Charles Martel ROK Guide 2026: Talent Tree, Skills and Pairings

Charles Martel is a Legendary Infantry commander in Rise of Kingdoms with the Infantry, Garrison, and Defense talent trees. Use a full-Infantry talent build when he leads an open-field march, or a Garrison and Defense build when he is assigned to defend a city or alliance structure.

Charles is highly useful in young kingdoms and on accounts that develop him naturally through Golden Chests. In mature Season of Conquest accounts, he is usually a legacy, Canyon, or backup Infantry option rather than a top-priority new investment.

Is Charles Martel Still Good in 2026?

Charles Martel remains useful, but his value depends heavily on kingdom age and current account progression.

Charles Martel Is Strong When

• The account is in a young kingdom.
• He is developing naturally through Golden Chests.
• The player needs a durable Infantry primary.
• Sun Tzu, Joan of Arc, Richard I, or another early secondary is available.
• He is used in Sunset Canyon.
• His Museum relic has been unlocked in Season of Conquest.
• Stronger modern Infantry commanders are unavailable.

Charles Martel Is a Weaker Investment When

• The account is already in mature Season of Conquest.
• Universal Legendary Sculptures are limited.
• The player owns stronger modern Infantry commanders.
• He is being developed only for a modern garrison.
• The player is not an assigned garrison captain.
• His skills are low and there is no complete pairing for him.

Check the current ROK commander tier list before spending Universal Legendary Sculptures on an older commander.

Charles Martel Commander Overview

What Troops Should Charles Martel Use?

Charles Martel should normally use a full-Infantry march when he is the primary commander in open-field combat.

His Heavy Infantry skill increases Infantry Defense and Infantry Health. His Infantry talent tree also contains troop-specific bonuses, so adding Cavalry, Archers, or Siege units reduces the value of his specialized build.

Best Charles Martel Talent Tree Builds

Charles Martel’s talents apply only when he is the primary commander. If he is secondary, his unlocked skills still work, but every talent point in his Infantry, Garrison, and Defense trees becomes inactive.

Open-Field Infantry Talent Tree

This is the best general build when Charles leads a full-Infantry march in the open field.

Prioritize talents that provide:

• Infantry Health
• Infantry Defense
• Rage generation
• Damage reduction
• Counterattack damage
• Reduced skill damage received
• March Speed
• Additional durability when troop strength becomes low

Important Open-Field Talents

• Undying Fury: Generates additional Rage through normal attacks.
• Strong of Body: Improves Infantry Health.
• Hold the Line: Supports Infantry durability.
• Snare of Thorns: Helps control enemies through movement reduction.
• Master Armorer: Provides additional Defense when battle begins.
• Burning Blood: Generates Rage when Charles is attacked.
• No Weaknesses: Reduces incoming damage.
• Loose Formation: Reduces skill damage received.

The purpose of this build is not to create the highest possible burst damage. It keeps Charles alive long enough to cycle Shield of Francia repeatedly while his secondary commander supplies damage, Rage, healing, or support.

City Garrison Talent Tree

Use this build only when Charles Martel is the primary commander defending a city.

Prioritize:

• Reduced damage from attacking armies
• Reduced incoming skill damage
• Garrison Rage generation
• Damage reduction when several armies attack
• Defense bonuses
• Counterattack damage
• Healing after active-skill use
• Watchtower and city-defense synergy

Important Garrison Talents

• Empty Fortress Stratagem: Improves damage dealt while serving as garrison commander.
• Impenetrable Fortifications: Reduces damage received from attacking armies.
• Impregnable: Reduces incoming skill damage.
• Nowhere to Turn: Improves Rage generation when the city is attacked.
• Know Thy Enemy: Provides additional protection when several enemy armies attack.
• Divine Favor: Supports garrison sustain.

This is primarily an early-kingdom city-defense build. Developed accounts should compare Charles with current garrison commanders before investing equipment, armaments, or sculptures.

Flag and Fortress Garrison Build

City defense and alliance-structure defense are not identical.

When Charles defends a flag or fortress:

• The city Watchtower component of The Uncrowned King is not the main benefit.
• The garrison Attack bonus remains relevant according to the current skill description.
• The structure may face both a rally and surrounding swarms.
• Troop composition is controlled by the kingdom’s garrison plan.
• The captain needs suitable equipment, armaments, formations, technology, and troop capacity.

