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Rise of Kingdoms Commander Tier List 2025 September: Best Commanders

Nipun Gimhan
|2025-09-24

Rise of Kingdoms is where commanders define their army's strength across battles, rallies, and defenses. So, the best thing that you can do with a set Rise of Kingdoms commanders list is to prioritize investments, especially free-to-play (F2P) or low-spenders navigating Kingdom vs. Kingdom (KvK) seasons. But who will rise to the top on the Rise of Kingdoms commander tier list in 2025? If you are curious, here is your best commanders' guide.

Rise of Kingdoms Commander Tier List

Overall Best Commanders in Rise of Kingdoms

So, here we have ranked the Rise of Kingdoms best commanders tier list by ranks, legendaries (the focus for endgame), and by overall rating, with troop specialties noted. Epics like Sun Tzu remain F2P staples for early pushes.

Tier

Commanders

Key Strengths

Troop Type

S+

Alexander Nevsky, Scipio Africanus (Prime), Zhuge Liang, Liu Che, Hermann (Prime)

Unmatched damage and sustain; dominate multi-phase fights.

Cavalry/Infantry/Archer mixes

S

Yi Seong-Gye (YSG), Belisarius (Prime), William Wallace, Shajar al-Durr, Philip II, Ragnar Lodbrok (Prime), Xiang Yu, Guan Yu, Huo Qubing, Justinian I, Gorgo, Ashurbanipal, Joan of Arc (Prime), Boudica (Prime)

Versatile nukers and healers; excel in rallies and fields.

Balanced across types

A

Scipio Aemilianus, Choe Yeong, Nebuchadnezzar II, Alexander the Great, Ramesses II, Artemisia I, Attila the Hun, Takeda Shingen, Cyrus the Great, Saladin

Reliable supports; strong in specific matchups like anti-cavalry.

Archer/Infantry/Cavalry

B

Aethelflaed, Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Mehmed II, Cao Cao, Julius Caesar

Niche utility; good for barb farming or early KvK.

Mixed

Note: New anniversary addition is Matthias I, Corvinus (Legendary, Leadership, Infantry-focused garrison). He slots into A-tier for defending, with skills triggering AOE shields and counter-damage on city assaults, ideal for holding capitals during invasions.

Category-Specific Rankings

And now, if you are curious on how each of these commanders in the Rise of Kingdoms best commanders tier list, here is how we can classify them under different game modes.

Open Field (PvP Mobility)

These commanders in the Rise of Kingdoms commanders tier list prioritize speed and burst for mobile chases and clashes in open-field PvP. You can go for S+ picks dominate with high damage and sustain.

Tier

Top Picks

Why They Shine

S+

Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Nevsky

Charges heal allies while dealing 1,200% cavalry damage; relentless pursuit power.

Scipio Africanus (Prime)

Scipio Africanus (Prime)

1,800% AOE nuke via "Sword of Rome" shreds infantry blobs; tanks with high defense.

Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang

"Eight Gates Array" delivers 1,200% DoT, controlling crowds with silence and slows.

Liu Che

Liu Che

1,600% nuke from "Imperial Examination" scales with rage, ideal for prolonged fights.

Hermann (Prime)

Hermann (Prime)

"Teutoburg Rage" silences for 1,400% damage, crippling enemy skill chains.

S

Yi Seong-Gye (YSG)

Yi Seong-Gye (YSG)

Firewall AOE (1,500%) locks down enemies, enabling cleanups with high burst.

Belisarius (Prime)

Belisarius (Prime)

Lightning-fast cavalry charges (1,300%) with "Companion Cavalry" for hit-and-run.

Xiang Yu

Xiang Yu

"Penetrate" deals 1,600% AOE, breaking through tanky formations with debuffs.

Huo Qubing

Huo Qubing

Speed-focused 1,200% cavalry strikes; excels in chasing low-health targets.

A

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

Rage-fueled anti-archer 1,400% strikes; counters ranged-heavy comps.

Saladin

Saladin

Anti-infantry 1,300% damage with shields; sustains in extended skirmishes.

