Heroes 3 wiki - User contributions [en]

Medusa Stores

2026-03-17T07:59:07Z

ReaderCritic: /* Trivia */

{{Creature bank
| width= 210px
| content=
{{Creature bank row|30 %|Medusa|20|c=2000 {{Gold}} 5 {{Sulfur}}|XP=500 ''(520)''}}
{{Creature bank row|30 %|Medusa|30|c=3000 {{Gold}} 6 {{Sulfur}}|XP=750 ''(780)''}}
{{Creature bank row|30 %|Medusa|40|c=4000 {{Gold}} 8 {{Sulfur}}|XP=1000 ''(1040)''}}
{{Creature bank row|10 %|Medusa|50|c=5000 {{Gold}} 10 {{Sulfur}}|XP=1250 ''(1300)''}}
| event=You have found a Medusa Stores. Do you wish to attack the guards? * * * You have found what once was a Medusa Stores, but it has been deserted for some time.
| grid=3}}

== Guards preview ==
{{creature bank preview|omit=|overall=}}
{| frame=box border cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 4}}; margin:5px 20px 10px 0px;"
|- style="text-align:left; background-color:#{{Tan 2}};"
! Guards !! Stacks !! Guards preview !! Upgraded stack
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x5 || rowspan=3 | lots (20-49) of Medusas || pack (10-19) of Medusas few (1-4) Medusa Queens
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x30 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x5 || rowspan=2 | lots (20-49) of Medusas '''several''' (5-9) Medusa Queens
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x5
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || horde (50-99) of Medusas || lots (20-49) of Medusas '''pack''' (10-19) of Medusa Queens
|}

== Default settings for [[Random map|random map generator]] ==
* Terrain: any except subterranean and water.
* Value: 1500.
* Density: 100.

== Trivia ==
* A Medusa Stores is unique among creature banks in that it provides more experience if an upgraded stack is present. This is due to experience being based on hp of the units killed and Medusa Queens having more hp than Medusas.

{{fanopinion|
=== Castle ===
Your main disadvantage here is that [[Pikemen]] have only 4 speed, so you can't use them as blockers. You can use any other unit that has 6 speed or more, like [[Gargoyles]], [[Harpies]], [[Griffins]] etc. Never try to block the Medusas and use your [[Marksmen]], since they will move towards them and attack in melee. This means there are mostly two feasible options with [[Castle]] to take the bank, and that is if you built [[Cavaliers]] or [[Angels]] week 1.

=== Rampart ===
[[Unicorns]] and [[Centaur|Centaurs]] are perfect, just be careful with the [[Elves]] in case the Medusas get morale. You will need to go for the stack that is closest to your Elves with your tank stacks, and than hope that none of the blocked Medusas will shoot at the Elves.

=== Tower ===
[[Nagas]] can pretty much kill everything and your [[Master Gremlin|Master Gremlins]] should kill 1 whole stack too. Gargoyles are
perfect blockers. Try to aim to have Haste ready for the Nagas (not required for Naga Queens), or you may be too slow in the end. If u split the Naga Queens in 5 you can use your Master Gremlins to take out any Medusa stack which gets morale or stones the Naga Queen. You can also split the Naga Queens in 2 and 3 (make sure 3 go down to confront Medusa Queens). You want it look like this (make sure to place Gargoyles exactly as such, since you want the Medusas to enter your Naga Queens' range when killing the stacks of 2 Gargoyles):

[[File: Medusa Stores1.gif|left]]
{{clear|left}}
=== Fortress ===
Stay away from the Medusa Stores, [[Wyverns]] are weak, [[Gnolls]] are slow, and often you will not have many other options. If the Stores are on swamp terrain and you have [[Gorgons]] then you can go for them. Upgrading your Gnolls might also be good - 6 speed and they also hit hard, you can hope to take 1 stack of Medusas out fast.

=== Stronghold ===
Also not recommended to attack them. The [[Behemoths]] can get into trouble due to their speed (Cure would be very helpful but there's only a 5% chance of getting it in Stronghold's Mage Guild) and you don't want to lose your Rocs as well. Usually, Stronghold hardly needs the money, and you don't need Sulfur anyway. If you want to try it, you need another good striking force, like [[Goblins]] or [[Wolf Riders]]. Usually you don't want to split your Behemoths either – if one of them gets stoned, there's a high chance that the Behemoth will die.

=== Inferno ===
Good town to attack it if you have [[Pit Fiends]], and coupled with [[Efreeti]] they hit hard and fast. A large stack of [[Imps]] helps of course, but you really need at least 4 Efreet and 7 Pit Fiends to try it, or else 40 Medusas might defeat you. You can bring a stack of [[Hell Hounds]] as a blocker that lasts a bit longer than a single Imp.

=== Necropolis ===
[[Vampire Lords]] make it a breeze. Without them you can do it with [[Haste]] and a bunch of [[Skeletons]], but you don't have any fast Necropolis blockers except for the [[Wight and Wraith|Wights and Wraiths]] so you might need luck with your Tavern heroes. It is not recommended to take the [[Liches]] with you.

=== Dungeon ===
[[Troglodytes]], [[Harpies]] as blockers and a strong [[Minotaur]] stacks will easily beat 40 Medusas. If you went for [[Manticores]] you could get into troubles because they don't deal enough damage. Hasted Troglodytes are very powerful, and might even kill a single stack with only one attack.
}}

{{map objects 'see also'}}

{{Resource generator navigational box}}
{{creature bank navigational box}}

[[Category: Adventure Map]]
[[Category: Creature Banks]]
__NOTOC__

Diamond Golem

2026-03-16T16:14:54Z

ReaderCritic: /* Official Renders */

{{NeutralCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Diamond Golem}}

'''Diamond Golems''' are level 6 [[neutral creature|neutral creatures]] recruited from the [[Golem Factory]] but only when found on the [[Adventure Map]].

''"Like the [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|stone and iron golems]] found in [[Tower town|Tower towns]], [[Diamond Golem|diamond]] and [[Gold Golem|gold golems]] are highly crafted statues animated through magic..."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 117|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitSmall
| dwelling = Golem Factory
| creature1 = Diamond Golem
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* (none)

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Diamond Golem}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Official Renders ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Diamond Golem render.gif
</gallery>

{{Fanopinion|
=== Toughness ===
They have very low stats for a level 6 unit, the lowest health value if we exclude the Enchanter, and also the lowest defense.

=== Offense ===
The Diamond Golems also have the lowest attack and damage values of a level 6 unit.

=== Efficiency and cost ===
Because they can be recruited pretty easily after taking a [[Golem Factory]], and also due to their very low cost, they are units worth having in early game. However, later on they serve only as cannon fodder.

=== Tactics ===
Since they take only 5% damage from spells, they can be used by a hero who has learned [[Armageddon]], allowing you to sometimes wipe out your enemy's army in one spell, without hurting your own stack too much. There are much better options available out there (Namely: [[Efreet]], [[Black Dragon|Black]] and [[Gold Dragon|Gold Dragons]] or [[Phoenix|Phoenixes]]), but Diamond Golems can be an option if need be.

If you have a stable access to their dwelling and enough resources, you might consider placing them into a town's garrison (but beware of [[morale]]).
}}
<div style="clear:left;"></div>

{{creature 'see also'|up=* [[Neutral creature]]}}
* [[Comparison of Level 6 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle

2026-03-16T09:11:06Z

ReaderCritic: /* Sounds */

{{TowerCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Stone Gargoyle}}
{{Creature/Obsidian Gargoyle}}

'''Stone Gargoyles and Obsidian Gargoyles''' are the second level creatures of [[Tower]]. They are recruited from the [[Parapet]]. Building the [[Sculptor's Wings]] increases gargoyles' growth by 4 per week.

''"Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles are demon-form statues animated for use as troops. They attack with raking claws."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 113|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Parapet
| creature1 = Stone Gargoyle
| creature2 = Obsidian Gargoyle
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
*{{H|Piquedram|Alchemist}}

== Special Ability: Non-living (Bloodless{{-wh}}) ==
Though Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles are considered as [[non-living]], they are still affected by [[morale]] and [[mind spells]]. In [[Horn of the Abyss]]{{-wh}}, they are called "Bloodless" instead of [[non-living]].

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Stone Gargoyle}}
{{CreatureSounds|Obsidian Gargoyle}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

{{Fanopinion|
Their stats are good for a level 2 unit, but they are usually used as cannon fodder to protect the [[Gremlin and Master Gremlin|gremlins]] in the early game. Unfortunately, Gargoyles are immune to [[Resurrection]] and cannot be risen by [[Animate Dead]] as they aren't [[undead]].

Despite their average [[Attack]] and [[Defense]], only 2-3 [[damage]] and mediocre 16 [[health]] they are quite fast after upgrade, having [[Speed]] of 9. Obsidian Gargoyles can be used offensively to block enemy ranged troops or tie up melee stacks while your [[Master Gremlin|Master Gremlins]] deal damage from distance.

[[Bless]] and [[Curse]] have drastic effect on Gargoyles as despite just 1 point of damage range with 2-3 it means 1/3rd average damage more or less. When cast with Advanced [[Water Magic]] or [[Fire Magic]], Bless almost doubles their damage (2,5 to 4), and Curse more than halves it (2,5 to 1).

The most important buff for Gargoyles should be [[Shield]] or [[Stone Skin]], as they are fragile but not particularly strong, so anything that helps them live and distract the enemy just a bit longer while your ranged stacks shoot at them is good.

[[Non-living]] nature means some of the most debilitating spells and abilities will not work against Gargoyles. This includes [[Vampire Lord|life drain]], [[Ghost Dragon|aging]], [[Zombie|disease]], [[Wyvern Monarch|poison]]. However they have [[morale]] and [[mind spell|mind spells]] still work on them.

Because they are relatively cheap, numerous, and fast, they make for good troops to overwhelm mainly ranged armies. They cannot keep up with real hard-hitters, though.

Against [[Necropolis]] army, they can be used to stop [[Power Lich|Power Liches]] from shooting, denying them their powerful death cloud attack, or soak up [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] retaliation, similarly to [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|Golems]] - Vampire Lords are not healed by attacking non-living target. Keep in mind that Gargoyles are not nearly as tough as Golems and are not likely to survive long in melee against powerful stacks like Vampire Lords.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Factory

2026-03-15T08:26:09Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{inhota}}{{TownNew
| mod = hota
| name = Factory
| alignment = Neutral
| class_1 = Mercenary
| class_1_plural = Mercenaries
| class_2 = Artificer
| class_2_plural = Artificers
| country = Terra Nova
| description = Mercenaries and Artificers govern the Factories, wherein tamed, exotic monsters fight side by side with products of advanced technology, such as mechanical constructs and humans equipped with guns or flamethrowers.
| source = Horn of the Abyss
| terrain = Wasteland
| commonGold = 37000
| commonWood = 45
| commonOre = 40
| mageGold = 6000
| mageWood = 25
| mageOre = 25
| mageMercury = 28
| mageSulfur = 28
| mageCrystal = 28
| mageGems = 28
| dwellingGold = 71400
| dwellingWood = 72
| dwellingOre = 95
| dwellingMercury = 17
| dwellingSulfur = 12
| dwellingCrystal = 72
| dwellingGems = 7
| uniqueGold = 12500
| uniqueWood = -
| uniqueOre = 10
| uniqueMercury = -
| uniqueSulfur = -
| uniqueCrystal = -
| uniqueGems = -
| totalGold = 126900
| totalWood = 145
| totalOre = 170
| totalMercury = 45
| totalSulfur = 40
| totalCrystal = 100
| totalGems = 35
| troopGold = 34770
| troopWood = -
| troopOre = -
| troopMercury = -
| troopSulfur = -
| troopCrystal = 6
| troopGems = -
| sp_banned_1_1 = Curse
| sp_banned_2_1 = Death Ripple
| sp_banned_3_1 = Animate Dead
| sp_banned_4_1 = Armageddon
| sl_banned_4_1 = Armageddon
| sp_banned_5_1 = Sacrifice
| sp_banned_5_2 = Summon Fire Elemental
| sp_banned_5_3 = Summon Water Elemental
| name_1 = Arcadia
| name_2 = Ardon
| name_3 = Aurichalcum
| name_4 = Burton
| name_5 = Corakstone
| name_6 = Dardentor
| name_7 = Endurance
| name_8 = Fort Rotwang
| name_9 = Kergar
| name_10 = Mount Copper
| name_11 = New Dolere
| name_12 = Prospero
| name_13 = Ridder
| name_14 = Salda
| name_15 = Volta
| name_16 = Vulcan
}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Factory-in-background.png|Town background
Serpentarium.png| Serpentarium (art by [[Don_ko]] and [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Factory blacksmith.png| Blacksmith (pre-release) (model by [[Don_ko]])
Factory marketplace.png| Marketplace (pre-release) (model by [[Don_ko]])
Factory capitol concept gr.png| Capitol concept (art by [[Don_ko]])
Factory capitol.png| Capitol (pre-release) (model by [[Don_ko]])
Factory sketch.png| Factory castle (sketch by [[Docent Picolan]])
Factory concept.png| Factory castle (art by [[Docent Picolan]])
Factory saloon.png| Saloon: Early plan for [[Gunslinger]] creature dwelling (model by [[Don_ko]])
Factory screen concept.png| Town background (art by [[Docent Picolan]])
Factory castle early concept.jpg| Castle (art by [[Don_ko]])
Agar-docent Factory background.png| Factory background (art by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]] and [[Docent Picolan]])
Donko-factory-layout.png| Early Factory town screen layout (layout by [[Don_ko]])
Factory may2019.gif| Factory town (2019) (background by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]], buildings by [[Don_ko]])
Factory old complete.png| Complete version of the Factory (2019) 
Factory_airship.gif| Pre-final version of the Factory with an [[Unused_content#Horn_of_the_Abyss|Airship building]] available in the town
Factory inspiration.png| Inspiration for Factory buildings
CreatureBackground Factory (Old).png | Old Creature Background
HotA_1.7.0-Data-HotA_lng_snd-Factory3A-bik-Factory3A.webm| Factory ([[Dead or Alive]]{{-wh}} prologue)
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-Factory7A-bik-Factory7A.webm|thumbtime=0:00| Factory after [[Kastore]]'s takeover ([[New Order]]{{-wh}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Thematically, the Factory town is inspired mostly by the Wizard and Warlock factions from ''Heroes of Might and Magic II'', as well as the [[Forge (NWC)|Forge]] concept. From the Heroes 2 Wizard town, it takes the [[Wasteland]] terrain, the halfling unit, and the pen and foundry buildings, though repurposed for different units. In addition, the Halfling Adobe building is taken from the Heroes 2 Barbarian town, where it was used for Ogres; that these are abandoned Ogre buildings is explicitly mentioned during the campaign. From the Heroes 2 Warlock, it mostly takes [[Heroes from other games|returning heroes]] Agar, Elderian, and Wrathmont. From the Forge, it takes the idea of a faction much more technologically advanced than the others thanks to the discovery of the Heavenly Forge, though stops at a Steampunk aesthetic instead of a Cyberpunk one. The flamethrower of the Mechanics and Engineers is directly inspired by the pyros and pyromaniacs of the Forge concept. The names of the Dreadnought and Juggernaut are also taken from the Forge's planned level 7 units, though they were swapped around, with Juggernaut as the base unit and Dreadnought as the upgraded one in the original Forge concept. The factory name "New Dolere" is also inspired by the Forge screenshot were the town is named Dolere (which is normally a [[Stronghold]] name).

* Factory has two creature line-ups: natural and technological. Both have their own level 7 creature and can be developed in parallel. The former (mostly) has faster and more numerable, but fragile units, while the latter has overall stronger but slower and more expensive units.
* Factory army is well balanced in offense, defense and support at all stages of the game.
* Maximum [[Mage Guild]] level is 5.

'''Pros:'''
* Despite its expensiveness Factory can choose one unit line-up and develop it quite quickly.
* Factory has 2 mechanical creatures which can be [[repair|repaired]] (i.e. "resurrected") if damaged.
* Factory towns can "earn" 5-day income (2500 gold) in advance using [[Bank|Banks]] every 5 days. Banks are strategically useful at early game, so could be used to faster max upgrade halls and other income-based buildings in order to have great economical advantage at early game and further.
* [[Halfling|Halflings]] are possibly the best level 1 unit. They shoot, like [[Master Gremlin|Master Gremlins]], but have higher stats and an extra ability (ignoring enemy defence).
* [[Automaton|Automatons]] are among the best level 4 units, with no enemy retaliation ability. They can be used as tanks early on and [[repair|repaired]] with [[Mechanic|Mechanics]] or used as suicide-bombers with their [[Detonation|Detonation at death]] ability, which allows them to explode and deal significant damage to all creatures surrounding them. This can be used early in the game to defeat much stronger enemies.
* [[Bounty Hunter|Bounty Hunters]] are useful for clearing [[Wandering Creatures]], [[Creature Banks]] and hero-vs-hero battles(recommended with [[Shackles of War]] and casted [[Anti-Magic]] spell in order to prevent harmful [[Forgetfulness]] and damage spells) which have only ranged creatures without casualties due to unlimited [[Preemptive Shot|Preemptive Shots]].
* Native terrain is [[wasteland]], which makes it harder for other units to traverse (however, movement penalty is lower than for [[snow]] or [[swamp]], which are native terrains of [[Tower]], [[Cove]] and [[Fortress]], respectively).
* Excellent Grail building; Lightning Rod can wipe out the entire army of wandering creatures, or deal significant damage against enemy hero's army. Sending multiple heroes a turn with no army when one of the allied Factory towns has the Lightning Rod can clear almost all enemies, except for units that have [[Spell immunity]] or a [[Spell Damage Reduction]]. This is the only type of Hit-and-run allowed since patch 1.7.

'''Cons:'''
* Factory is an expensive town. To have both unit line-ups a lot of resources is needed (70 Crystals just for the lvl 7 creature dwellings and their upgrades). On top of that, it has among the highest ore spending on all buildings, and the highest army cost (even when comparing 7 vs 7 units, and not including the level 3 Bellwether Armadillos).
* A lot of the Factory units are quite weak in comparison to other creatures of the same level, especially when unupgraded (most notably Armadillos and Couatls).
* Most Factory units are quite slow (only Automatons, Sandworms and Couatls have at least 8 Speed), and a lot of the units have very low HP (Halflings, Bounty Hunters, Couatls are among the most fragile units for their respective tiers).
* Factory's strength lies in a balanced force. Without some of the units, the faction's weaknesses are exposed.
* Factory doesn't have 1-4 level [[flying]] units. All other towns besides [[Inferno]] and [[Stronghold]] have at least one. Their only flying units are Sandworms (level 5) and Couatls (level 7), both are from the natural lineup.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{Town 'see also'}}

[[Category: Factory]]
__notoc__

Creature Bank

2026-03-15T06:34:11Z

ReaderCritic: /* Creature Banks */

__TOC__
'''Creature Bank''' is a collective term for the [[Adventure Map]] locations where a hero may fight against guards in order to receive a reward. The reward typically consists of [[gold]] and [[resource|resources]], but may also contain [[creature|creatures]] or [[artifact|artifacts]]. The combat against the guards is a unique arrangement, where the hero's troops are located in the middle of the [[battlefield]] surrounded by enemies and [[war machine|war machines]] are not present on the battlefield (though they still provide passive bonuses). [[Tactics]] also does not work in creature banks. As with other battles, slain enemies do not respawn (should the hero retreat or be defeated). Visiting crypts or shipwrecks whose guards have already been defeated, decreases [[morale]] by -1 until the next battle.

Note the shown [[experience]] is based on the total HP of guards to be defeated, not as a separate reward.

[[Naga Bank]] gives [[sulfur]], which may be considered as illogical as there are three other creature banks that are coherent with the magical resource they hold and the town they represent. These three are:
* [[Dwarven Treasury]] guarded by [[dwarves]] from [[Rampart]] and holding [[crystal]]
* [[Imp Cache]] guarded by [[imps]] from [[Inferno]] and holding [[mercury]]
* [[Medusa Stores]] guarded by [[medusas]] from [[Dungeon]] and holding [[sulfur]]
The [[Heroes 3 HD]] mod addresses this by changing the Naga Bank reward from sulfur to gems. This behavior can be toggled off by unchecking the HD+ checkbox.

== Trivia ==
* [[Greg Fulton]] mentions Creature Banks in [[Greg Fulton/Fanstratics Newsletters/8#Fanstratics Feature: Legendary ‘Boss’ Battles|Fanstratics Newsletter #8]] as him settling for not implementing full boss battles in HoMM 3.

