The Best S-Rank Constructs In Punishing: Gray Raven, Ranked

Set in a post-apocalyptic universe in which the Punishing Virus has driven mankind to extinction, Kuro Games’ Punishing: Raven is an action-adventure hack-and-slash game that has become a favorite among gacha fans. Not only does the game deliver some thrillingly epic combat, but it also features a storyline and characters that are nothing short of outstanding.

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Punishing: Gray Raven’s characters come in two ranks: A and S. While A-rank Constructs are free, S-ranks are often not. Think of them like VIPs who are among some of the most coveted in the game. However, fortunately for fans, the game throws in a free S selection now and then, packed with year-one units. It’s the perfect boost for newcomers to find their footing and for seasoned players to power up their characters even more with the help of incredibly powerful S-rank Constructs in Punishing: Gray Raven.

Here are the best S-rank constructs in Punishing: Gray Raven, ranked.

Updated January 6, 2025, by Zainab Kaifi: The roster of the best S-rank characters in Punishing: Gray Raven just leveled up with two electrifying new additions to the global lineup. Watanabe – Epitaph, the strongest fire tank, first set the fandom ablaze with his Chinese debut on September 28, 2023, and finally made his global debut on October 31, 2024. In the meantime, Qu – Shukra has irrefutably shaken up the power dynamics in the Ice team with her global release in December 2024, firmly establishing herself as the reigning champion of S-Rank in the game with her debut. In short, fans couldn’t ask for better additions to boost their teams in 2025, so this is definitely the best time to pull them.

12

Vera – Garnet

Deals Massive DMG And Reduces Enemy Resistance

Vera – Garnet, a Lightning Tank type is the perfect choice to kick things off. For starters, she’s got a pretty fascinating signature weapon in her arsenal: a banner spear called the Phoenix that amps up her Lightning damage. Mix in a Signature Move like the Shine Piercer, which deals 750% Lightning DMG, and players have an S-rank character that can slice right through enemies’ Lightning Resistance and Super Armor.

Vera’s charge attack, Garnet, is a real crowd-pleaser—literally. It pulls in a whole bunch of enemies, showcasing her top-notch crowd subjugation skills. As she rakes in those Lightning charge stacks with her normal strike, her charge assault cranks up the power, yanking all her foes into one tidy little spot for her fellow Constructs to attack.

So for anyone looking to maximize the potential of this amazing S-rank, don’t forget to team her up with Bianca – Veritas or SSS-Rank Selena – Tempest to really pack a punch.

11

Ayla – Kaleido

Amplifies Teammates’ Performance And Deals High DMG In A Short Time

The Ice Team got a much-needed upgrade with Ayla – Kaleido, an Ice Amplifier stepping in to fill Wanshi’s shoes. Now while she might be an Amplifier only, she leaves her comrades, Lucia: Plume and Chrome: Glory, in the dust when it comes to some a dazzling display of damage dealt.

The best part of this specific frame is that Ayla’s adorable and iconic flair is kept intact while proving it still can hold its own against even the most battle-hardened frames. In fact, it may even outshine Brilliance in every conceivable way when it comes to warfare as it can handle most ground conflicts like a pro.

With her trusty Bean Gunlance in hand, Ayle – Kaleido can unleash a–frankly frightening– frosty damage, delivering a damning 1100% Ice DMG to her enemies in her iconic Signature Move, the Omnichromatic World!, while simultaneously triggering her Time Lag Calculation. To put it simply, Ayla – Kaleido is one of the best S-rank Constructs on the Ice team, and that’s definitely no small feat.

10

Karenina – Scire

Deals High DMG Along With Reducing Enemies’ Resistance

A Dark Tank type, Karenina – Scire is great at two things: dealing mind-blowing damage swiftly, and reducing her enemies’ Resistance like it’s child’s play. When it comes to Punishing: Gray Raven’s most powerful S-rank Constructs, Karenina takes the crown as the first to unleash Dark Element damage at a 100% rate. That’s difficult to top.

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Now, perhaps the most interesting aspect of this specific frame is it was created by Karenina to thrive in the Moon’s low-gravity atmosphere. The heart of the power system boasts a sleek miniaturized gravitation device, giving players the thrill of short-term air mobility that they won’t find elsewhere.

But the best part of this S-rank Construct is her knack for swiftly launching her Signature Move, the Starshatter Horizon. This move rapidly knocks her enemies down a peg with her blast hammer, stirring up a storm of chaos and expertly triggering her Time Lag Calculation, all while stacking an impressive 1200% Dark DMG.

