Part of the Commanders Series:
- Commanders Guide: How skills and talents work (Start Here).
- Best Commander Pairs: Garrison pairs vs field pairs.
- Commander Tier List: Where he ranks now.
Quick Answer
Charles Martel is one of the first legendary infantry commanders most accounts get, with the Infantry, Garrison and Defense trees. He is a tank: he excels at defending buildings, holds up in rallies, and survives open-field fighting. The standout talent is Know Thy Enemy, which adds roughly 9% damage reduction when surrounded — precisely the situation a city defender is in.
What He Is For
Martel's job is to not die, and to make whatever is behind him survive too. That is a less glamorous role than a nuker, and it is the reason he stays useful long after his damage numbers stop impressing anyone.
Note the honest caveat up front: in the current meta his garrison ranking has slipped as newer defensive commanders arrived. He remains a genuinely good early and mid-game defender, and he is no longer the top of that list — see the tier list.
Talent Builds
Garrison build — the classic
Push the Garrison tree and take Know Thy Enemy, whose damage reduction scales up when you are surrounded. Large-scale defences are exactly where that triggers, which makes it the difference between holding a city and losing one.
This build turns Martel into an immovable object, and it is what you want when your alliance is defending a flag or a fortress during KvK.
Open-field build
A resilient tank rather than a damage dealer. Worth building if Martel is your field primary, though most accounts eventually put a nuker in that slot and keep Martel for defence — see best commander pairs for why field and garrison want different pairs.
Best Pairings
- Richard I — the classic infantry duo. Richard adds defence and healing on top of Martel's tanking, which is the pairing you want for rallying or holding objectives.
- El Cid — his active hits multiple targets, making him the offensive half of the pair. Good for taking enemy cities or fighting in the open field.
- Yi Seong-Gye (YSG) — a balanced combination: Martel tanks, YSG delivers area damage from behind him.
The pattern is clear enough — Martel supplies survivability, so pair him with damage. Two tanks together accomplish very little.
Is Charles Martel Worth Building?
Yes for a developing account, with realistic expectations. He is often one of the first legendaries you can actually finish, he covers garrison duty competently, and defensive investment is rarely wasted.
What he is not is a current-meta rally lead or an endgame garrison anchor. If you already have a modern defensive legendary, Martel is a bench piece. If you do not, he is a solid several-season answer.
FAQ
What are Charles Martel's talent trees?
Infantry, Garrison and Defense.
What is the best Charles Martel build?
The garrison build, taking Know Thy Enemy for damage reduction when surrounded. An open-field tank build is the alternative.
Who pairs best with Charles Martel?
Richard I for a defensive infantry duo, El Cid for offence, or YSG for balanced field damage behind his tanking.
Is Charles Martel still good?
Good for early and mid-game defence. He has slipped down the garrison rankings as newer defensive commanders arrived.
Is Charles Martel good for rallies?
He holds up, but the current meta's rally leads deal considerably more damage. Use him where survivability is the point.
Key Takeaways
- Trees: Infantry, Garrison, Defense. A tank, not a damage dealer.
- Know Thy Enemy's damage reduction when surrounded is his signature node.
- Garrison build for city defence; open-field build if he must lead.
- Pair with damage — Richard I, El Cid or YSG.
- Solid early and mid-game; no longer the top of the garrison list.