== Creature Banks ==

{| border cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="text-align:right; font-size:90%; background-color:#{{Tan 4}};"
!+ colspan=13 height=30px style="text-align:center; font-size:120%; background-color:#{{Tan 1}}; color:white;" | Creature banks
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:110%; background-color:#{{Tan 2}};"
! rowspan=2 | Object
! rowspan=2 | Guards
! colspan=10 | Reward
! rowspan=2 |
|- style="text-align:center; background-color:#{{Tan 2}};"
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Mini Portrait Swordsman.png|Troops|link=Creature]]
! style="padding:0;" width=36px | [[File:BonusArtifact Armageddon's Blade.png|x32px|Artifact|link=Artifact]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Gold 20x18.gif|x32px|Gold|link=Gold]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Wood 20x18.gif|x32px|Wood|link=Wood]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Ore 20x18.gif|x32px|Ore|link=Ore]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Mercury 20x18.gif|x32px|Mercury|link=Mercury]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Sulfur 20x18.gif|x32px|Sulfur|link=Sulfur]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Gem 20x18.gif|x32px|Gem|link=Gem]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Resource Crystal 20x18.gif|x32px|Crystal|link=Crystal]]
! style="padding:0;" | [[File:Exp small.png|Experience|link=Experience]]
|- class="onlyhota"
| style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Ancient Altar}} '''[[Ancient Altar]]'''{{-wh}}
| style="text-align:left; padding-top:0px; padding-bottom=0px; padding-left:7px; padding-right:5px;" | {{{%|100}}} %: {{Cn|Haspid|noname=}}x25 || style="text-align:left;" {{{+|}}} | {{{troops|}}} || style="font-size:110%; text-align:center;" | '''[[Relic artifact|R]]''' || || || || || || || || 7500 {{exp}} || style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 20000 
* The reward is always [[Horn of the Abyss (artifact)|Horn of the Abyss]].
* If the bank has been defeated, the Horn of the Abyss on the exterior disappears.
* Does not appear on random maps unless it is enabled in the template settings.
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Beholders' Sanctuary}} '''[[Beholders' Sanctuary]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Beholder|50|g=3000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=1100|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' water 
* '''Value:''' 2500 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Evil Eye}}s.
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Beholder|75|g=5000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=1650|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Beholder|100|g=6000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]'''|XP=2200|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Beholder|150|g=9000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]'''|XP=3300|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Black Tower}} '''[[Black Tower]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Green Dragon|1|g=2000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=180|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 1500 
* '''Note: Standard battle layout''' (war machines active)
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Red Dragon|1|g=2250 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=180|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Gold Dragon|1|g=3500 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=250|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Black Dragon|1|g=3750 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=300|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Churchyard}} '''[[Churchyard]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=100|Zombie|90|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|g=2500 {{G}}|XP=1800|T1=}} || style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 1500 
* When visited after the guards have been defeated decreases the hero's [[morale]] by 1 for the next battle.
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|crypt}} '''[[Crypt]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Skeleton|30|Walking Dead|20|g=1500 {{G}}|XP=480|T2=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' [[grass]], [[dirt]], [[snow]], [[swamp]], [[sand]] 
* '''Value:''' 1000 
* When visited after the guards have been defeated decreases the hero's [[morale]] by 1 for the next battle.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Skeleton|25|Walking Dead|20|Wight|5|g=2000 {{G}}|XP=540|T3=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Skeleton|20|Walking Dead|20|Wight|10|Vampire|5|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]]'''|g=2500 {{G}}|XP=750|T4=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Skeleton|20|Walking Dead|20|Wight|10|Vampire|10|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]]'''|g=5000 {{G}}|XP=900|T4=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Cyclops Stockpile}} '''[[Cyclops Stockpile]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Cyclops|20|w=4 {{w}}|o=4 {{o}}|m=4 {{m}}|c=4 {{c}}| s=4 {{s}}|gem=4 {{gem}}|XP=1400|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 3000 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Cyclops King}}s.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Cyclops|30|w=6 {{w}}|o=6 {{o}}|m=6 {{m}}|c=6 {{c}}| s=6 {{s}}|gem=6 {{gem}}|XP=2100|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Cyclops|40|w=8 {{w}}|o=8 {{o}}|m=8 {{m}}|c=8 {{c}}| s=8 {{s}}|gem=8 {{gem}}|XP=2800|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Cyclops|50|w=10 {{w}}|o=10 {{o}}|m=10 {{m}}|c=10 {{c}}| s=10 {{s}}|gem=10 {{gem}}|XP=3500|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Derelict Ship}} '''[[Derelict Ship]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Water Elemental|20|g=3000 {{G}}|XP=600|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' water 
* '''Value:''' 4000 
* When visited after the guards have been defeated decreases the hero's [[morale]] by 1 for the next battle.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Water Elemental|30|g=3000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]]'''|XP=900|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Water Elemental|40|g=4000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]]'''|XP=1200|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Water Elemental|60|g=6000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=1800|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Dragon Fly Hive}} '''[[Dragon Fly Hive]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Dragon Fly|30|troops={{Cn|Wyvern|noname=}} x4|XP=600|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 9000 
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Dragon Fly|45|troops={{Cn|Wyvern|noname=}} x6|XP=900|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Dragon Fly|60|troops={{Cn|Wyvern|noname=}} x8|XP=1200|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Dragon Fly|90|troops={{Cn|Wyvern|noname=}} x12|XP=1800|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Dragon Utopia|misc={{!}}160px}} '''[[Dragon Utopia]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Green Dragon|8|Red Dragon|5|Gold Dragon|2|Black Dragon|1|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]], [[Minor artifact|m]], [[Major artifact|M]], [[Relic artifact|R]]''' |g=20 000 {{G}}|XP=3140|T4=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 10000 
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Green Dragon|8|Red Dragon|6|Gold Dragon|3|Black Dragon|2|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]], [[Major artifact|M]] [[Relic artifact|R]]''' x2|g=30 000 {{G}}|XP=3870|T4=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Green Dragon|8|Red Dragon|6|Gold Dragon|4|Black Dragon|3|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]] [[Relic artifact|R]]''' x3|g=40 000 {{G}}|XP=4420|T4=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Green Dragon|8|Red Dragon|7|Gold Dragon|6|Black Dragon|5|artifact='''[[Relic artifact|R]]''' x4|g=50 000 {{G}}|XP=5700|T4=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Dwarven Treasury}} '''[[Dwarven Treasury]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Dwarf|50|g=2500 {{G}}|c=2 {{c}}|XP=1000|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 2000 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Battle Dwarf|name=Battle Dwarves}}.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Dwarf|75|g=4000 {{G}}|c=3 {{c}}|XP=1500|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Dwarf|100|g=5000 {{G}}|c=5 {{c}}|XP=2000|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Dwarf|150|g=7500 {{G}}|c=10 {{c}}|XP=3000|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Experimental Shop}} '''[[Experimental Shop]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Steel Golem|20|troops={{Cn|Giant|noname=}} x1|XP=900|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 3500 
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Steel Golem|40|troops={{Cn|Giant|noname=}} x2|XP=1800|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Steel Golem|60|troops={{Cn|Giant|noname=}} x3|XP=2700|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Steel Golem|80|troops={{Cn|Giant|noname=}} x4|XP=3600|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Griffin Conservatory}} '''[[Griffin Conservatory]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Griffin|50|troops={{Cn|Angel|noname=}} x1|XP=1250|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 2000 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Royal Griffin}}s.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Griffin|100|troops={{Cn|Angel|noname=}} x2|XP=2500|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Griffin|150|troops={{Cn|Angel|noname=}} x3|XP=3750|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Griffin|200|troops={{Cn|Angel|noname=}} x4|XP=5000|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Imp Cache}} '''[[Imp Cache]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Imp|100|g=1000 {{G}}|m=2 {{m}}|XP=400|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 5000 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Familiar}}s.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Imp|150|g=1500 {{G}}|m=3 {{m}}|XP=600|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Imp|200|g=2000 {{G}}|m=4 {{m}}|XP=800|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Imp|300|g=3000 {{G}}|m=6 {{m}}|XP=1200|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Ivory Tower}} '''[[Ivory Tower]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Arch Mage|35|troops={{Cn|Enchanter|noname=}} x3|XP=1050|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' [[sand]], [[snow]] 
* '''Value:''' 7000 
* Does not appear on random maps unless it is enabled in the template settings.
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Arch Mage|50|troops={{Cn|Enchanter|noname=}} x6|XP=1500|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Arch Mage|65|troops={{Cn|Enchanter|noname=}} x9|XP=1950|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Arch Mage|80|troops={{Cn|Enchanter|noname=}} x12|XP=2400|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Mansion}} '''[[Mansion]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Vampire Lord|40|g=2500 {{g}}|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]'''|m=2 {{m}}|c=2 {{c}}| s=2 {{s}}|gem=2 {{gem}}|XP=1600|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 5000 
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Vampire Lord|60|g=5000 {{g}}|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]'''|m=3 {{m}}|c=3 {{c}}| s=3 {{s}}|gem=3 {{gem}}|XP=2400|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Vampire Lord|80|g=7500 {{g}}|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]'''|m=4 {{m}}|c=4 {{c}}| s=4 {{s}}|gem=4 {{gem}}|XP=3200|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Vampire Lord|100|g=10000 {{g}}|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]'''|m=5 {{m}}|c=5 {{c}}| s=5 {{s}}|gem=5 {{gem}}|XP=4000|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Medusa Stores}} '''[[Medusa Stores]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Medusa|20|g=2000 {{G}}|s=5 {{s}}|XP=500 ''(520)''|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any except [[subterranean]] and water 
* '''Value:''' 1500 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Medusa Queen}}s.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Medusa|30|g=3000 {{G}}|s=6 {{s}}|XP=750 ''(780)''|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Medusa|40|g=4000 {{G}}|s=8 {{s}}|XP=1000 ''(1040)''|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Medusa|50|g=5000 {{G}}|s=10 {{s}}|XP=1250 ''(1300)''|T1=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Naga Bank}} '''[[Naga Bank]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Naga|10|g=4000 {{G}}|s=8 {{s}}*|XP=1100|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 3000 
* *Sulfur is replaced by gems in [[Heroes 3 HD|HD Mod]] and [[Horn of the Abyss|HotA]]{{-wh}}
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Naga Queen}}s.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Naga|15|g=6000 {{G}}|s=12 {{s}}*|XP=1650|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Naga|20|g=8000 {{G}}|s=16 {{s}}*|XP=2200|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Naga|30|g=12000 {{G}}|s=24 {{s}}*|XP=3300|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Pirate Cavern}} '''[[Pirate Cavern]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Pirate|20|Corsair|20|troops={{Cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}} x1|XP=600|T2=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' [[rough]] 
* '''Value:''' 3500 
* 50% probability for 1/2 of [[Pirates]] to be [[Corsair|Corsairs]]. 
* Does not appear on random maps unless it is enabled in the template settings.
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Pirate|40|Corsair|40|troops={{Cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}} x2|XP=1200|T2=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Pirate|60|Corsair|60|troops={{Cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}} x3|XP=1800|T2=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Pirate|80|Corsair|80|troops={{Cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}} x4|XP=2400|T2=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Red Tower}} '''[[Red Tower]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Fire Elemental|35|troops={{Cn|Firebird|noname=}} x1|XP=1225|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land. 
* '''Value:''' 4000 
* Limit per zone: 1 
* 50% probability for 1/5 of the guards to be {{cn|Energy Elemental}}s. 
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Fire Elemental|70|troops={{Cn|Firebird|noname=}} x2|XP=2450|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Fire Elemental|105|troops={{Cn|Firebird|noname=}} x3|XP=3675|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Fire Elemental|140|troops={{Cn|Firebird|noname=}} x4|XP=4900|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Ruins}} '''[[Ruins]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Skeleton|20|Wight|3|Wraith|3|Skeleton Warrior|10|Power Lich|1|g=1000 {{G}}|XP=328|T5=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' [[highlands]] 
* '''Value:''' 1000 
* After defeating the guards, the shroud is removed from all tiles within 12 tiles from Ruins. 
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Skeleton|30|Wight|5|Wraith|5|Skeleton Warrior|10|Power Lich|1|g=2000 {{G}}|XP=460|T5=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Skeleton|40|Wight|7|Wraith|7|Skeleton Warrior|20|Power Lich|2|g=3000 {{G}}|XP=692|T5=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Skeleton|50|Wight|9|Wraith|9|Skeleton Warrior|20|Power Lich|3|g=4000 {{G}}|XP=864|T5=}}
|-
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Shipwreck|name=shipwreck 1}}{{-}}{{webp|Shipwreck|name=shipwreck 2}} '''[[Shipwreck]]'''
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Wight|10|g=2000 {{G}}|XP=180|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' water 
* '''Value:''' 2000 
* Can be visited without a boat if placed next to the dry land.
* When visited after the guards have been defeated decreases the hero's [[morale]] by 1 for the next battle.
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Wight|15|g=3000 {{G}}|XP=270|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Wight|25|g=4000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]]'''|XP=450|T1=}}
|-
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Wight|50|g=5000 {{G}}|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]]'''|XP=900|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Spit}} '''[[Spit]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Basilisk|16|g=3000 {{g}}|XP=560|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' [[swamp]] 
* '''Value:''' 1500 
* Does not appear on random maps unless it is enabled in the template settings.
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Basilisk|24|g=4500 {{g}}|XP=840|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Basilisk|32|g=6000 {{g}}|XP=1120|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Basilisk|48|g=9000 {{g}}|XP=1680|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Temple of the Sea|misc={{!}}160px}} '''[[Temple of the Sea]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Hydra|8|Sea Serpent|6|Chaos Hydra|3|Haspid|2|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]]''' x2 '''[[Minor artifact|m]], [[Relic artifact|R]]''' |g=10 000 {{G}}|XP=3830|T4=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' water 
* '''Value:''' 10000 
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Hydra|8|Sea Serpent|7|Chaos Hydra|4|Haspid|3|artifact='''[[Treasure artifact|t]], [[Minor artifact|m]], [[Major artifact|M]], [[Relic artifact|R]]''' |g=15 000 {{G}}|XP=4560|T4=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Hydra|8|Sea Serpent|7|Chaos Hydra|5|Haspid|4|artifact='''[[Minor artifact|m]] [[Major artifact|M]]''' x2 '''[[Relic artifact|R]]'''|g=20 000 {{G}}|XP=5110|T4=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Hydra|10|Sea Serpent|9|Chaos Hydra|6|Haspid|5|artifact='''[[Major artifact|M]]''' x2 '''[[Relic artifact|R]]''' x2|g=30 000 {{G}}|XP=6370|T4=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| rowspan=4 style="text-align:center;"| {{webp|Wolf Raider Picket}} '''[[Wolf Raider Picket]]'''{{-wh}}
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Wolf Raider|50|troops={{Cn|Cyclops|noname=}} x4|XP=500|T1=}} || rowspan=4 style="text-align:left;" |
* '''Terrain:''' any dry land 
* '''Value:''' 9500 
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Wolf Raider|75|troops={{Cn|Cyclops|noname=}} x6|XP=750|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=30|Wolf Raider|100|troops={{Cn|Cyclops|noname=}} x8|XP=1000|T1=}}
|- class="onlyhota"
{{creature banks table row|%=10|Wolf Raider|150|troops={{Cn|Cyclops|noname=}} x12|XP=1500|T1=}}
|}

== Guards preview table ==
{{creature bank preview}}
{| frame=box border cellspacing=0 cellpadding=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 4}};"
|- style="text-align:left; color:white; background-color:#{{Tan 1}};"
! Guards !! Stacks !! Guards preview !! Upgraded stack
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Beholders' Sanctuary]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Beholder|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || rowspan=2 | horde (50-99) of Beholders || '''lots''' (20-49) of Beholders pack (10-19) of Evil Eyes
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Beholder|noname=}}x75 || style="text-align:center;" | 15 x5 || '''horde''' (50-99) of Beholders pack (10-19) of Evil Eyes
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Beholder|noname=}}x100 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x5 || rowspan=2 | throng (100-249) of Beholders || '''horde''' (50-99) of Beholders lots (20-49) of Evil Eyes
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Beholder|noname=}}x150 || style="text-align:center;" | 30 x5 || '''throng''' (100-249) of Beholders lots (20-49) of Evil Eyes
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Crypt]]''' {{---}}''(guards can be pre-checked in {{hota}} only).''
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x30, {{cn|Walking Dead|noname=}}x20 || || Skeletons and Walking Dead only || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x25, {{cn|Walking Dead|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x5 || || several (5-9) Wights
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Walking Dead|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x10, {{cn|Vampire|noname=}}x5 || || several (5-9) Vampires
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Walking Dead|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x10, {{cn|Vampire|noname=}}x10 || || pack (10-19) of Vampires
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Cyclops Stockpile]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Cyclops|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x5 || rowspan=3 | lots (20-49) of Cyclopses || pack (10-19) of Cyclopses few (1-4) Cyclops Kings
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Cyclops|noname=}}x30 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x5 || rowspan=2 | lots (20-49) of Cyclopses '''several''' (5-9) Cyclops Kings
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Cyclops|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x5
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Cyclops|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || horde (50-99) of Cyclopses || lots (20-49) of Cyclopses '''pack''' (10-19) of Cyclops Kings
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Dragon Fly Hive]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Dragon Fly|noname=}}x30 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x5 || rowspan=2 | lots (20-49) of Dragon Flies || rowspan=4 | No
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Dragon Fly|noname=}}x45 || style="text-align:center;" | 9 x5
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Dragon Fly|noname=}}x60 || style="text-align:center;" | 12 x5 || rowspan=2 | horde (50-99) of Dragon Flies
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Dragon Fly|noname=}}x90 || style="text-align:center;" | 18 x5
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Dragon Utopia]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Green Dragon|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Red Dragon|noname=}}x5, {{cn|Gold Dragon|noname=}}x2, {{cn|Black Dragon|noname=}}x1 || || rowspan=2 | pack (10-19) of creatures || rowspan=4 | No
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Green Dragon|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Red Dragon|noname=}}x6, {{cn|Gold Dragon|noname=}}x3, {{cn|Black Dragon|noname=}}x2 ||
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Green Dragon|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Red Dragon|noname=}}x6, {{cn|Gold Dragon|noname=}}x4, {{cn|Black Dragon|noname=}}x3 || || lots (20-49) of creatures '''few''' (1-4) Black Dragons
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Green Dragon|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Red Dragon|noname=}}x7, {{cn|Gold Dragon|noname=}}x6, {{cn|Black Dragon|noname=}}x5 || || lots (20-49) of creatures '''several''' (5-9) Black Dragons
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Dwarven Treasury]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Dwarf|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || rowspan=2 | horde (50-99) of Dwarves || '''lots''' (20-49) of Dwarves pack (10-19) of Battle Dwarves
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Dwarf|noname=}}x75 || style="text-align:center;" | 15 x5 || '''horde''' (50-99) of Dwarves pack (10-19) of Battle Dwarves
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Dwarf|noname=}}x100 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x5 || rowspan=2 | throng (100-249) of Dwarves || '''horde''' (50-99) of Dwarves lots (20-49) of Battle Dwarves
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Dwarf|noname=}}x150 || style="text-align:center;" | 30 x5 || '''throng''' (100-249) of Dwarves lots (20-49) of Battle Dwarves
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Derelict Ship]]''' {{---}}''(guards can be pre-checked in {{hota}} only).''
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Water Elemental|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x5 || rowspan=3 | lots (20-49) of Water Elementals || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Water Elemental|noname=}}x30 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Water Elemental|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Water Elemental|noname=}}x60 || style="text-align:center;" | 12 x5 || horde (50-99) of Water Elementals
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Experimental Shop]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Steel Golem|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x5 || rowspan=2 | lots (20-49) of Steel Golems || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Steel Golem|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Steel Golem|noname=}}x60 || style="text-align:center;" | 12 x5 || rowspan=2 | horde (50-99) of Steel Golems
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Steel Golem|noname=}}x80 || style="text-align:center;" | 16 x5
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Griffin Conservatory]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Griffin|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || horde (50-99) of Griffins || '''lots''' (20-49) of Griffins '''pack''' (10-19) of Royal Griffins
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Griffin|noname=}}x100 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x5 || rowspan=3 | throng (100-249) of Griffins || '''horde''' (50-99) of Griffins lots (20-49) of Royal Griffins
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Griffin|noname=}}x150 || style="text-align:center;" | 30 x5 || rowspan=2 | '''throng''' (100-249) of Griffins lots (20-49) of Royal Griffins
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Griffin|noname=}}x200 || style="text-align:center;" | 40 x5
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Imp Cache]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Imp|noname=}}x100 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x5 || rowspan=3 | throng (100-249) of Imps || '''horde''' (50-99) of Imps lots (20-49) of Familiars
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Imp|noname=}}x150 || style="text-align:center;" | 30 x5 || rowspan=2 | '''throng''' (100-249) of Imps lots (20-49) of Familiars
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Imp|noname=}}x200 || style="text-align:center;" | 40 x5
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Imp|noname=}}x300 || style="text-align:center;" | 60 x5 || swarm (250-499) of Imps || throng (100-249) of Imps '''horde''' (50-99) of Familiars
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Ivory Tower]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Arch Mage|noname=}}x35 || style="text-align:center;" | 7 x5 || lots (20-49) of Arch Magi || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Arch Mage|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || rowspan=3 | horde (50-99) of Arch Magi
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Arch Mage|noname=}}x65 || style="text-align:center;" | 13 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Arch Mage|noname=}}x80 || style="text-align:center;" | 16 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Mansion]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Vampire Lord|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x5 || lots (20-49) of Vampire Lords || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Vampire Lord|noname=}}x60 || style="text-align:center;" | 12 x5 || rowspan=2 | horde (50-99) of Vampire Lords
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Vampire Lord|noname=}}x80 || style="text-align:center;" | 16 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Vampire Lord|noname=}}x100 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x5 || throng (100-249) of Vampire Lords
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Medusa Stores]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x5 || rowspan=3 | lots (20-49) of Medusas || pack (10-19) of Medusas few (1-4) Medusa Queens
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x30 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x5 || rowspan=2 | lots (20-49) of Medusas '''several''' (5-9) Medusa Queens
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x5
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Medusa|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || horde (50-99) of Medusas || lots (20-49) of Medusas '''pack''' (10-19) of Medusa Queens
|-
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Naga Bank]]'''
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Naga|noname=}}x10 || style="text-align:center;" | 2 x5 || rowspan=2 | pack (10-19) of Nagas || '''several''' (5-9) Nagas
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Naga|noname=}}x15 || style="text-align:center;" | 3 x5 || pack (10-19) of creatures pack (10-19) of Nagas
|-
| 30 %: {{cn|Naga|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x5 || rowspan=2 | lots (20-49) of Nagas || lots (50-99) of creatures few (1-4) Naga Queens
|-
| 10 %: {{cn|Naga|noname=}}x30 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x5 || '''several''' (5-9) Naga Queens
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Pirate Cavern]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Pirate|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Corsair|noname=}}x20 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x4 || lots (20-49) of creatures lots (20-49) of Pirates || pack (10-19) of Pirates
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Pirate|noname=}}x40, {{cn|Corsair|noname=}}x40 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x4 || '''horde''' (50-99) of creatures lots (20-49) of Corsairs || '''horde''' (50-99) of creatures horde (50-99) of Corsairs
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Pirate|noname=}}x60, {{cn|Corsair|noname=}}x60 || style="text-align:center;" | 30 x4 || rowspan=2 | '''throng''' (100-249) of creatures horde (50-99) of Pirates horde (50-99) of Corsairs || '''throng''' (100-249) of creatures lots (20-49) of Pirates horde (50-99) of Corsairs
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Pirate|noname=}}x80, {{cn|Corsair|noname=}}x80 || style="text-align:center;" | 40 x4 || throng (100-249) of Corsairs
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Red Tower]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Fire Elemental|noname=}}x35 || style="text-align:center;" | 7 x5 || lots (20-49) of Fire Elementals || lots (20-49) of Fire Elementals several (5-9) Energy Elementals
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Fire Elemental|noname=}}x70 || style="text-align:center;" | 14 x5 || horde (50-99) of Fire Elementals || horde (50-99) of Fire Elementals '''pack''' (10-19) of Energy Elementals
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Fire Elemental|noname=}}x105 || style="text-align:center;" | 21 x5 || rowspan=2 | throng (100-249) of Fire Elementals || horde (50-99) of Fire Elementals '''lots''' (20-49) of Energy Elementals
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Fire Elemental|noname=}}x140 || style="text-align:center;" | 28 x5 || '''throng''' (100-249) of Fire Elementals lots (20-49) of Energy Elementals
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Ruins]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x3, {{cn|Wraith|noname=}}x3, {{cn|Skeleton Warrior|noname=}}x10, {{cn|Power Lich|noname=}}x1 || || '''lots''' (20-49) of creatures '''few''' (1-4) Wights/Wraiths pack (10-19) of Skeleton Warriors || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x30, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x5, {{cn|Wraith|noname=}}x5, {{cn|Skeleton Warrior|noname=}}x10, {{cn|Power Lich|noname=}}x1 || || '''horde''' (50-99) of creatures '''several''' (5-9) Wights/Wraiths pack (10-19) of Skeleton Warriors
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x40, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x7, {{cn|Wraith|noname=}}x7, {{cn|Skeleton Warrior|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Power Lich|noname=}}x2 || || lots (20-49) of Skeletons lots (20-49) of Skeleton Warriors
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Skeleton|noname=}}x50, {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x9, {{cn|Wraith|noname=}}x9, {{cn|Skeleton Warrior|noname=}}x20, {{cn|Power Lich|noname=}}x3 || || horde (50-99) of Skeletons
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Shipwreck]]''' {{---}}''(guards can be pre-checked in {{hota}} only).''
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x10 || style="text-align:center;" | 2 x5 || rowspan=2 | pack (10-19) of Wights || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x15 || style="text-align:center;" | 3 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x25 || style="text-align:center;" | 5 x5 || lots (20-49) of Wights
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Wight|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || horde (50-99) of Wights
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Spit]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Basilisk|noname=}}x16 || style="text-align:center;" | 4 x4 || pack (10-19) of Basilisks || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Basilisk|noname=}}x24 || style="text-align:center;" | 6 x4 || rowspan=3 | lots (20-49) of Basilisks
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Basilisk|noname=}}x32 || style="text-align:center;" | 8 x4
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Basilisk|noname=}}x48 || style="text-align:center;" | 12 x4
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Temple of the Sea]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Hydra|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}}x6, {{cn|Chaos Hydra|noname=}}x3, {{cn|Haspid|noname=}}x2 || || pack (10-19) of creatures || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Hydra|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}}x7, {{cn|Chaos Hydra|noname=}}x4, {{cn|Haspid|noname=}}x3 || || lots (20-49) of creatures '''few''' (1-4) Chaos Hydras
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Hydra|noname=}}x8, {{cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}}x7, {{cn|Chaos Hydra|noname=}}x5, {{cn|Haspid|noname=}}x4 || || '''several''' (5-9) Chaos Hydras '''few''' (1-4) Haspids
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Hydra|noname=}}x10, {{cn|Sea Serpent|noname=}}x9, {{cn|Chaos Hydra|noname=}}x6, {{cn|Haspid|noname=}}x5 || || pack (10-19) of Hydras '''several''' (5-9) Haspids
|- class="onlyhota"
| colspan=4 style="background-color:#{{Tan 2}};" | '''[[Wolf Raider Picket]]'''{{-wh}}
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Wolf Raider|noname=}}x50 || style="text-align:center;" | 10 x5 || rowspan=2 | horde (50-99) of Wolf Raiders || rowspan=4 | No
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Wolf Raider|noname=}}x75 || style="text-align:center;" | 15 x5
|- class="onlyhota"
| 30 %: {{cn|Wolf Raider|noname=}}x100 || style="text-align:center;" | 20 x5 || rowspan=2 | throng (100-249) of Wolf Raiders
|- class="onlyhota"
| 10 %: {{cn|Wolf Raider|noname=}}x150 || style="text-align:center;" | 30 x5
|}

