Goddess of Victory: NIKKE has officially wrapped up Season 15 of the Champion Arena, a period defined by the surprising impact of characters equipped with Treasures. Poli and Bay, who received their upgrades in the summer, really made their presence felt. With Season 15 in the rearview mirror, the community is already shifting its focus. Two new Pilgrims are entering the fray, and as players stress-test them in the Special Arena, the chatter about their potential in PvP is hitting a fever pitch.

Pick rate for NIKKE among top-tier contenders reaching the Champion Arena quarter-finals

※ Based on data from 40 squads used by rankers who reached the quarter-finals between October 23 and November 5.
※ Please note that the grouping for data collection changes every season.

The most glaring trend in the Season 15 quarter-finals was the surge of Treasure-equipped NIKKE. Helm, Drake, Laplace, Poli, Viper, and Bay were everywhere. It is quite a feat that Poli and Bay—the most recent recipients of Treasures—were slotted into squads so quickly. While Poli's pick rate remains a bit volatile, Bay has comfortably settled at 50%. When over half of the top 8 players are running a unit, you know the performance is legitimate. Meanwhile, Soda: Twinkling Bunny (hereafter Bunny Soda) is holding strong with a pick rate exceeding 90%. Despite some fluctuations compared to Drake, she remains the definitive shotgun-deck main DPS.

Looking at the broader meta, 3-Burst units were the undisputed favourites for the Season 15 top 8. We actually saw seven different NIKKE hit a 100% pick rate. At the lower end, Ade is steadily climbing, consistently picked by at least two players. As for the 1-Burst slot, Soda seems to be cementing her status as a staple, with at least one top-tier player choosing her in every high-stakes match.

Let’s take a look at the squad of Ize-ren, who reached the finals. They ran a shotgun deck featuring Bunny Soda and Treasure Poli, a squad with Treasure Bay and Vesti: Tactical Up (hereafter Tacti), and a team utilizing Cinderella and Mihara: Bonding Chain. It is a pity they narrowly missed the title after a 2-3 loss in a grueling five-match series.

The matches were a relentless back-and-forth. We saw Tacti vs. Tacti mirrors and even Red Hood vs. Red Hood showdowns. Unfortunately, Ize-ren dropped these specific mirror matches. The opponent’s Red Hood setup was particularly clever, using Mast to squeeze out every drop of firepower. Ize-ren tried to counter with Anis and Centi for a faster Burst trigger, but the raw power of the opponent’s Red Hood was simply too much to overcome. Still, climbing from the round of 16 all the way to the finals is a hell of a showing, and expectations are high for next season.

Arena Meta Analysis

Are Nayuta and Liberylio viable in the Arena?

Players are currently buzzing about the performance of the 3rd-anniversary Pilgrims, Liberylio and Nayuta. They are living up to the Pilgrim name with stellar output. As everyone looks toward content where Wind-code weaknesses can be exploited, the natural question is: 'Can they hold their own in the Arena?'

Nayuta uses an SMG, and Liberylio wields a sniper rifle—both solid choices for Arena play. Nayuta brings Indomitability, equalized healing, and an AOE Burst, making her a strong contender. Experimental data suggests Liberylio’s Burst generation is on par with Helm, which is significant. It looks like a fresh breeze is blowing through the stagnant Arena meta. We expect to see their true potential fully realized in the upcoming Champion Arena Season 16.

NIKKE News

Information on offline events is being rolled out

The offline event details teased during the 3rd-anniversary stream are finally dropping. On November 1, we saw the call for AGF 2025 cosplayers, and on November 4, orchestra ticket sales went live—selling out completely by 8:00 PM. Details regarding the AGF event in December will be announced later, and cosplayer applications remain open until November 23. Check the official lounge and BlaBla for all the nitty-gritty details.

User Poll - Nayuta vs. Liberylio: Who should I pull for first?

We ran a poll last time about 3rd-anniversary content. The clear winner? The three new Pilgrims. It seems the community is head-over-heels for Nayuta, Liberylio, and the freebie Chime. Second place went to the 3rd-anniversary story event. Part 2 dropped on November 6, and the narrative twists have been even more shocking than Part 1. Everyone is waiting with bated breath for the epilogue on November 13. Third place went to Main Story chapters 41 and 42.

With Liberylio’s recruitment now live, all 3rd-anniversary Pilgrims are in the game. As Pilgrims are notoriously hard to pull, many are strategizing their resources carefully. Objectively, both are must-haves, but we know your gacha funds aren't infinite. Who are you prioritizing in this banner? Cast your vote, and we will reveal the results in next week’s Meca Ranking.