. Ideal when the run economy is the priority.
B Tier
Gennaro (ジェンナーロ)
Amount +1 is intuitive and immediately impactful — more hits per card means more damage in the early game. However, as other Crawlers compound their gem and arcana scaling mid-run, the flat Amount bonus stops keeping pace. Reliable but not exceptional.
Concetta (コンチェッタ)
Shadow card builds require specific pieces and game knowledge. High ceiling if the pieces align, but the build constraint and reliance on card draws makes consistency low. Veteran-oriented pick.
Cavallo (カヴァロ)
HP 70 is above average, but the conditional passive underperforms in dungeons without large enemy types. Strong in specific matchups, inconsistent overall.
Krochi (クロチ)
The revival passive is uniquely powerful in high-stakes fights like Red Death — see the Red Death strategy guide. In standard runs, however, revival is rarely needed and the passive sits idle. Niche-excellent, general-average.
Mortaccio (モルタッキオ)
Skeleton-focused buffs only trigger against skeleton enemies. In dungeons with heavy skeleton spawns the passive shines, but it goes dead in others. High dungeon dependency limits general ranking.
Giovanna (ジョバンナ)
Purple card plays draw cards. Works well in purple-heavy Mana Book decks, but deck construction is constrained and the build relies on favorable card draws through the run. Good ceiling, low floor.
C Tier
Arca (アルカ)
Starts with Fire Wand and is balanced around reaching the Hellfire evolution. Pre-evolution she is genuinely fragile; post-evolution she performs well but is locked into a single build path. Any run where the evolution fails to complete is a difficult run.
Porta (ポルタ)
Lightning Ring into Thunderloop, same single-path design as Arca. Post-evolution potential is adequate, but the restriction creates the same run variance problem.
Bianca Ramba (ランバ)
High unlock cost relative to her passive strength. Once unlocked, her abilities are average. The effort-to-reward ratio is the weakest among all Crawlers.
O'Sole (オ・ソーレ)
Unique sun-affinity passive with conditions that are difficult to manage reliably. Interesting for experienced players looking for variety but demands run-specific optimization others don't require.
D Tier
MissingNO (ミッシングNO)
Unlocked by defeating Red Death. HP 147, 11-card hand, 82 mana — numbers that break normal balance assumptions. Standard deck, gem, and arcana combinations don't interact with these stats the way they do for regular Crawlers, making consistent builds hard to execute. Optimal in Endless mode record runs only; in normal play, the massive hand and mana excess creates more decision noise than advantage.
Tier Summary Table
| Tier | Crawlers |
|---|---|
| S | Christine, Lama, Pugnala, Poppea |
| A | Imelda, Pasqualina, Antonio, Dommario, Poe, Suor Clerici, Gallo |
| B | Gennaro, Concetta, Cavallo, Krochi, Mortaccio, Giovanna |
| C | Arca, Porta, Bianca Ramba, O'Sole |
| D | MissingNO |
Recommended Starters (3 Picks for New Players)
1. Antonio (アントニオ) — Armor-on-attack is self-explanatory and forgiving. Lets new players focus on learning the combo system without managing a complex passive.
2. Imelda (イメルダ) — The 3-mana start removes the mana anxiety that trips up beginners. The Inlaid Library level-20 goal gives a clear early target.
3. Christine (クリスティーネ) — Ideal for players who have cleared a few runs and want to experience what S Tier feels like. Gorgeous Moon's sweep effect makes the evolution system click.
Disclaimer
Tier rankings reflect general performance across a wide range of runs. Build quality, arcana draws, and player skill can shift a Crawler's practical performance by one or two tiers in either direction. Every Crawler, including C and D Tier, can clear endgame content with the right setup. Play whoever you enjoy first.