Why Nico 2.0 Is a Game-Changer in Call of Dragons
Nico’s transformation in Call of Dragons from an engineering-focused hero to a PvP-oriented unit gives him an entirely new role on the battlefield. This update makes him far more relevant in open-field skirmishes, especially with the rise of archer-heavy compositions in Season 1 and beyond.
What's New with Nico 2.0
In this rework, Nico’s second skill got swapped from engineering to a proper PvP skill. That small change opens up huge possibilities. Now he’s viable not only for building but for taking real action in field combat.
Understanding Nico's PvP Skills
Nico’s first skill, Piercing Shot, is where things start to get spicy. It consumes 1,000 rage and deals 1,400 damage factor to a single target. What makes it shine? A 15% defense break debuff. This combo effect opens the door for counterattack-based setups and synergy with specific pets and heroes.
Reworked Second Skill: Expert Mechanic
This now PvP-centric skill kicks in only during open-field battles. When activated, Nico’s legion gains +10% HP and +15% haste (march speed) for 10 seconds. It only triggers once every 30 seconds but is crucial for both engaging and disengaging during fights.
Base Stat Boosts from Third Skill
The third skill is straightforward but effective: +20% attack and +10% defense for all marksman units in his legion. Combined with the HP buff from the second skill, Nico becomes much tougher in drawn-out battles.
Counterattack Buff via Fourth Skill
When Nico casts his rage skill, his legion gets a 20% boost to normal and counterattack damage for 5 seconds. This effect refreshes every 7 seconds. This works incredibly well with certain pairings and pets built for sustained damage.
Awakening Skill: High Damage Potential
Nico’s awakening skill makes him deadly. When attacking a target that’s already under a defense break, his legion has an 80% chance to deal bonus damage. With the right partner—like Kinara—this effect can keep triggering constantly in combat, leading to frequent bursts of 200+ extra damage.
Best Hero Pairing: Nico and Kinara
Kinara’s jawbreaker skill applies a defense break debuff, and Nico’s awakening skill capitalizes on that perfectly. Together, they’re built for repeated high-damage hits. This is currently one of the strongest archer duos in the game.
Second Pairing Option: Nico and Guanwin
If you’re a free-to-play player or just starting out, Nico + Guanwin is a solid combo. Guanwin adds consistent ranged pressure and is a great pick from the early stages of the game.
Multi-Cavalry Setups with Nico
Nico isn’t limited to archers. If you’re building a march setup with multiple cavalry units, he can fit in as a debuffing utility. Pair him with Ferondil or Theodore to take advantage of defense breaking across different units.
Alternative Pairings to Try
There are a bunch of lesser-known but effective options:
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Nico + Cibol: Works surprisingly well for sustained pressure.
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Nico + Falgrim: High burst pairing.
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Nico + Meline: Great synergy for defensive counterplay.
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Nico + Craig: Strong in early seasons.
Avoid pairing him with Syndion or Frager for now; there’s no strong synergy reported yet.
Top Artifact Pick: Rattle Spear
Rattle Spear is the go-to artifact for Nico 2.0. Its defense penetration effect kicks in whenever Nico’s legion inflicts a defense break, amplifying the power of both his main and awakening skills. It’s also ideal for use with Kinara.
Other Usable Artifacts
If you don’t have the Rattle Spear, try:
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Viola’s Bow – decent alternative for archer setups.
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Shadow Blades – okay for burst but situational.
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Avoid artifacts like Heart of Kamarci, which don’t synergize well with Nico’s kit.
Best War Pet: Shadow Mantico
If you’re not using Kinara—or she isn’t awakened—your best pet is Shadow Mantico. It’s available early and provides a solid mix of offense and sustain for Nico in Season 1.
Snowpeak Rock for Awakened Kinara Builds
Running Nico with an awakened Kinara? Then go for Snowpeak Rock. It works through debuffs, which lines up perfectly with their skill interactions. Just remember: it doesn’t work on Behemoths.
