If you have just started playing Metal Slug: Awakening, the number of characters can feel a little overwhelming. The game brings back familiar faces from the classic arcade series, but it also introduces a large group of original heroes and several crossover characters from other popular franchises.
That means the Metal Slug Awakening characters list is much bigger than the four classic soldiers many longtime fans remember.
Marco Rossi, Tarma Roving, Eri Kasamoto, and Fio Germi are still important, but they are now only part of a much larger roster. Newer characters such as Lyla, Scarlett, Eva Glenn, Kukik, Saya, Eiserner, Lilith, Martina, Shadow, Phoenix, Chi Lian, and Li Xuanlang add completely different ways to play. The game has also expanded into crossover territory with characters such as Kyo Kusanagi, Mai Shiranui, Violet, Alessio, Marco Polo, Sun Shangxiang, and Bill Rizer.
The roster is also continuing to change. Current 2026 coverage lists Valke as a newly added character in version 1.26.0, while some characters remain unavailable in certain global versions and may be limited by region or server.
So instead of looking at the roster as one giant collection of names, it is easier to understand the game by separating the characters into returning Metal Slug heroes, original Awakening characters, and crossover guests.
This guide explains the Metal Slug Awakening characters list, what makes the major characters different, how the team system works, which heroes are useful for different playstyles, and what new players should know before spending resources on character upgrades.
Metal Slug Awakening Characters List at a Glance
The current roster can broadly be divided into three groups.
The first group contains returning characters from the Metal Slug series. These include Marco Rossi, Eri Kasamoto, Tarma Roving, Fio Germi, Nadia Cassel, Trevor Spacey, and Leona Heidern.
The second group contains original characters created for Metal Slug: Awakening. This group includes heroes such as Lyla, Eva Glenn, Haran, Gru Kang, Scarlett, Kukik, Saya, Eiserner, Joe, Lilith, Ame, Dong Huanlong, Ilum, Freyja, Eske, Aurora, Martina, Shadow, Horae, Phoenix, Chi Lian, and Li Xuanlang, along with additional newer characters listed in the current roster data.
The third group consists of crossover characters. Current roster references include Violet from Arena of Valor, Kyo Kusanagi and Mai Shiranui from The King of Fighters, Alessio, Sun Shangxiang and Marco Polo from Honor of Kings, and Bill Rizer from Contra.
The exact number of characters available to an individual player can vary because the roster is updated over time and some characters are marked as unavailable in certain versions or regions. That is why older character lists may look different from a current 2026 list.
How the Character System Works in Metal Slug Awakening
Metal Slug: Awakening is not structured exactly like the original arcade games.
In the classic Metal Slug titles, you generally chose a soldier and fought through a linear run-and-gun level. Awakening adds a much deeper character system built around different heroes, weapons, skills, upgrades, and team combinations.
Current guides describe a three-character deployment system, with one character functioning as the primary attacker while the other two can provide support and additional effects.
This changes how you should think about the character list.
The “best” character isn’t automatically the character with the biggest damage number.
A hero who looks average on their own can become extremely useful when paired with the right teammates.
That is why team synergy is one of the most important parts of Metal Slug Awakening.
1. Marco Rossi
Marco Rossi is one of the most recognizable characters in the entire Metal Slug franchise, and he remains one of the central heroes in Awakening.
Players who know the original games will immediately recognize him as the classic run-and-gun soldier. In Awakening, however, Marco is adapted to the game’s RPG-style combat system.
The official game wiki describes Marco as a Firepower character, and one recommended Marco team uses Eri Kasamoto and Fio Germi as support characters. His build benefits strongly from high-rate-of-fire HMG weapons.
Marco’s gameplay revolves around sustained weapon damage and his ability to generate additional offensive effects through his talents.
This makes him a comfortable choice for players who want a straightforward damage dealer.
He is also particularly useful for beginners because he gives players a familiar starting point while introducing them to the game’s weapon and character systems.
Current tier-list coverage still places Marco in a respectable position, although newer characters can outperform him in some specialized teams.
2. Eri Kasamoto
Eri Kasamoto is another classic Metal Slug character who returns in Awakening.
