RAID: Shadow Legends Tier List (November 2025) Best Champions

RAID: Shadow Legends features over 900 champions, but only a select few deserve your precious resources. This comprehensive tier list ranks every champion based on their effectiveness across all game modes, helping you make informed decisions about who to invest in. Whether you're focusing on Arena, Clan Boss, or the latest Doom Tower challenges, our expert analysis will guide you to victory.

Pin it

Summary: Top Champions by Game Mode

Game Mode	Top Champions	Key Strength
Arena Offense	UDK, Geomancer, Arbiter	High damage, speed control
Clan Boss	Geomancer, Martyr, Duchess Lilitu	Sustained damage, debuffs
Spider's Den	Gnarlhorn, Fayne, Coldheart	Poison, counterattacks
Fire Knight	Septimus, Royal Huntsman	Defense reduction, AoE
Ice Golem	MaShalled, Lyssandra	Healing, team support
Doom Tower	Ninja, Krisk the Ageless	Versatility, survival

Understanding Our Tier List Methodology

Our tier list combines data from five authoritative sources (HellHades, Ayumilove, Inteleria, Reddit community, and Steam Community) with current game balance changes from Update 10.80.0. We evaluate champions based on:

• Overall Versatility: Performance across multiple game modes
• Resource Efficiency: Return on investment for ranking up costs
• Meta Relevance: Effectiveness in current game balance
• Accessibility: Availability for free-to-play and low-spending players
• Synergy Potential: Team composition compatibility

Tier Definitions

• S+ Tier: Game-changing champions essential for top-tier content
• S Tier: Elite performers excelling in multiple areas
• A Tier: Strong champions with specific use cases
• B Tier: Solid options for mid-game progression
• C Tier: Niche champions with limited applications
• F Tier: Generally not worth investing resources

Complete RAID: Shadow Legends Tier List November 2025

S+ Tier: Game-Changing Champions

These champions define the current meta and are worth prioritizing regardless of your account progression:

UDK (Ultimate Death Knight)

• Faction: Knight Revenant (Legendary)
• Best For: Arena Offense, Doom Tower
• Why S+: Unparalleled arena dominance with speed manipulation and damage output
• Investment Priority: Highest - community consensus from Reddit and Steam discussions

Geomancer

• Faction: Dwarf (Legendary)
• Best For: Clan Boss, Spider's Den, Arena
• Why S+: Versatile damage dealer with exceptional boss-killing capabilities
• Investment Priority: Highest - recommended across all community sources

Arbiter

• Faction: High Elves (Legendary)
• Best For: All game modes
• Why S+: Ultimate support champion with turn meter control and team utility
• Investment Priority: Highest if obtained

S Tier: Elite Performers

Duchess Lilitu

• Faction: Demonspawn (Legendary)
• Best For: Clan Boss, Arena Defense
• Why S: Excellent debuff capabilities and consistent damage output

Martyr

• Faction: Sacred Order (Legendary)
• Best For: Clan Boss, Fire Knight
• Why S: Reliable damage dealer with strong defense reduction

Ninja

• Faction: Shadowkin (Legendary)
• Best For: Doom Tower, Arena
• Why S: High damage output with excellent survival capabilities

Krisk the Ageless

• Faction: Lizardmen (Legendary)
• Best For: Doom Tower, Faction Wars
• Why S: Tank with incredible utility and team protection

A Tier: Strong Champions

Gnarlhorn

• Faction: Skinwalkers (Epic)
• Best For: Spider's Den, Campaign
• Why A: Free-to-play friendly with strong counterattack mechanics

Fayne

• Faction: Skinwalkers (Epic)
• Best For: Spider's Den, Ice Golem
• Why A: Excellent poison capabilities for spider fights

Septimus

• Faction: Banner Lords (Legendary)
• Best For: Fire Knight, Arena
• Why A: Strong defense reduction and consistent damage

B Tier: Solid Mid-Game Options

Coldheart

• Faction: Dark Elves (Epic)
• Best For: Spider's Den, Campaign
• Why B: Good damage but requires specific team compositions

MaShalled

• Faction: Undead Hordes (Legendary)
• Best For: Ice Golem, Arena Defense
• Why B: Solid support but outclassed by S-tier options

