How to Use This Tier List
Commanders in Rise of Kingdoms serve different roles: open-field combat, defending a city (garrison), leading alliance rallies, gathering resources, or fighting in specific events. A commander who is S-tier in one role may be B-tier in another. Use this list with that context in mind — and remember, a fully maxed lower-tier commander often outperforms a half-built S-tier one.
Tier Definitions
- S Tier: Dominant in their role. Worth heavy investment.
- A Tier: Excellent performers, highly versatile or strong in a key role.
- B Tier: Solid choices with clear niches or good secondary pairing potential.
- C Tier: Outclassed in most situations; useful mainly for early-mid game.
S-Tier Commanders
| Commander | Best Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guan Yu | Open Field / Rally | Devastating AoE damage; one of the strongest infantry commanders. |
| Alexander the Great | Garrison / Open Field | Exceptional durability and troop preservation skills. |
| Yi Seong-Gye (YSG) | Open Field / Rally | Legendary archer commander with massive AoE burst damage. |
| Ramesses II | Rally / Open Field | Top-tier archer rally commander with strong debuffs. |
| Saladin | Open Field | Best cavalry open-field commander; excellent sustain and damage. |
A-Tier Commanders
| Commander | Best Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Richard I | Garrison / Rally | Exceptional healing and defense; a staple garrison pick. |
| El Cid | Open Field | Versatile archer commander with strong rally potential. |
| Constantine I | Garrison | Best pure garrison commander for city defense. |
| Mehmed II | Rally | High rally attack debuffs make him terrifying against cities. |
| Genghis Khan | Open Field | Cavalry speed and damage; dominant in large battles. |
B-Tier Commanders
- Joan of Arc — Excellent support/rally buffer for early-mid game.
- Sun Tzu — Great infantry pairing commander.
- Scipio Africanus — Strong early game and decent rally option.
- Boudica — Solid for barbarian farming and neutral target hunting.
Best Commander Pairings
Commander pairing is as important as the individual commanders themselves. Here are some of the most effective duos:
- Guan Yu + Alexander: Unstoppable infantry combo for open field.
- YSG + Ramesses II: The gold standard archer rally pairing.
- Saladin + Khalid: Fast, hard-hitting cavalry open-field duo.
- Richard I + Constantine I: Near-unkillable garrison defense setup.
Who Should You Invest In First?
If you're early in the game, focus on your starting civilization commander to 5511 (maxing first four skills). From there, prioritize based on your playstyle:
- Prefer PvP open field? → Build toward Saladin or Guan Yu.
- Prefer defending? → Richard I or Constantine I.
- Prefer rallying? → YSG or Ramesses II.
Final Notes
Tier lists shift as the game receives updates. Always check for new commander releases and balance patches. The best commander is ultimately the one you can fully max out with your available resources.