Charles Martel - The Immortal Hammer

Charles Martel was a Frankish statesman and military leader who as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the facto ruler of Francia from 718 until his death. In 732, the army of the Umayyad Caliphate led by Al Ghhafiqiii met Frankish and Burgundian forces under Charles in an area between the cities of Tours and Poitiers, leading to a decisive, historically important Frankish victory known as the Battle of Tours, ending the “last of the great Arab invasion of France”, a military victory termed “brilliant” on the part of Charles. Charles is also considered to be a founding figure of the European Middle Ages.

Skilled as an administrator as well as a warrior, he is credited with a seminal role in the emerging responsibilities of the knights of courts, and so in the development of the Frankish system of feudalism.

Table of Contents

Overview

Charles Martel is one of the few commanders in RoK that has withstood the test of time. To this day, he is the commander of choice when it comes to defending structures or cities (you probably should use a Peace Shield instead of defending your city though).

Skills

Shield of Francia
Active Skill

Rage Requirement: 1000
Charles activates a shield that can absorb massive damage for the next 4 seconds.
Also increases troops’ damage while the shield is active.
Upgrade Preview:
Direct Damage Factor: 600 / 700 / 800 / 1000 / 1200
Damage Bonus: 10% / 14% / 18% / 24% / 30%

Note: In Shield of Francia’s description, it says that the Damage Bonus is only available when the Shield is active. However that is not true at all, Damage Bonus lasts for 4 seconds regardless of the Shield’s status.

This skill is what makes Martel one of the best defender in the game. As of right now, Shields cannot be countered in any way and there’s no downside to it, unlike Heal. The Damage Bonus provided this skill amplifies all sources of damage. i.e normal attack, skill damage, and counterattack damage. This is what makes his pairings versatile.

He can be both primary or secondary with another Tank, like Constantine or Richard for example or he can be used as a primary to a commander that deals high skill damage like Sun-Tzu or Yi Seong-Gye as they enjoy the Damage Bonus from this skill when they fire off their already very powerful nukes.

Heavy Infantry
Passive Skill

Increases infantry units’ defense and health.
Upgrade Preview:
Infantry Defense Bonus: 5% / 7% / 9% / 12% / 15%
Infantry Health Bonus: 5% / 7% / 9% / 12% / 15%

30% increase in defensive stats. It’s good as it is but his Expertise skill takes this Skill to a whole new level.

The Uncrowned King
Passive Skill

Increases watchtower defense and garrison damage when this commander is serving as a garrison commander.
Upgrade Preview:
Watchtower Defense Bonus: 2% / 4% / 6% / 8% / 10%
Garrison Attack Bonus: 2% / 4% / 6% / 8% / 10%

This is one of the least interesting Garrison skill. It’s not just Martel’s problem, most of the older commanders have a generic Garrison or Conquering skill. This is where new Commanders like Artemisia I surpass these older commanders.

Martel’s Counterattack
Passive Skill

Increases troops’ counterattack damage.
Upgrade Preview:
Counterattack Damage Bonus: 10% / 15% / 20% / 25% / 30%

This skill makes it harder to swarm a structure that is defended by Charles Martel. His Counterattack damage is almost the same as normal attack. When in the field, he can just ignore some of the weaker marches hitting him and let Counterattack do it’s job.

Rise from the Ashes
Enchanced: Heavy Infantry

Increases infantry units’ defense by 20%, health by 20%, and march speed by 20%.

This is a cool name for a skill. Anyways, Infantry is known to be slow in the open field and this Expertise skills solve that to some extent by adding 20% march speed. Along with the march speed bonus this expertise makes Charles Martel tankier than before by adding another 10% stats to his Heavy Infantry.