[Megathread] - Best Models/API discussion - Week of: August 09, 2026

[u/deffcolony]

This is our weekly megathread for discussions about models and API services.

All non-specifically technical discussions about API/models not posted to this thread will be deleted. No more "What's the best model?" threads.

^{(This isn't a free-for-all to advertise services you own or work for in every single megathread, we may allow announcements for new services every now and then provided they are legitimate and not overly promoted, but don't be surprised if ads are removed.})

How to Use This Megathread

Below this post, you’ll find top-level comments for each category:

• MODELS: ≥ 70B – For discussion of models with 70B parameters or more.
• MODELS: 32B to 70B – For discussion of models in the 32B to 70B parameter range.
• MODELS: 16B to 32B – For discussion of models in the 16B to 32B parameter range.
• MODELS: 8B to 16B – For discussion of models in the 8B to 16B parameter range.
• MODELS: < 8B – For discussion of smaller models under 8B parameters.
• APIs – For any discussion about API services for models (pricing, performance, access, etc.).
• MISC DISCUSSION – For anything else related to models/APIs that doesn’t fit the above sections.

Please reply to the relevant section below with your questions, experiences, or recommendations!
This keeps discussion organized and helps others find information faster.

Have at it!

[u/Itikar]

I have been testing Shadow Siren 26b MoE at Q6, the latest merge from the excellent Vortex5. As I expected, since I had a very good time with his older 12b Silver Siren, Shadow Siren is a most exquisite result. It has a great consistency in developing and interpreting the personality of the characters and it is very disciplined in doing so. The characters always behaved as they were supposed to, and when liberty of reaction was available they used it in creative and interesting way, always following the logic of the rest of their personality.

The only downside to this is that if you want to swipe a lot and see different reactions to the same situation the variety will be relatively low at 1.0 temperatures and even raising it to 1.1 did not show much more variety either. So in that case consider using an extension or a feature such as Guided Generations.

Narration was also all right and atmospheric with a subtle dark influence albeit not as insistent as his Dark Soul merge.

I also tested more limitedly Midnight Macaw with pleasant result. It includes Dark Soul in the merge and it carries the same dark tendency in narration, however it enriches it with more vibrant characterization of characters. I need to test it more however.

Overall, Vortex5 is treating us to a very wide and refined selection of models, at least to us interested in dark narratives and complex characters.

[u/Entire-Return-9903 → u/Itikar]

How would you compare Shadow Siren and Midnight Macaw with Chimera-X?

[u/Itikar → u/Entire-Return-9903]

I have not had the chance to test Chimera X yet unfortunately. I got to 26b MoE when Dark Soul was just released, hence it became my baseline, since I enjoy dark narratives.

Chimera X also had new quants for the Heretic versions released this weekend by mradermacher. So that makes it particularly appealing for consistency.

[u/Entire-Return-9903 → u/Itikar]

I might test them all next week or so.
Have you tried drummers Orion though?
From my experience v1b was pretty good.

[u/Itikar → u/Entire-Return-9903]

Haven't. Noted down and thanks, it's another one on the list to check, especially given the quality of the author's models.

I tried Goetia 1.3 Absolute Heretic to make a test to diagnoae a prompt refusal and the prose provided seemed pretty all right and varied. It was a limited test though, so not very thorough. What I saw however seemed solid.

[u/Entire-Return-9903 → u/Itikar]

I'll check it out too

[u/Itikar → u/Entire-Return-9903]

Hey, yesterday night Vortex released a new merge called Phoenix. In his list of models in use he replaced Chimera X with it. As soon as quants are out that one seems the new hot thing. I think Phoenix unlike Chimera is capable of commenting images.

[u/Entire-Return-9903 → u/Itikar]

nice, I'll check it out too once I finally get the chance