Squad Busters Tier List (March 2026) – Ultimate Rankings

Welcome to the most comprehensive Squad Busters tier list you’ll find anywhere! As someone who’s spent countless hours analyzing the meta and testing every character, I’m excited to share my complete rankings before the game’s final update in December 2026. With Squad Busters development ending and the game going offline in 2026, this is your definitive guide to mastering the current meta with all the latest balance changes from the December patch.

Quick Overview: Squad Busters Tier List (March 2026)

Tier	Characters	Key Strengths
S+	Barbarian King, Archer Queen, Mortis	Hero units with game-changing abilities
S	Leon, Hog Rider, Tank, Witch, Penny	Top-tier performers in current meta
A	Max, Colonel Ruffs, Wizard, Bea, Nita	Strong choices with good synergy
B	Battle Healer, Trader, Shelly, Bo	Situational but viable options
C	Dynamike, Pam, Greg, Medic	Niche picks requiring specific strategies
D	Chicken, Goblin	Generally underperforming characters

Understanding the Current Meta (2026)

Before diving into the rankings, it’s crucial to understand that Squad Busters has undergone massive changes in March 2026. The May 2025 update introduced the Heroes system, completely transforming how we approach squad building. Then, the December patch (the final update) brought significant balance changes that shook up the entire meta.

Key Meta Changes Affecting Tier List:

• Heroes now lead squads with unique abilities
• Attack-focused characters received substantial buffs
• Turbo system reworked (no longer increases attack speed)
• Fusion system simplified (only 2 identical units needed)
• Spells completely removed from gameplay

S+ Tier: Game-Changing Heroes

Barbarian King

Role: Fighter Hero
Why S+ Tier: Barbarian King stands at the pinnacle of the current meta thanks to his incredible versatility and the massive December balance changes. With a large DPS increase and small health boost, he’s become even more dominant than before.

Strengths:

• Mega Punch ability knocks enemies out of position
• Buffs all melee units in your squad
• Excels in both PvP and PvE scenarios
• Synergizes perfectly with other Fighters

Best Build: Focus on upgrading his Power Move first, then invest in trait upgrades that boost melee unit effectiveness. Pair with other Fighters like Barbarian and Heavy for maximum synergy.

Archer Queen

Role: Ranged Hero
Why S+ Tier: Despite a moderate reduction in her attack speed bonus to ranged units, Archer Queen’s large DPS increase in December makes her an absolute monster. Her X-Snipe ability can turn the tide of any battle.

Strengths:

• Devastating long-range damage
• X-Snipe splits into three arrows for area damage
• Essential for any ranged-focused composition
• Excellent at picking off key targets

Best Build: Prioritize her damage upgrades and consider pairing with other ranged units like Archer and Colt to maximize her effectiveness.

Mortis

Role: Speedster Hero
Why S+ Tier: Mortis received significant health and DPS buffs in December, catapulting him into the S+ tier. His unique ability to summon bats and control monsters makes him incredibly versatile.

Strengths:

• Monster Charge ability summons bats and controls monsters
• Dash Attack provides excellent mobility
• Moderate health and DPS increases make him more survivable
• Can completely control the battlefield with proper positioning

Best Build: Focus on his summoning abilities first, then invest in mobility upgrades. Works well with summoner-type squaddies like Witch and Nita.

S Tier: Elite Performers

Leon

Role: Attacker
Why S Tier: Leon’s invisibility ability remains one of the most powerful mechanics in the game. With small health and DPS increases in December, he’s become even more lethal.

Strengths:

• Invisibility allows for surprise attacks and escapes
• High burst damage potential
• Excellent for flanking and picking off isolated targets
• Small buffs make him more survivable in extended fights

Best Build: Max out his invisibility duration first, then focus on damage upgrades. Pair with characters that can draw attention while Leon strikes from the shadows.

Hog Rider

Role: Speedster
Why S Tier: The Turbo rework actually benefited Hog Rider significantly. His ability to get Turbo boosts on grass terrain makes him incredibly valuable for map control and positioning.

Strengths:

• Consistent Turbo boosts on grass terrain
• Excellent mobility and map control
• Great for both offense and defense
• Synergizes well with other speed-focused characters

Best Build: Invest in Turbo duration upgrades first, then focus on health and damage. Works best in Green World maps where grass terrain is abundant.

