The Best Ranged Generals on Evony
- Favian the Wise Man
- May 21
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 10
Discover the best ranged generals in Evony and learn how to strategically use them in battle to dominate the game.
Recommended Ranged Generals for Marching and Rallying in Evony
When building a strong ranged march or leading rallies in Evony, your choice of general is critical. Below, I’ve outlined my top picks for marching and rallying, followed by budget-friendly options for free-to-play (F2P) or low-spending players, and a special mention worth considering. These recommendations factor in effectiveness, accessibility, and the effort required to ascend them to red star levels.
Top Picks for Marching and Rallying
For players willing to invest time or money, these generals excel at leading ranged marches or rallies:
Algernon Sidney
Why He’s Great: Algernon brings strong ranged attack buffs and solid march size increases, making him a standout for offensive PvP marches. His skill set is well-suited for big battles.
Best Use: Main general for Server vs. Server (SvS) or rallying bosses.
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Ragnar Lodbrok
Why He’s Great: Ragnar offers a hefty ranged attack boost paired with durability buffs, ideal for sustained engagements. His Viking flair adds flavor to his power.
Best Use: Leading rallies or attacking high-level targets.
Merlin
Why He’s Great: A premium option with excellent ranged attack buffs and unique bonuses, Merlin shines in large-scale marches. He’s harder to obtain but worth it for coiners.
Best Use: Rally lead or heavy PvP marches.
Marcus Agrippa
Why He’s Great: Agrippa balances ranged attack with versatility, making him a reliable pick for both rallies and solo marches. He’s accessible via events and as of 28th Feb 2025 he is still available.
Best Use: Flexible march leader for mid-to-high spenders.
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Honorable Mention: Sigurd
Why He’s Notable: Sigurd offers impressive ranged attack buffs and decent all-around stats, but he’s tough to acquire and even harder to ascend to red stars due to limited availability.
Recommendation: Use him as an assistant rather than a main general. His buffs can enhance a primary leader without the heavy investment needed to max him out.
Best Picks for F2P or Low Spenders
For players who don’t want to break the bank, these generals are easier to obtain and ascend:
Marcus Agrippa
Accessibility: Available via the Trial of Knights event (Blood of Ares consuming return event) as of February 28, 2025—check current events!
Why He’s Great: Strong ranged attack buffs and achievable red star 5 status without heavy spending. A top pick for budget players.
Louis IX
Accessibility: Also available through Trial of Knights as of February 28th, 2025. Like Agrippa, confirm his status in-game now.
Why He’s Great: Offers solid ranged buffs and is relatively easy to ascend compared to premium generals. Perfect for F2P progression.
Elektra
Accessibility: Found at Relics, making her a consistent F2P option.
Why She’s Great: Elektra’s ranged attack buffs (15% base, 20% with a dragon) and high base stats make her a standout. She’s far easier to red star than event-locked generals, saving you cash for other troop types.
Why These Three?: For F2P or low spenders, getting a general to red star 5 is a game-changer, and these options don’t require emptying your wallet. Spending big to ascend premium ranged generals often isn’t worth it—use that money to boost generals for mounted, ground, or siege troops instead.
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Special Mention: Franz Joseph I
Why He’s Unique: Franz Joseph I falls slightly behind the top-tier marching generals in raw attack buffs (think 2nd-tier power), but he’s still very effective. His standout feature? He retains full strength when reinforcing an ally’s castle, unlike many higher-ranked generals whose buffs weaken in that role.
Best Use: A hybrid pick for players who march aggressively but also reinforce teammates often.
Consideration: If you value flexibility over max attack output, he’s a gem.
Check out the full profile for Franz Joesph I on Evony
Final Thoughts
For marching and rallying, Algernon Sidney and Ragnar lead the pack if you can snag them, with Merlin, Marcus Agrippa, Douglas, and Mihai close behind for premium players. Sigurd is better as an assistant due to his rarity. F2P or low spenders should prioritize Marcus Agrippa, Louis IX, and Elektra—they’re accessible and cost-effective to max out. And don’t sleep on Franz Joseph I if you want a reinforcing ace up your sleeve.