9

Liv – Empyrea

Enhances Teammates And Deals Massive DMG Quickly

Think of Liv – Empyrea as the upgraded and bolder version of a Support Construct. With her impressive attacking and healing abilities and skills, Liv – Empyrea makes it a breeze for newbie players to snag a win. Liv – Empyrea can definitely deal incredible damage with her Burst skill, but that’s just a warm-up compared to her Signature Move, the Sea of Sangharama, where she deals 1000% AOE Fire DMG on a massive scale.

Interestingly, Liv – Empyrea stands out as an S-rank for one really compelling reason: she boasts a unique frame that can “purify” the Punishing Virus. In theory, she can soak up the Punishing Virus and zap it away with the Omega Weapon tucked inside its frame. Sounds cool? It gets better.

To sweeten the deal, this frame comes with some seriously powerful wings that keep it soaring smoothly, even when cranked up to high power. They can whip up a shield whenever the moment calls for it which is pretty much always in this game.

8

Lee – Hyperreal

Deals Massive DMG And Casts 3-Ping Skill Rapidly

Lee – Hyperreal is set to dominate as the ultimate Fire Attacker for at least another year—if not longer. Believe it or not, a reliable fire attacker is absolutely essential for the Fire Team. Lee – Hyperreal boasts fantastic team synergy, keeps the gameplay lively, and can dish out damage even when he’s chilling off-field. But the real showstopper about Lee – Hyperreal is his jaw-dropping specialty: Combo. With this move, he can fire off the 3-Ping Skill at breakneck speed, delivering a serious smackdown in the blink of an eye.

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Not only that but his special Signature Move, Hyper Bust, can deliver anything from 700% to 4400% Fire DMG, triggering his Time Lag Calculation simultaneously. So for anyone looking for the ultimate Fire squad, Lee – Hyperreal is a superb choice, especially when paired with Liv – Empyrea and Nanami – Starfarer. Because this trio promises an experience that’s nothing short of unforgettable.

7

Alisa – Echo

Amplifies Teammates’ Performance And Deals High DMG

Alisa – Echo is one-of-a-kind because she’s the sole Physical Amplifier and the ultimate pick for the Physical team’s meta moving forward. In her debut, Alisa paired up brilliantly with the fiery Bianca – Stigmata and the steadfast Rosetta – Rigor. In fact, the entire Physical team is a total game-changer for free-to-play players, packed with goodies that really put it in the spotlight of the meta.

On that note, Harmonization is the dazzling new gem that Alisa’s patch brings to the table. Put simply, a Construct’s Signature weapon gives players the chance to stack two extra memories, allowing them to score the four-set bonus from not just one, but two memory sets. Alisa’s meta Construct is a brilliant mix of four distinct memories and four Da Vinci pieces, highlighting her talent for this function. And don’t overlook her Signature Move, the Celestial Edge, which cases out no less than 2660% Physical DMG in total when she’s teaming up with Cecily.

6

No. 21 – Feral

Deals A Lot Of DMG Along With Amplifying Teammates’

No. 21 – Feral is a Lightning Amplifier that’s got a fresh frame to keep No. 21’s M.I.N.D. on lock. Now, here’s the thing about No.21 – Feral that shocked and delighted fans in equal measure. Her frame is a wonderfully unique build that fuses human-like features with some seriously cool bionic animal vibes. And to keep No.21’s fierce attack game strong, Punishing: Gray Raven cranked up her new frame’s durability, weapon power, and maneuverability to a hundred.

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With her Burst ability, she can unleash a whirlwind of damage in zero time flat. And just like her Signature Move implies, the Sky-splitting Arcflash deals a stunning 3000% Lightning DMG with a Time Lag Calculation on top of all that.

5

Bianca – Stigmata

Easily Switches To Her Burst Form To Launch Powerful Attacks

Bianca – Stigmata, an incredibly powerful Physical Attacker, leaves all previous Constructs in the dust, and it’s easy to see why. Her skills are off the charts—no other attacker even comes close. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration that thanks to Bianca – Stigmata’s addition, the Physical team has leveled up to become one of the best in Punishing: Gray Raven.

Right now, even with just a basic setup and a shiny 5-star weapon, she’s the ultimate powerhouse character when it comes to physical attacks. Not only can she cause serious damage with her Burst ability (being an Attacker and all that) but she’s also got this awesome Form Switch skill that lets her flip from a Sword form to her Staff form and back.

