Formations

Best Dragon Combos, Teams & Formations — October 2026

The strongest formation, measured by playing 8,436 trios to the end on equal terms, is Malachite · Kalspire · Vermithor in Shields. Below: the top 12, the best formation for each troop and the best team for each dragon.

Your dragons' stars

Each level is measured separately, with only the habits those stars unlock (one every 2 stars).

The 12 strongest formations

Each trio played in its best placement and troop, against 36 real player armies and the beast, every dragon at level 40 and 6★, unlocked habits at level 3. Strength = troops destroyed + troops kept, as a % of #1.

#Formation (left · centre · right)TroopStrength
1Malachite · Kalspire · VermithorShields100 %
2Malachite · Kalspire · MoondancerShields99.1 %
3Kalspire · Meleys · MalachiteCavalry98.8 %
4Vermithor · Moondancer · MalachiteShields98.5 %
5Malachite · Vhagar · VenatorShields98.1 %
6Malachite · Vhagar · MoondancerShields98.1 %
7Malachite · Meleys · MoondancerShields98.1 %
8Sunfyre · Kalspire · MalachiteCavalry98 %
9Malachite · Vhagar · KalspireShields97.8 %
10Syrax · Kalspire · VermithorShields97.8 %
11Sunfyre · Kalspire · VermithorShields97.8 %
12Malachite · Crimson · MoondancerArchers97.7 %

Order: left · centre · right, as you place them in the game.

Best formation for each troop

The three strongest formations in each troop.

Best formation with Cavalry

  1. Kalspire · Meleys · Malachitestrength 98.8%
  2. Sunfyre · Kalspire · Malachitestrength 98%
  3. Sunfyre · Meleys · Malachitestrength 97.7%

Best formation with Shields

  1. Malachite · Kalspire · Vermithorstrength 100%
  2. Malachite · Kalspire · Moondancerstrength 99.1%
  3. Vermithor · Moondancer · Malachitestrength 98.5%

Best formation with Archers

  1. Malachite · Crimson · Moondancerstrength 97.7%
  2. Malachite · Meleys · Crimsonstrength 96.4%
  3. Malachite · Vhagar · Meleysstrength 91.2%

Best formation with Pikemen

  1. Vermithor · Venator · Sunfyrestrength 96.4%
  2. Caraxes · Vermithor · Malachitestrength 91.9%
  3. Caraxes · Vermithor · Syraxstrength 91.8%

Best team for each dragon

For each dragon, the strongest formation that includes it, on equal terms.

A formation is three dragons, six possible placements and four troops — and the best one depends on what YOU own. This page gives you the material: the dragons that actually weigh, what each one's order does, the troop where it belongs, and the star threshold from which it changes dimension. The rest — which trio with your own dragons, in which order, with which troop — has to be worked out.

What makes a formation good

Placement changes everything

In the centre, a dragon can strike any lane: it is never without a target, and its vanguard fires. On a flank, it strikes its own lane then the centre, never the opposite flank. The same trio, badly placed, loses up to a third of what it is worth.

A troop is not a colour

Green affinity is a real bonus, but it is not an absolute rule: a formation in a troop that looks worse on paper often wins because it sits well against what it faces. And five armies in the same troop means one opponent brings the troop that beats it and has the edge everywhere.

Levelled habits weigh more than rarity

An epic with three habits levelled goes past a legendary left at zero. That is where the gap widens fastest, and it is exactly what general rankings ignore.

Stars unlock thresholds

Many orders change at a precise star: an effect is added, a percentage doubles. Until that threshold, the dragon does not play the role people credit it with. Each dragon's thresholds are listed below.

The strongest dragons

Ranked by what the engine measured while playing the fights — tier S, then A, then B. For each one: its troop, its order, and the star threshold that changes it.

STier S — they make the difference on their own

Kalspire

Legendary · Champion

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 · Kalspire · Vermithor — in Shields

Vermithor

Legendary · Champion

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 · Kalspire · Vermithor — in Shields

Caraxes

Legendary · Hunter

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 · Kalspire · Caraxes — in Cavalry

Meleys

Legendary · Warrior

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: Kalspire · Meleys · Malachite — in Cavalry

Malachite

Legendary · Sentinel

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 · Kalspire · Vermithor — in Shields

Moondancer

Legendary · Warrior

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: Malachite · Kalspire · Moondancer — in Shields

Venator

Legendary · Warrior

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 · Vhagar · Venator — in Shields

Sunfyre

Legendary · Sentinel

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: Sunfyre · Kalspire · Malachite — in Cavalry

