- March of Giants tips: Wave control matters more than hero mechanics in this RTS-MOBA hybrid
- Minion micro: Grab, throw (D), and recall (F) small minions constantly to win trades
- Last hits: Time attacks when the yellow bar drops for full gold; dropped coins lose value
- Turrets need minions: The gray protected bar means heroes alone cannot damage towers
- Supply is king: Farm camps, debris, and lane scrap to build tanks, bunkers, and depots
Core Fundamentals: What Makes March of Giants Different
March of Giants tips start with understanding the game's identity: it is a three-lane MOBA from Amazon Game Studios blended with real RTS mechanics. If you come from League of Legends or Dota, familiar elements like lanes, last hits, and abilities will feel natural, but minion command, supply management, and structure building will completely change how you play.
Video Highlights:
- Minions work like Pikmin: pick them up, throw them with D, recall with F
- Last hits grant full gold; missed last hits drop discounted coins on the ground
- Abilities are chosen at level one and every 1,000 XP, no per-level ability ranks
- Turrets have a protected gray bar and require minions to be attacked
- The Colossus is the map's boss objective, similar to Baron or Dragon
| Mechanic | Traditional MOBA | March of Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Minions | Passive wave units | Commandable army, throw and recall |
| Abilities | Leveled each rank | Picked at level 1, then every 1,000 XP |
| Turrets | Heroes can attack freely | Require minions to remove protection |
| Extra systems | Items only | Supply, bunkers, trenches, depots, tanks |
March of Giants is in closed alpha / early access. Mechanics, prices, and balance may change between patches, so verify in-game values before committing to a build.
Minion Micro: The Skill That Wins Games
The single most impactful of all March of Giants tips is minion control. You command armies, and managing them well matters more than outplaying opponents mechanically.
Offensive Micro
- Throw (D) minions at enemies for charge-mode damage
- Collide with opposing minions to clear waves
- Lock enemies in corners with grouped minions
Defensive Micro
- Recall (F) mid-charge to bait enemy engages
- Meet thrown minions halfway and kill them with equal numbers
- Sidestep incoming charge minions to avoid damage
Wave Rules
- Big health-bar minions cannot be grabbed
- Carry limit shown as a black bar, roughly 80 base
- Certain builds and items raise your capacity
| Input | Action | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| D | Throw minions forward | Engaging, clearing waves, siege work |
| F | Recall minions | Fake-outs, defensive retreats |
| Left click (stationary) | AoE attack in front | Last hits, pouncing enemy minions |
| 6 | Drop 10 scrap for teammates | Supporting item spikes |
If an enemy throws minions at you, step up and meet them mid-flight. With equal numbers you can kill the incoming wave before it reaches you, turning their aggression into free gold.
Step-by-Step: Your First Match
Learn and Lock
Complete the in-game Learn tutorials first. The RTS mechanics will trip up veteran MOBA players otherwise. Use the priority system to lock preferred characters before queueing.
Start With Co-op vs AI
Queue into PvE to practice minion micro, last hitting, and supply usage without PvP pressure. PvP availability is also limited to certain hours during early access.
Farm and Last Hit
Grab lane supply at spawn, walk to your tower, and watch the yellow health bar on minions. Attack when it drops below the threshold for full gold income.
Buy Smart
Press P to open the shop. Items mostly cost 500 to 1,000 gold. Use the recommended build path for a clean, dev-tested setup while learning.
Push With Purpose
Group minions, clear enemy trenches, build tanks to absorb turret damage, and destroy two of the three back-line objectives to win.
Voice chat is open mic only during early access, with no text chat yet. Developers have stated they are evaluating text options and have no plans to remove communication outright.
Supply, Structures, and Map Objectives
Supply is the RTS backbone of March of Giants. You gather it from camps, debris, and lane scrap, then convert it into battlefield infrastructure.
| Build Option | Hotkey | Function | Cost Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier drop | 1 | Drops marines for fighting or farming | Cheap utility |
| Trench | 2 | Defensive zone, minions garrison inside | Good for solo lanes |
| Bunker | 3 | Focuses large minions and heroes | Explodes in radius when cleared |
| Turtle tank | 4 | Absorbs turret damage | Turret ignores you unless you hit heroes |
| Depot | 5 | Mobile base, buy items anywhere | 70 scrap, no healing |
| Scrap drop | 6 | Gives 10 scrap to teammates | Free teamwork |
Key objectives to track:
- Bulldozer: Send minions to build it, then defend while they work. It spawns at one of two map locations; if one spot is empty, check the other.
- Colossus: The top-right boss objective, comparable to Baron or Dragon. Only contest when your team is grouped and healthy.
- Shield batteries: One per team in opposite corners. Destroying the enemy battery removes shields from their back-line devices, making pushes far easier.
The red circle indicator means a turret shot is incoming, and turret damage is massive. Never tank turret fire while enemy heroes or giants are nearby, because dealing damage to them instantly refocuses the turret onto you.
Builds and Itemization Tips
Items cost between 500 and 1,000 gold, and augments modify exactly one ability each, so choose carefully. Some items scale permanently over the match while others do not.
| Item Type | Example Effect | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Scaling regen | +1% health regen per 3,000 damage taken, up to 30% | ★★★★★ |
| Augment (range) | Extends Harpoon Punch engagement distance | ★★★★☆ |
| Augment (CDR) | More uptime on shielding W in fights | ★★★★☆ |
| AoE basic trainer | +70% basic attack area, half damage to giants | ★★★★☆ |
| Momentum | Large movement speed boost for rotations | ★★★★☆ |
Hook-style abilities like Harpoon Punch can stun turrets, giving your minion wave free uptime on the tower during sieges.
Per-Match Essentials:
- Complete all Learn tutorials before PvP
- Maintain 60+ last hits by mid game
- Secure at least one Bulldozer
- Destroy the enemy shield battery before final push
- Group minions before every turret siege
FAQ
Q: What is the most important of the March of Giants tips for beginners?
Wave control. Controlling your minion army by throwing (D) and recalling (F) them matters more than hero mechanics. Minions are also required to strip turret protection before any tower can be damaged.
Q: Do I need to last hit like in League of Legends?
Yes, but it is more forgiving. Last hits give full gold, while missed ones drop coins on the ground worth slightly less. Do not overextend for last hits, since turret and minion damage is very punishing.
Q: How do abilities level up?
Unlike League, you pick abilities at level one and then select one every 1,000 experience. There are no per-level ability ranks or talent trees like Heroes of the Storm.
Q: How do you actually win a match?
Destroy two of the three back-line objectives. Be careful: destroying the first one instantly spawns enemy defenders, so back off unless your team is ready to fight.