As of February 28, 2025, event availability these are still available, also double-check in-game options for Agrippa and Louis IX. Focus on what fits your budget and playstyle—ranged dominance is within reach either way!
The Best Ranged Generals on Evony - Full Transcript
Best Ranged Generals in Evony: Top Picks for 2025
Welcome back to the Empire Build Academy! I’m Favian, and today we’re diving into the best ranged generals in Evony: The King’s Return. Ranged troops are a cornerstone of many armies, and choosing the right generals can make or break your battle strategy. In this blog post, we’ll rank the top ranged generals, highlight their buffs, and discuss optimal pairings, with a special focus on free-to-play (F2P) options. Note that this guide temporarily excludes the new generals Brian Boru and Arthur Wellesley, but I’ll update my Empire Build Academy website soon with their details. Let’s get started!
Why Ranged Generals Matter
Ranged generals enhance your archers and siege machines, boosting attack, defense, HP, and march size to dominate in PvP, PvE, and alliance wars. Selecting the right general and pairing them with a complementary assistant can amplify these buffs, giving you a significant edge. We’ll explore the top generals available through the Tavern (Recruit > Portraits > Ranged), focusing on Europe and Other regions, where the best options reside.
Top 5 Ranged Generals (Excluding Brian Boru and Arthur Wellesley)
Here’s a detailed ranking of the best ranged generals in Evony, based on their buffs and total effectiveness. All stats assume the general is leading the army to attack, with additional conditions noted where applicable.
Merlin (Europe)
Buffs:
Ranged troop attack and HP: +45%
Ranged troop and siege machine defense: +30%
Total buff (with specialties): Attack 440%, Defense 411%, HP 392%, March 17% = 1,243%
Why He’s #1: Merlin’s balanced and high-percentage buffs make him the top ranged general. His versatility suits both offensive and defensive strategies, and his specialties push his stats to elite levels.
Availability: Premium General Tokens
Best Pairing: With Ragnar as assistant (see below).
Franz Joseph I (Europe)
Buffs:
Ranged troop attack: +50%
Ranged troop and siege machine defense and HP: +40%
Total buff: Attack 442%, Defense 419%, HP 378%, March 34% = 1,233%
Why He’s Great: Franz Joseph’s 50% attack boost and robust defense/HP buffs make him a close second to Merlin. His higher march size (34%) is ideal for larger armies.
Availability: Premium General Tokens
Best Pairing: With Merlin or Ragnar.
Ragnar (Others)
Buffs:
Ranged troop attack and defense: +45%
Ranged troop and siege machine HP: +35% (requires Spiritual Beast to activate)
Total buff: Varies based on Spiritual Beast, but ranks third overall.
Key Note: Ragnar’s HP buff depends on bringing a Spiritual Beast, which adds a condition but doesn’t detract from his strong base stats.
Availability: Tavern (Others > Ranged).
Best Pairing: With Sigurd or Merlin.
Algernon Sidney (Europe)
Buffs:
Ranged troop attack and defense: +45%
Ranged troop and siege machine HP: +30%
Total buff: Attack 478%, Defense 340%, HP 375%, March 44% = 1,193%
Why He’s Solid: Algernon’s high attack and march size (44%) make him a great choice for aggressive ranged strategies, though his defense is slightly lower than others.
Availability: Premium General (Europe > Ranged).
Best Pairing: With Merlin.
Marcus Agrippa (Europe, F2P Option)
Buffs:
Ranged troop attack: +40%
Ranged troop and siege machine defense and HP: +30%
Total buff: Attack 446%, Defense 411%, HP 334%, March 20% = 1,191%
Why He’s Notable: Marcus Agrippa is a standout F2P option, currently available in the Trial of Knights event. By ascending generals (e.g., Elektra) during this event, you can earn points to trade for Marcus. His buffs are competitive, especially at 5-star ascension, which I’ve achieved.