Barbed Mantico in Later Seasons
As the game progresses, Barbed Mantico becomes more viable. Use this if you’re in mid-to-late game and looking to shift from Shadow Mantico while keeping your Kinara unawakened.
Alternative War Pets
If you want to test other pets:
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Frost Bear – works well with Nico + Meline builds.
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Venomous Lizard – applies poison, good for chip damage.
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Avoid Night Rock – zero synergy with Nico’s skill set.
Precision Talent Tree Overview
Most players prefer the Precision tree for open-field archer setups. It enhances counterattack synergy and offers solid mobility options. With options for increased rage, normal attack buffs, and march speed, it’s versatile and flexible for PvP.
Marksman Tree for Long-Range Warfare
This tree focuses on maximizing damage when Nico’s army is above 50% strength. It’s a great pick in long-range seasons where you’re sniping from behind mages and need sustained rage regen and bonus normal attacks.
41% March Speed Talent Build for Mobility
If you want your archers to move faster across the map, the 41% march speed build is the way to go. This hybrid talent setup pulls from three branches to boost movement. It’s especially useful in seasons without long-range mechanics where archers get targeted more often.
When to Use the Speed Build
This setup lets you engage quickly, hit your target, and escape before taking too much damage. It’s ideal for skirmish-style gameplay, especially when fighting in congested areas or flanking behind Behemoth fights.
How to Adjust Talent Builds Based on Strategy
Depending on your playstyle, you can shift points between:
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Adrenaline Rush: For normal attack buffs.
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Head Held High: For rage regen.
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Wild Wind: Bonus skill damage.
Each small change tailors Nico more toward either burst or sustained damage.
The Best Setup for Kinara Synergy
When you’re pairing Nico with Kinara, focus on counterattack and defense break synergies. The Precision tree and Rattle Spear artifact boost this combo’s strengths. The Snowpeak Rock pet only enhances the setup further, provided Kinara is awakened.
Avoiding Skill Overlap
It’s worth noting that some talent tree buffs might conflict slightly with Nico’s built-in skills. For example, Onslaught-related effects can overlap. Make sure your tree doesn’t double stack inefficiently—stick with unique bonuses that enhance core strengths.
F2P-Friendly Builds Using Guanwin
Nico + Guanwin is a perfect free-to-play (F2P) pairing. Guanwin provides strong attack bonuses, and her accessibility makes her a consistent choice from Season 1 onward. With this combo, even non-spenders can compete in PvP.
Why Awakening Nico Matters
Unlocking Nico’s Awakening skill changes everything. Without it, you miss out on the bonus damage trigger that synergizes with defense breaks. If you’re investing resources, aim to awaken him as early as possible.
Talent Point Efficiency Tips
If you’re left with 1 or 2 leftover points in your build, drop them into minor bonuses like:
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1% damage to mages
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0.8% normal attack increase
Small percentages add up, especially in large-scale battles.
Long-Range Warfare: Hidden Advantage
In long-range-focused seasons, Nico performs extremely well from behind the front lines. Pair him with mages and high-HP legions to reduce risk and increase uptime on defense break procs and counterattacks.
Balancing Speed and Damage
If you feel too slow with a full damage build, redistribute a few points into march speed talents. That small increase in movement can make a big difference when repositioning or retreating from losing fights.
Choosing Between Radical and Harvest
When you reach the bottom of the Marksman tree, you’ll choose between:
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Radical: Higher damage dealt overall.
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Harvest: Boosts damage based on enemy type.
Most players lean toward Radical because of the consistent performance across various fights.
Which Talent Tree Do Most Players Use?
Community feedback and gameplay tracking show most players stick with the Precision tree for Nico. It offers the best blend of survivability, speed, and counterattack damage—especially with Kinara.
