Hero investment is the single most consequential long-term decision in Kingshot. Resources spent on the wrong hero are permanently wasted — there's no full refund for shards or XP. This guide exists to help you spend smart.
Before you commit gems, stock up on free ones: the latest Kingshot gift codes hand out gems, Hero XP, and speedups you'd otherwise pay for.
Kingshot Hero Tier List Quick Answer (September 2026)
There is no honest single S-tier for every Kingshot mode. Rally leaders, garrison defenders, Bear Hunt joiners, and F2P investments are judged by different mechanics. Start with your goal here, then use the complete role tables and generation breakdowns below for the full ranking.
| Your Goal | Top Heroes | What Decides the Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Rally Lead | Amadeus, Petra, Marlin, Thrud, Vivian, Yang, Ava, Sophia | Rally-focused widgets, current-generation stats, and attack value |
| Garrison Defense | Jabel, Zoe, Hilde, Eric, Jaeger, Alcar, Margot, Vivian, Long Fei, Triton, Charles, Wee & Woo | Defender widgets, durability, sustain, and defensive debuffs |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Chenko, Amadeus, Yeonwoo, Amane, Margot, Vivian, Wee & Woo, Ava, Luna | The lead hero's first Expedition skill must directly increase rally damage |
| F2P Investment | Zoe, Jabel, Chenko, Amane, Marlin | Accessibility, star value, and how long the investment remains useful |
Your server generation still matters. A hero listed for a later generation is not a reason to abandon a well-starred, well-geared hero before the replacement is actually available and usable.
Best Long-Term Hero Investments
These heroes retain strong value across multiple roles or server generations. The right five for your account still depend on spending level, unlocked generation, and whether you lead rallies or join them.
| Hero | Gen | Class | Why They Stay Relevant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amadeus | 1 | Infantry | Only offensive infantry widget in the entire game — stays meta through Gen 6 |
| Zoe | 2 | Infantry | 40% HP heal makes her the best F2P garrison/frontline hero through Gen 5 |
| Petra | 3 | Cavalry | Best cavalry rally leader, Change of Fate up to 600% damage, first cavalry with rally widget |
| Marlin | 2 | Archer | Strong in Arena and Expedition; long-term investment that doesn't expire fast |
| Hilde | 2 | Cavalry | Best S-tier joiner for stackable garrison buffs; unique double-effect skill |
| Vivian | 5 | Archer | Current highest offensive output, +25% enemy damage taken buff for whole army |
| Yang | 6 | Archer | Best F2P Gen 6 hero; direct rally Lethality buff, 7,200 base ATK |
| Ava | 7 | Cavalry | Cleanest Gen 7 rally leader, with Bear joiner value from first-skill Defense Down |
| Charles | 7 | Infantry | Strongest pure Gen 7 defensive anchor: sustain, damage reduction, enemy Lethality reduction, defender HP widget |
| Luna | 8 | Archer | Only Gen 8 offensive widget, and an S+ Bear joiner off a flat +25% Squad Attack first skill |
| Diego | 8 | Infantry | Gen 8 Roulette hero, so the realistic F2P finish; the only recent infantry with Squad Lethality, though he doesn't out-wall Charles or Triton |
Best Heroes by Server Generation
Use the newest row your server has unlocked. These are role-specific priorities, not a command to replace a stronger starred hero immediately.
| Generation | Rally Priority | Garrison Priority | Bear Hunt Joiner Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | Amadeus | Jabel | Amadeus |
| Gen 2 | Marlin | Zoe, Hilde | Hilde |
| Gen 3 | Petra | Eric, Jaeger | Keep earlier joiners |
| Gen 4 | Rosa | Alcar, Margot | Margot |
| Gen 5 | Thrud, Vivian | Vivian, Long Fei | Vivian |
| Gen 6 | Yang, Sophia | Triton | Keep earlier joiners |
| Gen 7 | Ava | Charles, Wee & Woo | Ava, Wee & Woo |
| Gen 8 | Luna | Liz, Diego | Luna |
Start With Your Roster Goal
If you came here to check one hero, use that answer to pick the next guide:
| What you just learned | Read next | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your best hero is a Bear Hunt joiner | Bear Hunt Guide | Turn Chenko, Amadeus, Yeonwoo, Amane, Margot, Vivian, Wee & Woo, Ava, or Luna into higher alliance damage |
| Your newest heroes are Gen 6 or Gen 7 | Conquest Guide | Build the right 3-hero combat team instead of treating rally and Conquest skills as the same thing |
| Your account is preparing for cross-kingdom fights | KvK Prep Guide | Convert hero choices into troop, gear, healing, and inventory prep |
| You need exact troop ratios for those heroes | Troop Formations Guide | Match your rally or defense heroes with the right march composition |
New to Kingshot? Read This First
If you've just started, the hero system can be confusing. Here's everything you need to know before looking at any rankings:
What Are Generations?
Heroes in Kingshot are released in waves called Generations. Each new generation has roughly 20% higher base stats than the one before it. This means a Generation 3 hero at the same level and stars as a Generation 1 hero will usually win in a direct fight — not because of skill, but because of raw numbers.
What generation are YOU on? It depends entirely on how old your server is:
| Server Age | Generation Available | Heroes You Can Build |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0–50 | Generation 1 | Jabel, Amadeus, Helga, Saul |
| Day 50–113 | Generation 2 | + Hilde, Zoe, Marlin |
| Day 113–197 | Generation 3 | + Petra, Eric, Jaeger |
| Day 197–281 | Generation 4 | + Rosa, Alcar, Margot |
| Day 281–365 | Generation 5 | + Vivian, Long Fei, Thrud |
| Day 365–449 | Generation 6 | + Yang, Triton, Sophia |
| Day 449–533 | Generation 7 | + Ava, Charles, Wee & Woo |
| Day 533+ | Generation 8 | + Diego, Liz, Luna |
New generations unlock roughly every 80 days (after 5–6 Hero Roulette cycles).
Why You Should Care About Generations
A Generation 1 hero maxed to full stars will generally lose to a Generation 3 hero at 3 stars. This is by design — it's called power creep, and it's how the game is structured.
This does NOT mean you should ignore older heroes. Some heroes (especially Amadeus and Zoe) remain meta-relevant for 5+ generations due to unique mechanics that newer heroes can't replicate. We'll call these out explicitly.
