- Ichorous tier list: Rankings are based on the October 31, 2026 free Steam demo and will shift with patches.
- What we rank: Trinkets, Offerings, and Curses — there are no gacha characters in Ichorous.
- Demo scope: 75 Trinkets, 15 Buffs, and 15 Curses are currently available to evaluate.
- Core rule: Ichorous strengthens you and your enemies, so the best picks are ones with low curse cost.
- Top strategy: Prioritize combat-healing and Ichor-generation effects in nearly every run.
How Our Ichorous Tier List Works
Ichorous is a 2D dark fantasy action roguelike from developer Monster Crate, available as a free demo on Steam since October 31, 2026. You play as a Warlock serving the blood god The Patron, collecting Ichor (divine blood) while fighting brutal bosses. Because the game is a single-player roguelike rather than a gacha RPG, this tier list does not rank playable characters — instead, it ranks the systems that actually define a run: Trinkets, Offerings, and Curses.
Our editorial team evaluates each pick against four criteria. Rankings are updated as demo patches and the eventual full release change the balance.
| Criterion | What We Measure | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Power ceiling | Peak effectiveness in boss fights | ★★★★★ |
| Consistency | Value across all demo runs, not just lucky ones | ★★★★ |
| Curse synergy | How safely a pick interacts with curse escalation | ★★★★ |
| Ease of use | Skill floor required to extract full value | ★★★ |
The current tier list reflects only the 2 demo levels and the initial item pool. When Ichorous launches in full, balance patches and new content can and will reshuffle every tier. Bookmark this page and check the Steam community hub for patch news.
Trinket Tier List
Trinkets are the small, stacking upgrades that define your Warlock's power curve. With 75 Trinkets in the demo pool, the gap between a good pick and a wasted one compounds quickly. Our tiers focus on overall value — a B-tier trinket in the right build can still outperform an A-tier pick.
| Tier | Rating | What Belongs Here | Demo Picks to Prioritize |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Run-defining | Combat-healing and Ichor-generation effects that fuel the core loop | Lifesteal-on-hit effects, Ichor drop-rate boosts |
| A | Very strong | Raw damage or attack-speed boosts with no downside | Attack speed, crit, melee reach |
| B | Solid, situational | Conditional boosts that need a specific build around them | On-kill effects, low-HP thresholds |
| C | Niche | Defensive or utility picks that slow your clear speed | Armor, slow-based effects |
Because Ichorous lets you heal through combat, lifesteal-adjacent trinkets are almost never wrong. A trinket that keeps you attacking safely is worth more than a bigger damage number that gets you killed in a boss phase.
S-Tier Profile
- Scales all run long
- Feeds the blood-purity loop
- Works in every build
A-Tier Profile
- Big raw power
- Needs decent dodge fundamentals
- Best early picks
B/C-Tier Profile
- Conditional value
- Build-dependent or defensive
- Skip when offered better
Offerings Tier List & Curse Rankings
Offerings are the major upgrades granted by The Patron — the big, run-shaping choices that come with real weight. Unlike trinkets, offerings interact directly with the curse system: the more power you accept, the more the world pushes back.
| Tier | Offering Archetype | Why It Lands Here | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Sustain and Ichor economy offerings | Multiply your resources every fight | Low |
| A | Burst damage offerings | Shorten dangerous boss windows | Medium |
| B | Mobility and utility offerings | Quality-of-life more than power | Low |
| C | Greed-oriented offerings | High reward but accelerate enemy scaling | High |
The 15 Curses in the demo deserve their own ranking logic — a curse tier list inverts the usual format, because "top tier" here means least punishing.
| Curse Tier | Meaning | Typical Effects | How to Handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| S (Easiest) | Barely noticeable | Minor cosmetic or trivial stat noise | Accept freely for extra power |
| A | Manageable | Slightly faster or tougher enemies | Compensate with S-tier trinkets |
| B | Demanding | Reduced healing or new enemy attacks | Only take with a strong sustain build |
| C (Harshest) | Run-threatening | Boss empowerment or heavy stat penalties | Avoid unless the reward is run-defining |
The signature mechanic of Ichorous is that your upgrades empower your enemies too. Before accepting any cursed power-up, ask one question: does this pick help me more than it helps the dungeon? If the answer is unclear, skip it.
Build Paths: Turning Tiers Into Runs
Knowing the tiers is step one — assembling them into a coherent Warlock build is where runs are won. Follow this order of operations during a demo run to convert tier knowledge into boss kills.
Lock Your Sustain Core First
Take the first S-tier sustain or Ichor-economy option offered. Every later pick gets better when you survive longer and heal through combat more efficiently.
Add One Damage Multiplier
Pick a single A-tier damage or attack-speed offering. One multiplier plus strong sustain clears both demo levels; stacking damage with no survivability does not.
Evaluate Curses on Merit
When offered cursed power, check it against the curse tier table above. Accept S/A-tier curses cheaply; refuse C-tier curses unless you are already snowballing.
Fill With Synergy Trinkets
Spend remaining trinket picks on effects that amplify your existing core, not scattered stats. On-kill and threshold effects only pay off when built around.
Respect the Boss Phases
In boss fights, prioritize dodge timing over damage uptime. Combat healing in Ichorous rewards aggression, but only between telegraphed attacks.
S-Tier Run Checklist:
- Secure one sustain or Ichor-generation pick before the first boss
- Accept no more than two C-tier curses per run
- Keep at least one mobility answer for boss phase transitions
- End the demo with a combat-healing loop online
FAQ
Q: Does Ichorous have a character tier list?
No. Ichorous is a single-player action roguelike where you play one Warlock class. There are no recruitable characters or gacha units, so the meaningful Ichorous tier list covers trinkets, offerings, and curses instead.
Q: Will this tier list change after the demo?
Yes, almost certainly. The demo launched October 31, 2026 with 75 trinkets, 15 buffs, and 15 curses across 2 levels. Balance patches and the full release can reshuffle every tier, so we update rankings after each patch.
Q: What is the single best pick in the current Ichorous tier list?
Combat-healing and Ichor-generation effects sit at the top of both the trinket and offering tiers. They feed the game's core loop — healing through combat — and compound in value the longer a run lasts.
Q: Why do curses have their own tier list?
Curses are ranked inversely: higher tier means the curse is easier to manage, not stronger. Since cursed upgrades also empower your enemies, knowing which curses are cheap to absorb is as important as knowing which trinkets to grab.
Stay Current With the Meta
Follow developer Monster Crate on X (@Mattstov) and the official Steam page for patch notes. When the full release date is announced, expect the item pool — and this tier list — to expand significantly.
Our team re-evaluates these rankings after every demo update. If a balance change elevates a B-tier trinket or a new curse joins the pool, the tables above will be revised first. Until then, trust sustain, respect the curse economy, and let the blood flow.