'Goddess of Victory: NIKKE' veteran arena staple 'Scarlet' is starting to see her dominance nibbled away by the newcomer 'Leib'. It is the classic tale of a hard counter entering the scene, isn't it? While it is hardly a freefall, the dip is noticeable enough that top-tier players can no longer afford to ignore Leib's growing presence. With the confirmed update for four new personal items arriving on February 12, we are expecting quite a shake-up in the arena landscape.

Champion Arena Top 64 Ranker Squad NIKKE Pick Rates

※ Based on data from 320 squads belonging to the Top 64 rankers in the 'Champion Arena', active from January 29 to February 11.
※ Please note that the aggregation group changes every season.

Taking a look at the current pick rates for the Champion Arena Season 22, the number of rankers employing Leib has surged from 6 to 18 compared to the previous season. She has firmly cemented her role as the go-to counter to mitigate the damage output of the Electric code NIKKE, Scarlet. It seems commanders are willing to roll the dice on those one-in-five odds, and perhaps sensing this shift, Scarlet’s own pick rate has dipped—she was missing from two squads this time around.

'Soline: Frost Ticket's' pick rate is also on a steady climb, likely because more rankers have finally finished her growth progression. We are also seeing consistent surprise appearances from 'Emma: Tactical Up' and 'Eunhwa: Tactical Up'. I will break down exactly why these choices are popping up in the ranker deck analysis below.

Among the Top 64 qualifiers this season, a player going by the name 雷克思 stands out as the only one utilizing both Emma Tactical Up and Eunhwa Tactical Up. This setup is paired with their squad mate 'Vesti: Tactical Up' (aka 'TactVesti'). It is a rather peculiar concept that rounds out the team with 'Mast' and Leib.

In reality, the entire configuration is a calculated move to amplify TactVesti's firepower. Mast boosts the critical hit rate of the two allies with the highest attack, and by soaking up the passive buffs from Emma and Eunhwa Tactical Up right from the start, TactVesti’s attack and projectile explosion damage skyrocket. As for Leib, she is clearly there as a defensive insurance policy against potential Scarlet matchups.

Furthermore, 雷克思 ditched Scarlet entirely in favor of a composition featuring 'Maudie', 'Personal Item Bay', 'Personal Item Helm', 'Snow White: Innocent Days', and 'Triny'. Players are currently re-evaluating the synergy between Maudie, Bay, and Helm, and it seems this team has real-world legs, especially with Maudie acting as the primary tank while under the invincibility effect provided by Triny. While 雷克思 was knocked out in the Round of 16, we certainly hope to see them pushing higher next season.

Arena Meta Analysis

Is Scarlet being pushed out of the meta?

With the debut of Leib countering the Electric code, Scarlet's standing is undeniably under pressure. In Special Arena, where you can target specific defensive NIKKE, we are seeing repeated reports of Leib successfully breaching Scarlet-led defenses. Some users are asking, 'Does this mean Scarlet is off-tier now?' Hardly. A counter is only effective when growth levels are relatively comparable.

Moreover, the Champion Arena operates on a blind-pick structure; unlike Special Arena, you cannot surgically counter specific units. While Scarlet’s pick rate has dipped, she still boasts a massive 95% usage rate, proving she is still a powerhouse against other compositions. Plus, savvy players have already found ways to bypass Leib by mixing in non-Electric code dealers. Don't rush to bench Scarlet just yet—take a look at your specific group's meta and adjust your deck accordingly.

NIKKE News

NIKKE x Lycoris Recoil

The first collaboration for Goddess of Victory: NIKKE in 2026 has been revealed as the animation 'Lycoris Recoil'. A PV was released on February 5 via the official YouTube channel and the lounge. 'Chisato Nishikigi' will appear as an SMG type, 'Takina Inoue' as an SR type, and 'Kurumi' as an AR type. Detailed skill information will be shared on the official lounge soon. If you are itching to see the PV, be sure to head over to the official NIKKE YouTube channel and the official lounge.

User Poll - Which collaboration character are you most excited about?

We previously held a poll on which NIKKE players were most excited to see receive a personal item. The community's top pick was 'Privaty'. It seems her long history of service to early-game players and her frequent appearances in the story really left an impression. Second place went to Maudie, followed by 'Centi' and 'Zwei'. With the personal item update locked for February 12, all that is left is the wait.

Three characters from Lycoris Recoil are coming to Goddess of Victory: NIKKE, and the reveal of their weapon types has certainly stoked the community's anticipation. Which of these characters are you most curious to see in action? Cast your vote, and we will reveal the results in next week's Meca Ranking.