Scipio Africanus, the legendary Roman general, finds a worthy digital counterpart in Rise of Kingdoms. This epic commander, available early in the game, is a versatile force thanks to his unique combination of Leadership, Conquering, and Attack talent trees. Mastering Scipio's talent build is crucial for new and seasoned players alike, enabling him to excel in various roles – from leading early-game rallies to bolstering your defensive formations. This comprehensive guide will delve into the intricacies of Scipio Africanus' talent trees, exploring optimal builds for different situations and discussing his best pairings. We'll also touch upon related topics like Scipio Aemilianus pairings and compare him to other commanders like Joan Prime, Kusunoki, Belisarius, Minamoto, and Pelagius.
Understanding Scipio Africanus' Strengths and Weaknesses
Before diving into specific talent builds, it's essential to understand Scipio's inherent strengths and weaknesses. He's an epic commander, meaning he's easier to obtain and max out than legendary commanders. This makes him an excellent choice for early and mid-game players.
Strengths:
* Versatility: His talent trees allow for flexible builds, making him suitable for leading different troop types (though primarily focused on archers).
* Leadership Skills: His leadership tree boosts troop capacity and overall army performance.
* Conquering Capabilities: He excels in leading rallies against cities and fortresses.
* Attack Enhancement: The attack tree provides significant buffs to archer damage.
* Early-Game Accessibility: Easily obtainable and upgradeable, making him a strong early-game commander.
Weaknesses:
* Epic Status: Ultimately, he's outshined by legendary commanders in the late game.scipio africanus talent tree
* Jack of All Trades, Master of None: While versatile, he doesn't specialize in one area as much as dedicated legendary commanders.
* Limited Skill Damage: His active skill, while useful, doesn't deal massive damage compared to some other commanders.
The Talent Trees: A Deep Dive
Let's break down each of Scipio Africanus' talent trees: Leadership, Conquering, and Attack.
1. Leadership Tree:
The Leadership tree focuses on enhancing overall troop performance, increasing troop capacity, and improving survivability. It's a cornerstone for any Scipio build, making him a more effective leader on the battlefield.
* Strategic Expertise (1 Point): Increases troop capacity by 3%. This is a fundamental point to start with, increasing the number of troops Scipio can lead.
* Hidden Wrath (6 Points): Increases rage generation by 6 per turn. Rage generation is crucial for frequent skill usage. Max this talent.
* Healing Herbs (1 Point): Increases healing effect by 9%. This is a decent talent for increasing troop sustainability.
* Inspiration (6 Points): Increases all damage dealt by 1.5% per turn. A solid damage boost that scales over time. Max this talent.
* Elite Soldiers (6 Points): Increases the attack of all troops by 3%. A straightforward and effective damage boost. Max this talent.
* Strategic Prowess (6 Points): Increases skill damage by 3%. This enhances the effectiveness of Scipio's active skill. Max this talent.
* Armed to the Teeth (6 Points): Increases troop attack by 1.5% and defense by 1.5%. A well-rounded talent that boosts both offensive and defensive capabilities. Max this talent.
* Moment of Triumph (1 Point): After using a skill, increases troop attack by 30% for 2 seconds. This is a significant burst of damage after Scipio uses his active skill.
* Now or Never (6 Points): When the army has more than 70% troops, damage is increased by 2%. This is a good talent.
* Tide of Battle (6 Points): When the army has less than 30% troops, damage is increased by 5%. This is a situational talent.
2. Conquering Tree:
The Conquering tree is designed to improve Scipio's performance in leading rallies against cities and fortresses. It focuses on increasing siege damage, reducing enemy defense, and mitigating damage taken while sieging.
* Burning Blood (6 Points): Increases rage generation by 9 per turn. Faster rage generation is crucial for frequent skill usage, especially during prolonged sieges. Max this talent.
* Signal Flare (6 Points): Increases skill damage by 3%. Enhances the damage output of Scipio's active skill during sieges. Max this talent.
* City Keeper (6 Points): Increases siege attack by 9%. A core talent for any conquering build, significantly boosting damage against cities. Max this talent.
* Entrenched (6 Points): Reduces skill damage taken by 9%. Improves Scipio's survivability when facing enemy skills, especially useful during sieges. Max this talent.