Beyond Nen Nen Ability Tier List
All 15 Hatsu ranked, plus Affinity and Technique boards for the November 2026 meta.
Nen Ability (your Hatsu) is the sharpest edge of a Beyond Nen build. Race percentages and lineage modes matter, but the kit you roll after meditation and the Hunter Exam path decides whether you break guard, extend combos, or struggle to start a string. This page ranks all 15 Hatsu, then the six Affinities and seven Techniques, using the November 2026 consensus shared across Destructoid, Pro Game Guides, and related boards. Pair it with How to Get Nen, Lineages, Races, and Leveling so the unlock order matches the ranks.
Unlock flow in short: finish early story steps, meditate and receive Affinity plus a Hatsu roll, then invest Technique nodes as you level. Odds for specific Mythical kits are not fully published; treat Godspeed and Jajanken as chase rolls and learn the A-tier tools you actually own.
Hatsu tier list (15 abilities)
S tier — meta kits
Godspeed (Transmutation, Mythical). The safest S pick for many PvP players. Lightning Palm opens, Thunder Bolt closes, and both threaten guard breaks. Speed of Lightning (often ~30 seconds) rewards successful dodges with reposition tools, and Raging Whirlwind / whirlwind counters can be unblockable or unparryable depending on the move. Hyperarmor dashes and air launches make Godspeed hard to punish. It also plays well in PvE when you need to stick to a boss without eating every telegraph. If you only keep one Mythical Transmutation kit, keep this.
Jajanken (Enhancement, Mythical). The burst specialist. Rock and Paper finish strings; Scissors extends and breaks guard so you can cash out. Pure Rage (duration and numbers vary by guide—often a short empowered window on a long cooldown around five minutes) is a planned fight button, not a panic press. Compared with Big Bang Impact, Jajanken usually feels faster and less windup-heavy, which is why many lists call it the cleaner Enhancement nuke.
Big Bang Impact (Enhancement, Legendary). The reliable Enhancement string that does not need a transformation to function. Impact Train and Ground Shatter can open or end combos, Skull Breaker extends and is widely called unparryable, and Fist of Destruction adds multi-tick damage. Windups and range can make some tools awkward in high-level PvP, but PvE DPS is excellent when you can land the full kit. Keep BBI even if you someday chase Jajanken—Legendary Enhancement this strong is never trash.
A tier — excellent alternatives
Arrow (Emission, Legendary). Ranged control and elemental arrows, including healing utility on some boards. Ice Arrow guard-break range notes pushed Arrow into S on a few lists; we keep it A in the broad consensus while calling it the best pure ranged keep.
Toolbox (Conjuration, Uncommon). Punching above rarity. Wrench Assault and related tools include unparryable or heavy guard-break pressure. A fantastic “I rolled Uncommon and I am still happy” kit.
Ripper Cyclotron (Enhancement, Rare). Chargeable Ripper tools and a Pummeling finisher that breaks guard. Reads as a lighter Big Bang Impact—perfectly fine, just outscaled by the S Enhancement pair.
Rising Sun (Transmutation, Extraordinary). Sun stun cancels enemy moves and shines in multi-target chaos. Tick damage is not the star; the interrupt and secondary hits are. Strong A for players who value disruption over raw race-down speed.
Crazy Slots (Conjuration, Extraordinary). High skill ceiling. Roulette weapons (Scythe / Gun / Wand style kits) and strong M1 routes reward practice. Some early lists floated it near S; most November roundups settle it in A because consistency demands lab time.
B tier — usable, niche, or lower ceiling
Paper Manipulation (Manipulation, Legendary). High damage when you aim freely (often better without shiftlock), but Manipulation trees carry awkward cooldowns and several moves can be parried. Legendary rarity does not equal S power here.
Aura Corruption (Specialization). Strong in older contexts, heavily nerfed in current notes. Still has guard breaks and heal tools (Aura Rot style), but many skills are combo enders, so starting pressure is harder.
Super Attack (Enhancement, Uncommon). Gut Punch / Super Punch / Super Smash all threaten guard breaks with short cooldowns, yet damage sits below Ripper and the S Enhancement kits.
Boost (Specialization, Rare). Damage amp support without a full direct-hit identity. Fine on weapon builds that already have starters; poor as a solo carry kit.
Enchanting Music (Manipulation, Rare). Sleep or stun utility (short lockouts) for niche PvP setups. Situational by design.
C tier — weak or high-maintenance
Earth Sludge (Transmutation, Common). Official letter on most consensus boards is C, but some players argue it higher. Poison M1s that ignore parts of Nen defense and pool skills that stack DoT can look excellent on a dedicated Nen poison route—Destructoid even parked it in A during early testing. If you enjoy the kit and already invested Technique nodes, do not shame-reroll it until you have a real S replacement; just know the community average still rates Fan Beam and Sludge at the bottom for general play.
