Æthelflæd – Aethelflaed in Rise of Kingdoms: Comprehensive Guide to Skills, Talent Builds, and Strategies

How to Obtain Æthelflæd

Unlike many legendary commanders, Æthelflæd is readily accessible to all players through the Expedition mode. By completing expedition missions and earning medals, you can purchase her sculptures directly from the Expedition Store. Each sculpture costs 1,500 medals, and you can acquire up to three per day. Additionally, certain expedition levels reward you with the “Treasure of the Warrior Queen” chest, which offers a chance to obtain extra Æthelflæd sculptures. Consistent participation in expeditions will expedite her progression, making her one of the most attainable legendary commanders in the game.

Skills Overview

Æthelflæd’s skills are tailored to debilitate enemies and bolster her troops’ effectiveness:

Arrow of Iron Active Skill	Rage Requirement: 1000 Deals damage to up to 5 targets in a forward-facing fan-shaped area, reducing their attack, defence and health for the next 2 seconds. Upgrade Preview: Direct Damage Factor: 400 / 500 / 600 / 700 / 800 Attack, Defense, and Health Reduction: 10% / 15% / 20% / 25% / 30%
Thunderous Force Passive Skill	Troops led by thos commander take less counterattack damage. Their attacks have a 10% chance to influct Slow-down on the target, reducing its cavalry units’ march speed and other units’ march speed for 3 seconds. Upgrade Preview: Counterattack Damage Taken Reduction: 5% / 8% / 11% / 15% / 20% Cavalry March Speed Reduction: 20% / 25% / 30% / 40% / 50% Other Unit March Speed Reduction: 10% / 15% / 20% / 25% / 30%
Synergy Passive Skill	Troops led by this commander deal increased damage to barbarians [and other neutral units]. Both commanders gain increased experience. Upgrade Preview: Bonus Damage to Barbarians: 5% / 10% / 17% / 25% / 35% Experience Bonus: 5% / 10% / 17% / 25% / 35%
Fortress of Mercia Passive Skill	When this commander leads a rally attack, the rallied troop capacity is increased by 8%. When troops led by this commander consist of 3 or more different unit types, troops gain increased attack. Upgrade Preview: Rallied Army Capacity Bonus: 2% / 4% / 6% / 8% / 10% Bonus Damage (3 Unit Types): 5% / 8% / 11% / 15% / 20%
Warrior Queen New Skill: Passive Skill	Deals 20% increased damage to enemy troops when they are affected by Slow-down.

Optimal Talent Builds

Æthelflæd’s talent tree offers flexibility, catering to various playstyles. Here are two recommended builds:

Mixed Troops Build

This build capitalizes on her fourth skill, enhancing damage when leading multiple troop types. Prioritize talents that boost the effectiveness of mixed armies, such as “Strategic Prowess” for increased defense after using a skill and “Armored to the Teeth” for overall damage reduction. This setup is ideal for players utilizing diverse troop compositions.

Peacekeeping Build

Designed for PvE encounters, this build focuses on talents that increase damage to barbarians and neutral units. Key talents include “Insight” to reduce action point cost and “Cage of Thorns” to slow enemies, making it easier to control engagements. This build maximizes efficiency in barbarian farming and fort rallies.

Effective Commander Pairings

Pairing Æthelflæd with the right commander can amplify her strengths:

	Sun Tzu: His area-of-effect (AoE) damage and rage generation complement Æthelflæd’s debuffs, creating a potent combination for open-field battles.
	Richard I: His healing and defensive capabilities enhance Æthelflæd’s survivability, making them a durable pair for sustained fights.
	Yi Seong-Gye (YSG): His powerful AoE damage synergizes with Æthelflæd’s debuffs, resulting in devastating effects on clustered enemies.
	Alexander the Great: His versatility and shield mechanics pair well with Æthelflæd, providing both offense and defense in various combat scenarios.

Strategies for Maximizing Æthelflæd’s Potential

• Utilize Mixed Troops: To fully benefit from her fourth skill, deploy at least three different troop types. This not only boosts damage but also provides versatility on the battlefield.
• Focus on Rage Generation: Enhancing rage accumulation allows Æthelflæd to activate her powerful active skill more frequently, maintaining constant pressure on enemies.
• Leverage Debuffs in Group Fights: Her ability to weaken multiple enemies simultaneously makes her invaluable in group battles and alliance wars. Position her to affect the maximum number of foes.
• Engage in PvE Content: Her skills are tailored for PvE, making her exceptional for farming barbarians and participating in events like the “Karuak Ceremony.” This not only yields valuable resources but also accelerates commander experience gain.

In summary, Æthelflæd’s accessibility and versatile skill set make her an indispensable commander in Rise of Kingdoms. By understanding her abilities, optimizing talent builds, selecting effective pairings, and employing strategic gameplay, you can harness her full potential to lead your forces to victory.