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Kingshot hero Marlin portrait

Marlin Guide

Even someone as calm and steady as Forrest often wonders how the large ship from the north suddenly appeared in town.

Hall of HeroesDaily DealsMythic General Hero Shard

Hero basics

NameMarlin
RarityLegendary
RoleCombat
Best ForHall of Heroes, Daily Deals, Mythic General Hero Shard
StrengthsCavalry role coverage, Expedition Attack +240.19%
WeaknessesRequires matching troop focus, shard access, and pairings before heavy investment.
F2P FriendlyDepends on source availability

Conquest Attack

3,235

Conquest Defense

2,220

Conquest Health

19,980

Expedition Attack

+240.19%

Expedition Defense

+240.19%

Skills

Marlin Fermented Blow skill iconConquestFermented BlowMarlin's deadly airborne concoction deals Attack*50%/55%/60%/65%/70% Area of Effect damage.
Marlin Lucky Hit skill iconConquestLucky HitGood fortune inevitably follows bad. Marlin stuns targets for 0.2/0.2/0.4/0.4/0.5s after every 8/7/7/6/5 strikes.
Marlin Tidal Rush skill iconConquestTidal RushMarlin is a tidal force on the battlefield, literally and figuratively, when he unleashes a pulse dealing 200%/220%/240%/260%/280% Area of Effect damage and immobilizing the enemy for 1.5s.
Marlin Dynamo skill iconExpeditionDynamoGrants your squads' attack a 50% chance of increasing damage dealt by 10%/20%/30%/40%/50%.
Marlin Rumhead skill iconExpeditionRumhead"Stiff rum can drown 'most any battlefield sorrow". Marlin grants all squads a 20% chance of reducing the total Enemy Squads' Lethality by 10%/20%/30%/40%/50% for 2 turns when attacking.
Marlin Wild Card skill iconExpeditionWild CardMarlin, being unpredictable, has a 8%/16%/24%/32%/40% chance of increasing damage dealt by 50% for all squads.

Best Builds

  • PvP build: use Marlin only when your troop type, gear, and partner hero support the same combat plan.
  • PvE build: prioritize consistent clears and event value before niche damage setups.
  • F2P build: delay heavy investment until Marlin's shard sources fit your account.

Best Pairings

  • Alcar: similar Infantry or Combat role for formation testing.
  • Amadeus: similar Infantry or Combat role for formation testing.
  • Amane: similar Cavalry or Combat role for formation testing.
  • Use pairings that improve the same battle purpose instead of mixing unrelated bonuses.

Formation Tips

  • Match Marlin with Cavalry research and gear where possible.
  • Do not judge a formation by power alone; check whether the frontline, damage, and support roles work together.
  • Test before spending rare shards or speedups.

Upgrade Priority

  • Upgrade Marlin when the hero is part of your main march or solves a specific PvP, PvE, or event bottleneck.
  • Check source availability before using universal shards.
  • Keep buildings, research, and gear aligned with the hero plan.

Common Mistakes

  • Upgrading only because the hero is Legendary.
  • Ignoring troop type and formation role.
  • Spending shards before checking related heroes and source access.

Hero Shards

5 star rows

StarsTier 1Tier 2Tier 3Tier 4Tier 5Tier 6Total
111222210
2555551540
3151515151540115
44040404040100300
5100100100100100100600

Story

Even someone as calm and steady as Forrest often wonders how the large ship from the north suddenly appeared in town. Its hull is riddled with dents of varying sizes, and a massive tear stretches from the center to the bow, as though it had been pierced by some enormous, sharp object. Whenever a curious child or nosy villager approached, they would invariably be chased away by an elderly man wearing a black tricorn and a red woolen coat. One day, the mystery of the vessel was finally solved when the well-traveled Quinn recognized it as "The Santiago," a ship that had been missing for thirty years. The drunken old man turned out to be Captain Marlin, once one of the Four Great Captains. In his prime, Marlin commanded nearly ten ships and had almost a thousand sailors under his command. His remarkable success earned him the title of one of the Four Great Captains from the royal court. Feeling on top of the world, Marlin decided to lead his formidable fleet into an uncharted sea and had a sailor send out one final letter to the world, as his usual practice. "The waters before us seem calm, but I sense there is more to them than meets the eye. Be prepared, everyone! May glory be with the Santiago." This crumpled letter remains in the royal library to this day. Marlin and his fleet vanished into thin air for a full 30 years, and no one knows what became of them. The area where Marlin disappeared became known as the Misty Tides, as it was perpetually shrouded in dense fog. From time to time, thrill-seekers braved its waters, hoping to unravel the mystery of the lost fleet. Yet, they all shared the same tragic fate, becoming yet another chapter in the haunting legend of this sea... In response to the rising number of casualties, the royal court issued a decree banning entry to the area to avoid causing widespread panic. News of the strange event eventually reached even the inland towns. Some call the region the "Demon's Delta," while others describe it as a gateway to the underworld—after all, no one has ever returned alive from those cursed waters. "There's nothing there. Ever heard of sea fog? It forms when cold air meets warm air..." "Burp... Why won't it clear up, you ask? You know anything about the magnetic fields? Well, the magnetic field there's all messed up, and it's trapping the fog. Burp—we were stuck there too..." "We must believe in science! There's no such thing as demons!" The old drunkard did his best to explain science to the other patrons at the bar, but even with his neck turning red, he couldn't get his message through. The crowd dispersed, realizing there was no juicy story. The once-clamorous bar fell quiet again, with only the old drunkard remaining. "Demons? Burp... If there were one, my buddies and I would have already taken care of it. It wouldn't have had a chance to survive..."

FAQ

Is Marlin worth upgrading?

Marlin is worth upgrading when you need a Cavalry Combat hero and can support the investment with shards, formation partners, and gear.

What is Marlin best for?

Marlin is commonly tied to Hall of Heroes, Daily Deals, Mythic General Hero Shard.

Is Marlin F2P friendly?

Check the source list before spending universal shards. Repeatable sources make Marlin more F2P friendly.

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