She originally appeared in Metal Slug 2 and became one of the four iconic playable heroes of the early series.
In Awakening, Eri has a more specialized role.
The game’s move information describes her skill as a tackle followed by small grenades, while her ultimate throws a gas can that explodes and creates a Lava Field.
That gives Eri an area-control flavor.
Rather than simply holding the attack button and firing continuously, players can use her abilities to affect groups of enemies and create opportunities for the rest of the team.
Eri is also part of the recommended Marco combination, which demonstrates how Awakening uses classic characters in modern team compositions.
3. Fio Germi
Fio Germi is another legendary member of the original Metal Slug cast.
She is remembered for her distinctive personality and appearance, but Awakening gives her a surprisingly unusual combat identity.
According to the game’s move information, Fio swings a large teddy bear horizontally on the ground or vertically in the air. Her ultimate drops multiple refrigerators, and food dropped by them can provide additional rate-of-fire benefits.
That combination is a perfect example of the strange humor that has always been part of Metal Slug.
Fio can also appear as a support character in Marco-focused teams, making her useful beyond simply being a nostalgic character.
For longtime fans, Fio is one of the characters that makes Awakening feel connected to the classic franchise.
4. Tarma Roving
Tarma Roving is one of Marco’s closest allies and another foundational Metal Slug character.
In Awakening, Tarma has a very different identity from Marco.
His listed skill involves throwing a large wrench and, under the appropriate interaction, ramming enemies with his motorbike. His ultimate summons the Cyclone Crossbow Mecha to assist the team.
Tarma is particularly interesting for players who enjoy switching characters rather than keeping one hero on the battlefield continuously.
Current official-wiki team recommendations use Tarma as a support character in certain compositions, including Lyla-focused teams.
This illustrates an important point about Awakening: a classic hero doesn’t have to be your primary damage dealer to be valuable.
5. Nadia Cassel
Nadia Cassel originally debuted in Metal Slug 4 and becomes much more important as a support character in Awakening.
Her abilities are focused heavily on team survival and enhancement.
The character data describes Nadia as a character who can heal herself and her weakest teammate. Her ultimate transforms her into an overweight bouncing version of herself while creating an aura that automatically heals allies and increases attack.
That makes Nadia particularly useful when survivability matters.
She may not be the first character a player chooses when looking for pure damage, but a strong support can make a major difference in difficult content.
Current official team recommendations frequently include Nadia alongside damage dealers such as Scarlett, Eva Glenn, and Lyla.
6. Trevor Spacey
Trevor Spacey debuted in Metal Slug 4 and returns in Awakening.
His playstyle is noticeably different from the traditional long-range soldier.
The official wiki’s recommended team information shows Trevor being used with shotgun-oriented weapons and support from characters such as Kyo Kusanagi and Kukik.
This makes Trevor an appealing option for players who enjoy close-range combat.
His recommended combinations focus on increasing close-range damage, debuff-related damage, and overall attack power.
Trevor is therefore a good example of how Awakening can take a character from the older series and build an entirely new team identity around them.
7. Leona Heidern
Leona is one of the most recognizable crossover characters between Metal Slug: Awakening and the wider SNK universe.
The game’s current official Google Play description introduces her as an orphan who lost both parents, was adopted by mercenary instructor Heidern, and eventually became the youngest commander of his mercenary corps.
Her inclusion adds another layer to the game’s story because she comes from the King of Fighters and Ikari Warriors side of SNK’s universe rather than being one of the original Metal Slug soldiers.
Leona has also remained relevant in current events. Steam announcements in 2026 included a character rate-up event for Leona, showing that she continues to be part of the active roster and event system.
8. Lyla
Lyla is one of the most important original characters introduced specifically for Awakening.
Unlike the classic heroes, she was created for the newer game and has developed her own identity within the expanded universe.
Lyla is classified as a Firepower character in the official game wiki.
One of the most interesting parts of her gameplay is her interaction with summoned Puffers.
The official character guide recommends high-rate-of-fire weapons such as Gatling guns because their firing speed works well with Lyla’s ability to summon Puffers.
This is a great example of why weapon selection matters.
You don’t simply choose the weapon with the highest displayed power.