{{creature bank navigational box|img=Dragon Fly Hive}}

[[Category: Terms]]
[[Category: Creature Banks|*]]

Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle

2026-03-14T04:23:16Z

ReaderCritic: /* Sounds */

{{TowerCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Stone Gargoyle}}
{{Creature/Obsidian Gargoyle}}

'''Stone Gargoyles and Obsidian Gargoyles''' are the second level creatures of [[Tower]]. They are recruited from the [[Parapet]]. Building the [[Sculptor's Wings]] increases gargoyles' growth by 4 per week.

''"Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles are demon-form statues animated for use as troops. They attack with raking claws."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 113|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Parapet
| creature1 = Stone Gargoyle
| creature2 = Obsidian Gargoyle
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
*{{H|Piquedram|Alchemist}}

== Special Ability: Non-living (Bloodless{{-wh}}) ==
Though Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles are considered as [[non-living]], they are still affected by [[morale]] and [[mind spells]]. In [[Horn of the Abyss]]{{-wh}}, they are called "Bloodless" instead of [[non-living]].

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Stone Gargoyle}}
{{CreatureSounds|Obsidian Gargoyle}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

{{Fanopinion|
Their stats are average for a level 2 unit, but they are usually used as cannon fodder to protect the [[Gremlin and Master Gremlin|gremlins]] in the early game anyway. Unfortunately, Gargoyles are immune to [[Resurrection]] and cannot be risen by [[Animate Dead]] as they aren't [[undead]].

Despite their average [[Attack]] and [[Defense]], only 2-3 [[damage]] and mediocre 16 [[health]] they are quite fast after upgrade, having [[Speed]] of 9. Obsidian Gargoyles can be used offensively to block enemy ranged troops or tie up melee stacks while your [[Master Gremlin|Master Gremlins]] deal damage from distance.

[[Bless]] and [[Curse]] have drastic effect on Gargoyles as despite just 1 point of damage range with 2-3 it means 1/3rd average damage more or less. When cast with Advanced [[Water Magic]] or [[Fire Magic]], Bless almost doubles their damage (2,5 to 4), and Curse more than halves it (2,5 to 1).

The most important buff for Gargoyles should be [[Shield]] or [[Stone Skin]], as they are fragile but not particularly strong, so anything that helps them live and distract the enemy just a bit longer while your ranged stacks shoot at them is good.

[[Non-living]] nature means some of the most debilitating spells and abilities will not work against Gargoyles. This includes [[Vampire Lord|life drain]], [[Ghost Dragon|aging]], [[Zombie|disease]], [[Wyvern Monarch|poison]]. However they have [[morale]] and [[mind spell|mind spells]] still work on them.

Because they are relatively cheap, numerous, and fast, they make for good troops to overwhelm mainly ranged armies. They cannot keep up with real hard-hitters, though.

Against [[Necropolis]] army, they can be used to stop [[Power Lich|Power Liches]] from shooting, denying them their powerful death cloud attack, or soak up [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] retaliation, similarly to [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|Golems]] - Vampire Lords are not healed by attacking non-living target. Keep in mind that Gargoyles are not nearly as tough as Golems and are not likely to survive long in melee against powerful stacks like Vampire Lords.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle

2026-03-14T04:22:10Z

ReaderCritic: /* Sounds */ Their stats are not bad, but they are just not as important as gremlins or tanky as golems.

{{TowerCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Stone Gargoyle}}
{{Creature/Obsidian Gargoyle}}

'''Stone Gargoyles and Obsidian Gargoyles''' are the second level creatures of [[Tower]]. They are recruited from the [[Parapet]]. Building the [[Sculptor's Wings]] increases gargoyles' growth by 4 per week.

''"Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles are demon-form statues animated for use as troops. They attack with raking claws."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 113|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Parapet
| creature1 = Stone Gargoyle
| creature2 = Obsidian Gargoyle
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
*{{H|Piquedram|Alchemist}}

== Special Ability: Non-living (Bloodless{{-wh}}) ==
Though Stone and Obsidian Gargoyles are considered as [[non-living]], they are still affected by [[morale]] and [[mind spells]]. In [[Horn of the Abyss]]{{-wh}}, they are called "Bloodless" instead of [[non-living]].

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Stone Gargoyle}}
{{CreatureSounds|Obsidian Gargoyle}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

{{Fanopinion|
Their stats are average for a level 2 unit, and they are usually used as cannon fodder to protect the [[Gremlin and Master Gremlin|gremlins]] in the early game anyway. Unfortunately, Gargoyles are immune to [[Resurrection]] and cannot be risen by [[Animate Dead]] as they aren't [[undead]].

Despite their average [[Attack]] and [[Defense]], only 2-3 [[damage]] and mediocre 16 [[health]] they are quite fast after upgrade, having [[Speed]] of 9. Obsidian Gargoyles can be used offensively to block enemy ranged troops or tie up melee stacks while your [[Master Gremlin|Master Gremlins]] deal damage from distance.

[[Bless]] and [[Curse]] have drastic effect on Gargoyles as despite just 1 point of damage range with 2-3 it means 1/3rd average damage more or less. When cast with Advanced [[Water Magic]] or [[Fire Magic]], Bless almost doubles their damage (2,5 to 4), and Curse more than halves it (2,5 to 1).

The most important buff for Gargoyles should be [[Shield]] or [[Stone Skin]], as they are fragile but not particularly strong, so anything that helps them live and distract the enemy just a bit longer while your ranged stacks shoot at them is good.

[[Non-living]] nature means some of the most debilitating spells and abilities will not work against Gargoyles. This includes [[Vampire Lord|life drain]], [[Ghost Dragon|aging]], [[Zombie|disease]], [[Wyvern Monarch|poison]]. However they have [[morale]] and [[mind spell|mind spells]] still work on them.

Because they are relatively cheap, numerous, and fast, they make for good troops to overwhelm mainly ranged armies. They cannot keep up with real hard-hitters, though.

Against [[Necropolis]] army, they can be used to stop [[Power Lich|Power Liches]] from shooting, denying them their powerful death cloud attack, or soak up [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] retaliation, similarly to [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|Golems]] - Vampire Lords are not healed by attacking non-living target. Keep in mind that Gargoyles are not nearly as tough as Golems and are not likely to survive long in melee against powerful stacks like Vampire Lords.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Warlock

2026-03-12T06:18:21Z

ReaderCritic:

{{HeroClassNew
| name = Warlock
| plural = Warlocks
| faction = Dungeon
| mm = Magic
| alignment = Evil
| description = Warlocks learn magic for the power it gives them to achieve dark and selfish goals. More than any other hero, they focus on the pursuit of magical knowledge over other values. Warlocks often flaunt their power, using magic to alter their features.
| adddesc = ''{{-wh}}"Some people wonder about the fundamental differences between the [[wizard|wizards]] of [[Bracada]], the '''warlocks''' of [[Nighon]] and the [[necromancer|necromancers]] of [[Deyja]]. The answer is simple: there are none. We use the same powers, and the only thing that sets us apart is certain moral limitations. We [[warlock|warlocks]] stop at nothing to find the truth. Some of my colleagues even practice [[necromancy]]. The [[Bracada|Bracadans]], on the other hand, avoid harming living beings as much as possible, and therefore their magical science is hopelessly lagging behind. They hide their inferiority behind intricate inventions like [[golem|golems]], [[gargoyle|gargoyles]], and [[titan|titans]]... Take gunpowder, for one: they invented it, but they only ever use it for fireworks. What a joke! [[necromancer|Necromancers]], on their part, are stuck on their study of death and are terribly reluctant to expand their horizons. Some of them even believe that a true [[necromancer]] should get rid of emotions and feelings, getting closer in his way of thinking to a walking corpse."'' -- {{Hn|Dargem|0=}}
| super =
| source = Restoration of Erathia
| page = 24
| attack_1 = 0
| defense_1 = 0
| power_1 = 3
| knowledge_1 = 2
| attack_2 = 10
| defense_2 = 10
| power_2 = 50
| knowledge_2 = 30
| attack_3 = 20
| defense_3 = 20
| power_3 = 30
| knowledge_3 = 30
| archery = 2
| armorer = 1
| artillery = 1
| ballistics = 6
| first_aid = 6
| interference = {{rt|0}}
| leadership = 3
| luck = 2
| offense = 1
| resistance = {{rt|0}}
| tactics = 1
| air_magic = 2
| earth_magic = 5
| fire_magic = 5
| water_magic = 2
| intelligence = {{gt|8}}
| mysticism = {{gt|8}}
| runes = {{rt|0}}
| scholar = {{gt|8}}
| sorcery = {{gt|10}}
| wisdom = {{gt|10}}
| diplomacy = 4
| eagle_eye = {{gt|8}}
| estates = 5
| learning = 4
| logistics = 2
| navigation = 4
| necromancy = {{rt|0}}
| pathfinding = 2
| scouting = 2
}}
{{hero class 'see also'}}
[[Category: Warlocks|*]]
__NOTOC__

Strategies

2026-02-26T05:18:18Z

ReaderCritic: /* General Strategies */

== General Strategies ==

=== Choosing a good primary (main) hero ===

* A good main hero should be good in battle, and some heroes are equipped with unnecessary secondary skills like [[Eagle Eye]] and [[Learning]]. Avoid them. [[Archery]], [[Offense]] or [[Armorer]] are much better.
* Might heroes are better with big armies than magic heroes. Every point in [[Attack]] and [[Defense]] is useful for every creature, while too much [[Spell Power]] or too much [[Knowledge]] can be of limited use. Sometimes you need a simple spell more than very advanced spells, that need much more power and knowledge to be effective.
* On the other hand, powerful mages with high [[Spell Power]] and [[Knowledge]] can often win battles against neutral creatures without any army whatsoever: [[Solmyr]], [[Aislinn]], [[Luna]] and other spell specialists that focus on damage of their spells can go through battles with only a few (usually fast) units in their army.
* Heroes that can be better with each level are generally better than ones that do not benefit much from having a lot of experience. [[Crag Hack]], [[Mephala]] or [[Malekith]] are better and better with each level, while also combining their specialty with specific primary skills. Obvious exception to this rule include heroes with great specialties that do not scale, such as [[Lord Haart the Death Knight]], [[Luna]] or [[Ciele]].
* Good hero can move fast. Someone with [[Logistics]] (or [[Navigation]] on water maps) is much better than slow heroes. Not only can fast heroes collect more resources, they also gain experience faster. This makes, [[Gunnar]] or [[Kyrre]] good options, especially when playing without {{hota}}.
* [[Estates]], [[Scholar]], and other similar skills are useful, but normally the main hero does not have enough skill slots to have room for them. There are simply more important skills needed for those slots.
* No magic skills? Not good. Try to obtain at least one or two. Your main hero shouldn't have all four though since there will be not enough slots for other important skills.
** [[Earth Magic]] is usually the best choice, due to spells like [[Slow]], [[Resurrection]], and [[Town Portal]] having vastly different effects between Basic and Expert level.
** [[Air Magic]] is often considered a reasonable choice because of [[Fly]], [[Dimension Door]], and [[Haste]].
** [[Fire Magic]] is also a good option, because of [[Curse]], [[Blind]], and [[Berserk]].
** [[Water Magic]] is generally considered to be the weakest of the [[Schools of magic]], especially outside of Island-maps (where [[Water Walk]] could be useful) - it does not have any powerful spells that significantly change their results based on the secondary skill proficiency. As an example, Exper [[Bless]] is only better than Basic when the hero has multiple units dedicated as their main offensive force and all of these units have low damage (as then the +1 damage bonus becomes more relevant). [[Clone]] and [[Teleport]] can be utilised to almost their full potential without the [[Water Magic]] skill. The only exception is [[Prayer]], which becomes significantly better at the Expert level.
* Some [[Secondary Skills]] are great in combination. For example, if you like to use the spell [[Chain Lightning]], the combination of [[Air Magic]] and [[Wisdom]] is very powerful. (You may also consider using [[Sorcery]], however even at Expert level it only increases spell damage by 15%.) Adding [[Intelligence]] or [[Mysticism]] can improve it even more.
* Some heroes start with a lot of creatures. Heroes that have unit specializations of creatures between 1st and 3rd level start with a significantly greater amount of the creatures they specialize in. Using these creatures, the player can create a strong attacking force (often dubbed "powerstack") much more easily. This applies to [[Bron]], [[Illor]], and [[Todd]] as well, who all start with the level 4 creature they specialize in.
* When choosing heroes with creature specialties, consider the bonus of speed they provide. Heroes like [[Josephine]] or [[Ryland]] have a much bigger impact on the usefulness of the troops they specialize in than heroes such as [[Korbac]], whose specialized unit is already very fast.
** Remember that hero specialty bonus to speed of creatures affects the number of [[movement|movement points]] they have at the start of their turn.
* There are a lot of good heroes and bad heroes. Use the forums and Wiki to know more about them.
* Find your build. Different towns need different heroes, but some of the heroes are great in any town, while others are usable only in one town. For example, [[Valeska]] is only good in [[Castle]] towns, while [[Orrin]] is good in every town - and even better in towns with more ranged units - or when using archers from multiple towns. Having [[Marksmen]], [[Magi]], [[Zealot|Zealots]] and [[Titans]] in one army is preferable for him.
* Choose your hero based on the map. For example, if you are playing a map with a lot of snow or swamp, consider a hero with [[Pathfinding]] (such as [[Corkes]]).
* Some magic heroes are great in the hands of a skilled player. Some examples include [[Eovacius]] {{withhota}}, [[Thant]], [[Luna]], [[Victoria]], and [[Jeddite]].
* Overall, [[Overlords]] and [[Barbarians]] are among the strongest heroes, while [[Planeswalkers]] and [[Alchemists]] are among the weaker heroes.

Some of the best primary heroes include: {{Hn|Orrin|0=}}, {{Hn|Mephala|0=}}, {{Hn|Kyrre|0=}}, {{Hn|Gunnar|0=}}, {{Hn|Crag Hack|0=}}, {{Hn|Dessa|0=}}, {{Hn|Tazar|0=}}, {{Hn|Corkes|0=}}{{-wh}}, {{Hn|Dury|0=}}{{-wh}}, {{Hn|Murdoch|0=}}{{-wh}}.

=== Choosing a good secondary (helper) hero ===

* [[Estates]], [[scholar]] and [[logistics]] are some of the preferred secondary skills for heroes, that are not supposed to be fighting.
* Normally, secondary heroes will have much less experience than main heroes. It is possible that they will learn only a small amount of secondary skills.
* Gold and estates specialists are really good, especially on poor maps. They can provide you with gold, so you can build important buildings faster and hire new heroes more often.
* During 4 months, a single gold specialist can provide you with 39 200 gold. That's enough for 4 capitols or 1 entire week of all creatures from a single town. Leena with Expert Estates can produce about 150 000 gold in the same time.
* Logistics is good if you need to move new fresh forces from your town to the main hero, fighting several days from your town.
* In need of gems? Crystals? Mercury? Sulfur? Or do you simply have multiple towns and can therefore trade surplus? Heroes like [[Rissa]] can help you out.
* Scholar can help you with three things: Exchanging spells between important heroes, providing other heroes with a spell a different hero starts with (such as [[Alamar]] with [[Resurrection]] or [[Loynis]] with [[Prayer]]) and copying spells obtained from a [[Pandora's Box]] to other heroes (which is otherwise impossible).
* [[Ballista]] costs as much as a hero. Therefore it's better to recruit a hero with Ballista (such as [[Sir Christian]]) and swap ballista to your main hero. The same applies to [[Cannon]], provided by [[Jeremy]] (which is even more expensive). You can also use [[Rion]], if you need a first aid tent in the castle town.

