Part of the Events Series:

Event Calendar: Every event cycle (Start Here).

Ark of Osiris Guide: The other coordinated team mode.

Sunset Canyon Guide: The other F2P-friendly competitive mode.

Quick Answer

Champions of Olympia is a 5v5, MOBA-style mode built around flag control. Each player gets three marches, and the team with the most points after ten minutes wins. Your commander choice determines your troop type — Richard gives infantry, El Cid archers, Boudica siege — and your troop count comes from your talent tree, VIP level and City Hall level. It is deliberately free-to-play friendly: strategy and teamwork decide it more than account size.

Why F2P Players Should Care

Along with Sunset Canyon, this is one of the few competitive formats where a smaller account can genuinely compete. The mode is designed so that players across power levels can play together, with the outcome driven by flag control and coordination rather than by who spent more.

If your account is mid-sized and you want a format where skill shows, this is it.

The Rules

5 versus 5.
Three marches each.
Capture flags to score points.
Ten minutes. Most points at the buzzer wins.
Troop respawns and morale management are part of the design, so losing a fight is not the end of your game — but morale is a resource you can waste.

Commanders Decide Your Composition

This is the most important mechanic to understand before you queue:

Your commander determines what troops you field. Richard brings infantry, El Cid brings archers, Boudica brings siege. So your team's composition is set at commander selection, not on the battlefield.

That makes drafting a team conversation, not an individual one. A team of five archer commanders will be run over by anything with an infantry line — see troop types and counters, which matters here as much as anywhere in the game.

Your troop count comes from your talent tree, VIP level and City Hall level — so account progress still counts, just less than usual.

The Skills System

Olympia has its own Skills system, specialised by unit type — Infantry, Cavalry, Archer and Mixed — and divided into Power Skills, Tactical Skills and Support Skills.

This is separate from your commanders' normal skills and talents, which means the mode rewards learning a second system. It is also why a player who has done twenty Olympia matches beats an identical account that has done two.

How to Actually Win

Capture and hold flags. Points accrue over the ten minutes, so an early flag held is worth more than a late one taken — the same logic as structures in Ark of Osiris.
Draft as a team. Cover troop types rather than everyone picking their favourite commander.
Manage morale. It is a resource; spending it recklessly early leaves you unable to contest the finish.
Use all three marches. An idle march is a third of your contribution missing.
Talk to your team. Ten minutes is short, and uncoordinated play loses winnable matches.

FAQ

How does Champions of Olympia work?

Two teams of five compete for ten minutes, each player with three marches, capturing flags to score points. Most points wins.

Does my commander choice matter in Olympia?

Yes — it determines your troop type. Richard gives infantry, El Cid archers, Boudica siege.

How many troops do I get?

It depends on your talent tree, VIP level and City Hall level, not on your standing army.

Is Champions of Olympia good for F2P players?

Yes. It is designed so players of all power levels can compete, with strategy and teamwork deciding outcomes.

How long is a Champions of Olympia match?

Ten minutes.

Key Takeaways

5v5, three marches each, ten minutes, flag control decides it.
Your commander sets your troop type — draft as a team, not individually.
Troop count comes from talents, VIP and City Hall.
A separate skills system: Power, Tactical and Support, per unit type.
One of the few genuinely F2P-friendly competitive modes in the game.

Champions of Olympia Guide: The 5v5 Mode in Rise of Kingdoms