Last updated: 14 October 2026
Metal Slug Awakening adds a new hero almost every season, and the roster has grown far beyond the four soldiers most of us remember from the arcades. This Metal Slug Awakening character list covers all 42 heroes we could track across the global, SEA and Chinese versions, from Marco Rossi all the way to Thea, the newest arrival on the global server.
Every hero comes with a plain breakdown of what they do, where they land in our Metal Slug Awakening tier list, and whether they deserve your upgrade materials right now.
Metal Slug Awakening Character List: Learn about All Heroes
Here is the full roster in one table. Heroes are grouped by where they come from, and the tier column matches the full tier list further down. TBA means the hero’s kit has not been properly documented in English yet, so we would rather say that than guess.
| # | Hero | Group | Best For | Tier |
| 1 | Marco Rossi | Classic hero | Steady main damage | A |
| 2 | Fio Germi | Classic hero | Fire rate support | C |
| 3 | Eri Kasamoto | Classic hero | Clearing crowds | B |
| 4 | Tarma Roving | Classic hero | All round damage | S |
| 5 | Trevor Spacey | Classic hero | Burst damage | SS |
| 6 | Nadia Cassel | Classic hero | Team healing | SS |
| 7 | Eva Glenn | Awakening original | Area damage and bosses | A |
| 8 | Haran | Awakening original | Attack buffs and freezing | B |
| 9 | Gru Kang | Awakening original | Weapon damage buffs | C |
| 10 | Lyla | Awakening original | Explosive main damage | SS |
| 11 | Scarlett | Awakening original | Sustained damage | SS |
| 12 | Kukik | Awakening original | Marking enemies for bonus damage | SS |
| 13 | Saya | Awakening original | Shields and attack buffs | SS |
| 14 | Eiserner | Awakening original | Damage that builds over time | A |
| 15 | Joe | Awakening original | Shields and damage zones | S |
| 16 | Alessio | Awakening original | Evasion and missile bursts | S |
| 17 | Lilith | Awakening original | Healing and critical hit buffs | S |
| 18 | Ame | Awakening original | Flying damage | B |
| 19 | Dong Huanlong | Awakening original | Pulling enemies together | A |
| 20 | Violet | Collab (Arena of Valor) | Cannon burst | B |
| 21 | Kyo Kusanagi | Collab (The King of Fighters) | Fiery melee combos | B |
| 22 | Mai Shiranui | Collab (The King of Fighters) | TBA | A |
| 23 | Leona Heidern | Collab (The King of Fighters) | Cutting through defenses | S |
| 24 | Marco Polo | Collab (Honor of Kings) | TBA | TBA |
| 25 | Thea | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 26 | Phoenix | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 27 | Red Tassel | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 28 | Mulan | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 29 | Li Ji | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 30 | Valke | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 31 | Ophelia | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 32 | Zero | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 33 | Aydan | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 34 | Shadow | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 35 | Horae | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 36 | Martina | Newer hero | TBA | S |
| 37 | Freyja | Newer hero | TBA | A |
| 38 | Ilum | Newer hero | TBA | A |
| 39 | Eske | Newer hero | TBA | A |
| 40 | Aurora | Newer hero | TBA | A |
| 41 | Chi Lian | Newer hero | TBA | A |
| 42 | Li Xuanlang | Newer hero | TBA | B |
How Many Characters Are in Metal Slug Awakening?
A total of 42 characters exist in Metal Slug Awakening across all versions as of writing. The breakdown is as follows: six classic Metal Slug soldiers, 13 heroes made for Awakening, five guest heroes from collaborations and 18 newer heroes whose kits are still trickling out in English. Unfortunately, the global version does not have all 42 heroes yet. It is simply how the developers handle out new hero launches.
Global vs SEA vs China: Why Your Metal Slug Awakening Roster Looks Different
Metal Slug Awakening runs as three separate versions, and they move at different speeds. The Chinese version launched first in April 2023, Southeast Asia followed in August 2023 and the global version published by HaoPlay arrived in July 2024. All three get heroes in roughly the same order, but the global server sits months behind the others.
