- March of Giants early access opened via a public playtest, with the next wave available October 7.
- Draft phase uses a snake draft (1-2-2-3-3-4-5) across 16 playable giants.
- Lanes run 1-2-2-1 by convention, with tunnels for rotations and no jungle role.
- Progression uses augments, not ability levels or talent trees.
- Matches target a 20-30 minute length driven by objectives like Bulldozers and the Sovereign Gun.
What the March of Giants Early Access Playtest Includes
March of Giants early access is the pre-release testing phase of a trooper-focused MOBA where giants lead armies into trench warfare. The playtest build contains 16 playable characters, a full draft system, objective-driven maps, and an economy built around merits and augments. Names are still shifting between builds — for example, the healer Soloulless was known as "Brother Light" in earlier tests — so expect changes as feedback rolls in.
Video Highlights:
- Full competitive cast recorded about one week before release
- Draft featuring League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, and StarCraft 2 veterans
- Complete match walkthrough covering lanes, shops, and objectives
- Confirms the next playtest opens October 7
Assets, character names, and balance in March of Giants early access are not final. Anything you learn now may change before the full launch, so treat every build as a snapshot, not a finished product.
Draft Phase and Roster Overview
The draft uses a snake format (1-2-2-3-3-4-5), similar to traditional MOBAs. With 16 characters available, team composition matters from pick one. Early playtests show tank-heavy openings (Crag, Striker) followed by damage and support in later slots.
| Character | Role | Key Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Crag | Tank | One of the tankiest giants, charge engage |
| Striker | Tank | Shield-based builds, hook mechanic |
| Soloulless (ex-Brother Light) | Support | Healer, steals enemy troopers, makes your troopers invincible |
| Orion | Melee Assassin | Roaming melee carry, Fiora-like dueling |
| Mangrove | Auto Attacker | Stealth mechanics, sleeper-strong damage |
| Stratus | Combo Mage | Ability-combo focused magic damage |
Watch for names changing between builds. If a pick looks unfamiliar, check its kit — many early access giants were renamed from their alpha versions.
First Match: Step-by-Step Flow
Here is how a typical March of Giants match unfolds, based on early access play.
Lane Assignment
The default is 1-2-2-1 (one top, two mid, one bottom). Use the tunnels near your spawn base to rotate freely — no lane assignment is enforced and there is no jungle role.
Farm the Tanks
Last-hit the tank minions for farm. Nearby troopers can charge forward and "hug" targets, making last-hitting easier — use them together while laning.
Use Shops and Supplies
Stand inside the shop circles to buy items. Supplies spawn every few minutes; press Tab to see all timers and plan rotations around them.
Augment Your Giant
Kills on shops and objectives grant augments. Spend augment stars to add range, duration, or power to any ability — this replaces leveling and talents.
Push and End
Commit to bastion damage when you can reach the halfway point, or secure the Sovereign Gun from the Abomination to siege the enemy base directly.
Many new players need 20-25 hours to learn when pushing is safe. Force fights after winning objectives, then push while your advantage is fresh.
Objectives and Win Conditions
March of Giants is heavily objective-driven. Knowing each objective's timer and reward is the difference between a 20-minute stomp and a dragged-out loss.
| Objective | Spawn/Trigger | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Shops | Early game, killable at ~12-13k farm | Merits + augment |
| Siege Do | Spawns at 4 minutes, top side | Troopers push into a bastion |
| Bulldozer | Every ~90 seconds, RNG top/bottom | Team push vehicle with healing beam |
| Boulder | Periodic, RNG location | Counter to trench/bunker lockdown |
| Colossus | Two map corners, channel to claim | Team buff, alchemic + kinetic armor, 80% respawn cooldown reduction for 60s |
| Abomination | Roams the map, killable mid-game | Drops the Sovereign Gun |
Sovereign Gun
- Giant sieging weapon in the 6th item slot
- Destroys bastions if protected
- Drops on death — can be stolen by the enemy
Colossus
- Channeled, contested by the enemy team
- Massive teamfight buff window
- Best used to force a decisive push
Bulldozer
- Spawns every ~90 seconds
- Heals your team with a green beam
- Ideal anchor for grouping mid-game
Troopers open the dome and drop bastion armor to zero, but full damage only lands if you reach the central sliver — otherwise the bastion slowly heals back. Commit or don't bother.
Builds, Items, and Comeback Mechanics
Early access itemization splits damage into alchemic (magic), gun, and army (trooper) damage. The Tab scoreboard colors your build so you can read team compositions at a glance.
| Item | Effect | Best On |
|---|---|---|
| Redirection | Takes damage aimed at teammates | Deploy-defense tanks like Trench Ball |
| Army Boots | Faster movement while charging | Roaming supports and initiators |
| Emergency Escape | Movement speed when shields break | Squishy carries |
| Battalion's Call | Adds soldiers, alchemic damage | Trooper-based supports |
| Sovereign Gun | Sustained bastion siege | Whoever secures the Abomination |
Losing a bastion triggers a comeback mechanic: your troopers gain a temporary buff, and fallen defenders can respawn for a last-stand defense — miracle saves are real in this game.
First Week Playtest Goals:
- Learn the 1-2-2-1 lane setup and tunnel rotations
- Last-hit tanks with trooper charges
- Track supply, Bulldozer, and Colossus timers with Tab
- Spend augments on a focused build path
- Secure and protect one Sovereign Gun push
Split pushing is viable — one playtest Trench Ball ran full damage and threatened lanes alone. Just confirm your damage is built before committing.
FAQ
Q: How do I join the March of Giants early access playtest?
Sign up through the official playtest registration channels before the next wave, which opens on October 7. Check the game's official site and community spaces for sign-up links and announcements.
Q: How many characters are playable in the early access build?
The playtest build includes 16 playable giants, comparable to the launch rosters of other MOBAs like Heroes of the Storm, which is enough for varied draft compositions.
Q: Is there a jungle role in March of Giants?
No. The map supports flexible lane setups (commonly 1-2-2-1) with tunnels for rotations, and the four-lane battlefield was designed so future maps can be adjusted around the same structure.
Q: How long does a typical match last?
The intended match length is 20-30 minutes. Games run longer when teams neglect objectives, so staying on top of Bulldozer, Colossus, and Abomination timings accelerates your wins.