Ordinary members should not reset Charles into a structure-garrison build unless kingdom leadership has assigned them as the captain.

Sunset Canyon Tank Build

The open-field build can be adjusted for Sunset Canyon by moving some March Speed points into additional durability, Rage generation, or counterattack value.

A Canyon build should prioritize:

• Surviving on the frontline
• Repeated shield cycles
• Counterattack damage
• Reduced incoming skill damage
• Keeping the back-line marches protected

Charles does not need to deal the most damage in Canyon. His role is often to remain alive while stronger damage marches attack from behind him.

Should Charles Martel Be Primary or Secondary?

Use Charles as Primary When

• You need his Infantry or Defense talent tree.
• He leads a full-Infantry march.
• He is the assigned garrison captain.
• He has the higher commander level and troop capacity.
• The pairing depends on his defensive talents.

Use Charles as Secondary When

• A stronger modern Infantry primary is available.
• You mainly need Shield of Francia and his passive skills.
• The primary provides more damage, March Speed, or battlefield utility.
• Charles is not level 60.
• He is used as a temporary legacy secondary.

Charles Martel Skills Explained

Shield of Francia

Shield of Francia creates a shield for four seconds. While the shield is active, Charles Martel’s troops also deal additional damage.

This is Charles Martel’s most important early skill. Maximize it before unlocking additional skills.

Heavy Infantry

Heavy Infantry increases Infantry Defense and Infantry Health.

This skill is the main reason Charles should use a full-Infantry open-field march.

The Uncrowned King

The Uncrowned King activates while Charles serves as a garrison commander.

This skill provides no standard open-field benefit. Players who use Charles only in the field can stop at 5-5-1-1 while allowing natural sculptures to improve him over time.

Martel’s Counterattack

Martel’s Counterattack increases the counterattack damage dealt by his troops.

This skill gains more value when several enemy marches attack Charles. However, do not intentionally remain in a losing swarm only to benefit from counterattack damage.

Rise from the Ashes

Charles Martel’s expertise increases:

• Infantry Health by 20%
• Infantry Defense by 20%
• Infantry March Speed by 20%

The expertise greatly improves his full-Infantry role. However, most players should obtain it gradually instead of forcing it with Universal Legendary Sculptures.

Best Charles Martel Skill Order

Recommended Upgrade Process

1. Keep Charles at one star until Shield of Francia reaches level five.
2. Unlock Heavy Infantry.
3. Raise Heavy Infantry to level five.
4. Stop at 5-5-1-1 if he is mainly used in the open field.
5. Continue with commander-specific sculptures and Golden Chest progress.
6. Use skill controls carefully if targeting the fourth skill before the third.
7. Expertise him naturally when the account continues receiving his sculptures.

How Many Sculptures Does Charles Need?

A summoned Legendary commander requires 690 sculptures to reach expertise.

If Charles is still locked, he first needs ten Charles Martel sculptures for summoning. Therefore, the complete locked-to-expertise total is 700 commander-specific or applicable Legendary sculptures.

Use the Legendary sculpture requirements guide before committing Universal Sculptures.

Best Charles Martel Pairings

The strongest pairing depends on kingdom age, available sculptures, commander levels, and whether Charles is used in open field, Canyon, or garrison defense.

Charles Martel and Sun Tzu

This is one of the strongest accessible early-game pairings.

• Primary: Charles Martel
• Secondary: Sun Tzu
• Troops: Full Infantry

Charles provides Infantry durability and shielding. Sun Tzu adds area damage, skill-damage bonuses, and Rage generation.

Use this pairing for:

• Early open-field combat
• Early KvK
• Sunset Canyon
• Group fights with several nearby targets

Charles Martel and Joan of Arc

Joan supplies allied buffs, Rage restoration, healing, and support value. Charles helps keep the march alive long enough to activate those effects repeatedly.

• Primary: Charles Martel
• Secondary: Joan of Arc
• Troops: Full Infantry

This pairing is useful for early players who need support more than individual burst damage.

Review the Joan of Arc skill and pairing guide before using the combination.

Charles Martel and Eulji Mundeok

Eulji is an accessible secondary for a developing full-Infantry march. He provides Infantry bonuses and a useful Defense reduction effect.

This is a practical temporary pairing, but players should not treat it as a long-term Season of Conquest march.