Some of the best secondary heroes: [[Leena]], [[Lord Haart]], [[Octavia]], [[Aine]], [[Rissa]], [[Alamar]], [[Sephinroth]], [[Jeremy]]...

It's up to the player whether their first hero is a good primary or a good secondary hero.

=== Early [[Capitol]] ===
This strategy is particularly relevant when playing on Hard or lower difficulty on relatively poor, small, closed maps, in which the player is separated from enemies by border guards, long destinations or very powerful monsters. If you then rush for an early capitol, you can have much more gold than other players.
* Pros: You can have more income, allowing you to build new units and buildings with enough gold. You can also have more heroes than usual.
* Cons: With limited amount of creature dwellings, you cannot make a good defense early. You also cannot attack all the wandering monsters and may find yourself unable to conquer any important locations in the first week. As a result, while you will not have a problem with gold, you may miss out on ore, crystals etc. which can be equally important for the city development.

Rushing for capitol is of course hard or even impossible on higher difficulties. Capitol costs 10 000 gold, castle and citadel cost 7 500 gold. Many buildings, like blacksmiths, are not that useful early on (or almost useless for some time), yet they are simply required. However, after two more weeks Capitol pays back for itself fully - 14 x 2000 gold is 28 000 gold.

For early capitol, it is a good idea to pick a good secondary hero (or start with someone) with gold speciality and/or estates. [[Lord Haart]] and [[Leena]] are two best choices.

Example build order:

# Town Hall
# Magic Guild
# Marketplace
# Blacksmith
# City Hall
# Citadel
# Castle
# Capitol
# unupgraded creature dwellings (so you can have as much units as possible)
# other buildings

Note, that generally it is advised not to follow this strategy on maps that have gold more readily available on the map itself (either in gold piles, [[Treasure Chest|Treasure Chests]], [[Gold Mine|Gold Mines]] or [[Creature Bank|Creature Banks]]) or a large number of [[external dwelling|external dwellings]] or [[Creature Bank|Creature Banks]] that provide units (such as [[Griffin Conservatory|Griffin conservatories]], as well as on maps where the enemy can be easily reached. In these cases, the player who decides to focus on building the capitol will be unable to conquer (and therefore recruit) those gold sources and external units, and will also not gain any relevant troops from their town within the first week. As a result, their enemy can simply focus on building an army early on and defeat them within the first three weeks, before the Capitol even pays itself off.

=== Early Army ===
A much more common strategy on rich maps is Early Army, where the player aims to build one or two "powerstacks" (main offensive units) within the first 2 days of the game, and then attempts to build the dwellings of level 6 or level 7 creatures of their town.

For example, when playing as Inferno, this would most often involve choosing {{Hn|Calh|0=}}, a [[Gog]] specialist, upgrading the [[Hall of Sins]] on the first day, and using the [[Magog|Magogs]] as the main offensive force; in the subsequent days, the player would try to conquer as much sources of gold or other resources, in order to build a [[Demon Gate]], a [[Hell Hole]], a [[Fire Lake]], and a [[Forsaken Palace]] in order to be able to recruit 2 [[Devil|Devils]] and 4 [[Efreet|Efreets]] by the first day of the second week.

Alternatively, if the map is not as rich (especially in terms of rare resources required for dwellings of level 7 creatures), players often try to build [[Fortifications|Castle]] and as many creature dwellings as they can, in order to recruit as many creatures as possible by week 2.

=== Dragogeddon ===
A tactical maneuver, wherein the hero aims to cast the [[Armageddon]] spell without harming his own troops. In the original {{roe}}, [[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]] and [[Gold Dragon|Gold Dragons]] were the best creatures to have when using this tactic, hence the name dragogeddon. Important note is that [[Red Dragon|Red]] and [[Green Dragon|Green Dragons]], who are, respectively, basic versions of Black and Gold ones, are immune only to 1-3 level spells, and thus will be normally damaged by Armageddon which is level 4 spell.

In order for dragogeddon tactics to work in the best possible way, the hero requires:
* at least advanced [[Wisdom]] to learn Armageddon
* high [[Primary skill#power_skill|power skill]] for Armageddon to cause as much damage as possible
* reasonable [[Primary skill#knowledge_skill|knowledge]] for sufficient spell points to cast the spell at least few times
* creatures with appropriate spell immunity to cause damage only to enemy units.

Possible creatures for the dragogeddon tactics are:
* [[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]] from [[Dungeon]] (but not Red!)
* [[Gold Dragon|Gold Dragons]] from [[Rampart]] (but not Green!)
* [[Efreet Sultan|Efreet Sultans]] from [[Inferno]]
* [[Fire Elemental|Fire Elementals]], [[Magma Elemental|Magma Elementals]], [[Magic Elemental|Magic Elementals]] or [[Phoenix|Phoenixes]] from [[Conflux]]
* [[Couatls]] from [[Factory]] (by the [[Meditation]]; however, the non-upgraded ones skip a turn during it, so another unit is needed)

Additionally, [[golem|golems]] may be used for the tactic because of their [[Spell damage reduction]] ability. For this purpose, [[Tower]]'s [[Stone and Iron Golem|Stone and Iron Golems]] are typically the easiest to gather. However, dragogeddon tactics are often used in situations where it is essential to rapidly – preferably in the first round of combat – destroy enemy forces, and therefore golems with a slow [[speed]] rating are not a preferable choice. Conflux's Fire Elementals and Magic Elementals are not significantly better. Another option is using [[Angel and Archangel|Archangels]] or [[Devil and Arch Devil|Arch Devils]] who are faster than Gold or Black Dragons, casting [[Anti-magic]] on them in the first turn and Armageddon afterwards (beware that Anti-magic disallows you to [[Resurrection|resurrect]] units).

The combination artifact [[Power of the Dragon Father]], while hard to obtain, makes all of the hero's units immune to Armageddon, allowing dragogeddon usage with any army.

Another situation for dragogeddon is when a player needs to weaken an enemy hero's main force. When used for this purpose, the attacking method is typically hit-and-run, which makes speed essential and Phoenixes the best choice. It is vital for the hero to act first in the combat, cast Armageddon and then [[surrender]] (or [[retreat]]), and then repeat the process. In an ideal situation, the enemy hero's movement has ended up near the defending player's town, when it is a short distance to attack the enemy hero over and over again with Phoenixes combined with Armageddon.

The biggest threats for dragogeddon are [[Orb of Inhibition]], disallowing the use of all spells in combat and [[Recanter's Cloak]], suppressing spells any higher than level 3.

In general, Dungeon's Black Dragons are more likely to be part of Dragogeddon than Rampart's Gold Dragons, since Armageddon spell appears only in [[Alignment|evil alignment]] towns (Inferno, [[Necropolis]], and Dungeon). If a map has Rampart and/or Conflux but no evil alignment towns, it is almost impossible to use dragogeddon tactics.

=== Artifact Monopoly ===
A tactic for the turn's first human player of every month. Since all [[Artifact Merchants]] carry the same stock, the human player who is first in the turn order gets the first choice of artifacts to buy every month. This can be a huge advantage during multiplayer games, as the computers always act after the human players.

If playing with {{sod}} expansion, a solid use of the strategy is to buy every [[combination artifact]] piece they can afford at the first round of the month. After a few months, and with some luck in adventuring, the first player - using this tactic - may combine few of the easier combination artifacts like [[Bow of the Sharpshooter]], [[Cloak of the Undead King]] or [[Wizard's Well]] - all quite powerful.

=== A mite, but not an enemy, very charming, no enmities ===
If you don't have the resources to run that one town you need the troops from, let the enemy capture it and spend all their resources building it for you, then when they least expect it, take it back with minimal force. Losses are 500 (basic city) over 1000 (with [[Town Hall]] building) over 2000 ([[City Hall]]) gold to 4000 gold ([[Capitol]] city, losing the [[Capitol]] to the enemy destroys the 10k gold [[Capitol]] building) each day and the added costs of recapturing the town - but the [[Resources]] needed for better buildings might even be harder to come by and you want that high level unit buildings to be built in the long term, why not let the enemy build them.

=== Stack divide, and conquer ===
Flanking has its uses, [[Cyclops]], [[Wraith]] and [[Genie]] units with their casting or castle wall damage feature work '''without considering the unit amount''' of the stack , so [[Cyclops]] that have damage castle walls as a special will get one castle wall attack per [[Cyclops]] stack (or even advanced [[Ballistics]] and thus two shots when the stack is a [[Cyclops King]] stack), the number of [[Cyclops]] in the stack is not relevant and [[Genie|Genies]] will get their usual allotment of spells without regarding the stack size too - one [[Genie]] and his utility spells is as important as 100 considering spells that they can cast - as opposed to [[Faerie Dragon|Faerie Dragons]] that use damaging spells that depend on the number of units the stack has. [[Genie|Genies]] are level 5 creatures, a [[Cyclops]] is a level 6 creature, both are a little bit faster than level 1 or 2 units in general - and those tend to die off easily midgame so the open places in the army of the hero are not actually wasted given utility spells on worthwhile creatures or faster sieges and additionally higher level creatures also tend to move faster on the adventure map.

== Faction Specific Strategies ==
* [[Castle#User Commentary|Castle]]
* [[Rampart#User Commentary|Rampart]]
* [[Tower#User Commentary|Tower]]
* [[Inferno#User Commentary|Inferno]]
* [[Necropolis#User Commentary|Necropolis]]
* [[Dungeon#User Commentary|Dungeon]]
* [[Stronghold#User Commentary|Stronghold]]
* [[Fortress#User Commentary|Fortress]]
* [[Conflux#User Commentary|Conflux]]
* [[Cove#User Commentary|Cove]]{{-wh}}
* [[Factory#User Commentary|Factory]]{{-wh}}
* [[Bulwark#User Commentary|Bulwark]]{{-wh}}

== See also ==
* [[Tricks]]

[[Category: User commentary]]

Firebird and Phoenix

2026-02-25T10:49:59Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Firebird}}
{{Creature/Phoenix}}

'''Firebirds and Phoenixes''' are the level 7 [[creature|creatures]] of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[Pyre (creature dwelling)|Pyre]]. Building the [[Vault of Ashes]]{{-wh}} increases '''Firebird and Phoenix''' growth by 1 per week.

''"Firebirds are worldly manifestations of creatures from the elemental plane of fire. These magnificent beasts are as quick as fire itself and immune to spells of the same nature. Phoenixes, the more powerful incarnation of the Firebird, can resurrect some of its number from the ashes of its own demise."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 17|AB manual]]''

''"Taken from this plane of existence into the [[Plane of Fire|Realm of Fire]] the Phoenix has once again risen from the ashes to rule again. As the most powerful creature of the Conflux town the Phoenix serves the [[Great Conflux|Lords of Fire]] in order to rid the world of the Demons. Now able to withstand the elemental flames the Phoenix is a more powerful and dangerous opponent to the forces of evil."{{-}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20030807112728/http://www.3do.com:80/products/pc/heroes3/expansion/units/exp_pheonix.html Armageddon's Blade website description]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Pyre
| creature1 = Firebird
| creature2 = Phoenix
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* (none)

== Special Ability: Rebirth ==
'''Rebirth''' is a [[special ability]] of Phoenixes. It causes part of them to "rise from the ashes" if the whole stack is killed. The effect is similar to [[Resurrection]] spell, and it is permanent. The ability works only once per combat per stack.

The number of Phoenixes reborn is equal to the number of phoenixes in the initial stack, divided by 5. Each of the remaining phoenixes has a 20% chance to be reborn. Thus, a stack of 5 phoenixes will always rebirth one, but a stack of 4 phoenixes has 41% chance to rebirth one Phoenix, 15.4% chance to rebirth 2, 2.6% to rebirth 3 and 0.2% to rebirth all 4 Phoenixes.

=={{hota}}==
* Firebird's cost 1500 {{g}} [[File:ArrowL-R.gif]] 2000 {{g}}
* Phoenix's cost 2000 {{g}} [[File:ArrowL-R.gif]] 3000 {{g}}.
* Phoenixes are vulnerable only to the central hex of [[Magog]]'s attack.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Firebird}}
{{CreatureSounds|Phoenix}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights=200px>
Phoenix08.jpg| Phoenix (AB manual p17)
Phoenix render.jpg
AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABab6-smk-H3ABab6.webm|Phoenix ([[A Blade in the Back]]{{-wa}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
'''Beware of breath attack which may kill your own troops as well.'''

Although Firebirds and Phoenixes are immune to fire magic, they are not unaffected by fire-based creature attacks. For example [[Magog|Magogs]]' fireball attack or [[Dragon|Dragons]]' breath attacks are not considered to be magical, and therefore, they do harm Firebirds and Phoenixes. In the original game, they are considered to be one of the most overpowered level 7 unit because of their double growth, speed and specialty. They are useful for [[Dragogeddon]], as they're immune to [[Armageddon]] (''note that in {{hota}}{{-wh}}, only Phoenixes are immune to it, therefore in HotA Firebirds are useless for Dragogeddon'').

Though Phoenixes are not the strongest tier 7 creature, their main strength lies in their incredible speed. They are easily the fastest unit in the game and can cover the span of an entire battlefield with one movement. Even in low numbers, they are extremely handy in the ranks of a hero wielding powerful Expert spells like [[Slow]], [[Haste]] or [[Prayer]]. An army containing Phoenixes is next to guaranteed to strike first, unless the foe has multiple speed-boosting artifacts like [[Cape of Velocity]] and/or is [[Sir Mullich]]. This gives the Phoenix controller the ability to immediately buff their entire army or cripple the opponent's.

The Phoenixes' ability to resurrect themselves, although it only works on a very small number of creatures compared to the original stack size, can be quite annoying for an opponent. For instance, it can make it harder to get rid of a stack of phoenixes forcing a shooter into melee, or to kill all of a weaker hero's army before they retreat or surrender with their artifacts.

They are creatures summoned from the [[Plane of Fire|Elemental Plane of Fire]].
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Psychic Elemental and Magic Elemental

2026-02-25T10:49:26Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Psychic Elemental}}
{{Creature/Magic Elemental}}

'''Psychic Elementals and Magic Elementals''' are the level 6 [[creature|creatures]] of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[Altar of Thought]].

''"Psychic [[Elemental|Elementals]] are the physical evidence of what many consider the fifth element: thought. These creatures are immune to [[Mind spell|Mind spells]]. Their attacks overpower the minds of all those surrounding them, causing enough pain to kill. Enemies enduring such an attack rarely are capable of a [[Retaliation|retaliatory strike]]. Magic Elementals are a product of the sixth element: magic. Magic Elementals are also immune to all forms of magic."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 16|AB manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Altar of Thought
| creature1 = Psychic Elemental
| creature2 = Magic Elemental
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Pasis|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)
* {{H|Monere|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Special Abilities ==
* Psychic Elementals do half damage to units immune to [[Mind spells]]. Because all elementals are immune to Mind Spells, Psychic Elementals' Mind Spell immunity is redundant.
* Magic Elementals do half damage to units immune to magic.
** {{Cn|Magic Elemental}}
** {{Cn|Black Dragon}}

Although {{Cn|Magic Elemental}}s are immune to all spells, they will still be affected by {{Sn|Quicksand}}, {{Sn|Dispel}} and {{Sn|Fire Shield}}.

Note that the damage is ''not'' halved against targets affected by [[Anti-Magic]].

== {{hota}} ==
* Psychic Elementals' cost 750 {{g}} [[File:ArrowL-R.gif]] 950 {{g}}
* Magic Elementals' cost 800 {{g}} [[File:ArrowL-R.gif]] 1200 {{g}}.
* The in-game descriptions for both Psychic and Magic Elementals are updated.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Psychic Elemental}}
{{CreatureSounds|Magic Elemental}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights=200px>
File:AB1 5.png | Magic Elemental (AB manual p5)
Magic Elemental render.png
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
They are creatures summoned from the [[Plane of Magic|Elemental Plane of Magic]].

Because all elementals are immune to Mind Spells, Psychic Elementals' Mind Spell immunity is redundant. Psychic Elementals deal half damage to units immune to Mind Spells, while Magic Elementals deal half damage only to units completely immune to magic ([[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]] and other Magic Elementals).

=== Toughness ===
For a level 6 unit, their health and defense values are below-average. However, unlike the other level 6 units with low hp, like the [[Manticore and Scorpicore|Manticores/Scorpicores]] and both kinds of [[Wyvern]], they have the no retaliation skill, which means they will not receive damage when attacking (unless facing [[Efreet Sultan|Efreet Sultans]] or a troop on which [[Fire Shield]] was cast).

=== Offense ===
They have very good offensive stats, considering their specials; the no retaliation skill helps them retain numbers and they also strike all adjacent enemies, theoretically enabling them to deal the highest raw damage per unit for a level 6 troop, 60-120 and 90-150 for the upgrade. Still, they will usually hit 2 troops at once, which isn't bad at all.

=== Efficiency and cost ===
For a level 6 dwelling, the cost of both the base and the upgraded one together is relatively low, a total of 5 of each resources and only 6000 gold {{g}}. However, the upgraded dwelling requires a [[Mage Guild|Mage Guild level 2]] to be built, which is usually built already. It also requires all other base dwellings except [[Pyre]] to be built, so you probably won't be able to have them available since first week.

The cost of the base and upgraded unit is also very low, only 750/800 gold {{g}}. It was significantly increased in {{hota}}, though. All in all, they are worth their cost.

=== Tactics ===
With this unit, the tactic is to wait for the enemy to make their move first and then attack where you can strike the most stacks. Unlike both [[Hydras]], the Psychic and Magic Elemental occupy only 1 hex and are faster, so it's easier for them to attack more enemies. Still, they should be carefully used as not to be overwhelmed by enemies, while it's good to be always accompanied by allied troops who can take the hits instead, like [[Earth Elemental and Magma Elemental|Earth or Magma Elementals]].

Against them, it's recommended to use up their retaliation on only one troop and then overwhelm them with attacks, so that these elementals won't deal as much damage to your army next turn. Keep in mind: the base unit can't be [[Blind|Blinded]] nor [[Berserk|Berserked]] (as any elemental), and the upgrade is immune to all magic.

If you prefer to be able to cast beneficial spells on your own troops, you might want to opt for the Psychic Elemental, but be aware that it deals 5-5 less damage than its upgraded version.

===Skill bonuses ===
[[Offense]] would be a good skill to have, both because of this unit's specialties and also because at least two [[Conflux]] units deal under-average damage for their growth and levels. [[Armorer]] would be a good choice too, since out of all Conflux creatures, only [[Pixie and Sprite|Pixies/Sprites]] and [[Firebird and Phoenix|Firebirds/Phoenixes]] can be [[Resurrection|resurrected]]. [[Tactics]] could allow you to strike first, using [[Slow|Expert Slow]] on the Phoenixes' turn and then attack with the Psychic or Magic Elementals where it hurts the most, especially enemy archers and vulnerable or important troops.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 6 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Elementals]]
__NOTOC__

Earth Elemental and Magma Elemental

2026-02-25T10:49:03Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Earth Elemental}}
{{Creature/Magma Elemental}}

'''Earth Elementals and Magma Elementals''' are the level 5 [[creature|creatures]] of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[Conflux creature dwellings|Altar of Earth]], or the [[Earth Elemental Conflux]] and [[Elemental Conflux]] on the [[adventure map]]. Earth Elementals can also be summoned with the [[Summon Earth Elemental]] spell. They are creatures summoned from the [[Plane of Earth|Elemental Plane of Earth]].

''"Earth Elementals are forces of Earth Magic. They take no damage from [[Mind spells|Mind]], [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Chain Lightning]], and [[Armageddon|Firestorm]] spells. They take double damage from [[Meteor Shower|Meteor Storm]] attacks. From a source deep beneath the world's surface, roam the Magma Elementals. Slightly stronger than their earthen counter-parts, Magma Elementals can also [[Spellcaster|cast]] the spell [[Protection from Earth]]."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 16|AB manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait2
| dwelling = Altar of Earth
| dwelling2 = Earth Elemental Conflux
| dwelling3 = Elemental Conflux
| creature1 = Earth Elemental
| creature2 = Magma Elemental
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Thunar|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)
* {{H|Erdamon|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Special Abilities ==
* Earth and Magma Elementals: +100% to basic damage to {{Cnu|Air Elemental|Storm Elemental}}.
* Magma Elementals: Can cast {{Sn|Protection from Earth}} at advanced level at 6 power, 3 times per battle.

== {{roe}} ==
In {{roe}}{{-}}{{withroe}} Earth Elementals are level 5 [[Neutral creature|Neutral creatures]]. They are recruited from [[Elemental Conflux]] or [[Earth Elemental Conflux]].

[[File:Earth Elemental portrait (RoE).png]]

=={{hota}}==
* Magma Elementals' level bug is fixed.
* The in-game descriptions for both Earth and Magma Elementals are updated.
* The [[Elemental Conflux]] now increases the growth of all four basic elementals by 1.

