An objective fight, not a kill event
The strategy on this page is community opinion from player guides, not game data. Sanctuaries (12 on the map) and Fortresses (4) are structures alliances fight over in scheduled battles. An R4 or R5 registers the alliance and votes for time slots; the battle runs at the slot most registered alliances chose. Each structure starts garrisoned by Cesare's Rebels, which must be beaten first. An alliance that holds the structure for 30 minutes without a break wins it; otherwise the alliance holding it when the battle ends does. Holding it pays rewards to the whole alliance and season points: 1 for a Sanctuary, 2 for a Fortress. Kills do not decide the result, so the work is to take the structure cleanly and protect the 30-minute timer.
Before the battle
- Members must be in the alliance before battle day. Someone who leaves and joins another alliance on battle day cannot take part.
- A structure you already hold is registered for defence automatically, and does not use up your one Sanctuary and one Fortress for the phase.
- Research the Sanctuary Teleport in Alliance Tech. It works from 10 minutes before the battle and during it, and puts your city next to the structure so marches and refills are short.
- Add the battle to the alliance task list so eligible members get a reminder.
- Clear the Infirmary and save formation presets for attack and garrison.
- Alliance Territory battle buffs do not apply to squads garrisoned in a Sanctuary or Fortress, according to the game's help centre.
Take it, fill it, hold it
Open with one big rally
Only members who help defeat the Rebels get the participation chest, so open with a rally led by your strongest player and let as many members join as you can without risking a failed rally. Joiners put a hero with a damage skill in the first slot.
Against Cesare's RebelsFollow up within seconds
If one rally cannot break a garrison, send a second close behind so the defenders cannot refill. The KingShot Wiki suggests 10 to 15 seconds after the first. Scout first and pick fights you can win: losing rallies over a structure you cannot hold only costs troops.
Against another allianceGarrison at once
Reinforce the moment you capture, and replace wounded or returning marches as they leave. The garrison leader uses a defensive line-up, not a Bear Hunt or gathering one.
After the captureProtect the timer
The win is 30 minutes of unbroken control, so keep marches on the structure rather than chasing kills elsewhere. After the battle, officers hand the Ruler's Chest to the members who took part.
For 30 minutesTroops and heroes
- No source we read gives a troop ratio for Sanctuary Battle. The KingShot Wiki says to garrison with infantry and cavalry and keep archers out.
- For attack rallies, 50/20/30 (the Army calculator Player preset) is the general PvP split guides use at the King's Castle.
- Rally leaders bring their three strongest heroes; joiners bring a hero whose first Expedition skill boosts the rally. Match joiner heroes to the rally: damage skills on attack, defensive skills in the garrison.
- The table below lists heroes our tier list rates S as a rally lead or in a garrison.
Heroes for rally leads and garrisons
Where sources disagree
- Structure names: the KingShot Wiki, heaven-guardian.com and the help centre call the second structure a Fortress. Our data page says Outposts; the help centre treats Outposts as separate buildings with their own buffs.
- Follow-up timing: the KingShot Wiki says send the second rally 10 to 15 seconds after the first; kingshotmastery.com and heaven-guardian.com say only to land rallies close together.
- Battle length: heaven-guardian.com and our data page say up to 2 hours per structure. The KingShot Wiki does not give a length.
- Who can register: the help centre says members above R4 in one answer and R4 or R5 in another. The KingShot Wiki and heaven-guardian.com say R4 and R5.