"Battlegrounds Tavern Tiers: What Each Tier Offers and When to Reach It"
Meta note: exact minions per tier rotate with patches; this is the structural role of each tier, which stays consistent.
The tavern tier system is the spine of Battlegrounds progression. Each tier unlocks stronger minions and a different role in your game plan. Understanding what each tier is for — and roughly when you want to reach it — helps you time your leveling instead of guessing. Here's a tier-by-tier overview.
The general arc
You climb from tier 1 to tier 6 over the game, and each tier is a power band. The skill is reaching the tier that holds your win condition at the right time — fast enough to be ahead, slow enough that you don't die on a weak board. Leveling gets cheaper the longer you wait, which is the lever you balance against tempo.
Tier 1: the opening
You start here. Tier 1 is purely about your opening buys — grab the best minion(s) and set up. You rarely linger; the goal is to build a starting board and prepare to climb.
Tier 2: early direction
Usually reached around turn 3. Tier 2 is where you start reading your direction — early tribe synergies and useful bodies appear. Hitting tier 2 on time keeps you competitive in early combats.
Tier 3: building toward a comp
Tier 3 holds many key early-engine and synergy pieces. This is often where comps begin to take shape and where some of the first real power spikes and triples come online. A common spot to stabilize and commit to an open lane.
Tier 4: the comp comes together
Tier 4 is a major milestone — many strong engine pieces, multipliers, and payoffs live here. A lot of games are decided by how well you establish yourself at tier 4. Reaching it healthy and on time is a frequent goal of mid-game play.
Tier 5: high-impact pieces
Tier 5 brings powerful, game-shaping minions and stronger payoffs. By now you're usually scaling your established comp. Getting to tier 5 with a stable board is often what separates top-4 from top-2 finishes.
Tier 6: the ceiling
Tier 6 holds the strongest minions in the game — the late-game bombs and top-end win conditions. Not every game reaches it, and not every comp needs it, but for many builds tier 6 is where the highest ceilings live. Reach it when you're healthy and playing for first.
A rough timing guide (adjust to your game)
- Tier 2: around turn 3.
- Tier 3: mid-opening, once your board can support it.
- Tier 4: the mid-game milestone most comps want to hit solidly.
- Tier 5–6: late, when scaling for a top finish — only if your HP and board allow.
These are defaults, not rules. A win streak, a strong hero, or a scaling anomaly lets you push faster; a weak board or low HP means you slow down and prioritize tempo.
Takeaway
Each tavern tier is a power band with a role: tier 1–2 set up, tier 3–4 build and establish your comp, and tier 5–6 hold the high-ceiling finishers. Aim to reach the tier with your win condition at the right time — fast when healthy or streaking, slower when weak. Time your climb to the discounted level cost and your board's needs, and you'll consistently arrive on-tier and ahead.