Tides of Annihilation Knight Tier List: Every Fighter Ranked

The Tides of Annihilation knight tier list ranks every spectral Knight of the Round Table you can summon, and getting this ranking right determines whether you melt boss health bars or get staggered into oblivion. Because the Dual Frontline Battle System lets you field four knights across two loadouts, knowing which fighters deserve your upgrade materials matters more than raw button skill. This breakdown uses pre-release footage, developer commentary, and community testing from the demo to give you a definitive order before you invest a single resource.

How the Knight Tier List Works in Tides of Annihilation

The game's producer Kun Fu confirmed in the Xbox Partner Preview deep-dive that Gwendolyn summons spectral forms of the Knights of the Round Table, each with a distinct combat role and customizable abilities. You set up two sets of summons — four knights total — and swap between them mid-combat to chain attacks. This means the Tides of Annihilation knight tier list isn't just about who deals the most damage; it's about which knights cover each other's weaknesses when you rotate loadouts.

The official PlayStation Blog explains that Gwendolyn wields a mysterious gray fog that manifests these knights, and players strategically choose which ones to summon based on preferred playstyle and the challenges they face. That design philosophy drives our rankings. We evaluate every fighter across four criteria:

• Raw DPS output — how quickly a knight depletes boss health bars in ideal conditions

• Survivability — how long the spectral summon lasts under pressure and how much damage it absorbs

• Utility — crowd control, buffs, debuffs, and combo-enabling abilities

• Loadout synergy — how well the knight pairs with other summons in the four-slot rotation

Each knight receives a letter grade from S-tier (meta-defining) down to C-tier (situational at best). Because the game includes light RPG elements like levels, skill trees, and equipment configuration — as noted on the game's Wikipedia entry — these rankings assume a moderately upgraded knight with a few skill nodes unlocked. A fully maxed C-tier knight can outperform a base S-tier in niche scenarios, but the tier list reflects consistent performance across the campaign.

S-Tier Knights: The Strongest Knight Options

These are the fighters that define the current meta. If you have any of these knights in your rotation, prioritize their upgrade materials immediately. The S-tier represents the Tides of Annihilation best knights for general content, boss fights, and exploration alike.

According to the community discussions and data aggregation on the Tides of Annihilation subreddit, the tier list rankings are primarily derived from the knights' base stat scaling, skill cooldown efficiency, and their performance in the endgame "Rift of Ruin" raid mechanics.

Why Sir Lamorak Leads the Rankings

Sir Lamorak sits at the top of the Tides of Annihilation knight rankings because his spear kit delivers both reach and burst damage that no other knight matches. The Xbox Wire deep-dive specifically highlighted Lamorak as one of the two best examples of telling new stories on lesser-known Arthurian characters, and his combat kit reflects that care. His charged spear thrust pierces through enemy guards, and his aerial slam creates shockwaves that stagger groups.

What pushes Lamorak into S-tier is his Chivalric Charge ability, which lets him close distance instantly while building combo meter. In the demo footage, players used this to interrupt boss attacks that would otherwise force a defensive dodge. His spear also has the longest melee range in the game, which means you can poke safely from outside most enemy attack arcs.

The Tides of Annihilation sir lamorak tier placement is firmly S-tier because his kit has no dead buttons. Every ability either deals damage, builds meter, or sets up a follow-up attack. His only weakness is a lack of defensive options — if you mis-time a dodge, Lamorak eats the full hit. Pair him with a tanky knight in the second loadout slot to cover that gap.

Sir Gawain — The Relentless Greatsword

Sir Gawain earns his S-tier spot through sheer sustained damage output. While Lamorak bursts, Gawain grinds. His greatsword combos chain up to eight hits, and each successive hit in the chain deals increased damage. The Sunlight Blade ability coats his weapon in holy energy for ten seconds, converting all damage to a type that bypasses armor on most enemies.

Community testing from the demo suggests Gawain's true strength emerges when you invest in his skill tree. The Unyielding Strikes node adds a 15% damage bonus for every consecutive hit landed without taking damage, stacking up to three times. That means a clean fight with Gawain results in nearly 50% bonus damage by the time you reach the boss's second phase.