Charles Martel and Richard I

Charles and Richard create an extremely durable early-game march.

Strengths include:

• Strong sustain
• Damage reduction
• Infantry durability
• Sunset Canyon frontline value

Weaknesses include:

• Low damage
• Slow movement
• Limited ability to finish retreating enemies
• Enemies may ignore the march until stronger targets are defeated

Use this combination when both commanders are already developed. Avoid starting both from zero only to create a tank march.

Charles Martel and Yi Seong-Gye

Yi Seong-Gye provides area damage behind Charles’s defensive primary position.

This pairing is most relevant for:

• Early city defense
• Early multi-target fights
• Legacy accounts with an already-developed YSG

It should not be presented as a current endgame garrison investment.

Charles Martel and Alexander the Great

Charles and Alexander provide strong Infantry durability and repeated shielding.

Use the pairing when both commanders are already developed. It is no longer a strong reason to begin investing in two older Legendary commanders from zero.

Charles Martel and Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus can add further Infantry and shield synergy during earlier kingdom stages.

Compare both commanders’ skill levels before choosing the primary. Charles should lead when his Infantry and Defense talents provide the stronger build.

For broader combinations, use the Rise of Kingdoms commander pairings guide.

Best Equipment for Charles Martel

Charles is designed to absorb damage, so equipment should strengthen effective durability rather than focusing only on Infantry Attack.

Recommended Stat Priority

1. Infantry Health
2. Infantry Defense
3. Infantry Attack
4. March Speed
5. General damage reduction
6. Role-specific accessory effects

Starter Equipment

Use efficient green and blue pieces that provide Infantry Health, Infantry Defense, or March Speed.

A developing account should prioritize:

• Completing an affordable set
• Specializing useful pieces where possible
• Avoiding expensive equipment made only for one temporary commander
• Keeping enough materials for the account’s future Infantry primary

Epic Equipment

Build a balanced Infantry set instead of stacking only Attack.

Prioritize Epic pieces that can later be shared with:

• A stronger Infantry primary
• A second Infantry march
• A Sunset Canyon frontline commander
• An assigned early garrison captain

Legendary Equipment

Legendary equipment is justified only when the pieces remain useful after Charles is replaced.

Do not craft a specialized garrison set solely for Charles unless you are an assigned garrison captain with appropriate technology, armaments, formations, and troop depth.

Best Formation and Armaments

There is no single formation that is always best for Charles Martel. Armament quality, inscriptions, pairing, and battlefield role can matter more than the formation name alone.

Open-Field Priorities

• Infantry Health
• Infantry Defense
• Infantry Attack
• March Speed
• Reduced incoming damage
• Counterattack value

Garrison Priorities

• Garrison durability
• Damage reduction
• Counterattack damage
• Normal-attack resistance
• Skill-damage resistance
• Bonuses that match the actual troop composition

Use the strongest verified armament set available rather than forcing a weak formation solely because it is commonly associated with Infantry.

Is the Charles Martel Museum Relic Worth It?

The Museum becomes available during Season of Conquest and provides relic bonuses to selected older Legendary commanders.

Current community references list Charles Martel’s relic as providing:

• 25% Infantry Attack
• 5% Infantry Defense

Check the live Museum tooltip before spending Exhibit Coins or Relic Coins because Museum values can change.

The Relic Is More Attractive When

• Charles is already expertised.
• He developed naturally without heavy Universal Sculpture spending.
• The account still uses him in open field or Canyon.
• He completes a second or third Infantry march.
• Other available Museum exhibits provide less immediate value.

The Relic Is Lower Priority When

• Charles has low skills.
• He is no longer used in any regular march.
• The account has stronger Museum candidates.
• Exhibit and Relic Coins are limited.
• The player expects the relic to make Charles equal to current top commanders.

The relic improves an already-developed Charles, but it does not automatically turn him into a current endgame commander.

Best Civilization for Charles Martel

There is no single civilization that is always best for Charles Martel.

Rome can support Infantry and movement, while France can provide troop durability and healing value. Choose based on the complete account rather than one commander.

How to Get Charles Martel

Charles Martel is primarily a naturally developed Gold Key commander.

His available sources can include:

• Golden Chests
• Commander-specific sculptures
• Daily offer rotations
• Selected events or shops
• Other sources shown on his current commander profile

Open Charles Martel’s profile and select the Sources option to confirm what is available in the current kingdom.

