Torchlight: Infinite Afterlight Season SS13 Tier List Guide: Data-Based Character Rankings and Best Starter Choices

Summary

Torchlight: Infinite’s Afterlight Season SS13 introduces 27 characters with different build paths, making starter choices difficult. This guide uses real in-game data, including Level 95 counts, Supreme Showdown 20/21 clears, and starter-to-endgame ratios, to identify the strongest and most underrated characters. Choosing the right build early can save time, and having enough Torchlight: Infinite Flame Elementium can help speed up gearing for endgame progression. 

The Data-Driven Approach

Traditional tier lists often have one major weakness: they are based on limited personal experience.

A creator may test only a few builds, collect opinions from friends, and then rank dozens of characters. While those opinions can be useful, they do not represent the entire player base.

This guide focuses on three measurable statistics from the Afterlight season:

Day Two Level 95 Counts

This shows which characters have:

Smooth early progression.

Strong survivability.

Reliable leveling speed.

Supreme Showdown 20 and 21 Clears

This reflects:

Endgame damage potential.

Build stability.

Ability to handle difficult content.

Starter-to-Finisher Ratio

This reveals:

Characters that fewer players choose initially.

Builds that outperform expectations later.

No ranking method is perfect, but using actual performance data provides a clearer picture than personal experience alone.

Most Played Characters by Day Two Level 95

Reaching Level 95 quickly shows which characters provide a comfortable early-season experience.

Sage Dominates Early Progression

Sage was the clear leader across all regions.

Around 34% of all day-two Level 95 characters were Sage, showing extremely strong popularity and early performance.

New characters often receive attention at launch, but Sage’s numbers were far beyond normal expectations.

Regional Character Trends

Asia Region

The strongest early characters included:

Sage

Karina 2

Iris 2

Erica 1

Moto 2

Moto 2 was especially popular in Asia.

The reason is likely related to his automation-focused minion gameplay, which works well for players who prefer a more relaxed playstyle.

However, Moto 2 had much lower representation in North America and Europe.

Europe Region

Europe showed a very consistent top group:

Sage

Rosa 2

Thea 1

Erica 1

Iris 2

Rosa 2 nearly matched Sage in popularity.

The European player base has also grown significantly, now competing closely with Asia in high-level activity.

North America Region

North America had fewer total players but similar trends:

Sage

Erica 1

Thea 1

Iris 2

Karina 2

The same characters appeared repeatedly across regions, suggesting these builds had strong overall performance.

Comparing With the Previous War Axe Season

Compared with the previous season, overall player activity remained stable.

Several characters continued to perform well:

Gemma 2 became more noticeable after rework changes.

Yuga 2 remained strong with Mind Control gameplay.

Erica 1 continued her long-term consistency.

Erica 1 has remained reliable through multiple seasons despite balance changes.

Who Clears Supreme Showdown?

Leveling speed does not always represent true endgame power.

The more important question is:

Which characters can actually defeat the hardest content?

Supreme Showdown 20 is considered a major benchmark for build strength.

Supreme Showdown 20 Results

Thea 1

Thea 1 was one of the strongest performers.

Both Asia and Europe reached the 100-clear cap.

Her rework significantly improved her position compared with previous seasons.

Rosa 2

Rosa 2 also performed extremely well.

The main reason was:

Apathy Blade builds.

Although Apathy Blade was later nerfed, Rosa 2 remains powerful through:

Mana stacking.

Fervor stacking.

Supreme Showdown 21 Three-Star Clears

The hardest boss content highlighted three major characters:

Rosa 2

Even before Apathy Blade became popular, Rosa 2 was already capable of clearing difficult content.

Mana stacking became harder after changes, but the character remains highly competitive.

Sage

Sage benefited from multiple strong build options.

The most notable was:

Chromatic Shot.

The new character proved capable of handling high-end content.

Thea 1

Thea 1 also benefited from Chromatic Shot.

Together with Sage, she became one of the strongest spell-focused options.

Yuga 2

Yuga 2 achieved 48 Supreme Showdown 21 clears.

The character remains a strong option thanks to automation-based gameplay.

The Ratio That Reveals Hidden Strong Builds

The most interesting statistic is the relationship between:

Players who started a character.

Players who reached Supreme Showdown clears.

This reveals underrated characters.

Rayhan 1: The Biggest Surprise

Rayhan 1 achieved a 295% starter-to-finisher ratio.

This means:

Few players selected Rayhan 1 initially.

Many players who invested in the character reached endgame success.

This suggests Rayhan 1 is much stronger than its popularity indicates.

Erica 2 and Rosa 1

These characters also showed strong ratios.

Erica 2

Many players avoided Erica 2 because the character is fragile and requires stronger gear.

However, players who invested into the build achieved good results.

Rosa 1

Rosa 1 also performed above expectations compared with its starting player count.

These ratio-based rankings are useful because they reveal strong builds without heavy competition for equipment.

Final Afterlight Season Tier List

Combining:

Early popularity.

Supreme Showdown performance.

Starter-to-finisher ratios.

The Season SS13 rankings become clearer.

Powerful and Popular Tier

Rosa 2

One of the strongest overall characters.

Even after Apathy Blade changes, mana and fervor stacking builds remain highly competitive.

Sage

Extremely strong early and late game.

However, multiple nerfs before the season may reduce its final position slightly.

Thea 1

The rework greatly improved the character.

She moved from a weaker position into a top-tier spell option.

Karina 2

Projectile builds remain extremely effective.

Yuga 2

Mind Control automation provides strong performance and comfortable gameplay.

Rayhan 2

Still powerful despite balance adjustments.

Strong Options Tier

These characters perform well but have less overall popularity:

Erica 1

Iris 2

Rayhan 1

Selena 1

Gemma 2

Moto 2

Advantages:

Good build options.

Less competition for gear.

Easier access to affordable equipment.

Less Played / Off-Meta Tier

These characters are not necessarily weak.

The main issue is:

Fewer updated guides.

Less community testing.

More personal experimentation required.

Players choosing these characters should expect more theorycrafting.

Season SS13 Predictions

Looking forward to the Afterlight season launch on July 16th at 10:00 PM EDT:

Selena 2

As the new character, Selena 2 is expected to become one of the most popular choices.

New releases often receive strong early attention.

Thea 1

Thea 1 should remain a strong spell caster.

Although dream-related changes removed some focus blessing power, new slate systems may compensate.

Karina 2

Projectile builds remain reliable.

Many players will continue choosing Karina 2 because of proven Supreme Showdown performance.

Rosa 2 and Rayhan 2

Neither received enough changes to completely remove them from the top rankings.

If Rosa 2 gear becomes cheaper, more players may return later in the season.

Possible Surprise Picks

Two characters to watch:

Thea 2

The skill revamp may push this character into higher rankings.

Bing 2

The rework and Spell Burst changes could create a stronger position than expected.

Erica 3

Erica 3 received additional nerfs despite already having limited popularity.

This may keep the character in lower tiers.

Final Thoughts

This tier list is not designed to force players into a single choice. Instead, it provides real performance data to help players make better decisions. The strongest and most popular characters are safe choices, but they also create more competition for equipment. Strong but less popular characters can provide similar results with easier gearing. Meanwhile, underrated options such as Rayhan 1 may become valuable discoveries for players willing to experiment.

For players who want to accelerate progression or prepare a specific build faster, buying Torchlight: Infinite Flame Elementium can help reduce early farming time and allow more focus on endgame pushing. Good luck in the Afterlight season, and may your drops be legendary.