Hey guys! If you're looking to dominate in Rise of Kingdoms and you're a fan of Sun Tzu, then you're in the right place. Sun Tzu is an absolute beast when it comes to defending your city or holding down a structure, and the right talent tree can make him virtually impenetrable. In this guide, we'll dive deep into the best Sun Tzu garrison talent tree, helping you optimize his skills and turn him into a fortress that enemies will fear. We'll explore the best talent builds, the reasoning behind each choice, and how to adapt your strategy based on the specific scenario. Let’s get started and turn Sun Tzu into the ultimate city defender!

Understanding Sun Tzu's Strengths

Before we jump into the talent tree, let's quickly recap why Sun Tzu is such a powerhouse in Rise of Kingdoms, especially for garrison duty. Sun Tzu excels due to several key factors. Firstly, he is a free commander, meaning you can get him without spending any money, making him accessible to all players, especially those starting out. Secondly, Sun Tzu has a fantastic active skill, Art of War, which deals massive damage to multiple targets. This skill alone makes him a valuable asset in defending against waves of attackers. His other skills complement this perfectly, with buffs to skill damage, rage generation, and damage reduction, all critical elements for garrison success. His skill kit is well-rounded and designed to make him incredibly effective in sustained combat.

Now, let's talk about the specific skills and how they enhance his garrison abilities. Art of War does significant damage and is essential for taking down attackers quickly. Expert Strategist buffs skill damage, further enhancing the power of Art of War. The Book of War helps Sun Tzu generate rage faster, allowing him to use Art of War more frequently. Burning Sun increases skill damage even further. Finally, Master of Tactics provides damage reduction, keeping him alive longer during battles. This combination of offensive and defensive buffs makes Sun Tzu a formidable garrison commander. Essentially, Sun Tzu is a perfect blend of high damage output and reasonable survivability, making him ideal for holding down your city or defending important structures in KvK or other events.

The Core Talent Tree: Building the Fortress

Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: building the best Sun Tzu garrison talent tree. We want to focus on a build that maximizes his damage output, keeps him alive longer, and makes him a general pain in the neck for anyone who dares to attack. This build is designed for maximum effectiveness in garrison situations. We will focus on two major talent trees: Skill and Garrison. Each talent point will matter, so let's break it down step-by-step:

The Skill Tree

The Skill tree focuses on enhancing Sun Tzu's ability to deal damage. Here's the key setup:

• Furious Roar: This is crucial. It provides rage generation, allowing Sun Tzu to use his active skill, Art of War, more frequently. We want to maximize the use of his damaging active skill. Aim for five points.
• Burning Soul: Increase skill damage. This enhances Art of War and makes Sun Tzu's attacks even more lethal. Give it five points.
• Moment of Triumph: Another great skill damage buff! This talent synergizes well with his active skill.
• Rejuvenate: Gives rage recovery. It boosts Sun Tzu's skill damage output. It is important to help cycle the skills more often.

The Garrison Tree

The Garrison tree is all about strengthening Sun Tzu's defense and making your city a tough nut to crack. Here’s how we'll allocate points:

• Elite Soldiers: This talent gives your garrison units extra defense. When defending a structure, defense is key.
• Iron Will: Provides damage reduction when the commander is in the garrison. This will significantly improve Sun Tzu's survivability.
• Hidden Blade: This skill grants additional damage when defending. This ensures that he can deal a lot of damage even with his base stats.
• Impregnable: Boosts defense stats. It makes Sun Tzu even harder to kill.

Optimal Talent Point Allocation

Here’s a practical guide on how to distribute your talent points. This allocation assumes you have a maxed-out Sun Tzu with all skills leveled up. Remember to adjust slightly based on your commander's level and available skill points.