You choose a weapon that interacts well with the character’s abilities.
That is a major difference between a basic character collection game and a more involved team-building system.
9. Eva Glenn
Eva Glenn is another original Awakening character with a distinctive mechanic.
Her gameplay revolves around Magnetic Balls.
The official wiki explains that Eva can send a Magnetic Ball toward a target location and that nearby Magnetic Balls can become connected by electricity. Her ultimate creates a larger Magnetic Ball with a wider field, while linked balls can trigger explosions.
This gives Eva a more technical playstyle.
Instead of simply attacking whatever is directly in front of her, players can think about positioning and how multiple effects interact.
Her official team recommendations also pair her with support characters such as Gru Kang and Nadia Cassel.
10. Haran
Haran is another original character introduced in Awakening.
His abilities are centered around ice and area control.
The character information describes Haran dropping a large icicle above a target area. Nearby allies receive an attack bonus, while his ultimate creates a large snowstorm that can freeze enemies.
That makes Haran useful for teams that benefit from crowd control and support effects.
He is also frequently used alongside damage dealers in current recommended compositions.
11. Gru Kang
Gru Kang stands out because his gameplay is based around Rage.
His basic skill throws a series of punches while building Rage. When he reaches the required Rage state, his weapon receives a temporary attack increase. His ultimate creates a Ring of Rage that damages and slows enemies.
This gives him a more aggressive, close-range identity.
Gru Kang is also used as a support character in teams built around Scarlett and Eva Glenn.
His value therefore comes not only from his own damage but also from how his abilities interact with the rest of the squad.
12. Scarlett
Scarlett is a Firepower character who works particularly well with sniper-style weapons.
The official character guide recommends sniper rifles because of their high single-target damage and their interaction with Scarlett’s Enhanced Weapon mechanics.
This makes Scarlett an excellent example of a character whose performance depends heavily on weapon selection.
If you enjoy taking down powerful individual targets rather than simply clearing large groups, a sniper-focused Scarlett build can be very attractive.
Her recommended team includes Gru Kang and Nadia Cassel, combining offensive power with support and utility.
13. Kukik
Kukik is one of the more useful support-oriented characters in the expanded roster.
His Tactical Falcon ability provides consistent damage, while his Ultimate Skill can apply a damage-boosting mark and increase damage against debuffed enemies.
This means Kukik does not necessarily need to stay on the battlefield for a long time.
A player can bring him into the fight, activate the important abilities, and then return to the primary damage dealer.
That type of character switching is central to strong team building in Awakening.
14. Saya
Saya is another support-oriented character.
Official team recommendations describe her as a hero who doesn’t need to spend much time on the battlefield. Her role is more about applying useful effects and helping the main damage dealer.
This makes Saya particularly valuable for players who understand that a three-character team isn’t supposed to function as three independent damage dealers.
One character can focus on damage.
Another can apply debuffs.
Another can provide buffs or utility.
The combination can be stronger than three characters who all perform the same job.
15. Eiserner
Eiserner is another original Awakening character.
The official Steam page describes her as a former ordinary girl with no military training who quickly rose through Blackfire because of her strategic abilities and became the organization’s youngest senior commander.
Her story helps demonstrate how Awakening expands beyond the original military characters.
She isn’t simply another version of Marco or Tarma.
She has her own background and place within the game’s newer story.
Eiserner is also included in current character tier lists, although her position varies depending on the tier list and version. Pocket Gamer’s August 2026 update places her in A tier.
16. Joe
Joe is one of the original heroes introduced by Awakening.
He is part of the expanded character roster alongside Eiserner, Lilith, Ame, Dong Huanlong and other newer heroes.
Joe is especially important to consider if you’re building a team around newer mechanics rather than simply recreating the classic Metal Slug lineup.
His place in the roster demonstrates how large the game’s original-character pool has become.
17. Lilith
Lilith is another newer character with a very different visual and mechanical identity from the classic Metal Slug soldiers.
Her abilities involve Rabbit Drones.
The game’s character information says she can summon three Rabbit Drones that attach to nearby enemies, increase damage taken for a short period, and eventually explode before returning to Lilith or the deployed character and healing the entire team.