Ramesses II

Ramesses II

Archer-based 1,200% AOE; strong for kiting and mid-range engagements.

Rallying Objectives (Leading Attacks)

Here with this category from the of Kingdoms commanders tier list, you can focus on raw power to breach forts, flags, or Ark of Osiris objectives.

Tier

Top Picks

Why They Shine

S+

Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Nevsky

1,500% cavalry charge rallies overwhelm with heal-over-time sustain.

Xiang Yu

Xiang Yu

2,000% AOE smash via "Penetrate" crushes grouped defenders instantly.

Justinian I

Justinian I

1,600% infantry burst with "Basilica" boosts ally attack by 20% in rallies.

Ashurbanipal

Ashurbanipal

1,400% archer AOE with rage regen; sustains rally pressure on objectives.

S

Scipio Aemilianus

Scipio Aemilianus

1,500% infantry nuke; high defense absorbs counter-rallies effectively.

William Wallace

William Wallace

30% attack boost via rage mode; 1,400% AOE for rally breakpoints.

Gorgo

Gorgo

Taunt forces enemy focus, dealing 1,300% counter-damage in rally clashes.

A

Choe Yeong

Choe Yeong

1,200% arrow pierce targets grouped foes, ideal for flag pushes.

Nebuchadnezzar II

Nebuchadnezzar II

1,300% sustained archer damage; great for prolonged objective sieges.

Defending Objectives/Garrison (Holding Ground)

Anniversary buffs in this category of the of Kingdoms commanders tier list emphasize shields and counter-damage for holding cities or tiles.

Tier

Top Picks

Why They Shine

S

Gorgo

Gorgo

Taunt draws fire, healing 15% HP per rage cycle; 1,300% counter-damage.

Choe Yeong

Choe Yeong

1,200% AOE arrows disrupt rally waves; high skill uptime for defense.

Shajar al-Durr

Shajar al-Durr

1,400% archer burst with debuffs; counters cavalry-heavy rallies.

Justinian I

Justinian I

20% defense buff via "Basilica" bolsters garrisons; 1,300% AOE strikes.

A

Artemisia I

Artemisia I

1,200% archer sustain with shields; counters infantry rally spam.

Matthias I Corvinus (new)

Matthias I Corvinus (new)

20-second AOE shield reflects 500% damage; meta for city defense post-anniversary.

Joan of Arc (Prime)

Joan of Arc (Prime)

Heals allies for 1,000 HP per cycle; boosts garrison morale by 15%.

B

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

1,200% rage strikes; decent but lacks defensive sustain for rallies.

Saladin

Saladin

Shields absorb 1,100% damage; counters infantry but struggles long-term.

Gathering (Resource Efficiency)

New anniversary commanders are here listed in this of Kingdoms commanders tier list who enhance eco without battle risk.

Tier

Top Picks

Why They Shine

S

Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII

20% gather speed boost; maximizes all resource types efficiently.

Lohar (epic)

Lohar (epic)

20% speed and 15% load capacity; F2P-friendly for early eco.

A

Casimir III (new)

Casimir III (new)

25% food haul bonus on completion; ideal for food-heavy KvK prep.

Pepin III (new)

Pepin III (new)

20% speed with decoy troops; protects hauls from low-tier theft.

Understanding the Tiers and Categories in Rise of Kingdoms Commander Tier List

Every commander from our list of Rise of Kingdoms best commanders tier list 2025 are categorized by S, A and B rank and there how they will be defined.

  • S+: Game-changers; invest heavily for any account.

  • S: Elite performers; core for competitive play.

  • A: Solid choices; great for mid-game or niche roles.

  • B: Situational; avoid heavy investment unless specialized.

Best Pairings and Builds for Top Commanders

When building your commanders from the Rise of Kingdoms commander tier list, you’ll want to match a strong primary damage dealer with a supportive secondary. Focus on the 5-1-1-1 skill path early by maxing the first skill before spreading points. Try not to use too many universal sculptures until you reach KvK 4, since they’re harder to replace later.

