Qin Shi Huang Talent Tree Build – Pairings, Equipment & Skills

Have you recently unlocked Qin Shi Huang in Rise of Kingdoms and want to know how to build him? This guide covers the best talent trees, pairings, equipment, and skill levelling to help you get the most out of one of the strongest infantry commanders in the game.

New to the game? Check out our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Rise of Kingdoms to get started.

Qin Shi Huang Archer & Skill Talent Tree Build

The best talent tree for Qin Shi Huang is a mix between the archer and the skill talent tree. 

Start by pushing towards Whistling Arrows in the archer tree, then move into the skills tree to unlock Clarity and Rejuvenate. Be sure to grab Razor Sharp as-well.

It doesn’t make sense to invest in the versatility tree, as it mainly focuses on gathering, rally, and garrison talents, none of which benefit Qin Shi Huang in this build.

Best Qin Shi Huang Pairings

Qin Shi Huang can be paired with a lot of the archer commanders in the game, however, below the best pairings that he works best with.

Zhuge Liang (Best Pairing)

Qin Shi Huang and Zhuge Liang is currently the best archer pairing in the game, especially for open fiel. No other march even comes close. Qin Shi should be made the primary commander.

Zhuge Liang’s skill Chu Shi Biao helps with the rage regeneration needed for Iron Pierces Bronze and Seal Governs All.

Explore Zhuge Liang Builds

Yi Seong-Gye

Yi Seong-Gye is an easier pairing to acquire if Zhuge Liang isn’t available. He also has the chance to provide more rage with the Art of Archery skill as well as his 5-target AoE damage his expertise gives.

Qin Shi Huang Skill Levelling

With all commanders, leveling up their first active skill should always be a top priority. Qin Shi Huang’s active skill, One Conquers Six, grants a damage percentage of 60% of at level 5 so it’s important to level this skill first. 

Once you’ve maxed this skill, start working towards expertise. If you want to use him earlier, make sure to raise his second skill, Iron Pierces Bronze, to level 5 and run him as a 5511. His third skill, Thunder Shakes Earth, further boosts the damage from his second skill.

Note: Normally, skill upgrades are distributed at random, but you can lock skills in place to control this. Check out our commander skill lock guide for more information.

Best Equipment For Qin Shi Huang

Here are the recommended archer equipment sets for Qin Shi Huang, broken down by game stage. Your end goal should be to work towards the late-game gear, so start crafting those pieces as soon as you unlock their blueprints. This will greatly improve Qin Shi’s power and kill points output in battle as you progress.

Beginner Equipment

• Helm of The Pheonix (Helms)
• Commander’s Heavy Armor (Chest)
• Staff of The Lost (Weapons)
• Greaves of The Exile (Legs)
• Saint’s Song (Gloves)
• Edged Boots (Boots)

Mid-Late Game Equipment

• Revival Helm (Helms)
• Revival Plate (Chest)
• Golden Age (Weapons)
• Revival Greaves (Legs)
• Revival Gauntlets (Gloves)
• Flame Treads (Boots)

Late-Game Equipment

• Ancestral Mask of Night/Dragon’s Breath Helm (Helms)
• The Milky Way/Dragon’s Breath Plate (Chest)
• The Hydra’s Blast/Dragon’s Breath Bow (Weapons)
• Tassets of the War God/Dragon’s Breath Tassets (Legs)
• Ian’s Choice/Dragon’s Breath Vambraces (Gloves)
• Commander’s Boots/Dragon’s Breath Boots (Boots)

Accessories

• Ring of Doom
• Pendant of Eternal Night
• Horn of Fury

Qin Shi Huang Best Formation

The best formation for Qin Shi Huang is the Wedge Formation, which grants a 5% skill damage boost.

For armaments, focus on those that increase archer attack, defense, and health. When it comes to inscriptions, prioritise ones that boost skill damage, such as Brawler.

How Do I Obtain Qin Shi Huang?

You can unlock Qin Shi Huang through the Wheel of Fortune event in the Season of Conquest. It takes 10 tokens from wheel spins to recruit him, after which you can upgrade his skills using universal legendary commander sculptures.

Summary: Is Qin Shi Huang Worth Investing In?

Right now, Qin Shi Huang is the strongest commander in the game. Save your gems and pick him up as soon as he appears in the Wheel of Fortune. He’s extremely overpowered and is expected to remain a one of the best archer choice for a long time, making him one of the safest investments you can make.

Want to compare Qin Shi Huang to other commanders? Check out our full Rise of Kingdoms Commander Tier List for rankings and comparisons.