The Most Game-Changing Champions of 2025

The 2025 meta in RAID: Shadow Legends has shifted: we started collecting Relics; Chimera Trials reshaped priorities; and Hard mode Faction Wars cranked the difficulty to 11.

For taking on these challenges at the end of the year, our RAID content writers, Nub and YST, joined forces to make a list of the champions that have had the biggest impact this year, why they matter, and how to put them to work.

Embrys, the Anomaly has become a cornerstone across both PvE and PvP. Form I pressures waves with constant Fears and excellent tempo control; Form II flips the switch for explosive finishing power and fight-winning Block Revives. The value here is flexibility: Form 1 dominates Faction Wars Hard and other wave-based content with its control and Necrosis debuffs; Form 2 can be used anywhere where you want raw up-front damage. Build with high speed and C.RATE%, then crank his HP% and C.DMG% as high as you can. He’s particularly powerful in Arena, where he can consistently remove Stoneskin buffs in Form 1–and he often wins fights solo in Form 2.

Ash’nar turned Hydra and Event Dungeons on their heads. His Base Form’s HP Burns grant teamwide damage bonuses and, critically, healing from allied HP Burns—this damage boost is incredible in any PvE content, and turning Burns into your team into a positive can hard-counter massive Arena threats such as Vulkanos. His Alternate Form brings control and high damage output: debuff spread; provokes; and multiple AoE attacks. Build him with high SPD and ACC if focusing on Form 1; add DEF%, C.RATE% and C.DMG% to maximise Form 2.

Nais the Shadowthief remains one of the Arena’s most oppressive forces. His Form 1 brings a threatening Block Revive–but it’s his passive ability to Metamorph into his insane Alternate Form that defines him. He gains up to 100% bonus stats in HP, SPD, and more based on the number of dead characters in the fight: this makes him incredibly fast; incredibly durable; and insanely lethal. Build him with either Stoneskin or Feral alongside a Lethal set for maximum effect.

Titus Blackplume is the benchmark for boss damage in 2025. With the right support, his A2 damage can shred all Clan Bosses: Demon Lord; Hydra; and Chimera. On paper he’s simple—build a big Shield and watch the damage scale—but big question is how you want to reach that ceiling. Vault Keeper Wixwell is, unfortunately, mandatory to unlock his true potential. After that, combining Cooldown Reduction champions such as Lamasu and Yumeko gives the highest numbers, but there are many accessible full-auto options as well if that sounds like too much. If you enjoy top-end optimization and Clan Boss damage, he’s worth giving your very best offensive gear and Relics.

Kro’Khad the Throatripper brought back the fun “watch it explode” aspect of the game without relying on manual play or totally destroying PvP balance. He constantly counterattacks, hits like a truck, and partners beautifully with Packmaster Shy’ek for near-constant throughput. Build him with high ATK% and C.DMG%, 100% C.RATE%, and a moderate amount of SPD. His appeal is that you can actually watch him work on auto: waves melt, heads crack, and he doesn’t demand perfect piloting.

Kalvalax escaped the Vault in 2025 thanks to the new (totally not OP) Arachnelixir Relic. In waves (such as Faction Wars) and Arena, these super-charged Poisons can wipe out anyone not protected by Stoneskin buffs–effectively making him Hegemon 2.0. In Live Arena in particular, he can force opponents into banning him, lest they lose the fight before the game even begins. Build him with the Arachnelixir Relic and as much ATK% and ACC as possible, with at least a 4-piece set of Pinpoint to protect him from Polymorph.

Authoratrix Lamasu is one of the most valuable “free mission champion” additions in years. Her A2 brings great debuffs–but it’s her A3 that really makes her special: a huge Turn Meter Boost plus Skill Resets lets you turbo-charge your Arena damage dealer, or opens up some insane PvE strategies (e.g. reseting Yumeko to drive a Titus/Wixwell team). She’s also naturally anti-polymorph, which matters more than ever. Build her in max SPD, or try Feral for some PvE damage boosts.

Mad Hatter was one of the most underrated fusions of the year. With a Teox-style Ally Attack, healing and Fears from his passive, Hex and Weaken coverage, Turn Meter Boosts and Buff Extension…  Mad Hatter brings so much to a single team that he’s an incredible pick almost anywhere. He’s a must-use in most players’ Hydra teams, and should be built with high SPD and ACC, with sets that give Cooldown Reduction, such as Reflex or Merciless.

Lord Entertainer Fabian was the big PvP fusion of 2025 (like Armanz in 2024, before him), and is a must-build champion for every account. His ability to Increase Skill Cooldowns while Reducing Buff Duration, and his constant True Fear spamming make him a nightmare for any enemy to fight against. Build him with high SPD and ACC, try to get a 4-piece Supersonic set, and give him one of your Wand of Submission Relics to have an incredibly versatile PvP champion.

Ethlen the Golden quietly solves a common problem for High Elves: a lack of Control. Increase ACC and Increase C.DMG (with an Extra Turn) lets you build him for great damage while still landing 2 turns Block Active Skills–effectively controlling even Mythical enemies in Faction Wars. He’s legitimately better than most of the legendaries in his faction, and can completely change Faction Wars Hard progression for you… and he’s great for Cursed City and Doom Tower too!

Graazur Irongut is a flexible champion who gives teams the “missing piece” they often lack. AoE Provoke, Increase DEF, Increase RES, and Buff Extension can help counter high-threat waves and Hydra heads–and his Enemy MAX HP Damage A2 makes him a great damage dealer as well! He’s a sleeper pick for Iron Twins, and should be built with good SPD, 100% C.RATE%, and good ACC and C.DMG%.

Galleus Bloodcrest got a crazy buff in 2025 and he has become one of the most fun Mythicals in the game! He is now extremely tanky in Form 1, and a big damage threat in both forms–being totally immune to all CC in Form 2 is extremely useful as well. His ability to Ignore Block Damage in Form 2 is crucial against tough PvP opponents such as Odin or Siegfrund.

2025’s best picks aren’t just the hardest hitters—they’re champions who can do multiple jobs: Embrys, Ashnar, Nais, Titus, Kor’Khad, Lamasu, Mad Hatter, Ethlen, Fabian, and Graazur all dominate in the hardest area in the game, scale with your gear, and keep paying dividends as the game shifts. Don’t sleep on these champions if you’re looking to tackle the biggest challenges in modern-day RAID!