Vex, the Chrono-Drifter, is unequivocally the best interdimensional mercenary in No More Slimes!! due to his unmatched ability to control the battlefield with time-bending powers. While other mercenaries fill powerful niches, Vex’s combination of crowd control, damage mitigation, and raw utility makes him the cornerstone of any top-tier squad composition, trivializing even the most chaotic encounters in the late-game Slimepocalypse mode.
This guide provides a complete tier list and detailed breakdown of every mercenary available for hire. We'll analyze their skills, ideal use cases, and how they synergize with others to help you assemble the perfect slime-slaying team for any mission, from the toxic swamps of Planet Glib-Glob to the crystalline caverns of Geleton Prime.
The Definitive Mercenary Tier List
Before we dive into the granular details of each character's kit, here is the at-a-glance ranking of all currently available mercenaries. This list is based on overall power, versatility, and impact on a run's success rate, especially on the higher difficulty settings (Galactic Menace IV and above).
| Tier | Mercenaries |
|---|---|
| S-Tier | Vex, the Chrono-Drifter |
| A-Tier | Zylia, the Void-Weaver; Unit 734 "Wrecking Ball" |
| B-Tier | Kaelen, the Blight-Tender; Rory "Ricochet" Riggs |
| C-Tier | Gleep, the Rogue Amalgam |
The key takeaway is that while Vex is in a league of his own, a well-piloted A-Tier mercenary can be just as effective. The B-Tier specialists are not to be underestimated; in the right squad and against the right enemies, they can outperform higher-tiered generalists. Gleep remains a challenge-run character for veterans looking to test their limits.
S-Tier: The Unquestionable Best
Only one mercenary currently occupies this tier. His ability to fundamentally alter the rules of engagement places him far above his peers.
Vex, the Chrono-Drifter
Vex is a temporal anomaly, a warrior unstuck from time who wields his condition as a weapon. Unlocked by completing the difficult "Fractured Time" questline on Xylos, he is the ultimate force multiplier. His kit isn't about raw damage but about creating opportunities for his entire team to deal damage safely and efficiently.
- Core Ability 1: Stasis Bubble: Vex throws a projectile that creates a large sphere of slowed time. All enemies and hostile projectiles entering the bubble are slowed by 90%, while allied players and projectiles are unaffected. This is the single best defensive and offensive setup tool in the game. It can neutralize entire waves of elite Splatterers or trap a boss like the Goo-nado for an easy kill.
- Core Ability 2: Temporal Shift: A short-range teleport that also leaves behind a temporal duplicate. After 1.5 seconds, the duplicate explodes, dealing moderate damage and briefly stunning enemies. It's a get-out-of-jail-free card that doubles as a repositioning tool and crowd-control primer.
- Ultimate: Paradox Pulse: Vex unleashes a massive wave of temporal energy that resets the positions of all non-boss enemies on screen to where they were 3 seconds prior. It also reloads the weapons of all squad members. Used at the right moment, this can completely undo a disastrous overrun, pulling slimes away from a defended Glimmer Core and giving your team a fresh clip to finish them off.
Vex's true power lies in his ability to make the game predictable. By controlling the flow of battle, he allows high-damage, low-survivability mercenaries to operate with impunity.
A-Tier: The Elite Operatives
The A-Tier mercenaries are the backbone of most successful runs. They are incredibly powerful specialists who can often carry a mission on their own, lacking only the reality-warping utility of Vex.
Zylia, the Void-Weaver
Zylia is a high-skill, high-reward caster who manipulates gravity and cosmic energy. She excels at locking down huge sections of the map, often deleting entire waves before they become a threat. Her main weakness is her low health pool and the precise positioning required to maximize her abilities.
- Key Abilities: Her Singularity Trap creates a miniature black hole that pulls in smaller slimes and deals continuous damage, making it a perfect tool for area denial. Her ultimate, Event Horizon, creates a massive, stationary damage field that shreds anything caught inside, ideal for melting bosses or clearing extraction zones.
Unit 734 "Wrecking Ball"
The polar opposite of Zylia, Unit 734 is a hulking war-robot designed for one purpose: to absorb and deal devastating explosive damage. It is the premier tank in the game, capable of drawing aggro and holding a position against overwhelming odds. Its slow movement speed is its primary drawback.
- Key Abilities: The Kinetic Barrier is a deployable energy shield that absorbs a massive amount of incoming damage, protecting both Unit 734 and anyone standing behind it. Its Siege Mode ability roots it in place but dramatically increases its fire rate and grants access to the powerful Cluster Bombardment, which can saturate an area with explosions.
Infographic comparing the A-Tier mercenaries Zylia and Unit 734.
B-Tier: The Situational Specialists
B-Tier mercenaries are powerful but require more specific team compositions or mission types to truly shine. A common mistake for new players is trying to force these specialists into generalist roles where they will underperform.
