This guide covers gameplay roles and unlock routes, not story spoilers. Store bundles and mobile pricing can change, so confirm the purchase screen on your platform before buying.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The original Iron Marines has 14 heroes. Taggins is the starting hero; Kara and Paragon are the other free characters. On mobile, the other 11 heroes are generally premium purchases, while the PC version includes the complete hero room. The roster is Taggins, Kara, Paragon, Fate, Ajax, Darwin, Guiying, Roy, Sha'tra, Dr. Graaff, Trabuco, Sparas, Mark X and Blue Dragon. Invasion is separate and has its own nine-hero roster, so do not use the first game's unlock list for it.
Original game
Complete 14-hero roster
Iron Marines uses heroes as powerful single units with individual abilities and a passive upgrade path. The most useful way to compare them is by battlefield job rather than by raw damage: frontline anchors, ranged damage dealers, control specialists, support units and highly mobile specialists.
The roles below are practical recommendations based on each hero's documented abilities. They are not formal in-game class labels, and several heroes can cover more than one job.
- Taggins — Durable ranged starter. His personal shield gives him a safe frontline presence, while Uranium Ammo creates a short burst of heavy damage. He is forgiving for new players and useful when a mission exposes your hero to concentrated fire.
- Kara — Long-range anti-air and area damage. Her missile attacks can reach over obstacles, and her mobility helps her reposition or return to combat quickly. Pick her when flying enemies or distant targets are the main problem.
- Paragon — Melee control and sustain. He damages and stuns groups with summoned spirits, then improves his own survival with healing and defensive effects. He is the strongest free choice for holding a dangerous lane.
- Fate — Stealth demolitions specialist. Her cloaking and explosive devices let her approach, erase clustered enemies and disengage. She rewards careful positioning rather than standing in one choke point.
- Ajax — Armored mech bruiser. Use him when you want a tough close-range hero who can absorb pressure while your regular squads attack safely.
- Darwin — Adaptive support and damage hero. His abilities let him shift between attacking enemies and helping allies, making him a flexible pick for missions with changing threats.
- Guiying — Defensive mystic fighter. Her dragon-themed powers provide area damage, stun effects, defensive resilience and a duplicate that can distract attackers.
- Roy — Mobile gunslinger. He fires while moving, pushes enemies back and uses explosive attacks to punish groups. He is excellent for hit-and-run play and for interrupting dangerous targets.
- Sha'tra — Alien hunter and focused damage dealer. His kit is best suited to singling out important enemies and pressuring targets that survive ordinary squad fire.
- Dr. Graaff — Tech support and utility specialist. His drones and dual-purpose abilities allow him to damage enemies while restoring or improving allied survivability.
- Trabuco — Heavy ranged bombardment. Choose him when bosses, armored targets or dense enemy formations demand concentrated explosive firepower.
- Sparas — Beast handler and flexible ranged fighter. He can call different alien companions for varied attack patterns, giving him useful options against both single targets and groups.
- Mark X — Super-heavy tank. He is a slow, durable anchor designed to absorb punishment and keep enemies away from vulnerable squads or structures.
- Blue Dragon — Flying mobile attacker. His aerial movement lets him bypass ground congestion and reach targets that other heroes cannot easily pursue. He is especially valuable when mobility matters more than holding a fixed position.
