Amadeus
Infantry · VIP 7+ packs
The permanent exception. His damage-reduction widgets keep him useful as joiner infrastructure all the way into Gen 7. The only Gen 1 hero you never bench.
Heroes
Kingshot Hero Tier List: Who to Build, Generation by Generation
In this guide I rank every hero worth building, so you don't sink shards into someone the meta retires a month later. The short version: Petra, Vivian and Zoe carry most servers, Amadeus is the only Gen 1 hero you never bench, and on a Gen 7 server you start with Ava for rally or Charles for defense.
Verified against the August 2026 state of the game, Gen 7 wave (Ava, Charles, Wee & Woo) included.
Last updated 15 August 2026.
Quick answer by server generation
Use the newest row your server has unlocked.
| Gen | Rally | Garrison | Bear Hunt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amadeus | Jabel | Amadeus |
| 2 | Marlin | Zoe, Hilde | Hilde |
| 3 | Petra | Eric | keep earlier joiners |
| 4 | Rosa | Alcar, Margot | Margot |
| 5 | Thrud, Vivian | Vivian, Long Fei | Vivian |
| 6 | Yang | Triton | keep Gen 5 picks |
| 7 | Ava | Charles | Ava, Wee & Woo |
Generation 1
Server days 0–40
Your starting roster. Almost everything here gets replaced, with one famous exception.
Generation 2
Server days 50–113
The first heroes worth long-term investment.
-
Zoe
Infantry · Hero Roulette (F2P)
The best F2P frontline and garrison hero, relevant deep into Gen 5. Her 40% HP heal keeps walls standing.
-
Hilde
Cavalry · Hall of Governors, daily deals
Best garrison joiner of the early game; her healing stacks value across marches.
-
Marlin
Archer · Hall of Heroes
The long-term archer investment of this window, strong in Arena and Expedition alike.
Generation 3
Server days 113–197
Where the meta heroes arrive and your investment priorities shift for good.
-
Petra
Cavalry · Hero Roulette
Best cavalry rally leader for several generations. Change of Fate rolls can spike to 600% damage; she stays a strong PvP joiner even on Gen 5+ servers.
-
Eric
Infantry · Hall of Heroes, Swordland shop
Durable hybrid tank with a team-wide stun chance. A garrison core piece from here on.
-
Jaeger
Archer · Daily deals, Swordland shop
High-variance archer whose squad-damage buffs make everyone else hit harder. Great with Petra.
Generation 4
Server days 197–281
The arena specialists.
Generation 5
Server days 281–365
The power ceiling on most active servers.
-
Vivian
Archer · Hall of Heroes, Swordland shop
Best offensive support in the game: a +25% army-wide damage buff nobody else matches.
-
Thrud
Cavalry · Daily deals, Kingdom of Power
A force multiplier for cavalry armies. Takes over rally lead from Petra on Gen 5+ servers.
-
Long Fei
Infantry · Hero Roulette
Best Gen 5 garrison infantry thanks to a rare invincibility mechanic.
Generation 6
Server days 365–449
A divisive wave: one clear F2P winner, two situational picks.
-
Yang
Archer · Standard events (F2P)
The Gen 6 hero to build. 7,200 base attack, the highest at launch, plus the first direct rally Lethality buff of the generation.
-
Sophia
Cavalry · Hero Roulette
Her whole kit sows Confusion debuffs. Fun and disruptive, but a sidegrade unless you lean into it.
-
Triton
Infantry · Hall of Heroes, Swordland shop
Heavy infantry damage in Conquest, though his skill text promises more than it delivers. Premium acquisition, modest gain.
Generation 7
Server days 449+
A real stat jump, roughly 20% over Gen 6. Three heroes, three clean roles.
-
Ava
Cavalry · Cavalry rally packs
The cleanest rally upgrade of the generation, with bonus Bear Hunt joiner value from her first-skill Defense Down.
-
Charles
Infantry · Garrison packs
The defensive anchor: sustain, damage reduction and enemy-Lethality cuts. The safest Gen 7 investment.
-
Wee & Woo
Archer · Archer packs
Artillery twins: long-range area damage plus a joiner buff that keeps them useful outside their own march.
The special roster: Epic and Rare heroes
-
Chenko
Cavalry · Generation 1
The standout of the Epic roster and an arena mainstay from day one. She and the rest of the early crew earn their keep in the arena lineups long after the campaign moves on.
Frequently asked questions
Which Gen 7 hero should I build first?
If you lead cavalry rallies and spend, build Ava first. If you want the safest investment, Charles is the defensive anchor of the generation. Wee & Woo come third unless you need archer joiners.
Is Amadeus still worth building in 2026?
Yes. He is the one permanent Gen 1 hero: his damage-reduction widgets keep him relevant as joiner infrastructure through Gen 7, which no other early hero manages.
Who are the best F2P heroes?
Zoe (Hero Roulette) for garrison and frontline, Yang (standard events) as the Gen 6 rally pick, and Jabel free from the day-2 login for the early game. Petra is the roulette jackpot worth saving pulls for.