Tank

Role: Defender
Why S Tier: Tank’s ability to control map tanks is unique and incredibly powerful. With the current meta emphasizing battlefield control, Tank’s value has skyrocketed.

Strengths:

• Can take control of powerful map tanks
• High survivability
• Excellent at turning battles around
• Rare ability that no other character possesses

Best Build: Focus on health and control duration upgrades. Pair with characters that can protect Tank while she establishes control of map vehicles.

Witch

Role: Summoner
Why S Tier: Witch received moderate DPS increases in December, making her already strong summoning abilities even more deadly. Her skeleton army can overwhelm opponents quickly.

Strengths:

• Summons powerful skeletons that scale with upgrades
• Moderate DPS increase makes her more threatening
• Excellent at both PvE and PvP
• Can create massive board pressure

Best Build: Prioritize skeleton damage and health upgrades. Works well with other summoners or characters that can protect her while she builds her army.

Penny

Role: Supplier
Why S Tier: Penny’s ability to find treasures and keys makes her invaluable for squad economy. With the December changes making squad building more crucial, her value has increased significantly.

Strengths:

• Can discover treasures, keys, hearts, and gems
• Excellent for early-game economy
• Rare character that’s worth maxing out
• Provides consistent value throughout matches

Best Build: Focus on treasure discovery upgrades first, then invest in her combat capabilities. Pair with characters that can protect her while she gathers resources.

A Tier: Strong Contenders

Max

Role: Speedster
Why A Tier: Max received moderate health and DPS increases in December, making her a much more viable option. Her speed-focused playstyle can be devastating in the right hands.

Strengths:

• Incredible mobility and speed
• Moderate buffs make her more combat-effective
• Great for hit-and-run tactics
• Can snowball leads effectively

Best Build: Invest in speed and damage upgrades. Works best in compositions focused on constant movement and harassment.

Colonel Ruffs

Role: Healer
Why A Tier: Ruffs received small health and DPS increases, making him more than just a support unit. His ability to fuse units and provide rage spells makes him versatile.

Strengths:

• Battle healer with rage spell capabilities
• Can fuse units for powerful combinations
• Small buffs make him more combat-viable
• Excellent hybrid support/damage option

Best Build: Balance between healing and damage upgrades. Works well in compositions that need both sustainability and damage output.

Wizard

Role: Hotshot
Why A Tier: Wizard’s ability to hold two spells (now powers) remains valuable. With moderate DPS increases, he’s become a more threatening damage dealer.

Strengths:

• Can utilize two powers simultaneously
• Moderate DPS increase improves combat effectiveness
• Versatile in most compositions
• Excellent at controlling battles

Best Build: Focus on power effectiveness and damage upgrades. Works well in compositions that benefit from multiple active abilities.

Bea

Role: Attacker
Why A Tier: Bea received moderate health and DPS increases, with her bee damage also getting a significant boost. She’s become much more reliable in combat.

Strengths:

• Bee summoning provides consistent damage
• Moderate buffs make her more survivable
• Excellent at area control
• Can deal with multiple targets effectively

Best Build: Invest in bee damage and health upgrades. Works well in compositions that can protect her while her bees deal damage over time.

Nita

Role: Summoner
Why A Tier: Nita received a huge DPS increase in December, making her bear summon much more threatening. She’s now a viable alternative to Witch.

Strengths:

• Summons a powerful bear companion
• Huge DPS increase makes her much more threatening
• Good survivability with moderate health increase
• Excellent at both offense and defense

Best Build: Focus on bear damage and health upgrades. Works well in compositions that need a tanky summon to draw attention.

B Tier: Viable Options

Battle Healer

Role: Healer
Why B Tier: Battle Healer received a large DPS increase in December, making her more than just a healing unit. However, she still requires specific positioning to be effective.

Strengths:

• Large DPS increase makes her combat-viable
• Healing capabilities provide squad sustainability
• Small health increase improves survivability
• Can contribute to damage while healing

Best Build: Balance between healing and damage upgrades. Works best in compositions that need both sustainability and additional damage output.

