Olden Era Creature Tier List
Last updated: July 26, 2026
Olden Era ships with 6 factions, 4 hero classes, and over 60 unique creatures. Choosing which creatures to recruit, upgrade, and bring into combat is the single biggest determinant of campaign success. This tier list ranks every creature by S/A/B/C tier, ranks all 6 factions overall, and breaks down the best and worst matchups for the post-Patch 11 meta.
Top Tier Creatures (S Tier)
| Creature | Tier | Faction | Role | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Knight (Temple) | S | Temple | Frontline Tank | Divine Shield (blocks 50 damage for 3 turns) |
| Archlich (Necropolis) | S | Necropolis | Caster DPS | Death Nova (40 AoE damage) |
| Treant (Grove) | S | Grove | Bruiser | Root Bind (immobilize for 2 turns) |
| Swarm Queen (Hive) | S | Hive | Summoner | Spawn Brood (3 larvae per turn) |
Mid Tier Creatures (A/B Tier)
| Creature | Tier | Faction | Role | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Void Reaver (Schism) | A | Schism | Assassin | Phase Strike (ignore 50% armor) |
| Pit Fiend (Dungeon) | A | Dungeon | DPS | Hellfire Lance (25 damage + burn) |
| Acolyte (Temple) | B | Temple | Healer | Mass Heal (restores 30 HP to all allies) |
| Bone Drake (Necropolis) | B | Necropolis | Flying DPS | Sunder (reduces target defense) |
| Druid Elder (Grove) | B | Grove | Hybrid | Wild Growth (heals allies, damages enemies) |
| Hive Brood (Hive) | B | Hive | Swarm | None (swarm filler) |
Filler Tier Creatures (C Tier)
| Creature | Tier | Faction | Role | Key Ability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schism Caster (Schism) | C | Schism | Caster | Mana Burn (drains 30 mana) |
| Imp (Dungeon) | C | Dungeon | Cannon Fodder | None (filler) |
Faction Power Ranking
| Rank | Faction | Rating | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Temple | 9.5/10 | Best sustain, divine shield is unmatched | Slow ramp, expensive mid-game |
| 2 | Necropolis | 9/10 | Highest single-target damage, scales with kills | Frail frontline, needs setup |
| 3 | Hive | 8.5/10 | Endless scaling, hard to clear | Weak early game, needs turns to ramp |
| 4 | Grove | 8/10 | Versatile roster, strong map control | Forest tile dependent |
| 5 | Schism | 7.5/10 | High single-target burst, anti-tank | Falls off in long fights |
| 6 | Dungeon | 7/10 | Cheap units, high base damage | No sustain, hard countered by Temple |
Faction Matchup Chart
Quick reference for which faction beats which. A row beats the column unless marked with a dash (even matchup):
- Temple beats Dungeon, Necropolis, Schism. Loses to Hive.
- Necropolis beats Grove, Schism, Dungeon. Loses to Temple.
- Grove beats Hive, Schism, Dungeon. Loses to Necropolis.
- Hive beats Temple, Grove, Dungeon. Loses to Schism.
- Schism beats Hive, Necropolis, Grove. Loses to Temple.
- Dungeon beats Grove, Schism. Loses to Temple, Necropolis, Hive.
FAQ
Should I pick a faction based on tier list or based on map?
The tier list assumes equal play on a neutral map. Real campaigns have map advantages — Necropolis on Jadame is much stronger than Necropolis on a small map. The faction power ranking is a starting point. For specific maps, check our per-faction campaign guides for the recommended picks. The single strongest general pick remains Temple due to its self-sustaining healing and divine shield, but a skilled Hive player can beat Temple with map control and patience.
Is there a faction I should avoid as a new player?
Dungeon is the hardest faction for new players. It has no sustain, its early game is fragile, and it gets hard-countered by Temple which is the most common first-pick faction. If you are new to Olden Era, start with Temple or Grove — both have forgiving early game and clear upgrade paths. Save Dungeon and Schism for your second or third campaign when you understand positioning and ability timing.
Do hero units shift the faction rankings?
Yes, dramatically. Each faction has a unique hero unit unlocked at level 20. The hero units are not included in the base tier list because you only get one per campaign. The Lich King (Necropolis) is the strongest single hero unit, capable of soloing a full army with proper ability timing. The Avatar of Light (Temple) is the most durable. The Hive Tyrant turns the faction from A-tier to S-tier in the late game. If you plan to use hero units, Necropolis and Hive both rise above Temple in the late game rankings.
How does Patch 11 change the creature tier list?
Patch 11 rebalanced faction mechanics and fixed several exploits that favored Necropolis skeleton spam. The Archlich still sits at S-tier, but the Bone Drake rush is slightly slower to come online. Temple's divine shield was untouched, cementing its top position. Hive received indirect buffs through creature summon timing fixes, making Swarm Queen slightly more consistent. Grove and Schism saw no direct changes but benefit from the slower Necropolis early game.
Are C-tier creatures ever worth recruiting?
Yes, in specific situations. The Imp is the cheapest unit in the game at 25 gold and serves as an excellent body blocker and early-game scout. The Schism Caster's Mana Burn is a hard counter to caster-heavy factions like Necropolis and Grove. C-tier does not mean useless — it means situational. Do not build your core army around them, but keep one or two in reserve for counter-matchups or economy filler.
Advanced Tips
- Stack one faction for synergy bonuses. Recruiting 7+ creatures from the same faction grants a faction harmony bonus: +10 percent HP and +5 percent damage to all faction units. Mixed-faction armies are viable but lose the harmony bonus.
- Prioritize the S-tier units in your build order. Champion Knight, Archlich, Treant, and Swarm Queen are the four S-tier units. Build your economy around recruiting one of these by turn 15, and your late game will be much smoother.
- Counter-pick based on the enemy composition. In multiplayer and PvE arena, the faction matchup chart above is your first reference. If the enemy is running Temple, switch to Hive. If they are running Hive, switch to Schism. The counter-pick alone swings win rates by 15 to 20 percent.
Related Guides
Last updated: July 26, 2026. Tier list verified against Olden Era Patch 11 meta. Creature stats, abilities, and faction ratings reflect the current live build.