The Three Roles: Rally, Garrison, and Bear Hunt
Most tier lists lump everyone into one list. That's misleading. The best attack hero is often the worst garrison hero, and the best Bear Hunt joiner follows completely different rules. This guide separates all three:
- Rally / Attack heroes — Heroes you lead an attack rally with. Their widget (Exclusive Gear) is the most important factor.
- Garrison / Defense heroes — Heroes assigned to defend your city or alliance territory. Widget type matters here too, but in reverse.
- Bear Hunt joiners — Heroes you send to help your alliance damage the Bear. When you join someone's rally, the game only reads your lead hero's first expedition skill — nothing else from your kit applies. So joiner ratings come down to that one skill: does it directly raise rally damage through Attack, Lethality, or a damage-facing enemy debuff like Defense Down? If yes, the hero is useful. If it's a damage proc, a defensive buff, or a non-damage debuff like enemy Attack Down, it's mostly wasted on the Bear.
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Generation 1 — Your First Heroes (Server Days 0–40)
You're reading this section if your server is less than 50 days old, or if you just want to understand the heroes that were available at launch. Gen 1 heroes are the foundation. Most will be replaced by Gen 3–4, but Amadeus is a permanent exception.
How to get: Free — Jabel is available through the 7-day sign-in reward for new players and via the Hero Hall recruitment. Most players receive her in the first week of play. No gems required.
What Jabel does: Jabel is a Cavalry hero with an AoE damage skill and defensive buffs. She's one of the strongest early-game heroes because she's free, easy to build, and provides both damage and damage reduction in Expedition. Her garrison widget makes her one of the best defenders in Gen 1 through early Gen 3.
Jabel's confirmed in-game skills:
Jabel
Jabel with her banner-like red armor, has a X chance of reducing damage taken by 50% for all squads
Jabel, a fearless knight, grants all squads a 50% chance of dealing X more damage when attacking
Jabel's valiant spirit inspires everyone increasing damage dealt by X for all squads
Her Expedition skills buff allied damage and provide damage reduction — this is what makes her valuable as a garrison S-tier even in later generations on defense-focused servers.
Is Jabel worth investing in?
- Yes — for early game (Day 0–80). She's free and impactful.
- Yes — as a garrison/defender role even into Gen 3 (her defender widget stays relevant).
- Stop here — don't invest universal shards once you have Gen 3 rally heroes.
Tier placement:
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | No attack widget — defensive kit |
| Garrison | S | Top defender widget through Gen 4 |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is pure defense — wasted against the bear |
How to get: Available through VIP 7+ packs and select purchase milestones.
What makes Amadeus special: Amadeus is the only infantry hero in the entire game with an offensive attack widget. As of the Gen 7 meta (verified June 2026), no other infantry hero — including Gen 6's Triton and Gen 7's Charles, whose widgets are defensive-type — has replicated this. His Aegis of Fate widget provides a multiplicative rally bonus that amplifies your entire squad's output. This is why he appears in S-tier rally lists even on Generation 5 and Generation 6 servers.
Amadeus's confirmed in-game skills:
Amadeus
Amadeus is a skillful parrier, reducing damage taken by X
Amadeus attacks in a sword-tailored formation, increasing Rally Attack by X
The catch: Amadeus requires spending (VIP 7+). He is not a free or easily farmable hero. If you're fully F2P, his long-term value is real but acquisition is the barrier.
Is Amadeus worth it?
- Yes — if you can access him. His rally widget value doesn't expire.
- Yes — as a Bear Hunt joiner (S+ for offensive bear damage builds).
- Skip for now — if you're F2P and haven't yet built Zoe and Jabel.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | Only offensive infantry widget in the game |
| Garrison | B | Offensive kit, not built for defense |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | S+ | Flat +25% Lethality from his first expedition skill, stacks across joiners |
How to get: Given during the tutorial/early gameplay.
What Saul does: Saul can stun enemies for 2 seconds and boosts his own ATK speed, plus gains DEF when HP drops low. He's a balanced early hero. His real value is as a joiner — Saul is S-tier for stackable garrison joiner builds because he has two different effect types in the same skill, giving a stronger SkillMod boost when stacked (e.g., 4x Saul joiners).
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Outscaled quickly, stun is good but stats fall behind |
| Garrison | A | Solid defender in early game, good joiner |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill is defensive — only worth sending as a garrison joiner |
| Garrison Joiner (stacking) | S | 4x Saul stack gives strong SkillMod boost |
What Helga does: Helga is a strong Gen 1 infantry hero that functions similarly to Amadeus as a rally leader alternative. She's a good investment if you get her through the first purchase reward early on, but her base stats won't keep up past Gen 2–3.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | A | Good Gen 1 alternative to Amadeus |
| Garrison | B | Falls behind Gen 2+ defenders |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is pure defense — wasted against the bear |
Generation 2 — The Long-Term Investments (Day 50–113)
Generation 2 is where the first "permanent" heroes appear. Zoe, Hilde, and Marlin remain relevant 3–4 generations after their release — much longer than most heroes. If you're on a Gen 2+ server, these should be your priority investments.
For the resource plan, star targets, and mode-specific teams, read the Kingshot Gen 2 heroes guide.
How to get: Available through Hero Roulette. She's the most accessible high-value hero for F2P players.
What makes Zoe special: Zoe's Agony Rush skill triggers automatically when her HP drops below 50%, healing her for 40% of her maximum HP. This brings her back to approximately 90% HP — and it happens once per battle. The result is that enemies need to deal more than 90% of Zoe's HP in a single burst to kill her. At high stars, this is extremely difficult.
Zoe's confirmed in-game skills:
Zoe
Zoe's unpredictable attacks easily enweb foes, dealing Attack × X damage every 0.5s and amplifying damage taken by the target by X for 2s
Zoe requires pain to reach peak physical performance. She immediately regains X of max Health under 50% Health. Can only activate once per battle
Zoe inspires her fellow warriors to battle, boosting your heroes' Attack Speed by X
Your squads' attacks gain a 20% chance of inflicting Sunder, dealing X damage per turn for 3 turns
Zoe is a gifted female orator, and her rousing battle speeches increase the total Squads' Attack by X
Zoe strikes the enemy so completely and utterly that your squads' attacks gain a 50% chance of amplifying enemy squads' damage taken by X
Zoe's inner demon is awakened only by pain. Gaining a X increased Attack until the end of the Battle once "Agony Rush" is triggered
Zoe is a relentlessly demanding garrison commander, increasing Defender Squads' Attack by X
Is Zoe worth investing in?
