Game of Thrones: Kingsroad has officially launched in Asia, bringing with it a weapon-swapping system that forces you to think on your feet. You’ll be toggling between two distinct weapons mid-combat. For the Mercenary class, this means switching from their primary two-handed axe to a pair of gauntlets.

While the gauntlets offer snappy, high-speed attacks that contrast sharply with the slower, heavy-hitting axes, they’re a relatively new addition—meaning the community is still scratching their heads over optimal builds. To save you the trouble, KookminTree has crunched the data from the top 20 Mercenary rankers to see exactly how they are setting up their gauntlet skills.

※ Data collected as of 6:00 AM on June 24th.
※ Analysis covers the top 20 Mercenary rankers.
※ Terms in brackets represent specific skills.

95% Preference: The knockout blow, [Uppercut]

Almost every top player is packing both [Uppercut] and [Flurry]. While [Flurry] is your go-to for applying the 'Destruction' status, [Uppercut] is the hammer that hits those vulnerable targets for massive damage.

[Uppercut] boasts the second-highest base damage among gauntlet skills, trailing only [Shield Sweep]. However, its true popularity lies in the 'Extermination' weapon mastery. It doesn't just inflate damage numbers—it restores 45 Fury per use, keeping your skill rotations fluid and relentless.

90% Preference: Instant 'Destruction' with [Flurry]

Mercenaries traditionally build 'Shock' stacks to trigger the Destruction state, which leaves enemies susceptible to increased damage and groggy states. Usually, this requires a lengthy combo, but [Flurry] changes the math entirely.

With [Flurry], you unleash six rapid-fire strikes in close quarters. Landing every hit instantly maxes out your Shock stacks, triggering the Destruction state on command. It’s a game-changer.

It pairs beautifully with engraving effects and weapon masteries that lean into critical hits. If you max out the 'Judgment' mastery, you regain 30 Fury per cast and further boost the critical damage of your [Uppercut].

55% Preference: The self-buff [Onslaught]

At face value, [Onslaught] is nothing more than a basic damage skill. However, invest in the right engravings and weapon masteries, and it transforms into a potent combat buff that pushes your damage output to the limit.

The 'Extermination' engraving bumps your crit damage against 'Destruction' targets by up to 30%. Add the 'Fierceness' mastery, and you’ll shave 15% off your gauntlet cooldowns. Pro tip: save this for the end of your gauntlet rotation to maximize the window before swapping back to your axe for that final, heavy-hitting blow.

40% Preference: Debuffing with [Advance]

The real draw of [Advance] is the 'Rift' engraving. Max this out, and you’ll apply a debuff that increases the damage enemies take by up to 15%. It’s a fantastic asset for party play, as your allies benefit from the debuff just as much as you do.

Conversely, the 'Intensification' engraving—which buffs smash combo damage—feels underwhelming given the current skill-centric meta. Similarly, the 'Repel' mastery isn't worth the investment since it ties into [Shield Sweep], which we’ll discuss shortly.

10% Preference: [Battle Prep] and [Shield Sweep]

[Battle Prep] is designed to buff smash combo damage for you and your party, but it’s largely being ignored because modern combat in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is dominated by skill rotations rather than standard combos.

As for [Shield Sweep], it technically packs the highest damage of any gauntlet skill, but the mandatory charging time is a massive liability. Combined with a clunkier animation than [Uppercut], it just doesn't hold up in the heat of actual combat.