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There is no winner yet in PC Gamer’s reader-vote tournament for the greatest real-time strategy unit of all time. Its 16-unit bracket asks readers to choose favorites in head-to-head polls; it does not measure competitive strength or establish a final ranking.
What the vote decides—and what it doesn’t
PC Gamer’s October 1, 2026 feature leaves “best” up to voters, inviting them to pick a favorite from randomized matchups. The result, if published, will represent the bracket’s reader favorite—not proof that one unit is objectively strongest in play. The poll offers several possible standards, including who would win a one-on-one brawl, which unit looks best, or even which resembles an ordinary tree.
The candidates also invite comparisons beyond combat: economic usefulness, cost and swarm potential, visual design, memorable sound or animation, risk attached to an ability, and a unit’s connection to its game world. Those qualities are not measured on one common scale.
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PC Gamer selected one version when a unit appeared in multiple games in a series—for example, the Warcraft 3 Peon. The announced bracket pairs are:
#1 Best Overall
- 5-Minute Dungeon is the most fun you can have in 5 minutes! You'll need teamwork to defeat each dungeon in only 5 minutes, and then take on the next intense challenge. Defeat all 6 bosses to win!
- Now with 25 more cards and the extra-challenging Dungeon Master: Final Form boss!
- Featuring a free timer app for Android and Apple devices, with six different themed narrators!
- Easy to learn, quick to teach: Match your cards to each symbol in the dungeon deck to win! 5-Minute Dungeon is perfect for teams of 2-5 players aged 8+.
- Includes: 275 Cards, 5 Double-Sided Hero Mats (10 Heroes Total), 3 Double-Sided Boss Mats (6 Bosses Total)
| Matchup | What makes the candidates memorable |
|---|---|
| Peon (Warcraft 3) vs. Glass Dragon (Rise of Legends) | The Peon gathers resources and constructs buildings; the Glass Dragon stands out visually and can destroy tanks. |
| Mammoth Tank (Command & Conquer: Red Alert) vs. Petard (Age of Empires 2) | The Mammoth Tank is a costly, slow, powerful Soviet vehicle. The Petard is a specialist that sacrifices itself to destroy structures. |
| Psyker (Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War) vs. Rohirrim (The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth) | The Psyker’s abilities can bring the risk of death through Perils of the Warp; the Rohirrim entry evokes a heavily upgraded mounted force. |
| High Templar (StarCraft 2) vs. Pride of Hiigara (Homeworld 2) | The High Templar is associated with Psionic Storm’s area damage. The Pride of Hiigara serves as a mobile base and produces and carries capital ships. |
| Mirage Tank (Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3) vs. Ballista (Warcraft 2) | The Mirage Tank disguises itself for ambush; the Ballista’s appeal is its simple, iconic giant-arrow attack. |
| Attack Cycle (Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun) vs. Executor Super Star Destroyer (Star Wars: Empire at War) | The Attack Cycle is cheap and fast, making it suited to swarming. The Executor is presented through its enormous scale and firepower. |
| Atreides Sonic Tank (Dune 2) vs. Dolphin (Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2) | The Sonic Tank is known for an infantry-killing weapon and its distinctive setting; the Dolphin is fast and lightly armored, with potent sonic attacks when grouped. |
| Peewee (Total Annihilation) vs. Priest (Age of Empires) | The Peewee is remembered for its endearing animation and name; the Priest for the memorable “Wololo” line. |
When the polls close and what is known so far
At publication on October 1, 2026, PC Gamer said the polls would remain open until Sunday evening and that quarter-finals were planned for early the following week. That was an announced schedule, not confirmation that the polls later closed as planned. The article reports no vote counts, percentages, final winner, or quantitative gameplay comparison.
Read the original PC Gamer bracket and voting prompt for the tournament details. Fraser Brown, the article’s author, puts the open-ended premise plainly: “But what does ‘best’ actually mean? That’s up to you!”
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Join forces with a new pair of heroes, the Druid and Shaman; Now you can play with up to 6 players!
- Prepare to face a whole new type of challenge: Curses! These pesky cards change the rules of the game in crazy ways and stick around to vex your party
- The dungeon has changed! Each boss now has its own special set of Boss Cards to make each dungeon uniquely themed
- Wield the power of 6 powerful artifacts that can turn the tide of battle for your team! But choose carefully when to use them - each one can only be used once per dungeon!
Rank #3
- Strategic Gameplay and Negotiation: Compete as a real estate tycoon in this classic strategy game where you manipulate construction, negotiate mergers, and trade stocks to build your fortune and dominate competitors
- Updated Board Design with Improved Components: Enjoy the enhanced 9x12 grid board with printed designations and legible building tiles that provide a refined, visually appealing gameplay experience built to last
- Multiple Game Modes for Flexible Play: Choose between Classic Mode and Tycoon Mode to tailor your experience, ensuring fresh challenges whether you're a casual player or serious strategist seeking variety
- Engaging for 2 to 6 Players, Ages 12 and Up: Perfect for family game nights, friend gatherings, or competitive matchups with flexible player counts that accommodate any social situation or group size
- Timeless Strategy Classic Reimagined: Master Sid Sackson's legendary design now with modern improvements that reward strategic thinking, negotiation skills, and the satisfaction of outsmarting opponents
Rank #2
- PUSH YOUR LUCK: Real-time racing game where players represent clans whose “Champion” is racing through a dungeon. Place wagers on the Champion(s) of your choice before each race begins, and collect when your champion is the winner.
- STRATEGY: Play Armor & Trap Cards before the race begins to help or hinder champions as they race through the dungeon. Play Spell cards once the race begins to ultimately decide their fate.
- EXCITEMENT & ENERGY BUILDS: With each round the dungeon becomes more treacherous. Players begin to amass wealth and lines are drawn. Be careful, those who were once friends can quickly turn to foes.
- SKILL LEVEL: Recommended for ages 8+ and for 3-6 Players. The more players you can recruit to the dungeon the more fun you will have in this epic adventure. Great Family, Party, Strategy Game. Looking to introduce someone into gaming or are a casual gamer yourself. Dungeon Derby is easy to learn and a ton of fun.
- COMPONENTS: Includes 6 Champion cutouts, 70 treasure cards, 30 quest cards, 32 encounter tokens, 150 money chips, reinforced playing board, and more!
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