- F2P players — Zoe is your single best investment. Max her stars first.
- All players — She remains a top garrison defender into Gen 5. Her self-heal is uniquely hard for newer heroes to replicate, which is why she stays valuable long after Gen 2.
- As rally lead — Zoe doesn't have an offensive widget. Use Amadeus or Petra for attack rallies.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | No attack widget; defensive kit |
| Garrison | S | Best F2P frontline tank through Gen 5 |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is damage-over-time — bear doesn't care about that |
How to get: Hall of Governors (Hero of the Season), Strongest Governor, Hero Rally, and Daily Deals. Hilde is not a Hero Roulette hero.
What makes Hilde special: Hilde is unique because she has two different effect types in a single expedition skill — this is rare and extremely powerful for the joiner stacking mechanic. When you use 4x Hilde joiners, the SkillMod calculation produces a much larger multiplier than most other heroes. She also provides healing sustain that makes rallies survive longer.
Hilde's confirmed in-game skills:
Hilde
Immediately restores Health equal to her Attack × X to all friendly heroes
Injury is no match for Hilde's redeeming invocations. Immediately restores Health equal to her Attack × X to the weakest friendly hero
Psychological warfare is an age-old tactic. Disables the enemy target for 1s while dealing Attack × X damage
Hilde's exhaustive discipline develops soldiers into true weapons, increasing the total squads' Attack and Defense by X and X
Hilde uses her secret tonic to enhance the warriors' strength, granting all squads' attack a 25% chance of dealing X damage
Hilde's devout prayer has a X chance of reducing damage taken by 50% for all squads
Soldiers swear by Hilde's everyday miracles, increasing her healing effects by X
Hilde's pious confidence in her cause is infectious, increasing Defender Squads' Health by X
Is Hilde worth investing in?
- Everyone — She's S-tier for garrison joiner stacking regardless of generation.
- As garrison defender — Her sustain and heal effects shine in defense.
- As rally attack leader — Her kit is defensive; use Amadeus or Petra to lead attacks.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Defensive kit |
| Garrison | S | Top defender + S-tier for 4x joiner stacking |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | A | Her first expedition skill still gives a flat Attack buff, even if the other half is wasted |
How to get: Hall of Heroes — unlock him with 10 shards, then level to 3–4 stars using generation Mythic Shards (also appears in Daily Deals once your server reaches Gen 3+). Marlin is not a Hero Roulette hero — the Gen 2 roulette feature is Zoe.
Why F2P should grab him: Marlin is your ranged carry all the way into Gen 3. Even a 3-star Marlin outperforms a 5-star Diana, so the shard investment pays off fast.
What Marlin does: Marlin is an AoE damage dealer who can also stun enemies. His value is that he performs well in Arena and Expedition, making him a long-term hero worth building even as newer archers arrive. He holds S-tier value for rally attack because his kit stays useful past the early server window.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | Strong attack widget; long-term viability |
| Garrison | B | Offensive kit |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill is a chance-based proc — procs don't stack across joiners |
Generation 3 — The Meta-Defining Heroes (Day 113–197)
Generation 3 is where Kingshot's most iconic meta heroes appear. Petra and Eric define this generation. If your server has unlocked Gen 3, your investment priority shifts dramatically.
How to get: Hero Roulette. She's more accessible than Gen 4–5 heroes but still requires gem investment.
What makes Petra special: Petra is the first cavalry hero in the game with a rally attack widget. This alone makes her the default cavalry rally leader. Her Change of Fate skill is her signature — it deals anywhere from 5% to 600% damage depending on RNG. Solo, this is inconsistent. But when multiple Petras join the same rally, the probability math shifts dramatically — four Petras create reliable proc chains that consistently hit the high end of that range.
Petra's confirmed in-game skills:
Petra
Petra throws a tarot card at an enemy, dealing Attack× X damage and inflicting one of the following effects: reducing the target's Attack by 20% for 2s or stunning the target for 1.5s
Petra curses an enemy, dealing floating damage based on the base value of Petra's Attack × X . The final damage is a random amount between 5% and 600% of that base value
Petra reverses misfortune by healing a friendly hero with the lowest percentage of Health remaining based on the base value of Petra's Attack × X . The final Health restored is a random amount ranging between 5% and 400% of that base value
Grants all Squads' Attack a 50% chance of cursing the target, increasing their damage taken by X
Petra is known as a lucky fortune-teller to her soldiers, granting a 50% chance of increasing the Squads' Attack by X
Petra's divination navigates bad outcomes with a 40% chance of reducing damage taken by X for all squads
Petra has become more skilled at weighting the cards of fate in her favor, increasing the upper and lower limit of her fluctuating skills by X
Strike! The cards never fail to inform Petra of the right time to act. Petra increases Rally Squad Attack by X.
Is Petra worth investing in?
- Cavalry mains — She's your first cavalry rally leader.
- Mid-game (Gen 3–4 servers) — Still S-tier in this window.
- Gen 5+ servers — Petra remains solid but Vivian and Thrud outclass her in raw output.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | First cavalry rally widget; consistent in groups |
| Garrison | B | Offensive kit, not optimized for defense |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is not a damage-facing buff or debuff for Bear damage |
What Eric does: Eric is a durable infantry hero who boosts his own defense when attacked, has a stun chance on enemies, and deals moderate damage. He excels as a garrison defender and holds up well in Expedition. His stun chance and self-scaling DEF make him reliable in sustained fights through Gen 4.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Low damage ceiling, defensive kit |
| Garrison | S | Top-tier defender, stun and self-DEF scaling |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill lowers enemy Attack — the bear doesn't even attack you |
What Jaeger does: Jaeger has a 20% chance to increase squad damage by 40% for three turns and a 20% chance to debuff enemy lethality — a powerful double-effect when it procs. He is highly effective in sustained archer compositions when his proc activates, though the RNG makes him inconsistent as a solo rally lead. Best used as a garrison defender (defender widget).
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Chance-based; good when it procs |
| Garrison | S | Defender widget, lethality debuff on enemies |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill is a chance-based proc — procs don't stack across joiners |
Generation 4 — Arena Specialists Arrive (Day 197–281)
Important for Gen 4: Rosa and Margot are the two biggest names here. Rosa excels in the Arena (debuff immunity) and is the recommended Gen 4 Bear Hunt rally host — her Golden Rhythm skill gives the whole formation +30% Archer Attack, which is massive in an 89% Archer march. What she is NOT good at is joining someone else's rally: her first expedition skill (Chaos Gambit) is a 40% chance proc that doesn't stack across joiners.