== Bug ==
Though '''Magma Elementals''' are level 5 units, the game considers them as level 3 in creature level-based calculations and "Random Monster 3" object in the [[Map Editor]] (''fixed in [[Horn of the Abyss]]{{-wh}}'').

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Earth Elemental}}
{{CreatureSounds|Magma Elemental}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Earthelem.jpg| Earth Elemental
Magma-elemental-sketch.jpg| Magma Elemental concept
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Earth Elementals are one of the worst elementals, since they are incredibly slow and also expensive. Though they will win on melee 1v1 against other elementals, for their cost they are not as good. Also, they have significantly lower growth, with just 4 per week compared to the water's 6 - meaning the Earth Elementals actually produce ''less'' weekly HP. They can neither attack ranged, fly, or have other useful abilities. In fact, they struggle even against level 3 creatures with equal weekly growths.

On the other hand one very notable property is their resistance to [[Armageddon]] (along with [[Fire Elementals]]), making them useful for [[Dragogeddon]] tactics. Another pretty notable property is their resistance to Lightning and Chain Lightning. If enemy heroes forget to research Ice Bolt, Meteor Shower, or Implosion (for the last two, Magma Elementals can still cast Protection from Earth), then these guys will not be able to take much single target spell damage. Overall, this is the elemental with the best resistances.

Magma Elementals have the same weaknesses as their unupgraded counterparts (even with high individual HP for elementals, they have low defense for a level 5 creature: Compare their 11 Def vs the 16 Def of [[Mighty Gorgon|Mighty Gorgons]]). Though it is notable that although they are weak to [[Meteor Shower]], their [[Protection from Earth]] cast spell does offer a defense against Meteor Shower itself. The most important stat upgrade is +2 speed (from 4 to 6).

The Protection from Earth spell was buffed in HotA, resulting in an indirect small boost to the utility of Magma Elementals.

Earth Elementals are basically only suited for garrison defense and Armageddon tactics, while Magma Elementals may find a place in your army but only if you have a lot of gold to recruit/upgrade them. If you can recruit more Storm or Ice Elementals you will be better off with them instead, much as like with Psychic and Magic Elementals. All in all they are a low priority unit.

There is something of note however: Earth Elemental specialty is actually good. The +5 damage means that they deal at least 50% more damage than normal, turning them into decent units along with the atk and def bonus. However, take into account this specialty is fixed (doesn't scale with hero level), so it's more important in the early game. Do note that this type of specialty sadly doesn't upgrade the speed of the creature. Both Earth Elemental specialists ([[Thunar]] and [[Erdamon]]) are identical, starting with Tactics and basic Estates. While Estates will be mostly useless for a main hero, Tactics is key to positioning your slow Earth and Magma elementals forward or in other advantageous positions when the battle starts. If you choose these heroes, your priority will be getting as many earth/magma elementals as early as possible and use their upgraded damage to clear enemies. Still, sadly, even with near +100% minimum damage from the specialty (Earth goes from 4 to 9, Magma from 6 to 11), unsupported Earth Elementals barely can go toe to toe with other level 5 units due to their still overall low stats.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 5 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Elementals]]
__NOTOC__

Fire Elemental and Energy Elemental

2026-02-25T10:48:44Z

ReaderCritic: /* Official Renders */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Fire Elemental}}
{{Creature/Energy Elemental}}

'''Fire Elementals and Energy Elementals''' are the level 4 creatures of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[Conflux creature dwellings|Altar of Fire]], or the [[Fire Elemental Conflux]] and [[Elemental Conflux]] on the [[adventure map]]. Fire Elementals can also be summoned with the [[Summon Fire Elemental]] spell. They are creatures summoned from the [[Plane of Fire|Elemental Plane of Fire]].

''"Fire Elementals are burning spirits of [[Fire Magic]]. They are immune to all [[Mind spell|Mind]] and [[Fire magic|Fire School]] [[spell|spells]], but take double damage from [[ice bolt|Ice Ray]] and [[Frost Ring]] attacks. Energy Elementals gain the ability to [[Flying|fly]] and can also [[Spellcaster|cast]] the spell [[Protection from Fire]]."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 16|AB manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait2
| dwelling = Altar of Fire
| dwelling2 = Fire Elemental Conflux
| dwelling3 = Elemental Conflux
| creature1 = Fire Elemental
| creature2 = Energy Elemental
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Ignissa|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)
* {{H|Fiur|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Special Abilities ==
Although Fire and Energy Elementals are immune to fire magic, they are not unaffected by fire-based creature attacks. For example {{Cn|Magog}}s' [[fireball attack]] or [[Breath Attack|Breath Attacks]] are not considered to be magical and therefore they do harm elementals. ''(In {{hota}}, Fire and Energy Elementals are vulnerable only to the central hex of {{Cn|Magog}}'s attack{{-wh}}).''

* +100% to basic damage to {{Cnu|Water Elemental|Ice Elemental}}.
* Energy Elementals: Can cast {{Sn|Protection from Fire}} at advanced level at 6 power, 3 times per battle.

== {{roe}} ==
In {{roe}}{{-}}{{withroe}}, Fire Elementals are level 4 [[Neutral creature|Neutral creatures]]. They are recruited from [[Elemental Conflux]] or [[Fire Elemental Conflux]].

[[File:Fire Elemental portrait (RoE).png]]

=={{hota}}==
* Energy Elementals' level bug is fixed.
* The in-game descriptions for both Fire and Energy Elementals are updated.
* The [[Elemental Conflux]] now increases the growth of all four basic elementals by 1.
* Fire Elementals' battle animations were updated:
[[File:Creature_Fire_Elemental_anims_(HotA).gif]]

== Bug ==
Though '''Energy Elementals''' are level 4 units, the game considers them as level 5 in creature level-based calculations (''fixed in [[Horn of the Abyss]]{{-wh}}'').

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Fire Elemental}}
{{CreatureSounds|Energy Elemental}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Official Renders ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Fire Elemental render.png
Energy Elemental render.png
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
In their animations, Fire Elementals definitely look like they fly like Superman, but actually they don't. Additionally, both Fire and Energy Elementals have the lowest damage average among level 4 creatures (which can be fixed by having {{H|Ignissa|Planeswalker}} or {{H|Fiur|Planeswalker}} command them as they add +2 to their base damage) while still being as expensive as other same level creatures. Good growth and flight make Energy Elementals usable although far from exceptional.

HotA [[Horn of the Abyss (Changelog)#Version 1.5.2|increased the power]] of [[Protection from Fire]] (this only affects the spellcasting of the upgraded Energy Elementals, however).
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 4 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Elementals]]
__NOTOC__

Air Elemental and Storm Elemental

2026-02-25T10:48:19Z

ReaderCritic: /* Sounds */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Air Elemental}}
{{Creature/Storm Elemental}}

'''Air Elementals and Storm Elementals''' are the level 2 [[creature|creatures]] of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[Conflux creature dwellings|Altar of Air]], or the [[Air Elemental Conflux]] and [[Elemental Conflux]] on the [[adventure map]]. Air Elementals can also be summoned with the [[Summon Air Elemental]] spell. They are creatures summoned from the [[Plane of Air|Elemental Plane of Air]].

''"Air Elementals are powered by the same forces as [[School of Air Magic|Air Magic]]. They are immune to [[Mind spells|Mind]] and [[Meteor Shower]] spells. They take double damage from [[Armageddon|Firestorm]], [[Lightning Bolt]] and [[Chain Lightning]] spells. Storm Elementals wield lightning as their primary attack. They also have the additional ability to cast the spell [[Protection from Air]]."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 15|AB manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait2
| dwelling = Altar of Air
| dwelling2 = Air Elemental Conflux
| dwelling3 = Elemental Conflux
| creature1 = Air Elemental
| creature2 = Storm Elemental
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* (none)

== Special Abilities ==
* +100% to basic damage to {{Cnu|Earth Elemental|Magma Elemental}}.
* Storm Elementals: Can cast {{Sn|Protection from Air}} at advanced level at 6 power, 3 times per battle.
Although Storm Elementals' informative text states that they suffer no [[melee penalty]], it is not true. In {{hota}}, this text has been removed.

== {{roe}} ==
In {{roe}}{{-}}{{withroe}}, Air Elementals are level 4 [[Neutral creature|Neutral creatures]]. They are recruited from [[Elemental Conflux]] or [[Air Elemental Conflux]].

[[File:Air Elemental portrait (RoE).png]]

== {{hota}} ==
The in-game descriptions for both Air and Storm Elementals are updated.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Air Elemental}}
{{CreatureSounds|Storm Elemental|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

{{user commentary|
Air and Storm Elementals have the widest damage range in the game. This makes them awesome with [[Bless]], but useless with [[Curse]].

Air and Storm Elementals are the only 2nd level units without a hero specializing in them.

In order to combat Storm Elementals' vulnerability to [[Lightning Bolt]], put 1 [[Storm Elemental]] out of your shooting stack (if you have space) and use that one to cast [[Protection from Air]] to the stronger stack.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Elementals]]
__NOTOC__

Ogre and Ogre Mage

2026-02-25T10:44:24Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{StrongholdCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Ogre}}
{{Creature/Ogre Mage}}

'''Ogres and Ogre Magi''' are the level 4 creatures of [[Stronghold]]. They are recruited from the [[Ogre Fort]].

''"Wielding great wooden clubs, ogres and ogre mages deal good damage and are very durable. Ogre magi can cast the [[Bloodlust]] spell on any allied troop, once per round."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 110|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Ogre Fort
| creature1 = Ogre
| creature2 = Ogre Mage
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Vey|Battle Mage}}
* {{H|Krellion|Barbarian}}
* {{H|Boragus|Barbarian}} {{withmaped}}

== Special Ability: Spellcaster ==
Ogre Magi cast {{Sn|Bloodlust}} at 6 power at advanced level, 3 times per battle.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Ogre}}
{{CreatureSounds|Ogre Mage|cast=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Trivia ==
* According to [[Greg Fulton]] in [[Greg Fulton/Fanstratics Newsletters/24#HoMM3 Question|Fanstratics Newsletter #44]], the Ogre Magi ability to cast bloodlust is an homage to Warcraft II.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Ogre Mage render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
HC-06_The_Fiery_Moon-Data-xVideo_vid-Intro-smk-Intro.webm|thumbtime=0:12| [[Tarnum]] with a [[Goblin]] and some Ogres ([[The Fiery Moon]]{{-whc}} intro)
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 ELb-smk-H3x2 ELb.webm| Ogre and other bandits in [[Shantanna]] ([[Cutthroats]]{{-ws}} prologue)
AB_CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3_vid-H3X1intr-smk-H3X1intr.webm|thumbtime=0:51.5| An Ogre Mage casts [[Bloodlust]] on a [[Minotaur]] ([[Armageddon's Blade (campaign)|Armageddon's Blade]]{{-wa}} intro)
</gallery>

{{Fanopinion|
Though hindered by their slow speed, Ogres and Ogre Magi have the highest attack and health of any 4th level unit in the game. However, their defense is still low.

Like with most spellcasting creatures, the effect of applied Bloodlust does not depend on stack size. Thus, if you have a free slot, it can be beneficial to separate a couple ogre magi so they can enchant your main ogre stack, as well as any other melee stacks you have, without most of the ogres wasting turns.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 4 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Red Dragon and Black Dragon

2026-02-25T10:41:30Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{DungeonCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Red Dragon}}
{{Creature/Black Dragon}}

'''Red Dragons and Black Dragons''' are the level 7 creatures of [[Dungeon]]. They are recruited from the [[Dragon Cave]].

''"Red and black dragons with their great mobility, flying ability, and powerful [[breath attack|breath weapons]] are among the most effective units in the game. Red dragons are [[Spell immunity|immune to spells]] below level four. Black dragons are twice as durable, do [[Hate|150% damage]] to... [[Giant and titan|titans]], and are immune to all spells."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 91|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Dragon Cave
| creature1 = Red Dragon
| creature2 = Black Dragon
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Mutare|Overlord}} {{withmaped}} (fixed-stat specialty)
* {{H|Mutare Drake|Overlord}} {{withmaped}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Special Abilities ==
=== Magic Immunity ===
This spell immunity is a double-edged sword, though, as it makes both Red and Black Dragons immune to most beneficial spells, and [[Resurrection]] has no effect on Black Dragons. Placing Red or Black Dragons (as well as any other living Dragons) in the [[Skeleton Transformer]] will give you [[Bone Dragon|Bone Dragons]] instead of regular [[Skeleton|Skeletons]].

Both dragons are affected by {{Sn|Dispel}} and can receive damage from another unit with a {{Sn|Fire Shield}}.

=== Hating Titans ===
Though it is stated in the manual, Black Dragons do not hate [[Giant]]s. Red Dragons don't hate anyone.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Red Dragon}}
{{CreatureSounds|Black Dragon}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Black Dragon render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
Black-dragon26.gif
SoD_CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3_snd-H3x2RNb-smk-H3x2_RNb.webm| A Red Dragon defends a [[Dungeon]] ([[Master]]{{-ws}} prologue)
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_VID-H3INTRO-smk-H3INTRO.webm|thumbtime=1:55| A Black Dragon attacks a [[Giant]] at [[Cloudfire]] ([[Restoration of Erathia]]{{-wr}} intro)
AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABdb3-smk-H3ABdb3.webm| A Red Dragon and a Black Dragon help guard the [[Vial of Dragon Blood]] ([[Dragon's Blood]]{{-wa}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Alongside the Titan, the Black Dragon has cemented its place as an emblematic figure in the Heroes series, making its first appearance in Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars.

In a head-to-head combat with no stats bonuses, a Black Dragon marginally overcomes a single Titan. However, a mere difference of 1 point more in attack or defense for the Titan would tip the balance in their favor.

=== Tactics ===
'''Beware of breath attack which may kill your own troops as well.'''

Black Dragons, due to their spell immunity, are ideal for a tactic commonly known as Dragogeddon. In this strategy, a hero with preferably high power skill and the Armageddon spell launches an attack with an army solely comprised of creatures either immune or highly resistant to the Armageddon spell. This tactic can be employed in a "hit-and-run" strategy, to bypass wandering creatures, or even to defeat enemy heroes. In the {{roe}} series, Black Dragons were the prime choice for Dragogeddon. ''' Remember that Red Dragons aren't suitable for Dragogeddon as they are only immune to level 1-3 spells!'''

The advantage of deploying Black Dragons in this tactic is their swift initiative or speed. Only Phoenixes and Gold Dragons are faster creatures immune to Armageddon. High initiative allows the hero to act first in combat, potentially securing victory before the enemy can flee, surrender, or retaliate.

Black Dragons are excellent fighters, capable of reaching enemy shooters in the first turn. However, they may not endure long against an army of similar strength due to their inability to be resurrected normally, necessitating support from other friendly troops.

Red Dragons, though not as formidable as the Black Dragons and vulnerable to powerful spells like Armageddon, Implosion, Chain Lightning, Meteor Shower, and Berserk, can still be exceedingly potent. Led by Alamar or Jeddite, they can be easily resurrected: with 180 HP, Red Dragons are almost twice as easy to resurrect as Titans, and with sufficient mana, they are virtually indestructible. Furthermore, they inflict nearly as much damage as Black Dragons and can benefit from spells like Counterstrike, Fire Shield, Prayer, and Clone, allowing them to deal potentially more damage than Black Dragons, while still maintaining immunity to Blind/Slow spells and the option to resurrect them. They are also 40% cheaper than Black Dragons and are typically available as early as the second week of the game.

In light of the above, if you lack the Armageddon spell, it might be prudent to keep the Red Dragons unupgraded deliberately to minimize losses and save them for later in the game. Even at the end stage of the game, one might prefer to maintain most dragons as "Red," only upgrading a portion of them to ensure speed in the first turn.

The primary strategy against Red and Black Dragons is to launch a full-scale assault and overpower them, primarily using magic to eliminate other troops. Be cautious with your troop placement to prevent them from striking two of your units simultaneously, and try to coerce them into attacking their own units (e.g., by provoking them with a small and weak stack, leading to a retaliation and significant damage to allies).

=== Defense===
With an impressive health value of 300, the Black Dragon stands as one of the most resilient creatures in the game. In the original {{roe}}, it was the hardiest among the dragons, with its health equal to the Titans' and Ancient Behemoths' (and Haspids' in {{hota}}). It also boasts a higher defense than both these creatures, albeit not by a significant margin. The {{ab}} expansion introduced four new dragon types, Faerie Dragon, Rust Dragons, Crystal Dragons, and Azure Dragons, all neutral creatures with greater health than the Black Dragons.

=== Offense===
Although Black Dragons don't possess the highest damage for a level 7 creature, they still outperform most in this regard, coupled with the Breath Attack ability, allowing them to strike two units simultaneously. They command a decent attack value, but it falls short of the Gold Dragon's by 2. Black Dragons inflict 150% damage against Titans. This multiplier applies even when Black Dragons attack a different stack with Titans positioned behind; however, caution is necessary if both Titans and Black Dragons are on your side, as friendly Titans will still suffer 150% damage if attacked by Black Dragons.

=== Cost and Efficiency ===
To establish this creature's base dwelling, all other base creature dwellings along with Mage Guild level 2 are required. Unlike their rivals, the Giants and Titans, the dragon's base dwelling necessitates more valuable resources, typically leading to acquiring Red Dragons later than Giants and also having fewer of them to upgrade in subsequent weeks.

Maintain a steady supply of sulfur {{s}}. Utilizing a Resource Silo can be beneficial.

=== Skill Bonuses ===
While they do not receive the immense bonuses from skills like the Titans do, there are still beneficial skills to consider. The Armorer skill is a useful choice to sustain the dragons' numbers, while Tactics enables more friendly troops to aid the dragons easily - a significant advantage for a Dungeon army launching an initial powerful strike. As expected, the Offense skill is a great addition, particularly in tandem with the dragons' Breath attack.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'|up=*[[Dragon]]}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]

Minotaur and Minotaur King

2026-02-25T10:40:18Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{DungeonCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Minotaur}}
{{Creature/Minotaur King}}

'''Minotaurs and Minotaur Kings''' are the level 5 creatures of [[Dungeon]]. They are recruited from the [[Labyrinth]].

''"Minotaurs and Minotaur Kings live in labyrinths and devour all who enter. These bull-like humanoids are sure of their ability to dominate in battle and have good [[morale]]. This self image is well-founded as they are durable and have a very damaging axe attack."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 90|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Labyrinth
| creature1 = Minotaur
| creature2 = Minotaur King
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
*{{H|Dace|Overlord}}

== Special Ability: Positive Morale ==
Minotaur's positive morale ability can be affected only with [[Cursed Ground]] magical terrain or [[Spirit of Oppression]] artifact, since both interact with morale roll itself, rather than with morale level of the creature. Their [[morale]] cannot be decreased below +1 by the [[Sorrow]] spell, [[Holy Ground]] magical terrain effect, the morale forfeit for units from different towns or [[undead]] in the army, [[Bone and Ghost Dragon]] ability, any morale decreasing map objects effects and anti-morale artifacts in {{hota}}.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Minotaur}}
{{CreatureSounds|Minotaur King|cut=Cast}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Minotaur render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
Minotaur King render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
George-almond-minotaur-sketch.jpg| Sketch by [[George Almond]]
George-almond-minotaur.jpg| Sketch by [[George Almond]] (used on the [[Jadame|MM8 Map]])
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 ELb-smk-H3x2 ELb.webm| Minotaur and other bandits in [[Shantanna]] ([[Cutthroats]]{{-ws}} prologue)
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_VID-H3INTRO-smk-H3INTRO.webm|thumbtime=0:55| A Minotaur fights an [[Iron Golem]] in [[Cloudfire]] ([[Restoration of Erathia]]{{-wr}} intro)
AB_CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3_vid-H3X1intr-smk-H3X1intr.webm|thumbtime=0:48| A Minotaur attacked by a [[Dendroid]] ([[Armageddon's Blade (campaign)|Armageddon's Blade]]{{-wa}} intro)
</gallery>

{{fanopinion|
They are one of the main forces of the Dungeon, aside from the [[Red Dragon and Black Dragon|Red and Black Dragons]], mainly because of their specialty, high stats, and especially because of their damage that is comparable to a level 6's. However, their HPs are just above average among 5 level creatures, they are relatively fast only when upgraded, and their damage range is very high, meaning that [[Bless]] or [[Curse]] will affect them significantly. Avoid using them in melee attack against stacks who haven't spent their retaliation.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 5 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]

Beholder and Evil Eye

2026-02-25T10:39:17Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{DungeonCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Beholder}}
{{Creature/Evil Eye}}

'''Beholders and Evil Eyes''' are the level 3 creatures of [[Dungeon]]. They are recruited from the [[Pillar of Eyes]].

