Read the standard before the letter
deadlydayroadtrip.wiki scores a first clear at Response 3 or lower. gamewiki scores whether the kit supplies its own engine. Vampire can be “strong” on the second scale and “A” on the first without either author being wrong. Banana is a costume; one list still files it under B, and I keep that oddity visible instead of deleting the row.
| Survivor | S | Not listed |
| Bushy | S | Situational |
| Carver | S | Situational |
| Penny | A | Strong |
| Vampire | A | Strong |
| Santa | A | Situational |
| Surfer | A | Strong |
| Astronaut | B | Situational |
| Sheriff | B | Not listed |
| Chicken | B | Not listed |
| Death | C | Not listed |
| Banana (costume) | B | Not a character |
Weapons, one list only
Only deadlydayroadtrip.wiki published a 1.0 weapon ladder covering about 20 names. The Early Access wiki had 27 weapons. I do not stretch the letters onto names this list skipped.
| S | Crossbow, Flamethrower, The Grinder, Mega Shotgun |
| A | Desert Eagle, LMG, Tommy Gun, Shotgun, Katana |
| B | Rifle, Uzi, Super Knife, Chainsaw, Rocket Launcher, Revolver |
| C | Pistol, Crowbar, Machete, Brass Knuckles |
Questions
Who is the best character?
It depends which question you mean. For a first clear, one wiki says Survivor, Bushy, or Carver. For a kit that runs itself, another wiki says Vampire, Penny, or Surfer.
Is this the studio’s list?
No. Both ladders are community standards published on 1.0 wikis around 30 Oct 2026. The patch notes change the inputs: Katana +25%, Super Knife down to 224, crit past 100% steps up, Uzi crafts at Rare.
How often does this page move?
When a patch notes post changes a number these lists use. There is no weekly reset of the letters.
Sources
- deadlydayroadtrip.wiki tier — checked 2026-11-02
- deadlydaysroadtripgame.wiki — checked 2026-11-02
- Steam news — 1.0 balance — checked 2026-11-02
Limitation: public sources can omit conditions or change after the date shown; source counts and disagreements are recorded below.