That gives Lilith a mixture of offensive support and healing.
She can therefore contribute to a team even when she isn’t the main damage dealer.
Current tier-list coverage also places Lilith among the stronger characters in the game’s current version.
18. Ame
Ame has one of the more visually distinctive abilities in the roster.
Her skill activates Divine Wings, allowing her to fly and fire projectiles based on her equipped weapon. When enough energy is generated, the wings activate a Wing Cannon. Her ultimate enhances the wings, increases flight time, upgrades the projectiles and gives her a shield.
This makes Ame particularly different from the traditional run-and-gun heroes.
Instead of simply standing on the ground and firing, her abilities create a more aerial style of combat.
19. Dong Huanlong
Dong Huanlong brings another unusual mechanic into the game.
Her ability summons a circular bind that pulls enemies toward it while also allowing Loong and teammates to summon a homing dragon. Her ultimate increases the dragon-based assault and adds additional summoned dragons.
This makes her interesting for players who enjoy summon-based abilities and area control.
The character is also part of the larger group of original heroes introduced by Awakening.
20. Ilum
Ilum is another newer character included in the expanded roster.
Unlike some of the better-documented older characters, some public character references still list parts of Ilum’s move information as unavailable or incomplete.
That is worth mentioning because online character lists are not always equally complete.
A character can be officially present in the game while community databases still lack full skill descriptions.
This is especially common when new characters are released or when information differs between regions.
21. Freyja
Freyja is part of the newer generation of Awakening heroes.
She appears in current character references and official-game-related material, and the game has promoted her through character trailers and event content.
Her role becomes particularly interesting when combined with other newer characters.
Official team recommendations show Freyja being supported by Eske and Ilum in a composition built around high damage and enhanced weapon effects.
This is another example of the game’s increasing focus on specialized character combinations.
22. Eske
Eske is a newer original hero who plays a support role in some modern team compositions.
The official game wiki includes recommended combinations in which Eske helps enhance Freyja’s damage output.
This type of synergy is becoming increasingly important as the roster expands.
A new character isn’t necessarily designed to replace an older hero.
Sometimes the purpose is to create another combination.
That means players should look beyond individual tier rankings and consider whether a character fits the heroes and weapons they already own.
23. Aurora
Aurora is another original character in the Awakening roster.
She appears in the game’s character materials and has received official character-related promotional content.
Her inclusion reflects how the game has moved beyond simply recycling classic Metal Slug heroes.
The expanded roster allows the developers to create characters with new stories, designs and combat mechanics while keeping the familiar Metal Slug foundation.
24. Martina
Martina has a particularly distinctive theme.
Her available character material and skin information connect her to magic and illusion. Her listed skins include Arcane Tricks, Ink Fairy, and Grand Archmage, reinforcing that identity.
Martina is part of the newer generation of heroes and is also featured in current team and event material.
Her presence shows how far Awakening’s character design has moved from the grounded military aesthetic of the original arcade games.
25. Shadow
Shadow is another modern original character.
Shadow appears in current roster lists and has remained part of the game’s active character system. Current Steam event information includes a Shadow and Martina selection rate-up event, demonstrating that both characters remain relevant in the live-service rotation.
Shadow also appears in current tier-list coverage, where the character is rated highly in the current version.
26. Horae
Horae is part of the newer character generation and is featured in current event rotations.
Steam’s 2026 event announcements included a Horae and Phoenix selection rate-up pool, while a separate Support Pass was also associated with Horae.
That makes Horae a good example of how the live-service nature of Awakening affects the character roster.
A character list isn’t simply a static encyclopedia.
Characters return through rate-up events, receive skins, appear in team recommendations, and become more or less valuable as the game changes.
27. Phoenix
Phoenix is another newer hero with a strong fantasy-inspired identity.
The character appears in current official-game-related materials and has received dedicated character promotion.
Phoenix is also paired with Horae in current event rotations, and newer team recommendations connect Phoenix with other characters from the Zhaohua group.
For players interested in the newer parts of the game’s story and mechanics, Phoenix is one of the characters worth watching.
28. Chi Lian
Chi Lian is another newer character from the expanded Awakening world.