''"Beholders and evil eyes can attack at range with rays projected from their eyes. At close range they attack with equal damage using their multiple tentacles."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 89|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Pillar of Eyes
| creature1 = Beholder
| creature2 = Evil Eye
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Ajit|Overlord}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Beholder|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Evil Eye|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Trivia ==
* In [[Greg Fulton/Fanstratics Newsletters/14#Fanstratics Troop: Gawker|Fanstratics Newsletter #14]], [[Greg Fulton]] discussed adding Beholders to HoMM3.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Beholder render.jpg
Evil Eye render.jpg
Evil Eye render (alt).jpg
George-almond-beholder-sketch.jpg| Used in the [[Obelisk#Dungeon|Dungeon Puzzle Map]] (sketch by [[George Almond]])
George-almond-beholder.jpg| Used in the [[Obelisk#Dungeon|Dungeon Puzzle Map]] (art by [[George Almond]])
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
They are considered a good level 3 shooter, especially because of their high stats and no-melee penalty, which make them very effective for clearing the map in the early game. Their only downside is their relatively high cost and their somewhat low damage for late game.

Beholders and Evil Eyes are the creation of a [[Warlock]] called [[Agar]], who was present in the previous HoMM games.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 3 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Harpy and Harpy Hag

2026-02-25T10:38:54Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{DungeonCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Harpy}}
{{Creature/Harpy Hag}}

'''Harpies and Harpy Hags''' are level 2 creatures of [[Dungeon]]. They are recruited from the [[Harpy Loft]].

''"Harpies - half-women/half-vulture in appearance - have a swooping attack that returns them to the hex they started from. Harpy hags attack with such violence their attacks cannot be countered."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 89|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Harpy Loft
| creature1 = Harpy
| creature2 = Harpy Hag
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Lorelei|Overlord}}

== Special Ability: Strike and Return ==
Both Harpies and Harpy hags have a special ability to strike and return, which means that they [[Flying|fly]] next to their target, attack and return to their original hex. Harpies also receive [[retaliation]] before returning to the original hex, but Harpy Hags receive no enemy retaliation from their attack.

[[Dendroid Guard and Dendroid Soldier|Dendroids]] have a special ability of [[binding]], which works in an exceptional way to Harpies when dendroids retaliate. After the retaliation, Harpies return to their original hex as usual, and are bound after the return. This enables the dendroid stack to move or die without lapsing the entanglement causing the Harpies to be bound down forever if not attacked or [[Dispel]]led ''(fixed in {{hota}}{{-wh}})''.

== [[Horn of the Abyss]] ==
[[File:Strike and Return.png]]{{---}}[[File:Strike no Return.png]] Harpies and Harpy Hags can choose not to return to the original hex.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Harpy}}
{{CreatureSounds|Harpy Hag|cut=Cast}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Harpy Hag render.jpg
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_VID-H3INTRO-smk-H3INTRO.webm|thumbtime=1:45.5| Harpy Hags attack a [[Naga Queen]] at [[Cloudfire]] ([[Restoration of Erathia]]{{-wr}} intro)
RoE 1.0 CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3 VID-NEUTRALA-smk-NEUTRALA.webm|Harpy hags peering into a witch's cauldron ([[Borderlands]]{{-wr}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Harpies' raw stats are among average of the non-upgraded level 2 units apart from speed, in which they are second only to Air Elementals and in par with Stone Gargoyles and Wolf Riders. As their attacks can be retaliated, try to concentrate attacks on units, which have already used their retaliation. This can be a difficult task with Dungeon troops, as Minotaurs and Manticores are the following faster in-faction units. In Horn of the Abyss, avoid using strike and stay, as they are rather fragile (and somewhat expensive) units, unless you aim to distract weaker ranged units or ranged units with melee penalty, such as Master Gremlins.

Harpy Hags gain only +1 defence, but also a very good boost of +3 in their speed and no enemy retaliation on upgrade, making them the only unretaliatable level 2 unit. They would also become the fastest level 2 units together with Obsidian Gargoyles. Harpy Hags' attack and defence stats remain below average when considering all level 2 units, but on the other hand their speed combined with strike and return and no enemy retaliation can make them very useful and devastating unit. With proper usage, Harpy Hags can be interpreted as an additional ranged unit for Dungeon. They remain fragile even after the upgrade, so consider carefully on using strike and stay, when playing Horn of the Abyss.

Tactics can be an useful secondary skill to position Harpies better prior combat to gain more opportunities to strike. Haste and combat speed-increasing artifacts can also bring useful mobility for Harpy Hags. As both units have a wide damage range between 1-4, Bless would also be a very useful spell to cast on them (fortunately, Dungeon is the only evil town to have Bless). On the contrary, Slow can cripple Harpies and make them more easier to approach, while Curse reduces their damage to very low. Fire Shield would also punish Harpy Hags through their no enemy retaliation ability.

AI tends to prioritize them as top targets when attacking other towns. To cut losses, avoid bringing Harpies in attacking sieges, if your hero can't cast Advanced Resurrection, does not have strong enough Tactics or does not possess strong enough Haste or combat speed boosts.

A small stack of Harpy Hags (about 30+) can take down some of the creature banks without any losses:
* Speed 5 (or below) guards ([[Dwarven Treasury]], [[Derelict Ship]], etc.) - simply kite the enemies around the battlefield. They can never reach both ends of the battlefield anyway.
* Speed 6 guards ([[Experimental Shop]], [[Red Tower]], [[Griffin Conservatory]]) - Divert the guards into the centre by using 1- and 2- stacks of Harpy Hags, then use about 7-8 harpy hags as bait while about 25 harpy hags are used to attack with strike-and-return from the corner opposite to the side of the battlefield the 'bait' is moving near. (This requires +1 speed from either [[Lorelei]], native terrain or a speed artifact). Alternatively, (particularly useful against flying speed 6 guards) try to group all enemies into the first 3 rows of the battlefield (so that they may not reach the bottom row). Then, position both powerstack and 'bait' opposite to the fire elementals, in the safe spots. Use the bait to relocate the bait into one side of the battlefield, while the powerstack attacks from the other.
* Speed 7 guards (Red Tower on [[Highlands]] or Griffin Conservatory on [[Grass]]) - a stack of 'meat' (any unit that can withstand at least 1 attack of the Fire Elemental / Griffin stack) is necessary. Use the meat to divert Fire Elementals towards 1st unit of your army. Hide the 'bait' and the powerstack near the top corner, while surrounding them with two 2-stacks and two 1-stacks. Lure all elementals within the top two rows of the battlefield (so that they may not reach the bottom row). Then proceed as for the Speed 6 guards.

Always check banks with other heroes - if there's an upstack, it can ruin your game!
}}{{end of user commentary}}
{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Pit Fiend and Pit Lord

2026-02-25T10:37:49Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{InfernoCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Pit Fiend}}
{{Creature/Pit Lord}}

'''Pit Fiends and Pit Lords''' are the level 5 creatures of [[Inferno]]. They are recruited from the [[Hell Hole]].

''"Pit fiends and pit lords attack with tormenting whip blows. Once per combat, pit lords are able to [[Summon demons|resurrect]] dead allied troops as [[demons]] in place of another action. The number raised cannot be higher than the number of pit lords performing the resurrection"{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 98|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Hell Hole
| creature1 = Pit Fiend
| creature2 = Pit Lord
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Nymus|Demoniac}}

== Special Ability: Demon Summoning ==
While Pit Fiends do not have any special abilities, Pit Lords are able to summon [[Demon]]s by resurrecting allied dead creature stacks. Each Pit Lord can summon up to 50 [[health]] points worth of Demons. Because Demons have 35 hit points, this means that 7 Pit Lords can summon exactly 10 Demons. However, the total health of Demons summoned this way cannot exceed the total health of the dead stack nor can the number of Demons exceed the number of creatures in the dead stack. In other words, the dead stack must have had at least 35 hit points in order for summoning to work. A stack of one [[Pikeman]] cannot be resurrected while a stack of four will summon one Demon. The full table can be seen [[Summon demons#Demoning table|here]].

It should be noted that [[non-living]] and [[war machine]]s cannot be converted to Demons. Additionally, health increasing artifacts ([[Ring of Life]], [[Ring of Vitality]], [[Vial of Lifeblood]] and [[Elixir of Life]]) are counted in the calculations dead creature stack's total health. Opposite, if a stack dies under effect of [[Poison]] or [[Aging]] its total HP value is reduced. Summoning takes up the Pit Lord's turn. [[Cursed Ground]] prevents Pit Lords from raising Demons.

=== Demon herding ===
[[Summon_demons#Strategy – Demon Herding|Demon herding]] (also called demon farming) is a strategy that can be used for Inferno. The basic idea is, that the player deliberately sacrifices [[Imp]]s and [[Gog]]s in combat in order to summon them back as Demons. This is based on the fact that Imps and Gogs have lower attack to defense ratings than Demons, and therefore the Demon's hit points are theoretically more valuable (do note that [[Magog]]s have a powerful ranged ability, however). You can also herd Demons from cheap low-level troops from other [[town]]s. Additionally, [[Clone|cloning]] hero's pit lords will grant an extra number of Demon summonings. By using the Clone spell or having multiple Pit Lord stacks, it is possible to resurrect the same Demon stack several times during a single battle.

==== Calculation ====
The count of resurrected is determined by:

{{Math|min(floor(min([dead_count]*[dead_single_health], [pit_lord_count]*50)/35), [dead_count])}}

In order to use the full potential of resurrection, [dead_single_health] shouldn't exceed the health of Demon (35). If the stack consisted from imps, optimal count of units is 12.5 times count of Pit Lords; if the stack contained [[Gog]]s, optimal count of creatures is ~3.8 times count of Pit Lords (provided no health increasing artifact is in place).

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Pit Fiend}}
{{CreatureSounds|Pit Lord}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABab8-smk-H3ABab8.webm|Pit Lords guarding [[Kreelah]] ([[Oblivion's Edge]]{{-wa}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{Fanopinion|
Pit Fiends and Pit Lords are decent level 5 creatures, boasting good stats, but pretty low health. However, the Lords' main role is to summon [[demons]] from allied dead stacks when fighting wandering monsters, in a tactic called "Demon farming/herding". In big battles, they are used as offensive support units.

Summon Demons can also be used to win fights without (meaningful) losses: as long as you were going to convert Imps into Demons anyway, might as well let them soak enemy blows and retaliations -- AI loves attacking low-level creatures when given the chance. If no sacrificial recruits are available, Demons themselves can be resurrected, although this requires some skill, as only a fully dead stack can be targeted, so just the right amount of Demons must be separated into a second stack, and AI must be incited to attack it instead of the main stack.

Of note is that the total Demon HP a weekly growth of Pit Lords can revive is 50% higher than what a weekly growth of [[Archangel|Archangels]] could manage, and the former can also be [[Clone|Cloned]] without any [[Water Magic]] skill, which compensates somewhat for the ability's much more narrow utility.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 5 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Pixie and Sprite

2026-02-25T10:34:47Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Pixie}}
{{Creature/Sprite}}

'''Pixies and Sprites''' are the level 1 [[creature|creatures]] of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[conflux creature dwellings|Magic Lantern]]. Building the [[Garden of Life]] increases '''Pixie and Sprite''' growth by 10 per week.

''"Within the land of [[Antagarich]], Pixies and Sprites have found a home within the walls of the Conflux. These [[flying]] creatures are usually found in large numbers and possess great [[speed|quickness]]. Sprites strike so quickly, they prevent their enemies from [[Retaliation|counterstriking]]."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 14|AB manual]]''

''"Beautiful and graceful the Sprite belies the shocking power held within her delicate body. She wears the floral garb of the forest, and the finest silks. The [[Great Conflux|Lords of Air]] recruited the Sprites into their cause, and gave these small, dainty creatures a place within the Conflux walls. With great determination swarms of Sprites will overrun even the most powerful of creatures with their electrifying attacks."{{-}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20030202235912fw_/http://www.3do.com/products/pc/heroes3/expansion/units/exp_sprite.html Armageddon's Blade website description]''

{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Magic Lantern
| creature1 = Pixie
| creature2 = Sprite
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* (none)

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Pixie}}
{{CreatureSounds|Sprite}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights=200px>
Sprite10.jpg| Sprite (AB manual p12)
Pixie render.jpg
Sprite render.jpg
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
According to Jennifer Bullard's development documents, they joined the [[Rampart]] armies after the [[Dwarves]] joined [[Bracada]] and the [[Centaur|Centaurs]] started complaining about 'tree-hugging wimpy druids' and left too. It should be also mentioned that the [[Conflux]] was disbanded at that time, having fulfilled its scope given by the [[Ancients]], which was to get rid of the [[Kreegan|Kreegans]] on [[Antagarich]], the Pixies/Sprites and [[Phoenix|Phoenixes]] not wanting to return to the [[Elemental Planes]]:
* [https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/03496/cah-03496.html A Guide to the Jennifer Bullard Papers, 1999-2003]
* [https://www.celestialheavens.com/homam-iv/jennifer-bullard-lost-manuscript-files?showall{{=}}&start{{=}}3 Jennifer Bullard - Lost manuscript files (Celestial Heavens)]

Pixies and sprites are useful first level creatures. Despite their very low health and defense, Sprites are the fastest first level creatures in the game, and their ability to strike without retaliation is very important. They can be a key attacker in early battles for the conflux until [[Ice Elemental|Ice Elementals]] and [[Storm Elemental|Storm Elementals]] join the ranks.

=== Toughness ===
Both Pixies and Sprites have the smallest health and defense value for a faction-aligned creature, the [[Halfling]] and the [[Goblin]] sharing the same defense as them. However, their trump card is the no retaliation ability and their speed, which helps them not take hits, if using a wait-attack-retreat tactic (as in flying away from the enemy).

=== Offense ===
While the Pixies have only 1-2 damage, the Sprites have 1-3 damage. Considering their very high growth (50 with [[Castle (structure)|Castle]] and [[Garden of Life]]), no retaliation ability and high speed, they can be an offensively strong troop, which is the reason why Sprites are considered to be one of the best level 1 units, together with their cheapness.

=== Efficiency and cost ===
The base dwelling requires 3 of each ore {{o}} and wood {{w}}, together with 300 gold {{g}}. The upgrade of the dwelling is 1000 gold {{g}}, which means you will be able to recruit the Sprites from the 1st or 2nd day for a very low price. However, in {{hota}}, the upgraded dwelling requires both the [[Mage Guild]] level 1 and [[Garden of Life]] to be built for balance reasons, making it more expensive to build and taking longer to acquire.

They are also the cheapest town-aligned creatures, only the Sprites having the same cost as the regular [[Gremlin]].

=== Tactics ===
Pixies should be upgraded to Sprites as soon as possible, since Pixies don't have the ability of disallowing retaliation, therefore being almost useless in a battle. The main tactic for Sprites is to wait in the first turn, attack at the end and retreat next turn. This allows them to retain numbers while dealing much damage, at least in the early game. They can also be used as a decoy against relatively slow units to allow the [[Storm Elemental|Storm Elementals]] and/or [[Ice Elemental|Ice Elementals]] to finish them by ranged attacks. Due to low hit points, Sprites are easily [[Resurrection|resurrected]], and rising hundreds of slain Sprites suddenly in the end of the battle may help you a lot, causing major troubles to the enemy.

Against Sprites, you should prioritize killing them if they come in really big numbers or are a threat to your shooters, especially in the early game. However, once having received a full attack from a decent enemy troop, this unit perishes easily, its numbers going down faster than you would expect. If their numbers are low, you should instead concentrate on other threats, like [[Storm Elemental|Storm Elementals]], for example. Sometimes AI plays with Pixies which makes a battle freebie, since prior to their upgrade, Pixies are unsuitable for anything. Possibly the only situation in which you aren't obliged to turn them into Sprites is when you play for [[Necropolis]] and get Pixies, as [[Skeleton Transformer]] turns both units into [[Skeleton|Skeletons]].

===Skill bonuses ===
They don't benefit from skills too much, since they are low-level troops, but [[Tactics]] could be used to give them a broader range, being useful later on too for the slow [[Earth Elemental and Magma Elemental|Earth and Magma Elementals]].
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 1 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Green Dragon and Gold Dragon

2026-02-25T10:33:00Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{RampartCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Green Dragon}}
{{Creature/Gold Dragon}}

'''Green Dragons and Gold Dragons''' are the level 7 creatures of [[Rampart]]. They are recruited from the [[Dragon Cliffs]]. Both dragons are affected by {{Sn|Dispel}} and can receive damage after attacking a creature with a {{Sn|Fire Shield}}.

''"Green and gold dragons deliver devastating damage in the form of poisonous or sulfurous breath. Green dragons are immune to spells below the fourth level and gold dragons are only affected by spells of level five."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 107|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Dragon Cliffs
| creature1 = Green Dragon
| creature2 = Gold Dragon
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Mutare|Overlord}} {{withmaped}} (fixed-stat specialty)
* {{H|Mutare Drake|Overlord}} {{withmaped}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Green Dragon}}
{{CreatureSounds|Gold Dragon}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Gold Dragon render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 ELc-smk-H3x2 ELc.webm| A [[Dragon Lord]] with a Green Dragon and Gold Dragon ([[Valley of the Dragon Lords]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD_CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3_snd-H3x2BBc-smk-H3x2_BBc.webm| A Gold Dragon head (right) is on [[Boragus]]'s wall ([[A Tough Start]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD_CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3_snd-H3x2UAg-smk-H3x2_UAg.webm| Green and Gold Dragons near a fort ([[Wrath of Sandro]]{{-ws}} prologue)
AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABdb3-smk-H3ABdb3.webm| A Green Dragon helps guard the [[Vial of Dragon Blood]] ([[Blood of the Dragon Father]]{{-wa}} prologue)
HC-04_Clash_of_the_Dragons_CD-data-Hchron_vid-Intro-smk-Intro.webm|thumbtime=0:28| Green and Gold Dragon ([[Clash of the Dragons]]{{-whc}} intro)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Gold Dragons first appeared in Heroes of Might and Magic III, while the Green Dragon was the base dragon creature of the [[Dungeon]] equivalent faction in Heroes of Might and Magic II, which was upgraded two times to Red and then Black Dragon. However, the equivalent of [[Rampart]] in the first two Heroes of Might and Magic games had the Phoenix as its highest tier creature. In a twist of irony, after the war with [[Mutare Drake|Mutare]], which happened right between the 3rd and 4th games in the series, all dragons went almost extinct, the Green and Gold Dragons being replaced by [[Faerie Dragons]] and [[Phoenix|Phoenixes]] (from the then-extinct [[Conflux]]) in the Rampart armies, according to Jennifer Bullard's development documents:
* [https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utcah/03496/cah-03496.html A Guide to the Jennifer Bullard Papers, 1999-2003]
* [https://www.celestialheavens.com/homam-iv/jennifer-bullard-lost-manuscript-files?showall{{=}}&start{{=}}3 Jennifer Bullard - Lost manuscript files (Celestial Heavens)]

=== Tactics ===
'''Beware of breath attack which may kill your own troops as well.'''

Because of the Gold Dragons' level 1-4 spell immunity, they are suitable to be used in tactics often called [[Dragogeddon]]. In dragogeddon, a hero with preferably high [[power skill]] and [[Armageddon]] spell attacks with an army only consisting of creatures immune or very resilient to the Armageddon spell. The tactics may be used in "hit-and-run" tactic, to advance through wandering creatures or even to slay enemy heroes. However, Armageddon spell is available only in [[alignment|evil alignment]] towns' Mage Guilds and thus not in Rampart, so make sure there is an [[Inferno]], [[Necropolis]], or [[Dungeon]] on the map, which you capture, getting a chance to learn Armageddon (you may edit settings of the game so that your enemy plays for an evil town, or, playing for an evil town, set Rampart for your enemy and hire Gold Dragons when conquered). Note that [[Conflux]] won't help in learning Armageddon, even though its creatures are often used for Dragogeddon. '''Note that Green Dragons are useless for Dragogeddon, since they are immune only to 1-3 level spells!'''

When using any of these dragons, dealing the highest possible damage by targeting enemy archers or important enemy troops is a crucial thing, which can also be done with the help of [[Breath attack]]. A good tactic is to attack a relatively weak enemy stack which stands next to an archer or other enemy troop, allowing the dragons to deal much damage while taking back as little as possible (or even none, if the targeted enemy stacks is killed). However, only the base creature can be [[Resurrection|resurrected]], so be sure to back up the dragons with [[Unicorns]] and/or [[Pegasi]].

When facing these dragons, one of the highest priority is to get rid of them, especially due to their offensive capabilities and high speed of the upgraded creature. Indirectly damaging Green or Gold Dragons via magic is possible by either buffing the own troops with [[Slayer]] (which yields +8 attack against level 7 troops) or other buff spells or summoning a creature with any of [[Summon Air Elemental]], [[Summon Water Elemental]], [[Summon Fire Elemental]] or [[Summon Earth Elemental]] spell. Green Dragons can be killed by [[Spells|4th level spells]], though, and quite easily if the hero has a respectable [[Spell Power]].
While they hit a bit harder and have a higher movement speed than [[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]], the Gold Dragons lack the full magical immunity, making them popularly targeted and dispatched by [[Implosion]], a fatal thing for them. It would be great to force Green and Gold Dragons damage their own troops via breath attack, e.g. hitting them with a weak stack and causing retaliation which will kill much more of their allies than of ours.

Due to the resurrecting part of the [[Sacrifice]] spell being actually a regular level 4 [[Resurrection]], Gold Dragons can not be brought back with [[Sacrifice]], despite it being a level 5 spell; but they can be sacrificed (while it's almost useless since you wouldn't sacrifice a stronger troop for a weaker one). ''In [[HotA]] this behavior was changed, and the Gold Dragons can be resurrected by the Sacrifice.''

