Tier List
Bird tier list for Birds of War — S/A/B/C rankings based on the 1.1.5 meta.
Introduction
The Birds of War tier list ranks all seven launch birds by their current viability in 3v3v3 ranked play, accounting for both raw 1v1 strength and team-comp synergy. Tier placement is calculated from a combination of signature ability impact, learning curve, map fit, and patch-specific balance numbers — not just raw damage output. The current list reflects patch 1.1.5, which delivered a major Seagull Chip Frenzy nerf, an Eagle Talon Dive damage buff, and a small Highrise map shrink. This means Seagull dropped a tier from its 1.1.0 dominance, Eagle re-entered S-tier after the bug fix, and Highrise-specific comps got stronger as the map is now 25% smaller (1.0.5 change, still in effect). Use this list as a starting point, but always test birds yourself — proximity voice etiquette and personal aim skill matter as much as raw tier placement.
S/A/B Tier Ranking
| Tier | Count | Birds | When to Pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 2 | Shoebill, Eagle | Anchor + dive, or any Highrise game |
| A | 3 | Crow, Pigeon, Seagull | Comp fillers and meta-specific picks |
| B | 2 | Hummingbird, Owl | Specialist picks on Forest/Arctic only |
| C | 0 | — | No bird is currently unviable in 1.1.5 |
Tier Breakdown
Shoebill
Top-tier S anchor bird with the highest survivability in the 7-bird launch roster. Guardian Wings blocks one incoming attack and refunds cooldown. Best Tank Front comp pick and the recommended first bird for new players learning the core egg-pickup and nest-defense loop. This entry sets the foundation for the rest of the category and is a good starting point for understanding the meta.
Eagle
Top-tier S diver with Talon Dive that one-shots squishy birds on a clean hit post-1.1.5 damage buff. Eagle is the signature Sky Control comp pick on Highrise and Coliseum and the highest-impact bird in the meta for climbing ranked from Gold to Master tier efficiently. This build excels in the current 1.1.5 patch and rewards players who invest the time to learn its mechanics.
Pigeon
A-tier Support and the universal comp filler with Wing Clap that pings nearby enemies and provides knock-back. Pigeon fits every meta comp as the third slot — Sky Control, Sneak Raid, Tank Front, and Chaos Rush all benefit from a Pigeon third in solo queue ranked play. This option fits a niche playstyle and rewards players who master the timing windows specific to this configuration.
Crow
A-tier Saboteur with Shadow Dive that lets you third-party enemy egg-carriers and slip back into fog of war before counter-pressure arrives. Crow excels in foliage-heavy Vietnam and Forest maps and is the signature Sneak Raid comp pick for ranked climbing from Silver to Platinum. This role fills a specific gap in team compositions and is a strong counter-pick in the right matchup situations.
Seagull
A-tier Disruptor with Chip Frenzy that, post-1.1.5 nerf, still creates chaos through double-tap knockback and area disruption. Seagull is the signature Chaos Rush comp pick but is no longer the must-ban material it was in the 1.1.0 over-buffed state before the nerf. This approach requires patience but delivers strong results for players willing to invest the time to learn it.
Hummingbird
B-tier Speed Demon with Dash Burst that is the fastest bird in the air but has the highest skill ceiling. Hummingbird wins air duels in the right hands but the 1.1.5 meta rewards Sky Control picks over pure speed. Best played on Forest and Vietnam only for ranked climbing. This setup is a recent addition to the meta and reflects the post-1.1.5 balance changes for the new ranked season.
Owl
B-tier Ambusher with Silent Strike that rewards patience on the large Arctic and Vietnam maps. Owl picks off returning egg-carriers with high burst damage but falls behind on small Highrise where its long flanks cannot reach before egg is scored by the enemy team. This tier represents the typical playstyle and is a reliable fallback for ranked climbing when other picks don't fit.
Core Mechanics
Tier ranking uses four weighted criteria: (1) signature ability impact in 1v1 duels, (2) comp synergy contribution (does the bird enable Sky Control, Sneak Raid, Tank Front, or Chaos Rush?), (3) map fit (small Highrise rewards divers, large Arctic rewards ambusher), and (4) learning curve accessibility (Shoebill is Easy, Hummingbird is Hard — accessibility matters in solo queue ranked). Each patch shifts the weights — 1.1.5's Seagull nerf dropped the Disruptor tier because the chaos-value of Chip Frenzy was the only thing keeping Seagull in A-tier; without that power spike, Seagull's mediocre base stats dragged it down. Eagle's buff moved it from A to S by restoring Talon Dive's one-shot potential on a clean hit.
Advantages
A clear tier list removes decision paralysis in solo queue — you can pick an S-tier bird and trust that it will perform regardless of which two teammates you get. The list also surfaces counter-meta opportunities: a competent Seagull main in 1.1.5 ranked is more dangerous than the tier suggests because most opponents will under-prepare for the now-nerfed Disruptor. Tier lists double as a learning roadmap — start at S-tier Easy (Shoebill), then move to A-tier Easy (Pigeon), then graduate to A-tier Medium (Crow, Seagull), and finally try the Hard birds (Eagle, Hummingbird, Owl). The current patch is well-balanced with two S-tier, three A-tier, and two B-tier birds, so the meta is healthier than 1.1.0's Seagull-dominated 1.1.0 state.
Challenges
Tier lists lag reality by at least one patch — by the time a new tier is published, the meta may have already shifted in 1.1.6 or 1.2.0. Solo queue performance depends as much on your teammates' comp as on your own tier placement, so picking an S-tier bird into a bad comp is still a loss. Personal skill matters more than tier: a good Seagull main in 1.1.5 will outperform a bad Shoebill in 1.1.5 every time. Tier lists don't capture playstyle preference — if you love the high-skill Hummingbird and hate the slow Shoebill, you'll perform better on the lower-tier bird you actually enjoy. Two upcoming birds (the 9-bird target) will completely reshuffle the tier once they ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the tier list change?+
Why did Seagull drop from 1.1.0 to 1.1.5?+
Is C-tier ever populated in Birds of War?+
Should I pick the S-tier bird or the bird I enjoy?+
Quick Tips
Treat tier lists as starting points, not gospel — your personal aim skill and playstyle preference matter more than the S/A/B label, and patch 1.1.6 may shift every position by a tier if HexNest makes a major balance pass. Use the list as a quick reference for solo queue decisions, not as a rigid main-selection rule.
Pick S-tier when in doubt in solo queue, but counter-pick with A-tier birds when the enemy comp is heavy on one role — third Crow vs Talon Dive spam is a strong niche that the tier list doesn't capture, and the 1.1.5 meta rewards comp-aware counter-picks over rigid tier-list adherence.
Track patches closely — the Seagull went from must-ban (1.1.0) to solid A-tier (1.1.5), and the Eagle moved from bugged A to fixed S after the Talon Dive buff. Stay flexible and re-read the tier list within 48 hours of each patch to keep your play current with the meta shifts.
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