What Rosa does: Rosa's standout Battle Focus skill makes all squads immune to debuffs like stun — in the Arena, where stun-heavy compositions dominate, this is a game-changer. As a rally host, her Golden Rhythm skill boosts all Archers' Attack by +30%, which lands across 89% of your march in the Gen 4 1/10/89 Bear Hunt formation. Her Perihelion widget also raises Rally Squad Lethality when she leads. She is a poor joiner (chance-based first expedition skill), but an excellent rally host.
Rosa's confirmed in-game skills:
Rosa
Well-placed chaos is prologue to success. Rosa grants a 40% chance of increasing all Squads' Damage Dealt by X
No soldier wishes to harm this wild rose of war, reducing damage dealt by X for all enemy squads
A dance of distraction is the perfect complement to archer fire, increasing Archers' total Attack by X
Is Rosa worth investing in?
- Arena-focused players — She's your single best Arena carry.
- Gen 4 Bear Hunt rally host — Rosa is the recommended host archer at Gen 4. Her Golden Rhythm skill applies +30% Archer Attack to the whole formation (89% Archers), and Perihelion adds Rally Squad Lethality via her widget. Use her to lead your Bear Hunt rally, not to join others.
- Long-term archer investment — She can replace Marlin as your archer rally hero.
- Bear Hunt joiner — Skip Rosa as a joiner. Her first expedition skill (Chaos Gambit) is a 40% chance proc, not a flat squad buff, so it doesn't reliably help when joining someone else's rally.
- If you're below Gen 4 — She won't be available yet.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | A | Strong archer, but not as dominant as in Arena |
| Arena | S+ | Debuff immunity is irreplaceable in Arena |
| Bear Hunt Rally Host | A | Golden Rhythm (+30% Archer ATK) + Perihelion (Rally Lethality widget) make her the recommended Gen 4 host archer |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill (Chaos Gambit) is a 40% chance proc — won't stack across joiners |
What Alcar does: Alcar is a sturdy infantry garrison hero with a defender widget, making him S-tier for defense roles from Gen 4 onward. His Expedition skills provide good sustain, helping him hold in longer fights.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Defensive kit |
| Garrison | S | Defender widget, strong Expedition sustain |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill is just damage reduction — useless against a non-retaliating bear |
What Margot does: Margot is the Gen 4 cavalry counterpart to Rosa — strong in Arena and as an Expedition/joiner hero. Her defender widget makes her a top garrison cavalry option. Her joiner skills are non-chance-based, making her reliable for Bear Hunt joiner stacking.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Not an attack-widget hero |
| Garrison | S | Top cavalry defender, consistent Expedition skills |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | S+ | Non-chance-based, stackable for Bear |
Generation 5 — Current Power Ceiling (Day 281–365)
Generation 5 represents the current meta ceiling on most active servers. Vivian, Thrud, and Long Fei are all significant upgrades. If your server is approaching Day 280, start saving for these heroes now.
What makes Vivian special: Vivian's expedition skill Crouching Tiger permanently increases all enemy damage taken by 25% — meaning your ENTIRE army hits 25% harder while she's in the rally. This is a multiplicative bonus that stacks with every other damage source. Combined with her Focus Fire systematic burst, she is the premier endgame carry.
Vivian's confirmed in-game skills:
Vivian
Vivian is a patient commander willing to wait for just the right moment to strike. All squads' attacks increase enemy damage taken by X
Vivian's sharp focus exposes enemy weaknesses, granting all squads' attack X extra damage after every four attacks, and causes the target to receive X extra damage for its next attack received
Vivian equips her Archers with custom coin traps, dealing X extra damage to all enemies on the next attack of every 4 attacks
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S+ | Army-wide damage amplification is irreplaceable |
| Garrison | B | Offensive kit |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | S+ | Crouching Tiger is offensive damage-taken amplification from her first Expedition skill |
What Thrud does: Thrud is a force multiplier for cavalry-focused armies. Her kit elevates the entire team's output rather than focusing on personal DPS. She replaces Petra as the cavalry rally lead on Gen 5+ servers, though Petra remains viable as a joiner.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | Team-wide cavalry multiplier |
| Garrison | A | Some defensive utility |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is an extra-damage proc, not a flat squad buff |
What Long Fei does: Long Fei is strong in Conquest because he can gain invincibility, which is a rare defensive mechanic. His Expedition skills are strong enablers for the whole squad, making him the top Gen 5 garrison infantry hero.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | A | Strong Expedition offense |
| Garrison | S | Invincibility mechanic, best Gen 5 infantry defender |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill is defensive — contributes nothing to bear damage |
Generation 6 — The Latest Wave (Day 365–449)
Generation 6 is only available on servers older than 360 days. Yang, Triton, and Sophia have roughly 20% higher base stats than Gen 5 heroes. If your server hasn't reached this generation yet, save this section for later and focus on the previous tiers.
What makes Yang special: Yang boasts 7,200 base Hero Attack — the highest in the game at Gen 6 launch (compared to Sophia's 5,926 and Triton's 4,546). More importantly, her Ambush expedition skill raises Rally Squad Lethality, making her the only Gen 6 hero with a direct offensive rally buff. Unlike Triton, who is locked to Hall of Heroes and the Swordland Showdown Shop, Yang's shards are widely available through standard events. Sophia sits between them: available through Hero Roulette, but not through free standard events.
