Introduction: The State of the Meta in Season 37
Here's the thing about Season 37 that caught everyone off guard: healing went from being the backbone of survivor strategy to... well, barely relevant. We're talking about efficiency dropping from 250% all the way down to 165%. That's not a nerf—that's a complete philosophy change.
The scoring system tells the whole story. Get three survivors out? +9 points. Draw? Zero. Loss? You're eating -8 points. And those chair saves I mentioned? They're happening 10-15% faster now, with rescue windows that demand frame-perfect timing at 49% and 99% progress.
I've been digging through tournament data from the June 7-8, 2025 IJL Summer event, and the numbers are pretty stark. S-tier team compositions are pulling 65% higher escape rates than anything else. What's really interesting is the regional split—Asian servers are crushing it with 15% higher rescue success rates, while global servers are focusing on speed with 12% faster cipher completion times.
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Key Balance Changes & Patch Notes Overview
The November 14, 2025 update basically rewrote the rulebook. We've got this new 35-point ranking scale that's actually pretty intuitive: S-tier hits that perfect 35/35, A-tier ranges from 28-33, B-tier sits at 20-27, and anything below 20? That's C-tier territory.
But here's where it gets spicy—the persona build overhauls. The 36 Build now gives you 50% health and speed boosts with 20 seconds of invincibility. We're seeing 90% rescue success rates with proper timing. The 39 Build? That's your vault speed demon, adding 20-30% speed for three crucial seconds. And the 129 Build offers this 0.5-second dash immunity that's boosting win rates by 15-20% on large maps.
Trust me, these aren't just number tweaks—they're game-changers.
The Shift in Hunter vs. Survivor Win Rates
Hunters got some serious love this season, specifically to counter cipher rushing (which, let's be honest, was getting out of hand). Breaking Wheel now hits 80% speed in Execution mode and just demolishes pallets instantly. Dream Witch? Still maintaining that ridiculous 75% pick/ban rate.
The new hunter Peddler is... interesting. Eight-meter absorption range, 35-meter vine mechanics, six-second cooldowns. Early days, but the potential is there.
Regional differences are fascinating here. Asian servers are banning Mechanic 80% of the time, while global servers focus their bans on Dream Witch at 75%. Different priorities, different playstyles.
Identity V Season 37 Survivor Tier List
S-Tier: The Unbannables & Meta Definitions
Mechanic isn't just good—she's broken in the best possible way. That 200% remote decoding speed with robot immunity? It's like having a fifth player who can't be touched.
Deploy those robots at distant ciphers before the chase even starts. Combine that with Mechanical Mastery for 20-30% vault speed increases after window interactions, and you've got a character that defines the meta.
Priestess controls the entire flow of the match through portal placement. (Word is there are portal range extensions coming in March 2025, but that's still unconfirmed.) Pre-position portals near ciphers and rescue locations for instant rotations. Map control at its finest.
Seer provides team protection that's honestly a bit unfair. Those 60-second birds don't just block attacks—they reveal positions and shield rescuers during the most critical moments. Aggressive rescue attempts become viable when you've got owl coverage.
Antiquarian dictates when fights happen through that Mechanical Flute knockback. Create spacing for 60-second kites while your team finishes ciphers. It's all about disruption timing, and she's the master of it.
A-Tier: Strong Specialists (Harassers & Rescuers)
Mercenary remains the gold standard for survivability. Three-hit tolerance enabling 60+ second kites, 30% chair time extensions—he's built for those clutch moments. That delayed damage mechanic pairs beautifully with aggressive body-blocking during 36 Build's Tide Turner immunity windows.
Forward specializes in shutting down mobile hunters through rugby tackles. Most effective on small maps, though that 60% decoding debuff means you need serious team coordination. The disruption potential justifies the trade-off if you can pull it off.
Prospector manipulates hunter movement in ways that still surprise me. Those magnetic effects achieve 15% higher win rates on large maps. Attraction and repulsion abilities absolutely wreck mobile hunters with predictable movement patterns.