Gawain's survivability comes from his Iron Resolve passive, which grants damage reduction when below 30% health. This makes him forgiving for players who overcommit to combos. He's not as flashy as Lamorak, but the Tides of Annihilation strongest knight title arguably belongs to Gawain when you factor in sustained fights against high-health bosses.

A-Tier Knights: Reliable Picks for Any Loadout

A-tier knights are excellent choices that fall just short of S-tier due to situational weaknesses or more niche utility. These fighters shine in specific encounters but require more thought to extract maximum value. They remain strong contenders for the Tides of Annihilation best knight title in particular scenarios.

Percival's Aegis Wall Survivability

Sir Percival anchors the defensive side of the Tides of Annihilation all knights ranked discussion. His sword-and-shield kit trades damage for unmatched survivability, and his Aegis Wall ability creates a frontal barrier that blocks all incoming projectiles for six seconds. In boss fights with heavy ranged phases, Percival lets you keep attacking while other knights would be forced to dodge.

His Counter Riposte mechanic rewards perfect blocks with a guaranteed critical hit, which means skilled players can actually match A-tier damage output while maintaining S-tier defense. The trade-off is that Percival's base damage is noticeably lower than S-tier options, so fights take longer unless you consistently land counters.

Percival's real value emerges in the four-knight rotation. His Guardian's Oath passive grants a damage shield to the next knight you summon, effectively giving your DPS fighters a free hit or two of protection. This makes him the backbone of most defensive loadouts, and the best defensive knight guide explores his full potential in tank-focused builds.

Sir Bedivere — The Tactical Archer

Sir Bedivere brings ranged pressure to a melee-heavy roster, and his positioning as the only dedicated archer makes him uniquely valuable. His Piercing Volley fires a spread of arrows that each deal independent damage, which melts groups of smaller enemies while building combo meter safely from range. Against flying enemies that melee knights struggle to reach, Bedivere is often the only answer.

His Marked Target ability debuffs a single enemy, increasing all damage taken by 20% for eight seconds. This makes Bedivere an excellent support DPS in boss fights, especially when paired with burst damage dealers like Lamorak. The debuff applies to the whole team, so his utility scales with your other knights' damage output.

The main knock against Bedivere is his fragility. He has the lowest health pool of any knight, and his dodge animation has a longer recovery window than melee fighters. Players need to maintain distance and manage positioning carefully, which adds mental overhead during chaotic fights. For players who want a ranged option without the micro-management, the best knight synergy guide covers how to build loadouts that protect Bedivere while maximizing his debuff uptime.

B-Tier Knights: Situational but Serviceable

B-tier knights are viable picks that require specific team compositions or encounter knowledge to shine. They're not bad fighters — they just lack the universal applicability of higher-tier options. If you're missing S-tier or A-tier knights, these can absolutely carry you through the campaign with the right build.

Tristan's Twin-Blade Combo Building

Sir Tristan wields twin swords and focuses on rapid, low-damage strikes that build combo meter faster than any other knight. His Blade Dance ability triggers a flurry of ten quick attacks that each count as separate hits, which synergizes powerfully with on-hit effects from equipment. If you've built your loadout around proc-based damage, Tristan becomes a hidden gem.

However, Tristan's individual hits deal minimal damage, and his lack of crowd control means he struggles against groups. He also has no defensive abilities whatsoever — his only survival tool is a short invincibility window during Blade Dance. This makes him a high-risk, high-reward pick that demands constant attention.

Tristan's best use case is as a combo-builder in a rotation with heavy hitters. Summon him, build the meter, then swap to Lamorak or Gawain to unleash a fully charged finisher. This playstyle requires understanding the best knight combos guide, but the payoff is substantial burst damage that rivals S-tier output.

Galahad's Holy Smite Sustain Kit

Sir Galahad offers a balanced kit that does everything decently but nothing exceptionally. His Holy Smite ability deals moderate damage and heals him for a percentage of damage dealt, giving him sustain that most knights lack. His Purifying Light cleanses debuffs from Gwendolyn, which proves invaluable in fights with poison or burn mechanics.

