Season 3 has arrived with the biggest shake-up Merge Tactics has seen in months. A mix of troop removals, trait rewrites, and ruler tuning has completely overturned the Season 2 Loong meta. The removal of several free troops, the Juggernaut → Brutalist trait change, and the introduction of the new Battle Machine ruler all contribute to a more dynamic battlefield where early-game elixir flow and mid-game power spikes finally matter again.
Below is a fully in-depth Best Merge Tactics Build for Season 3 guide, where we have explained what has changed and why Loong Ruler is no good in Season 3 and other important changes and tips
Best Merge Tactics Build for Season 3 (November 2025)
Loong Loses Dominance
For the entirety of Season 2, Loong’s +1 team size made him the most efficient ruler in the game. He pushed out every other ruler simply because having one more troop slot created overwhelming board control. But Season 3 quietly nerfed him by removing many low-cost free troops such as Archer, Skeleton Giant, Knight, and Juggernaut. Since his value revolved around filling the board quickly, the reduced card pool indirectly weakened him.
Juggernaut → Brutalist Trait Change
The removal of Juggernaut and the introduction of Brutalist is a bigger meta shift than it seems. Brutalist doesn’t deliver the same aggressive pressure Juggernaut did, reducing the explosive frontline synergy Loong players relied on.
Royale King Gets a Significant Buff
Royale King now grants between 4 and 8 Elixir when you lose a round. Previously, this fixed value was 4, which made him extremely slow in the early game. This new elixir range gives a real comeback mechanic, allowing you to scale faster and stabilise mid-game.
Spirit Empress Returns
With a smaller card pool and more reliable elixir generation, Spirit Empress gets stronger. Her scaling potential increases because the game now revolves around high-value late-game units, which she supports extremely well. She benefits the most from consistent elixir farming, creating an environment where her magic-centric compositions thrive again.
Best Builds for Season 3
Below are the top three builds currently dominating early Season 3. Each list is crafted to take advantage of Spirit Empress’s efficient scaling and the reduced competition from Loong.
Build 1 – The Balanced Burst Control Setup
Ruler: Spirit Empress
Troops:
- Monk
- Royal Giant
- Electro Giant
- Wizard
- Executioner
- Archer Queen
This lineup combines exceptional crowd control with high burst damage. Monk stabilizes early rounds, Wizard and Executioner spread damage broadly, and Archer Queen provides consistent long-range pressure. Royal Giant and Electro Giant dominate the mid-game once your elixir economy comes online, which synergizes perfectly with Spirit Empress’s scaling pattern.
You aim to stall early, build up elixir, and wait for your late-game giants to take over. This build performs well against chaotic swarms and frontline-heavy comps.
Build 2
Ruler: Spirit Empress
Troops:
- Monk
- Musketeer
- Electro Giant
- Witch
- Skeleton Dragons
- Archer Queen
This build leans heavily into ranged pressure. Musketeer offers precise, high-value shots that scale well into the late game, while Witch and Skeleton Dragons create constant pressure that forces the enemy frontline to collapse quickly. Electro Giant acts as the anchor, providing the stun and lane control required to protect your high-value backline.
You play for a slow burn. Your damage ramps over time, and once your ranged units start stacking, opponents struggle to break through. It counters melee-centric teams exceptionally well.
Build 3
Ruler: Spirit Empress
Troops:
- Valkyrie
- Archer Queen
- Skeleton King
- Electro Giant
- Witch
- Royal Giant
This composition blends strong frontline bruisers with lethal backline scaling. Valkyrie offers early stability, and Skeleton King provides one of the most reliable mid-round turnarounds. Royal Giant and Electro Giant create late-game dominance while Witch provides consistent lane pressure.
This is a flexible build. You can pivot between aggressive mid-game pushes or slow-paced scaling depending on the opponent. The mix of frontline brawlers and backline firepower gives it one of the highest win rates for Season 3 so far.
Season 3 has shifted Merge Tactics toward slower, elixir-driven gameplay where Spirit Empress shines once again. With Loong finally out of the spotlight and Royale King performing better, the field is more open than ever. Still, the three builds above provide the most consistent results thanks to their scaling, stability, and synergy with the current troop pool.