Use this list together with the pairings guide (who goes with whom) and the talent builds (how to spend the points). Background on the game is on the Rise of Kingdoms hub.
How to read this tier list
Tiers here follow the AllClash commander tier list dated 26 October 2026, the most recent full list that already includes Yi Do (spelled Yi To in some guides). We cross-checked names with RiseofKingdomsGuides' October 2026 list and LDShop's 2026 pairing guides; where those lists disagree, we say so. Three caveats matter more than the letters:
- Role beats rank. An S+ garrison commander can be a poor open field commander. Pick by job.
- Season of Conquest tavern commanders are only available to kingdoms that reached the right season. A new kingdom cannot get most of the top names yet.
- Investment beats tier. A fully skilled A tier commander beats an S+ commander at 1 skill. Finish what you start.
Open field: the commanders that win KvK fights
Yi Do: Sejong the Great, Commander Trailer (official channel)| Tier | Open field commanders (AllClash, 26 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| S+ | Yi Do, Ivan IV, Alp Arslan, Sun Tzu Prime, Qin Shi Huang, Bai Qi, Liu Che, Arthur Pendragon, Ragnar Prime, Afonso de Albuquerque |
| S | Huo Qubing, Yi Seong-Gye, Philip II, William Wallace, Sargon, Guan Yu, Nebuchadnezzar, Boudica Prime, Xiang Yu |
Yi Do is an infantry commander whose skills want a pure infantry march, which is why he pairs with Sun Tzu Prime and Liu Che. Ivan IV is the cavalry counterpart; his official intel card lists the Cavalry, Versatility and Combo specialties. Qin Shi Huang leads the archer side. RiseofKingdomsGuides' October list still puts Alexander Nevsky, Scipio Prime, Zhuge Liang, Liu Che and Hermann Prime at S+, but it does not yet include the newest commanders, so treat it as a list for slightly older seasons.
Archer players have the clearest picture: Qin Shi Huang leads the archer side, Zhuge Liang and Yi Seong-Gye are the classic partners, and Hermann Prime and Alp Arslan cover the rest. Infantry has the deepest bench in late 2026, with Yi Do, Sun Tzu Prime, Bai Qi and Liu Che all near the top. Cavalry now runs through Ivan IV and Arthur Pendragon. If you are choosing a troop type today, check which of those commanders you can realistically get in your kingdom's season before you commit.
Rally leaders
| Tier | Rally commanders (AllClash, 26 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| S+ | William Marshal, Ivar the Boneless, Subutai, Justinian, Tariq ibn Ziyad, Shapur |
| S | Alp Arslan, Huo Qubing, Sargon, Boudica Prime, Xiang Yu, Henry, Gilgamesh, Nebuchadnezzar, Pakal II, William I, Siyaj K'ak' |
Rally leaders need a Conquering tree or rally damage skills. William Marshal (an August 2026 release) is the current top pick for cavalry rallies and is usually paired with Subutai or Ivan IV. Do not confuse him with William I, an older cavalry commander. Older kingdoms still rally with Alexander Nevsky, Xiang Yu and Justinian.
Garrison and defense
Yi Do and Selim I, Delta Formation, Thanksgiving Events | Tier | Garrison commanders (AllClash, 26 Oct 2026) |
|---|---|
| S+ | Choe Yeong, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Hayam Wuruk, Matthias I, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Lapulapu, Dido |
| S | Selim I, Ivar the Boneless, Artemisia, Yi Sun-Sin, Flavius Aetius, Jan Zizka, Amanitore |
Choe Yeong is the standout garrison commander right now and became easier to get when update 1.1.12 added him to the Season of Conquest tavern, together with Shajar al-Durr, John Hunyadi, Philip II and Stephen III. RiseofKingdomsGuides' defensive picks overlap: Choe Yeong, Dido, Heraclius and Gorgo. For a city garrison you want Garrison and Defense trees; the talent guide shows how.
Garrison commanders are the most underrated investment for mid level players. Your city is attacked far more often than you lead a rally, and a good garrison commander turns an easy target into a costly one. If your alliance has enough rally leaders, a garrison commander is often the better second legendary.
Sunset Canyon, gathering and barbarians
- Sunset Canyon S+: Yi Do, Alp Arslan, Sun Tzu Prime, Ragnar Prime, Shajar al-Durr.
- Gathering: Cleopatra VII, Seondeok, Ishida Mitsunari, Matilda, Pepin III, Casimir III, Tamar, Yahya ibn Khalid and Wak Chanil Ajaw are gather-only commanders. Most guides advise against spending universal sculptures on them. Constance and Sarka are cheaper elite options.
