William Marshal and Ivan IV: New Legendary Commanders in Rise of Kingdoms, Update 1.1.11
In Update 1.1.11, Rise of Kingdoms introduced two new legendary commanders—William Marshal and Ivan IV. Both are cavalry-focused and utilize the new Combo Attack mechanic, but their roles on the battlefield differ significantly.
William Marshal is a master of rallies and structure attacks
William Marshal specializes in cavalry, conquest, and combo attacks. His core mechanic revolves around dealing damage to multiple nearby enemies while applying debuffs.
Key Feature — Unwavering Spirit. When using his skills, William Marshal accumulates charges that trigger additional attacks. This makes him particularly effective in prolonged battles where there is time to build up the maximum number of stacks.
Where to use:
- Rallies against enemy structures and flags
- Attacks on cities and fortresses
- Open battlefield (secondary role)
Best Pairs:
- Subutai — the optimal choice for rallies, combo attack synergy
- Gang Gamchan — the strongest option for single-target damage in open fields
- David IV — an alternative for open-field combat
Ivan IV — the terror of the open field
Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible, combines cavalry, versatility, and combo attacks. His skills utilize Tsar’s Decree and Tsar’s Authority to strengthen allied troops and weaken the enemy.
Ivan IV’s main advantage is his ability to apply the Terror effect through combo attacks. Terror reduces the attack and march speed of enemy units, which is critically important in large-scale open-field battles.
Where to use:
- Open battlefield (primary role)
- Flanking attacks in KvK
- Intercepting enemy marches
Best pairings:
- William Marshal — a cavalry duo focused on combo attacks
- Other modern cavalry commanders
How to level up: skill order
For William Marshal, the recommended skill order is 5511 (5 levels in the first and second skills). This is the minimum threshold of effectiveness, beyond which the commander becomes useful. For maximum power, 5555 is required.
For Ivan IV, the optimal order also depends on his role. In open terrain, prioritize skills that boost survivability and apply debuffs. It is recommended to first raise the first skill to level 5.
Equipment and Formations
Both commanders require cavalry gear with an emphasis on attack and health. The Wedge formation remains the standard for cavalry marches. The new Double Line Formation is useful for farming barbarians, but in PvP it’s better to stick with classic options.
Update 1.1.11 has made cavalry competitive again in the meta. William Marshal and Ivan IV open up new tactical possibilities for both veterans and mid-level players.