Yang's confirmed in-game skills:
Yang
Yang delivers a rip-roaring Frostkin in a straight line against enemies, dealing Attack × X area of effect damage plus the same amount on its return path
Yang's special firearm has a X chance of inflicting a combo shot, dealing another round of damage to enemies
Any bullet can inflict the critical blow to a hunter's prey when aimed just right. Yang enjoys a X Crit Rate when dealing damage
An avalanche for Yang is just another weapon in her arsenal, resulting in an additional strike against a target by all Squads every 4 turns for X damage
Years of arctic adversity have taught Yang to seize advantages. Yang's Archers have a 40% chance of dealing X extra damage with every attack
Yang is an advanced thinker who can easily grasp the principles of almost any phenomena, giving all Squads a X chance of dealing increased damage every turn
Yang's impressive muscle memory enables a five-shot barrage, dealing Attack × X damage to a random enemy. If the target is an Escort, there is a X chance of instantly knocking them down
Yang puts the maxim that the best defense is a good offense to good use, increasing Rally Squad's Lethality by X
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S+ | Highest base ATK + only Gen 6 rally Lethality buff |
| Garrison | B | Offensive kit |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is direct damage — her rally Lethality buff is on a later skill, which joiners can't use |
What Sophia does: Sophia's kit revolves around the Confusion debuff — her Puppet Master deals 140% AoE damage and inflicts Confusion on enemies, scaling her own damage based on how many debuffs she stacks. Strong in controlled environments, and more accessible than Triton because she is available through Hero Roulette, but still less F2P-friendly than Yang's standard event shard path.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | High AoE damage + debuff scaling |
| Garrison | A | Some defensive synergy |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | Her first expedition skill is purely defensive |
What Triton does: Triton deals wild damage and crowd control in Conquest and Expedition, with the ability to focus targets down quickly. Premium-locked acquisition makes him harder to access than Yang, but his output is competitive for Gen 6 infantry roles.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | A | Strong DPS, but 4,546 base ATK trails Yang |
| Garrison | S | Top Gen 6 infantry defender |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His first expedition skill is just Defense — wasted on the bear |
On a Gen 6 server? Yang, Sophia, and Triton answer different questions. Use this tier list for rally and garrison priority, then use the Conquest Guide for 3-hero stage teams and the Bear Hunt Guide before sending any of them as joiners. See the full Gen 6 heroes guide for build order and F2P vs. spender acquisition paths.
Generation 7 — The Day 449+ Meta
Generation 7 is a real stat jump, not just a cosmetic refresh. Ava, Charles, and Wee & Woo use 321 season scaling versus 267 for Gen 6, which is roughly a 20.2% base-stat increase before you factor in widget role or expedition skills.
For the full build-order breakdown — which Gen 7 hero to invest in first, when Gen 7 actually starts to matter for your account, and what to do with the gems you've been hoarding — see the dedicated Kingshot Gen 7 heroes guide.
What makes Ava special: Ava has the clearest role in the generation. Her Color Storm widget gives direct Rally Squad Lethality, and her expedition package stacks premium offensive effects: Dissolution lowers total enemy Defense, Chiaroscuro increases enemy damage taken, and Light and Cold raises allied Lethality.
That combination gives her the cleanest case as the first Gen 7 cavalry rally investment. Even before live testing, the widget plus expedition package point very strongly in the same direction.
Bear Hunt update: Ava is no longer a "not useful" joiner. Her first Expedition skill is Dissolution, and that skill reduces total enemy Defense by up to 25%. That is not the same category as direct Attack/Lethality stacking, but it is still an offensive effect that helps the rally hit harder. On Day 449+ servers, treat a leveled Ava as an S+ Bear joiner.
Ava
Some of the most visible colors can be the most poisonous. Ava's color bomb envelops an area, dealing Attack × X damage to nearby enemies every 0.5s for 3s.
Ava detonates a corrosive pigment combo in the target's face, dealing Attack × X damage every 0.5s and increasing the target's damage taken by X for 2s.
The right color combo will confuse enemies, granting Ava X increased Defense.
An artist sees what others cannot. Ava's deconstructive gaze sees vulnerabilities, reducing total Enemy Squad's Defense by X.
Bright light and dark shadow can blind enemies who do not expect it. All enemy soldiers receive X increased damage for 2 turns every 4 turns.
Ava's weapons are like twin beacons for all to follow, increasing soldiers' Lethality by X.
Young Ava's pigment arsenal increases her damage dealt by X and reduces the Attack of affected targets by 15%.
Ava's unique color dispatching system increases Rally Squad's Lethality by X when initiating a rally.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | Rally Lethality widget + defense shred + periodic damage amp |
| Garrison | B | Offensive cavalry kit, no defender widget |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | S+ | First Expedition skill applies Enemy Defense Down, a rare offensive debuff that complements Attack/Lethality joiners |
What makes Charles special: Charles is the clear defense-first Gen 7 hero. His expedition kit is loaded with sustain and mitigation: Intimidation lowers enemy Lethality, Iron Bodies reduces damage taken, Great Justice boosts Health, and Mechanic restores Health once he falls below 50%.
His widget finishes the picture. Shock and Awe boosts Defender Squad Health, which makes him the natural late-game garrison successor if you spend and your alliance uses you for city defense, Castle Battle, or structure holding.
Charles
Charles unleashes a Vengeance strike from the Angel of Justice against enemies in a fan-shaped area ahead, dealing Attack × X damage and stunning targets for 1s while increasing his own Attack by X for 2s.
Charles minefields the area after his mech's destruction, dealing Attack × X Area of Effect damage to nearby enemies as a parting gift.
Charles has always been gifted with lightning-fast reactions, granting a X chance of reducing damage taken by 50%.
The terrifying presence of the massive Angel of Justice on the battlefield reduces enemy Squad's Total Lethality by X.
Superior metal armor forging blunts the impact of conventional weapons, reducing Squad's Damage Taken by X.
The Angel of Justice comes outfitted with state-of-the-art battlefield medkits, increasing Squad's total Health by X.
Charles takes good care of Angel and restores a certain amount of health (X of Max Health) when first under 50% Health while increasing Defense by X until the end of battle. This skill can only be triggered once per battle.
Charles knows how to make a roaring entrance worthy of the massive Angel of Justice mech, increasing Defender Squad's Health by X.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Useful frontline utility, but the widget is defensive |
| Garrison | S | Best Gen 7 defensive widget package and strongest sustain profile |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | His main expedition value is defensive, which Bear does not reward |
What makes Wee & Woo special: Wee & Woo have the most explosive raw damage text in the generation. Artillerymen raises Attack and Lethality, Chain Shelling gives anti-class bonus damage, and Boom Boom adds a strong extra-damage proc.
The caveat is the widget. Landmines increases Defender Squad Attack, so while the damage package is excellent, the cleanest long-term role is a hybrid damage/defense slot rather than the pure rally-first lane Ava occupies.
Wee & Woo
Wee & Woo follow the artillery principle of "high ground, long shots" to the letter, dealing Attack × X Area of Effect damage.
Wee & Woo fire a special incendiary round from the Royal Foundry, dealing Attack × X Area of Effect damage. The flaming crater in its wake also deals Attack × X damage to nearby enemies every 0.5s for 2s.
