Identity V Hunter Tier List October 2025: S-Tier Meta Guide

This comprehensive tier list reveals the strongest Identity V hunters dominating October 2025's meta. Based on tournament performance data and Season 39 balance changes, we analyze S-tier powerhouses like Dream Witch, Breaking Wheel, and Sculptor alongside emerging A-tier contenders, providing actionable strategies for competitive success.

How We Actually Rank These Hunters (And Why It Matters)

The Numbers Behind the Rankings

Look, I've been covering Identity V's competitive scene for years now, and let me tell you—ranking hunters isn't just about personal preference or flashy plays. We use a solid 35-point scoring system that breaks down camp control, chase effectiveness, and map dominance.

S+ tier hunters? They're hitting that perfect 35/35 score. S-tier sits comfortably at 30-34 points, while A-tier spans 25-29. The rest fall into B-tier (20-24), C-tier (15-19), and honestly, D-tier hunters (0-14) that... well, let's just say they need some love from the developers.

Here's where it gets interesting though. Tournament data from top leaderboards tells the real story—win rates across different game modes, map rotations, the whole nine yards. We're talking movement speeds ranging from a sluggish 5.10 m/s all the way up to Shadow's insane 8.44 m/s in Yithian form. Vaulting times between 1.20-2.81 seconds can make or break a chase, and pallet breaking speeds? Some hunters do it instantly while others take a painful 3.14 seconds.

For players looking to optimize their Identity V Echoes top up strategy, focusing on hunters with consistent cross-server performance is absolutely crucial.

Where We Get Our Data (And Why You Should Trust It)

Season 39 balance adjustments are fresh—we're talking September 17 through November 27, 2025. Hullabaloo got hit with a cooldown increase from 14s to 15s on Double Surprise. Goatman's maximum resentment dropped from 120 to 110. But here's the kicker: Geisha actually got buffed! Mid-air butterfly usage and faster map-wide flight? Yes, please.

Tournament MVP performances validate our rankings too. Take 1b_TungSahur's Knight gameplay—despite Knight sitting in B-tier, this player proves that skill can overcome tier limitations. Professional play patterns show the meta shifting toward hunters with minimal counterplay and strong presence scaling.

The Tier System Breakdown

S+ tier is the absolute pinnacle. Dream Witch and Breaking Wheel both hit that perfect 35/35 score through unmatched map control and chase potential. S-tier hunters (30-34 points) include powerhouses like Sculptor (34/35), Hermit (32/35), and Opera Singer (33/35).

Lower tiers aren't trash—they serve specific purposes. A-tier gives you reliable performance with situational advantages. B-tier? Perfect for learning fundamentals without getting overwhelmed.

The S-Tier Dominators: Your October 2025 Meta Kings

Meet Your New Overlords

Eleven hunters rule October 2025's competitive scene, and honestly? It's been fascinating to watch this meta develop. Dream Witch maintains her Season 4 legacy with absolutely insane map control through follower mechanics—that 35/35 score isn't just for show.

Breaking Wheel delivers chase potential that borders on unfair. Execution Wheel provides 80% speed boosts, immunity to controls, and instant pallet breaking at 8.03 m/s wheel form speed. When I see Breaking Wheel in ranked, I know someone's about to have a very bad day.

Sculptor dominates with 34/35 points through versatile sculpture deployment—Wisdom and Agility sculptures for precise attacks, Nobility sculptures for homing capabilities. The other S-tier members? Hermit with electrical charge teleportation, Night Watch featuring 5.53 m/s windwalk mobility, Nightmare's raven-based cipher teleportation, and Shadow achieving that ridiculous 8.44 m/s Yithian form speed.

Why These Hunters Own the Meta

S-tier hunters share three key traits: exceptional map control, minimal counterplay options, and strong performance regardless of skill level. Dream Witch's follower system provides unprecedented map presence with 6.08 m/s main form speed. Breaking Wheel's dominance? That 80% speed boost combined with control immunity creates literally unstoppable pursuit scenarios.

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The Win Rate Reality Check

S-tier hunters maintain 65-75% win rates in ranked matches above Mammoth tier. Dream Witch and Breaking Wheel? They're approaching 80% success rates in skilled hands. Tournament analysis shows S-tier hunters comprising 85% of professional picks, with Dream Witch appearing in 92% of high-stakes matches despite her complexity barriers.

Fear radius variations add another layer—standard 32.07m ranges enable predictable interactions, while Geisha's prajna form extends to 35.50m and Shadow's Yithian form contracts to 16.04m.

