Season 3 is rolling in, and a lot has changed since the early days of War of Nova. Some ships that once dominated have slipped, a couple of underrated picks are finally getting the recognition they deserve, and a few Season 1 favorites are holding their ground better than expected. If you’re returning after a break or preparing your account for a strong start this season, it helps to know exactly which ships are worth putting your mastery and officer resources into.
War of Nova Tier List 2026 & Builds (PvP + PvE) – Season 3
This tier list isn’t just a ranking for bragging rights. The goal is to show you which ships provide the best value for your investment, how they actually perform in real fights, and whether they’re better suited for PvP or PvE. Because those two modes reward different strengths, each category has its own ranking.
Let’s start with the competitive side of the game — PvP — where a single ship choice can determine whether you shred your enemies or get deleted before your strategy even begins.
PvP Tier List – Season 3
S Tier – Dominus
Dominus currently sits at the top of the PvP landscape for one simple reason: it forces the fight to go its way immediately. Its power spikes at the very start of a battle, and if built correctly, most opponents won’t survive long enough to execute their own strategy. Dominus stacks early-round damage, empowers long-range units like Harpies to strike repeatedly, reduces incoming damage, and even shrugs off the first hit taken. When piloted properly, it ends fights before they truly begin. Right now, it’s the ship everyone else is measured against.
A Tier – Corruptor
Corruptor remains the thinking player’s weapon of choice. It doesn’t win through pure stat checks; it wins by completely sabotaging the opponent’s turns. The way Corruptor lines up confusion right before an enemy’s big skill round allows you to flip the fight and make their strongest nukes backfire into their own fleet. Against predictable, round-based burst ships, Corruptor feels unfair. It demands good execution and timing, but in the right hands, it can topple ships with higher mastery and better officers.
A- Tier – Cipher
Cipher continues to be one of the most reliable PvP ships to grow with, especially if you’re not sitting on deep mastery or premium officers. Even with a moderate investment, Cipher hits hard, applies nasty damage amplification, and weakens enemy stats. It’s a friendly ship for anyone working their way up the competitive ladder. Although both Dominus and Corruptor can outscale and outplay it at higher levels, Cipher still gives you a strong and affordable path into PvP that doesn’t fall off immediately.
B Tier – Solid but Situational Picks
Ships in this tier aren’t weak, but they rely on matchmaking, team comps, or specific officer lineups to shine. You can win with them, but they demand more to do what the top picks do naturally.
Examples include: Spectre, Tempest, and other niche-control or support-focused ships.
C Tier – Outclassed in Current Meta
These ships simply struggle to keep up with the pace of Season 3 PvP. They aren’t unplayable, but you’ll be fighting uphill.
Example: Ships that rely on slow ramp-up or outdated burst timings.
PvE Tier List – Season 3
S Tier – Sunder
Sunder is still the safest and most consistent PvE option in the game. It scales incredibly well, sustains itself long enough to clear higher-level tiles and bosses early, and fits perfectly into a single-ship investment strategy. If your goal is progression, farming, and low-loss PvE play, nothing beats Sunder’s efficiency.
A Tier – Starweaver
Starweaver is the ship that lets you punch upward early. It’s extremely stable, heals often, cleanses itself, and doesn’t require premium officers to perform. This ship smooths out your PvE experience and is especially helpful for newer or returning players trying to get into higher tile levels quickly. Its sustain and steady flow of damage make it a reliable pick for Season 3.
A- Tier – Emberhelm
Emberhelm surprises many players once they actually test it. Its early-round sustain across three strike craft and access to powerful nukes make it a very comfortable leveling ship in the early part of the season. It won’t outscale Sunder later, but it gives players an easier on-ramp into PvE with strong healing and respectable damage before your account matures.
B Tier – Usable with Support
These ships can handle PvE, but you need better officers, higher mastery, or support systems in place to match the performance of the top three.
Example: Ships that lack reliable sustain or early power spikes.
C Tier – Inefficient for Season 3 PvE
Not worth investing into if your goal is PvE progression.
Example: Ships that rely on mechanics that don’t thrive in PvE’s long fights.
