Pick it when
Pick Rift Stalker Vax when your team needs surviving pressure while contributing enough damage or tempo to matter. The signal is HP 16; the follow-up check is whether ATK is enough for the matchup you expect.
Common
Rift Stalker Vax
Common card guide
Updated May 21, 2026
Rift Stalker Vax is a common durable bruiser built around HP 16 leading over DEF 2. The useful read is HP 16 plus ATK 5, so it belongs in teams that can use staying power while protecting the damage reduction gap.
ATK
5
HP
16
DEF
2
SPD
4
Max level
Level 10
Cards to max
91 total
Max stat gain
+36 stats
How to Use Rift Stalker Vax
Rift Stalker Vax should occupy the stable middle slot: surviving pressure while contributing enough damage or tempo to matter. A strong pairing is Spectral Phase, because it gives the lineup a different stat angle while Rift Stalker Vax focuses on HP. If the choice is between Rift Stalker Vax and CinderClaw, start by comparing HP 16 against 16 instead of choosing by rarity alone. When duplicates arrive, fuse only if this card is already solving that same battle job in your active lineup.
Strengths
- HP 16 is the page's clearest signal, giving Rift Stalker Vax a real battle identity instead of generic rarity value.
- ATK 5 is high enough to act as a tie-breaker when comparing it with nearby cards.
- The HP lead is large enough that Rift Stalker Vax should be chosen for that job, not as a generic filler card.
Weak Spots
- DEF 2 is the number to protect. Opponents that punish damage reduction can make Rift Stalker Vax feel weaker than its headline stat suggests.
- Rift Stalker Vax leans hard into HP, so it can be redundant if your team already has that same specialist role.
Developer Battle Read
Developer battle read: Rift Stalker Vax is a durable bruiser, not a blank common card. Its HP 16 and ATK 5 point to surviving pressure while contributing enough damage or tempo to matter. The first teammate I would test beside it is Spectral Phase, because that pairing reduces the pressure on DEF 2. I would compare it directly with CinderClaw before spending duplicates, since that shows whether Rift Stalker Vax's HP lead is actually needed.
Pick or Skip
When Rift Stalker Vax Belongs in Your Team
Battle Notes
Matchup Checks
Avoid it when
Avoid forcing Rift Stalker Vax into teams that already have enough staying power but still expose DEF 2. If Spectral Phase or another support card is not available, wait before locking it in.
Fusion note
Rift Stalker Vax can grow toward level 10 with a 100-point cap. The first meaningful checkpoint is around 11 total copies or points, so spend duplicates only if this durable bruiser remains part of your main battle plan.
- Durable Bruiser: use Rift Stalker Vax to surviving pressure while contributing enough damage or tempo to matter. This is strongest when the rest of the team is not asking it to cover DEF alone.
- Team shell: pair with Spectral Phase when you want Rift Stalker Vax's HP to matter without sacrificing coverage on DEF.
- Comparison check: if CinderClaw is available, choose based on whether your next fight needs HP or ATK more.
Pairings
Cards to Test With Rift Stalker Vax
Comparisons
Compare Before You Upgrade
Rift Stalker Vax + Spectral Phase
Spectral Phase covers Rift Stalker Vax's lower DEF with DEF 11, letting Rift Stalker Vax lean harder into staying power.
ATK 18 / HP 25 / DEF 11 / SPD 11
Rift Stalker Vax vs CinderClaw
Rift Stalker Vax keeps the edge on HP at 16 versus 16. Choose Rift Stalker Vax when you need staying power; choose CinderClaw when staying power matters more than covering DEF.
ATK 9 / HP 16 / DEF 4 / SPD 3
Rift Stalker Vax + Rimefang
Rimefang covers Rift Stalker Vax's lower DEF with DEF 11, letting Rift Stalker Vax lean harder into staying power.
ATK 17 / HP 27 / DEF 11 / SPD 10
Rift Stalker Vax vs Glaciora
Rift Stalker Vax trades down on HP at 16 versus 32. Choose Rift Stalker Vax when you need staying power; choose Glaciora when staying power matters more than covering DEF.
ATK 14 / HP 32 / DEF 10 / SPD 12
Level Growth
Stats and Cards Needed
Each card copy counts as 1 progression point. The table shows the first point total that reaches each level, the duplicate copies beyond your first card, and the stat gain versus the previous level.
Level 1
1 card total
Duplicates
+0
ATK
5
-
HP
16
-
DEF
2
-
SPD
4
-
Level 2
11 cards total
Duplicates
+10
ATK
5
-
HP
18
+2
DEF
3
+1
SPD
5
+1
Level 3
21 cards total
Duplicates
+20
ATK
6
+1
HP
20
+2
DEF
3
-
SPD
6
+1
Level 4
31 cards total
Duplicates
+30
ATK
7
+1
HP
23
+3
DEF
3
-
SPD
6
-
Level 5
41 cards total
Duplicates
+40
ATK
8
+1
HP
25
+2
DEF
4
+1
SPD
7
+1
Level 6
51 cards total
Duplicates
+50
ATK
8
-
HP
28
+3
DEF
4
-
SPD
8
+1
Level 7
61 cards total
Duplicates
+60
ATK
9
+1
HP
30
+2
DEF
4
-
SPD
8
-
Level 8
71 cards total
Duplicates
+70
ATK
10
+1
HP
32
+2
DEF
5
+1
SPD
9
+1
Level 9
81 cards total
Duplicates
+80
ATK
11
+1
HP
35
+3
DEF
5
-
SPD
9
-
Level 10
91 cards total
Duplicates
+90
ATK
11
-
HP
37
+2
DEF
5
-
SPD
10
+1
Same Rarity