Names and spellings follow the current community reference where possible. The roster is not a list of separate named protagonists: most entries are unit types, and Craaghelm’s announced additions are not yet live.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
There are 13 current base-game entries worth separating: the King, eight regular units, and four hero units. The King is the only playable character and the only character who builds structures. Knights, Spearmen, and Longbow Archers are the basic frontline and ranged choices; Flails and Berserks add area or anti-siege melee power; Crossbowmen counter ranged enemies; Hunters counter monsters; and Fire Archers counter siege targets. Golem is the durable hero, Support Mage heals and blocks magical projectiles, Firewing provides flying splash damage, and Lizzard Rider is a fast hybrid attacker. Unit unlocks come from progression, but the available references do not provide a complete, consistent unlock level for every entry.
Roster
Who counts as a character?
Thronefall uses “characters” in two different ways. The King is the player-controlled ruler, while the army consists of recruitable unit types. Four of those units are classified as heroes, but they are still battlefield units recruited from Hero’s Quarters rather than alternate player avatars.
The current base-game roster is therefore the King plus twelve recruitable unit types. Regular units appear in groups and gain more bodies when upgraded. Hero units appear singly, but their upgrades improve the individual hero instead. This distinction matters when comparing value: a barracks upgrade expands a formation, while a Hero’s Quarters upgrade strengthens one specialist.
- Playable character: The King.
- Regular melee units: Knights, Spearmen, Flails, and Berserks.
- Regular ranged units: Longbow Archers, Crossbowmen, Hunters, and Fire Archers.
- Hero units: Golem, Support Mage, Firewing, and Lizzard Rider.
| Entry | Role | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| The King | Playable ruler | Builds structures, fights, relocates quickly, and supports every lane. |
| Knights | Basic melee | General frontline defense. |
| Spearmen | Basic melee | Fast melee response and protection against quick enemies. |
| Flails | Area melee | Clearing groups surrounding the unit. |
| Berserks | Heavy melee | Pressuring siege and high-health targets. |
| Longbow Archers | Long-range ranged | Safe damage from behind walls or frontline units. |
| Crossbowmen | Anti-ranged ranged | Punishing enemy ranged units. |
| Hunters | Anti-monster ranged | Fighting monster-type enemies. |
| Fire Archers | Anti-siege ranged | Splash damage and bonus pressure against siege engines. |
| Golem | Melee hero | Durable frontline damage with area attacks. |
| Support Mage | Support hero | Healing allied units and blocking magical projectiles. |
| Firewing | Flying ranged hero | Splash damage against ground and flying enemies. |
| Lizzard Rider | Hybrid hero | Fast single-target attacks, including a melee option. |
The only confirmed named playable character is the King. The horse is named Hasty the Horse, but it is a mount rather than a separate playable character. The recruitable heroes are identified by roles and unit names, not personal names.
Unlocks
How progression opens the roster
The current progression system awards content as you level through play. The maintained leveling reference lists Flails at level 6, Hunters at level 19, Berserks at level 25, and Fire Archers at level 30. The wider unit reference agrees on the first three thresholds but lists Fire Archers at level 29, so level 30 is the safer current value to use while acknowledging the conflict.
Knights, Crossbowmen, Longbow Archers, and Spearmen are described as basic units introduced through the campaign, with recruitment available throughout the kingdom after introduction. The sources reviewed do not give a single reliable level number for each of them. The same problem applies to the complete hero-unit unlock sequence: the roster and leveling references confirm their existence and roles, but do not present a fully consistent table of exact unlock levels.
To unlock a unit in practice, keep progressing through campaign levels and player levels, then build the appropriate military structure. Use Barracks for melee units, Archery Ranges for ranged units, and Hero’s Quarters for hero units. If a unit is missing, check both the building’s available upgrade choices and the account’s progression rewards before assuming it is platform-exclusive.
- Level 6: Flails, according to the current leveling reference.
- Level 19: Hunters.
- Level 25: Berserks.
- Level 30: Fire Archers in the current leveling reference; an older roster page says level 29.
- Exact unlock levels for every basic unit and hero are not consistently documented in the available references.
