NIKKE January 2026 Patch: Snow White Heavy Arms, New Year B2
Major NIKKE New Year update brings SSR Snow White: Heavy Arms, premium banners, reruns, and improved gacha. Full breakdown, banner odds, and meta tips
Tyler Smith NIKKE January 2026 Patch: Snow White Heavy Arms Leads Transformative New Year Update
The turn of 2026 marks one of the most consequential periods in Goddess of Victory: NIKKE since global launch. With SSR Snow White: Heavy Arms making her debut, multiple event reruns, expanded gacha, and game-wide quality-of-life improvements, there are meaningful shakeups for both competitive and casual Commanders. Below, EarlyGG details the new patch highlights, pulls lottery guidance, events timeline, and what the update means for F2P and meta play.
At a Glance: January 2026 Major Update
- SSR Snow White: Heavy Arms launches January 1, 2026 (UTC+9)
- SSR Rapi: Red Hood Special Recruit rerun, same period
- Bonus Recruit improvements: more Nikkes, higher exchange capacity
- Multiple event reruns and new voiced story event "ARK GUARDIAN"
- Step Up Recruit: clear phases for a selectable SSR box (restrictions apply)
- New and rerun costumes plus expanded cosmetics
- Full details as of patch 3.0.0 (maintenance December 30, 2025; UTC+9)
Banner Probabilities & Schedule: What’s Changing?
Special Recruit Phases (2026-01-01 to 2026-01-22, UTC+9)
| Phase | Start (UTC+9) | End (UTC+9) | Featured SSR | SSR Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow White: Heavy Arms | 2026-01-01 00:00 | 2026-01-22 04:59 | Snow White: Heavy Arms | 1% (4% overall) | Can use Gems or Adv. Recruit Vouchers |
| Rapi: Red Hood (rerun) | 2026-01-01 00:00 | 2026-01-22 04:59 | Rapi: Red Hood | 1% (4% overall) | Banner pools are separate |
| Step Up Recruit | 2026-01-01 00:00 | 2026-01-22 04:59 | Selectible SSR Box¹ | 4% | Obtainable only via Gems, strict exclusions |
| Guaranteed Recruit | 2026-01-01 00:00 | 2026-01-22 04:59 | SSR Pilgrim (select pool) | 100% (x10) | Voucher exclusive, paid pack only |
¹SSR Selection Box excludes Pilgrims, Over-spec, some limited/time-limited units; full checklist available in-game
Gacha Details
- Snow White: Heavy Arms: 1% rate (within 4% SSR), with the rest of the SSR pool shared; mileage exchange available (200 Gold Mileage Tickets).
- Rapi: Red Hood: identical 1% focus within her banner; NOT included in the Heavy Arms pool.
- Unused Gold Mileage Tickets do not expire post-event, providing long-term flexibility for strategic savers.
- After banners end, Snow White: Heavy Arms is added to Ordinary Recruit and Molds in a subsequent update (not New Commander special pools or Social Point Recruit).
Step Up Recruit: Structured, Value-Focused
- Four-phase progression using paid/free Gems only—no vouchers.
- Final reward is a SSR Selection Box if all phases are cleared (exclusions apply).
- No mileage tickets accrue in Step Up.
- For F2P/low-spend: allows precise targeting of missing SSRs (except top-tier Pilgrims/limiteds).
Guaranteed Recruit: For Pilgrim Chasers
- Uses Guaranteed Recruit Vouchers (cash shop only, not earnable free), guarantees a listed Pilgrim per 10-pull.
- Refund of 3,000 free Gems per unused voucher after event window.
- Available Pilgrims: Scarlet, Rapunzel, Snow White, Harran, Isabel, Noah, Modernia, Scarlet: Black Shadow.
Should You Pull? F2P, Low-Spend, and Roster Guidance
Snow White: Heavy Arms enters as the sole Pilgrim focus of the update, with splashy AOE, increased target count on Burst, and—importantly—future availability in standard gacha. If your roster lacks AOE Attacker flexibility, she is high-priority; existing Pilgrim mains or P2W can consider waiting for subsequent banners. Rapi: Red Hood remains a top pick for flexible Burst Stage and Fire synergy, especially for newer accounts who missed her debut.
