Before investing in a commander in Rise of Kingdoms, you need to know which game mode they are designed for. Ivar the Boneless is a name that makes this clear: he is not an open-field hero but a rally commander. This legendary Viking-themed infantry commander stands out especially in attacks on alliance targets. However, it is hard to say that every player needs this commander.
Who Is Ivar the Boneless and Who Is He Suitable For?
Ivar the Boneless is one of the legendary commanders in Rise of Kingdoms. He specializes in infantry and has Infantry, Conquering, and Defense lines in his talent tree. These three lines point to the commander's primary role: siege and rally attacks. A significant portion of his skills are disabled when fighting in the open field; therefore, Ivar should not be thought of as an 'all-purpose' commander.
So who should invest in this commander? If you regularly lead rallies in your alliance and have maxed-out infantry troops, Ivar the Boneless represents a serious power boost for you. On the other hand, he does not offer the same value for free-to-play players or those who focus on open-field battles. If you are a player who spends limited resources, it would be much more sensible to turn to commanders with broader usability.
What Are His Strengths as a Rally Commander?
Ivar's biggest advantage is that his active skill deals extremely hard area damage (AoE). Being able to attack three targets simultaneously with a 2,500 damage factor is a rare trait among infantry commanders. Moreover, thanks to his passive rage generation, he can use this active skill more often than expected. If you want to collapse enemy defenses quickly during a rally, this cycle will serve you well.
His second skill, Ironheart Vow, reveals the commander's true value. Unlike most defense or siege commanders, these bonuses are always active, not just during a specific task. Providing +10% Health, +20% Movement Speed, and +30% Attack Bonus to infantry units grants both durability and striking power on the rally line. Additionally, gaining 25 rage on every basic attack when his units drop below 30% creates a very powerful rage engine in prolonged and uncrowded rally battles.
However, there is an important warning here: half of Ivar's kit is almost non-functional in the open field. His third and fourth skills do nothing outside of a rally or garrison. So if you plan to use him in the open field, you may be in for a big disappointment. By design, Ivar is a commander who says, 'either in a rally or in a garrison.'
Let's Examine His Skills Closely
Falcon's Judgement: High-Factor AoE
This active skill spends 1,000 rage to deal smite damage to three enemy troops in a fan shape. The damage factor is 2,500, and as the number of targets increases, the damage dealt to each target decreases by 15%. Moreover, after using the skill, your troops gain 15 additional rage per second for 3 seconds. When Ivar is the primary commander, the active skill also applies silence to the target, meaning the enemy cannot respond during that short window.
Ironheart Vow: Always-Active Infantry Bonuses
This skill, which grants Infantry Health Bonus, Movement Speed, and Attack Bonus, is the main reason Ivar is so preferred on the rally line. As stated in the source, in most commanders such powerful stats are limited to a specific task, but with Ivar they remain active in every situation.
Flames of York: For City and Fortress Sieges
Deals 20% more smite damage when attacking cities or fortresses. Additionally, infantry units deal 10% extra damage against cavalry. The chance to gain 30 rage with a 50% probability when dealing smite damage is balanced by the skill being able to trigger once per second. This skill accelerates Ivar's active cycle, especially during sieges.
Odin's Stratagem and Destined Defense: Rally Defense
Odin's Stratagem is only active while he is the rally leader. The rally army takes 10% less damage from combo attacks; when subjected to a basic attack, it returns smite damage to the attacker with a 200 damage factor. If the incoming attack is a combo attack, the rally army increases all its damage by 10% for 3 seconds. Destined Defense provides 10% reduction against normal damage and an additional 5% reduction when troops fall below 50%. These two skills make Ivar valuable not only in offense but also in keeping the rally line standing.
Best Pairings: Scipio Aemilianus and Sun Tzu Prime
It would be wrong to think of Ivar alone; he becomes much more effective with the right pairings. For example, the duo formed with Scipio Aemilianus is shown as one of the strongest infantry teams in the game. When Scipio is the primary commander, he applies a 20% damage reduction debuff on the target for 3 seconds and provides silence. When Ivar's 2,500-factor AoE active skill lands on the target within this window, the enemy is both weakened and silenced. The result is a hard damage window that collapses the defense in a short time.
Another strong option is the pairing with Sun Tzu Prime. When Sun Tzu Prime's contribution to rage generation combines with Ivar's already powerful passive rage engine, the active skill activates much more frequently. When Ivar's always-active stats and AoE damage are combined with Sun Tzu Prime's kit, the result is a functional and dangerous infantry march.
So How Should the Talent Tree Be Chosen?
Ivar's three talent lines, Infantry, Conquering, and Defense, clearly show his intended playstyle. If you are going to use the commander primarily for rally attacks, it makes the most sense to distribute talent points to increase siege damage and unit durability. However, since no specific 'definitive build' is given in the source, you should be flexible according to your alliance's needs and the other commanders you own. The basic principle is this: expecting efficiency from Ivar by spending talents for the open field is a loss because half of his kit will remain idle.
Conclusion: Should You Invest in Ivar the Boneless?
Ivar the Boneless is a formidable rally weapon in the right hands. His high AoE active damage, passive rage generation, and always-active infantry bonuses make him stand out in siege warfare. However, this power depends on a specific playstyle. In open-field battles or an alliance where you don't regularly lead rallies, Ivar's potential is largely wasted. Also, if you're considering using the commander at low skill levels like 5511, as the source states, this expenditure may not pay for itself enough. In short: if your primary role in this game is leading rallies, Ivar deserves a top spot on your list. Otherwise, it would be wise to allocate your resources to more flexible commanders.