Leona is the clearest example. She landed on the SEA version with its second anniversary update in August 2025, while global players only got her with Season 7 in June 2026. Here is how the recent global seasons have lined up, going by the official patch notes:
| Global Season | Arrived | New Hero |
| Season 3 | February 2025 | Ame and Alessio |
| Season 6 | February 2026 | Phoenix |
| Season 7 | June 2026 | Leona |
| Season 8 | September 2026 | Thea |
So if a hero in this Metal Slug Awakening character list is missing from your Treasure Dig, the most likely reason is that they have not reached your server yet. Red Tassel, for example, is already live on SEA but has not appeared in any global patch notes. The official Metal Slug Awakening X account and the official Discord server announce new global heroes before each season starts.
Firepower vs Spec Ops Heroes Explained
Metal Slug Awakening sorts heroes into two main classes, and knowing which is which makes team building much easier.
- Firepower heroes are your main damage dealers. You keep them on screen and let them do the heavy shooting. Marco, Lyla and Eva Glenn are good examples.
- Spec Ops heroes fire off their skills quickly, leave behind buffs or lingering damage and then swap out so your Firepower hero gets more time on screen. Eri, Gru Kang and Kyo Kusanagi belong here.
- Your squad holds up to three heroes, one main and two backups, and you can switch between them at any moment in a fight.
Healers like Nadia and Lilith usually take one of those backup slots, since keeping your main alive matters more than squeezing in a third damage dealer.
Metal Slug Awakening Tier List: Best Characters Ranked
This Metal Slug Awakening tier list ranks every hero on our list. SS heroes are the ones we would build first on any account, S heroes are excellent picks, A heroes are solid but replaceable, B heroes are situational and C heroes are the ones to move on from once you have better options.
| Tier | Heroes | What It Means |
| SS | Trevor Spacey, Lyla, Scarlett, Kukik, Saya, Nadia Cassel | Build these first. They either carry your team or make every teammate better |
| S | Thea, Phoenix, Leona Heidern, Red Tassel, Mulan, Li Ji, Valke, Ophelia, Zero, Aydan, Shadow, Horae, Martina, Joe, Alessio, Lilith, Tarma Roving | Top picks that slot into almost any team |
| A | Marco Rossi, Eva Glenn, Eiserner, Dong Huanlong, Mai Shiranui, Freyja, Ilum, Eske, Aurora, Chi Lian | Reliable heroes that perform well with the right gear |
| B | Eri Kasamoto, Haran, Violet, Kyo Kusanagi, Ame, Li Xuanlang | Useful in specific modes or team setups |
| C | Fio Germi, Gru Kang | Fine early on, easy to replace later |
| TBA | Marco Polo | Not enough confirmed information to rank yet |
How We Ranked the Metal Slug Awakening Characters in this tier list?
We built this ranking from what each kit actually does, then cross checked it with community rankings and player databases. A few honest notes before you spend anything:
- Gear can flip any ranking – Weapons, Cores and Awakened Weapons add so much power that a fully geared B tier hero can outperform an S tier hero running starter gear.
- The newest heroes are ranked on early results – Heroes like Mulan, Li Ji and Valke are rated very highly by the community, but their full kits are not documented in English yet. Expect some movement as more players test them.
- Some heroes split opinion – Eri and Gru Kang used to sit near the top of older rankings. Newer heroes have pushed them down, but Gru Kang still has fans in organized squads because his ultimate buffs everyone’s weapon damage.
Classic Metal Slug Heroes in Metal Slug Awakening
These are the faces you know from the arcade games. Awakening is the first run and gun Metal Slug where Eri, Tarma, Nadia and Trevor are all playable together, since a few of them had only appeared in the tower defense spin offs before this.
Marco Rossi
- Class: Firepower
- Best for: New players who want a simple, steady damage dealer
Marco is the first hero you play and still a dependable main through the early and mid game. His skill lobs grenades, and his ultimate slows down time while he fires two machine guns at once, which is perfect for shredding a crowd. He has slipped to A tier because newer Firepower heroes simply hit harder, but building him early is never wasted.
