Top 7 Commanders You Should Avoid Investing in Rise of Kingdoms in 2025

Rise of Kingdoms is constantly evolving with new commanders, balance changes, and shifting metas. For players looking to maximize their resources, it’s important to stay ahead of the curve and avoid wasting sculptures on commanders who are no longer worth investing in. This article breaks down the commanders in 2025 that you should consider avoiding—or investing in with extreme caution.

Here are 7 commanders that could become irrelevant in the near future.

1. Guan Yu - The Fading Infantry Star

Guan Yu has been one of the most iconic infantry commanders in Rise of Kingdoms, but his effectiveness is rapidly diminishing. While he still delivers solid damage, his role has been overshadowed by newer, more versatile infantry commanders. The next infantry commander release is likely to push him even further down the rankings.

Why Avoid Guan Yu?

• Not in the top infantry pairings anymore: While still a solid pick for some players, Guan Yu is no longer among the top two infantry commanders.

• Risk of becoming obsolete: With better infantry commanders on the horizon, investing in Guan Yu now is a short-term solution at best.

• Limited utility: Despite his damage factor, his effectiveness is dropping as newer commanders bring better synergy and abilities to the field.

2. William - A Warning for Future Investment

William is currently seen in Rise of Kingdoms mainly as a secondary commander for King Arthur. While this pairing has proven effective, it’s not necessarily the best for most players, especially those lacking the necessary inscriptions or specialized gear.

Why Avoid William?

• Dependency on King Arthur: His best use case is as a secondary to King Arthur, and outside of this pairing, he lacks versatility.

• Requires advanced gear: To make the most out of William’s skills, you need legendary inscriptions and premium gear, making him impractical for most players.

• Competition with other commanders: Even when paired with King Arthur, there are alternative commanders, such as Philip, that can achieve similar results with less investment.

3. Eong - A Cautionary Tale for Archers

Eong was once a solid choice for archers, but his place in the meta has been eroded by the arrival of better commanders. He now only finds himself in the third army of an archer main’s lineup, and even then, he’s often outclassed.

Why Avoid Eong?

• Third-choice archer: Eong is no longer a primary pick for archers, with better alternatives available.

• Power creep: Newer archer commanders outperform him in terms of damage and utility, making Eong less effective.

• Investment risk: Given his declining relevance, investing in Eong is risky unless you're prepared to swap him out later.

4. Gorgo - A Diminishing Open Field Option

Gorgo had a strong start in Rise of Kingdoms, especially when paired with Leuch, but with the introduction of new commanders, her usefulness in the open field has diminished. While she still performs well in certain situations, there are now better options for infantry players in terms of both single-target and AoE damage.

Why Avoid Gorgo?

• Better options available: With the release of more powerful infantry commanders, Gorgo’s role in open-field PvP has been significantly reduced.

• Not a top-tier pick: Even with good synergy with Leuch, Gorgo is no longer a top choice for open-field infantry.

• Better damage dealers: Other commanders now outperform her in both single-target and AoE damage.

5. Asher Bonopal - Warning: Limited Open Field Viability

While Asher Bonopal is still usable in open-field PvP, his kit isn’t optimized for the role. He has a decent AoE, but his overall performance is overshadowed by commanders with better synergy and specialized skills.

Why Avoid Asher Bonopal?

• Not built for open-field PvP: His skillset doesn’t excel in open-field combat, making him an inefficient choice for most players.

• Vulnerable to power creep: A single new AoE archer commander could render Asher obsolete, so investing in him now is risky.

• Short-lived effectiveness: Asher’s time in the meta could be limited, especially if new, more powerful archers are released.

6. Bellisarius Prime - Niche Use Only

Bellisarius Prime is great for swarming, but his niche role limits his long-term viability. As cavalry strategies evolve to favor combo damage rather than pure skill damage, Bellisarius will likely be left behind.

Why Avoid Bellisarius Prime?

• Niche use: Bellisarius is only useful for specific swarming situations, and even then, he isn’t the best pick for most scenarios.

• Not a great fit in cavalry lineups: With cavalry commanders shifting toward combo damage, Bellisarius’s skill-heavy build is becoming less useful.

• Lack of versatility: The cavalry meta is moving away from pure skill damage, making Bellisarius less relevant over time.

7. Ragnar - A Potential Power Creep Risk for Infantry

Ragnar is a solid choice for infantry, but his AoE focus makes him vulnerable to power creep. His reliance on AoE damage could be easily outclassed by future infantry commanders with better skills or synergy.

Why Avoid Ragnar?

• Risk of being outclassed: New AoE infantry commanders could surpass Ragnar in terms of damage and utility.

• Lack of unique skills: Unlike other commanders with powerful debuffs or utility, Ragnar's focus on AoE damage makes him less versatile in the long run.

• Combo infantry commanders may replace him: With the rise of infantry commanders that bring both damage and utility, Ragnar could soon be left behind.

Conclusion: Stay Ahead of the Meta

In Rise of Kingdoms, investing wisely in commanders is key to maintaining an advantage in the battlefield. By avoiding these commanders in 2025, you can ensure that your sculptures and resources are spent more efficiently on commanders that will stay relevant in the evolving meta.

Don’t make the mistake of sinking resources into commanders that could be power crept or phased out soon. Keep an eye on the upcoming releases and consider alternatives that are more likely to remain competitive for the long haul.