Advance Wars Tier List: COs Ranked for Strategic Domination

Updated on Jun 16,2025

Ready to dive into the world of Advance Wars and strategize your way to victory? With Advance Wars Reboot Camp on the horizon, it's the perfect time to analyze and rank the Commanding Officers (COs) from the original games. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each CO is crucial for mastering the battlefield and outsmarting your opponents. This comprehensive tier list will evaluate the COs from Advance Wars 1 and 2, providing insights into their unique abilities and strategic applications.

Key Points

Comprehensive tier list ranking COs from Advance Wars 1 & 2.

Detailed analysis of CO powers and abilities.

Strategic insights for using COs effectively in different scenarios.

Discussion of individual strengths and weaknesses for each CO.

Practical advice for mastering Advance Wars gameplay and outsmarting opponents.

Understanding Advance Wars COs

What Makes a CO Great in Advance Wars?

In Advance Wars, the choice of Commanding Officer (CO) dramatically impacts your strategic options and overall gameplay. Each CO brings a unique set of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses to the battlefield, shaping how you deploy and manage your forces. A great CO isn't just about raw power; it's about versatility, adaptability, and the ability to synergize with different unit types and map conditions. Understanding these nuances is critical for mastering the Game and achieving victory. Some COs excel in direct combat, boosting the attack power of their units, while others specialize in indirect fire, enhancing the range and damage of artillery and missiles. Still others excel in boosting the economy, which affects a players war funds.

CO powers, activated by accumulating power stars through combat, can turn the tide of battle with devastating effects. A well-timed CO power can wipe out enemy units, disrupt their formations, or provide critical support to your own forces. However, CO powers come with a cost, as activating them often leaves the CO vulnerable in other areas.

Effective CO usage requires a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the ability to adapt your strategy to the specific map and opponent. A CO who excels in open terrain may struggle in urban environments, while a CO who relies on air power may be vulnerable to anti-air units. By carefully considering these factors, you can choose the right CO for the job and maximize your chances of success.

Ultimately, a great CO is one who can consistently deliver results, regardless of the circumstances. They are versatile enough to adapt to different situations, powerful enough to turn the tide of battle, and strategic enough to outsmart their opponents. Mastering the art of CO selection and usage is the key to achieving victory in Advance Wars.

Advance Wars Tier List: COs Ranked

Tier List Criteria

Our tier list is based on several factors, including:

  • Overall Power: The CO's ability to consistently perform well in a variety of situations.
  • Versatility: The CO's adaptability to different map types and enemy compositions.
  • CO Power Impact: The strength and utility of the CO's power and super power.
  • Economic Impact: Ability to influence war fund production and unit deployment costs
  • Ease of Use: How easy it is to pick up and play the CO effectively.

Each CO is placed into one of the following tiers:

  • S-Tier: Overpowered and game-breaking COs.
  • A-Tier: Excellent COs with few weaknesses.
  • B-Tier: Solid COs with specific strengths and weaknesses.
  • C-Tier: Average COs that are outshined by better options.
  • D-Tier: Underwhelming COs with significant limitations.

Now, let’s rank some of the CO's:

Advance Wars CO Tier Rankings: Advance Wars 1 & 2

Here is a detailed breakdown of the CO tier list, including the reasoning behind each ranking:

Tier CO Reasoning
S-Tier Max With 90% direct damage unit influence, a game with a CO who buffs units so disgustingly to the point it can be considered a war crime, and should be banned in tournament play, that is Max.

This is why Nintendo need to balance him before relaunching Reboot Camp. Should have made him tank focused and then he would be A-Tier | | A-Tier | Sami | At A-Tier, With victory march power, the ability to get increased strength in the early game is vital. Double time sending wall of mexes means high mobility and the capability to send artillery support. Victory march mex, is really good with an open field, but it depends on building enough mechs first. | | B-Tier | Grit | Is like a superior Andy. Can move well in snow. Is penalized on indirect combat units. On a map that’s fog of war, is almost unbeatable, and can sit at base and take heavy’s before they realize their attack ranges. But this has to be implemented in the right terrain | | C-Tier | Andy | The beginner CO, jack of all trades master of none and there is not a particular strength, so is a huge weakness. Jack of all trades, makes it very average and cant really capitalize on a lot of things, not as good as Hawke | | D-Tier | Olaf | The super power is just the anti-andy ,why would he exists outside the tutorial? The snow is temporary only for snow maps, and there are only four indirect combat units. A circumstantial temporary buff and he’s stuck in the mud for additional turns. You need to put on some pistachio ice cream to counter, you’re gonna be heated, so why not go back to C? |

Using Max in Advance Wars

👍 Pros

High direct combat effectiveness

Excellent for aggressive players

Powerful CO power

👎 Cons

Limited indirect combat abilities

Vulnerable to skilled opponents

Requires careful positioning

Frequently Asked Questions

What factors determine a CO's placement on the tier list?
A CO's placement is based on overall power, versatility, CO power impact, and ease of use.
How important is CO selection in Advance Wars?
CO selection is crucial, as it significantly affects your strategy and gameplay.
Can a lower-tier CO still be effective in the right hands?
Yes, skill and strategy can compensate for a CO's limitations, but higher-tier COs generally provide a more consistent advantage.

Related Questions

How can I improve my Advance Wars strategy?
Improving your Advance Wars strategy involves: Understanding each CO's strengths and weaknesses. Adapting your strategy based on the map and opponent. Mastering unit deployment and movement. Effectively using CO powers and abilities. Practicing and learning from your mistakes. *Consider various factors to optimize your strategy: Map Awareness: Pay close attention to the map layout, including terrain types, chokepoints, and resource locations. Use this information to plan your unit deployments and movements. Unit Composition: Choose a unit composition that synergizes well with your CO's abilities and the map conditions. Balance direct combat units with indirect fire units and support units. Economic Management: Prioritize capturing resource locations to generate income and fund your war effort. Manage your budget carefully to ensure you can produce the units you need. CO Power Usage: Use your CO powers strategically to turn the tide of battle. Consider the timing and placement of your CO power to maximize its impact. Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt your strategy as the battle evolves. Monitor your opponent's movements and adjust your plans accordingly. Learning from Mistakes: Analyze your battles to identify areas where you can improve. Experiment with different COs, units, and strategies to find what works best for you. By following these tips, you can improve your Advance Wars strategy and increase your chances of achieving victory.