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For Global players, a useful September 2026 starting shortlist is [Savor the Melt] Satoru Gojo, [Heaven-Piercing Strike] Yuji Itadori, [The Golden Age of Cursed Techniques] Noritoshi Kamo, [Executioner] Yuta Okkotsu, and [Nexus Guardian] Masamichi Yaga. Pocket Gamer places these exact variants in S tier in its list updated September 2, 2026, for version 3.6.2. That is an editorial ranking, not an official game tier list—and it is not a reason to invest in a different card of the same character.
For your account, first strengthen a compact team that covers damage and support; add defensive utility when a stage calls for it. Prioritize useful cards you already own, and check the exact variant and server availability before planning around a ranking or future banner.
Which characters should a beginner consider first?
Use the following as a shortlist to assess against your roster, not as a universal order of investment. Pocket Gamer’s September 2, 2026 list identifies these variants as S tier for version 3.6.2:
- [Savor the Melt] Satoru Gojo
- [Heaven-Piercing Strike] Yuji Itadori
- [The Golden Age of Cursed Techniques] Noritoshi Kamo
- [Executioner] Yuta Okkotsu
- [Nexus Guardian] Masamichi Yaga
Pocket Gamer’s tier list is a dated snapshot of its editorial assessment. It does not establish an official ranking or prove that every account should prioritize these cards.
Why the full card variant matters
In Phantom Parade, a character name alone is not enough to identify a ranking recommendation. A guide may rate one Gojo or Yuji card differently from another version of that character. Match the complete variant name in a list to the card shown in your roster before spending upgrade resources.
#1 Best Overall
- A Good Smile Company import
- From the popular anime series
- Measures approximately 6.9” tall
- Be sure to add her to your collection
Also check which edition the guide covers. Gacha Go’s September 2026 ranking follows the Japanese version and ranks cards for manual play. Japan is described as roughly a year ahead of Global, and some cards on that list may not yet be available on Global. Its placement should not be treated as a current Global recommendation without checking your server and the card’s availability.
Build around team roles, not a tier label
A practical early team needs damage and support coverage; defensive utility is useful when the stage demands it. Mobi.gg’s July 28, 2026 guide provides role context, naming Satoru Gojo (The Strongest Blue) as damage, Momo Nishimiya (Don’t Underestimate Me) as support, and Saki Rindo (Heart’s Resolve) as a tank. Those examples are not the same variants as every card in the September S-tier shortlist, and the July guide predates the September lists.
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Rank #2
- A Good Smile Company import
- From the popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen
- Features Megumi Fushiguro in a strong standing pose
- Measures approximately 6.9” tall
Compare the cards you actually own by the job your team needs filled:
- Damage: Does the card give your current team a needed offensive option?
- Support: Does it contribute utility that complements your damage dealers?
- Survival: Are you struggling to keep the team standing through a stage?
- Availability and fit: Is the exact variant on your server, and does it help with the stage or mode you are playing?
Mobi.gg’s role and tier guide is useful for understanding those roles, but its date and scope differ from the later lists. Do not merge the guides’ tiers into a single consensus ranking.
Rank #3
- A Good Smile Company import
- From the popular anime series
- Measures approximately 6.7” tall
- Be sure to add her to your collection
Who should you invest in first on your account?
- Identify the exact cards you own. Record full variant names, not just character names, and use rankings only when the variant matches.
- Choose a compact core. Invest first in a small group that can carry progression while covering damage and support. Add defensive utility if the stages you are attempting expose a survival problem.
- Favor useful cards already available to you. A highly ranked card you do not own—or one unavailable on your server—is not an immediate investment target. Fit matters more than chasing a theoretical list placement.
- Check the live game before spending scarce materials. Upgrade terminology and systems can change; confirm requirements and costs in the current UI.
There is no evidence here that supports one universal beginner pick, a guaranteed best reroll target, or a paid pull as necessary. The official game site describes Phantom Parade as a free-to-play RPG with in-app purchases and invites players to “Format your own team and exorcise powerful Cursed Spirits.” That describes the game, not a recommended spending strategy. Official game site.
How to spend upgrade resources without spreading them too thin
A community-maintained beginner’s guide, marked as a work in progress, describes these upgrade routes:
Rank #4
- A Good Smile Company import
- From the popular anime Jujutsu Kaisen
- An interchangeable head part to display him without his mask is included
- Measures approximately 7.3” tall
- Be sure to add him to your collection
- Character levels: EXP materials and JP.
- Grade progression: cursed objects and JP.
- Skill levels: Cursed Crystals.
- Limit breaks: duplicates or universal stones.
Use this as community guidance rather than a definitive or official mechanics reference. Check the current game UI for the exact names, requirements, and costs, and focus routine materials on the small core you chose. Because limit breaks rely on duplicates or universal stones in that guide, avoid spending those scarce resources casually on cards you do not expect to keep using.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read rankings without mixing incompatible advice
Tier lists can differ because they cover different dates, regions, play styles, and criteria. Pocket Gamer supplies a Global-facing version number (3.6.2) and update date; Gacha Go specifies Japan and manual play; Mobi.gg’s role guide was updated earlier, in July. These sources help answer different questions, so one guide’s tier should not be presented as a direct confirmation of another’s.
Best Value
- A Good Smile Company import
- From the popular anime and manga series
- Recreated in a strong standing pose
- Interchangeable head part to display possessed form included
- Each Pop Up Parade figure typically stands around 7-8" in height
Before acting on a list, check four things: its update date, version or server, exact card variant, and the mode or play style it evaluates. If any of those do not match your account, treat the ranking as context rather than a directive.
Quick Recap
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