- Barbarians: Lohar as secondary to almost anyone, Aethelflaed or Boudica as primary. AllClash rates Lohar D overall because he is useful only for barbarians early on.
For barbarians the pairing matters more than the tier letter: a Lohar secondary on almost any primary clears barbarians faster than a stronger commander alone, because his kit is built around neutral units. That is also why barbarian commanders do not appear in the main tiers at all.
Gathering commanders work the same way. They do one job, and the best of them do it very well, but none of them help in a fight. Count them as economy, not as part of your army.
Best epic commanders for free players
| Tier | Epic commanders (AllClash, 26 Oct 2026) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| S | Imhotep, Joan of Arc, Sun Tzu | Support, infantry secondary, peacekeeping |
| A+ | Baibars | Early cavalry |
| A | Catherine de Medici, Bjorn Ironside, Hermann, Belisarius, Keira | Early field and secondaries |
| B | Pelagius (epic version) | Early cavalry garrison |
| C and D | Boudica, Scipio Africanus, Lohar | Starter or barbarian only |
Epic commanders max out with epic sculptures, which are far easier to get than legendary ones. Getting Sun Tzu and Joan of Arc to full skills early is the most efficient thing a new player can do with sculptures.
Epic commanders also matter later than most players think. Many top pairs still use an epic secondary early in a season, and a maxed epic is a better secondary than a legendary with one skill.
Newest commanders and their specialties
| Commander | Specialties | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Marshal | Cavalry, Conquering, Combo | Rally lead | Official intel video |
| Ivan IV | Cavalry, Versatility, Combo | Open field cavalry | Official intel video |
| Elizabeth I | Engineering, Versatility, Skill | Skill damage | Official intel video |
| Vercingetorix | Leadership, Versatility, Support | Buffer, secondary | Official intel video |
| Arthur Pendragon | Cavalry, Versatility, Combo | Open field cavalry | Community guides |
| Choe Yeong | Archer, Garrison, Defense | City garrison | Community guides |
| Shajar al-Durr | Archer, Versatility, Skill | Canyon, archer field | Community guides |
| Philip II | Leadership, Versatility, Support | Secondary for field marches | Community guides |
We left out specialty tags for Yi Do and Selim I because no source we could check showed them yet. If you want the reasoning behind a pick, the official intel videos explain mechanics in detail; for pairs, see best pairings.
How to actually get these commanders
| Source | What it gives | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Tavern chests | Epic and legendary sculptures at random | Everyone, mostly epic commanders |
| Wheel of Fortune | The featured legendary commander | Players saving gems for one target |
| Mightiest Governor | Sculptures of the event commander | Players with stockpiled speedups |
| Ark of Osiris | Legendary sculptures for wins and losses | Members of active alliances |
| VIP 10 daily chest | A legendary sculpture every day | Long term free players |
| Season of Conquest tavern | Season commanders such as Choe Yeong | Kingdoms in Season of Conquest |
The official channel also marks bigger upgrades in its update titles: "Unlock Sun Tzu Prime for Free" headlined update 1.1.03, and "Pelagius is turning Legendary!" headlined update 1.1.09. Prime and legendary versions of familiar commanders are often the cheapest path to a top tier commander, because you already own the base version.
A free to play roadmap
- Max Sun Tzu and Joan of Arc with epic sculptures. They serve as secondaries for a long time.
- Pick one legendary for your troop type and put every universal sculpture into it.
- Add a garrison commander only when your city starts getting hit.
- Chase the current meta last. By the time a free player finishes a brand new commander, the next one is out.
Use the gems guide to plan the Wheel of Fortune and VIP spending behind this roadmap.
FAQ
Who is the best commander in Rise of Kingdoms right now?
In November 2026, AllClash rates Yi Do, Ivan IV, Alp Arslan, Sun Tzu Prime and Qin Shi Huang as the top overall commanders. Yi Do is one of the headline commanders of update 1.1.13.
Who is the best rally commander?
William Marshal is the top current rally leader, with Ivar the Boneless, Subutai, Justinian, Tariq ibn Ziyad and Shapur also at S+.
Who is the best garrison commander?
Choe Yeong is the standout garrison commander, next to Tokugawa Ieyasu, Hayam Wuruk, Matthias I, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Lapulapu and Dido.
Which epic commanders should free players build?
Sun Tzu, Joan of Arc and Imhotep are rated S among epic commanders, with Baibars just behind. They max out with easier epic sculptures.
Who is Yi Do in Rise of Kingdoms?
Yi Do, Sejong the Great, is an infantry commander featured in the official update 1.1.13 highlights. Some guides spell his name Yi To.
Are gathering commanders worth universal sculptures?
Usually not. Most guides advise against using universal sculptures on gather-only commanders like Cleopatra or Seondeok.