Summary
9 Kingsisa deckbuilder roguelike autobattlerthat puts a lot of emphasis on the player’s build, letting the work that they put in before a battle shine through during the fights. It is a very strategy-heavy game and requires the player to think before every action they make.
One of the main mechanics that the game has for meta-progression is Perks. When playing with a specific King, players level up that King when the run is over, giving them perk points that they can spend on the available perks for that particular King. The King of Nothing, like his peers, has nine kings that players can invest in.
9Persistent
Browse the World for Free
The Persistent perk should be the lowest priority for the player, all things considered. There’s nothing bad about getting 2 free re-rolls per rank, but it’s just not as good as the other options that King of Nothing has available.
Rerolls can be usedto get new options in the shop, for card rewards at the end of each year, and for royal decrees.
That being said, there are three ranks to the perk, meaning players can get a total of 6 free rerolls. This can give them a great way to hunt for specific cards when creating a build, especially in the shop.
8Lucky
The Colors of the Rainbow
Special cards are rainbow colored cardsthat appear every so often in the shop. They cost the same as normal cards and have unique powers that aren’t beholden to any specific King. They can be quite powerful in the right circumstances, but it all depends on the player’s build.
Increasing the chance of these cards appearing in the shop isn’t necessarily a good or bad thing, but at 20%, this perk gives any player who wants to get more special cards a decent chance at getting their wish fulfilled.
7Ingenious
A Warrior King
Leveling up plots is avery important mechanic in the gamethat forms the basis of the player’s build. Getting level three cards on the board early on means that players know what build they want going forward, giving them the direction they need to make a formidable fighting force. With four kings on the board, the chances of the player getting the card they want are 1 in 36.
Additionally, those numbers drop down even further when considering that cards only appear when fighting the kings they belong to, i.e., the cards for the King of Nothing won’t appear when fighting the King of Blood. The Castle is a card that can appear in any battle and can be consistently and easily upgraded. Having a way to increase its level past the normal barrier is quite useful, especially in situations where the player doesn’t have an immediate plan for the future.
6Planner
Something To Bounce Back
In the higher difficulties of9 Kings, when small mistakes compound and every year of lost ground means a future year full of suffering, having a small boost from losing a life can be invaluable.
When fully realized, this perk gives the player90 gold per life lost, giving them a lot more flexibility when they’re in dire straits about what they can or should do. It’s a lifeline that can help the player rise from their ashes, better than ever.
5Nurturer
Realm of Tanks
High-health troops are nothing to scoff at. They formthe frontline in battleand draw the aggro from most enemies to spare the less health-blessed troops behind them, letting the others deal damage while they bear the burden of enemy fire.
The perk gives a flat 30% HP increase to all troops, giving everything a little extra wiggle room and making the player’s tanks that much better at their jobs. It’s not going to change the outcome of a losing battle, but it will help any builds that rely on high-health troops quite a lot.
4Hoarder
More Options Are Never Bad
The start of a run in9 Kingssees the playerputting down their starting tower, and then getting a hand of 3 cards they can use as a starting off point. Having an extra card at the start can be quite valuable for players who are looking for a specific build.
Two ranks in the perk means that players will start with 5 cards in their hands, almost double the normal amount. This makes the perk well worth it. It also lets players put down the extra card, so that the battle starts when they place or use two cards, not one.
3Expansionist
More Real Estate
Land is the most precious resourcein the game, and it is very difficult to get in normal situations. Players get the opportunity to unlock land once every few years, getting no more than three or four extra plots if they’re lucky.
The Expansionist perk gives the player 3 plots from the get-go, making it a must-have for players who want to have more freedom when playing the game. It is worth saying that these three plots are random and may not be as powerful as three plots that the player handpicks.
2Politician
Say What You Mean
Royal Decrees are powerful buffs that the player can avail once every few years in the game during Royal Decree events. There is a special card in the game that can trigger a royal decree event, but it requires the sacrifice of a plot.
The Politician perk gives the player two extra options to choose from when a royal decree event occurs. Normally, there are three decrees that the player can choose from, but with five decrees, getting the one that the player needs in any given situation is much more likely, especially with a few rerolls.
1Fortifier
Focus on Construction
There aretwo ways to deal damage in9 Kings: Towers and Troops. Towers are often overlooked compared to troops because of their lower profile during battles, but they can be equally as important, if not more important, than the troops on the ground.
20% extra damage is nothing to scoff at, and with the high damage output that towers can achieve, the percentage increase can go a long way.
