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06 Numbers and Powers

Abyss Tier List: Races, Guns, Tubes and Artifacts

Card No. 06·29106 · Updated · Standard formula, shown below

There is no reliable definitive Abyss tier list for races, guns, tubes and artifacts without knowing which game you mean. “Abyss” and these item categories appear across multiple games, and rankings can change with the game version, mode, balance patch and player build; naming a universal set of top picks would risk giving you invented or outdated advice.

Why the game and version matter

A tier list is a comparison within a defined ruleset, not a permanent ranking of names. A race that excels at movement may be valuable in exploration but less useful in a boss fight. A gun’s ranking can depend on its range, accuracy, ammunition economy and the enemies in the activity. Tubes and artifacts may have entirely different meanings and effects from one game to another.

Even when two players are discussing the same title, they may be ranking different things: solo progression, group play, player-versus-player combat, a particular dungeon, or late-game bosses. A recommendation that is excellent in one setting can be mediocre in another. Patches can also alter damage, cooldowns, drop rates or interactions, making an old list misleading.

To make a genuinely useful ranking, first identify the exact game and, if possible, the platform or current update. Then specify the activity and whether the list should assume beginner access, endgame gear, or a particular build.

How to judge races

Race rankings should reflect the benefits a race actually provides in the game, rather than popularity or rarity alone. Compare the effect of its passive traits and active abilities with the demands of the activity you want to play.

  • Damage and survivability: Does the race directly increase damage, reduce incoming damage, or help maintain health?
  • Mobility and utility: Does it improve movement, dodging, resource gathering, or access to useful abilities?
  • Consistency: Is the benefit always active, or does it depend on a cooldown, condition, or specific enemy?
  • Build fit: Does the race complement your weapon and artifact choices, or duplicate bonuses you already have?

A “best race” therefore may not exist for every player. If a race’s advantage only works with a specific weapon or play style, rank it highly for that combination rather than calling it universally strongest.

How to judge guns

For guns, damage per shot is only one part of performance. A weapon with a high displayed number may be difficult to use effectively if it fires slowly, misses moving targets, reloads often, or performs poorly at the distances required by the activity.

Look for in-game evidence on these factors:

  • Practical damage: Consider firing rate, accuracy and how often the weapon can hit its intended target.
  • Range and handling: Check whether it suits close encounters, open areas or fast-moving opponents.
  • Reload and ammunition: Frequent downtime can reduce sustained damage, especially in longer fights.
  • Special effects: Status effects, area damage or enemy-specific bonuses may be valuable even when basic damage is lower.
  • Availability: A theoretically strong gun is not a practical recommendation if it is inaccessible to the player being advised.

Compare guns in the same conditions. Testing a weapon against a different enemy, at a different range, or with different upgrades can make a simple damage comparison meaningless.

How to judge tubes and artifacts

“Tubes” is not a standardized item category across games, so it is especially important not to assume what the term means. It might refer to equipment, consumables, a weapon component, or something else entirely. Identify its function in the specific game before ranking it. If tubes are consumables, compare their effects, duration, cost in in-game resources and the situations where they can be used. If they are equipment, compare their stats and how they interact with a build.

Artifacts are often judged by their effects and combinations rather than by their names alone. Read the exact description and check whether a bonus is conditional, stacks with other effects, or applies only to a certain weapon, enemy or activity. Useful comparison points include:

  • The strength and reliability of the effect.
  • Whether the artifact supports damage, defense, mobility or resource use.
  • Any activation condition, duration or cooldown stated in the game.
  • How well it combines with the race, gun and other equipment in the build.
  • The effort required to obtain or upgrade it, if that affects the recommendation.

Do not assume that a rare artifact is automatically better. Rarity can describe how difficult an item is to obtain; it does not, by itself, prove that it improves a particular build.

Build a useful tier list for your goal

A practical list separates broad performance from situational value. Instead of assigning one letter grade to every item, record what each option does well and where it falls short. That gives readers enough context to decide whether the ranking applies to them.

  1. Set the scope: Name the game, current update if known, activity and solo or group setting.
  2. Choose criteria: Decide whether you care most about damage, consistency, survivability, ease of use or access.
  3. Compare like with like: Hold upgrades, character level, enemy and test conditions as consistent as possible.
  4. Note dependencies: Mark items that need a particular race, artifact, skill or play style to perform well.
  5. Separate tiers from recommendations: A strong general option may not be the best choice for a specific build, and a specialized option can still deserve a place.
  6. Revisit after updates: Recheck rankings when a patch changes item effects or combat rules.

Community rankings can help identify options to investigate, but treat them as starting points. Check the date, the mode being discussed and whether the author gives reasons or test conditions. A tier list without those details may reflect one person’s preference rather than dependable comparative evidence.

Common ranking mistakes

The most common mistake is treating a tier list as a substitute for the item descriptions and the player’s actual goal. Other frequent problems include mixing different game modes, comparing upgraded gear with unupgraded gear, overlooking conditional effects, and repeating a ranking after the underlying game has changed.

Another misconception is that an item placed below the top tier is unusable. Tier labels are shorthand for relative performance under stated assumptions, not a rule that lower-ranked choices cannot succeed. Familiarity, availability, team composition and personal preference can all make a supposedly lower-ranked option more effective for an individual player.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best race in Abyss?
That depends on which game called Abyss you mean, the activity, and your build. Without those details, a single race ranking would not be reliable.

What is the strongest gun in Abyss?
There is no verifiable universal answer from the name alone. Gun strength depends on the game’s current balance, target, range, upgrades and mode.

Are tubes and artifacts part of the same game?
Those terms are not enough to identify a specific title. Share the game name or an item description so the categories can be interpreted accurately.

Does a higher rarity mean an item is better?
Not necessarily. Compare the item’s actual effects, conditions and fit with your build rather than relying on rarity by itself.

How often should I update an Abyss tier list?
Recheck it after balance updates and whenever you change the activity or build being ranked. A list should state its date and assumptions so readers know when it applies.

Related

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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