Should Beginners Rush Charles?

No. Beginners should use him when he develops naturally, but they should not automatically spend every Universal Legendary Sculpture on him.

Before investing, confirm:

• His current skill level
• The intended pairing
• Whether he will be primary or secondary
• Available Infantry equipment
• The kingdom’s current commander season
• Whether stronger long-term commanders are approaching

Is Charles Martel Worth Universal Legendary Sculptures?

For most accounts in 2026, Charles Martel is not a priority for Universal Legendary Sculptures.

Consider Continuing Him When

• He is already 5-5-1-1 or higher.
• He completes a useful early Infantry march.
• The account has strong Infantry equipment.
• He remains important in Sunset Canyon.
• He is close to expertise through natural sculptures.
• Stronger alternatives are unavailable.

Avoid Starting Him When

• He remains 1-1-1-1.
• The account is already in mature Season of Conquest.
• Universal Sculptures are limited.
• Stronger modern Infantry commanders are available.
• The player does not have a complete pairing.
• The investment is based only on an old garrison recommendation.

Common Charles Martel Mistakes

• Using mixed troops in normal open field: Full Infantry activates his most important troop bonuses.
• Using a Garrison tree for open field: Select talents for the actual activity.
• Discussing his talents while using him secondary: Secondary commander talents do not activate.
• Calling him current endgame meta: His strongest value is in young kingdoms and legacy account roles.
• Using Universal Sculptures without a plan: Natural development is normally more efficient.
• Unlocking skills before maxing Shield of Francia: Raise the active skill to level five first.
• Confusing city and structure garrisons: Watchtower effects are specific to city defense.
• Leading a garrison without proper equipment: The captain also needs technology, armaments, formations, troop capacity, and kingdom approval.
• Using a tank pairing with no damage: Extreme durability may allow enemies to ignore the march.
• Building legacy partners from zero: Use older pairings mainly when both commanders already exist.
• Ignoring the Museum relic: It can improve an already-developed Season of Conquest Charles.
• Calling 690 the full locked-to-expertise cost: A locked Charles needs ten additional sculptures to summon.

FAQ

What is the best Charles Martel talent tree?

Use an Infantry and Defense build for open-field combat with full Infantry. Use a Garrison and Defense build only when Charles leads a city or alliance-structure garrison.

Is Charles Martel still good in ROK in 2026?

He remains strong in young kingdoms and useful on naturally developed accounts. In mature Season of Conquest accounts, he is normally a legacy, Canyon, or backup option.

Should Charles Martel use full Infantry?

Yes. A standard open-field march should use full Infantry to benefit from Heavy Infantry and Charles’s Infantry talents.

What is the best Charles Martel skill order?

Max Shield of Francia first, then Heavy Infantry. A practical stopping point is 5-5-1-1, followed by natural progression toward expertise.

Should Charles Martel be primary or secondary?

Use him as primary when you need his Infantry, Defense, or Garrison talents. Use him as secondary when a stronger commander provides the better talent tree.

What is the best pairing for Charles Martel?

Sun Tzu is one of the best accessible early pairings. Richard provides durability, YSG provides area damage, and Alexander offers a useful legacy Infantry combination.

Is Charles Martel worth Universal Legendary Sculptures?

Usually not as a new 2026 investment. Develop him naturally unless he is already highly skilled and fills a clear open-field, Canyon, or early-garrison role.

How do you get Charles Martel?

Charles is primarily obtained through Golden Chests and commander-specific sources. Check the Sources section on his current profile for additional rotating options.

Conclusion

Charles Martel is a durable Legendary Infantry commander whose strongest talents support full-Infantry open-field combat, early garrisons, and Sunset Canyon.

Use the open-field Infantry build when Charles leads a march. Use the Garrison build only when he is the assigned primary defender, and remember that his talents do not activate from the secondary position.

A 5-5-1-1 setup provides a practical stopping point for most developing accounts. Continue toward expertise through Golden Chests and commander-specific sculptures rather than automatically using scarce Universal Legendary Sculptures.

Looking for more Rise of Kingdoms builds and strategy guides? Explore more Rise of Kingdoms guides for commander rankings, Infantry pairings, equipment, talent trees, Museum relics, and KvK preparation.