The best formations, and the dragons that make them

At home in: Cavalry · Shields · Siege

Tactical Strike — After a basic attack: tactical +50% + 30% Bleed. 6★+: Panic 15%.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Cavalry · Archers

Scarlet Strike — Odd rounds: physical +135% on the enemy with the highest Initiative, plus 1 stack of Laceration (max 8). Each stack cuts that target's Initiative by −7% (enhanced by Strength). At 2★: if the target is bleeding, 50%→100% by rank to make it vulnerable for 2 rounds and add a stack; otherwise a chance to raise the physical damage it takes by +12.5% for 2 rounds, with an extra stack.

Key threshold: 2★

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Pikemen · Shields

Bronze Fury — Rounds 2,4,6,8: physical +30% and tactical +60% to 2 enemies within adjacency. Odd rounds: 30% to grant Protect to the adjacent ally with the fewest troops (2 rounds). At 6★+: physical +37.5%, tactical +75%, Protect 40%, and −5% physical/fire damage taken for 2 rounds on application.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Vermithor · Kalspire — in Shields

At home in: Pikemen · Cavalry

Infernal Burst — Rounds 3,6,9: fire +100% to 3 enemies, ×1.5 if First Strike.

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Caraxes · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Pikemen · Shields

Feral Strike — After a basic attack: 2× physical +20%. Rounds 4,6,8: Double Strike 40%.

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Venator · Kalspire — in Shields

At home in: Shields · Archers

Crescent Blade — Round 1: grants Crescent Blade to 1 other allied Sentinel until the end of combat. When that target deals tactical damage or applies Recovery: 50% to grant 1 Rising Tide stack to Moondancer (8 max, once per round). Each stack reduces damage taken by −2%. At 6★+: physical +85%.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Kalspire · Moondancer · Malachite — in Shields

At home in: Cavalry · Shields

Warden's Rally — Rounds 2,4,7,9: tactical +100%. Rounds 3,6,9: Recovery +70% to 3 allies.

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Cavalry · Archers

Cleansing Wrath — Each round: removes up to 3 enemy buffs. Rounds 3,6,9: fire +190%. 6★+: Infectious Rage (blocks healing).

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Seasmoke · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Pikemen · Cavalry

Golden Wrath — Rounds 1,4,7,10: tactical +110% to 1 enemy in the same lane. Below 75% troop capacity: also deals this damage to a 2nd adjacent enemy. Below 50%: adds fire damage (+55%) with a chance of Burn for 2 rounds.

Its best measured formation: Kalspire · Meleys · Sunfyre — in Cavalry

At home in: Archers

Shadowflame — Odd rounds: physical +125% + 20% Burn.

Its best measured formation: Daemoros · Kalspire · Vermithor — in Shields

At home in: Shields · Archers · Siege

Fiery Bonds — Each round 25%: Taunt 3 enemies (×2 if burning). Even rounds: physical +120%.

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Vhagar · Kalspire — in Shields

At home in: Pikemen · Archers

Blazing Fury — Each round 20%: +10% fire damage & First Strike to a fire ally. Rounds 1,4,6,9: tactical +110%. 6★+: Recovery + Resistance.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Syrax · Venator · Kalspire — in Shields

At home in: Pikemen · Archers · Siege

Bloodscale Terror — Odd rounds 20%: Stun. Rounds 2,5,8: fire +140%. 10★: stun 40% + reduces Inst/Init.

Key threshold: 10★

Its best measured formation: Crimson · Caraxes · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Cavalry · Archers

Wild Hunt — Each round, if no prey: 40% to mark 1 enemy as prey (3 rounds, prioritising a target that received Recovery); the prey takes −30% Recovery received. Rounds 1,4,7,10: fire to 1 enemy (targets the prey, +100%), doubled if the prey is hit. 10★: fire to the prey (+24%) + Recovery (+10%).

Key threshold: 10★

Its best measured formation: Sheepstealer · Caraxes · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Shields

Starfall — Start of combat: marks 3 enemies in any lane with Solar Flare. Each round: 50% to deal tactical damage (+100%) to 1 marked enemy, consuming the mark. Rounds 1,3,7,9: tactical +80% to 1 enemy in the same lane. At 6★+: consuming Solar Flare rises to +130%.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Starshower · Kalspire — in Shields

At home in: Pikemen · Shields · Siege

Dawnsong — Rounds 1,4,7: physical +70%. Rounds 2,5,8: fire +20% (×1.5 if Control).

Its best measured formation: Meleys · Rhysarion · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Pikemen

Lure — Each round 25%: Taunt 3 enemies. Odd rounds: physical +45%. (HBO Max link reward.)

Its best measured formation: Vaeldra · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Archers · Siege

Silent Shade — Rounds 1,4,6,9: +15% tactical damage taken by the target (enhancer) + tactical +75%.

Its best measured formation: Zivern · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Pikemen · Cavalry · Siege

Cobalt Flame — Rounds 1,4,7: fire +95% to 1 enemy in any lane (prioritising those dealing physical damage excluding basic attacks), with 50% to reduce the target's damage dealt by −10% (2 rounds), doubled to −20% if the target deals physical damage excluding basic attacks. Rounds 3,6,9: physical +60% to 1 enemy in the same lane.

Its best measured formation: Tessarion · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Shields

Whirlwind — Rounds 2,4,6,8: Advantage +15% to 2 allies. Rounds 3,5,7,9: tactical +45% to 3 enemies.

Its best measured formation: Velar · Vermithor · Kalspire — in Shields

At home in: Cavalry · Shields

Spreading Blaze — After each basic attack: physical damage to 1 enemy on the same line (+50%). 20% chance to grant 1 stack of Spreading Blaze (max 10) to a tactical ally: +2.5% tactical damage dealt per stack.

Its best measured formation: Vermax · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Cavalry

Breath of Fire — Rounds 2,5,8: fire +100% to 2 enemies, ×1.5 if Panic.

Its best measured formation: Meleys · Shadowsong · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Cavalry · Shields · Siege

Burning Ward — Odd rounds: 25% to Stagger 1 enemy in any lane (2 rounds). Rounds 2,5,8: fire +115% to 1 enemy in any lane (prioritising targets without Burn), with 50% to inflict Burn for 2 rounds. At 6★+: Stagger rises to 38% and each round deals fire (+20%) to every enemy under Control.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Tairax · Meleys · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Cavalry

Tail Whip — Odd rounds: physical +100%. 6★+: even rounds physical +50% + 25% Bleed.

Key threshold: 6★

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Thunderstrike · Kalspire — in Cavalry

At home in: Archers

Shimmering Mirage — Each round: +2.5% fire/charge (max 10). Rounds 3,6,9: fire +200%.

Its best measured formation: Kalspire · Meleys · Tashix — in Cavalry