Hero rankings are recommendations, not official developer rankings. Map layouts, enemy patterns, weapons, perks, and your command habits can change which unit performs best.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
Golem is the best overall hero unit for most players because it combines very high health with strong single-target and area damage. Pick Lizzard Rider instead for fast map control and priority targets, Firewing for splash damage against mixed ground and flying waves, and Support Mage for healing, projectile blocking, and long defensive runs. On Frostsee and in Eternal Trials, the safest choice is usually Golem; on open maps or stages with many flying enemies, Lizzard Rider or Firewing can be better.
Quick verdict
Which hero should you build first?
The strongest default choice is Golem. It is a single hero unit with a large health pool, heavy melee damage, and splash damage, so it can hold a dangerous lane while you reposition or handle another attack. Its main weakness is speed: it reaches trouble slowly and cannot cover distant lanes without being commanded early.
Lizzard Rider is the best alternative when you need a hero that can move between fronts. It attacks from range, can fight in melee, and naturally prioritizes low-health and flying enemies. Firewing is the cleaner area-damage option, especially when enemies arrive in mixed ground-and-air groups. Support Mage is the specialist pick: it heals nearby allies and the king while blocking magical projectiles, but it contributes less direct damage and is fragile if left exposed.
- Best overall: Golem.
- Best for mobility and priority targets: Lizzard Rider.
- Best for area damage and flying enemies: Firewing.
- Best for sustain and magical defense: Support Mage.
| Hero unit | Best role | Main strength | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golem | Frontline anchor | Very high durability with strong single-target and splash damage | Slow movement and short reach |
| Lizzard Rider | Mobile hunter | Fast ranged and melee attacks against low-health and flying targets | Less durable than Golem and less suited to holding a lane alone |
| Firewing | Airborne artillery | Flying AoE damage against ground and airborne enemies | Lower durability and less reliable single-target pressure |
| Support Mage | Defensive support | Healing and magical-projectile blocking | Low damage and vulnerable when unsupported |
The roles and abilities are verified from the game reference. The ranking is a practical recommendation based on those roles, enemy patterns, and map layouts; it is not an official tier list.
By game mode
Best choices for campaign and Eternal Trials
For the standard campaign, use Golem when learning a map or when the final waves contain bulky ground enemies. Its durability forgives imperfect positioning and lets you keep attacking instead of constantly retreating. Lizzard Rider is more rewarding on maps where the hero must travel between separated threats, while Firewing becomes more attractive when airborne enemies occupy several approaches.
Eternal Trials changes the evaluation. Each stage uses a selected map but randomizes enemy patterns, wave durations, spawn locations, and other conditions. That uncertainty favors heroes with broad answers rather than narrow counters. Golem is the safest first choice because it can absorb mistakes and fight common ground threats. Firewing gains value when the run repeatedly produces air-heavy or clustered waves. Support Mage becomes stronger as your defensive investment grows, particularly when the king and several upgraded units can remain inside its healing and projectile-blocking range.
Do not treat Support Mage as a damage carry. Its purpose is to preserve the army and reduce incoming magical pressure. If your run already has enough damage but keeps losing units or the king to attrition, this hero can outperform a more aggressive pick.
- Campaign learning runs: Golem.
- Campaign map control: Lizzard Rider.
- Randomized Eternal Trials with unknown threats: Golem or Firewing.
- Defensive endurance and magical pressure: Support Mage.
| Mode or situation | Recommended pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First clear or unfamiliar map | Golem | Durability makes positioning mistakes less costly. |
| Long campaign replay with separated fronts | Lizzard Rider | Speed and range improve response time. |
| Randomized Eternal Trials | Golem | The broadest answer to unknown ground threats. |
| Air-heavy or clustered trial stages | Firewing | Flying AoE can clear several threats at once. |
| Attrition-focused defensive run | Support Mage | Healing and projectile blocking preserve your core army. |
Trial stages are randomized, so no hero is guaranteed to be best every run. Re-evaluate after seeing the map, weapon, perks, and early enemy pattern.
By stage
Best hero for each campaign map
Nordfels has several flying-only approaches around the castle, alongside ground attacks from other directions. Firewing is therefore especially convenient when you want one hero to answer both categories, while Lizzard Rider is excellent at chasing airborne or weakened targets. Golem remains the safer pick if the main danger is a ground lane reaching the inner castle.
Durststein is wide open and gives ranged units useful vantage points. The map also includes many monster-type enemies and several fast threats. Lizzard Rider is a strong fit because it can move through open space, pressure priority targets, and still defend itself in melee. Golem is preferable when ogres and other durable ground enemies are the main problem.