=== Toughness ===
The Green Dragons have lower defense than the [[Red Dragon]], but the same health value. However, the Gold Dragon has the third highest defense for a town-aligned creature, only surpassed by [[Arch Devil|Arch Devils]] and [[Archangel|Archangels]]. Its health is lower by 20% (50 health) than the [[Black Dragon]]'s, though, and equal to that of the [[Chaos Hydra]] and Archangel, which can both be [[Resurrection|resurrected]], unlike the Gold Dragons. Its defense upgrade bonus is the second highest in the game, a bonus of 9 defense, and only surpassed by the [[Angel]]'s upgrade bonus. Even with the high defense stat, the lower health makes a difference and the Gold Dragons shouldn't take too much damage or will start to lose their numbers.
While in [[HotA]] the Gold Dragons ''can'' be resurrected by the [[Sacrifice]] spell, in most of the real-game situations it doesn't make a lot of difference, as the Rampart town cannot generate this spell in its Mage Guild. Apart from that, to perform the Sacrifice spell, one must take additional troops to his army (most likely cheap and numerous), which will most likely slow said army down, and will poorly fit for the Dragogeddon tactic, as a few of the units that are immune to the Armageddon (like Fire/Earth elementals) are also immune to the Sacrifice. And, vice versa, most of the units that can be Sacrificed would be burnt to a crisp, if you decide to cast Armageddon (especially if you split their stacks in order to cast the Sacrifice multiple times). Finally, both Rampart heroes types are very unlikely to learn the Fire School secondary skill, limiting the use of the Sacrifice spell to its basic effect in most of the cases.

=== Offense ===
Both Green and Gold Dragons have the same damage value, together with the [[Red Dragon and Black Dragon|Red and Black Dragons]]. The Gold Dragons have their attack stat higher by two than the Black Dragons, though. Together with the [[Breath attack]], these dragons can deal high amounts of damage to enemy troops. Still, beware that the enemy can make them kill your own units indirectly, so be careful with their placement. Its attack upgrade bonus is the second highest in the game, a bonus of 9 attack, and only surpassed by the [[Angel]]'s upgrade bonus.

=== Efficiency and cost ===
Since they won't be dying too easily and can also be resurrected, the Green Dragons are worth their gold until the [[Dragon Cliffs]] sees an upgrade, but should be bought only in quantities you need, as to be able to upgrade their dwelling later on. However, even the base dwelling requires much ore {{o}} and gold {{g}} to build, together with the fact that it requires all other base creature dwellings to be built (except [[Dwarf Cottage]]) and also a level 2 [[Mage Guild]], makes the recruiting of these dragons something obtainable only in the second or third week from the start of the game, depending on how many resources and mines you find. The upgraded dwelling for them requires Mage Guild level 3 and also a high amount of ore {{o}} and gold {{g}}.

A Green Dragon costs 100 gold {{g}} less than a [[Red Dragon]], but a Gold Dragon has the same cost in gold {{g}} as a [[Black Dragon]]. In terms of raw stats, the Rampart's and the Dungeon's dragons are roughly equal. But considering the towns' particular qualities, the Dungeon is better suited for using its Dragons. First, the Dungeon itself is outright better for Dragogeddon (see below). Second, the Warlock hero class usually has considerably more Spell Power than the Druids (not to mention the Rangers), thus making Dragogeddon performed by the Dungeon even stronger. Finally, the Dungeon player can pick [[Alamar]] or [[Jeddite]], who are extremely powerful when using ''"Resurrection + Red Dragons"'' tactics, while the Rampart can only obtain it randomly with 20% chance (and after spending a lot pf resources for the Mages Guild). The only thing the Rampart has to offer in return is a 10% chance to have a [[Prayer]] spell, which can boost the base Dragons dramatically and is blocked in Dungeon, and [[Mephala]]/[[Giselle]] heroes, whose specialties are quite useful for both Gold and especially Green dragons. In summary, when composing an army, the Rampart player (unless some lucky spells/heroes are unlocked) would usually have his Dragons as sidearm or heavy fire support, unlike the Dungeon player, who has an option to make the Dragons the main (and sometimes the only) fighting force intentionally.

=== Skill bonuses ===
While not getting such an immense bonus from skills, like creatures as [[Titans]] do, there are still some good skills to take in consideration. [[Armorer]] is a very good to choice to keep the dragons' numbers up, while [[Tactics]] allows more friendly troops to assist the dragons easily, even if not a necessary skill to have for a [[Rampart]] army, due to its high speed. [[Offense]] is, as usual, a nice skill to have, especially with the dragons' [[Breath attack]]. Resistance is of little use for dragons.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'|up=*[[Dragon]]}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Archer and Marksman

2026-02-25T10:29:24Z

ReaderCritic: /* Official Renders */

{{CastleCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Archer}}
{{Creature/Marksman}}

'''Archers''' and '''Marksmen''' are the level 2 creatures of [[Castle]]. They can be recruited from the [[Castle creature dwellings|Archers' Tower]].

''"Archers and marksmen are lightly armored troops armed with crossbows for [[ranged attack|ranged combat]] and daggers for light hand-to-hand fighting. Marksmen can get off two shots in each ranged attack."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 85|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Archers' Tower
| creature1 = Archer
| creature2 = Marksman
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Valeska|Knight|image=Valeska (HotA)}}
* {{H|Gelu|Ranger}} {{withmaped}} can upgrade Archers and Marksmen (also [[Wood Elf and Grand Elf|Wood Elves and Grand Elves]]) into [[Sharpshooter|Sharpshooters]].

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Archer|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Marksman|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Trivia ==
Early names for these creatures were "Light Crossbowman" and "Heavy Crossbowman", which explains why the Archer uses a crossbow instead of a bow.

== Official Renders ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Archers Marksmen render.jpg
</gallery>

{{fanopinion|
They are critical in the early game, together with the [[Griffin and Royal Griffin|Griffins]], due to them being almost the only Castle ranged attackers, having good damage and also the marksmen's twice shot. However, with each ranged attack in a turn, the Marksmen will use up two shots, not one. Still, getting them damaged should be avoided, due to their hp and defense stats being equal and respectively lower than the level 1 [[Pikeman and Halberdier]]. In late game they often become targets of [[Arrow tower|Arrow towers]] during town sieges, thus being less valuable.

[[Attack]] of 6 is average, [[Defense]] of 3 is just bad. Combined with 10 [[Health]] they are very vulnerable to just anything that can hit them. [[Speed]] of 4-6 is below average, but Marksmen should still be able to act before at least some early game opponents.

Probably best spells to use on Archers are [[Precision]] and (Advanced) [[Bless]] if they are upgraded to Marksmen. Defensive spells will not be of much use, as they are very fragile to begin with, unless you can protect them from melee attackers with [[Force Field]] and enemy has no way of dispelling it or their own ranged troops. Low health and quite good ranged damage makes Marksmen great targets for [[direct damage spells]]. Advanced [[Curse]] is also very effective.

While Archers are basic ranged troops and not much to speak of, Marksmen are very cost-effective troop upgrade, as they literally deal double the Archers' damage, provided they live to use their double shoot ability and it's not overkill. They don't get any other bonus apart from +2 Speed, however.

In Castle army they provide basic ranged firepower, softening targets up for stronger melee troops to wipe out. In early game [[Pikeman and Halberdier|Pikemen and Halberdiers]] are good troops to pair Archers with, as they are quite tough, strong, and can tie a stronger enemy stack long enough for Archers to whittle it down. 1 [[Archangel]] can resurrect up to 10 Archers or Marksmen.

[[Morale]] synergizes well with double attack, better than [[luck]], but they can get lucky strike on any of their two shooting attacks, both, or none.

Obviously the best secondary skill to combine with Archers is [[Archery]]. Another important skill is [[Tactics]] as they are incredibly fragile and should be kept away from melee. [[Leadership]] can be useful until morale bonus becomes redundant. [[Valeska]] specializes in Archers and [[Orrin]]'s specialty greatly increases their damage.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Pikeman and Halberdier

2026-02-25T10:28:49Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{CastleCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Pikeman}}
{{Creature/Halberdier}}

'''Pikemen''' and '''Halberdiers''' are the level 1 creatures of [[Castle]]. They can be recruited from the [[Guardhouse]].

''"Pikemen and halberdiers are among the strongest basic foot soldiers available to any army. While somewhat slow, they have respectable combat ratings."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 85|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}

== Dwellings & Portraits ==

{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Guardhouse
| creature1 = Pikeman
| creature2 = Halberdier
}}
{{clear|left}}

== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==

* (none)

== Special Ability: Jousting Immunity ==

Although not mentioned in the game or manual, both Pikemen and Halberdiers are immune to [[Cavalier and Champion|Cavaliers' and Champions']] [[jousting]] ability. This means they suffer damage from Cavaliers or Champions normally, but do not receive the additional damage from jousting bonus (thus, the distance of Cavaliers and Champions attack doesn't matter).

In {{hota}}, the ability is present in the unit's description.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Pikeman}}
{{CreatureSounds|Halberdier}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
HotA PR Pikeman.gif| Halberdier (HotA pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
HotA Pikeman Halberdier evolution.png| Halberdier (HotA pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
</gallery>

{{Fanopinion|
The Halberdier is considered to be the 2nd best level 1 creature in raw stats, surpassed only by the [[Centaur Captain]].

4-6 [[Attack]] is top-tier, and 5 [[Defense]] is high. 10 [[Health]] is the highest of all level 1 creatures. 1-3 [[Damage]] of Pikemen is above average, 2-3 of Halberdiers is again the best of their level. With 4 [[Speed]] Pikemen are better suited to defending ranged troops than to offense. Halberdiers are faster by 1 point, but they are still slow. All-around powerful if rather slow creatures, they are the [[Castle]] basic melee unit that at once is tough and packs a nasty punch. They also compensate to a degree for [[Archer|Archers]]' rather low damage and fragility.

The drawback is that their 60-75 [[gold]] cost is also very high for lvl 1 unit. [[Guardhouse|Their dwelling]] is also expensive in terms of [[ore]].

The most obvious spells to use on Pikemen and Halberdiers are [[Haste]] or [[Bloodlust]] for offensive purposes and [[Shield]] or [[Stone Skin]] for defense, with [[Prayer]] as all-rounder. [[Bless]] and [[Curse]] work better on Pikemen due to larger damage spread. [[Counterstrike]] may be useful, as they have good damage and enough health to engage most melee units and keep them busy for a while. [[Slow]] combined with ranged troops is a death sentence. [[Direct damage spells]] are a threat, but as level 1 troops they are not exactly a high priority target, and with 10 health per unit they are reasonably resilient to magic damage.

Their unmentioned special ability significantly reduces [[Cavalier and Champion]] damage done against them when charging from distance. While very specific, it does contribute to their relative toughness.

In Castle army they can shield [[Archer|Archers]] or [[Monk|Monks]] while they whittle down the enemy stacks, mop up the remains after more powerful units do the most of work, or take enemy retaliations - if they can keep up with the likes of [[Royal Griffin|Royal Griffins]]. Be wary of [[Dragon|Dragons]] and AoE attacks/spells if playing defensively.

The best [[secondary skill|secondary skills]] by pure numbers are [[Offense]] and [[Armorer]]. [[Tactics]] is also very useful, as their low speed requires some support to get them into enemy lines or to shield friendly ranged units. [[Leadership]] and high [[Morale]] can help with their speed problems. [[Air Magic]] and [[Earth Magic]] seem most useful of magic skills because of [[Haste]], [[Shield]] and [[Stone Skin]].
}}


{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 1 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]

__NOTOC__

Mage and Arch Mage

2026-02-25T10:28:11Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{TowerCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Mage}}
{{Creature/Arch Mage}}

'''Magi and Arch Magi''' are the level 4 creatures of [[Tower]]. They can be recruited from the [[tower creature dwellings|Mage Tower]]. (''Note that the plural form of 'mage' is 'magi'.'')

''"Apprentice Magi, under the mentorship of [[Wizard|Wizards]], serve as Tower troops before they become full masters of their craft. Both Mage and Arch Mage units suffer no [[melee penalty|damage penalty for attacking adjacent enemies]] and reduce the casting cost of allied hero [[spell|spells]] by two. Arch Mage attacks [[Obstacle penalty|penetrate cover]] and deal full damage to enemies behind siege walls."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 114|RoE manual]]''

''Note: Although the documentation says that only Arch Magi have no [[obstacle penalty]], this is also true for Magi.''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Mage Tower
| creature1 = Mage
| creature2 = Arch Mage
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Theodorus|Wizard}}
* {{H|Dracon|Wizard}}{{-wa}}{{withmaped}} can upgrade Magi and Arch Magi (also [[Monk and Zealot|Monks and Zealots]]) into [[Enchanter]]s.

== Special Ability: Magic Channeler ==
Both Mages and Arch Mages have a ''Magic Channeler'' special ability. It causes hero's spells to cost 2 less [[spell point]]s, if Mages were present at the beginning of the combat. Even if all the Mages die during the battle, the spells will cost 2 less points until the end of combat.

It should be noted that Mages cannot reduce the hero's mana cost when casting adventure map spells.

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Mage|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Arch Mage|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_VID-H3INTRO-smk-H3INTRO.webm|thumbtime=1:23| A [[Medusa]] turns a Mage to stone in [[Cloudfire]] ([[Restoration of Erathia]]{{-wr}} intro)
RoE 1.0 CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3 VID-GOOD2C-smk-GOOD2C.webm|thumbtime=0:07|Magi and [[Stone Golem]] ([[Neutral Affairs]]{{-wr}} prologue)
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_SND-G2D-smk-GOOD2D.webm|[[Bracada]]n forces preparing to embark on the [[Nighon Straits]] ([[Tunnels and Troglodytes]]{{-wr}} prologue)
AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABds5-smk-H3ABds5.webm| An Arch Mage and [[Dracon]] with a slain [[Azure Dragon]] ([[Azure Dragons (campaign scenario)|Azure Dragons]]{{-wa}} epilogue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Magi and Arch Magi are the second shooter of the [[Tower]] faction, replacing [[Gremlin and Master Gremlin|gremlins]] when they become available. It is not essential to upgrade magi early in the game. However, the upgraded Mage Tower only cost 5 {{W}} and 2000 {{G}}. Considering that it gives five more hit points, speed seven, it is quite affordable. The main downsides of the magi are that the original [[Mage Tower]] has a very steep cost, together with their low health and high cost for [[Library]], which is a requirement for the upgraded dwelling.

11/12 [[Attack]] is very high for level 4 [[creature]], second only to [[Ogre|Ogres]]. 8/9 [[Defense]] however is low, only [[Ogre|Ogres]] and [[Fire Elemental and Energy Elemental|Fire and Energy Elementals]] have lower Defense. Coupled with low 25/30 [[Health]] and good 7-9 [[damage]] Magi and Archmagi are "glass cannon" ranged unit: they are great in offense, but they are relatively fragile and despite no melee penalty should be kept away from melee combat. Their average [[Speed]] of 7 allows them to act before some lower level creatures, but most of their own level 4 troops have either equal speed or higher.

[[Bless]] and [[Curse]] have limited effect on them without Advanced [[Water Magic]] or [[Fire Magic]] skills, as their damage spread is minimal compared to average damage - min 7, average 8, max 9. Advanced Bless gives them 25% average damage bonus. Advanced Curse gives -25% penalty.

Depending on situation [[Prayer]] can be very strong spell to cast on Magi, as it patches up their weaknesses - low Defense and Speed while also increasing their Attack, all by 2-4 points.

[[Precision]] is usually better as it gives 3-6 Attack instead of 2-4, but only works in ranged combat and does not improve anything else.

[[Frenzy]] is great if they cannot be reached by melee enemies or shot at by ranged stacks, giving at least 8/9 Attack bonus, equal or better than [[Slayer]] against its specific targets. Otherwise it might be better to use another spell, one that does not make already fragile stack even more vulnerable.

While [[Slayer]] might be tempting to use against level 7 creatures, remember that Magi have only 25/30 health per troop, and being slow ranged unit they usually are just 1 [[dragon]] [[breath attack|breath]] away from being wiped out, together with whatever was shielding them. Thus it might be better to cast Slayer on a stack that can survive longer than 1 turn when fighting appropriate targets.

As usual [[morale]] and [[luck]] are hit-or-miss, especially on low health, high kill/disable priority troop like Magi, so don't prioritize [[Mirth]] and [[Fortune]] over more reliable effects, but if your Magi get one of these spells from [[Master Genie|Master Genies]], it's good too.

Obviously [[Stone Skin]], [[Shield]] and [[Air Shield]] should be used to protect the fragile Magi from taking physical damage.

When facing spellcasting enemy consider Protection from X spells or [[Anti-magic]], as low 25/30 health coupled with very high ranged damage means they are big [[direct damage spell]] magnets.

If they will not be reached and overwhelmed by melee troops in turn 1, [[Slow]] is perhaps the best spell to use when having Magi in your army. They don't really need any magical support apart from more ranged hits when melee enemies are slowed to crawl under fire, suffering more casualties each turn before they even reach Magi.

As they deal high damage but are fragile, they should be shielded from melee by tough melee troops like [[Golem|Golems]] and [[Naga|Nagas]]. Be careful when facing [[dragon|dragons]] or creatures with AoE attack like [[Magog|Magogs]] and [[Lich|Liches]].

In [[Tower]] army they can benefit from [[Master Genie|Master Genies]]' random spellcasting. Magi should be lower priority targets than [[Naga|Nagas]] and [[Titan|Titans]], as Magi simply lack their raw strength.

If your Magi are forced into melee, exploit the fact they reliably deal high damage but are vulnerable - use other stacks, preferably tough melee unit like [[Iron Golem|Iron Golems]] to soak up counterattack and then hit the enemy hard free of retaliation.

No obstacle penalty means they are great siege troops both in defense and attack, enjoying their ranged superiority while opposing ranged stacks are saddled with 50% damage reduction due to [[wall|walls]].

The mana cost reduction ability does not depend on number stacks in army or number of troops in stack. Even if all Magi and Archmagi under [[hero]]'s control have died during battle, [[spell]] costs of all hero's combat spells remains reduced by 2 [[spell point|spell points]] until the end of the battle. Because the cost reduction is flat -2, the spells that benefit from it most are those with the lowest base cost. This ability is cumulative with other cost reductions, like from Basic X Magic [[secondary skill|secondary skills]]. It also basically negates [[Pegasus and Silver Pegasus]]'s [[Magic damper]] ability, as -2 and +2 adjustments equal 0 net spell cost change.

Because Magi are ranged troops who cannot survive long in melee, the best [[secondary skill|secondary skills]] for them are obviously [[Archery]] (and [[Orrin]] in particular), [[Tactics]] and [[Armorer]]. Magic skills in general synergize very well with Magi, as the cost reduction is cumulative.

Magi's attacks visually look like bolts of energy, while Arch Magi's attacks are concentrated beams. They both use their staff to strike enemies in [[melee]] combat.

The cutscene of duel between Archmage and [[Medusa Queen]] in {{roe}} intro is somewhat close to realistic outcome - Medusas are no match for Magi in ranged combat, but in melee their petrify special ability can even the odds, disabling the opponent and allowing to set up overwhelming attack.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 4 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Giant and Titan

2026-02-25T10:24:58Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{TowerCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Giant}}
{{Creature/Titan}}

'''Giants and Titans''' are the level 7 creatures of [[Tower]]. They are recruited from the [[Cloud Temple]].

''"Giants and titans are immune to [[mind spells|spells affecting the mind]]. Titans do 150% damage to [[black dragon|black dragons]], can hurl lightning bolts in a ranged attack and suffer no [[melee penalty|penalty for hand-to-hand attacks]], making them the most powerful ranged attack unit in the game."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 115|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait
| dwelling = Cloud Temple
| creature1 = Giant
| creature2 = Titan
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* (none)

__NOTOC__
== Special Abilities ==
===Mind Spell Immunity===
Unlike the Black Dragon's full [[Spell immunity]], the Giants and Titans are only immune to mind altering spells. This is still very useful as they're immune to [[Blind]] and [[Berserk]] among others. This allows them to be [[Resurrection|resurrected]], but also killed by attacking spells, or affected by any other kinds of spells like buffing or debuffing spells. However, negative spells become less relevant with time as creature stacks become too big for spells to make meaningful dents in them, do comparable damage, or significantly lower their efficiency by spells like [[Curse]] or [[Weakness]].

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Giant}}
{{CreatureSounds|Titan|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Giant render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
Titan render.gif| Model by [[Tracy Iwata]]
Giant.jpg| Early [[Giant]] concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_VID-H3INTRO-smk-H3INTRO.webm|thumbtime=1:55| A [[Black Dragon]] attacks a Giant at [[Cloudfire]] ([[Restoration of Erathia]]{{-wr}} intro)
RoE_1.0_CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3_SND-G2D-smk-GOOD2D.webm|[[Bracada]]n forces preparing to embark on the [[Nighon Straits]] ([[Tunnels and Troglodytes]]{{-wr}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Together with the [[Black Dragon]], the Titan has become a symbol of the Heroes series since it first appeared in Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars.

Titans are one of the two upgraded tier 7 units that occupy one hex, the other being [[Arch Devil]]. They are also living constructs, being able to be resurrected, unlike [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|golems]] and [[Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle|gargoyles]], but similar to the [[Crystal Dragon]].

