Your formation has a front row and a back row. Getting the right heroes in each row is the cheapest power boost in the game. It costs nothing, and the battle report will call you out when you get it wrong. One of its tips is literally "Please place tank Heroes in the front row!"
The three classes
Top Lords heroes fall into three classes:
- Tank: absorbs far more damage and belongs in the front row.
- DPS: the damage dealers. Keep them behind the tanks.
- Support: buffs allies or weakens enemies.
The game's own battle tips name these as typical tanks:
You can see why from their kits. Ragnar's Shieldwall cuts Martial Damage taken by your front row. Cleopatra's Royal Bulwark cuts damage taken by all your heroes. Frederick I's Sacred Guard puts the front row into counterattack mode.
Martial vs Tactical damage
Every damaging skill deals one of two damage types:
- Martial Damage: Ragnar, Harald III, Boudica and Edward's Gale Barrage, among others.
- Tactical Damage: Charles Martel, Joan of Arc, Attila, Mulan and Saladin, among others.
This matters for defence. When the battle report sees an enemy dealing mostly Martial Damage, it suggests researching the matching Tech and deploying Ragnar for extra Martial Damage Reduction. Against mostly Tactical Damage, it suggests the matching Tech, defensive gear, and heroes that add Tactical Protection.
The hero database tags every hero with the damage types their skills use, so you can check an enemy's lineup at a glance.
Building a lineup
- Start with two tanks up front. Lots of skills "prioritise attacking 2 front-row targets", so a thin front line folds fast.
- Put your damage in the back row. Watch out for enemy heroes like Mulan (Volley Storm) and Saladin (Crescent Gale) that hunt back-row targets.
- Check factions last. Once the roles work, swap within a role to win the faction counter against whoever you're hitting.
- Match buffs to their targets. Blossom's Aura of the Wilds only boosts back-row Tribe heroes against monsters. Frederick I's Iron Resolve is doubled for Legion heroes. Faction-locked buffs are wasted on the wrong lineup.
Lost a fight you thought you'd win? Read why you lost that battle next.