1. Skill Tree (Prioritize Damage):
   • Furious Roar (5 points): Maximize rage generation.
   • Burning Soul (5 points): Increase skill damage.
   • Moment of Triumph (3 points): Another great skill damage buff.
   • Rejuvenate (2 points): Gives rage recovery.
2. Garrison Tree (Fortify Defense):
   • Elite Soldiers (4 points): Increase defense.
   • Iron Will (3 points): Provides damage reduction.
   • Hidden Blade (3 points): Grant additional damage.
   • Impregnable (2 points): Boosts defense stats.

This allocation provides a good balance between skill damage and survivability. Make adjustments based on what you are trying to do.

Secondary Commander Synergies: Forming a Strong Team

Sun Tzu's effectiveness in a garrison is amplified when paired with the right secondary commander. The choice of your secondary commander can significantly influence your defensive capabilities. Choosing a secondary commander that complements Sun Tzu's strengths is vital. We want someone who can bring additional damage, support, or debuffs to the table. Let’s look at some ideal pairings:

• Aethelflaed: Aethelflaed is a fantastic choice, especially for free-to-play players, because she's easy to get. She provides damage debuffs and reduces the enemy’s attack, defense, and health. This helps to reduce the damage taken by Sun Tzu and his garrison troops. The debuffs will make your enemy’s attacks less effective, prolonging the battle, and giving Sun Tzu more time to unleash his skills.
• Richard I: Richard I brings strong healing and damage reduction abilities. His skills can keep Sun Tzu alive longer. The healing from Richard will offset some damage taken, making your defense more resilient.
• Yi Seong-Gye: For more aggressive players, Yi Seong-Gye, with his massive area-of-effect damage, can be a great choice. He synergizes well with Sun Tzu's skill-based damage and offers an additional burst of firepower. However, it requires a lot of skill to do this build.
• Hermann: A solid option because he provides damage and helps counterattack, Hermann can significantly boost your defense. Together, they can inflict some serious damage on attackers. His strong counterattack abilities can turn the tables during a siege.

Adapting Your Strategy Based on the Situation

While the above talent build is a great starting point, flexibility is key. Your strategy should adapt to the specific situation. For instance, in a KvK, you might face different types of attackers. Here’s how to adjust:

• Against Rallies: If you're facing large-scale rallies, you might focus more on damage reduction and defense. Prioritize talents in the Garrison tree. Pair Sun Tzu with a commander like Richard I for additional healing and protection.
• Against Swarms: If you are defending against numerous smaller attacks, focusing on rage generation and skill damage is important. Maximize the Skill tree talents to use Art of War frequently.
• Against Specific Commanders: If you know your attacker's commander, you can adjust your build accordingly. For example, against a strong archer commander, you might focus more on defense and damage reduction. Think about how your opponent is going to attack and prepare a strategy.

Advanced Tips and Tricks: Leveling Up Your Game

To become truly formidable with Sun Tzu, you need to understand some advanced tips. Here are some of the most effective strategies:

• Equipment: The right equipment can make a huge difference. Focus on items that boost defense, skill damage, and rage generation. Get the best gear for Sun Tzu to make him even more durable and destructive.
• City Layout: Optimize your city layout. Position your city center strategically and place defensive structures like towers and walls to help protect Sun Tzu. You want to make it as hard as possible to get to Sun Tzu.
• Troop Composition: Make sure you use the right troops for the job. Having a mix of troop types can make your defense more flexible. Experiment with different troop compositions to see what works best for you.
• Scout Your Enemy: Always scout the attacking force. Knowing their commander and troop composition will help you tailor your defense strategy.

Final Thoughts: Becoming the Ultimate Defender

With the right Sun Tzu garrison talent tree and a little strategy, you can make your city a stronghold that few dare to attack. Remember, practice, and experimentation are your best friends. Keep testing different builds and strategies to see what works best for you and your playstyle. This is all about maximizing Sun Tzu's potential to become an ultimate defender. By understanding his strengths, optimizing your talent tree, choosing the right secondary commander, and adapting to different situations, you can truly dominate in Rise of Kingdoms. Good luck, commanders, and happy defending! Now go out there and build the ultimate fortress! If you put in the time and effort, your city will be feared on the battlefield.