Overview
- Commander Name: Pepin of Landen
- Rarity: Epic
- Civilization: None
- Primary Role: Infantry Support / Garrison
- Best Troop Type: Infantry
- Best For: F2P & Low Spenders
Pepin is an Epic infantry-focused commander in Rise of Kingdoms who excels as a support and defensive specialist. He provides strong rage generation, damage reduction, and survivability, making him especially useful in garrison and early-to-mid game field fighting. Pepin is highly accessible for free-to-play players and offers excellent value when paired with stronger infantry commanders.
Commander Rating
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Open Field | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Rally | ⭐⭐ |
| Garrison | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| PvE | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Overall | ⭐⭐⭐½ |
Pepin’s strength lies in defensive utility and rage control. While he is not a damage dealer, his survivability and support tools make him valuable for structured fights and city defense.
Commander Background
Pepin of Landen was a powerful Frankish nobleman and statesman during the early Middle Ages. Known for his political influence and leadership, Pepin laid the groundwork for the rise of the Carolingian dynasty. In Rise of Kingdoms, his legacy is represented through defensive strength, discipline, and battlefield support.
Commander Skills Breakdown
- Skill 1 – Iron Hand: Deals direct damage to a single target and reduces their attack. This is Pepin’s main contribution in both garrison and field defense.
- Skill 2 – Shield of Valor: Increases infantry defense and health, significantly improving troop durability.
- Skill 3 – Strategic Patience: Reduces damage taken by infantry units, especially effective in prolonged fights.
- Skill 4 – Veteran Commander: Boosts rage recovery, allowing more frequent skill usage.
- Expertise – Iron Discipline: Enhances rage generation and defensive bonuses, making Pepin a reliable long-term defensive commander.
Talent Tree Build
The recommended build for Pepin focuses on the Infantry and Defense talent trees. This maximizes damage reduction, health, and sustain during long engagements.
- Primary Tree: Defense
- Secondary Tree: Infantry
- Key Talents: Fortress, Iron Wall, Counterattack, Shield of the Ages
Alternative builds can lean more into Infantry talents for open-field usage, though Pepin performs best when absorbing damage rather than dealing it.
Best Equipment
- Early Game: Infantry Helm, Leather Gloves, Vanguard Greaves
- Mid Game: Windswept Set mixed with infantry health pieces
- Late / End Game: Infantry-focused legendary or epic defense gear
Key Features
- Strong infantry damage reduction
- Excellent rage generation support
- Very durable in garrison roles
- Easy to skill up for F2P players
- Synergizes well with legendary infantry commanders
Best Pairings
- Best Primary Pairings: Charles Martel, Richard I
- Best Secondary Pairings: Sun Tzu, Eulji Mundeok
Best Troop Composition
Pepin performs best with 100% Infantry. Mixed troops reduce his effectiveness and weaken his defensive bonuses.
How to Use This Commander
- Open Field: Use as secondary to provide tankiness and rage support.
- Garrison: One of his strongest roles, especially early game.
- PvE: Useful but not optimal for barb farming.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: High durability, good rage generation, excellent for defense.
- Weaknesses: Low damage output, limited late-game scalability.
Is This Commander Worth Investing In?
- F2P Verdict: Highly recommended early and mid game.
- Low Spender Verdict: Solid secondary investment.
- Whale Verdict: Low priority.
Skill priority should always focus on maxing Skill 1 first before progressing further.
Final Verdict
Pepin is a reliable infantry support and garrison commander who shines in defensive roles. While he will not dominate late-game PvP, his low investment cost and strong survivability make him an excellent choice for F2P players. Best used as a defensive specialist rather than a frontline damage dealer.