C Tier: Niche Applications

Athel

• Faction: Sacred Order (Rare)
• Best For: Early game progression
• Why C: Only useful for brand new accounts

Kael

• Faction: Dark Elves (Rare)
• Best For: Early game farming
• Why C: Outclassed quickly by better options

Game Mode Specific Analysis

Arena Offense Tier List

S Tier: UDK, Geomancer, Arbiter, Ninja

A Tier: Duchess Lilitu, Royal Huntsman, Septimus

B Tier: Krisk the Ageless, Martyr, Lady Noelle

The Arena meta heavily favors champions with speed manipulation and burst damage. UDK remains the undisputed king of Arena Offense, with Geomancer providing excellent alternative damage output.

Clan Boss Tier List

S Tier: Geomancer, Martyr, Duchess Lilitu, Bad-el-Kazar

A Tier: Arbiter, Ninja, MaShalled

B Tier: Septimus, Royal Huntsman, Krisk the Ageless

Clan Boss rewards champions with consistent damage output and debuff capabilities. Geomancer's ability to place [Poison] and [Decrease DEF] makes him invaluable here.

Spider's Den Tier List

S Tier: Gnarlhorn, Fayne, Coldheart

A Tier: Septimus, Duchess Lilitu, Arbiter

B Tier: Geomancer, Ninja, Krisk the Ageless

Spider fights require champions with poison capabilities and counterattack mechanics. Gnarlhorn's counterattack ability makes him particularly valuable here.

Doom Tower Tier List

S Tier: Ninja, Krisk the Ageless, Arbiter

A Tier: UDK, Geomancer, Duchess Lilitu

B Tier: Martyr, Septimus, Royal Huntsman

Doom Tower demands versatility and survival capabilities. Ninja's damage output combined with Krisk's tanking ability creates a powerful combination.

Resource Management: Who to Rank Up

Ranking up champions costs precious resources, especially chickens (Rank Up Chickens). Based on community feedback from Reddit and Steam discussions, here's our investment priority guide:

Priority 1: Essential Investments

• UDK: If you like Arena, this is your best investment
• Geomancer: Versatile boss killer useful everywhere
• Arbiter: Ultimate support champion if obtained

Priority 2: Strong Investments

• Duchess Lilitu: Excellent for Clan Boss progression
• Martyr: Reliable Clan Boss damage dealer
• Ninja: Doom Tower and Arena specialist

Priority 3: Situational Investments

• Gnarlhorn: Essential for Spider's Den progression
• Fayne: Alternative Spider's Den option
• Septimus: Fire Knight specialist

Rare Champions Worth Ranking Up

Based on Steam Community discussions, only very few rare champions are worth ranking up:

• Gnarlhorn: Essential for Spider's Den
• Athel: Early game progression only
• Kael: Early game farming only

Recent Meta Changes (Update 10.80.0)

The latest game update introduced several changes that affect champion rankings:

Platinum Tier Cutoff Reset

• New Arena ranking system affects champion viability
• Speed manipulation becomes even more valuable
• UDK's position strengthened in the meta

Immutable Buff Changes

• Each stack now completely blocks cooldown increases
• Benefits champions with multiple skill rotations
• Increases value of champions like Arbiter and Ninja

Chronophage Gear Set Adjustments

• Balance changes affect gear-dependent champions
• Some champions may need re-evaluation based on new gear options
• Watch for community testing results

Free-to-Play vs. Pay-to-Win Considerations

Free-to-Play Priority List

• Gnarlhorn (Epic - Spider's Den essential)
• Fayne (Epic - Spider's Den alternative)
• Coldheart (Epic - Early game progression)
• Athel (Rare - Starter champion)
• Kael (Rare - Starter champion)

Low-Spending Priority List

• Geomancer (Legendary - if obtained from shards)
• Duchess Lilitu (Legendary - Clan Boss focus)
• Martyr (Legendary - consistent damage)
• Septimus (Legendary - Fire King specialist)
• Arbiter (Legendary - if obtained from special events)

Faction Wars Analysis

Each faction has its strengths and weaknesses in Faction Wars:

Top Faction War Champions

• Banner Lords: Septimus, Arbiter, Royal Huntsman
• High Elves: Arbiter, Lyssandra, Royal Huntsman
• Sacred Order: Martyr, MaShalled, Cardinal
• Barbarians: Big Un, Skullcrown, Bad-el-Kazar
• Ogryn Tribes: Big Un, Grizzled Jarl, Turvold