Kaelen, the Blight-Tender
Kaelen is a bio-mancer who excels at sustained, damage-over-time (DoT) effects. He struggles with immediate burst damage but can wear down even the toughest, most heavily armored enemies like the King Slime or the metallic Juggernauts found on Geleton Prime. He is fantastic in defensive missions where enemies follow predictable paths.
- Key Abilities: His Corrosive Spit applies a stacking acid DoT that melts armor, making him a great partner for mercenaries who rely on direct damage. Spore Cloud creates a toxic area that damages enemies and slows them, offering valuable passive crowd control.
Rory "Ricochet" Riggs
A classic gunslinger with a high-tech twist, Rory is a single-target damage virtuoso. He is designed to identify and eliminate high-value targets—the elite Spitters, the teleporting Phantoms, the Buff Totem slimes—before they can disrupt your squad. His weakness is dealing with large swarms of basic slimes.
- Key Abilities: His passive, Ricochet Rounds, causes his bullets to bounce to two additional targets on a critical hit. His Deadeye ultimate dramatically increases his critical hit chance and damage for a short duration, allowing him to vaporize a boss's health bar in seconds.
C-Tier: The Challenge Run Contender
This tier is reserved for mercenaries who are either mechanically outclassed or intentionally designed to be difficult to play.
Gleep, the Rogue Amalgam
Gleep is a friendly slime who has joined the fight against its own kind. While its backstory is endearing, its kit is erratic and unreliable. Its primary ability, Mimic, allows it to copy the last-used ability of another squad member, but with a 50% reduction in effectiveness. This can be situationally useful but is far too inconsistent for serious runs. Its other abilities, Gooey Dash and Self-Destruct, put Gleep in constant danger. Beating Galactic Menace IV with Gleep is considered a major badge of honor among the game's community.
How to Build the Perfect Squad
Individual mercenary skill is important, but synergy is what wins missions. A well-constructed team can cover its own weaknesses and amplify its strengths. The core principle is to balance roles: you typically want a Controller, a Damage Dealer, and a Defender/Support.
Here are a few top-tier squad compositions:
- The Aegis Wall (Defense/Survival): Vex + Unit 734 + Kaelen. This team is nearly unkillable. Vex uses Stasis Bubble to slow incoming waves to a crawl. Unit 734 deploys its Kinetic Barrier and enters Siege Mode to create a kill zone. Kaelen blankets the approach with Spore Clouds and Corrosive Spit, softening up everything for Unit 734 to finish off. This is the go-to squad for Glimmer Core defense missions.
- The Glass Cannon (Speedrun/Boss Rush): Vex + Zylia + Rory. This squad sacrifices survivability for overwhelming offensive power. Vex locks down targets with Stasis Bubble. Zylia follows up with Singularity Trap and Event Horizon to cluster and melt adds, while Rory activates Deadeye to surgically execute the primary target. It's a high-risk composition that can end a boss fight in under 30 seconds if executed perfectly.
Comic grid showing the Vex and Unit 734 ability combo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best starting mercenary?
For new players, Unit 734 "Wrecking Ball" is the best starting choice. His high health and deployable shield are very forgiving, allowing you to learn enemy patterns without being immediately punished for mistakes. Rory is another solid choice if you prefer a more aggressive, damage-focused playstyle from the start.
How do you unlock Vex, the Chrono-Drifter?
You must complete the "Fractured Time" questline. It begins on Planet Xylos after defeating the third regional boss. The quest involves collecting three Chrono-Crystals from high-level anomaly zones, which feature time-distorting environmental hazards, and then defeating the boss, a time-shifted version of your own character.
Can you beat the game with Gleep?
Yes, it is possible, but it is considered an expert-level challenge. Success with Gleep relies heavily on your teammates carrying the run and a lot of luck with the Mimic ability copying a powerful ultimate at the right moment. It is not recommended for anyone trying to clear high-difficulty content for the first time.
Are paid mercenaries better than the free ones?
No More Slimes!! has no microtransactions or paid mercenaries. All characters, from Gleep to Vex, are unlocked through in-game achievements, quest completions, or by spending currency earned on missions. The playing field is entirely level.
Final Take
While Vex stands alone at the peak of power, No More Slimes!! is a surprisingly balanced game. The true mark of a great player isn't just picking the S-Tier mercenary every time, but understanding how to leverage the unique skills of the entire roster. A-Tier mercenaries like Zylia and Unit 734 can anchor any team, and specialists like Kaelen and Rory can be the key to overcoming specific challenges. Experiment with different squad compositions, learn the synergies, and you'll be dissolving slimes across the galaxy like a pro. Except with Gleep. That's just for bragging rights.