Artifact Swaps Based on Composition
Running Nico outside of the Kinara combo? Consider switching artifacts. Use Viola’s Bow for general archer builds or Shadow Blades if you're leaning toward burst damage. Avoid niche or support-only artifacts that don’t amplify Nico’s strengths.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Heart of Kamarci
While tempting, Heart of Kamarci lacks synergy with Nico’s kit. It’s better used on support heroes who focus on debuffs and buffs, rather than frontline damage and counterattacks.
Quick Recap on War Pet Choices
To sum up:
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Shadow Mantico = Use when Kinara isn’t awakened.
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Snowpeak Rock = Only if Kinara is awakened.
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Barbed Mantico = Best for mid-game or alternate setups.
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Avoid = Night Rock and other non-synergistic pets.
Don’t Over-Invest in the Wrong Pet
If your Kinara isn’t getting awakened anytime soon, avoid wasting resources on Snowpeak Rock. Focus on building up pets that offer flexibility and long-term use like Shadow Mantico or Barbed Mantico.
Should You Use Nico in Behemoth Battles?
While Nico shines in PvP, he’s not the best choice for Behemoth fights due to his reliance on debuffs, which often don’t apply. Stick to raw damage heroes or dedicated support units for boss-type encounters.
Nico’s Place in the Meta
Even with the latest updates, Nico remains one of the most reliable archer heroes in the game. His defensive debuffs, utility, and synergy with commonly used units keep him relevant in nearly every season.
Is Nico Worth the Investment?
Yes—especially if you already have Kinara or plan to focus on archer-heavy PvP builds. His versatility and counterattack mechanics make him viable across both beginner and veteran-level content.
Final Thoughts on Nico 2.0 in Call of Dragons
Nico’s rework puts him in a much stronger position for competitive play in Call of Dragons. His transition from engineering utility to PvP damage-dealer means that players now have access to a gold-key hero who remains useful even in late-game matchups. Whether you’re playing casually or aiming for top-tier ranks, Nico fits into nearly any archer setup.
To get the most out of Nico 2.0:
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Pair him with the right hero, especially Kinara.
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Use optimized talent trees like Precision or Marksman, depending on the season and your strategy.
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Equip the Rattle Spear for the highest damage output.
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Choose your war pet wisely based on your Kinara’s status and combat goals.
If you're planning to build out your archer marches or need a reliable PvP frontline with consistent debuffing capabilities, Nico remains one of the best investments.
Conclusion
Nico 2.0 is a major upgrade from his original design, now offering substantial value in open-field PvP. His new PvP-focused second skill, combined with counterattack and defense break synergy, makes him a strong option for any archer-heavy setup. He shines brightest when paired with Kinara but still holds value in multiple other combinations like Guanwin and Falgrim. With the right artifact like Rattle Spear and a suitable war pet—whether Shadow Mantico or Snowpeak Rock—Nico can be a frontline presence in any skirmish. Whether you're a new player or a veteran, building Nico is a long-term move that pays off across multiple game seasons.
FAQs
What makes Nico 2.0 better than the original version?
Nico 2.0 replaces his engineering skill with a PvP-focused one, giving him improved performance in open-field battles through HP boosts and speed.
Who is the best hero to pair with Nico 2.0?
Kinara is the best pairing due to her defense break skill, which perfectly complements Nico’s awakening skill for consistent extra damage.
Which talent tree is most effective for Nico?
The Precision tree is most popular for counterattack-focused builds, while Marksman is excellent for long-range warfare in certain seasons.
What artifact works best with Nico?
Rattle Spear is the top choice as it enhances Nico’s defense break synergy, improving his overall damage output significantly.
Which pet should I use with Nico?
Use Shadow Mantico if Kinara is unawakened. Use Snowpeak Rock if she’s awakened. Barbed Mantico is another solid option for mid-game.
Is Nico good in Behemoth fights?
Not really. His kit is focused on PvP, and many of his debuffs don’t apply effectively against Behemoths.
Can Nico be used by free-to-play players?
Yes. Pairing Nico with Guanwin is a strong and accessible combo for F2P players, especially in Season 1.
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