- Meta Considerations: Both units fit a variety of competitive PvE squads. Snow White's scaling with full charge attacks and enhanced Burst make her a strong anchor for World Bosses, Union Raid, and Interception.
- F2P/Low-Spend: Prioritize Step Up for the SSR Selection Box (value for dupe acquisition or roster holes) and free event rewards first.
- High-Spend/Collectors: Guaranteed Recruit provides rare Pilgrim access—most impactful for whales seeking Scarlet or Modernia dupes.
Event Roadmap & Rewards
New & Returning Content
- ARK GUARDIAN Story Event: Voiced narrative with two main chapters and challenge stages. Comes with Recruit Vouchers, development mats, and a new animated cutscene. Runs through 2026-01-20 (UTC+9).
- 14 Days Login (UNTIL CLOSE): Consecutive logins reward Advanced Recruit Vouchers and further development resources.
- Daily/Weekly Events: Full Burst Day (bonus intercept/sim rewards), Daily Bonus Reward (unexpected daily prizes), 7-day New Year bonus gems and gacha tickets.
| Event | Start Date | End Date | Notable Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARK GUARDIAN | 2025-12-30 (post-maint) | 2026-01-20 04:59 | Vouchers, mats, animated story |
| 14 Days Login | 2025-12-30 | 2026-01-20 04:59 | Adv. Recruit Vouchers, mats |
| Full Burst Day | 2026-01-01 05:00 | 2026-01-08 04:59 | Interception, Simulation Room loot |
| Solo/Union Raid, Arena, Coordinated Ops | Various (see above) | Varies by performance |
Costume Highlights:
– New costumes for Alice, Quency, Emma; reruns for Helm, Guillotine, Maxwell. Most require event points, cash purchase, or event passes.
QoL Upgrades and System Expansions
- Ordinary Recruit / Bonus Recruit: Larger selection (Alice, Liter, Tia, Helm, Naga) and up to 10 SSR selections with sufficient pulls.
- Expanded Lobby Decoration slots (now 10 max), new profile objects, titles, and backgrounds.
- Gem Shop first purchase bonuses reset—plan accordingly if you intend to purchase premium currency.
Preparation Checklist: What to Do Before and After Maintenance
Pre-Maintenance
- Confirm 15–20GB free space on mobile/PC as required. Update is mandatory as of December 30, 2025 (UTC+9).
- Spend existing event currencies and open boxes before event shop resets.
- Hold Gold Mileage Tickets for use during banners featuring desired units.
Day-1 Post-Patch
- Download the latest client; do not close the app during resource fetch to avoid update failures.
- Prioritize Step Up Recruit if eligible; plan gacha pulls based on current roster and event strategy.
- Review new event stages promptly for incremental reward unlocks.
- For collectors: consult full list of returning/shop costumes and decide on purchases early.
Closing Thoughts: A Meta-defining Start to 2026
NIKKE's January 2026 patch delivers one of the strongest cycles for both event engagement and gacha value, with Snow White: Heavy Arms poised to alter AOE attacker hierarchies and a wave of accessible QoL and cosmetic upgrades. For roster optimizers, smart gem budgeting, and banner planning are more important than ever—not only due to overlapping SSR showcases but also because of increased long-term currency flexibility. For those interested in advanced team-building or detailed banner math, consult EarlyGG’s continuously updated tier lists and banner breakdowns.
For more analysis and hands-on impressions: see our September 2025 content breakdown and keep watch for ongoing EarlyGG meta updates as community data comes in.
All dates and times per official announcement. Future adjustments or unannounced features remain unconfirmed—always see in-game notices for the most current info.
Alt text suggestion:
– Main update visual: "SSR Snow White: Heavy Arms unleashes upgraded burst skills against multi-targets during NIKKE's New Year story event." (Purpose: Showcasing headline character and event tone for accessibility.)
– Banner schedule table: "Table listing banner periods and featured SSRs for January 2026 NIKKE patch."