Season 3 introduced the biggest competitive shift the game has seen since release. With the removal of several troops (Skeleton Giant, Knight, Archer, Juggernaut), rewriting traits, and adding new Ruler mechanics, the entire meta reorganized around long fights, tank-heavy frontlines, and late-scaling DPS.
This Merge Tactics Tier List ranks every troop based strictly on:
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Season 3’s slower combat pacing
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The new trait environment (Giant, Clan, Ranger, Blaster, Ace, Undead)
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Troops that consistently appear in YOUR winning builds
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What realistically performs in Spirit Empress–dominated lobbies
This is the true Season 3 meta, not theorycraft.
Merge Tactics Tier List (Season 3) – November 2025
S TIER — The Real Meta Core (Season 3 Dominators)
These units shape the current meta. They scale incredibly well in long fights, fit into every top-tier build, and remain strong even at low merge levels.
Monk
Monk is one of the most reliable frontliners this season. His dueling power is unmatched, and when paired with Ace, he becomes a brick wall that buys enormous time for your backline. Monk thrives in Spirit Empress builds because long fights let him fully leverage his hit speed and Captain synergy.
Royal Giant
Royal Giant has the perfect mix of bulk and pressure. The Giant trait reduces incoming damage so heavily that he consistently survives long enough to influence every round. His range makes him a safe carry who can deal damage even while tanks clash. He is in almost every top build — including yours.
Electro Giant
Electro Giant’s job is simple but essential: stall fights. With so many damage-focused traits removed this season, Electro Giant’s disruptive aura and huge health pool become incredibly valuable. He gives Executioner, Musketeer, and Archer Queen the time they need to scale.
Musketeer
Musketeer gained huge value this patch because ranged carries benefit from extended fights. Her knockback keeps your frontline alive, and her Blaster + Noble synergy makes her one of the most stable damage dealers in the game.
Archer Queen
Archer Queen is arguably the strongest backline carry of Season 3. Her Ranger trait stacks hit speed endlessly, turning her into a late-game monster. With Clan and Spirit Empress—two mechanics that extend fights—she becomes exponentially stronger. She wins rounds you had no business winning.
A TIER
These troops aren’t as universally oppressive as S-tier, but inside the right trait setups or builds, they become extremely impactful.
Valkyrie
Valkyrie is a monster inside 4-Clan builds. The heal spike and hit speed burst at half HP allow her to spin through entire frontlines. She thrives in your Clan build and is one of the most reliable tanks in Season 3.
Dart Goblin
Dart Goblin only needs one thing: time. With Ranger, his attack speed ramps uncontrollably. In Season 3’s slower meta, he becomes a high-risk, high-reward ranged menace. If he survives the opener, he takes over fights.
Wizard
Wizard offers safe, consistent splash damage. He benefits a ton from Blaster, letting him punish grouped enemies from a safe distance. In your builds, Wizard provides vital midgame wave clear that Executioner alone cannot cover.
Executioner
Executioner fits into almost every strong build. His Blaster trait makes his swings cover huge areas, and he provides unmatched crowd control. While not as overwhelming as he was in early Season 3, he is still a staple because Spirit Empress naturally extends fights.
Mega Knight
Mega Knight brings immediate impact with his landing slam and works well in both Brawler and Ace setups. He’s not your main carry, but he’s one of the best “disrupt-and-stall” units. Great in your Clan and Blaster builds.
Barbarian
Barbarian isn’t impressive alone, but inside a 4-Clan team he becomes surprisingly tanky. Clan’s heal spike massively increases his uptime, making him a reliable frontline filler in your Build 2.
B TIER
These units have value, but only in the right trait or matchup.
Witch
Witch shines specifically in Undead value comps. Her curses weaken tank lines, but she struggles against Executioner-heavy lobbies. She is a matchup unit, not a universal pick.
Spear Goblins
Great for early economy, weak long-term. They help cycling builds but fall apart in high-level play.
Goblins
Similar to Spear Goblins — their value is in Goblin eco, not raw power. Good for accelerating early upgrades but bad in extended fights.
Skeleton Dragons
The Ranger scaling helps, but they are too fragile in a splash-heavy meta.
Royal Ghost
Assassin trait is at an all-time low. Ghost struggles to reach the backline and dies instantly to Executioner or Wizard.
Prince
Prince has good burst, but he cannot compete with tank lines backed by Executioner/AQ. Too many counters in the current meta.
C TIER
These units appear in many enemy boards you consistently beat. They don’t hold up in Season 3’s slower, Blaster-heavy meta.
Golden Knight
Still useful in Assassin setups, but the trait is heavily overshadowed in Season 3. Frontlines are too tanky, and his reset potential is lower than previous seasons.
Bandit
Bandit suffers from the same issue — assassins just don’t cut it in long-range scaling. She rarely reaches her target and dies instantly to Executioner splash.
PEKKA
Big single-hit units simply don’t work this season. Without Juggernaut or Avenger traits, PEKKA has no synergy and no place in Spirit Empress builds.
Mini PEKKA
Decent duelist, but the meta does not favor 1v1 frontliners. Too many comps run Giants or Clan sustain units that outlast him.
D TIER
These units struggle in every matchup and have no synergy in the current environment.
Princess
Extremely fragile and offers far less value than Archer Queen or Musketeer.
Dark Goblin
Low damage, bad survivability, and no space in Spirit Empress meta.
Regular Archer
Removed from pools and power-crept beyond recovery.
Knight / Juggernaut / Skeleton Giant
Removed or replaced — no longer in the meta.
Season 3 revolves around durability, scaling, and trait synergy, not rush tactics. Units that survive long enough to ramp — Royal Giant, Monk, Archer Queen, Wizard, Executioner — are dominating the ladder.