Fio Germi
- Best for: Early game support
Fio joins your squad early, and global players who pre registered got her as a launch reward. She swings a giant teddy bear, flat along the ground or downward from the air, and her ultimate drops refrigerators on enemies. Food that falls out can be picked up for a fire rate boost. It is a fun kit, but a scattered one, which is why she sits in C tier.
Eri Kasamoto
- Class: Spec Ops
- Best for: Clearing waves of enemies
Eri charges forward with a tackle and follows up with a spread of small grenades. Her ultimate throws a gas can that explodes and leaves a lava field behind, burning anything that stands in it. She needs very little screen time to do her job, which once made her a top pick. Newer heroes have overtaken her, but she still cleans up crowds nicely.
Tarma Roving
- Best for: Players who want a bit of everything
Tarma hurls a huge wrench, and if you catch it on the way back, he rams enemies with his motorbike. His ultimate calls in the Cyclone Crossbow Mecha to fight beside you. He handles both mobs and bosses well, which is why community rankings have kept him in S tier through several seasons.
Trevor Spacey
- Best for: Fast, aggressive burst damage
Trevor kicks a flying slash out of his knife boots that locks onto enemies, then teleports straight to them for a follow up hit. His ultimate hacks every enemy in range, and with a full energy bar he gets to swing the Zantetsu Sword for a while. He has been near the top of almost every ranking since launch, and he is still one of the safest heroes to invest in.
Nadia Cassel
- Best for: Keeping your squad alive
Nadia heals herself and whichever teammate has the lowest health. For her ultimate, she turns chubby and bounces all over the screen while an aura heals the whole team and boosts their attack. Tough team modes like Joint Operation become far easier with her around, so she earns her SS spot as the most reliable healer in the game.
Metal Slug Awakening Original Heroes
These heroes were created for Awakening itself, and several of them are the strongest characters in the game right now. Most of the SS tier lives in this group.
Eva Glenn
- Class: Firepower
- Best for: Area damage and boss fights
Eva is a former ace pilot who was forced out of the cockpit by a conspiracy. She throws magnetic balls that link together with lightning, and she can hold two at once. Every ball also charges her shots with bonus lightning damage for a few seconds. Her ultimate launches one huge magnetic ball that sets off an explosion every two seconds.
Haran
- Best for: Freezing enemies and boosting attack
Haran drops a giant icicle on a target, and teammates standing near it gain an attack bonus. Haran’s ultimate whips up a snowstorm that freezes enemies for a second. It is handy crowd control, but the buff only helps when your team stays close to the icicle, so this hero lands in B tier.
Gru Kang
- Class: Spec Ops
- Best for: Weapon damage buffs
Gru Kang was an ordinary kangaroo until a secret lab experimented on him, and he now carries a mechanical pouch to protect his son, Locke. His jabs build Rage, and at full Rage his weapon damage goes up. His ultimate drops a Ring of Rage that slows and hurts enemies while handing teammates extra weapon damage. The idea is great, but newer buffers do the same job with less effort.
Lyla
- Class: Firepower
- Best for: Explosive main damage
Lyla summons a mechanical octopus that pulls nearby puffer fish toward it. After eight of them explode, an elite puffer fish joins the fight carrying the same weapon type she uses. Her ultimate throws a giant puffer fish that bursts on impact and spawns six more. Very few heroes match her damage, which is why she sits firmly in SS.
Scarlett
- Best for: Players with good timing who want big sustained damage
Scarlett smashes a tennis ball at enemies, and if you hit it again when it bounces back, her gun fires extra bullets. Her ultimate summons a tennis ballista that launches bigger balls you can return the same way. She rewards good timing more than any other hero, and in the right hands she tears through bosses.