Current official event information places Chi Lian alongside Li Xuanlang in selection rate-up events.
The official game wiki also shows Chi Lian participating in more advanced team compositions where her effects can continue supporting the battle after she leaves the field.
That type of off-field contribution is particularly valuable in a three-character system.
29. Li Xuanlang
Li Xuanlang is another newer hero and one of the more interesting characters for players who want defensive utility.
Official team information describes him as providing shielding and team-wide damage effects. In one recommended Zhaohua composition, Li Xuanlang uses a shield to absorb team damage and improve overall survivability.
This makes him different from a straightforward Firepower character.
He can help a team survive while also contributing offensive benefits.
30. Donald Morden
Donald Morden is one of the most important villains in the original Metal Slug series, so his appearance as a playable character in Awakening is unusual.
The current roster documentation identifies Donald Morden as an alternate-timeline character, with availability varying by version.
That is important because some online character lists may show him alongside normal heroes even though he is not necessarily available in every global version.
His inclusion is another example of Awakening playing with the established Metal Slug universe.
31. Zero
Zero is among the newer characters listed in Awakening’s extended roster.
Current roster references mark Zero as unavailable in certain global versions, meaning players should not assume that seeing Zero on a character database means the character is obtainable on every server.
This distinction becomes increasingly important as the game expands across regions.
32. Thea
Thea is another newer character listed in the game’s extended roster.
Like Zero, current references mark Thea as unavailable in some versions.
This is why players should always check the character pool in their own game rather than relying entirely on screenshots or lists from another region.
33. Aydan
Aydan is also part of the newer character group.
Current databases list Aydan alongside Zero and Thea, but availability differs by version.
As the game continues to receive updates, characters that are currently restricted can potentially become more widely available later.
34. Ophelia
Ophelia is another newer hero appearing in the extended roster.
Current character references list Ophelia among the characters that are not yet available in some global versions.
The character also appears in current 2026 tier-list coverage, showing that the character is already part of the broader version ecosystem even when access may differ by server.
35. Red Tassel
Red Tassel is another newer addition to the Awakening character pool.
The name appears in current roster and character artwork references, although availability differs between versions.
This is one reason an “all characters” article should clearly state whether it is describing the entire documented roster or only the characters currently obtainable in a particular global version.
36. Li Ji
Li Ji is another newer character included in current roster references.
Like several other recent additions, Li Ji is marked as unavailable in some global versions in current community documentation.
The character is nevertheless appearing in current 2026 tier-list coverage, indicating that the character is part of the broader live game ecosystem.
37. Valke
Valke is especially important for a current 2026 character list.
Pocket Gamer’s August 2026 update specifically identifies Valke as an addition in version 1.26.0. Its current tier list places Valke in S tier.
This is a good reminder that older “complete” Metal Slug Awakening character lists quickly become outdated.
A page written in 2024 or 2025 may be accurate for that period but incomplete today.
38. Mulan and Other Region-Specific Characters
Current roster documentation also includes Mulan and Chu Yue in extended character listings, with availability depending on version.
These characters illustrate another important issue with the phrase “complete character list.”
A list can be complete for:
The global version.
The Chinese version.
A specific season.
A specific patch.
Or the entire documented game roster.
Those are not necessarily the same thing.
Crossover Characters in Metal Slug Awakening
One of the most exciting features of Awakening is its crossover system.
The game doesn’t limit itself to the Metal Slug universe.
Current character references list crossover heroes from Arena of Valor, The King of Fighters, Honor of Kings, and Contra.
That gives longtime SNK fans plenty of reasons to keep checking the character roster.
Kyo Kusanagi
Kyo Kusanagi is one of the most famous characters from The King of Fighters.
His inclusion in Awakening was officially highlighted on Steam as a collaborative character. The game’s Steam page describes a story in which the P.F. Squad enters the World of Fighters and Kyo teams up with Marco.
Kyo is a natural crossover because both franchises come from SNK.
His martial-arts and fire-based identity also fits surprisingly well into Metal Slug’s exaggerated action style.
Mai Shiranui
Mai Shiranui is another major The King of Fighters character included in Awakening.
Current roster references list her among the crossover heroes, and official game-related materials include a dedicated Mai character trailer.