Article 30 of the artilleryman's code provides a role for non-essential personnel at the front when necessary, increasing Attack by X.
The inclusion of the artillerymen has an overall helpful effect of increasing Squad's total Attack by X and total Lethality by X.
Wee & Woo's devastating back-to-back rounds tear shreds through the enemy lines, increasing Squad's Damage Dealt to Archer by X and to Infantry by X.
"There's always someone in every cannon duo who can aim well." Wee & Woo's presence gives Squad's Attack a X chance of dealing 50% extra damage.
Truly, Wee & Woo's knowledge of modern ranged techniques has boosted morale. Wee & Woo also increase the Attack Speeds by X for Heroes and Escorts for 5s.
Smart artillerymen always keep mines in reserve in case of unwelcome friends. Wee & Woo increase Defender Squad's Attack by X.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | A | Massive damage kit, but defender widget keeps them below the true rally-first heroes |
| Garrison | S | Defender Attack widget plus high damage makes them excellent in event defense |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | S+ | Their first expedition skill gives both Attack and Lethality — cleanest Gen 7 joiner buff |
On a Day 449+ server? Start with the Gen 7 hero guide for Ava, Charles, and Wee & Woo build order, then check the KvK Prep Guide if your alliance is saving resources for the next cross-kingdom cycle.
Generation 8 — The Day 533+ Meta
Gen 8 splits cleanly by lane, not by power. Two of the three new heroes carry defensive widgets and only one carries an offensive one. Newer does not mean "better rally lead" this generation — it means you have to check which job the hero is built for before you spend.
For the full build order — who to chase on Roulette, why Liz is not an Ava replacement, and what to hold before Day 533 — see the dedicated Kingshot Gen 8 heroes guide.
What makes Luna special: she is the rare hero who is top-tier in two different seats at once. Her widget, the Envoy of Ancients, carries Moonlit Splendor — Rally Squad Attack when she initiates a rally, so she leads. And her first Expedition skill, Driving Light, is a flat +25% Squad Attack, so she also joins.
That second half is the one to notice. Driving Light is the same skill shape and the same values as Amane's Tri-Phalanx and Margot's Warbringer, which places her in Group B — the pool that multiplies against Chenko/Amadeus-style Group A Lethality skills instead of adding to them. That makes her the single best joiner to send into a rally that already has two Group A skills locked in.
Two caveats before you spend on her. That +25% needs skill level 5, which needs 4★ — 475 shards; below that she loses the slot to a better-levelled Chenko. And she is less of a rally upgrade than the generation number suggests: her Rally Squad Attack and Yang's Rally Squad Lethality multiply into the same damage formula, so swapping them at equal build barely moves your output. What actually separates her is the Gen 8 stat platform, which only arrives if you finish her.
Luna
Luna channels the stars of heaven against a wicked enemy, dealing Attack × X damage to enemies within range and stunning them for 1.5s.
Luna looses a particularly brutal arrow against an enemy, dealing Attack × X damage to enemies within range.
Luna's career exterminating the "disciples of evil" has done wonders for her skills, increasing her Attack by X for each enemy defeated (max 15 stacks).
Luna's lunar light drives away wickedness, increasing total Squad's Attack by X.
Luna's thirst for vengeance is a snare of ill-fortune against enemies, reducing enemy Squad's Attack by X for 1 turn every 2 turns.
Improvements in arrowheads have made their trajectory much less predictable, granting our archers an extra X damage to the target with each attack.
The crashing wrath of stars summoned in time of need can be used to draw enemy fire. The resulting spirit has X of Luna's initial Health and exists for 5s.
The blessed bow of the ancients is a sure sign of Luna's forthcoming victory, increasing her Rally Squad's Attack by X when initiating a rally.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | S | Rally Squad Attack widget plus an Archer-focused damage kit, in the troop lane that is 89% of an endgame Bear formation |
| Garrison | B | Offensive kit with no defender widget |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | S+ | Flat +25% Squad Attack on the first Expedition skill, tying Amane and Margot for the biggest flat Attack buff, and a Group B skill |
What makes Diego special: he is the Gen 8 Hero Roulette hero, and that is the fact that decides things for non-spenders. Every generation gets exactly one, and it is always the one a F2P account can realistically finish, because the shards pile up from spins you were making anyway.
He is not, however, a garrison upgrade. Measured against the recent infantry wall heroes he is the thinnest defensive option of the line — Defense +15% and Health +10%, where Triton gives Defense +25% plus Health +20%/+30% across every troop type and Charles gives Damage Taken −20% plus Health +25%. His widget duplicates Triton's exactly, so there is no reason to run both.
What he does own is Squad Lethality (+25% from Cold Frost), which none of Long Fei, Triton or Charles provides at all. That makes him an infantry damage contributor rather than a wall upgrade — but only when hosting, where all three of your heroes' skills apply.
Do not send him to Bear Hunt as a joiner. A joiner contributes only the lead hero's first Expedition skill, and his is Defensive Guidance. The Lethality never fires from that seat.
Diego
Diego the swordmaster is an expert in the "sword-shield" technique, a physical barrier with protection equal to Attack × X. The shield suffers damage before he does and lasts for 5s.
Diego's reputation on the battlefield precedes him, particularly amongst enemy heroes with the effect of reducing their Attack by X while increasing his own (by X × number of intimidated heroes) for 3s.
A swordmaster knows how an enemy is going to act even before they do. Diego has a X chance of dodging normal attacks with a X chance of dealing a critical with his own attacks.
A good offense is a good defense. Diego increases total Squad's Defense by X and total Health by X.
Diego's pride in his craft is easily shared, granting Squad's Attack a 50% chance of dealing X extra damage.
Even rank-and-file enemies cower in the face of Diego's awesome reputation, increasing total Squad's Lethality by X.
Diego's meteor blade is a pathway to new abilities, granting extra shield protection equal to Attack × X to "Undefendable" which reflects X of damage received throughout.
Diego is distrustful of elaborate defenses, and his basic approach actually increases Defender Squad's Defense by X.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Squad Lethality +25% is real, but the widget is defensive, so he contributes rather than leads |
| Garrison | A | Defender Defense widget and a durable Conquest kit, but the thinnest defensive Expedition line of the recent infantry — behind Charles and Triton |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | Not Useful | First Expedition skill is Squad Defense and Health |
What makes Liz special: the best Arena burst in the generation — and it is worth less than it looks, because all of it is Conquest-side. Bubbletopia, Slow Medicine and Bubble Splash run in Arena and nowhere else. Put her on a wall and none of the stun or the burst fires; what you get is Power Mix and her stats.
