Starting your journey in Warborne: Above Ashes and wondering which Drifter to choose first? You’ll begin with one core character, but soon after, you’ll get a choice between several powerful options from the Strength (STR), Agility (AGI), and Intelligence (INT) archetypes.
Here’s a full breakdown of each available Drifter, ranked from best to least effective — along with tips on who they’re best suited for.
🥇 Top Recommendation: Solenne (INT)
Role: AoE Healer & Team Buffer
Why choose Solenne? She’s the most universally useful Drifter in both PvE and PvP. Her healing and buffing toolkit makes her a core pick for Warbands and sustained fights.
- Bond of Light: Chain-heals up to 8 allies with strong uptime.
- Light’s Echo: Buffs healing and magic damage for the group.
- Great for: New players, team players, defensive and objective-based PvP.
🥈 Second Pick: Varnax (STR)
Role: Frontline Initiator Bruiser
Why choose Varnax? He’s perfect for players who love jumping into the fight. High CC, disruption, and AoE makes him a menace in group fights and faction warfare.
- Magma Slam: Leaps into enemies and creates burst CC.
- Seismic Impact: AoE knockdown and burn after hard CC.
- Great for: Aggressive playstyles, frontline anchor roles, ZvZ combat.
🥉 Third Pick: Raven (INT)
Role: Debuff & Disruption Mage
Why choose Raven? He’s an anti-support caster who excels at disrupting healers, stripping buffs, and denying stealth-based strategies. Tricky, but rewarding.
- Raven’s Gaze: AoE silence + vision reveal.
- Dispel Matrix: Removes buffs and applies resist debuffs.
- Great for: Experienced players, group PvP, anti-healer roles.
4. Kyra (STR)
Role: Frost Control Mage (Tanky Caster)
Why choose Kyra? Her control effects are powerful in coordinated fights. She lacks burst but excels at zoning enemies and setting up combos.
- Frozen Maelstrom: Freeze zone with delayed explosion.
- Shattered Ice: Resistance shred and AoE damage.
- Great for: Objective defense, zoning play, Veinhold arenas.
5. Umbra (AGI)
Role: Stealth Skirmisher
Why choose Umbra? Ideal for hit-and-run play. Her passive stealth and movement buffs make her hard to track and excellent at picking off targets.
- Shadowform: Gain stealth when idle and unhurt.
- Phase Step: Instant reposition with damage boost.
- Great for: Experienced players, solo gankers, map control.
6. Aegis (STR)
Role: Defensive Tank & Utility
Why choose Aegis? Offers great survivability and can provide team shields and resist buffs, but lacks mobility and offensive pressure.
- Shield Wall: AoE resist + block stance.
- Sanctified Ground: Heal zone + CC resist aura.
- Great for: Defensive players, static fights, Driftmark defense.
7. Overdrive (AGI)
Role: Speed Duelist
Why choose Overdrive? High mobility and combo potential, but squishy and difficult to master. Great pick for those who enjoy fast-paced combat and duels.
- Overclock: Gain speed and attack rate after skill use.
- Chargebreaker: Gap closer that stuns briefly.
- Great for: Skilled duelists, PvP arenas, mobility mains.
8. Izzy (STR)
Role: DoT Caster Bruiser
Why choose Izzy? Focuses on acid zones and attrition-based damage. Powerful over time, but lacks burst and control.
- Acid Blast: Creates overlapping ooze zones with DoT.
- Mutate: Self-buff for damage + healing amp.
- Great for: PvE, niche PvP roles, combo builds.
9. Moonveil (INT)
Role: Mirror Mage / Trickster
Why choose Moonveil? Fun and deceptive, but difficult to execute. She uses illusions and clones to confuse enemies — but needs experience and awareness to shine.
- Mirror Dance: Creates clones that deal reduced damage.
- Veilstep: Teleport swap with clone.
- Great for: Creative players, outplay specialists, mind-game duels.
🧠 Final Tips
- Pick Solenne if you want guaranteed group utility and PvE safety.
- Choose Varnax if you like brawling on the frontlines.
- Try Raven if you enjoy shutting down enemy supports and disrupting strategies.
No choice is truly wrong — but some are definitely easier or stronger to start with. Use this guide to pick your path and dominate the Total War Test with your first Drifter!
