Every season, the meta settles around the same top-tier characters. But Season 6 has quietly buffed several off-meta picks, and the playerbase hasn't caught up yet. If you're tired of seeing the same Nova/Zephyr lineup every match, give these 5 underrated characters a try.

We've tested every character extensively in ranked play (Eggcellent+ lobbies), and these picks consistently outperform their usage rate suggests.

1. 🐢 Torterra — The Tank That Keeps Going

Best for: Survival Mode & Team Mode · Usage rate: 8% · Win rate: 62%

Why she's underrated: Most players sleep on Torterra because her speed is below average. But in Season 6, her Shell Shield ability got a 15% damage reduction buff — making her almost unkillable in the right hands.

How to play her:

  • In Survival Mode, activate Shell Shield before entering crowded zones. The reduced knockback means you won't get pushed off edges
  • Pair with the Sturdy Boots item for +20% knockback resistance — you'll become immovable
  • In Team Mode, play shield for your carry: absorb skill shots and bodyblock for your Nova or Zephyr teammate
🔥 Pro tip: On Frozen Peak's final ice slide, activate Shell Shield right before the finish line. The shield prevents ice knockback from pushing you off at the last second.

2. 🦊 Fennec — Speed Demon, Zero Respect

Best for: Race Mode · Usage rate: 12% · Win rate: 65%

Why he's underrated: Fennec's Dash ability was always good, but Season 6 reduced its cooldown by 1.5 seconds. This means you can dash 3-4 times per race instead of 2-3. The difference is massive.

How to play him:

  • Use your first dash immediately at second 3 (not second 0) — this lines up your cooldowns for the mid-race bottleneck
  • Dash through hazards rather than jumping over them. Fennec's dash has invincibility frames during the first 0.3 seconds
  • On Neon Boulevard, dash through the color-changing barriers on red (danger) — your invincibility frames protect you
🔥 Pro tip: Fennec's dash resets if you pick up a Speed Boost item. Time your dash pickup to get 2 dashes in quick succession for a massive lead.

3. 🐧 Pippin — The Penguin With a Secret Weapon

Best for: All Modes · Usage rate: 6% · Win rate: 58%

Why he's underrated: Pippin's Ice Slide ability gives him +30% speed on ice surfaces. Most of Season 6's new maps (Frozen Peak, Glacial Run, Iceberg Arena) are ice-themed. Do the math.

How to play him:

  • On any ice surface, take the longest ice path instead of shortcuts — your speed boost more than compensates for the extra distance
  • In Survival Mode's Iceberg Arena, you can outrun everyone on the ice platforms. No one can catch you
  • The Ice Slide passive also reduces slip on ice by 50%, meaning you won't slide off edges accidentally

4. 🦎 Chameleo — The Mind Game Master

Best for: Survival Mode & Race Mode · Usage rate: 4% · Win rate: 61%

Why he's underrated: Chameleo's Camouflage ability was considered a gimmick, but Season 6's new maps have more hiding spots and tall grass. Going invisible for 4 seconds is devastating in close matches.

How to play him:

  • Use Camouflage at the start of a hazard section — opponents can't see you and won't know when to throw items
  • In Survival Mode, activate Camouflage when the ring closes. Opponents will target visible players first
  • Pair with Smoke Bomb item for a double stealth combo (6+ seconds of invisibility)
🔥 Pro tip: In Team Mode, use Camouflage to sneak behind enemy lines and steal their team's power-ups. Most teams don't guard their item spawns.

5. 🐻 Brundle — The Comeback King

Best for: Race Mode (comeback) · Usage rate: 3% · Win rate: 59%

Why he's underrated: Brundle's Vengeance passive gives him +5% speed for every opponent ahead of him (up to 25%). This means when he's in 8th place, he's 25% faster than 1st place. Most players don't realize how powerful this is.

How to play him:

  • Don't try to lead early. Let opponents pass you in the first 10 seconds, then use your speed boost to overtake mid-race
  • Save defensive items (Shield, Bubble) for the final 30% of the race — that's when you'll be at max speed and most vulnerable
  • On winding maps like Sky Garden, Brundle's speed boost on turns is especially effective because other characters slow down

📊 Quick Comparison

Here's a quick reference for which characters work best in each mode:

The common thread? These characters all have abilities that were buffed or are map-dependent in Season 6. As the meta evolves, we expect their usage rates to climb — get ahead of the curve now.

🎮 Final Verdict

If you're hardstuck in Diamond and keep losing with Nova, it's not your fault — Nova is a high-skill ceiling character that requires perfect positioning. Switch to one of these underrated picks and you'll see immediate improvement in your consistency and win rate.

Our top recommendation: Fennec for Race Mode (easy to learn, massive dash potential) and Torterra for Survival (forgiving, consistent, very strong with items).

💡 Want more? Check out our Season 6 Ranked Guide for positioning and scoring tips, or our New Characters Review for analysis of Nova, Zephyr, and Shard.