Fan Beam (Emission, Common). Long windups make hits hard in PvP. Last moves can salvage PvE, but almost every list ends here. Reroll when you can.
Affinity tier list
Affinities gate which Hatsu trees and neighbor skills you open.
| Tier | Affinity | Why |
|---|---|---|
| S | Enhancement | Defense buff, full tree, access toward Transmutation and Emission neighbors; home of Jajanken and Big Bang Impact |
| S | Transmutation | Power buff, full tree, neighbors into Enhancement and Conjuration; home of Godspeed |
| A | Emission | Stamina lean and ranged kits built around Arrow |
| A | Conjuration | Utility and bind tools; Crazy Slots / Toolbox live here |
| B | Manipulation | Crowd control and stuns; Paper and Music sit lower on Hatsu boards |
| B | Specialization | Hybrid learning across trees; Boost and Aura Corruption need more from the rest of the build |
If you care about meta Hatsu, Enhancement and Transmutation are the affinities worth celebrating. Specialization’s flexibility is real, but it does not automatically grant an S kit.
Technique tier list
Techniques are the stance and aura fundamentals you layer on top of Hatsu.
| Tier | Technique | Role |
|---|---|---|
| S | Ten | Balanced strength, stamina, and durability—the default always-on shell |
| S | Ryu | Stance switch between strength-leaning and defense-leaning allocations |
| A | Shu | Large weapon damage investment for M1 and armed kits |
| A | Ken | Major durability with supporting strength and stamina |
| B | Ko | Single-hit strength burst—great cash-out, poor as a permanent stance |
| B | Zetsu | Aura hide versus players not using Gyo |
| B | Gyo | Reveals Zetsu users and Nen-covered objects |
New players should prioritize Ten and learn Ryu once fights last long enough to warrant stance swaps. Weapon mains add Shu; turtling PvP adds Ken. Ko is a button, not a lifestyle. Zetsu and Gyo matter more as the lobby skill level rises.
Build pairing tips
- Godspeed + Celestial + Zoldyck or Kurta: Nen mobility and damage with a race that actually buffs Nen.
- Jajanken or Big Bang Impact + Cyborg + Netero: Enhancement fists with durability and a long defensive-offensive mode.
- Arrow + Emission + Freecss: Ranged grind route while the EXP perk levels you through Leveling breakpoints.
- Toolbox or Rabbit weapon route: Prove you can win without Mythical luck, then spend codes spins on lineage and Hatsu upgrades.
Always finish the unlock path in How to Get Nen before judging a kit. A Common Fan Beam on a confused account feels worse than the same player’s later Crazy Slots after they understand parry timing.
Reroll and investment advice
- Master whatever Hatsu you own for a full session before spending premium spins.
- Reroll Fan Beam freely; Earth Sludge only after you decide you dislike the poison gameplan.
- Keep any S kit forever. Keep A kits unless you are specifically chasing Godspeed or Jajanken with surplus currency.
- Affinity rerolls (if available in your build of the game) should favor Enhancement or Transmutation when you want meta Hatsu access.
- Re-check this page and the Tier List Hub after balance patches—guard-break ranges and mode durations move letters fast.
Nen is the fantasy fantasy of Beyond Nen, but the ranked reality is simple: Godspeed, Jajanken, and Big Bang Impact win the most fair fights, Enhancement and Transmutation open those doors, and Ten plus Ryu keep your aura honest while you grow. Everything else is a valid story—just know which letter you are signing up for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common Beyond Nen questions.
What is the best Nen ability in Beyond Nen?
Godspeed, Jajanken, and Big Bang Impact share S tier. Godspeed excels at pressure and defense, Jajanken at burst, and Big Bang Impact at reliable Enhancement strings without a transform.
Which Affinity should I want?
Enhancement and Transmutation are S tier. Emission and Conjuration are strong A options for ranged or utility play. Manipulation and Specialization need more help from the rest of the build.
Are Ten and Ryu really the best techniques?
Yes for most players. Ten is the balanced baseline and Ryu lets you shift offense and defense. Shu and Ken are the best specialized A picks.
Is Earth Sludge actually C tier?
Consensus boards place it in C, but some players argue it higher because poison M1s and pools punish Nen defense. Keep it if you like the kit; reroll if you want a generalist meta Hatsu.
How do I unlock Nen abilities?
Follow the How to Get Nen guide after the early exam and meditation steps. You receive an Affinity and Hatsu roll; techniques unlock and improve as you level.