Her presence expands the crossover beyond a single KOF character and reinforces Awakening’s role as a meeting point between different SNK properties.
Violet
Violet comes from Arena of Valor.
She is listed as a crossover character in the current Awakening roster.
She is particularly notable because her origin is outside SNK’s own classic catalog.
The game has therefore moved beyond internal franchise crossovers and into collaborations with other game universes.
Alessio
Alessio is a crossover character from Honor of Kings.
Current official-game wiki information includes detailed team recommendations for him. One recommended composition uses Alessio as the main DPS while Haran and Kukik provide supporting effects.
This demonstrates that crossover characters are not merely cosmetic additions.
They are integrated into the same weapon, core, accessory and team-building systems as other characters.
Sun Shangxiang
Sun Shangxiang, also referred to as Lady Sun in some game materials, is another Honor of Kings crossover character.
Current roster references list her among the crossover characters, with availability differing between versions.
Marco Polo
Marco Polo is also from Honor of Kings.
Despite the familiar name, this should not be confused with Marco Rossi, the classic Metal Slug hero.
They are completely different characters from different game universes.
Current roster information lists Marco Polo as a crossover character.
Bill Rizer
Bill Rizer brings another legendary run-and-gun franchise into the game.
He comes from Contra, making the crossover especially appropriate because Contra and Metal Slug share a similar arcade-action heritage.
Current character artwork and roster references list Bill Rizer as a playable crossover character.
For fans of classic arcade shooters, this may be one of the most appealing collaborations in the entire roster.
How to Choose the Best Metal Slug Awakening Character
There isn’t one character that is automatically the best for every player.
Current tier-list guides explicitly warn that character strength depends on skill and team synergy. The game allows up to three characters to be deployed, with one core attacker and supporting characters.
That means your decision should begin with your preferred playstyle.
If you like constant gunfire, look toward Firepower characters.
If you enjoy debuffs, choose characters designed around status effects and support.
If you prefer survival, consider characters with healing or shielding.
If you like close-range attacks, look at heroes built around melee or shotgun-style combat.
If you enjoy technical mechanics, choose characters whose abilities reward positioning, summons or special interactions.
Firepower Characters
Firepower heroes are generally the easiest to understand.
Their primary job is dealing damage.
Marco and Scarlett are good examples of characters whose recommended builds focus strongly on offensive weapons.
Lyla is another Firepower character, but her mechanics make weapon choice especially important because high-rate-of-fire weapons can increase the effectiveness of her summons.
Firepower characters are usually the ones you want to keep active when you need consistent damage.
Spec-Ops and Support Characters
Support characters are just as important as damage dealers.
A character such as Nadia can provide healing and attack benefits.
Kukik can help with damage amplification and debuffed targets.
Saya can contribute support effects without needing to remain active for long.
The official team guides repeatedly use these types of characters alongside stronger primary attackers.
This is why building three characters that all look powerful individually may not produce the strongest team.
Why Weapon Choice Matters
One of the biggest mistakes new players make is treating weapons as separate from characters.
In Awakening, they are often closely connected.
Scarlett’s recommended setup favors sniper rifles because of how their damage characteristics interact with her Enhanced Weapon mechanics.
Lyla benefits from high-rate-of-fire weapons such as Gatling guns.
Marco’s recommended setup also emphasizes HMG weapons because their firing rate synergizes with his abilities.
This means the best character for you may depend partly on the weapons you already own.
Character Synergy Is More Important Than a Simple Tier List
Tier lists are useful for understanding the current meta, but they should not be treated as absolute rankings.
Pocket Gamer’s August 2026 guide puts many newer characters in S tier while Marco appears in A tier.
That doesn’t mean Marco suddenly became useless.
He can still be strong when properly equipped and paired with the right support characters.
Likewise, an S-tier hero may perform poorly if you don’t have the right weapon, cores or teammates.
The best team is usually the one where the characters’ mechanics work together.
A Good Beginner Approach
If you are new to Metal Slug Awakening, don’t try to build every character at once.
Choose one primary damage dealer.
Then select two support characters that improve that hero.
This approach saves resources and makes progression easier.