Vhagar

Legendary · Warrior

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 · Venator — in Shields

ATier A — excellent as soon as they are surrounded

Syrax

Legendary · Sentinel

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 · Kalspire · Vermithor — in Shields

Crimson

Legendary · Hunter

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: Malachite · Crimson · Moondancer — in Archers

Daemoros

Epic · Warrior

At home in: Archers

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

Its best measured formation: Malachite · Meleys · Daemoros — in Archers

Seasmoke

Legendary · Champion

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 · Kalspire · Seasmoke — in Cavalry

Zivern

Epic · Sentinel

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 · Vhagar · Moondancer — in Archers

Rhysarion

Epic · Champion

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: Malachite · Kalspire · Rhysarion — in Shields

BTier B — solid, and often underrated

Sheepstealer

Legendary · Hunter

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: Malachite · Sheepstealer · Moondancer — in Archers

Velar

Epic · Sentinel

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: Malachite · Kalspire · Velar — in Shields

Tairax

Epic · Hunter

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: Caraxes · Malachite · Tairax — in Cavalry

Tessarion

Epic · Champion

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: Caraxes · Malachite · Tessarion — in Cavalry

Starshower

Epic · Sentinel

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: Starshower · Moondancer · Malachite — in Shields

Vaeldra

Epic · Warrior

At home in: Pikemen

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

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

Shadowsong

Epic · Hunter

At home in: Cavalry

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

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

Vermax

Epic · Warrior

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: Malachite · Meleys · Vermax — in Cavalry

Feskar

Epic · Champion

At home in: Cavalry

Calculated Assault — Reduces the strongest enemy's physical (−12%). Rounds 2,4,7,9: tactical +100% on the weakest enemy.

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

Smoketail

Epic · Hunter

At home in: Pikemen

Veilflame — Rounds 2,5,8: fire +75% to 2 enemies in the same lane, and grants herself Evade (10% chance to ignore each hit, 20% if an enemy Champion was hit). At 10★: rounds 3,6,9, fire +30% to +75% (by the rank of Champion's Scourge) to 3 enemies in any lane, tripled against Champions.

Key threshold: 10★

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

Thunderstrike

Rare · Warrior

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 · Kalspire · Thunderstrike — in Cavalry

Measured by playing the fights to the end over 8,436 trios, every dragon brought to level 40, 6★ and 3 levelled habits, so the comparison is honest. On your own account the gaps shift: that is what the composer works out.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best formation in GoT: Dragonfire?

Measured by playing 8,436 trios to the end on equal terms, the strongest formation is Malachite · Kalspire · Vermithor in Shields, ahead of Malachite · Kalspire · Moondancer in Shields and Kalspire · Meleys · Malachite in Cavalry. The best one for you depends on your own stars and habits: the composer works it out with your dragons.

What is the best troop for a formation?

Across the 884 armies the AI built for real players: Cavalry 31 %, Shields 27 %, Archers 24 %, Pikemen 19 %. Spread your armies over several troops so a single opponent cannot counter all of them.

Which dragon should go in the centre?

The dragons the AI puts in the centre most often are Vhagar, Caraxes, Shadowsong, Zivern. In the centre a dragon can strike every lane: put the one whose order must always find a target there.

Do I need a lot of stars for these formations?

No. In the armies the AI builds for real players, dragons sit at a median of 4★. Levelled habits and placement matter as much as stars.

Best formation with Cavalry

The best trios measured by the AI with Cavalry: Kalspire · Meleys · Malachite ; Sunfyre · Kalspire · Malachite ; Sunfyre · Meleys · Malachite.

Best formation with Shields

The best trios measured by the AI with Shields: Malachite · Kalspire · Vermithor ; Malachite · Kalspire · Moondancer ; Vermithor · Moondancer · Malachite.

Best formation with Archers

The best trios measured by the AI with Archers: Malachite · Crimson · Moondancer ; Malachite · Meleys · Crimson ; Malachite · Vhagar · Meleys.

Best formation with Pikemen

The best trios measured by the AI with Pikemen: Vermithor · Venator · Sunfyre ; Caraxes · Vermithor · Malachite ; Caraxes · Vermithor · Syrax.

How do I find the best formation for my own dragons?

Enter your dragons in Buffer Companion's army builder: the AI plays the fights with your levels, stars and habits and returns your five best armies, placement and troop included.

The best formation is yours

These landmarks hold for an average roster. Yours is not average: your stars, your levelled habits, your relics and your research move the gaps. The composer plays the fights with YOUR dragons and returns your five armies, each one's role, and who stays on the bench.

Build my armies