Plus, her Signature Move, the Blade Abyss packs a punch just like the rest of her arsenal, letting her trigger Time Lag Calculation and deal over 600% Physical DMG to her target. So, she’s definitely a smart pick for players to pour resources into—whether they’re eyeing her Signature Move or planning to boost her to SS3 or beyond.

4

Lamia – Lost Lullaby

Switches Quickly From Attack Mode To Signature Move

Chapter 15 introduced the crafty boss, Lamia, who is a Dark Attacker type. Her enormous fishtail, exceptional camouflage abilities, and stellar effectiveness in underwater combat earned her the title of Ascendant.

Thanks to Luna’s improvements to Lamia’s frame, Lamia – Lullaby now possesses the unique appearance of the first and only Atlantis-altered S-rank Construct. Lamia’s new frame, which is an enhancement of her previous frame, possesses Ascendant abilities and may easily transform between her human and mermaid forms.

As if that wasn’t enough, her special ability lets her transition between Attack Mode and her Signature Move, the Elegy of Atlantis. Using this move, she can deal around 2500% in Dark DMG. So, it’s quite understandable that everyone in the Punishing: Gray Raven community is absolutely gushing over this S-rank character.

3

Lucia – Crimson Weave

Switches Attack Modes And Deals Massive DMG Rapidly

Without a doubt, the top contender on this list is none other than Lucia – Crimson Weave, a Lightning Attacker type. She’s a formidable S-rank Omniframe who can effortlessly flip between her short and long swords, dealing devastating combo moves that pack a punch with both high burst and sustained damage.

Lucia – Crimson Weave’s skills revolve around complex mechanics, like stacking and orb-based attacks, turning her into a truly versatile fighter unlike any other on this list. She shines the best when it comes to staying power, expertly reducing damage, and executing defensive parries that elevate her presence in the heat of battle.

Most importantly, her Signature Move, the Weave of Voidness, has the power to cause over jaw-dropping 2600% Lightning DMG in total. In short, she can literally supercharge Lightning-based team compositions, making her a must-have for those aiming for the best of builds.

2

Watanabe – Epitaph

Delivers 45% Shred And Reduces Elemental Resistance

Watanabe – Epitaph is one of the most powerful characters to come out of Punishing: Gray Raven and it’s no surprise since he plays a crucial role in not just one, but two meta teams. Since he first appeared in the Chinese version, excitement has been building—and now, players around the world can really feel the buzz after the global release. In fact, with exciting upgrades on the way and a stylish alternate outfit coming soon, now’s the perfect time to pull him.

Compared to other Fire tanks, such as Nanami – Starfarer, Watanabe – Epitaph stands head and shoulders above the crowd thanks to his incredible shredding abilities. Watanabe – Epitaph starts things off with 25% shred and hits a staggering 45% at SSS-rank, whereas most tanks deliver just 10-15% shred. Moreover, his ability to enhance his team’s performance and reduce the Elemental Resistance of his enemies makes him a splendid game-changer, and not only in terms of damage dealt. In short, players can’t go wrong with Watanabe – Epitaph if they’re seeking the best Fire tank and a superstar from two top teams.

For those who haven’t pulled him yet, anyone holding on to the free S-Rank selector from the Lamia patch can grab Watanabe – Epitaph during the Luna – Void patch during the updates.

1

Qu – Shukra

Strongest S-Rank Character

Qu – Shukra isn’t just the new leader of the Ice team—she’s the ultimate powerhouse in Punishing: Gray Raven, and there’s a solid reason for that. With her deadly signature move and tremendously huge damage output of 1200% DMG as one of the strongest Attacker, older characters like Lucia – Plume are about to take a well-deserved break. Not only does she bring immense synergy with allies like Ayla – Kaleido and Chrome – Glory, but her ability to clear out enemies fast and efficiently makes her an essential pick for Ice teams. The best part? Her signature weapon boosts orb management and unlocks tremendous raw power that is impossible to rival.

To put that into perspective, not even the best of the best, like SSS-rank Kaleido, can hold a candle to her sheer strength. Plus, her standout CUB, Huiyu, delivers crowd control that’s tough to match. So, for those who want to snag Qu – Shuka, try to pull her from any upcoming banners with a 100% rate, especially the anniversary ones. Lastly, don’t forget to watch for updates on when Shukra’s banner drops, and make sure to save any gacha pulls just for that occasion.

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Punishing: Gray Raven

Systems

Developer(s)

Kuro Games

Released

2019-7-16