- March of Giants best build turns the rage-transforming melee hero into a late-game hypercarry
- Core path: attack speed quest item, then life steal, then pure damage and execution effects
- Early game is weak: play safe, farm last hits, and avoid forced trades before your first item
- Rage mechanic: fill your rage bar to transform into beast form for major damage and tankiness
- Macro matters: build bunkers, take jungle camps, and gank mid once you have boots
March of Giants Best Build Overview
March of Giants, Amazon's MOBA currently in closed alpha, features melee heroes with a rage transformation mechanic that defines the best build path. The werewolf-style hero (nicknamed "Greymane" by players for its similar design) starts weak in lane but scales into one of the strongest late-game hypercarries in the game. The best March of Giants build focuses on surviving the early laning phase, stacking attack speed and life steal through the mid game, then converting into burst damage items that let your beast form shred entire teams.
Video Highlights:
- Rage bar fills through combat and triggers a powerful werewolf transformation
- Ultimate transforms you on demand with roughly a 180-second cooldown
- First item rewards last hits with stacking attack speed
- Late-game beast form provides noticeable damage reduction and tankiness
- Full-soldier builds on other heroes also perform well in the current alpha
Do not force fights before your first item. This hero is noticeably weak during the laning phase against both ranged mages and experienced melee opponents. Farm safely and let the rage bar do the work.
Core Item Build Order
The build follows a clear progression from sustain to damage. Each item solves a specific problem in the match timeline.
| Order | Item Priority | Cost Range | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attack speed quest item | ~1,000 gold | Stacks attack speed on every last hit |
| 2 | Life steal | ~1,500 gold | Sustain for extended laning and jungle camps |
| 3 | Boots | Budget | Rotation speed for mid ganks |
| 4 | HP regen or recovery item | Mid | Covers missing sustain between life steal heals |
| 5 | Weapon System Expert | Late | Highest raw damage item in the game |
| 6 | Execution effect | Late | Executes enemies below roughly 5% HP |
| 7 | Shield Breaker | Situational | Best when multiple enemies run shields |
Attack Speed Core
- Quest item first: permanent attack speed per last hit
- Synergizes with life steal procs
- Speeds up rage generation in fights
Sustain Package
- Life steal at ~1,500 gold
- Add HP regen if lane pressure is heavy
- Lets you safely farm jungle camps between waves
Damage Finishers
- Weapon System Expert for raw damage
- Execution effect to close out kills
- Shield Breaker versus shield-heavy comps
Put your cooldown reduction on the damage talent rather than utility options. Faster damage cooldowns mean more rage generation, which means more beast form uptime in extended fights.
Laning Strategy: Surviving the Weak Phase
The laning phase is where most players lose games with this hero. Your damage output at level one is modest, and minion aggro punishes sloppy engages. The gap closer (W) has no visible range indicator in the current alpha, so test its distance in practice before committing.
Key laning rules
| Situation | Correct Play |
|---|---|
| Against ranged mage | Stay behind your minion wave, farm with Q cone only |
| Against melee | Trade only when rage bar is nearly full |
| Missing a camp check | Use E roar to knock enemies into walls for stuns |
| Low HP after trade | Base rather than overstay — mana and HP both run out fast |
| Enemy turtles under tower | Freeze the wave, take jungle camps, or rotate |
The E ability is your disengage and setup tool: it knocks enemies back, and if they collide with a wall, they get stunned. Save it for when melee opponents commit onto you, then roar them into terrain and transform.
Recovery Speed functions like tenacity — it reduces the duration of stuns and crowd control on your hero. Investing in it is worthwhile when the enemy team stacks CC, as getting chain-stunned is the main way this build dies.
Step-by-Step Match Progression
Safe Farm Phase (0-1,000 gold)
Last hit with your Q cone, avoid all-in trades, and let the wave come to you. Back the moment you can afford the attack speed quest item.
Sustain Scaling (1,000-3,000 gold)
Pick up life steal, then boots. Use life steal to farm jungle camps safely. Watch mid lane for gank opportunities when the enemy is not pushed under their tower.
Macro Pressure (Mid Game)
Build bunkers defensively, but avoid over-investing in aggressive bunker pushes — enemy towers clear creeps under them efficiently. Take the boss when your team groups; it grants a quick revive, extra soldiers, and attack power.
Hypercarry Time (Late Game)
Complete Weapon System Expert and Execution. Pop your ultimate on demand, engage with W onto squishy targets, and use the beast form's damage reduction to tank tower dives with your team.
Closing the Game
Watch your cleave auto-attacks — giant cleave can accidentally hit enemy heroes when you target towers, drawing tower aggro. Split pressure across lanes while your giants siege.
Once fully built, this hero feels nearly unkillable in beast form while pumping massive damage. The late game is where the March of Giants best build pays off — stay patient through the miserable early minutes.
Map Mechanics Every Build Needs
Your item build only works if you understand the battlefield systems around it.
| Mechanic | How It Works | Build Interaction |
|---|---|---|
| Bunkers | Buildable defensive structures | Turtle under pressure, but enemy towers counter them |
| Turtle tanks | Resource-costing tanks that absorb tower fire | They deal no building damage — pair with your own siege |
| Field shop | Costs 70 supplies to construct | Generally skip it; basing is frequent anyway |
| Boss objective | Grants quick revive, soldiers, attack power | Prioritize with your team in the mid game |
| Giants | Map-wide siege units | Protect yours, kill theirs for gold and tempo |
| Supplies | Shared building resource | Spend on defensive bunkers over field shops |
Every Match Checklist:
- Secure the attack speed quest item before fighting
- Test W gap closer range before committing engages
- Roar enemies into walls for guaranteed stuns
- Group for the boss objective in the mid game
- Buy Shield Breaker when enemies stack shields
Set this hero to quick cast. His abilities feel clunky on default cast settings, and the W gap closer especially benefits from faster inputs during fights.
FAQ
Q: What is the best March of Giants build for the rage melee hero?
Start with the attack speed quest item (~1,000 gold), follow with life steal and boots, then finish with Weapon System Expert and an Execution effect. Add Shield Breaker against shield-heavy teams and recovery speed items when facing heavy crowd control.
Q: Why does this hero feel so weak early game?
The hero is designed as a late-game hypercarry. Base damages are low, minion aggro punishes engages, and the true power comes from the beast transformation and completed items. Farm safely and scale.
Q: How does the rage transformation work?
All combat builds up a rage bar. At maximum rage you transform into a stronger werewolf form with bonus damage and damage reduction. Your ultimate also transforms you on demand, but it has a very long cooldown of roughly 180 seconds.
Q: Are field shops worth building?
Generally no. They cost 70 supplies, and you return to base frequently anyway for HP or mana. Most experienced players save supplies for defensive bunkers or offensive tank pushes instead.