| Hero | Best practical role | Use when... |
|---|---|---|
| Taggins | Ranged frontline | You need a safe beginner hero. |
| Kara | Long-range and anti-air | Flying or distant enemies dominate. |
| Paragon | Melee control and sustain | You need a free hero to hold a lane. |
| Fate | Stealth and demolition | Enemy clusters can be ambushed. |
| Ajax | Armored bruiser | A durable close-range anchor is needed. |
| Darwin | Flexible support | The mission changes between attack and defense. |
| Guiying | Defensive area control | Stuns, resilience and distraction are valuable. |
| Roy | Mobile ranged damage | You need to kite and push enemies back. |
| Sha'tra | Targeted alien hunting | Priority enemies must die quickly. |
| Dr. Graaff | Tech support | Damage and recovery are both useful. |
| Trabuco | Heavy bombardment | Bosses or armored groups need focus fire. |
| Sparas | Companion-based flexibility | Different enemy types require varied attacks. |
| Mark X | Heavy tank | Your position must not collapse. |
| Blue Dragon | Aerial mobility | Ground routes are crowded or unsafe. |
Ironhide officially confirms the 14-hero roster and publishes descriptions for several characters. The role labels and matchup advice above are practical recommendations, not official rankings. No hero is required to finish the campaign, so buying a premium character is optional rather than mandatory.
Unlocks
How to unlock all heroes in the original
On mobile, the documented free group is Taggins, Kara and Paragon. Taggins is the starting character. Community progression records commonly place Kara at the beginning of the campaign and Paragon after early progression, with later heroes appearing in the hero room as the campaign advances. Because these checkpoints are not clearly listed in the current official store description, treat exact level numbers as a guide rather than a guarantee.
The same community records commonly report hero-room checkpoints around campaign levels 1 and 5 for the free choices, around level 9 for Fate, Ajax and Darwin, around level 15 for Guiying, Roy, Sha'tra, Dr. Graaff, Trabuco and Sparas, and around level 21 for Mark X and Blue Dragon. These entries describe when the characters appear in the roster; premium heroes may still require a purchase on mobile.
For a reliable check, open the hero room, select the locked portrait and read the requirement shown by your installed build. If it shows a purchase button, the hero is premium on that platform. If it shows a campaign requirement, continue the main missions rather than spending money.
On Steam, Ironhide's store listing says the hero room is fully unlocked and advertises all 14 heroes. That makes the PC version different from mobile editions, where premium access and bundles may still apply.
- Free route: start with Taggins, then progress through the campaign to obtain the other free heroes shown in your hero room.
- Premium route on mobile: use the individual purchase or a supported hero bundle; pricing and bundle contents can change.
- PC route: the Steam listing advertises the complete hero roster, so separate mobile-style hero purchases should not be assumed.
- Do not confuse level availability with ownership. A portrait can appear in the roster while still requiring a purchase on mobile.
| Platform or situation | What is documented | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | Three free heroes; other heroes commonly sold as premium content | Check each locked portrait in the hero room. |
| Steam PC | Store listing advertises 14 heroes and a fully unlocked hero room | Use the complete roster without applying mobile gates. |
| Older save or different build | Progression and bundle presentation may differ | Trust the requirement shown in-game. |
The official store pages confirm the total roster and the existence of optional hero purchases, but they do not publish a complete table of campaign-level unlocks. The level checkpoints above are therefore clearly labeled as community-documented rather than guaranteed universal rules.
Separate game
Iron Marines Invasion heroes
Invasion is not an expansion roster for the original game. It is a separate sequel with different units, missions and heroes. A commonly maintained reference lists nine characters: three free heroes and six premium heroes on mobile.
The free group is Halford, Ultra and Munsai. The premium group is Bomett, Kendra, Gauntlet, Red Dragon, Kosmos and Paifeng. The official Ironhide page confirms that Invasion revolves around combining hero abilities with units and defensive firepower, but it does not publish a complete hero-by-hero unlock table.
Use Halford, Ultra or Munsai first if you want to play without buying character content. For the premium roster, inspect the in-game hero screen because store availability and bundle presentation can differ between mobile and PC versions.
- Halford, Ultra and Munsai are the documented free Invasion heroes.
- Bomett, Kendra, Gauntlet, Red Dragon, Kosmos and Paifeng are the documented premium Invasion heroes.
- Invasion characters cannot be transferred into the original game, and the original game's 14-character list does not apply to the sequel.