Marco is a natural starting point because he is familiar and remains useful. The official guide recommends pairing him with Eri and Fio.
As you learn more about debuffs, weapons and team mechanics, you can gradually experiment with newer characters.
Don’t Spend All Your Resources Immediately
The roster is constantly expanding.
Current 2026 updates demonstrate that new characters continue to enter the game, with Valke specifically added in version 1.26.0 according to Pocket Gamer.
That means it is smart to avoid spending every resource simply because a character looks interesting.
First, understand what the character does.
Then check which weapons work with them.
After that, see whether you already own teammates who can activate their best synergy.
This approach is much more efficient than leveling every hero equally.
Why Old Character Lists Become Outdated
If you find an article saying it contains the “complete Metal Slug Awakening characters list,” check the date.
The game launched with a smaller roster.
New characters have been introduced through updates.
Crossover events have added additional heroes.
Some characters have been available in one region before another.
And current 2026 tier-list information already includes characters that older lists couldn’t have contained.
Therefore, a character list should always include a version or update date.
That is particularly important for a live-service game.
Returning Heroes vs New Characters
The biggest difference between the two groups is familiarity.
Returning characters have years of franchise history behind them.
Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fio, Nadia and Trevor all existed before Awakening.
New characters were designed specifically for Awakening.
That gives developers more freedom to create mechanics that would not necessarily fit the original arcade format.
The result is a roster where classic nostalgia and modern character design exist side by side.
Why the Expanded Roster Works
Metal Slug has always been known for exaggerated weapons, strange enemies and unexpected humor.
Awakening takes that idea and applies it to character design.
A soldier can fight alongside a character who summons dragons.
A classic hero can be paired with a crossover martial artist.
A military character can work with a magic-themed hero.
That sounds strange if you only know the original arcade games, but it makes sense within Awakening’s modern mobile RPG structure.
Final Metal Slug Awakening Characters List
For a quick reference, the major documented roster can be organized like this.
Returning Metal Slug heroes: Marco Rossi, Eri Kasamoto, Tarma Roving, Fio Germi, Nadia Cassel, Trevor Spacey, and Leona Heidern.
Original Awakening heroes: Lyla, Eva Glenn, Haran, Gru Kang, Scarlett, Kukik, Saya, Eiserner, Joe, Lilith, Ame, Dong Huanlong, Ilum, Freyja, Eske, Aurora, Martina, Shadow, Horae, Phoenix, Chi Lian, Li Xuanlang, Donald Morden, Zero, Thea, Aydan, Ophelia, Red Tassel, Li Ji, Valke and other region-specific or newer additions documented in current roster sources.
Crossover characters: Violet, Kyo Kusanagi, Mai Shiranui, Alessio, Sun Shangxiang, Marco Polo, and Bill Rizer.
The important qualification is that not every character in the broader roster is necessarily obtainable in every global version at the same time. Current databases explicitly mark several characters as unavailable in some versions, while current 2026 coverage confirms that the roster is still expanding.
Final Thoughts
The Metal Slug Awakening characters list has grown far beyond the small group of soldiers that defined the original arcade games.
Marco, Tarma, Eri and Fio remain the recognizable foundation, but Awakening has built an entirely new character system around them. Heroes such as Lyla, Scarlett, Eva Glenn, Kukik, Nadia, Lilith, Phoenix and Li Xuanlang bring mechanics that simply could not exist in the same form in the classic arcade games.
The crossover characters make the roster even more interesting.
Kyo Kusanagi and Mai Shiranui connect Awakening with The King of Fighters. Violet comes from Arena of Valor. Alessio, Sun Shangxiang and Marco Polo come from Honor of Kings. Bill Rizer brings Contra into the mix.
The most important thing for new players is not memorizing every name.
It is learning how the characters work together.
A strong Firepower hero can become much more effective with the right support.
A support character may look weak when judged by personal damage but become extremely valuable because of buffs, healing or debuffs.
A weapon that looks average can become powerful when its mechanics match the right character.
And a character that ranks lower on a general tier list can still be excellent for a specific team.
That is the real strength of the Awakening roster.
It gives players room to experiment.
