Part of the Commanders Series:
- Commanders Guide: How the system works (Start Here).
- Commander Tier List: The full ranking.
- F2P Guide: The wider free-to-play plan.
Quick Answer
Epic commanders are the foundation of every free-to-play account, because their sculptures drop frequently enough that you can actually max their skills. A 5/5/5/5 epic beats a 1/1/1/1 legendary in almost every real fight. Build epics first, run them for months, and let legendaries accumulate slowly in the background.
Overview
The instinct to save sculptures for legendaries is the most expensive instinct in the game. Legendary sculptures arrive at a trickle; epic sculptures arrive constantly from the tavern, expedition, events and the alliance shop. Skill levels — not rarity — decide fights.
The epic-first approach is not a compromise. It is what experienced free players do on purpose.
Why Maxed Epics Beat Half-Built Legendaries
Three reasons, all of them mechanical:
- Skill scaling is steep. A commander's first skill at level 5 often does several times the effect it does at level 1. Rarity does not close that gap.
- Epics are finishable. A legendary needs around 690 sculptures for 5/5/5/5; an epic needs around 440, and epic sculptures drop far more often. You will realistically max several epics in the time it takes to get one legendary to 3/1/1/1.
- Secondaries only need skills. A cheap epic with a great first skill is a superb secondary for any pair — see best commander pairs.
The Epic Roles Worth Filling
Rather than chasing names, fill these jobs. Every one has a well-regarded epic option, and the specific best pick shifts with balance patches — check the current tier list before committing sculptures.
The skill-damage secondary
The most valuable epic archetype in the game. A commander whose first skill delivers direct damage works in any pair, with any troop type, at any stage. Sun Tzu is the classic example — cheap, universally useful, and still seen on veteran accounts years in.
The barbarian farmer
Peacekeeping talents plus sustain. This pair funds your entire commander economy by converting action points into XP. Lohar is the canonical epic here — his healing makes barbarian clearing effectively lossless, which is worth more than raw damage. The reliable free route to his sculptures is Lohar's Trial, which runs roughly monthly.
The infantry line-holder
Epic infantry commanders are the most forgiving option for a new account: they survive mistakes, they garrison well, and they need less support than archers. Boudica is the epic infantry commander most free accounts start with.
The archer or cavalry damage epic
Whichever matches your civilization and research. Commit to one troop type — see troop types and counters and best civilization.
The gatherer
Not a fighter, but it funds everything. Several epic and elite commanders specialise in gathering a single resource; details in best gathering commanders.
The F2P Sculpture Budget
A working plan for the first few months:
- All sculptures into one epic's first skill until it is maxed.
- Then the same commander's remaining skills, or a second epic to complete a pair.
- Keep a separate, cheap farming pair — do not spend real sculptures on it.
- Legendary sculptures: bank them. Do not spend them one at a time on five different legendaries.
Where sculptures come from: tavern chests (silver and golden keys), expedition rewards, event shops, the alliance shop, the VIP shop, and gift codes.
When to Switch to Legendaries
Move on when:
- You have one epic pair fully built and it is no longer holding up in the field.
- You have banked enough sculptures on a single legendary to take its first skill to max in one go.
- You are entering KvK and need a serious rally lead pair.
Even then, keep the epics. Garrison duty, barbarian farming, gathering and secondary slots all keep them relevant permanently.
FAQ
Are epic commanders good in Rise of Kingdoms?
Yes — maxed. Their ceiling is lower than legendaries, but their achievable strength for a free player is much higher because you can actually finish them.
What is the best epic commander?
The one you can max that fits your troop type. Sun Tzu as a universal secondary and Lohar for barbarian farming are the two most consistently recommended, because both stay useful forever.
Should I save sculptures for legendary commanders?
Bank legendary sculptures until you can max a skill in one go, but do not stop building epics while you wait. An account with no finished commanders is a weak account regardless of what is in the bank.
How many epics should I build?
One pair properly, plus a cheap farming pair. That is enough to carry you well into the mid-game.
Do epics stay useful late?
Yes — as secondaries, garrison commanders, gatherers and barbarian farmers. Nothing you max is wasted.
Key Takeaways
- Skill level beats rarity. Max epics before you touch legendaries.
- A great first skill makes a great secondary at almost any investment level.
- Fill roles, not collections: secondary nuker, farmer, line-holder, gatherer.
- Bank legendary sculptures until you can max a skill in one push.
- Epics never become useless — they just change jobs.