B-Tier: Situational Picks
Female Dancer provides solid team buffs through music box deployments, but positioning coordination is everything. Barmaid offers protective drinks with temporary immunities—though that 60% decoding debuff makes her rough in solo queue. Grave Keeper enables underground rescue approaches, but the 15% decoding penalty hurts team efficiency more than you'd think.
C-Tier: Needs a Buff (Avoid in Rank)
Lawyer provides hunter reveals but remains painfully team-dependent. Gardener can dismantle chairs, but experienced hunters make that ability almost irrelevant at high levels.
Best Survivors by Role (2025 Update)
Best Rescuers: Mercenary vs. Coordinator Priority
The rescue hierarchy is pretty clear: Coordinator > Mercenary > Forward/Cowboy > decoders. Coordinator's flare gun provides guaranteed stuns, but that 60% decoding debuff creates real vulnerability windows. Optimal rescue timing hits at 49% chair progress with body-blocking from the right side during those crucial 20 seconds of immunity.
Here are the seven rescue rules that actually matter: commit dedicated rescuers, pre-plan your approaches, prioritize early saves, keep decoders focused on objectives, avoid that deadly 80-90% progress window, ensure Tide Turner availability, and maintain single rescuer limits.
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Best Kiters: Antiquarian & Acrobat Dominance
Kiting comes down to chaining Knee Jerk Reflex for those 50-60 second extensions on window-heavy maps. Manual camera control enables zigzag patterns that can break even experienced hunters, while Terror Radius detection gives you early positioning warnings.
Antiquarian's flute knockbacks extend kites well beyond that 60-second minimum threshold. The 129 Meta proves ideal for large maps like Lakeside Village through dash chaining and vault combinations that just flow together perfectly.
Best Decoders: Mechanic Supremacy
There's really no competition here. Mechanic's 200% remote decoding eliminates everyone else from consideration. Robot immunity ensures consistent progress regardless of chase dynamics. Cipher rush requires completing five ciphers within seven minutes using that 1-1-1-1 structure, stopping at 98-99% for Borrowed Time synchronization.
Identity V Season 37 Hunter Tier List
S-Tier: Map Control Monsters
Dream Witch (35/35) dominates through multi-follower pressure that forces constant positioning adjustments. Those leech mechanics require immediate group removal to prevent elimination cascades—and honestly, most teams can't coordinate that level of response.
Breaking Wheel (35/35) achieves 80% speed boosts in Execution mode with instant pallet destruction. Energy Charge provides 14-second windows with 20% nail speed increases and 5-second Switch cooldowns. It's oppressive when played correctly.
Sculptor (34/35) adapts through sculpture placement that controls entire map sections. Geisha (33/35) utilizes instant teleportation requiring frame-perfect timing, though eye contact mechanics provide legitimate counter-play opportunities for skilled survivors.
A-Tier: Consistent Tie/Win Hunters
Axe Boy (28/35) offers speed and chase mode versatility that keeps survivors guessing. Disciple (26/35) employs clinging mechanics that disable abilities, though longer recharge times limit sustained pressure. Naiad (30/35) builds humidity for damage while controlling water areas—map-dependent but devastating when it works. Bloody Queen (33/35) disrupts through mirror mechanics, though the counter-play patterns are becoming more predictable.
The Rise of Chip-Damage Hunters
This is where the meta gets really interesting. Chip-damage strategies are gaining serious prominence through sustained pressure rather than immediate eliminations. With the meta shifting toward utility over healing, these hunters amplify their effectiveness since survivors simply can't recover from incremental health losses like they used to.
Legendary Rank Strategy: Ban & Pick Guide
Top Hunter Bans
Survivors are banning Dream Witch at a 75% rate for that overwhelming map pressure that's honestly just unfun to play against. Opera Singer gets banned for chase speed that compresses kiting windows below 60 seconds. Breaking Wheel gets the axe for instant pallet destruction that eliminates traditional kiting resources.
Top Survivor Bans
Hunters target Seer for damage immunity that disrupts elimination attempts, Priestess for global rotations that enable cipher rushing, and Mechanic for remote decoding that maintains progress during chases. Makes sense—these characters break traditional hunter pressure patterns.