Players watch her delete things in Arena and spend accordingly. Arena is the one mode where that impression is accurate.
She is not an Ava replacement. Ava's Color Storm gives Rally Squad Lethality; Liz's Power Mix gives Defender Squad Lethality. Same 5% to 15% range, opposite jobs. Being a generation newer does not move her into the rally lane.
Liz
Liz flings a great gaseous bubble toward the enemy, disabling the target for 1.5s and dealing Attack × X Area Damage to the target and nearby enemies.
Liz launches an extremely special slowing concoction dealing Attack × X damage to an enemy and reducing the Attack Speed of its surrounding enemies by 50% for 3s.
Liz drinks her own nimble potion, increasing her Attack Speed by X.
"My elixirs always work eventually. Just drink more!" This enhanced brew has a X chance of increasing total Squad's Lethality by 50% every turn.
Liz's powerful revitalizing mixture increases total Squad's Health by X.
Liz has cultivated an interest in horse feed, improvements to which gives Cavalry attacks a 50% chance of dealing X extra damage.
Liz has improved bubble reactivity, increasing her Attack by X. Bubbletopia now deals Attack × X splash damage to nearby enemies when the control effect ends.
Liz uses Power Mix to increase L-MAO factor activity thus improving fighting spirit, increasing Defender Squad's Lethality by X.
| Role | Tier | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Rally (Attack) | B | Defensive widget; her damage is Conquest-side only |
| Garrison | S | Defender Squad Lethality widget, and the Arena kit carries over to defender duels |
| Bear Hunt Joiner | B | Alloyed Agent is chance-based, so it doesn't stack between joiners — and a maxed Liz can bump a lower-level Chenko out of the four active slots |
On a Day 533+ server? Start with the Gen 8 heroes guide for Diego, Liz, and Luna build order, and check the Bear Hunt guide before you send any of them as a joiner — only Luna belongs there.
Epic & Rare Heroes — The Special Roster
These heroes don't belong to a numbered generation. They're obtained through special means, early-game recruitment, gathering progression, events, or purchases. Most have limited battle utility, but Chenko, Amane, and Yeonwoo are genuine Bear Hunt standouts.
| Hero | Class | Best Role | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chenko | Cavalry | Bear Hunt Joiner S | Stand of Arms is a flat +25% Lethality on her first expedition skill — no proc, no chance |
| Amane | Archer | Bear Hunt Joiner S | Offensive stacking skill, highly effective for Bear damage |
| Yeonwoo | Archer | Bear Hunt Joiner S | Strong non-chance offensive joiner |
| Gordon | Cavalry | Rally B | His first expedition skill only adds Health — not a real Bear joiner |
| Howard | Infantry | Garrison only | First expedition skill is purely defensive |
| Quinn | Archer | Limited utility | First expedition skill is purely defensive |
| Diana | Archer | Limited utility | No battle-relevant expedition skills |
| Fahd | Cavalry | Bear Joiner D | His first expedition skill lowers enemy damage — bear doesn't care about that |
| Forrest | Infantry | Wood gathering | Useful for economy and early filler, not a combat investment |
| Seth | Infantry | Early filler / Iron gathering | Fine before Mythic heroes take over; do not spend premium resources |
| Edwin | Cavalry | Stone gathering | Utility hero first, temporary combat slot only |
| Olive | Archer | Bread gathering | Keep for resource gathering; replace in battle teams quickly |
Chenko note: Her Stand of Arms is a flat 25% Lethality boost on her first expedition skill — no proc, no chance, just a clean buff. That's why she stays one of the best F2P Bear Hunt joiners.
Chenko
Chenko implements advanced weaponry for our soldiers, increasing the total Squads' Lethality by X
Enhances troop armor with a keen engineering eye, reducing damage taken by X for all troops
Combined Tier Tables — By Role
These tables consolidate every hero into clean tier rankings. Find your generation column and invest accordingly.
Rally (Attack) Tier List
| Tier | Heroes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | Amadeus, Petra, Marlin, Thrud, Vivian, Yang, Ava, Sophia, Luna | Widget matters most; these are the cleanest rally leaders by generation and troop lane |
| A | Helga, Rosa, Long Fei, Wee & Woo, Triton | Strong kits, but with at least one caveat versus the true rally-first cores |
| B | Jabel, Saul, Zoe, Hilde, Eric, Jaeger, Alcar, Margot, Charles, Diego, Liz | Defensive or hybrid kits; usable early, replace when possible |
| C | Quinn, Howard, Chenko, Gordon | No widget or weak rally mechanics |
| D | Yeonwoo, Amane, Fahd, Diana, Forrest, Seth, Edwin, Olive | No battle-relevant skills for attack role, or rare utility heroes that should be replaced quickly |
Garrison (Defense) Tier List
| Tier | Heroes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S | Jabel, Zoe, Hilde, Eric, Jaeger, Alcar, Margot, Vivian, Long Fei, Triton, Charles, Wee & Woo, Liz | Defender widgets and/or durable kits built for sustained defense |
| A | Saul, Sophia, Diego | Solid defenders with minor caveats. Diego has the defender widget but the thinnest defensive Expedition line of the recent infantry — a backup wall behind Charles or Triton |
| B | Amadeus, Petra, Marlin, Rosa, Helga, Thrud, Ava, Yang, Luna | Offensive kits; workable in defense but not ideal |
| C | Quinn, Howard, Chenko, Gordon, Fahd, Forrest, Seth, Edwin | No defender widget, but usable early. Fahd is the standout here — his enemy-damage debuffs (Sandstorm cuts enemy Attack, Desert Eclipse cuts enemy Damage Dealt) stack well as a garrison debuffer against heavy hitters |
| D | Yeonwoo, Amane, Diana, Olive | No relevant battle skills, or pure utility value outside combat |
Bear Hunt Joiner Tier List
| Tier | Heroes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| S+ | Chenko, Amadeus, Yeonwoo, Amane, Margot, Vivian, Wee & Woo, Ava, Luna | Their first expedition skill directly improves Bear damage through flat Attack/Lethality, damage-taken amplification, or offensive target debuffs such as Enemy Defense Down |
| A | Hilde | Her first expedition skill has a useful Attack half, but she sits below the S+ joiner pool |
| B | Liz | Alloyed Agent is chance-based (10% at level 1, 50% at max), so it doesn't stack between joiners — one per rally at most, and only when nothing better is free |
| Not Useful | Jabel, Helga, Zoe, Petra, Saul, Marlin, Eric, Jaeger, Rosa, Alcar, Long Fei, Thrud, Yang, Fahd, Sophia, Triton, Charles, Diego, Forrest, Seth, Edwin, Olive, Diana, Howard, Quinn, Gordon | Their first expedition skill is defensive, a chance proc, a non-damage debuff, pure utility, or some other effect that does not translate into reliable Bear damage |
How I rate Bear joiners: Only one skill counts — your lead hero's first expedition skill. That's all the game pulls when you join someone's rally. So the question is simple: does that one skill directly increase rally damage through squad Attack, squad Lethality, damage-taken amplification, or an offensive target debuff such as Enemy Defense Down? If it's a defensive buff, a chance proc, or an enemy debuff that doesn't help damage, it doesn't help kill the bear faster, no matter how good the hero is in other modes. Widgets and later expedition skills don't apply on joiners — they only matter when you're leading.
