Kingshot Season 5 Heroes, My Honest Thoughts After Testing Them

Kingshot Season 5 heroes that changed how I play

When Season 5 first dropped in Kingshot, I honestly didn’t expect much. Every season brings a few new faces, a couple of roulette spins, and a stack of mythic shards that vanish faster than I’d like. But these S5 heroes… they hit differently. Especially if you’re someone who doesn’t spend much money on the game, your choices this time really matter.

I spent a few weeks testing the new infantry, archer, and cavalry heroes — both in the arena and in battle. Some were better than expected, and others not so much. One thing became clear though: not every five-star hero is worth your diamonds.

 

The infantry that looked strong on paper but didn’t feel right

The new infantry hero, Long Fei, looks like a tank at first glance. He’s a roulette hero — which means you’ll spend diamonds and hope luck is on your side. On paper, his skills sound impressive: a 40% chance to reduce incoming damage by 50%, a flat 25% defense boost, and a strike that deals 200% extra damage. Sounds great, right?

But in actual arena battles, he didn’t hold the front line as I expected. Infantry units are supposed to absorb hits and protect your archers and cavalry, but Long Fei struggles with consistency. His defense boost is decent, yet the key ability’s trigger rate makes him unreliable.

Still, many players will likely pick him up since he’s obtainable with diamonds rather than paid events. His special weapon adds 15% attack when defending, which makes him somewhat valuable for fortress or city defense setups.

 

The archer that completely dominates the arena

Vivian is a completely different story. She’s an arena monster — maybe the best one we’ve had since Marlin. Her kit revolves around burst and area-of-effect damage. She increases enemy damage taken by 25% and then adds even more output every few attacks. It’s not just flashy numbers — her attack rhythm fits how real battles flow.

In the arena, she melts the front line and crushes back-row units before they can respond. Her special weapon gives 15% defense while defending, which keeps her alive long enough to land those devastating AOE shots.

If you already have Marlin, you’ll recognize the same power curve — only sharper and faster. For mid-tier and whale players, she’s basically a must-pull. Even low-spenders might consider saving their mythic shards for her.

 

The cavalry hero that looks great but isn’t for everyone

The new cavalry hero, Thrud, looks incredible but comes with a catch — she’s event-only. Unless you’re on a quiet server where ranking high is easy, getting her is difficult. For most players, she’s simply out of reach.

Her abilities look strong: boosts to cavalry attack, plus buffs to infantry and archers. But the activation rate sits at only 20%, which makes her unreliable. In short battles she can dominate, but in long rallies her impact swings wildly depending on luck.

Her special weapon gives rally leaders a 15% lethality bonus. That’s a nice edge if you’re leading rallies often. But for free-to-play or casual players, I’d skip her and wait for the S6 cavalry hero. It’s smarter to save resources than spend them on a unit that’ll soon be replaced.

 

What low-investment players should actually do

If you’ve been playing since S2 or S3, your roster probably already includes a few solid mid-tier heroes. Zoe, Marlin, and the older Gend infantry are still fine. For low or non-spenders, I’d only recommend the S5 infantry if you truly lack a strong front-liner. Otherwise, wait for S6.

The S5 archer, though — that’s the one worth your attention. With enough shards, she’ll easily carry your account through both arena and PvP. As for cavalry, you can safely skip this round. A new one will arrive in about 90 days, and patience will pay off.

 

Looking back, the real lesson of Season 5

Season 5 reminded me that Kingshot isn’t a game about owning everything — it’s about knowing when to stop. Everyone’s diamond count and mythic shard stash tell a different story. For me, Vivian stands out the most. She changes how you build your lineup entirely. Long Fei has situational value, and Thrud is more of a luxury pick for rally leaders.

If you’re unsure, don’t rush. Test, observe, and wait. The difference between a strong roster and a wasted one often comes down to timing.

In the end, the real upgrade this season wasn’t a hero — it was learning when not to spend.