9 Kings is a roguelike city builder where you place buildings, troops and spells on a grid and defend your capital against eight rival kings. Each king starts with a different deck, and you take their cards by declaring war on them, so a run gradually becomes a collage of everything you have conquered.
Choosing the right build shapes your entire experience. This guide breaks down every option: what they're good at, what they struggle with, and which one matches your playstyle. For optimized builds with full gear sets, see our builds guide.
Quick Comparison
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Best Equipment | Beginner Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight commander | A | Balanced | Knights | Yes |
| Warlock summoner | A | Balanced | Wizards | Yes |
| Wizard artillery | A | Balanced | Warlocks | Yes |
| Imp swarm | A | Balanced | Bombers | Yes |
| Mercenary buyer | A | Balanced | Mercenaries | Yes |
New player? Start with Warlock summoner. See our beginner's guide for why.
Knight commander
Knight commander is a strong option in 9 Kings.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Knights |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Card based building placement |
Strengths
- Highest overall performance across all content types
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Knights
Weaknesses
- Popular choice, competition for resources
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Your capital to learn Knight commander-specific mechanics
- Focus on Card based building placement. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Knights as your first major upgrade
- See our full Knight commander build guide for the optimal gear progression
Warlock summoner
Warlock summoner is a strong option in 9 Kings.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Wizards |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Rival king decks |
Strengths
- Most versatile, adapts to any situation
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Wizards
Weaknesses
- Lower peak damage than S-tier options
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Your capital to learn Warlock summoner-specific mechanics
- Focus on Rival king decks. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Wizards as your first major upgrade
- See our full Warlock summoner build guide for the optimal gear progression
Wizard artillery
Wizard artillery is a strong option in 9 Kings.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Warlocks |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Gold economy |
Strengths
- Best survivability for learning hard content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Warlocks
Weaknesses
- Slower progression speed
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
Recommended Progression
- Start in Your capital to learn Wizard artillery-specific mechanics
- Focus on Gold economy. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Warlocks as your first major upgrade
- See our full Wizard artillery build guide for the optimal gear progression
Imp swarm
Imp swarm is a strong option in 9 Kings.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Bombers |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Escalating enemy waves |
Strengths
- Excellent in group and cooperative content
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Bombers
Weaknesses
- Less effective solo
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Your capital to learn Imp swarm-specific mechanics
- Focus on Escalating enemy waves. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Bombers as your first major upgrade
- See our full Imp swarm build guide for the optimal gear progression
Mercenary buyer
Mercenary buyer is a strong option in 9 Kings.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Playstyle | Balanced approach |
| Best Equipment | Mercenaries |
| Stat Priority | Balanced stats |
| Core Gear | Best available |
| Key Mechanic | Declaring war |
Strengths
- Highest skill ceiling with unique mechanics
- Solid all-around choice
- Pairs well with Mercenaries
Weaknesses
- Steep learning curve, punishing mistakes
- Requires deep game knowledge to use effectively
Recommended Progression
- Start in Your capital to learn Mercenary buyer-specific mechanics
- Focus on Declaring war. It's this build's primary system
- Prioritize Mercenaries as your first major upgrade
- See our full Mercenary buyer build guide for the optimal gear progression
Which Build Should You Pick?
For Beginners
Warlock summoner is the clear winner. It's forgiving, teaches core mechanics, and remains competitive into endgame. Follow our beginner's guide for the best first-session experience.
For Maximum Performance
Knight commander is the top pick once you understand the game's mechanics. Pair it with Knights for the strongest overall setup.
For a Challenge
Mercenary buyer offers the highest skill ceiling. It's punishing when misplayed but incredibly rewarding when mastered. Only recommended after you've completed the game with another build.
For Group Play
Imp swarm shines in cooperative content with utility and team support capabilities.
More 9 Kings Guides
- 9 Kings 9 Kings Overview
- 9 Kings Best Builds
- 9 Kings Tier List
- 9 Kings Walkthrough
- 9 Kings Beginner's Guide
- 9 Kings Tips & Tricks
- 9 Kings Weapons Guide
- 9 Kings Combat Guide
- 9 Kings Boss Guide
- 9 Kings Maps & Locations
- 9 Kings Crafting Guide
Similar Games
If you enjoy 9 Kings, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Classes Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Classes Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Classes Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