Kukik
- Best for: Making the whole team hit harder
Kukik sends his hound after enemies while his falcon swoops in for a second strike. The falcon also backs up the team by launching sharp feathers. His ultimate unleashes a flurry of falcon attacks that mark enemies, and marked enemies take extra damage. That makes him one of the best partners for damage dealers like Lyla and Trevor.
Saya
- Best for: Shields and team attack buffs
Saya fires a Shark Turret that surrounds her target with an electric field, and she can call it back to her side whenever she wants. She also gains a shield that her teammates can inherit. Her ultimate summons a Shark Battleship that keeps firing until its ammo runs dry, then crashes into the nearest enemy, while the whole squad gets an attack boost.
Eiserner
- Best for: Long fights where damage can build up
Eiserner fires missiles from her floating wing, and both those missiles and her regular shots charge an energy bar. Once it fills, floating pods fire a round of lasers and she gains an Overload stack for an extra volley. Her ultimate fires a giant laser with smaller beams around it, and every enemy hit refunds some energy. She is slow to warm up but frightening once she gets going.
Joe
- Best for: Protecting the squad and boosting damage
Joe swings a giant shield that gives the whole team an Overload stack. When you swap him out, he leaves that shield standing, and shooting from behind it deals more damage. His ultimate slams the shield into the ground, launches enemies into the air and creates an Overload Field for eight seconds that raises damage for everyone inside. You also get a shield worth 40 percent of your health.
Alessio
- Best for: Players who want survival and burst in one hero
Alessio joined the global server with Season 3. He drops a smoke grenade that raises dodge rate and fire rate for anyone standing in it, and for a brief moment automatic attacks ignore your team. His ultimate launches him into the air in Red Hawk Form, swapping his gun for a missile cannon that charges up a final barrage of missiles.
Lilith
- Best for: Healing and damage buffs at the same time
Lilith throws a Genetic Powerball at the nearest enemy. When it bounces back, it heals the whole team and spawns a Rabbit Drone that raises critical hit rate and attack for a short time. Her ultimate sends three Rabbit Drones onto an enemy so it takes more damage, and when they explode and fly back, the team gets healed again. Healing and buffing in one kit is rare, and that keeps her in S tier.
Ame
- Best for: Flying over danger while dealing damage
Ame arrived on global alongside Alessio in Season 3. Her Divine Wings let her fly for five seconds while the wings fire projectiles, and at full energy they blast a big Wing Cannon shot. Her ultimate powers up the wings for eight seconds of rapid Wing Blades and gives her a shield. She is great fun, but she has faded out of most current rankings, so we have her in B.
Dong Huanlong
- Best for: Grouping enemies and boosting damage
Dong Huanlong, also known as Loong, creates a circular bind that keeps pulling enemies in and hurting them. During fights, her team also summons a homing dragon that deals a share of the damage you dealt over the last few seconds. Her ultimate calls a dragon that makes enemies take extra damage, followed by ten more dragons one after another.
Metal Slug Awakening Collab Characters
Metal Slug Awakening is developed by TiMi Studio, the same team behind Honor of Kings, Arena of Valor and Call of Duty Mobile, so it is no surprise that the guest heroes lean on those games along with SNK’s own fighters. If you play those MOBAs too, our list of the best MOBA games is worth a look.
Violet (Arena of Valor)
- Best for: Cannon burst damage
Violet was the first Arena of Valor hero to join Metal Slug Awakening, arriving on the SEA version in September 2023. She rolls forward and fires a penetrating cannon shot, and once her Enhanced Weapon meter fills, she adds a blast grenade. Her ultimate rains cannonballs from a mortar and makes her cannon shots explode behind their target.
Kyo Kusanagi (The King of Fighters)
- Class: Spec Ops
- Best for: Close range fire damage
Kyo first arrived on the SEA version in December 2023. He opens with a flaming upward kick that sets enemies on fire. His ultimate is a three hit combo that knocks enemies into the air and builds Rage, and at three stacks he summons pillars of fire in front of him. The melee style takes practice, which is why most players rate him as average.
