The 20 Best Epic Champions to Prioritize in RAID: Shadow Legends

In RAID: Shadow Legends, your progression speed is dictated by how efficiently you build your roster. While Legendary champions often hog the spotlight, your account's true engine is its Epic champions. These versatile units are easier to book, easier to ascend, and possess kits that can carry you through the Clan Boss, Dungeons, and Arena simultaneously.

To succeed in the early and mid-game, you must stop spreading your resources thin. Instead, focus on "account-defining" Epics—champions that provide reliable debuffs, team survivability, and turn-meter control.

The Pillars of Clan Boss Progression

The Clan Boss is the most important daily activity in RAID: Shadow Legends. It provides the Shards and Skill Tomes required to reach the late game. Your priority should be champions that keep your team alive longer through Attack Down and Poison.

• Tayrel: A defensive powerhouse. His A1 applies a 50% Decrease Attack, which is mandatory for Clan Boss survival, and his AOE Decrease Defense on his A3 makes him a staple in almost every dungeon.
• Sepulcher Sentinel: She is the gold standard for defensive support. Her passive reduces incoming damage, and her A2 provides both Increase Defense and Block Debuffs, shielding your team from the Boss’s Stun and Poison attacks.
• Frozen Banshee: The undisputed queen of poison for early-to-mid-game players. Her ability to apply Poison Sensitivity ensures your damage output scales effectively, even if your gear is not yet optimized.
• Skullcrusher: If you pull him, book him immediately. He provides the "Counter-Attack" buff, which allows your team to attack the Clan Boss every time he hits you, effectively doubling your damage output.
• Jareg: An excellent alternative to Tayrel, offering Ally Protection and a continuous heal to keep your team standing through the later turns of a Clan Boss fight.

Dungeon Mastery: Essential Support and Control

Dungeons are where you farm the gear that defines your progress. You need champions that can handle wave clear while keeping your team healthy.

• Stag Knight: A legendary-tier Epic. He places both Decrease Defense and Decrease Attack on his A2, making him essential for almost every dungeon boss encounter.
• Madame Serris: If you have her, prioritize her above all else. She is the ultimate "fixer," stripping enemy buffs while simultaneously applying the most critical debuffs in the game.
• Reliquary Tender: A top-tier support for early accounts. Her team-wide cleanse and single-target revive provide the stability you need to clear stages that are slightly above your power level.
• Miscreated Monster: Known as "Frank," he provides massive AOE shields based on his Max HP. He is essentially a "cheat code" for the Spider's Den and general wave progression.
• Scyl of the Drakes: As a login reward, she is an absolute necessity. Her passive heal and revive capabilities make her the anchor of any mid-game team.

Arena Dominance: Speed and Crowd Control

In the Arena, speed is king. If your team does not move first, you will likely lose. These champions provide the turn-meter control required to dictate the flow of battle.

• High Khatun: Your go-to speed lead. As a guaranteed reward, she provides the turn-meter boost and speed aura necessary to win the "speed race" in lower Arena tiers.
• Psylar: Her AOE turn-meter reduction and speed debuff can effectively shut down an entire enemy team, allowing your damage dealers to finish them off before they get a turn.
• Deacon Armstrong: One of the best speed leads in the game. He combines a turn-meter boost with a Decrease Defense debuff, allowing you to build more offensive-heavy teams.
• Luria: A highly underrated champion for freezing and controlling waves or annoying Arena defenses.
• Seeker: He is the gold standard for "Go-First" Arena teams, providing an Attack Up buff and a turn-meter boost that creates a massive advantage from turn one.

Utility and Niche Specialists

These champions might not be as versatile as the others, but they excel in specific content that you must clear to progress.

• Gravechill Killer: Paired with Frozen Banshee, she becomes a monster for Clan Boss and Dragon runs.
• Coffin Smasher: An accessible, budget-friendly option for Attack Down if you haven't pulled Tayrel or Sepulcher Sentinel.
• Prundar: Provides excellent crowd control for Faction Wars and specific dungeon waves.
• Sinesha: A dual-threat healer and damage dealer who is excellent for clearing waves quickly.
• Catacomb Councilor: Provides Ally Attack, which is a massive damage multiplier for Clan Boss and dungeon boss fights.

Strategic Skill Tome Allocation

Epic Skill Tomes are a finite resource. A common mistake is using them on champions that are only useful in one area. Follow these rules to maximize your investment:

1. The "Two-Mode" Rule: Only book a champion if they improve at least two areas of your account (e.g., Clan Boss and Dragon).
2. Prioritize Cooldowns: Focus your books on champions where skill cooldown reduction is possible. An "Attack Down" ability that is available every three turns instead of four is the difference between surviving or wiping on the Clan Boss.
3. Hold Your Books: Never waste books on a champion just because they are "good." Wait until you reach a wall in content, then identify the champion that will help you break through that specific wall.

Maximizing Your Starting Potential

Your account’s growth is tied to the efficiency of your early decisions. By leveraging the initial champions provided at the start of the game, you can save weeks of farming for replacements. Always ensure your early-game team has the "Big Three" roles covered: Decrease Defense, Decrease Attack, and Turn Meter Boost.

If you have acquired champions like Tayrel or High Khatun, build them with Speed and Accuracy as your primary stats. Accuracy is often ignored by new players, but without it, your debuffs will fail, and your team will crumble. By focusing your gear and books on these 20 champions, you will create a foundation that carries you comfortably into the end-game stages of RAID: Shadow Legends.