Use the 1–2–3 rule: one primary carry, at least two units that protect or enable it, and three or more cards that advance the same faction or keyword engine.
Start with roles, not a shopping list
| Role | Job | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Primary carry | Ends fights | Reliable damage, useful skill, good equipment fit |
| Frontline | Buys time | Health, defenses, shields, control, summons, or revival |
| Engine | Creates growth | Repeated On Entry, Preparation, Rally, Tactics, or faction triggers |
| Support | Makes the carry work | Mana, levels, protection, control, copying, or card generation |
| Flex slot | Answers the lobby | Anti-heal, defense, displacement, extra control, or a second carry |
Choose one faction engine
Factions are packages of cards that speak the same mechanical language. The important question is not “Which faction is strongest?” but “Which faction can I actually trigger with the shop, Chess Player, and Talents I received?”
Community guides commonly describe Heluo around Ancient Coins and Preparation, Great Riverlands around Rally triggers, Zhuolu around Tactics cards, Three Kingdoms around dense On Entry chains, and Sunset Sea around raising and distributing Core levels. Treat these as engine identities, not fixed final rosters.
| Faction | Beginner mental model |
|---|---|
| Heluo | Prepare, generate Ancient Coins, and convert setup into lasting power |
| Great Riverlands | Assemble the right bodies, then gain value when combat starts |
| Zhuolu | Play and recycle Tactics cards to grow the board |
| Three Kingdoms | Chain On Entry effects by repeatedly playing useful Heroes |
| Sunset Sea | Raise the Core, then turn that stored level into combat power |
| Unaffiliated | Use flexible units and direct synergies without a full faction package |
Build the lineup in five passes
- 1
Name the carry
Pick the Hero expected to finish fights. This choice guides equipment, protection, and which cards are worth keeping.
- 2
Add survival
Use durable units, summons, shields, control, or revival so the carry has enough time to act.
- 3
Install the engine
Add the smallest set of cards that repeatedly creates levels, cards, Coins, Tactics, or Core growth.
- 4
Remove passengers
A unit that neither fights well nor advances the engine is using a valuable slot. Sell or replace it when a better fit appears.
- 5
Add a matchup answer
Use the last flexible slot or equipment choice to handle the strongest opposing board you are likely to face.
Positioning that works in early matches
- Put durable melee units where they meet the enemy first; keep fragile ranged carries behind them.
- Avoid stacking every valuable unit in one place if an opponent has area damage or displacement.
- Place short-range supports close enough to affect the carry without exposing them before their effect fires.
- Move your carry when the same enemy repeatedly reaches it first. Small position changes can matter more than a minor card upgrade.
Give equipment a job
Damage equipment belongs on the Hero that can use it for the longest time. Defensive equipment belongs where it creates extra casts, control, or frontline time—not automatically on the unit with the highest base Health.
Build for the lobby. Physical and spell-heavy opponents ask for different defenses; healing-heavy boards may require an anti-heal answer. A “best item” without a target and matchup is rarely the best decision.
Practical tip: Use the site’s Team Builder to sketch the six-unit core, then open individual Hero and equipment pages to check roles, skills, and recorded effects before a match.
How to use a published lineup without getting lost
- Copy the engine and carry relationship first, not just the six final portraits.
- Note which cards are temporary setup pieces and which belong on the final board.
- Check the publication date; balance changes can alter costs, keywords, and optimal equipment.
- Watch where the author spends Energy and when they replace units. The transition is usually more valuable than the final screenshot.
- If the required Chess Player, Talent, or auction reward does not appear, preserve the role structure and pivot.
Frequently asked questions
How many Heroes should a beginner build around?
Start with one primary carry and one coherent engine. Extra damage dealers are useful only after the board can protect and enable the first carry consistently.
Should every Hero be from the same faction?
No. A faction core supplies the engine, while off-faction Heroes can provide frontline, control, equipment utility, or a matchup answer. Keep them only when their role is clear.
Can I copy a Bilibili lineup exactly?
You can use it as a learning reference, but copy its transition rules as well as its final board. Version changes, Chess Player choices, Talents, shops, and auctions mean an exact six-card list will not appear every match.
What this guide is based on
This is an original, localized synthesis—not a line-by-line translation. Creator videos are linked for further viewing; their footage is not reproduced here.
Official beginner guideTencent GamesPrimary source for Hero cards, positioning hints, factions, merging, and Chess Player systems.
Beginner mechanics handbookTapTap · BaiyanCommunity descriptions of the major faction engines and lineup roles.
Three beginner lineup walkthroughsMianbei on BilibiliFurther watching for real board transitions; linked for viewing, not reproduced.