·        Alexander Nevsky (Cavalry Primary): Alexander Nevsky pairs best with Joan of Arc, who provides heal-over-time to keep your cavalry strong during long rallies. Follow the 5-1-1-1 skill path and max Novgorod Tactics for a powerful 1,500% charge damage. Focus talents on Mobility to boost speed and add Support talents for extra squad buffs, with Unyielding Spirit giving +20% defense. He’s excellent for leading cavalry rallies, but you can switch to Scipio when facing infantry-heavy walls.

 Alexander Nevsky

·        Scipio Africanus Prime (Infantry Primary): Scipio Africanus Prime works well with Alexander the Great to control archers using rage skills. Use the 5-1-1-1 skill path and max Sword of Rome for a 1,800% AoE attack. His talent build should focus on Infantry for combat power and Peacekeeping for faster barbarian farming, while Victorious Generalship adds +15% attack after each kill. He’s a great free-to-play option and also performs well as a city garrison during quiet periods.

·        Zhuge Liang (Archer Primary): Zhuge Liang pairs effectively with Hermann Prime to chain silences and control enemy formations. Follow the 5-1-1-1 skill path and max Eight Gates Array for 1,200% damage over time. Prioritize the Archer talent tree and add Support talents, taking Wooden Ox for +25% march speed. He’s perfect for open-field ambushes and works especially well with anniversary economic buffs for sustained pushes.

·        Liu Che (Infantry Primary): Liu Che works best with Ragnar Prime to stack debuffs on enemies. Stick to the 5-1-1-1 skill path and max Imperial Examination for a 1,600% nuke. Talent priorities should be Leadership and Mobility, with Heavenly Might granting +18% crit. He’s known as a rally king, making him a top choice to invest gold heads in early for long-term advantages.

·        Hermann Prime (Archer Primary): Hermann Prime pairs with Boudica Prime to unleash massive arrow storms and chain silences on enemies. Follow the 5-1-1-1 skill path and max Teutoburg Rage for 1,400% silence damage. Talent focus should be Archer into Gloom, while Forest Ambush adds +22% ambush damage. He’s ideal for the anti-cavalry meta and best leveled through special events.

·        YSG (Archer): YSG pairs with Minamoto and focuses on the Archer and Support talent trees. Max Hwacha to create a strong firewall, making him effective for consistent ranged damage in open-field battles.

·        Belisarius Prime (Cavalry): Belisarius Prime works well with Philip II, using the Mobility talent tree to increase cavalry speed. Max Companion Cavalry to boost charge damage, making him a solid pick for both PvE and PvP rallies.

·        Xiang Yu (Cavalry): Xiang Yu pairs with Aethelflaed and focuses on the Infantry talent tree for durability. Max Penetrate along the 5-1-1-1 skill path to break through defenses, making him effective for high-impact cavalry strikes.

·        Matthias I Corvinus (Infantry Garrison): Matthias I Corvinus pairs with Baibars and specializes in city defense. Follow the Defense talent tree and max Corvinus Shield for reflection damage. He’s best used in garrisons and serves as an A-tier defender in open-field combat after the anniversary update.

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People Also Ask

Who are the best commanders in Rise of Kingdoms?

Liuche and Bai Q are currently known as the best commanders.

Who is the strongest epic commander in RoK?

It is Joan of Arc and Sun Tzu.

Is elite better than legendary in RoK?

No. Legendary is the best, while the next rank goes to epic, and then comes the elite.

Conclusion

And that is all for the Rise of Kingdoms commander tier list. Now that you know who the best commanders are in Rise of Kingdoms, it is time to dominate the battles while claiming your Rise of Kingdoms codes as well.

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Nipun Gimhan
|
Senior Content Writer

For the past 4 years, I’ve been writing guides for action, strategy, and adventure games. As I am a 24 year old student in the field of animation, I have a huge passion analyzing gameplay with computer animation and game design tools, finding clever ways to help players improve. Gaming fuels my creativity, and writing is my way of sharing tips, tricks, and enthusiasm with others