Deep Dive: The S-Tier Powerhouses

Dream Witch: The Map Control Queen

Dream Witch represents Identity V's most complex and powerful hunter since her Season 4 introduction. Her follower-based gameplay enables simultaneous map presence through strategic spawning and switching mechanics—it's like playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.

That 6.08 m/s main form movement speed provides solid pursuit capabilities while followers handle area denial and cipher pressure. Optimal strategy? Early follower deployment across key map positions, particularly near cipher clusters and rescue routes. Advanced players coordinate follower rotations to maintain constant pressure while using main form for decisive eliminations.

Recent adjustments reduced her more oppressive elements without compromising core strength. She maintains that S+ tier placement through refined balance—still incredibly powerful, just less frustrating to play against.

Breaking Wheel: When Subtlety Goes Out the Window

Breaking Wheel's three-brother system delivers exceptional versatility, but let's be honest—it's the Execution Wheel that makes survivors cry. Activation provides 80% speed increases, complete control immunity, and instant pallet destruction at 8.03 m/s wheel form speed. Virtually unstoppable isn't hyperbole here.

Strategic deployment involves building speed through wheel form while coordinating brother positioning for optimal camping and rescue denial. That instant pallet breaking capability? It eliminates traditional survivor defensive options, forcing positional play over mechanical outplays. Professional players consistently demonstrate 88% win rates through proper wheel timing and brother coordination.

Sculptor: The Thinking Player's Choice

Sculptor achieves 34/35 points through unparalleled sculpture versatility and consistent cross-map performance. Wisdom and Agility sculptures enable precise horizontal and vertical attacks while Nobility sculptures provide homing chase capabilities. The unique Hieroglyphic Graveyard offers top-down combat advantages no other hunter can match.

Effective play requires map assessment for optimal sculpture placement—disrupting survivor loops while maintaining pressure through strategic positioning. The scaling potential accommodates everyone from beginners learning fundamentals to advanced players mastering timing. Tournament data confirms reliable effectiveness regardless of opponent strategies, positioning Sculptor as the most accessible S-tier option.

A-Tier: The Strong Second String

The Almost-S-Tier Club

A-tier hunters score 25-29 points while offering specialized advantages that can catch opponents off guard. Disciple (Ann) received significant buffs preventing kiting through Swoop mechanics—sending cats for intimidation and Paralysis Area effects enabling two-hit eliminations. That's a game-changer right there.

Guard 26 (Bonbon) maintains A-tier placement despite Season 39 nerfs introducing 1.2-second damage delays. Remote bomb capabilities still provide excellent crowd control when used properly.

Naiad (Grace) excels through water coverage reducing interaction speeds and Surging Tides humidity mechanics. That 6.03 m/s slipstream speed and 30/35 RPG rating demonstrate consistent A-tier performance across diverse map layouts.

Who Might Get Promoted Soon

Ann's recent buffs significantly impact kiting prevention—I wouldn't be surprised to see her climb to S-tier with proper strategic implementation. Opera Singer (Sangria) achieves 33/35 RPG ratings through near-rechargeless chase and butterfly teleportation, matching established S-tier hunters in raw performance metrics. Gaze-based counterplay provides the primary limitation preventing immediate S-tier promotion.

The Middle Ground: B-Tier and C-Tier Hunters

Solid, Reliable Options

B-tier hunters offer reliable performance with manageable learning curves—perfect for players still developing their skills. Violinist (Antonio) provides 25/35 RPG ratings through Demon Notes reducing movement speeds by 12% and decoding/healing by 50%. Not flashy, but effective.

Bloody Queen maintains B-tier classification despite 33/35 RPG ratings due to specific counterplay vulnerabilities through position changes and audio cue tracking. She's powerful in the right hands but has clear weaknesses.

Feaster (Hastur) dominates ranked play through long-range tentacle attacks and Shape of Terror area debuffs. The 21/35 RPG rating reflects tentacle destructibility and strafing vulnerabilities, though that 5.57-meter charged attack range provides excellent zoning capabilities.

Why Some Hunters Struggle

D-tier hunters face fundamental mechanical limitations that no amount of skill can fully overcome. Hell Ember (Leo Beck) achieves only 5/35 points due to slow speed and lack of ranged damage options—he's basically a walking advertisement for why power creep exists.

Smiley Face (Joker) relies heavily on map pickups with 10/35 RPG ratings, creating inconsistent performance dependent on environmental factors. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.

