Leonidas I - commander of Rise of Kingdoms: skills, talents, connections (2026)

Information is current as of August 2026.

Леонид I — командир Rise of Kingdoms

Leonidas I- Legendary Commander in Rise of Kingdoms (Infantry, Defense, and Skill specializations). The King of the Spartans is the ideal “number two” of the infantry meta: spreading damage, squad buffs and strengthening the connection with Guan Yu. Strong on its own, great in pairs.

Historical background

Leonidas I - king of Sparta, who died with three hundred Spartans at Thermopylae Gorge in 480 BC. e. His feat became a symbol of self-sacrifice and military honor.

How to get Leonid I

The sculptures are from the wheel of fortune and the events of their season, universal statues.

Skills

Spartan Fortitude (active):fan damage to up to three targets plus increased defense of your squad
Three hundred Spartans:attack and health bonus for infantry, growing with the loss of troops
Thermopylae:skill damage boost when unit's health drops below half
Royal Fury:additional damage and rage in a protracted battle
Expertise:enhances the fan and defensive buffs of the active skill

Leveling priority

5-5-1-1 → 5555. When paired with Guan Yu, level up both of them evenly - a combination is more important than a single leveling.

Talents

“Infantry” + “Defense”: health, defense, skill damage. Leonid is a semi-tank, defensive units work for his liabilities.

Best connections

Guan Yu + Leonidas

standard infantry meta: two fans, mutual buffs, survivability. The best infantry team of its generation

Leonid + Chok Zhungyong

more recent version: CJ adds additional nuke and infantry buffs

Player reviews

Players write: “Leonidas without Guan Yu is half the commander.” In combination, he is praised for his stability: the longer the battle and the more enemies nearby, the stronger the pair. The downside is the bottomless appetite for legendary statues.

Adviсe

Don't be afraid to lose troops - Leonid's liabilities are enhanced by losses, but remember: treating T4/T5 is expensive. Ideal for absorbing enemy focus in KvK. Rally with him only if you have good equipment.