- Hero units are recruited through Hero’s Quarters and appear as single upgraded specialists.
| Question | Verified answer | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Are heroes separate playable characters? | No. The King remains the only playable character; heroes are allied units. | High |
| Can regular units be recruited everywhere after introduction? | The unit reference says yes for the listed regular units. | High |
| Does every unit have a confirmed level number? | No. Several are described by campaign introduction rather than a level reward. | High |
| Are Craaghelm heroes live now? | No. The expansion is announced for November 11, 2026. | High |
Thronefall has changed its progression system and balance over time. Older guides may reflect early-access rewards, while current references can still contain stale individual entries. Treat the explicit level table above as the best available current guide, not as proof that every historical page is wrong.
Roles
Which unit should you choose?
Choose by the enemy composition and the shape of the map rather than by a permanent tier list. Basic melee units buy time at choke points, while ranged units become stronger when protected by walls, towers, or a durable frontline. Heroes are most useful when their special role solves a problem that ordinary units cannot handle as efficiently.
For a safe general-purpose setup, pair a frontline such as Knights, Spearmen, or Golem with a ranged answer. Add Hunters when monsters are the main threat, Crossbowmen when enemy ranged pressure is severe, and Fire Archers when siege engines are deciding nights. Support Mage is a sustain choice for long defensive holds, while Firewing helps cover air lanes and deal splash damage from above. Lizzard Rider is better suited to mobile response than static lane holding.
- Use Golem when a lane needs a durable anchor and area damage.
- Use Support Mage behind valuable units that are expected to survive several engagements.
- Use Firewing when flying targets or separated lanes make ground positioning awkward.
- Use Lizzard Rider when speed, target priority, and anti-air reach matter more than durability.
- Do not buy a counter unit blindly. Confirm that the level actually contains the enemy type it specializes against.
| Threat | Good first answer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Large groups | Flails or Fire Archers | Area damage clears clustered enemies. |
| Siege engines | Berserks or Fire Archers | Both have explicit anti-siege value. |
| Monster enemies | Hunters | Their role is specialized against monsters. |
| Enemy ranged units | Crossbowmen | They are designed to pressure ranged targets. |
| Flying enemies | Firewing or Lizzard Rider | Both provide useful mobile or aerial coverage. |
| Attrition and wounded lines | Support Mage | Healing keeps allied units effective. |
These are role-based recommendations derived from the units’ documented descriptions. Map layout, perks, weapon choice, and enemy waves can make a less obvious unit the better pick.
Future content
What about the Craaghelm heroes?
Craaghelm is announced as a major expansion with new maps, units, and heroes. The announcement names The Technician, Siege Engineer, and Dwarven Spirit Warriors, and also mentions Axe Throwers, Airships, and Automotons among the new forces.
However, the announced release date is November 11, 2026. As of October 25, 2026, those entries should be treated as upcoming content rather than part of the live base-game character database. Their exact unlock conditions and final mechanics should not be inferred from the announcement alone.
- The Technician is announced as a new hero.
- Siege Engineer is announced as a new hero.
- Dwarven Spirit Warriors are announced as new heroes.
- The announced expansion also includes new non-hero units.
- Exact unlock requirements remain unverified before release.
If you are playing after November 11, 2026, this page needs an expansion update before its roster can be considered complete.
FAQ
Common questions
How many characters are in Thronefall?
There is one playable character, the King, plus twelve current recruitable unit types. Four of those units are heroes: Golem, Support Mage, Firewing, and Lizzard Rider.
Is there a female hero or a character-selection screen?
Not in the current base-game structure. You play as the King and choose weapons, perks, buildings, and allied units. The hero units are battlefield specialists, not selectable player protagonists.
What is the best hero unit?
Golem is the safest general-purpose recommendation because it combines durability with area and single-target damage. Support Mage, Firewing, and Lizzard Rider can be better when healing, air coverage, or mobility is the specific problem.
When do I unlock hero units?
The reviewed current references do not provide a complete, consistent level-by-level table for every hero. Build Hero’s Quarters, continue campaign and progression unlocks, and use the in-game reward and building screens as the final authority for your platform and save.
Are the Craaghelm heroes available yet?
Not on the guide’s checked date of October 25, 2026. Craaghelm is announced for November 11, 2026, and its named heroes should be added after launch and verification.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.