When it comes to managing resources in Goddess of Victory: Nikke, few things are as crucial as how you spend your Gems. As a daily player since launch, I’ve learned firsthand that not all banners are created equal when it comes to gem efficiency. With dozens of banners appearing throughout each month, it's important to know which ones provide the best value for your hard-earned Gems.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through 7 gem efficiency tiers based on my personal experience and testing, while also offering practical
Nikke gems purchasing tips for beginners. Whether you're a casual commander or a dedicated min-maxer, understanding this system can save you hundreds of dollars—or months of in-game grinding.
Tier S: Limited Collaboration Banners
These banners almost always offer the highest gem efficiency. Characters in collaborations (like Chainsaw Man or Re:Zero) are typically time-limited and don’t return often, if ever. The drop rates are often better, and the exclusive characters frequently become meta-defining units.
My experience: I pulled on the Chainsaw Man banner and got Makima in under 60 pulls. She remains a core member of my squad even today. Saving your
Goddess of Victory Nikke Gems for banners like this is almost always worth it.
Tier A: Pilgrim Banners
Pilgrims are among the most powerful and rarest units in the game. Banners featuring them often come with a slightly lower drop rate, but their overall power level makes them an efficient use of Gems over time.
Beginner tip: While it might seem costly upfront, building a Pilgrim-focused squad will future-proof your team for months, especially in late-game content like Union Raids.

Tier B: New Limited SSR Banners
These banners feature SSRs that are limited but not collaboration-based. If the featured unit is strong or fits into your existing team synergy, this can be a great value. However, not all SSRs are equally impactful.
My take: I once burned 18k Gems on a banner only to get a character that ended up being niche at best. Always check early impressions from content creators or Discord servers before diving in.
Tier C: Rate-Up Banners for Returning SSRs
These banners return popular SSRs with increased drop rates. While they provide a decent shot at completing your collection or improving existing units, they’re not ideal for beginners who are still building out core teams.
Tip for new players: If you're looking to improve what you already have, these banners can help. But don’t spend your Goddess of Victory Nikke Gems here unless you already have a strong core team.
Tier D: Standard Recruitment Banners
These are the default banners always available in the game. While they’re okay for long-term free-to-play users because they accumulate recruitment tickets naturally, spending Gems here is not recommended due to the lack of focused targets.
From my experience: These banners helped me early on, but by mid-game, they became more about filling the archive than advancing my team.
Tier E: Special Costume or Skin Banners
These don’t offer any gameplay advantages but instead provide visual customization. For collectors, they’re appealing, but in terms of gem efficiency, they offer no in-game value.
Beginner warning: Don’t spend Gems here if you care about progression. Only go for these once you’re secure in your core roster.
Tier F: Trap Banners
Every gacha game has them—banners that seem exciting due to flashy marketing but hide poor drop rates or underwhelming units. These are especially dangerous for beginners.
Personal story: I regret pulling on the Modernia rerun banner when I already had her. The rates were worse, and I could’ve saved those Gems for something better. Always do your homework!
Understanding gem efficiency is crucial to success in Goddess of Victory: Nikke. These Nikke gems purchasing tips for beginners can make the difference between a powerful squad and months of wasted resources. Always evaluate a banner based on character strength, rarity, and relevance to your current lineup.
From my experience, the most rewarding strategy has been saving up Gems for Pilgrim or collaboration banners and ignoring everything else unless it directly supports my team’s progression. With smart planning and a bit of patience, your Gems will take you further than you might think.
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