Advanced Champion Building Tips

Masteries Selection

• Arena Offense: Focus on accuracy, speed, and critical damage
• Clan Boss: Prioritize healing, defense, and sustained damage
• Spider's Den: Emphasize counterattack and poison masteries
• Doom Tower: Balance survival and damage output

Gear Priorities

• Speed: Essential for Arena and most content
• Accuracy: Crucial for debuff champions
• Critical Rate/Damage: Important for damage dealers
• Resistance: Vital for survival in high-level content

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-investing in early game champions: Don't max rank Athel or Kael long-term
• Ignoring faction synergies: Team composition matters more than individual power
• Neglecting gear quality: A well-geared B-tier champion can outperform a poorly-geared S-tier
• Spreading resources too thin: Focus on 3-5 core champions rather than many mediocre ones
• Following tier lists blindly: Your account needs and champion availability should guide decisions

Community Resources

Official Channels

• Official Discord: Join 220k+ players for real-time discussions and strategies
• Official Website: Latest news, events, and announcements
• Official Twitter: Regular updates, community events, and giveaways

Community Resources

• HellHades: Comprehensive guides, tools, and tier lists
• Ayumilove: Detailed champion rankings and game mechanics
• Inteleria: Data-driven champion ratings and comparisons
• Reddit Community: Player discussions, strategies, and tier list debates

FAQ

What is the best champion in RAID: Shadow Legends?

UDK (Ultimate Death Knight) is currently considered the best overall champion due to his dominance in Arena and versatility in other game modes. However, the "best" champion depends on your specific needs and game mode focus.

Should I rank up rare champions?

Only very few rare champions are worth ranking up long-term. Gnarlhorn is the most notable exception, being essential for Spider's Den progression. Most rare champions like Athel and Kael are only useful for early game progression.

How often does the meta change?

The RAID: Shadow Legends meta typically shifts with major updates, which occur every 4-6 weeks. Balance changes in updates like 10.80.0 can significantly impact champion rankings, so it's important to stay current with patch notes.

What game mode should I focus on first?

For new players, focus on Campaign progression to unlock features and farm resources. Mid-game players should prioritize Clan Boss for consistent rewards, while end-game players can focus on Arena and Doom Tower for competitive play.

Are Epic champions better than Legendary champions?

Not necessarily. While Legendary champions generally have higher potential, many Epic champions like Gnarlhorn and Fayne outperform certain Legendaries in specific game modes. Always evaluate champions based on their utility rather than just rarity.

How do I get more Ancient Shards?

Ancient Shards can be obtained from daily login rewards, event milestones, arena progression, clan activities, and occasional promotions. Save them for guaranteed Legendary champion opportunities during special events.

What's the difference between Arena Offense and Defense?

Arena Offense focuses on speed and burst damage to quickly defeat opponents, while Arena Defense emphasizes survivability and counterattacks. Champions like UDK excel at offense, while tanks like Krisk the Ageless are better for defense.

How important is speed in RAID: Shadow Legends?

Speed is arguably the most important stat in most game modes. Faster champions take turns more frequently, allowing them to control battles through turn meter manipulation, debuffs, and healing.

Should I merge duplicate champions?

Generally, no. Duplicate champions are valuable for increasing mastery levels and unlocking champion skills. Only merge duplicates if you have absolutely no use for them and need the resources.

What's the best way to progress as a free-to-play player?

Focus on building a balanced team with 3-5 core champions, participate in all events, join an active clan, and be patient with resource accumulation. Prioritize champions that offer the most versatility across multiple game modes.

Conclusion

This RAID: Shadow Legends tier list provides a comprehensive guide to champion rankings in November 2025. Remember that tier lists are guides, not absolute rules - your specific account needs, champion availability, and game mode focus should ultimately guide your decisions.

Stay updated with the latest patch notes and community discussions, as the meta continues to evolve with each update. Whether you're a free-to-play player or a seasoned veteran, making informed decisions about champion investments will significantly impact your progression and enjoyment of RAID: Shadow Legends.

Bookmark this guide and check back regularly for updates as the meta evolves with new champions and balance changes. Happy raiding, and may the Arbiter grant you victory!