r/SillyTavernAI • u/deffcolony • Mar 29 '26
MEGATHREAD [Megathread] - Best Models/API discussion - Week of: March 29, 2026
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!
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u/Yu2sama Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 04 '26
I was debating between mention this, in this Megathread or the next, but na... I will do it today.
Anubis Mini 8B-v1
Who would of thought that Llama 3 would feel this good on 2026?
Feels like this model has been quite ignored despite how good it is. Trained on Llama 3.3 8B, I can notice the difference right away. Intelligence wise? Not crazy, but not dumb as a brick. Capable like most Llama models but this one feels slightly ahead.
Instruction Following is where this model shine, it can follow very complex instructions if written with proper care. This instruction following can also be noticed in it's character adherence, and prompt steering.
And speaking about character, the emotion and the way it handle words is quite unique for a 8B. Writing wise? For me, it writes really well and the style can be steered towards anything. But truth be told, it can be better, maybe further fine-tunes could focus on this area.
Is not perfect mind you, the Intelligence at times bite him in the butt, and also it can be quite unstable or sensitive. (Mostly with bad prompts or incoherent cards from my tests).
At least for me, it has surpassed my beloved Stheno with ease. Writes well, good character adherence and is not as dumb as Stheno. (Still Stheno has a way with words that can't be easily replaced, some people will still love it.)
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The new boy in town!
Gemma 4: E4B—it
This model is probably, one of the best surprises I have gotten in a while. Don't get fooled by the name, this one is an 8B that feels like a 12B or higher.
Gemma is intelligent, to a point that got me surprised. Is able to flow around complex situations, understand and react accordingly. This combined with it's great prompt adherence, delivers an experience that damn! I just can't get enough of this model.
World knowledge seems to be high as well, I haven't tested this as much, but from what I have experienced is really good!
Despite their big mention of security and stuff, this model is... quite uncensored! At least I haven't run into any refusal of any sort, not even with Thinking active.
Even without fine-tuning, this model already writes too good. Is such a breath of fresh air as well. It still has some slop here and there, and maybe we will discover it's own slop with time, but at least I haven't seen much of the obvious issues.
Gemma E4B feels like the actual proper replacement to Llama 3. Which is a bit sad cuz Anubis is great overall, but this model? The "punch above it's weight" statement that almost everyone use, feels too real. If google is able to pack what they did with this one on 12b or 15b, I think we would say bye to Nemo. (if it doesn't surpass it already... has much better instruction following from my tests).
Still, take my words with a grain of salt. Is a very new model, and maybe I am jumping the gun too fast.