A new year brings a fresh wave of balance updates, meta shifts, and breakout performances from heroes we never expected. January 2025’s hero rankings have seen dramatic movements—some legends are slipping while newcomers are making explosive debuts. Whether you’re planning your next ascension or just love following the competitive landscape, this breakdown covers Rising Stars, Contenders, and the elite group we call the Ultimate Heroes.

Let’s dive into this month’s Top 15 Heroes in Empires & Puzzles!

🌱 Rising Heroes (Ranks 15–11)

These heroes are climbing into the spotlight—some for the first time ever. Whether through buffs or new synergies, they’re earning their place in the meta.

15. Vanya (Novice)

• Role: Healer, Mega Minion Summoner, Cleanser
• Mana Speed: Slow
  Vanya makes a surprising debut this month, bringing solid team support through healing and cleansing. His Mega Minions offer protection, especially in prolonged battles. A true team stabilizer for late-game PvE and raid defenses.

14. Ott (Novice)

• Role: Overhealer, Firestorm Ward Buff, Immune to Buff Dispel
• Mana Speed: Fast
  Ott’s fast healing and unique firestorm ward—which reduces incoming special skill damage—make him a strong addition to many raid teams. His immunity to buff dispel is especially effective against current meta threats.

13. Hrothgar (⬇ Down 5 ranks — was #8)

• Role: Damage Dealer, Mana Reducer, Debuffer (Mana Generation), Buff Generator (ATK & DEF)
• Mana Speed: Average
  Hrothgar takes a hit this month, sliding five spots down. Still, he remains a jack-of-all-trades. His ability to lower enemy mana generation while boosting allies’ stats keeps him useful—just overshadowed by newer powerhouses.

12. Shimmerscale (⬇ Down 6 ranks — was #6)

• Role: Reaper, Mega Minion Summoner, Bleed Damage over Time
• Mana Speed: Fast
  Once a staple, Shimmerscale suffers from overexposure and slightly outdated utility. Bleed is still strong, but he now competes with more flexible reapers. A solid pick, just no longer a meta-defining one.

11. Pip (⬆ Up 3 ranks — was #14)

• Role: Reaper, Bleed Damage over Time, Debuffer (+50% Bleed Damage Taken)
• Mana Speed: Average
  Pip continues climbing. He synergizes beautifully with other bleed heroes, increasing their damage output. If you’re building a bleed comp, Pip is quickly becoming a must-have.

⚔️ Contender Heroes (Ranks 10–6)

These heroes have established themselves as powerful and dependable, but haven’t quite cracked the top 5. Expect to see them frequently in high-tier teams.

10. Dularfulr (Novice)

• Role: Healer, Firestorm Ward, Status Immunity Buffer
• Mana Speed: Fast
  She’s fast, she’s protective, and she’s immune to annoying ailments. Dularfulr enters the rankings with a strong showing. Her firestorm ward is a game-changer against high-burst teams.

9. Regin (⬆ Up 3 ranks — was #12)

• Role: Dispeller, Firestorm Strike (True Damage), Buff Blocker
• Mana Speed: Fast
  Regin is lethal—his true damage can reach up to 1900, bypassing defense entirely. Add in the ability to prevent enemies from gaining buffs, and you’ve got a strong offensive asset.

8. Sludgus (⬇ Down 1 rank — was #7)

• Role: Healer, Buffer (Dodge + True Damage on Dodge)
• Mana Speed: Average
  Sludgus only drops slightly but remains one of the trickiest healers to deal with. Her dodge buff lets her retaliate with 1600 true damage—often turning the tide in clutch fights.

7. Dima (⬆ Up 3 ranks — was #10)

• Role: Reaper, DEF Debuffer, Mega Minion Summoner, Bleed Damage
• Mana Speed: Average
  Dima is a strategic all-rounder. He weakens enemy defenses, applies bleed, and summons minions for extra survivability. A great backbone for mid-range PvP builds.

6. Rosalind (⬇ Down 1 rank — was #5)

• Role: Healer, Stack (Damage Reduction), Mega Minion Summoner, Cleanser
• Mana Speed: Fast
  Rosalind’s fast speed and powerful damage reduction stack still make her one of the best support heroes. A slight dip in rank, but she’s still incredibly relevant.

👑 Ultimate Heroes (Ranks 5–1)

These are the most dominant and impactful heroes of January 2025. They shape the meta and are seen at the top of every leaderboard.

5. Kolya (⬆ Up 4 ranks — was #9)

• Role: Dispeller, Damage Dealer, Mega Minion Summoner, Cleanser
• Mana Speed: Average
  Kolya enters the top 5 thanks to his hybrid role—dealing heavy damage while maintaining team utility. He shines in both attack and defense.

4. Bearnadette (⬇ Down 3 ranks — was #1)

• Role: Dispeller, Damage Dealer, Debuffer (Cursed Paintings)
• Mana Speed: Very Slow
  From queen to contender, Bearnadette’s unique ability to turn enemies into “cursed paintings” still makes her terrifying. However, her slow speed leaves her vulnerable in faster matches.

3. Armand Moncharmin (Same Rank)

• Role: Damage Dealer, Mega Minion Summoner, Debuffer (Sleep + Mana Block)
• Mana Speed: Average
  Armand continues to dominate thanks to his “Sleep” mechanic, which stops mana gain and increases incoming damage. His consistency keeps him in the top 3.

2. Astrid (Same Rank)

• Role: Healer, Reviver, DEF Buffer (Reduce all damage to 1)
• Mana Speed: Average
  Astrid is every team’s guardian angel. Between reviving fallen allies and reducing damage to just 1, she’s indispensable in both PvP and difficult PvE content.

1. Fergus (⬆ Up 3 ranks — was #4)

• Role: Mana Reducer, Debuffer (Mana Generation), Mega Minion Summoner, Bleed Damage
• Mana Speed: Slow
  This month’s new king! Fergus combines brutal mana control with damage over time and minion generation. Despite his slow speed, his impact is devastating when played right.

📊 Hero Rank Status Explained

Up / Down / Same Rank
This status is given to heroes who appeared in last month’s Top 15. It reflects whether their rank increased, decreased, or stayed the same.

Novice
A hero who has never appeared on the list before and is making their first-time debut in the Rising or Contender tiers.

Returning Warrior
A hero who has appeared on past lists, was absent last month, and is now back in the Top 15.

Black Horse
A complete wildcard—never seen before, but suddenly bursting straight into the Ultimate Heroes category.

🧠 Final Thoughts

January 2025 has been a rollercoaster for Empires & Puzzles. The emergence of Vanya, Ott, and Dularfulr proves that the meta is always shifting, and there’s room for new talent. Meanwhile, Fergus has cemented himself as the dominant force, dethroning Bearnadette in the process.

Who will rise next month? Will Bearnadette bounce back, or will another novice shake up the rankings?

Let us know your predictions in the comments—or better yet, tell us who you’re ascending next!