Legendary Pelayo in Rise of Kingdoms: how the commander changed after the rework
One of the most notable changes of the summer in Rise of Kingdoms is the promotion of Pelayo from Epic to Legendary commanders in update 1.1.09, released on June 30, 2026. The Spanish King received a completely new set of skills, and the community is still actively discussing his place in the meta - fresh analyzes of changes and combinations are published on fan sites in mid-September.
New skill set
The active skill "Reconquista" deals direct damage to up to three enemy units in a fan: the base damage multiplier reaches 1000, but for each additional target the damage against it is reduced by 15%. After activation, the squad receives an additional 50 rage per second for three seconds - Pelayo gains the ultimate noticeably more often than most cavalrymen.
Passive skills strengthen cavalry: “Monarch of the Mountains” gives +20% to defense and +10% to march speed, and “Victory of Covadonga” with a purely cavalry detachment has a 30% chance of triggering a four-second healing of lightly wounded and a +20% bonus to all damage (no more than once every six seconds). The Reclaimed Lands expertise adds additional damage per second to the target for two seconds to Reconquista. The garrison branch “Rough Terrain” stands out separately: +20% cavalry health and −15% damage received from skills when serving in a garrison.
Where to use after rework
At the start of KvK, Pelayo combines well with Minamoto and Aethelflæd: the furious engine of the Reconquista quickly boosts the active skills of a partner in the open field, and healing takes some of the load off hospitals. For players of the first season of KvK, the rework turned one of the most accessible commanders into a full-fledged legendary option without a mandatory donation.