Counter-Picking: Answering the Meta
Dream Witch counters favor grouped survivors with immediate leech removal capabilities. Mobile hunter counters emphasize stunning characters that disrupt movement patterns. Basement rescues favor Priestess portals combined with Gravekeeper underground approaches—though coordination requirements are steep.
Map-Specific Meta for Season 37
Small Maps (Red Church, Arms Factory)
Small maps absolutely favor stunning specialists who can maximize environmental interactions. Forward's tackles achieve much higher success rates in confined spaces where positioning options are limited. Teams should prioritize 39 Build for enhanced vaulting while maintaining dedicated rescue specialists.
Large Maps (Moon River, Lakeside Village)
Large maps favor mobility specialists, period. Priestess portals become essential for rotations, Mechanic's remote decoding maximizes efficiency across distance. The 129 Build proves most effective for extended kiting that utilizes map size advantages—those dash chains can extend kites indefinitely with proper execution.
Recommended Persona Builds for Season 37
Survivor: Flywheel vs. Broken Windows Trends
The 36 Build (Borrowed Time + Tide Turner) optimizes rescues through 50% health and speed boosts with 20-second invincibility. We're seeing 90% rescue success rates with proper timing—that's not a typo.
The 39 Build enhances early kiting through 20-30% vault speed increases with 3-second durations and 40-second cooldowns. Excels on window-heavy maps where those speed boosts create meaningful distance.
The 129 Build maximizes evasion through 0.5-second dash immunity that chains beautifully with vault mechanics. Increasing win rates by 15-20% on large maps where positioning flexibility matters most.
Hunter: Insolence vs. Trump Card Strategies
Hunter builds emphasize early pressure and sustained control—no surprises there. Insolence provides damage bonuses that accelerate eliminations, while Trump Card offers late-game advantages. Detention remains absolutely essential for endgame control, providing guaranteed elimination potential when survivors get cocky.
Community & Pro Insights
CN Server Trends vs. Global Server
Chinese servers demonstrate 15% higher rescue rates through aggressive coordination that prioritizes team saves over individual survival. It's a completely different mindset. Global servers focus on 12% faster cipher completion through strategic positioning and coordinated rushes—more individualistic, but effective.
COA Tournament Influence on Ranked Play
Call of the Abyss data from AXIZ WAVE and ZETA DIVISION shows tournament compositions favoring utility specialists that enable team coordination. Professional strategies emphasize adaptability through diverse character rosters that can counter opponent selections. The trickle-down effect into ranked play is already visible.
FAQ
Who is the best hunter in Identity V Season 37? Dream Witch dominates with that perfect 35/35 rating and 75% pick/ban rate through multi-follower map pressure. Breaking Wheel follows closely with 80% speed boosts and instant pallet destruction that just deletes survivor resources.
Which survivor has the highest win rate in 2025? Mechanic achieves the highest win rates through 200% remote decoding with robot immunity. We're seeing 15-20% win rate increases on large maps when combined with the 129 Build—it's honestly a bit ridiculous.
Is Opera Singer still meta in Season 37? Opera Singer maintains A-tier status but faces increased counter-play through stunning specialists. Those chase speed advantages remain relevant despite the utility-focused meta reducing overall dominance.
What are the best bans for Legendary Rank in IDV? Survivors should ban Dream Witch for map pressure and Breaking Wheel for pallet destruction. Hunters should target Seer for damage immunity and Priestess for global rotations. Pretty straightforward priority list.
How to counter The Shadow in Identity V? Use curved pathing to avoid predictable movement patterns, maintain audio awareness for approach detection, and coordinate stunning attempts during cooldowns. Prospector's magnetic effects prove particularly effective—those push/pull mechanics really mess with Shadow's positioning.
Best survivor for solo ranking Identity V 2025? Mercenary offers the best solo performance through three-hit survivability and 30% chair extensions. Independence from team coordination makes him ideal for solo ranking where you can't rely on teammates for consistent support.