Mai Shiranui (The King of Fighters)
The famous Shiranui ninja joined in the same update as Freyja, during a season set around the frozen Ice Pole. Her full kit has not been documented in English yet, but community rankings place her comfortably in A tier.
Leona Heidern (The King of Fighters)
Leona was raised by the mercenary Heidern and became the youngest commander in his unit. In Awakening she fights with a Moonlight Sawblade designed to cut through enemy defenses. She headlined global Season 7 in June 2026 and sits in S tier.
Marco Polo (Honor of Kings)
Community databases list Marco Polo as a playable Honor of Kings guest, but we could not confirm his kit or which servers currently offer him. He stays unranked until there is solid information to go on.
Newest Metal Slug Awakening Characters
The latest additions to the Metal Slug Awakening character list are where most of the excitement is, and also where information is thinnest. Here is everything confirmed so far, without the guesswork.
Thea
Thea is the newest hero on the global version, added with Season 8 in September 2026. She belongs to the Hidden Knowledge Society under the codename Snowy Owl. She grew up in polar blizzards, and her unusual sensitivity to light and color lets her break down the Abyss energy trapped inside Echo Crystals. She works with an information broker named Crow, and her season also brought the Light Sniper Gun.
Phoenix
Phoenix headlined global Season 6 in February 2026. She is the Empress of the Zhaohua Realm and holder of the Celestial Jade Talisman, and she is famous for reading people’s thoughts with ease. Her arrival kicked off the Journey to the East story, where Andrew Town becomes a starship and crashes into a dimension with a classic Eastern look.
Red Tassel
Red Tassel arrived on the SEA version in April 2026 with the Danxia Turmoil story update, alongside the Shadowblade weapon. The hero has not appeared in global patch notes yet, so global players should expect to see Red Tassel in a future season.
Freyja
Freyja is a lively, brave hero with a strong sense of justice who arrived in the same update as Mai Shiranui. Her full kit is still not documented in English, and community rankings place her in A tier.
New Metal Slug: Awakening Characters Yet To Release in 2026
These heroes appear in community rankings, but their kits have not been fully detailed in English yet. We will update this Metal Slug Awakening character list with their roles as soon as reliable details are available.
| Hero | What We Know | Tier |
| Mulan | Latest hero to enter community rankings, added in October 2026 | S |
| Li Ji | Entered community rankings in July 2026 | S |
| Valke | Kit details TBA | S |
| Ophelia | Kit details TBA | S |
| Zero | Kit details TBA | S |
| Aydan | Kit details TBA | S |
| Shadow | Kit details TBA | S |
| Horae | Kit details TBA | S |
| Martina | Kit details TBA | S |
| Chi Lian | Kit details TBA | A |
| Ilum | Kit details TBA | A |
| Eske | Kit details TBA | A |
| Aurora | Kit details TBA | A |
| Li Xuanlang | Entered community rankings in July 2025 | B |
Best Metal Slug Awakening Teams for Beginners
Since you can field three heroes and swap between them freely, the best teams pair one damage dealer with two heroes who heal, shield or buff. These four setups are built around how the kits actually work together.
| Team | Main Hero | Backups | Why It Works |
| Starter squad | Marco Rossi | Fio Germi, Nadia Cassel (or any healer you own) | Fio’s food boosts fire rate and Nadia keeps Marco standing while you learn the game |
| Boss melter | Lyla | Kukik, Saya | Kukik’s marks make enemies take more damage, and Saya adds shields and a team attack boost on top of Lyla’s explosions |
| Tough modes | Scarlett | Nadia Cassel, Joe | Nadia heals and boosts attack, Joe adds a shield and a damage field, and Scarlett gets the breathing room to keep returning her tennis balls |
| Melee rush | Trevor Spacey | Lilith, Haran | Lilith heals and raises critical hits, while Haran freezes enemies and boosts attack near the icicle |
A few habits will help any of these teams:
- Build one main hero first. Spreading upgrades across three heroes leaves you with three weak characters instead of one strong one.