Trader

Role: Supplier
Why B Tier: Trader’s gem generation abilities are useful but situational. With the economy changes in December, his value has become more niche.

Strengths:

• Generates gems based on coins collected
• Can provide additional resources
• Small health increase makes him slightly more survivable
• Useful in economy-focused strategies

Best Build: Focus on gem generation upgrades. Works best in compositions focused on long-term economy building.

Shelly

Role: All-Rounder
Why B Tier: Shelly received small health and DPS increases, with her Super Shell damage getting a moderate boost. However, she still lacks specialization compared to other characters.

Strengths:

• Balanced stats make her versatile
• Small improvements across the board
• Super Shell provides good burst damage
• Can fit into most compositions

Best Build: Balance between health and damage upgrades. Works well as a flexible option in various compositions.

Bo

Role: Attacker
Why B Tier: Bo received a large DPS increase in December, making him much more threatening in PvE scenarios. However, his low health makes him fragile in PvP.

Strengths:

• Large DPS increase makes him deadly in PvE
• Excellent at monster hunting
• Small health increase provides slight survivability
• Can dominate PvE-focused matches

Best Build: Focus on damage upgrades first. Works best in PvE-focused compositions or with characters that can protect him.

C Tier: Niche Picks

Dynamike

Role: Attacker
Why C Tier: Despite receiving small health and moderate DPS increases, Dynamike’s slow attack speed holds him back. His barrel bomb damage increase wasn’t enough to elevate him higher.

Strengths:

• Moderate DPS increase improves damage output
• Area damage capabilities
• Small health increase provides slight survivability
• Can deal with grouped enemies

Best Build: Focus on damage and area effect upgrades. Works best in compositions that need area damage but lacks better options.

Pam

Role: Healer
Why C Tier: Pam only received a moderate health increase without significant DPS improvements. Her healing capabilities are useful but don’t compensate for her lack of damage.

Strengths:

• Moderate health increase improves survivability
• Healing capabilities provide squad sustainability
• Can keep squads alive longer
• Useful in prolonged battles

Best Build: Focus on healing and health upgrades. Works best in compositions that need sustained healing but lack better options.

Greg

Role: Supplier
Why C Tier: Greg’s tree-focused abilities are too situational in the current meta. Without significant buffs, he struggles to compete with other suppliers.

Strengths:

• Can collect carrots for additional loot
• Decent health for a supplier
• Provides additional resources
• Useful in specific scenarios

Best Build: Focus on resource generation upgrades. Works best in compositions focused on specific resource strategies.

Medic

Role: Healer
Why C Tier: Medic’s healing capabilities are underwhelming compared to other options. Without significant buffs, he struggles to find a place in most compositions.

Strengths:

• Passive healing capabilities
• Decent health for a healer
• Can provide consistent healing
• Useful when other healers aren’t available

Best Build: Focus on healing effectiveness upgrades. Works best as a last-resort healing option.

D Tier: Underperforming Characters

Chicken

Role: Attacker
Why D Tier: Despite receiving moderate health and DPS increases, Chicken’s overall kit is underwhelming. He lacks the impact needed to compete in the current meta.

Strengths:

• Moderate improvements across the board
• Can fit into specific compositions
• Slightly more viable than before
• Useful in very niche strategies

Best Build: Focus on damage upgrades. Only consider using when no better options are available.

Goblin

Role: Attacker
Why D Tier: Goblin only received tiny health and moderate DPS increases, which weren’t enough to make him competitive. He struggles to find a place in most compositions.

Strengths:

• Moderate DPS increase improves damage output
• Tiny health increase provides minimal survivability
• Can deal damage in specific scenarios
• Useful when experimenting with unusual compositions

Best Build: Focus on damage upgrades. Generally not recommended for serious play.

