It seems the shotgun-wielding Nikkes in Goddess of Victory: NIKKE are losing their edge in the Special Arena, as their pick rates have seen a notable decline. The classic shotgun-focused squad, once a staple of the meta, is effectively crumbling. Players are increasingly swapping out these units for compositions built around specific core Nikkes. With clear signs of a meta shift on the horizon, we have rounded up the status of the Arena for the 4th week of July.

[Meca Ranking] Special Arena Ranker Defense Squad Nikke Pick Rate

※ Based on data from top 10–40 rankers in the Special Arena (Servers 230–250) from July 17 to July 30.
※ Rankings are based on the 'Defense Squad' settings at the time of data collection.
※ Please note that these figures may differ from current live ranker defense setups.

While the very top tier remains relatively stagnant, we have seen a comeback in the Burst 1 category. Both Rosanna and Rumani have clawed back their previous pick rates. After slipping below the 19% mark after a period of 20% relevance, seeing them bounce back is quite a welcome sight for those who stuck by them.

Rosanna excels at purging enemy buffs, while Rumani brings taunts and a boost to allies' normal attack damage multipliers. These skills have secured them an 80% pick rate in the high-stakes Champion Arena, proving their worth. It will be interesting to see if they can replicate this high-tier dominance in the Special Arena.

The downward trend for shotgun Nikkes is also impossible to ignore. Rankers have long relied on squads centered around Treasure Drake, Soda: Twinkling Bunny, Noir, and Sugar. However, in this latest count, heavy hitters like Drake and Bunny Soda have plummeted below 19%. A major meta shift is clearly brewing.

Interestingly, Anis: Sparkling Summer—another shotgun unit—is bucking the trend with a rising pick rate. It is likely due to the recent popularity of specialized squads built around her. Keep an eye on how the Arena meta evolves from here.

We took a look at the defense squad of FAKWEON, who currently sits at 10th in the season group. Having climbed to 8th place three months ago, this ranker has overhauled their shotgun squad while keeping the other two teams intact. Notably, their synchro level has surged by 44 points, leading to a significant power spike.

Let us break down that shotgun squad. The old formation of 'Blanc - Red Hood - Noir - Drake - Sugar' has been replaced with 'Blanc - Little Mermaid - Privaty: Unkind Maid - Noir - Drake'. Swapping out the typical shotgun main dealer, Bunny Soda, for Privaty: Unkind Maid is a bold tactical choice.

The reason for picking Privaty: Unkind Maid likely boils down to burst multipliers; at skill level 10, the burst damage is roughly 400% higher than Bunny Soda's. In the Arena, where every burst counts, this is a calculated trade-off. To support this, FAKWEON has paired the unit with Noir, Treasure Drake, Blanc, and the tier-0 buffer Little Mermaid.

The remaining squads rely on Scarlet and Scarlet: Black Shadow. The Scarlet team is still utilizing Treasure Laplace instead of a dedicated supporter like Trony. Laplace, being a launcher type with high base stats, seems to be a choice to avoid the dreaded combat power penalty, which can lose you a match regardless of how clever your synergy is.

[Meca Ranking] Solo Raid Meta Analysis

The impact of Summer Elegg and Summer Dorothy

The 'Welcoming Kraken' Solo Raid kicks off on July 24 at 12:00 PM, and the boss is weak to Water Code units. Your performance will largely hinge on how well you have developed your Water-type roster. The current pick-up units, Dorothy: Serendipity and Elegg: Boom & Shock, are the ones to watch.

Dorothy: Serendipity is expected to serve as the main DPS, while Elegg: Boom & Shock will likely act as a totem buffer and sub-dealer. Other strong buffers like the treasure-enhanced Privaty, Mast: Romantic Maid, and Anchor: Innocent Maid are also expected to shine. If you can grab Elegg: Boom & Shock, do it—it might just be the key to a high score.

[Meca Ranking] Nikke News

A quick look at equipment status

Have you noticed the 'Equipment Status' feature added in the July 17 summer update? You can now check your current stock of custom modules and manufacturer gear via the Interception menu. Better yet, bosses that drop the gear you are currently missing will flash a red light, making it impossible to miss.

A quick heads-up: this only tracks 'un-equipped' gear. If a Nikke is already wearing the item, it won't show up in your inventory count. It is always worth double-checking your roster before farming more.

[Meca Ranking] User Poll - How much are you willing to invest in the new summer Nikkes?

Last week, we polled you on which new treasure you were prioritizing. Tov took the top spot, likely due to the sheer performance boost provided. Poli came in second, followed by Bay and Julia. Julia is still being evaluated by the community, so perhaps wait for the theory-crafters to weigh in before committing.

With both summer Nikke pick-ups now live, players are scrambling to pull for Dorothy: Serendipity and Elegg: Boom & Shock, given their powerful kits. Miss this chance, and you might be waiting a long time for a rerun. How many gems and tickets are you throwing at them? Let us know, and we will reveal the results in next week's Meca Ranking.