Why this list is different
Most tier lists rank heroes on overall feel. Bear Trap joining has an exact rule (only the first expedition skill of your first hero counts), which makes joiner value computable. The table below scores every hero's first skill at max level (Lv 5) as its expected % damage contribution to the rally, with class-specific effects counted at one-third (they cover one troop class of a mixed march). Full mechanics are in the Bear Trap guide.
Every viable joiner, ranked
Heroes missing from this table have non-combat or purely defensive first skills, so as bear joiners they contribute nothing.
| # | Hero | Class | Rarity | First expedition skill | Offense | Defense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amane | archer | epic | Tri-Phalanx | +25.0% | — |
| 2 | Yeonwoo | archer | epic | On Guard | +25.0% | — |
| 3 | Chenko | cavalry | epic | Stand of Arms | +25.0% | — |
| 4 | Amadeus | infantry | Mythic · Gen 1 | Battle Ready | +25.0% | — |
| 5 | Petra | cavalry | Mythic · Gen 3 | Evil Eye | +25.0% | — |
| 6 | Margot | cavalry | Mythic · Gen 4 | Warbringer | +25.0% | — |
| 7 | Vivian | archer | Mythic · Gen 5 | Crouching Tiger | +25.0% | — |
| 8 | Yang | archer | Mythic · Gen 6 | Avalanche | +25.0% | — |
| 9 | Ava | cavalry | Mythic · Gen 7 | Dissolution | +25.0% | — |
| 10 | Wee & Woo | archer | Mythic · Gen 7 | Artillerymen | +25.0% | — |
| 11 | Zoe | infantry | Mythic · Gen 2 | Sundering Wound | +24.0% | — |
| 12 | Jaeger | archer | Mythic · Gen 3 | The Tempest | +24.0% | — |
| 13 | Marlin | archer | Mythic · Gen 2 | Wild Card | +20.0% | — |
| 14 | Rosa | archer | Mythic · Gen 4 | Chaos Gambit | +20.0% | — |
| 15 | Hilde | cavalry | Mythic · Gen 2 | Noble Path | +15.0% | +10.0% |
| 16 | Thrud | cavalry | Mythic · Gen 5 | Battle Hunger | +15.0% | +10.0% |
How to read it
- Mix the two skill families. Flat lethality skills (Chenko, Amadeus, Yeonwoo, Wee & Woo) stack additively with each other but multiply against all-squad attack skills (Amane, Margot), so a rally seating both families out-damages four copies of either one.
- Skill level beats rarity. A maxed Chenko (epic, free-to-play accessible) outranks an unleveled mythic in the joiner slot. From the fifth joiner onward the game re-sorts seats by skill level, so leveling your one good joiner skill is the cheapest damage upgrade in the event.
- Wee & Woo is the newest top pick: Generation 7's Hero Roulette hero, with attack and lethality on one first skill.
Best rally captains
Captains play by opposite rules, since their stats, all their skills, and rally-type gear all count. The standout damage captain is Ava (Gen 7: defense shred + periodic damage amplification + Rally Lethality gear), with Marlin, Helga, Thrud, Rosa, and Yang as earlier-generation options carrying rally-type gear skills. The Bear Trap Optimizer computes your best captain trio and troop fill from your actual roster.
FAQ
Which hero should I put in slot 1?
Your highest-leveled hero from the table above. If you own several, the Joiner Advisor breaks the tie using your saved skill levels.
Do defensive heroes like Saul help in Bear Trap?
Not as joiners, because the bear's counterattack isn't what limits your score. Save them for garrisons.
Does my joiner hero's gear matter?
No. Joiners contribute exactly one thing: the first expedition skill of the first hero. Gear and stats apply only to captains.