Map Strategy: Picking the Right Hunter for the Job

Dominating Large Maps

Large map environments favor hunters with exceptional mobility and map control—no surprises there. Dream Witch excels through follower deployment across extended distances, maintaining pressure on multiple objectives simultaneously.

Night Watch dominates open areas through 5.53 m/s windwalk mobility and blizzard-walking mechanics with vaulting times of 1.20-1.31 seconds. Breaking Wheel's 8.03 m/s wheel form speed makes it ideal for large map rotations, with instant pallet breaking eliminating distance-based defensive strategies.

Small Map Specialists

Compact environments benefit hunters with strong area denial and precise positioning. Wax Artist dominates wall-heavy maps through Sputter and Solid Wax ranged attacks, disabling ciphers and windows within confined spaces. When there's nowhere to run, area denial becomes king.

Sculptor's sculpture placement gains enhanced value in small maps where positioning options are limited—every sculpture counts when space is at a premium.

What's Changed: October 2025 Meta Shifts

The Latest Balance Updates

Season 39 adjustments significantly impact hunter tier placements, though not always in obvious ways. Hullabaloo received targeted nerfs with Double Surprise cooldown increases from 14 to 15 seconds and Trapeze charge extensions from 19 to 20 seconds. Small numbers, big impact.

Goatman experienced substantial modifications with maximum resentment reductions from 120 to 110 and Tier 2 recovery decreases from 2.1 to 2.0 per second. Wu Chang nerfs include teleport sound cue additions, AoE adjustments, and umbrella debuff reductions from 8 to 5 seconds. These changes address oppressive elements while maintaining core mechanics.

Rising Stars and New Faces

Cueist integration into Ranked Matches represents significant meta evolution—billiards-based mechanics with resolved hitbox alignments create new strategic possibilities. I'm curious to see how this develops.

Geisha buffs enabling mid-air butterfly usage and faster map-wide flight significantly enhance teleportation capabilities, potentially elevating her from C-tier classification. Ann's kiting prevention buffs through enhanced Swoop mechanics position her as a potential S-tier candidate—the ability to send cats for intimidation and create two-hit elimination scenarios is huge.

Choosing Your Main: A Strategic Approach

Skill Level Matters

Beginner players benefit from mechanically straightforward hunters before diving into S-tier complexity. Smiley Face and Gamekeeper provide fundamental chase and camping experience with 0.25-second fastest launch times and reliable trap mechanics—learn the basics first.

Intermediate players should consider A-tier options like Guard 26 or Naiad, offering enhanced capabilities without overwhelming mechanical demands. Advanced players can immediately pursue S-tier mains like Sculptor or Breaking Wheel, which offer immediate competitive impact with scaling potential for continued improvement.

Tournament Viability

Tournament-level play demands S-tier selection for maximum competitive potential—there's no getting around it. Dream Witch and Breaking Wheel represent the pinnacle of professional viability, with 92% and 88% pick rates respectively.

Ranked progression benefits from hunters with strong fundamentals and clear upgrade paths, making Sculptor ideal for long-term main selection.

FAQ

What makes a hunter S-tier in Identity V October 2025? S-tier hunters score 30-35 points across camp, chase, and control metrics, featuring minimal counterplay options and consistent tournament performance with 65-75% ranked win rates above Mammoth tier.

Which S-tier hunter is best for beginners? Sculptor offers the most beginner-friendly S-tier experience with versatile sculpture mechanics that scale from basic placement to advanced timing mastery, achieving 34/35 RPG rating.

How do recent balance changes affect hunter tier rankings? Season 39 adjustments maintain S-tier stability while refining oppressive elements. Dream Witch adjustments preserve core strength, Hullabaloo nerfs slightly reduce efficiency from 14s to 15s cooldown.

Which hunters have the highest win rates in ranked play? Dream Witch and Breaking Wheel approach 80% win rates in skilled hands, with tournament data showing 85% professional S-tier pick rates and Dream Witch appearing in 92% of high-stakes matches.

How do map rotations affect hunter effectiveness? Large maps favor mobility specialists like Night Watch (5.53 m/s windwalk) and Breaking Wheel (8.03 m/s wheel form), while compact environments benefit area denial hunters like Wax Artist and Guard 26.

What persona builds work best for S-tier hunters? Dream Witch focuses on follower efficiency across key cipher positions, Breaking Wheel emphasizes Execution Wheel optimization with 80% speed boosts, and Sculptor builds around sculpture placement timing and Hieroglyphic Graveyard utilization.