- March of Giants beginner guide: Learn core lane mechanics, soldier control, and team fighting from day one
- Best starter carry: Farrenn offers top-tier damage with stealth, poke, and hard CC
- Upgrade priority: Invest 8 of 10 upgrades into damage for maximum carry output
- Augments: Q gets cooldown and range; W gets area size and root duration
- Mindset: Don't play scared — push advantages, but avoid solo 1v3 fights
March of Giants Beginner Guide: First Match Basics
March of Giants is a lane-based MOBA-style battle game where you control a champion, manage soldier waves, and fight for map objectives. New players often lose matches not because of mechanics, but because they don't understand lane control, upgrade timing, and when to engage. This guide covers the fundamentals, plus a proven starter champion to carry your early games.
Video Highlights:
- Farrenn is one of the top DPS carries in the game
- Her passive extends auto-attack range after ability use
- 8 of 10 upgrades should go into damage scaling
- Stealth (E) lets you ambush low-HP enemies for free kills
- Ultimate clears pushed lanes and roots enemies
Core Systems Overview
| System | What It Does | Beginner Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Soldier Control | Manage wave pushing and lane pressure | High — wins solo lanes |
| Augments (4) | Boost individual skills (cooldown, range, area) | High — pick early, stick to plan |
| Upgrades (10) | Stat boosts: power, attack speed, lifesteal | High — damage-focused for carries |
| Lane Position | Top, mid, or bottom affects roaming | Medium — mid enables stealth roaming |
Spend your first few matches learning soldier control before chasing kills. Lane pressure creates the gold and level leads that make late-game fights winnable.
Best Starter Champion: Farrenn Kit Breakdown
Farrenn is a ranged marksman with one of the highest damage outputs in March of Giants. Her kit rewards patience, poke, and smart positioning — ideal for beginners who want to learn the game while still carrying matches.
| Skill | Effect | How to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | Extends auto range for one shot after an ability (3–5s window) | Poke tool — combo ability then extended auto |
| Q | Long-range single-target sniper shot | Poke from distance; long early cooldown |
| W (Trap of Thorns) | Root CC trap, ~3s arm time, small area | Place ahead of fleeing enemies or in chokes |
| E (Stealth) | Go invisible, attack speed boost on exit | Ambush low-HP enemies or escape ganks |
| R (Ultimate) | Channeled AoE damage, then slow and root | Defend pushed towers; center enemies for full value |
The Thorn trap takes about 3 seconds to arm. Place it well ahead of a running enemy — if dropped at their feet, they'll simply walk around it unless they're in a choke point.
Augment and Upgrade Build Path
Your four augments define how Farrenn's skills scale, and your ten upgrades define her combat power. The proven setup below maximizes poke safety and CC coverage.
Augment Setup (4)
- Q: Cooldown Reduction — spam your sniper shot
- Q: Range — poke from safer distance
- W: Area Size — trap nearly doubles in size
- W: Root Duration — extends from 0.75s to 1.25s
Upgrade Priority (10)
- Lifesteal — sustain and attack speed
- Rapid Reload — scaling damage and speed
- Battle Cadence — stacking attack speed
- Chain Targeting — splash for team fights
- Weapon System Expert — raw power
Situational Upgrades
| Upgrade | Effect | When to Take |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Coordinator | +1% damage from all sources per hit (2s) | Team-fight heavy games |
| Shield Breaker | Up to +20% power vs shielded enemies | Enemy team stacks shields |
| Execution | Kills champions under 5% HP | Enemies escape at low HP often |
| Basic Trainer | +70% basic attack area | Heavy soldier/wave pressure |
| Momentum | Move speed | Almost always — map mobility |
| Damage Reflector | HP, regen, 15% reflect | When you're dying too fast |
| Veteran Shieldmaster | 10% damage reduction with shield | Alternative defensive slot |
Roughly 8 damage upgrades and 2 utility/defense upgrades is the sweet spot. Adjust between 7 and 9 damage depending on how the enemy team comp forces you to play.
Step-by-Step Match Strategy
Early Lane Phase
Poke with Q from max range, then use your passive-extended auto for extra chip damage. Focus on soldier control — don't trade HP for nothing.
Set Traps Ahead
Drop the Thorn trap in choke points or well in front of fleeing enemies. The upgraded size forces them into a 90-degree turn, giving you free shots.
Roam with Stealth
Use E to move unseen and ambush enemies lingering below 20% HP. Many players overstay — punish them for free kills.
Team Fights and Ultimates
Stay at range, stack Fire Coordinator buffs on targets, and save your ultimate for clustered enemies or to clear a pushed tower.
Close Out the Game
With full damage upgrades you can solo most non-tank targets through lifesteal healing. Push lanes with your team and avoid overextending alone.
Beginner Milestones:
- Learn soldier control in your first five matches
- Land Q poke consistently at max range
- Place Thorn traps 3 seconds ahead of targets
- Complete the 4-augment Farrenn setup
- Win a fight using stealth ambush at low enemy HP
Don't be scared to mix it up — but don't solo-dive three enemies either. Skip tanky targets unless they're nearly dead; your lifesteal build wins extended 1v1s against squishier champions.
FAQ
Q: Is Farrenn a good pick for a March of Giants beginner guide?
Yes. She combines long-range poke, a stealth escape, and two hard CC tools, which forgives positioning mistakes while still dealing some of the highest carry damage in the game.
Q: How many upgrades should go into damage?
Between 7 and 9 of your 10 upgrades. The standard build uses 8 damage upgrades (starting with Lifesteal, Rapid Reload, and Battle Cadence) and 2 utility picks like Momentum and Damage Reflector.
Q: Why does my Thorn trap never catch anyone?
The trap takes about 3 seconds to arm and has a small base area. Place it well ahead of a fleeing enemy or in a choke point, and take the area-size and duration augments to nearly double its effectiveness.
Q: Which lane should Farrenn play?
Any lane works, but middle lane makes the best use of a stealth-cooldown augment for roaming. In top or bottom lane, the standard Q and W augments are usually stronger.