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Best Characters for Beginners in Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising

Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising may look like your typical anime fighter, but beneath the flashy visuals is a deep and nuanced system. 

For beginners, choosing the right character can make the difference between falling in love with the game or quitting out of frustration. Thankfully, GBVSR is known for its intuitive mechanics and beginner-friendly design, with several characters tailor-made to ease new players into the action. 

Whether you’re new to fighters or Granblue, here are the best characters to get you started.

Listing Best Characters for Beginners in Granblue Fantasy

Gran & Djeeta – Classic Shoto, Zero Friction

If you’ve played Street Fighter, you’ll feel at home with Gran or Djeeta. Both represent the classic “shoto” archetype: they’ve got a fireball, an invincible uppercut (DP), and a straightforward game plan.

Gran is the face of the franchise — his tools are reliable and easy to grasp. You’ll learn spacing, zoning, anti-airs, and simple combos just by sticking with him.

Djeeta, on the other hand, plays a bit faster and leans slightly more aggressively. Her Vorpal Blade special gives her good corner pressure and follow-up options, making her an ideal pick if you enjoy momentum-based play.

Katalina – For the Zoning Control Fan

Katalina is the go-to pick for players who enjoy defensive, space-controlling gameplay. She’s known for her long pokes, safe fireball pressure, and a unique counter stance that can catch overly aggressive opponents.

While she lacks flashy combo routes, her game plan revolves around discipline and control — traits that will benefit you across all fighting games. Her enhanced projectile (with auto-guard) lets her win fireball wars and punish sloppy approaches.

Anila – All-in-One Toolset With Great Range

Anila offers the best of both worlds: excellent zoning tools, fast normals, a good anti-air, and flexible specials. Her sweep is among the best in the game, and she has answers for nearly every situation.

Players new to GBVSR will love how Anila teaches fundamentals like spacing, movement, and pressure — all in one package. She’s easy to pick up and satisfying to improve with.

Finding Your Style – More Beginner-Friendly Picks by Playstyle

Choosing the right beginner character in Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising isn’t just about simplicity — it’s about picking someone who fits your natural style. Do you like to get in your opponent’s face? Keep them at a distance? 

Maybe you want to play a little weird and see what sticks. This section highlights more beginner-friendly picks, broken down by playstyle, with bite-sized pros and cons.

Soriz – The Rushdown Brawler

Soriz is all fists and fury. He doesn’t rely on fireballs or long-range pokes. Instead, he wants to close the gap and stay on top of you, throwing out pressure-heavy attacks.

What makes him beginner-friendly is that he rewards aggression and instinct. You don’t need to think three steps ahead — just get in and hit hard. His Muscle Fury ability allows him to absorb attacks and gain stacks, boosting his offense and defense.

Why Pick Soriz?

Easy combo confirms
High damage with low execution
Excellent at overwhelming new opponents
Weak vs. zoning or spacing-heavy characters

Metera – The Stylish Zoner

Conversely, Metera is perfect for players who like staying back and controlling space. She frustrates opponents trying to get close with multiple arrows, tricky mobility, and projectile traps.

While she has a steeper learning curve than someone like Gran, her zoning tools are intuitive, and her toolkit teaches spacing and baiting.

Why Pick Metera?

  • Great for practicing spacing and keep-away
  • Stylish, fast, and unique movement
  • Punishes rushdown players
  • Weaker up close and struggles under pressure

Each character offers a smooth entry point into GBVSR while helping you develop core fighting game skills. Whether rushing down with Soriz or baiting with Metera, these picks help you learn how to think and react like a fighter.

From Beginner to Confident Player – Growing with Your Character

Picking a beginner-friendly character is just the first step. To get the most out of Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising, you must practice smart, understand matchups, and push your fundamentals as you play. Thankfully, the characters we’ve covered — Gran, Djeeta, Katalina, Anila, Soriz, and Metera — are strong enough to carry you well beyond your first few matches. Here’s how to level up without feeling overwhelmed.

Start with the Basics, Then Layer On

Once you’ve picked a character that matches your playstyle, focus on mastering one or two key tools. For Gran, this could be his fireball and anti-air uppercut. For Metera, it might be spacing your arrows and staying airborne. Don’t rush to learn long combos or advanced tech — they’ll come naturally once you’re comfortable with the core game plan.

Spend time in training mode, but don’t overdo it. Even 10–15 minutes of warm-up drills a day (simple combos, movement, anti-airs) can help you build muscle memory without burnout. The goal is to build confidence through repetition, not perfection.

Understand Matchups and Adaptation

As you play more matches online or locally, you’ll encounter different characters with different tools. Maybe someone rushes you down too fast, or zones you out with tricky projectiles. Don’t panic — this is part of the learning curve.

Watch replays of your losses. Ask:

  • Was I jumping too much?
  • Did I forget my anti-air?
  • Was I trying to fight at the wrong range?

Focusing on one slight improvement per session makes your growth feel manageable. The best GBVSR players aren’t always the flashiest — they’re the ones who learn from every round.

Final Thoughts: 

No beginner character in Granblue Fantasy: Versus Rising is a “training wheels” pick — they’re all legit and tournament-viable. Gran teaches you how to fight. Katalina teaches patience. Soriz rewards pressure. Metera teaches spacing. Anila teaches flexibility.

Your job now? Pick one. Stick with them for 20–30 matches. Learn their strengths and weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to lose — every loss is data that sharpens your instincts.

So, who’s your first main in GBVSR?

Tell us below, or share your highlights from your early matches. Whether you’re a rushdown brawler or a zoning tactician, your journey starts now — and the right character will help you love every round.