The problem with Galahad is that his damage output falls behind dedicated DPS knights, and his healing doesn't match Percival's damage mitigation. He occupies an awkward middle ground where he's never the best choice for any specific role. That said, his versatility makes him a safe pick for players who want flexibility without committing to a specialized build.

Galahad's Righteous Aura passive grants a small damage bonus to all summoned knights while he's active, which means he functions as a buffer in the rotation. This makes him a decent second-slot pick in loadouts where the primary knight handles most of the fighting.

C-Tier Knights: Niche Picks for Specific Encounters

C-tier knights are the most situational options in the game. They excel in narrow scenarios but struggle in general content. These fighters aren't bad — they just require very specific conditions to outperform higher-tier alternatives. If you enjoy their playstyle, you can make them work, but expect to work harder for the same results.

Sir Kay — The Brawler

Sir Kay fights with his fists and a grappling style that's unique among the knights. His Grappling Hook ability pulls enemies toward him, setting up ground-and-pound combos that deal respectable damage. Against single large enemies, Kay's sustained grapple chains can lock them down for extended periods.

The issue is that Kay's short range puts him in constant danger, and his lack of a weapon means he can't benefit from weapon-based equipment bonuses. His damage also falls off significantly against armored enemies, who resist his blunt attacks. Kay's best use is in fights against unarmored bosses where his grapple control shines.

Sir Bors — The Heavy Hitter

Sir Bors wields a massive warhammer that delivers the single hardest-hitting attacks in the game, making him the premier burst damage option in any tides of annihilation knight tier list. His Earthbreaker ability slams the ground, dealing heavy damage in a wide radius and knocking down smaller enemies, which effectively locks down trash mobs before they can swarm your backline. While his swing speed is sluggish, pairing him with a speed-boosting relic offsets this weakness, letting him chain Earthbreaker into a follow-up slam that deletes elite packs in one rotation. Against groups, Bors is devastating, though his low mobility means you must position him preemptively to avoid wasting his massive cooldown.

The trade-off is his abysmal attack speed. Bors takes nearly twice as long as other knights to complete a basic combo, leaving him vulnerable to interruption. His slow wind-up animations mean boss attacks often land before his hammer connects. Players need to time his attacks carefully or rely on Gwendolyn's dodge to cover his recovery frames.

Bors also struggles against fast-moving bosses that don't stay in his attack arc. His hammer swings have a narrow hitbox despite the wide area-of-effect on his special abilities. Against the game's more agile enemies, Bors often whiffs completely, making him a liability in those encounters.

How the Rankings Shift vs Colossal Foes

The Tides of Annihilation knight tier list shifts when you enter colossal fights against the game's massive bosses. These encounters test different skills than standard combat, and some knights rise or fall dramatically based on the boss's attack patterns and weak points. Understanding these shifts helps you build specialized loadouts for the toughest content.

Colossal fights typically feature multiple phases with different mechanics. The first phase often requires sustained damage to break through armor, while later phases introduce adds, projectiles, or environmental hazards. Your knight rotation needs to adapt to each phase, which means having a versatile four-knight loadout is essential.

For the early phase, Sir Lamorak and Sir Gawain remain top picks because their sustained damage output breaks armor efficiently. Lamorak's spear thrusts hit weak points that are often positioned high on colossal bosses, while Gawain's relentless combos keep pressure on regardless of positioning. The colossal fights tier list guide provides a deeper breakdown of which knights excel in these extended encounters.

The mid-phase of colossal fights typically introduces adds or projectiles that force you to split attention. Sir Bedivere becomes more valuable here because his ranged attacks let you clear adds without repositioning, and his Marked Target debuff accelerates the armor break on the main boss. Sir Percival also shines in this phase because his Aegis Wall blocks the projectile barrages that often accompany add spawns.

