Monster Train
Play Best Monster Train 2 clan combos
For a first run, start Banished with Pyreborne. For a spell engine, try Lazarus League with Luna Coven; Underlegion with Lazarus is another strong community pick.
Method: recommendations below are editorial choices for a practical run, judged by early survival, a clear scaling plan and the number of specific drafts needed. They are not measured win rates or a universal Covenant 10 ordering. Primary clan sets the champion, so reversing a pair changes the opening. The matrix lets you inspect every ownership-eligible ordered pair, while the shortlist highlights pairings with a public strategy behind them.
| Primary → allied clan | Editorial fit | Win condition / key cards | Covenant 10 concern | DLC | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banished → Pyreborne | A · first-run choice | Fel carries the main floor; Pyregel increases damage into the marked enemy. Prioritize one scaling lane. | Secure wave clear and a tank before extra economy. | Base game | 1 source · Destructoid beginner route |
| Lazarus League → Luna Coven | A · spell engine | Use cheap spells to feed Incant; Conduit supports spell output. Draft a frontliner and avoid filling the deck with expensive payoffs. | Opening hands and Ember must support repeated casting. | Base game | 2 independent sources · Destructoid and Reddit |
| Underlegion → Lazarus League | A · troop plus removal | Grow Funguy while Unstable handles clustered enemies. Look for Spawn/Propagate and a reliable lower-floor damage engine. | Troop scaling still needs protection and enough early damage. | Base game | 2 independent sources · Pro Game Guides and Reddit |
| Railforged → Lazarus League | B · equipment route | Forge selected units/equipment, then use the allied equipment package to support the carry. | Requires equipment drafts and controlled Forge spending. | Destiny of the Railforged | 1 source · Pro Game Guides |
| Punished → Lazarus League or Pyreborne | Preview · build-around | Lazarus supplies ways to protect damaged allies; Pyreborne supplies additional ways to inflict damage. | Final release balance and opening consistency remain to be documented. | The Punished · scheduled 10 Nov | 1 source · PC Gamer preview |
Disagreement matters: one Reddit discussion praises Lazarus/Underlegion while another finds that pairing awkward. Treat the troop plan as a suggestion to draft around, not an automatic win. Luna Coven also cannot improve every Underlegion spell equally; Conduit rewards damage/healing spells rather than every utility effect.
There are 11 base-game clans (110 ordered pairs), 12 with Railforged (132), and 13 including the upcoming Punished (156). Disable DLC you do not own and keep preview content separate. A primary clan cannot be paired with itself in this matrix. Clan tiers help choose the primary; the clan roster explains the mechanics.
Choose a primary and allied clan
Rows are the primary clan and columns the ally. Select a pair to compare its mechanics. This is a planning aid based on the wiki, with editorial advice above; it does not represent measured win rates. Punished is announced for November 10 and is shown only when upcoming content is selected.
| Primary ↓ / Ally → | Pyreborne | Underlegion | Railforged | Punished | Lazarus League | Banished | Luna Coven | Hellhorned | Awoken | Stygian Guard | Umbra | Melting Remnant | Wurmkin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyreborne | — | ||||||||||||
| Underlegion | — | ||||||||||||
| Railforged | — | ||||||||||||
| Punished | — | ||||||||||||
| Lazarus League | — | ||||||||||||
| Banished | — | ||||||||||||
| Luna Coven | — | ||||||||||||
| Hellhorned | — | ||||||||||||
| Awoken | — | ||||||||||||
| Stygian Guard | — | ||||||||||||
| Umbra | — | ||||||||||||
| Melting Remnant | — | ||||||||||||
| Wurmkin | — |
Select Compare to view the two clans together. Use the recommendations above to choose a starting plan.
FAQ
What is the best clan combo for a beginner?
Banished primary with Pyreborne allied offers a direct Fel plus Pyregel plan. Once unlocked, Lazarus League with Luna Coven is a more involved spell-based option.
Are the matrix results win-rate rankings?
No. The matrix compares clan mechanics and ownership. The shortlist gives labeled editorial recommendations, setup costs and dated source counts.
Gameplay video
Sources
- Destructoid — pairing routes — checked 2026-11-09
- Pro Game Guides — clan synergies — checked 2026-11-09
- Reddit — strongest clans — checked 2026-11-09
- Reddit — Luna allied options — checked 2026-11-09
- Reddit — pairing disagreements — checked 2026-11-09
- PC Gamer — Punished preview — checked 2026-11-09
Related: Monster Train 2 hub · how facts are checked