Tier List Criteria and Methodology

My rankings are based on extensive testing and analysis of the current meta, considering these key factors:

Ranking Factors:

1. December Balance Changes: All character buffs and nerfs from the final patch
2. Hero System Integration: How well characters work with the new Hero mechanics
3. Meta Relevance: Performance in current competitive play
4. Versatility: Effectiveness across different game modes and situations
5. Synergy Potential: How well characters work with others
6. Skill Ceiling: Maximum potential when played optimally
7. Consistency: Reliability across different scenarios

Testing Methodology:

• Analyzed hundreds of matches across all skill levels
• Tested characters in various compositions
• Considered both PvP and PvE performance
• Factored in the game’s ending development status
• Accounted for the December balance changes

Building the Perfect Squad

Current Meta Compositions:

1. Hero-Led Attack: Barbarian King/Archer Queen + Leon + Hog Rider
2. Summoner Swarm: Witch + Nita + Mortis
3. Economy Focus: Penny + Trader + Battle Healer
4. Speed Demon: Max + Hog Rider + Colonel Ruffs
5. Balanced Approach: Archer Queen + Tank + Wizard

Squad Building Tips:

• Always include at least one Hero for leadership abilities
• Balance between different character types (Fighter, Ranged, Support)
• Consider the specific game mode you’re playing
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with unusual combinations
• Remember that synergy often beats individual power

Game Mode Considerations in 2026

Showdown Mode:

• Prioritize survivability and burst damage
• Characters like Barbarian King and Leon excel here
• Tank’s map control abilities are invaluable
• Speedsters like Hog Rider can control the center

Duo Gem Hunt:

• Focus on characters that work well with partners
• Support characters like Colonel Ruffs shine here
• Economy characters like Penny provide consistent value
• Balance between offense and support is crucial

Squad League:

• Build consistent, reliable compositions
• Heroes are essential for leadership
• Characters with high skill ceilings perform well
• Consider the specific map and modifiers

Future of Squad Busters

With development ending in December 2026 and the game going offline in 2026, this tier list represents the final meta of Squad Busters. The December patch balance changes are likely the last major adjustments we’ll see, making this the definitive ranking system for the remainder of the game’s life.

What This Means for Players:

• Focus on mastering the current meta
• Experiment with different compositions while you can
• Take advantage of the final events and content
• Enjoy the game in its final, balanced state

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best characters in Squad Busters right now?

The absolute best characters in the current meta are Barbarian King, Archer Queen, and Mortis. These S+ tier Heroes offer game-changing abilities that can single-handedly win matches when played correctly.

How often do tier lists change in Squad Busters?

With development ending, this tier list is unlikely to change significantly. The December 2026 patch represents the final major balance changes, so the meta should remain relatively stable until the game goes offline.

Should I focus on Heroes or regular Squaddies?

Heroes should be your priority as they lead your squad and provide unique abilities. However, building a balanced team with both Heroes and complementary Squaddies is the optimal strategy.

What’s the best squad composition for beginners?

For beginners, I recommend starting with Archer Queen as your Hero, supported by Tank for defense and Penny for economy. This composition provides a good balance of offense, defense, and resource generation.

Are rare characters always better than common ones?

No, rarity doesn’t automatically determine a character’s effectiveness. Characters like Penny (Rare) and Barbarian (Common) can outperform many Epic and Legendary characters when used correctly.

How do the December balance changes affect the meta?

The December changes significantly buffed attack-focused characters, making them much more viable. Characters like Archer, Battle Healer, and Nita received substantial improvements that elevated their tier positions.

What game mode should I focus on for climbing?

Showdown mode currently offers the most consistent ranking opportunities, as it emphasizes individual skill and squad composition over random factors. However, all game modes can be climbed with the right strategy.

Is it worth investing in D-tier characters?

Generally, no. With the game ending, it’s better to focus on mastering S and A-tier characters rather than trying to make underperforming characters work.

Final Thoughts

As Squad Busters approaches its sunset, this tier list represents the culmination of the game’s evolution. The current meta, shaped by the Hero system and final balance changes, offers some of the most strategic and engaging gameplay the game has ever seen.

Whether you’re a veteran player looking to master the final meta or a newcomer wanting to experience Squad Busters at its best, this comprehensive tier list should serve as your definitive guide. Remember to experiment, have fun, and make the most of the time we have left with this unique and innovative mobile game.

For more Squad Busters content, including creator codes and redemption guides, be sure to check out our other articles. And if you enjoy tier lists, our Brawl Stars tier list offers similar in-depth analysis for another popular Supercell game.

Happy busting, and may your squads always be S-tier!