- The strongest choice depends on the mission's enemy mix, available units and your preferred level of micro-management.
| Game | Documented roster size | Free characters |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Marines | 14 | Taggins, Kara and Paragon |
| Iron Marines Invasion | 9 | Halford, Ultra and Munsai |
The original game's 14-hero total is supported by official store listings. The nine-character Invasion breakdown is supported by a community-maintained database rather than a current official roster page, so verify the portraits and purchase labels in your installed version.
Practical picks
Which hero should you use?
For a first campaign run, Taggins is the simplest starting point because his shield forgives positioning mistakes and his damage burst is easy to understand. Kara is the better answer to air threats and distant targets, while Paragon is the most natural free pick for players who prefer direct melee control.
For difficult missions, choose according to the failure you are trying to prevent. Use Mark X or Ajax when your line collapses, Trabuco or Sha'tra when priority targets survive too long, Fate when ambushes can remove a dangerous cluster, and Blue Dragon when the map rewards rapid movement.
Do not judge a hero only by the portrait or purchase status. Hero abilities improve as the character levels, and a familiar free hero can outperform a premium option when you use its timing well. Rotate heroes during replay missions to learn which ability solves the specific problem that defeated you.
- Need survivability? Start with Taggins, Paragon, Ajax or Mark X.
- Need burst damage? Try Fate, Trabuco, Sha'tra or Darwin.
- Need mobility? Kara, Roy and Blue Dragon are the clearest choices.
- Need control or disruption? Paragon, Guiying and Roy offer reliable ways to slow, stun or push enemies.
- Need a no-purchase campaign plan? Level Taggins, Kara and Paragon instead of waiting for premium heroes.
| Problem | Good first choices | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Your hero dies quickly | Taggins, Paragon, Mark X | Shielding, healing or toughness buys time. |
| Air or distant enemies | Kara, Blue Dragon | Range or flight improves access. |
| Armored bosses | Trabuco, Ajax, Sha'tra | Heavy attacks or focused pressure help. |
| Large enemy groups | Fate, Guiying, Trabuco | Explosives, stuns or area damage punish clusters. |
| Constant repositioning | Roy, Kara, Blue Dragon | Mobility keeps damage active while moving. |
FAQ
Common questions
How many heroes are in Iron Marines?
The original game has 14 heroes. The roster is Taggins, Kara, Paragon, Fate, Ajax, Darwin, Guiying, Roy, Sha'tra, Dr. Graaff, Trabuco, Sparas, Mark X and Blue Dragon.
Who is the best free hero?
Paragon is the strongest general recommendation for players who want melee control, stun effects and sustain. Kara is better against air or distant targets, while Taggins is the easiest hero for learning the game.
Can you beat Iron Marines without buying heroes?
Yes. The three free heroes provide a complete campaign path. Premium characters add alternative tools and can make some missions more comfortable, but they are not required for a successful run.
How do you unlock all heroes?
On mobile, progress through the campaign for the free heroes and use the hero-room purchase option for premium characters. On Steam, the official store listing advertises a fully unlocked hero room with all 14 heroes. Exact mobile gates can vary, so read the requirement shown in your build.
Who are the Invasion heroes?
The documented Invasion roster is Halford, Ultra, Munsai, Bomett, Kendra, Gauntlet, Red Dragon, Kosmos and Paifeng. Halford, Ultra and Munsai are listed as free, while the others are listed as premium in the community-maintained database.
Is Mark X a playable character or a unit?
Mark X is one of the original game's 14 playable heroes. He is presented as a super-heavy tank, so his value comes from durability and lane anchoring rather than speed.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialIronhide official Iron Marines Google Play listing, including the 14-hero count and current update information
- OfficialIron Marines official Steam store page, including the 14-hero feature and fully unlocked hero room
- OfficialIronhide official hero reports describing Taggins, Kara, Paragon, Fate, Guiying, Roy and other characters
- OfficialIronhide official Iron Marines Invasion game page
- CommunityCommunity-maintained roster and free-versus-premium hero reference
- CommunityCommunity discussion documenting commonly reported campaign hero-room checkpoints