Two things the tiers above don't show. Every percentage quoted here is the level 5 value, and a skill only reaches level 5 at 4★ — 475 shards including the unlock. An unstarred S+ hero is not an S+ joiner, and because rallies sort joiners by skill level, they are also first to be dropped when a fifth player joins. Second, a rally runs only four joiner skills and an alliance needs only a handful of people carrying them: if your rallies already fill with Chenko, Amadeus and Margot every cycle, buying another S+ joiner adds nothing, and Bear rewards flatten at the top brackets regardless.
Investment Priority by Player Type
F2P Priority Path (No spending)
- Zoe → max stars first (garrison cornerstone for 4+ generations)
- Jabel → second investment (free + top garrison hero early)
- Chenko or Amane → collect for Bear Hunt joiner (no gem investment needed if obtained through events)
- Marlin → your ranged hero into Gen 3. Unlock with 10 shards from Hall of Heroes, then level him to 3–4 stars with generation Mythic Shards. Even a 3-star Marlin beats a 5-star Diana — well worth it for F2P
- Amadeus → acquire through VIP if possible — his widget never expires
Stretch every pull further — redeem the latest gift codes for free gems, shards, and Hero XP to fund these F2P picks faster.
Low Spender Path
- Zoe → Petra (Gen 3 window) → Hilde (joiner stacking value)
- Build around your server's current generation peak
- Keep Amadeus as permanent joiner infrastructure
Heavy Spender Path
- Petra + Vivian + Yang + Ava rally core across troop lanes (adjust to server generation — Ava is the Gen 7 cavalry addition at Day 449+, Luna the Gen 8 archer addition at Day 533+)
- Zoe + Eric + Alcar garrison core (add Charles as your Gen 7 anchor if you've reached Day 449+)
- Chenko + Amadeus + Yeonwoo + Amane + Margot + Vivian + Wee & Woo + Ava + Luna Bear Hunt S+ joiner pool
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Should I keep investing in Zoe once Gen 5 heroes arrive? Yes — Zoe's garrison value remains strong into Gen 5. Her self-heal and tank value make her the top F2P infantry holdover through Generation 5. Don't abandon her just because newer heroes exist.
Q: Is Petra still worth building on a Gen 5 server? For cavalry rally: Thrud is stronger as a leader, but Petra still has value as a PvP joiner. For Bear specifically, skip her — her first expedition skill is an enemy debuff, not a flat squad buff.
Q: Which Gen 7 hero should I build first? If you lead cavalry rallies and spend, build Ava first. If you spend and your alliance uses you for city defense, Castle Battle, or holding structures, build Charles first. If you're F2P or want the most realistic hybrid damage/defense pick, go Wee & Woo.
Q: Which Gen 8 hero should I build first? Luna, unless you are strictly F2P. She is the only Gen 8 hero with an offensive widget, and she is the only one worth sending to Bear Hunt — her first Expedition skill is a flat +25% Squad Attack, the same shape and values as Amane and Margot. If you are F2P, build Diego instead: he is the Gen 8 Roulette hero, so his shards accumulate from spins you were already making. Build Liz only if you are the person who holds the wall for your alliance.
Q: What's a "widget" and why does it keep coming up? A widget (Exclusive Gear) is a hero-specific equippable item that provides a multiplied stat boost — it's multiplicative, not additive, which makes it far more powerful than regular gear. Heroes with attack widgets lead attack rallies. Heroes with defense widgets lead garrisons. This is the single most important factor in tier placement.
Q: Can I use S+ Bear Hunt joiners in regular rallies? Yes, but they might not be optimal. Bear Hunt joiner rankings are specifically for the Bear Hunt scenario. In regular PvP rallies, the widget mechanic takes priority again.
Q: What are the "rare" heroes (Olive, Edwin, Seth, Forrest) good for? Generally, limited utility in late game. Edwin (Cavalry) and Seth/Forrest (Infantry) can fill early garrison slots, but don't invest heavily — all Mythic heroes outclass them quickly.
Choose Your Next Guide
The tier list tells you who is worth building. These guides tell you what to do with that roster next.
| If your next problem is... | Go here | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| More Bear Hunt damage | Bear Hunt Guide | Chenko, Amadeus, Yeonwoo, Amane, Margot, Vivian, Wee & Woo, Ava, Luna, and joiner-slot setup |
| Correct joiner slots only | Bear Hunt Joiner Hero Tier List | Quick validation before the event starts |
| Five-hero PvP lineups | Arena Guide | Front and back row placement, generation teams, target selection, and Arena rewards |
| 3-hero combat teams | Conquest Guide | Gen 6/Gen 7 stage pushing, Arena-style positioning, and Conquest skill decisions |
| Cross-kingdom readiness | KvK Prep Guide | Turning hero investments into gear, troops, hospital space, and saved inventory |
| Rally and defense formations | Troop Formations Guide | Matching troop ratios to your attack or garrison heroes |
| Gear and widget order | Gear Guide | Spending gear materials where your best heroes actually use them |
| Skill details before spending | Hero Skills & Builds | Checking whether a hero's Conquest or Expedition skills fit your goal |
| F2P roster planning | F2P Complete Guide | Building a competitive account without chasing every new hero |
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