This Raid Shadow Legends tier list was put together on October 12, 2026, on patch V11.80 (released October 8), and it reflects the current champion meta after the Echoes of Oz event and the seven new champions from V11.75. Rather than invent my own scores for a roster of 800+ champions, I based the tiers on HellHades’ champion ratings as they stood on that date, then added context on why the standouts matter.
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Key Takeaways
- Ranking date: October 12, 2026 (patch V11.80)
- Mavara, Sydax, Bayek, Hekaton and The Tin Woodman are recent arrivals already at the top score
- Dorothy Gale, a free login champion, sits just below S tier and is a huge gift for new accounts
- Rebalances lifted older champions like Polara and Cruetraxa back into the meta
- A tier list is a guide to where a champion is useful, not a keep-or-feed list
How This Tier List Works
HellHades grades every champion from 1 to 5 in each area of the game (Demon Lord, Hydra, Chimera, Arena, Doom Tower bosses, dungeons and more), plus a general rating. I mapped that general rating onto letters: 5 is S tier, 4.5 is A tier. Below that, the list gets too long to be useful in one article.
Two caveats. HellHades itself says the list should depend on your account and progress, and the rating doesn’t tell you whether a champion fits your teams. A 4.5 you can build today is worth more than a 5 sitting unbooked in your vault.
S Tier: Score 5 (October 12, 2026)
These champions held the top score on the ranking date:
- Recent additions and reworks: The Tin Woodman, Mavara, Sydax, Bayek, Hekaton, Sabrael, Polara
- Established meta: Warlord, Teodor, Krisk, Lydia, Acrizia, Siphi, Cardiel, Underpriest Brogni, Mithrala, Yumeko, Taras, Marichka, Pythion, Gnut, Siegfrund, Lady Mikage, Lazarius, Firrol, Alaz, Galathir, Marius, Armanz, Toshiro, Othorion, Senna, Embrys, Pheidi, Queen of Hearts, Tetsuya, Fabian, Arachoa, Titus, Leo, Klaazag, Cecilia, Pallas, Tekteon
Mavara the Web Diviner is the 2026 Fusion everyone talks about. Her kit stacks Revive, Perfect Veil, self-Unkillable, HP Equalization, Strengthen and Increase RES, and HellHades notes she still performs on a fresh account without full books. Sydax Kingslayer is the PvE Swiss army knife: Enemy MAX HP damage, Decrease DEF and SPD, team Increase DEF and SPD, Ally Protection and Pain Link, which makes him a natural fit for Hydra.
Bayek from the Assassin’s Creed collaboration brings Provoke, Decrease ACC, Decrease RES and Perfect Veil, and his passive often makes him a must-ban in PvP. Storm Herald Hekaton, the first Void Legendary of the Argonites faction, introduced Stormcall, which adds extra Enemy MAX HP damage in PvE and a stream of stuns against waves.
Polara Fireheart earns her spot after her V11.65 rebalance turned her into a big damage dealer. The catch: she’s still locked behind Faction Wars Hard.
A Tier: Score 4.5 (October 12, 2026)
Selected champions with a 4.5 rating on the same date:
- New this season: Ozilda the Wicked, Dorothy Gale, The Cowardly Lion, Thayla Hammerhorn, Miyoko Flower of Yakai, Theimios the Everdrinker
- Proven picks: Arbiter, Duchess Lilitu, Cruetraxa, Raglin, Baron, Ma’Shalled, Maneater, Seer, Dracomorph, Prince Kymar, Lyssandra, Valkyrie, Abbess, Soulless, Turvold, Sir Nicholas, Venus, Deacon Armstrong, Ukko, Trunda, Staltus, Whisper, Rotos, Nekhret, Geomancer, Harima, Vogoth, Sicia, Riho, Ramantu, Hurndig
Dorothy Gale is the standout for new players. She brings AoE Decrease DEF, AoE Decrease ACC, AoE Stun, buff stealing, Weaken and a Speed aura, and she came from a login event. Pair her Decrease ACC with Mavara’s Increase RES and you have the start of a resistance team for debuff-heavy bosses. The Cowardly Lion works well next to Mavara too, since his Fervor buffs trigger her passive.
Cruetraxa is the comeback story. Her 2026 rebalance (V11.40) boosted her offense, and with a strong Merciless build she can chain attacks against bosses. Theimios the Everdrinker, a V11.75 champion, is RAID’s next Legendary Fusion, so expect his score to get a lot of attention once players can build him.
Best Picks for New and Free Players
If you’re early in the game, chase the accessible champions first:
- Dorothy Gale (A): free login champion with a huge utility kit
- Mavara (S): a Fusion, so obtainable without luck if you finish the event
- Kael: the most-recommended starter, because his poisons carry Campaign, Demon Lord and Dragon
- Pelops: not in the top bands, but HellHades calls him one of 2026’s biggest progression champions thanks to Magma Shields, Taunt, HP Burn and Decrease ATK
Whatever you pull, build a team of five that covers damage, a revive, speed control and Decrease DEF before chasing the S tier.
How to Use a Tier List Without Wasting Resources
A high score is not a reason to pour every book into a champion. Check which areas they’re rated for first: a 5 in Arena may be a 3 against Hydra. Book skills that change damage, debuff chance or cooldowns, and never feed Epics just because they’re missing from a top tier. Faction Wars and Doom Tower will ask for them later.
FAQ
When was this tier list made?
On October 12, 2026, on patch V11.80. Any future update will carry its own date.
Who is the best free champion right now?
Dorothy Gale. She came from a login event and holds a 4.5 rating with a utility kit that fits almost any team.
Is Arbiter still worth building?
Yes. She holds a 4.5 rating and remains a reliable support for most accounts.
Do tier lists apply to Live Arena?
Partly. Live Arena depends on drafts and bans, so area-specific ratings matter more than the headline score.
New to the game? Start with my Raid Shadow Legends beginner guide, and read the Raid Shadow Legends review for the honest pros and cons. Fans of long-haul RPGs can also try the Ragnarok Zero beginner guide, and the RPG & Other section has more. Patch notes are on the official Raid: Shadow Legends website.