Availability: Trial of Knights event and premium general tokens
Caution: Marcus has been in the event for a while, and there’s uncertainty about his continued availability. Start ascending now, but be prepared for potential changes.
Best Pairing: With Ragnar.
Honorable Mentions: Brian Boru and Arthur Wellesley
While not fully ranked here, the two new generals** deserve a quick spotlight:
Brian Boru (Europe):
Buffs: Ranged attack and HP +50%, ranged and siege defense +35%.
Impression: One of the best ranged generals, potentially rivaling Merlin. I’ll cover him in a future video and update the rankings.
Availability: Premium General Tokens
Arthur Wellesley (Europe):
Buffs: Ranged and siege attack +40%, ranged defense and HP +25%.
Impression: Strong but slightly less impressive than Brian Boru. Full details coming soon.
Availability: Premium General Tokens
Best Assistant Pairings
Pairing a main general with an assistant general can significantly boost buffs significantly. Here are the top pairings for our ranked generals:
Merlin + Ragnar (Assistant):
Attack: 590%, Defense: 511%, HP%: +472%, Total Buff: 1,572%
Why: The highest total buff combo, leveraging Merlin’s versatility and Ragnar’s high attack.
Ragnar + Sigurd (Assistant):
Attack: 602%, Defense: 469%, HP%: +479%, Total Buff: 1,550%
Why: Sigurd’s attack focus complements Ragnar’s balanced stats, ideal for aggressive playstyles.
Merlin + Franz Joseph I (Assistant):
Attack: 540%, Defense: 521%, HP%: +482%, Total Buff: 1,543%
Why: Strong defense and HP buffs make this a solid defensive pairing.
Merlin + Algernon Sidney (Assistant):
Attack: 570%, Defense: 496%, HP%: +477%, Total Buff: 1,542%
Why: A balanced offensive pairing with high march size.
Marcus Agrippa + Ragnar (Assistant, F2P):
Attack: 596%, Defense: 511%, HP%: +414%, Total Buff: 1,521%
Why: The best F2P pairing, combining Marcus’s accessibility with Ragnar’s elite buffs.
F2P Focus: Marcus Agrippa and Trial of Knights
For F2P players, Marcus Agrippa is a game-changer. Available in the Trial of Knights event, you can earn him by ascending generals like Elektra, a former F2P favorite. His 5-star buffs (Attack 446%, Total 1,191%) rival premium generals, making him a must-have. However, his long tenure in the event raises questions about his future availability. Another F2P option, Louis IX, is also in Trial of Knights but is less effective than Marcus.
Tip: If you’re F2P, prioritize ascending generals during Trial of Knights to secure Marcus while he’s available. Pair him with Ragnar for maximum impact.
Strategic Takeaways
To dominate with ranged generals in Evony, keep these tips in mind:
Prioritize Merlin: If you can afford Tavern refreshes, aim for Merlin for his unmatched total buffs.
Leverage F2P Options: Marcus Agrippa is a top F2P choice, especially during Trial of Knights. Start ascending now, but monitor event changes.
Optimal Pairings: Always pair generals with assistants like Ragnar or Sigurd to maximize buffs. Check the Tavern’s Portraits menu to recruit assistants.
Spiritual Beast Condition: For Ragnar, ensure you equip a Spiritual Beast to unlock his full HP buff.
Stay Updated: Watch for my upcoming video and website update on Brian Boru and Arthur Wellesley, as they may shake up the rankings.
Community Feedback and Next Steps
This guide covers the best ranged generals in Evony as of June 2025, but the game evolves constantly. If I’ve missed anything or you have alternative strategies, share them in the comments! Your feedback will help refine this guide and future content. Visit Empire Build Academy for the full post, which I’ll update with Brian Boru and Arthur Wellesley soon, plus other Evony guides and FAQs.
Stay tuned for more videos on general builds, event strategies, and advanced gameplay. Let’s keep building your empire together!
Sources:
Evony: The King’s Return in-game Tavern and general stats
Empire Build Academy website for existing ranged general rankings
Community insights on Trial of Knights and F2P strategies
Who’s your favorite ranged general? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you in the next video!