Frostsee is the hardest listed campaign map and includes a boss, elite ranged enemies, rams, ogres, and mixed late waves. Golem is the most dependable recommendation here because its durability matters more than its slow speed. Support Mage is a good second choice for a prepared defensive build, while Firewing is useful when the stage or your build creates dense mixed waves.
Uferwind starts with many building options and a large amount of gold, creating more room for specialized strategies. Its later waves include flying mages, barrel knights, furies, ogres, and rams. Firewing handles mixed air-and-ground pressure well, but Lizzard Rider is often better when you need to reach and eliminate flying mages quickly. Choose Golem for a simpler, sturdier clear.
- Nordfels: Firewing for mixed air pressure, or Lizzard Rider for flying-target control.
- Durststein: Lizzard Rider for open-map mobility and monster targeting.
- Frostsee: Golem for the safest clear; Support Mage for a defensive build.
- Uferwind: Lizzard Rider or Firewing for mixed waves; Golem for consistency.
| Stage | Preferred hero | Use this pick when |
|---|---|---|
| Nordfels | Firewing | Several flying approaches need one flexible answer. |
| Durststein | Lizzard Rider | You want fast movement and pressure against monsters or priority targets. |
| Frostsee | Golem | You need a durable anchor for the hardest campaign map. |
| Uferwind | Lizzard Rider | Flying mages and separated threats demand rapid response. |
| Uferwind | Firewing | Mixed ground and airborne waves arrive together. |
These choices infer value from documented map layouts and enemy rosters. They do not mean the other heroes are unusable on that stage.
Practical use
How to get more value from each hero
Command the hero before the wave reaches its target. Golem loses much of its advantage when it starts walking across the map after the attack has already reached your castle. Park it at the junction where the most dangerous ground routes meet, then move it only when the next threat is clear.
Keep Lizzard Rider and Firewing moving between safe firing positions rather than placing them directly in the first contact zone. Lizzard Rider can finish weakened targets and intercept air units; Firewing should be positioned where its splash can overlap several enemies without exposing it to unnecessary melee damage.
Place Support Mage behind the units it is protecting. Its healing and projectile blocking depend on range, so a distant mage that cannot reach the king or frontline contributes very little. Protect it with a durable unit or a wall, and avoid sending it to chase enemies.
Upgrade the hero when the map gives you enough time and economy to benefit from a stronger single unit. Hero units appear individually and become stronger and more resilient through upgrades, unlike regular units that increase in groups. This makes each upgrade meaningful, but it also makes early overspending risky if your basic defenses are incomplete.
- Use Golem to hold a junction, not to patrol every lane.
- Use Lizzard Rider to respond to flying, wounded, or support targets.
- Use Firewing where splash attacks can overlap multiple enemies.
- Use Support Mage behind the army and inside its healing range.
- Check the pause-screen unit stats when comparing your own results after an update.
Try the same hero for two attempts on a troublesome map. If the hero repeatedly arrives late, dies before contributing, or cannot reach the important targets, switch roles rather than forcing the ranking.
FAQ
Common questions
Is Golem always the best hero unit?
No. Golem is the safest general recommendation, not a universal winner. It is slow and ground-focused, so Lizzard Rider or Firewing can perform better when mobility, flying pressure, or area damage is the deciding factor.
Which hero is best for Eternal Trials?
Golem is the most reliable blind pick because Eternal Trials randomize maps and enemy patterns. Firewing is a strong alternative for air-heavy or clustered stages, while Support Mage suits defensive runs built around preserving units and the king.
Is Lizzard Rider better than Firewing?
Choose Lizzard Rider for mobility, priority targets, and flying enemies that must be picked off quickly. Choose Firewing when several enemies are packed together and splash damage is more important than precise target selection.
When should I use Support Mage?
Use Support Mage when your army survives damage checks but loses through attrition, or when magical projectiles are a major threat. Keep it protected and close enough to heal the king and frontline units.
Do hero units replace regular barracks units?
No. They are complementary. A hero unit is a single powerful specialist, while regular units provide numbers, lane coverage, and cheaper ways to hold multiple approaches.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialThronefall official community wiki: Units overview
- OfficialThronefall official community wiki: Hero unit pages
- OfficialThronefall official community wiki: Lizzard Rider
- OfficialThronefall official community wiki: Firewing and Support Mage
- OfficialThronefall official community wiki: Eternal Trials
- OfficialThronefall official community wiki: Campaign maps
- OfficialDeveloper-published Thronefall balance notes