Rise of Kingdoms vs. Call of Dragons: Which Reigns Supreme?
Choosing between Rise of Kingdoms (RoK) and Call of Dragons can be a tough decision for strategy game enthusiasts. Both titles offer engaging gameplay, large-scale battles, and a world of conquest. But which one is truly better? The answer isn’t straightforward, as it depends on your preferences and what you seek in a mobile strategy game. However, a close look at their core mechanics, player experience, and free-to-play aspects reveals some key differences. Ultimately, Call of Dragons presents a more modern, dynamic, and arguably more free-to-play friendly experience with greater tactical flexibility, while Rise of Kingdoms offers a more established, familiar, and polished empire-building experience.
Call of Dragons: A New Contender
Call of Dragons shakes up the traditional kingdom-building formula. It distinguishes itself by eliminating a fixed home kingdom, allowing players to migrate freely between servers. This radical change has significant implications. First, it means the player base is always in flux, leading to a continuously evolving competitive landscape. It’s difficult to establish a firm grip on server dominance, which theoretically encourages a more level playing field and discourages entrenched, pay-to-win scenarios. Second, the emphasis is placed on the open field instead of isolated city sieges. Teamwork and coordination are paramount, rewarding collaboration over individual strength. The game’s massive 3.88 million square kilometer 3D map encourages exploration and strategic movement across diverse terrain and biomes.
Key Features of Call of Dragons:
- Free Server Migration: The ability to jump between servers keeps the game dynamic and competitive.
- Open-Field Combat: The game prioritizes large-scale engagements on the open map, emphasizing teamwork.
- Stamina System: Stamina somewhat levels the playing field, impacting how much all players can grind.
- Realistic Fantasy World: Boasts an expansive 3D map filled with diverse terrains and biomes.
- Gacha and Base-Building: Includes elements of gacha mechanics for hero collection and base building similar to Cookie Run: Kingdom.
- Rich Narrative: Incorporates a deep storyline with RPG elements.
- Multi-Faction System: Offers diverse factions to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics.
- Emphasis on Teamwork: The game focuses on collective effort, making every player contribution valuable.
Rise of Kingdoms: The Established Empire
Rise of Kingdoms is an older title, with over 60 million users and a proven track record. It excels in its deep empire-building aspects, featuring a wide array of civilizations each with unique bonuses and units. The focus in RoK is on building a strong city, developing infrastructure, and amassing power through careful resource management and strategic alliances. Although RoK also emphasizes teamwork, the game is more centered around your kingdom’s growth and its place in a server’s hierarchy.
Key Features of Rise of Kingdoms:
- Deep Empire Building: Focuses on city development, resource management, and technological advancement.
- Civilization System: Features diverse civilizations with unique advantages and units.
- Alliance-Focused Gameplay: Encourages the formation of strong alliances for large-scale wars.
- Established Player Base: Has a large, established player base with active communities.
- More Traditional Approach: Follows a more traditional MMO strategy formula compared to Call of Dragons.
Side-by-Side Comparison:
Here’s a quick look at the key differences:
| Feature | Call of Dragons | Rise of Kingdoms |
|---|---|---|
| ——————– | ——————————————— | ———————————————– |
| Server Migration | Free and readily available | Restricted or costly |
| Combat Focus | Open-field battles, teamwork | Kingdom battles, more city-centric |
| Stamina System | Limits player grinding | Limited impact on time played |
| Gameplay Style | Dynamic, modern, more action-oriented | Traditional, empire-building, strategic |
| New Player Friendliness | More forgiving server hopping | Can be difficult to catch up with established servers |
| Free to Play (F2P) | More emphasis on skill over heavy spending | Can be Pay-to-Win |
| Overall Feel | Fluid and fast-paced | Slower, more strategic |
Conclusion: Which Game Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the “better” game depends on your preference.
