We've ranked all the civilizations in Rise of Kingdoms from best to worst so you know which ones to pick!
Picking the right civilization in Rise of Kingdoms is the biggest decision you can make, as it can seriously affect your path forward. Your decision will have an impact on how fast you progress, how strong your armies feel, and even how easy it is to grind through neutrals.
Naturally, some civilizations are amazing for early-game growth, while others shine once you hit the late-game and engage in more wars and rallies.
The good news is that no civilization is completely useless, but some clearly stand above the rest depending on the current meta. With that in mind, this tier list ranks every civilization from best to worst based on overall value, including combat bonuses, troop specialization, economic boosts, flexibility, and usefulness for free-to-play and spender accounts alike.
All Civilizations in Rise of Kingdoms, Ranked
There are currently 15 civilizations in Rise of Kingdoms. We've ranked them all in the following tier list:
Tier | Civilization |
| S | China and Arabia |
| A | Britain, Egypt, Germany, Vikings, and Maya |
| B | Greece, Korea, Japan, the Ottoman Empire, and France |
| C | Byzantium and Rome |
| F | Spain |
The tier list is divided into five tiers. The S-tier showcases the absolute best civilizations in the current Rise of Kingdoms meta. They offer amazing long-term value, powerful combat bonuses, and strong utility that works for almost every type of player.
A-tier civilizations are still top-tier choices, but they tend to be slightly more specialized or situational compared to S Tier picks. They excel in certain troop types, strategies, or game modes and can easily perform at a high level when used properly.
B-tier civilizations are more average than game-changing. They're safe picks, for the most part. C-tier civilizations aren't completely useless, but they tend to feel outclassed by stronger alternatives.
F-tier civilizations are the weakest civilizations overall in the current meta. Their bonuses either don't scale well or fail to provide enough impact in progression or combat. They're still playable, but most players will eventually want to switch away from them.
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Best Civilizations in Rise of Kingdoms
In our opinion, the best civilization in Rise of Kingdoms is China, with Arabia being in close second.
China is arguably the best civilization in the game. The 5% building speed bonus is a massive advantage during the early stages of the game, where every hour saved matters. The civilization's 5% action-point recovery is also useful over the long term. On top of all that, Sun Tzu is one of the best commanders in the game. Yes, China may fall off slightly compared to hardcore late-game combat civilizations like the Vikings, but its perks are so huge that it's incredible for most players.
On the other hand, Arabia is a rally-focused civilization. Its 5% bonus for rally damage makes a huge impact for those who regularly lead attacks against structures and cities. Moreover, it boasts a 5% cavalry attack bonus and a 10% bonus for attacks dealt to barbarians and other neutral units. These bonuses should help with PvE combat. The only minor downside is that Arabia can feel less impactful for players who rarely lead rallies themselves.
Worst Civilizations in Rise of Kingdoms
The worst civilization at the moment is Spain.
The unfortunate truth is that Spain cannot compete with other war-focused civilizations that are dominating the current meta. Don't get us wrong — they still have redeeming qualities. The civilization is decent for those who enjoy resource production, as they receive a 20% bonus in that department. Additionally, Spain receives a 5% increase to cavalry defense and a 10% increase to experience gained from defeated barbarians and other neutral units.