The Current Meta in One Sentence
Coordinated Musketeer-and-Cannoneer play dominates open-ground fort fights, while Cavalry swings back into S-tier on maps with multiple captures because mobility wins rotation. Sailor is map-locked but absurd on the maps it shows up on.
Tier rankings here assume solo queue or small stack play. In a pre-made 5+ stack, every class becomes viable because coordination overrides class power.
Patch Reasoning
Why Musketeer Is S-Tier
The May 2026 patch slightly nerfed Cavalry horse health (-8%) and slightly buffed Musketeer accuracy at long range. This sounds minor, but the cumulative effect is enormous: Musketeer lines now reliably down a charging horse before contact, and the historically Cavalry-favoured open fields now favour the line.
Why Cannoneer Climbed
The crew-reload bonus (two-Cannoneer guns reload in 6s vs 12s solo) was always there, but new players have started realizing the multiplier. Expect Cannoneer to remain strong as long as voice-chat coordination remains common.
Why Cavalry Slipped to A-Tier
Not weaker — just no longer untouchable. Skilled cavalry players still dominate, but the margin over a competent Musketeer line is gone. If you're a top-1% cavalry player, the class is still S. For everyone else, it's A.
Best Picks By Situation
| Situation | Top Pick | Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Solo queue, no voice | Musketeer | Cavalry |
| 5-stack with voice | Cannoneer (paired) | Musketeer |
| Coastal map | Sailor | Cannoneer |
| Defending a fort | Musketeer | Cannoneer |
| Attacking a fort | Musketeer (mass) | Cannoneer (breach) |
| Rotation map / multi-cap | Cavalry | Musketeer |
Tier History
For context, here's how the meta has shifted across the last few patches:
| Patch | S-Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Cavalry | Pre-stamina nerf. Cavalry-heavy meta dominated. |
| April 2026 | Cavalry, Cannoneer | Mid-patch grapeshot buff brought Cannoneer up. |
| May 2026 | Musketeer | Current. Horse health nerf shifted balance to infantry. |
Tier lists move. What is S-tier this month may not be next. Read the patch notes when they drop, and don't lock yourself into one class.
What to Read Next
- Musketeer Guide — start with the current S-tier.
- Fort Capture Tactics — where these rankings matter.
- Cannoneer Guide — the climbing pick.