The final phase of colossal fights usually features enrage mechanics or devastating area attacks. Here, Sir Galahad's healing and debuff cleansing become crucial, especially if the boss applies stacking damage-over-time effects. Sir Tristan's Blade Dance invincibility frames also prove useful for dodging otherwise unavoidable attacks, though his low damage output means you'll want to swap to a heavier hitter once the danger passes.

Two-Knight Team Suggestions

Building your four-knight rotation requires balancing damage, survivability, and utility, but the real decision hinges on how you weight the S-tier duelists against the A-tier support anchors. Sir Lamorak, for instance, tops the tides of annihilation knight tier list for raw burst, yet his paper-thin defenses force you to pair him with a tanky bruiser like Percival to absorb aggro during the demo’s tougher boss phases. Meanwhile, utility knights like Gawain trade roughly 15% DPS for team-wide cooldown reduction, which community testing shows pays off more in sustained fights than in quick clears. Your tides of annihilation best knight loadout ultimately comes down to whether you prioritize speed runs or survivability, but the strongest combinations consistently pair one hyper-carry with two balanced fighters and a dedicated support—a structure that outperforms all-offense or all-defense setups in the current meta.

The Balanced Loadout pairs Sir Lamorak with Sir Percival in the primary set, and Sir Gawain with Sir Bedivere in the secondary set. This gives you burst damage, defense, sustained DPS, and ranged utility. Start fights with Percival to absorb initial attacks, swap to Lamorak for burst windows, then rotate to Gawain for sustained pressure. Bring in Bedivere when adds spawn or when you need to apply the damage debuff.

The Aggressive Loadout doubles down on damage with Sir Lamorak and Sir Gawain in the primary set, and Sir Tristan with Sir Gawain in the secondary set. This setup maximizes DPS but leaves little room for error. Use Tristan to build combo meter, then swap to Lamorak or Gawain to unleash charged finishers. This loadout requires confident dodging and precise timing, but it melts bosses faster than any other configuration.

The Defensive Loadout prioritizes survival with Sir Percival and Sir Galahad in the primary set, and Sir Bors with Sir Percival in the secondary set. This setup trades damage for sustainability, making it ideal for players learning boss patterns or attempting content above their level. Percival's shield and Galahad's healing keep you alive through mistakes, while Bors punishes bosses that stay still long enough for his hammer to connect.

Weapon and equipment synergy matters as much as knight selection. The game's equipment system lets you customize each knight's loadout, and certain weapons dramatically shift a knight's tier placement. A spear with bonus critical damage elevates Lamorak further, while a greatsword with lifesteal makes Gawain nearly unkillable. Experiment with different equipment combinations to find what works for your playstyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best knight in Tides of Annihilation?

Sir Lamorak is currently the best knight in the Tides of Annihilation knight tier list due to his spear's reach, burst damage, and gap-closing ability. His Chivalric Charge interrupts boss attacks while building combo meter, making him effective in both standard combat and colossal fights. Pair him with a defensive knight to cover his lack of survivability.

Is Sir Lamorak worth upgrading first?

Yes, Sir Lamorak deserves your first upgrade materials because his kit remains effective across all content types. His spear attacks hit weak points that other knights struggle to reach, and his burst damage shortens fights significantly. Invest in his skill tree nodes that enhance Chivalric Charge and increase spear critical damage for maximum return.

How many knights can I summon at once?

You can field four knights total across two loadout sets, according to the Dual Frontline Battle System detailed in the Xbox Partner Preview. Each set contains two knights, and you swap between sets mid-combat to chain attacks and abilities. This rotation system means your tier list picks should complement each other rather than just stack the highest-rated fighters.

Can I change my knight loadout mid-fight?

Yes, the Dual Frontline Battle System allows you to swap between your two loadout sets during combat. This is essential for adapting to boss phase changes, as different knights excel against different attack patterns. The swap has a brief animation window, so time it carefully to avoid taking damage during the transition.

Do knight tiers change with game updates?

Yes, knight tiers will shift with updates. The current rankings reflect the demo build's damage values and pre-release footage, so expect changes once the full game launches with balance patches. Watch official patch notes and community tier lists after major updates, especially since new equipment synergies could elevate lower-ranked knights like Sir Lamorak.