- Choose Call of Dragons if: You enjoy a dynamic, open-world experience, prefer team-based combat, and value a more free-to-play-friendly environment. The freedom to migrate servers is a major draw, allowing you to find the most suitable competitive landscape. The emphasis on field battles adds a layer of tactical depth not as pronounced in Rise of Kingdoms.
- Choose Rise of Kingdoms if: You enjoy classic city-building, a more traditional server structure, and a detailed civilization system. It’s an ideal game if you appreciate the deep mechanics of constructing a powerful empire and fighting as part of an alliance within a more established community. While more “pay-to-win” than Call of Dragons, it offers a comfortable, proven, strategy experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Call of Dragons more F2P (Free-to-Play) friendly than Rise of Kingdoms?
Yes, generally, Call of Dragons appears more F2P-friendly due to the stamina system, free server migration, and the emphasis on open-field battles that reward tactical skill more than raw power purchased. While both have in-app purchases, Call of Dragons’ mechanics seem to limit pay-to-win strategies more effectively compared to Rise of Kingdoms.
2. Can you migrate between servers in Call of Dragons?
Absolutely. A defining feature of Call of Dragons is its free migration system, allowing players to move to different servers easily, which significantly influences the dynamics of the game.
3. What is the best starting faction in Call of Dragons?
The League of Order is often considered the best starter faction, primarily because it grants Waldyr (a useful hero) and provides a boost in Overall Gather Speed, making resource farming efficient early on.
4. Is Call of Dragons similar to Clash of Clans?
Call of Dragons shares some similarities with Clash of Clans in terms of city-building, but it also incorporates elements of a full MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online game), gacha-style hero collection like Cookie Run: Kingdom, and a more significant narrative and RPG feel.
5. Is Call of Dragons like Rise of Kingdoms?
While both are strategy MMOs with large-scale battles, Call of Dragons shifts the focus more towards open-field combat and tactical team coordination, while Rise of Kingdoms is more about city-building and managing your kingdom’s growth within a static server structure.
6. Which game is better than Clash of Clans?
Many players argue that games like Boom Beach offer a more tactical combat experience than Clash of Clans, giving players greater control over their armies during battles. Also, many would argue that both Rise of Kingdoms and Call of Dragons are more evolved, modern games than Clash of Clans.
7. Who is the best hero in Call of Dragons?
Gwanwyn is considered a top-tier epic hero due to her high damage output and peacekeeping abilities, making her relatively easy to level up. She is considered an outstanding hero for many content types.
8. What is the best troop type in Call of Dragons?
Each troop type has its strengths and weaknesses: Infantry is best for tanking damage, Cavalry excels in open-field battles and destroying enemy backlines, and Marksmen are potent for DPS against large targets.
9. How many people play Rise of Kingdoms?
Rise of Kingdoms boasts a massive player base of over 60 million users.
10. Can you play Call of Dragons solo?
Yes, you can play Call of Dragons solo, but the game is designed to encourage alliances and teamwork, particularly for larger events like 40-player dungeons.
11. How do you level up fast in Call of Dragons?
To level up quickly, focus on taking down Darkling Forts, Darkling Patrols, Creatures, participate in events, and become part of a good alliance.
12. Can you be “zeroed” in Call of Dragons?
Yes, getting “zeroed” – losing all your troops – is a possibility in Call of Dragons. Therefore, smart city management, good diplomacy, and careful combat engagement are vital for avoiding this outcome.
13. What resets when a season ends in Call of Dragons?
When a season ends in Call of Dragons, Hero levels, Tactic Manuals, CP items, Artifact levels, Arcane Dust, Policies, Prestige, and Merits are reset.
14. Is Nico a good hero in Call of Dragons?
Nico is an excellent hero, and when paired with Gwanwyn offers a powerful combination for both PvP and PvE content.
15. Is Alistair good in Call of Dragons?
While Alistair is a decent cavalry hero, he doesn’t perform as well compared to some other options. He might be useful early game or if you lack other choices, but should eventually be replaced with better cavalry heros.