- Upgrade your main’s weapon early. Weapons are upgraded with Cores and can later be turned into Awakened Weapons, and that progress often matters more than which hero you use.
- Swap with purpose. Bring in your backups to fire off their skills, then swap back to your main so the buffs and shields actually get used.
How to Unlock Characters in Metal Slug Awakening?
Every hero on this Metal Slug Awakening character list is unlocked the same basic way, by collecting that hero’s tokens. Here is where those tokens come from:
- Treasure Dig: The main gacha lives in the Mining Site and opens up once you clear stage 3 of World 2 in World Adventure. Character digs are the most direct way to chase a specific hero.
- Story progress: A few heroes can be earned for free just by pushing through the story.
- Events: Limited events regularly hand out hero tokens. An event shortly after the global launch, for example, gave out tokens for Haran and Nadia.
- Pre registration and launch gifts: Global players who pre registered received Fio as a reward.
- Promotion: Once a hero is unlocked, extra tokens are used to promote them and unlock their passive skills, so duplicates are never wasted.
Rubies are the premium currency in Metal Slug Awakening, and they are sold through the in game shop for players who want to speed things up.
Should You Reroll in Metal Slug Awakening?
Honestly, no. There is no proper reroll system, so starting over means binding a brand new account and replaying the opening chapters. Since every hero needs extra tokens to reach full strength anyway, one lucky early pull will not make or break your account. You are far better off picking a main from the SS or S tiers above and investing in their weapon.
More Mobile Shooter and Gacha Guides on Driffle
If fast action on mobile is your thing, our Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat tier list and DMC Peak of Combat codes are a great next stop. Shooter fans should also check our NIKKE tier list, Snowbreak Containment Zone tier list and Girls Frontline 2 Exilium tier list, while arcade style shoot em up lovers will feel right at home with our Acecraft tier list.
Still hunting for your next obsession? Browse our picks for the best gacha games and best ARPG games, grab free rewards with our COD Mobile codes, or try another roster breakdown like our Legend of the Phoenix character list and Forsaken character list.
Get More Rubies for Metal Slug Awakening with Driffle
Grinding events and digs will eventually get you every hero on this Metal Slug Awakening character list, but Rubies speed things up a lot, especially when a limited hero or weapon banner is running. The easiest way to top up is through store credit. Android players can grab Google Play gift cards on Driffle, while iPhone and iPad players can pick up Apple gift cards. Just make sure the card’s region matches your account before you buy.
New to the store? Here is our honest take on whether Driffle is legit, so you can shop with confidence and get back to blasting through the Morden Army.
Metal Slug Awakening Character List FAQs
How many characters are in Metal Slug Awakening?
We track 42 playable heroes across all versions of Metal Slug Awakening. The global server has fewer than that right now, because the Chinese and SEA versions receive new heroes months earlier.
Who is the newest character in Metal Slug Awakening?
On the global version, the newest hero is Thea, who arrived with Season 8 in September 2026. On the more advanced servers, Mulan is the latest hero to enter community rankings.
Who is the best character in Metal Slug Awakening?
Trevor Spacey, Lyla and Scarlett are the strongest damage dealers right now, while Kukik, Saya and Nadia Cassel are the best support picks. All six sit in SS tier in our Metal Slug Awakening tier list.
Is Marco Rossi worth building in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes, especially early on. Marco is easy to play and carries the first chapters well. He falls behind newer Firepower heroes later, so treat him as a starter main rather than a long term carry.
Why can’t I find some heroes in my game?
Most likely they have not reached your server yet. Global gets heroes after SEA and China, so heroes like Red Tassel are live elsewhere but not on global so far.
Which Metal Slug Awakening characters come from other games?
Violet comes from Arena of Valor, Kyo Kusanagi, Mai Shiranui and Leona Heidern come from The King of Fighters, and Marco Polo is listed as an Honor of Kings guest.
Can you play Metal Slug Awakening on PC?
Yes. The global version is available on Steam and through a Windows launcher on the official site, and your account syncs between PC and mobile.