As new characters and updates continue to arrive, the Metal Slug Awakening characters list will keep changing. Current 2026 information already shows newer additions such as Valke and ongoing character rate-up events featuring heroes including Leona, Shadow, Martina, Horae, Phoenix, Chi Lian and Li Xuanlang.
So, if you’re building your first team, don’t worry about owning every character.
Start with one hero you enjoy playing, find two characters who complement that hero, choose weapons that match their abilities, and upgrade your team gradually.
That approach will take you much further than simply chasing the newest character on the roster.
Frequently Asked Questions About Metal Slug Awakening Characters
How many characters are in Metal Slug Awakening?
The roster has expanded considerably since launch and includes returning heroes, original Awakening characters, and crossover characters. The exact number depends on the game version and region because some newer characters are not available everywhere at the same time.
Who is the main character in Metal Slug Awakening?
Marco Rossi is one of the central returning heroes and is the character most closely associated with the classic Metal Slug identity. He is also used as a Firepower character in current team recommendations.
Is Marco Rossi good in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes. Current guides still consider Marco useful, particularly with suitable HMG weapons and support characters such as Eri and Fio.
Are Marco, Eri, Fio and Tarma in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes. Marco Rossi, Eri Kasamoto, Fio Germi and Tarma Roving are all returning Metal Slug characters in Awakening.
Is Leona in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes. Leona Heidern is part of the Awakening roster, and current 2026 Steam events continue to feature her in character rate-up events.
Is Kyo Kusanagi in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes. Kyo Kusanagi is a crossover character from The King of Fighters and was officially promoted as a collaborative character for Awakening.
Is Mai Shiranui in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes. Mai Shiranui is included as a The King of Fighters crossover character.
Is Bill Rizer in Metal Slug Awakening?
Yes. Bill Rizer from Contra is listed as a crossover character in Awakening.
Who are the original Metal Slug Awakening characters?
The original group includes characters such as Lyla, Eva Glenn, Haran, Gru Kang, Scarlett, Kukik, Saya, Eiserner, Joe, Lilith, Ame, Dong Huanlong, Ilum, Freyja, Eske, Aurora, Martina, Shadow, Horae, Phoenix, Chi Lian and Li Xuanlang, with additional newer characters appearing as the game expands.
Which character is best for beginners?
Marco is a natural beginner choice because he is straightforward, familiar and still useful. However, the best beginner character depends on the weapons and teammates you have.
What is the best team in Metal Slug Awakening?
There is no single team that is best for every situation. Current guides emphasize character synergy, with one primary attacker and two supporting characters.
Is Lyla a good character?
Lyla can be very strong when paired with high-rate-of-fire weapons. Official team recommendations specifically highlight Gatling weapons because they interact well with her Puffer summons.
Is Scarlett good in Metal Slug Awakening?
Scarlett is designed around Firepower and works particularly well with sniper rifles. Her recommended teams also use support characters such as Gru Kang and Nadia Cassel.
Is Nadia Cassel useful?
Yes. Nadia is particularly valuable as a support character because her abilities include healing and attack enhancement. Current recommended teams use her alongside several Firepower characters.
What does Kukik do?
Kukik provides support through Tactical Falcon and his Ultimate Skill, which can create a damage-boosting mark and improve damage against debuffed enemies.
Are all Metal Slug Awakening characters available worldwide?
No. Character availability can vary by version and region. Current roster documentation specifically marks several characters as unavailable in some global versions.
Is Valke a new Metal Slug Awakening character?
Current 2026 coverage from Pocket Gamer identifies Valke as an addition in version 1.26.0.
Why do different Metal Slug Awakening character lists show different names?
The game receives updates and has differences between regional versions. Some lists also include upcoming or region-specific characters, while others only show characters currently obtainable on a particular server.
Should I follow a tier list when choosing characters?
A tier list can help, but it should not be the only factor. Weapon compatibility, team synergy, character investment and your preferred playstyle can all change how effective a character is.
Does weapon choice matter for characters?
Yes. Official team guides repeatedly recommend specific weapon types based on character mechanics. Scarlett benefits from sniper rifles, Lyla from high-rate-of-fire weapons, and Marco from HMG-style weapons in recommended builds.
