In Puzzle & Dragons, the squad captain—or Leader—not only defines the team's character but also its ability to clear levels, create combos, and survive tough battles. A strong Leader combines powerful multipliers with synergy, guiding the team through each move.

How to Choose Your Leader  

Choosing a squad leader can be a complex process if you're not aware of the characters' strengths and weaknesses. It's not just about chasing the highest multiplier but understanding the team composition and highlighting key mechanics. If stability is your priority, consider S-tier leaders. If you're strong in combos or enjoy niche strategies, A or B-tier leaders might be exactly what you need, even if they rank lower.

Tier S: The Best Leaders You Can Choose

Leaders at this level impress with their ability to deal insane damage while supporting crucial team elements—healing, board manipulation, or recovery. Among them are Yu Miya and Tenseioka Hayate, whose active abilities fill orbs and boost Wood and Light damage, making her an obvious choice for many Wood teams.

Equally powerful is Metatron Reincarnated, which offers full healing, extremely high defensive multipliers, and flexible typing, making her invaluable in challenging dungeons.

The key trait of S-tier leaders in Puzzle & Dragons is stability. They perform excellently during endless combos and in tough end-game situations. Their usefulness goes beyond raw power—Awakenings and Actives significantly enhance team survivability. This reliability is what places them at the top of the rankings.

Tier A: Good but with Certain Limitations

At this level, Puzzle & Dragons leaders have powerful potential but often require specific subs or situational conditions for full realization. For instance, Awoken Shiva–Dragon has an extraordinary damage threshold on combos, capable of competing with any dragon-type leader. It works best in teams that can quickly create cascades and precise matches.

Another standout is Reincarnated Liu Bei. He consistently deals Wood damage from rows and provides healing, particularly useful in prolonged battles. His strength lies in stability rather than instant burst damage. Therefore, he remains a flexible choice where endurance is more important than speed.

Tier B: Strong but Limited by Their Role

Leaders at this level demonstrate good effectiveness but require carefully selected teams or fall short of more versatile options. Awoken Hades is a reliable choice for teams focused on darkness. Its 25× multiplier allows for damage, especially when using dark rows and combo healing. However, it depends on resources, complicating the game for newcomers who don't yet have optimal teams.

Reincarnated Bastet performs well in orb-enhanced configurations. She's particularly effective for players using healer types and active skills to change the entire board. However, she lacks the breadth and impact inherent to higher-tier leaders.

Tier C: Situational Options, Good for Starting

This level includes leaders who can shine with the right subs or in simpler content. Kanna is a favorite for starting as she offers a good game start, potential, and unconditional damage multipliers. Ultimate Odin adds interesting combo mechanics and useful recoveries. Despite their accessibility, they are weaker in the late game of Puzzle & Dragons.

Astaroth, with recovery abilities, suits healer teams, but her effectiveness drops in the late game. Such leaders make sense, especially for players just starting to form their teams.

Honorable Mentions: Unusual but Interesting

Although they don't top the tiers, some leaders deserve attention due to their unique mechanics. Meimei is perfect for Wood-oriented teams dealing damage through rows and combos. Cthugha, specializing in dark enhancements, is intriguing in niche situations with multipliers. They're neither glass cannons nor workhorses, but they occupy their special niches in the ranking of the best Puzzle & Dragons leaders.