'Goddess of Victory: NIKKE' Champion Arena group stage finals saw an intriguing battle. The 2026 New Year Pilgrim, 'Snow White: Heavy Arms' (hereinafter referred to as 'Snow White'), pulled a stunt that would make Zhang Fei proud at Changban Bridge. Standing as the last one breathing, she wiped out the entire enemy squad of five in a display of overwhelming firepower. It truly proved the majesty of the 'Pilgrim' tag, the hallmark of top-tier NIKKEs.

Champion Arena Top 8 Ranker Squad NIKKE Pick Rates

※ Based on data from 40 squads of rankers who reached the Top 8 in the 'Champion Arena', active from January 15 to January 28.
※ Please note that the aggregation group changes every season.

Here is the current state of the Top 8 NIKKE pick rates for Champion Arena Season 21. Among the top 8, we spotted 3 rankers utilizing 'Label'. While a bit of matchmaking luck played a role, the current trend shows these units are still relying on previously nurtured NIKKEs to do the heavy lifting. Unless your opponent isn't running 'Scarlet', it is quite a challenge for Label to flip a match single-handedly. We'll have to watch her performance a bit longer.

Meanwhile, the 3rd-anniversary unit 'Nayuta' has hit a 100% pick rate for the first time among the Top 8. Since her debut, she has been a staple in shotgun compositions, thriving on her immortality mechanics. 'Solin: Frost Ticket' is also seeing a steady rise in usage among rankers reaching the Top 8. Conversely, 'Liberalio', who launched alongside Nayuta, has seen her pick rate decline compared to last season.

In the Season 21 group final, two rankers utilizing Label faced off, though neither was matched against a Scarlet deck. As mentioned, the victory often comes down to the supporting cast. The runner-up, Tae-heo, paired Label with 'Cinderella'.

The final result was a 'Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss-Win' sequence, failing to secure the championship. The first and second bouts were nail-biters lost by the slimmest of margins, but the third match, a shotgun deck mirror match, was a one-sided affair. The only difference in the lineup was Tae-heo running 'Anne: Miracle Fairy' while the opponent utilized Nayuta. The result? A total wipeout, courtesy of Nayuta's immortality hard-carry.

Furthermore, in the first battle, the opponent's Snow White put on an incredible show. Tae-heo's Liberalio managed to wipe out everything except Snow White in the first burst, but thanks to Blanc's immortality buff, Snow White survived. What followed was a one-sided slaughter. Snow White's signature high-damage AoE wiped the floor with Tae-heo's squad, leaving even defensive stalwarts like 'Mogdan' and 'Noah' helpless. It was a stark reminder of her raw power. It is a shame it ended in a runner-up finish, but here is hoping for a win next time.

Arena Meta Analysis

2026's First 'Treasures'

Ever since their introduction, 'Treasures' have been the feature Commanders look forward to annually, serving as a massive turning point for performance re-evaluations. It is essentially a gateway that can turn a forgotten unit into an S-tier powerhouse overnight. In the first developer note of 2026, the four lucky recipients were finally revealed.

The NIKKEs receiving these upgrades are Mogdan, 'Centi', 'Zwei', and 'Privaty'. For PvP enthusiasts, the inclusion of Mogdan and Centi is fantastic news. Privaty, once considered an essential unit in the early game, has fallen behind due to power creep, while Zwei has struggled to find a spot in the crowded Burst 1 lineup.

These 'Treasures' are scheduled for the February update. As actual performance remains a mystery until the release, rumors are running rampant. The community is already buzzing with discourse, so join the conversation and let us wait for February. Depending on how Mogdan and Centi turn out, we might see a seismic shift in the Arena meta.

NIKKE News

NIKKE Exhibition Tickets On Sale Now

On January 23, ticket sales for the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE exhibition, 'NIKKE 2nd Exhibition BIG THREE IN THE ARK', officially kicked off. You can visit the event at AK PLAZA Hongdae, 3rd floor, in Seoul, South Korea. The exhibition runs from February 12 to April 12. You can choose between a standard ticket or one bundled with limited-edition merchandise, including special staff ID badges. Interested? Head over to the 'Melon Ticket' website to grab yours. Further details are available on the ticketing page.

User Poll - Which of the 4 'Treasures' are you most excited about?

Last time, we held a poll on which NIKKE players wanted to see as a maid for 2026. 'Velvet' took the top spot. In truth, news of Velvet's release dropped over the weekend after the poll started, so it was common knowledge, but some Commanders cast their votes before the announcement—talk about sharp instincts! Viper and Liter took 2nd and 3rd place, respectively; better luck next year to those who picked them.

As mentioned, we have revealed the four NIKKEs getting 'Treasures'. It is a split between those who are currently used and those who aren't. Commanders are buzzing about how their performance will change. Which NIKKE do you think will receive the best 'Treasure'? Cast your vote, and we will reveal the results in next week's Meca Ranking.