The ability to [[Hate|"burn with anger" and do extra damage]] to Black Dragons is likely a reference to 3DO's previous title Heroes of Might and Magic II. In that game, the Wizard and Warlock were widely considered to be the strongest heroes and there was some debate among players as to the single strongest 6th level creature. It is also probably because they are supposed to be the opposite of "chaos", the Black Dragon, being created by the wizards with the scope of slaying them.

In one-on-one combat with no stats bonus or defend, a Black Dragon barely defeats a single Titan. However, a difference of 1 more attack or defense for the Titan makes them win instead. Spells like [[Shield]], [[Bless]] and [[Slayer]] have even more drastic effect.

While an [[Archangel]] will normally defeat a Titan one-on-one, the Titan can reliably win by defending 4 times and then attacking. Defending reduces the damage done by the [[Archangel]] and the additional 50 HP enables the Titan to land the killing blow on round 5. This defense technique also allows the Titan to defeat a [[Black Dragon]] purely by counterattacks.

Titans are the only town-aligned unit in {{sod}} that can reliably take an equal number of [[Behemoth and Ancient Behemoth|Ancient Behemoths]] head-on and win. This is because of their unique combination of ranged attack, superior speed, 300 HP, decent Attack and tremendous damage. Ranged attack and being slightly faster allows them to score ranged hits before Ancient Behemoths even reach melee, high Attack and Damage mean Ancient Behemoths take a lot of damage, possibly even more than they themselves dish out, and high Health is the best defense as Ancient Behemoths ignore most of opponent's Defense stat anyway. Slight speed advantage also lets Titans kite Ancient Behemoths to some extent, allowing more hits free of retaliation.

=== Toughness ===
With a health value of 150 and 16 defense, Giants have the lowest health for a level 7 creature (along with the [[Bone Dragon]] and [[Firebird]]), and are also boasting the second lowest defense value of a level 7 unit, the [[Bone Dragon|Bone Dragon's]] being lower by 1. On the other hand, Titans have the highest health for a level 7 unit that is not neutral, its value being 300, only matched by the [[Black Dragon|Black Dragon's]] and the [[Ancient Behemoth|Ancient Behemoth's]] (and [[Haspid|Haspid's]] in {{hota}}). However, Titans have 1 less defense than the [[Black Dragon]], but 5 more than the [[Ancient Behemoth]] (also 4 more than the [[Haspid]] in {{hota}}). Their upgrade's health and defense bonuses are also respectively the highest and the third highest in the game, being a bonus of +8 defense from the base creature and double the health.

=== Offense ===
Giants and Titans have the highest max and overall (together with the [[Angel and Archangel|Angels and Archangels]]) damage of a town affiliated creature, even higher than a [[Black Dragon|Black Dragon's]] or [[Gold Dragon|Gold Dragon's]]. However, they have 1 less attack than the [[Black Dragon]] and 6 less than the most powerful town creature, the [[Archangel]]. Still, the difference between the [[Black Dragon|Black Dragon's]] and the Titan's attack stat is minimal, and the later won't always be retaliated against when attacking, since they primarily use a ranged attack. And even then, the Titans have no-melee penalty. Titans also deal 150% damage against Black Dragons (but not against Red Dragons, and Giants don't hate anyone).

=== Efficiency and cost ===
Giants are very unimpressive 7th level creatures, and may not be worth the gold until your Cloud Temple sees an upgrade, especially due to their low health, defense and likelihood of being targeted by the AI. Titans, on the other hand, stand strong as one of the most powerful creatures in the game, boasting the highest health and max damage for an unit that is not neutral. However, here comes their only weakness: their creature and dwelling upgrade cost. The Titans are 1000 {{g}} more expensive than a [[Black Dragon]] with similar stats and 1 {{gem}} less than an [[Archangel]]. The dwelling upgrade is also expensive in itself, but unlike other level 7 dwellings, you only pay a little price for the base dwelling (allowing you to accumulate more units earlier), and pay the rest of the resources with the upgrade.

=== Tactics ===
Giants are subpar T7 unit, but (in [[HotA]]) they have some major vantages. First, their dwelling is relatively easy to build on the 5th-7th day of the first week. Second, they can be obtained by beating an [[Experimental Shop]]. Finally, they are among the strongest hard-hitters in the game, and 1 Giant is arguably a much better choice than 2 [[Naga|Nagas]]. Giants are vulnerable to direct damage spells as they have only 150 [[Health|HP]]. Their [[Defense]] isn't good either, being just 16. [[Cure]] or [[First Aid Tent]] is highly advised to keep them alive for the further upgrading. As always, [[Resurrection]] is one of the best possible spells for both Giant and Titan.

If your hero happens to be an expert in [[Earth Magic]] with [[slow]] you will be able to dismantle a majority of neutral creatures (not necessarily with the help of [[mages]]) before they can land a blow. Additionally - with their [[Mind Spells|mind spell immunity]], Titans will not fall prey to the [[Forgetfulness]], [[Blind]] and [[Berserk]] spells. Even in melee combat, your Titans should lead you to victory in a wide range of combat match-ups.

Titans, being tough and fast, are an ideal front-line combatant. As they are able to walk further than they can accurately shoot, you're often well served by ignoring their ranged attack in order to strike enemies in melee, especially if you have Offense.

Both Giants and Titans are strongly affected by [[Bless]] and [[Curse]], as these spells change their average damage by 20% to 60 or 40 respectively.

[[Precision]] is a decent buff to cast on Titans. [[Bloodlust]] works on both Giants and Titans, but only in melee.

[[Stone Skin]] and [[Shield]] bring their defenses up to the level of [[Archangel|Archangels]].

[[Air Shield]] might see some use, but it's rare for Titans to be really threatened in ranged combat, as they are the strongest ranged unit in game.

[[Prayer]] is of limited use, as Titans don't really need more speed being ranged troops, unless this increase grants you first turn or lets you act before the opponent, but Attack and Defense buff is good as Titans have only 24 in both stats.

[[Mirth]] and [[Fortune]] are a gamble, because the chance of good [[morale]] and [[luck]] occurring is relatively low, but when Titans do get another turn or deal double damage it's usually devastating because they hit very hard already. Prioritize more reliable spells over these, but if [[Master Genie|Master Genies]] cast them on Titans, they're good too.

Against Titans, it's recommended to attack them with all you've got before they start destroying your army, especially shooters. They should be targeted by offensive spells in the early game, like [[Implosion]]. However, keep in mind that they aren't affected by [[Blind]] nor [[Berserk]]. You can also target them with [[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]] for 150% damage, if you are sure to lower their numbers a lot, but this is riskier than having your Titans attack Black Dragons, since you probably won't be able to resurrect your dragons unless you have the [[Orb of Vulnerability]] equipped. If Titans are behind someone else, attack that unit with Black Dragons, and [[breath attack]] will do 150% damage against Titans due to Black Dragons' [[hate]] against them. It works even if Black Dragons targeted another stack, and Titans won't retaliate - thus, when playing with Titans against their main enemies, be very careful to avoid these situations. 150% damage is dealt by Black Dragons' breath attack even if they by mistake attacked Titans which are in their army, so if you have both Titans and Black Dragons, avoid it.

Titans have relatively low [[Attack]] and [[Defense]] values, but more than make up for it in [[health]] and [[damage]]. Spells like [[Weakness]] and [[Disrupting Ray]] are very effective on them. [[Curse]] works well too, as it takes away 1/3rd of their great damage potential. [[Slow]] doesn't make much difference, as they can shoot.

[[Air Shield]] is good protection for your troops against Titans' ranged attack if you cannot stop them from shooting and cannot reach them with your own melee troops, especially with Advanced or Expert [[Air Magic]]. [[Stone Skin]] is more universal protection as [[Defense]] increase, but if you can force enemy Titans into melee, [[Shield]] is better.

If strong melee troop is attacking your Titans, consider using [[Fire Shield]] as its damage is not mitigated by Defense and does not depend on Titans being able to retaliate. Otherwise spells that improve their output might be better, as Titans are ranged troops with sizable number of shots.

[[Slayer]] is of very limited use against Giants and Titans, as the spell requires Expert [[Fire Magic]] to have an effect against them. Titans themselves can reliably kill any other level 7th unit in straight-out combat except [[Haspid|Haspids]] (in {{hota}}) and [[Arch Devil|Arch Devils]], but +8 Attack is nothing to sneeze at, as it can mean +40% damage bonus.

[[Clone]] requires Expert [[Water Magic]] to work on Giants and Titans.

If you also have [[Genie and Master Genie|Master Genies]] in army, Titans should be top priority target to cast spells on, as buffs like [[Bless]] or [[Prayer]] greatly increase their power while letting your hero cast other spells. Consider splitting Master Genies into several stacks, as their spells' power and duration are not dependent on number of Master Genies in stack, and in case of emergency you can sacrifice Master Genies to take counterattacks for Titans or block enemy ranged stacks from shooting back. Most of the spells mentioned above are in Master Genies spell list, so your Titans should have at least some useful spells active.

===Skill bonuses ===
A hero with [[Archery]] as a skill would be very efficient, increasing the Titans' damage output more than [[Offense]] would to other level 7 creatures ([[Archery]] also has damage bonus artifacts, unlike [[Offense]]), making them deal 150% damage in ranged attacks with [[Archery|Expert Archery]]. With [[Bow of the Sharpshooter]], all of their melee attacks will be ranged attacks, without chance of being retaliated against, except for their own retaliations which will be regular melee attacks. The artifact also adds a 30% bonus to ranged damage, which will make Titans inflict 180% damage with it and [[Archery|Expert Archery]], almost double than the base damage. [[Orrin]] is probably the best hero to use with Titans, as his specialty increases [[Archery]] damage bonus even more.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]

Snow Elf and Steel Elf

2026-02-25T10:16:58Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{inhota}}{{BulwarkCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Snow Elf (HotA)}}
{{Creature/Steel Elf}}
{{About|Not to be confused with [[Snow Elf and High Elf]]{{-wd}}.}}

'''Snow Elves''' and '''Steel Elves''' are the level 3 creatures of [[Bulwark]]. They can be recruited from the [[Hall of the Bold]].

{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Hall of the Bold
| creature1 = Snow Elf (HotA)
| creature2 = Steel Elf
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a specialty ==
* {{H|Dhuin|Chieftain}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Snow Elf (HotA)|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Steel Elf|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Agar Bulwark Snow Elf.jpg| Sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]]
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Snow Elves are good tier 3 units. They're good shooters, quite tough and have no [[Melee penalty]]. The only downside is them having only ''4'' shots.

Steel Elves are even better, having twice as many shots and being able to shoot even when blocked by enemy units.

Combat tactics:
* It's best to use them with the [[Mountain Rams]] during the early game, with the Elves dealing primary damage as shooters, and the Rams finishing the wounded enemies or going for their shooters.
* Also, make sure to not prolong combat for too long or shoot from too far, since they have relatively few shots. Or better buy an [[Ammo Cart]].
* When having Jotunns, you may order them to wait, then teleport the ''Steel'' Elves behind the enemy castle walls. Since they neither can be blocked by enemy units, nor have melee penalty, they'll shoot freely at enemies, while being close enough for full damage shots.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 3 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Pirate, Corsair, and Sea Dog

2026-02-25T10:06:22Z

ReaderCritic:

{{inhota}}{{CoveCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Pirate}}
{{Creature/Corsair}}
{{Creature/Sea Dog}}

'''Pirates''', '''Corsairs''', and '''Sea Dogs''' are the level 3 creatures of [[Cove]]. They can be recruited from the [[Cove creature dwellings|Frigate]].

''"Pirates plague unwary seafarers and can be found in almost every corner of the world, though they tend to plunder coasts and sea trade routes. Corsairs are skilled pirates who have proven themselves worthy of the respect of their captains. Their fencing prowess allows them to make lightning-quick attacks on enemies who find themselves unable to retaliate. Sea Wolves are legendary Corsairs who have engaged in numerous raids and are armed with exquisite pistols crafted by talented [[Regna|Regnan]] alchemists, hence why their shots are truly deadly. It is rumoured that, in acts of sadistic cruelty, they enjoy trapping their prey on random unknown islands across the [[Endless Ocean]]."{{-}}Adapted from [https://www.facebook.com/h3hotaofficial/posts/pfbid024rwfoLD8MSoHQRUnmkgrqeXkMLJ9521DqCFxZmNj1539dR62jvD3FNRHNSit9kqul?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXMHETKmGDQ8wttVEsY_KqOUKP9Wk_ERNg-Ntaw3PkhDaIVD2ScV8tH8uwAPz8U6VZt6I4RFZEfqUP43Kv5sEmH01wOiR4mUGMvyCH7yI7ro-ixnNebs-_w-sE65aOoLsUkvNd9jk_eDnnwlh0JWeBehOPCowb3pSNmKVmdFuqY7aKH28nZk8PhfBtQekEfd64IfhS7OPYfiGnXfQtG1FdF&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R HotA Facebook post]''
{{clear|left}}
-----

''"The pirates themselves are a very diverse people. Many were born and raised on board, and they don't know any other life. One can say that a pirate in these parts is a hereditary profession. It's not easy for an outsider to become one of them, unless he can make an instant, strong impression on others. The most powerful, smart, and brave among the pirates become [[captain|captains]] and [[navigator|navigators]]. The rest are their troops. At the same time, notably, there is a unique atmosphere of solidarity and brotherhood among them... at least when at sea. There is unwavering discipline and subordination on pirate ships. Even the [[Erathia|Erathian]] Guards could envy them.Everything changes as soon as the pirates come ashore, though! They instantly turn into slovenly loafers. They like to drink and smoke; most would never tell claret from port, yet still, they pride themselves in splurging on fine wines and tobacco imported from the colonies. They love gambling, fighting, and women. In other words, they enjoy everything that is forbidden on board. And yet, at the first call of their captain, they instantly pull themselves together, becoming a formidable force. I've always been surprised by these metamorphoses.Each pirate is proficient in several types of weapons, usually rapiers, cutlasses and pistols. The pistol is an achievement of the [[Bracada|Bracadan]] alchemists. This fairly easy-to-manufacture weapon has not yet become widespread among the other kingdoms of [[Antagarich]]. [[Jadame]] is another thing altogether... but I digress. In fact, the pistol is a miniature likeness of a ship's cannon. A skilled shooter can take down a knight, armored from the heels to the top of his head, with a single shot. I believe that the feudal lords of [[Erathia]] and [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]] are simply afraid of these weapons spreading among the commoners, and the [[Bracada|Bracadan]]s simply do not need them—they have their magic. The [[Regna|Regnan]]s, however, do not suffer from any silly phobias; this wonderful invention sees the widest use there."''{{---}}― {{Hn|Dargem|0=}}

{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitLargeNoExp
| dwelling = Frigate
| creature1 = Pirate
| creature2 = Corsair
| creature3 = Sea Dog
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Anabel|Captain}}
* {{H|Bidley|Captain}} {{withmapedhota}} can upgrade Pirates and Corsairs to Sea Dogs.

== Special Ability: Accurate Shot ==
Accurate Shot gives Sea Dogs a chance to instantly kill one or more units in the enemy stack after the Sea Dogs shoot. This ability doesn't work if shooting at creatures behind walls or at [[war machine]]s.
* This chance is 2% (with range penalty) or 3% (without range penalty) per Sea Dog in the stack, and is ''not'' cumulative. This means that, even with many Sea Dogs, there is a small chance that Accurate Shot does not activate after an attack.
* Accurate Shot will always kill the topmost unit(s) in the stack, meaning that if the enemy stack survives after Accurate Shot occurs, the new topmost unit will always have full Health.
* Accurate Shot chances (range penalty):
** 1—50 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—1 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 51—100 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—2 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 101—150 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—3 enemy units with Accurate Shot
* Accurate Shot chances (no range penalty):
** 1—33 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—1 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 34—66 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—2 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 67—99 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—3 enemy units with Accurate Shot

'''<big>Show Probability Tables</big>'''
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-ProbTab">
NOTE: This is based on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_distribution Binomial Distribution] formula of '''combinations(n,k) * pk * (1-p)n-k''' where:
* p: probability of Accurate Shot = 0.02 or 0.03
* n: # of Sea Dogs
* k: # of Accurate Shot victims
** NOTE: k has a maximum value of '''n * p''' (rounded up).
* NOTE: Values in the table are rounded to the nearest %.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left; margin-right:8px;"
|-
! !! colspan=99 | # of Victims (range penalty)
|-
! # Sea Dogs !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
|-
| 1 || 98% || 2% || - || - || -
|-
| 50 || 36% || 64% || - || - || -
|-
| 51 || 36% || 37% || 27% || - || -
|-
|100 || 13% || 27% || 60% || - || -
|-
|101 || 13% || 27% || 27% || 33% || -
|-
|150 || 5% || 15% || 22% || 58% || -
|-
|151 || 5% || 15% || 22% || 23% || 36%
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left;"
|-
! !! colspan=99 | # of Victims (no range penalty)
|-
! # Sea Dogs !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
|-
| 1 || 97% || 3% || - || - || -
|-
| 33 || 37% || 63% || - || - || -
|-
| 34 || 36% || 37% || 27% || - || -
|-
| 66 || 13% || 27% || 59% || - || -
|-
| 67 || 13% || 27% || 27% || 33% || -
|-
| 99 || 5% || 15% || 23% || 57% || -
|-
| 100 || 5% || 15% || 23% || 23% || 35%
|}
</div>
{{clear|left}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Pirate|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Corsair|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Sea Dog|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Pirate render.png|Pirate (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Sea Dog render.png|Sea Dog (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Agar Cove Pirate.jpg|Pirate (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Agar Cove Pirate Fangarm.jpg|Pirate and [[Fangarm]] (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Pirate-PR-53.gif| Pirate (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Corsair-PR-54.gif| Corsair (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Pirate-PR-52.gif| Corsair (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Sea-dog-PR-55.gif| Sea Dog (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-ROGERD-bik-ROGERD.webm|thumbtime=0:03| A Corsair as part of [[Jeremy]]'s crew at [[Utopia]] ([[Devil Sunrise]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Pirates are great tier 3 shooters with good stats and no melee penalty. Their only weakness is a low shot count (only 4), although it should be sufficient to kill most neutral creatures if split into multiple stacks. An [[Ammo Cart]] can also help greatly in prolonged battles.

Sea Dogs are without question the best tier 3 creature in the game. They have great stats and a ranged version of the [[Mighty Gorgon]]'s death stare ability. This is balanced by the high cost of the Gunpowder Warehouse, which prevents them from being acquired too early in the game. Pirates and Corsairs should generally be upgraded to Sea Dogs before engaging enemy players.

Like with Mighty Gorgons, care should be taken to maximize Accurate Shot caps when splitting stacks of Sea Dogs. The cap is the real limiting factor: 33 Sea Dogs will never kill more than one creature with their ability, while 34 of them can kill two when shooting without penalty, 27% of the time. Likewise, 67 Sea Dogs is the minimum amount for a triple kill, but the chance of it already starts at 33%. Accurate Shots can be used as a ranged and "improved" version of Death Stare with ability to "snipe" [[Undead]] and [[Non-living]] creatures down at the cost of lower efficiency per growth ratio.

Sea Dogs are in fact very expensive (Unit price is 375g), combined with their regular T3 weekly growth rate, total cost rivals tier 6 creatures. It's not wise to use them in early games, as they are not cost effective.

It is very important for the number of Sea Dogs to get to a new '50 + 1'. Remember this when splitting Sea Dogs into multiple stacks or targeting enemy Sea Dogs.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 3 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Sea Serpent and Haspid

2026-02-25T10:03:14Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{inhota}}{{CoveCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Sea Serpent}}
{{Creature/Haspid}}

'''Sea Serpents''' and '''Haspids''' are the level 7 creatures of [[Cove]]. They can be recruited from the [[Cove creature dwellings|Maelstrom]]. Sea Serpents and Haspids, as well as [[Hydra|Hydras, Chaos Hydras]], [[Couatl|Couatls, Crimson Couatls]], and all living [[Dragons]] can be transformed into [[Bone Dragon|Bone Dragons]] at a [[Skeleton Transformer]].

''"Sea Serpents are legendary monsters known for three things: their tasty meat, which is why plucky poachers and sailors hunt them; their colossal size, which is one reason why the hunt is so difficult; and the fact that they are some of the most aggressive predators of the high seas. Thus, Sea Serpents tend to turn the hunter into the hunted. Countless numbers of ships have been sunk and lives have been lost to their gaping maws and ravenous hunger. Haspids are mature forms of Sea Serpents. They are worth more to hunters than their younger relatives due to the special fatty layer that forms under their skin over time. Haspids' preferred method of attack is to drag their prey underwater and drown them, speeding up the process by biting them and letting their powerful poison help finish them off."{{-}}Adapted from [https://www.facebook.com/h3hotaofficial/posts/pfbid03DVehRUGPZroHKKR1JFnUHZwgrezjL3n3J3UEHBo3pVL3PQmVET4EDGSRwnEjLx5l?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZVb6lz6PlHGXkBONmpwvjNBrzR7XT8T0c6pylX1pP96t6k5NdOuJYw2ciBbZniRSlhUm0Q7kFTItshavtxYbTV3uxDL3Ro8kDUWP-u507yPnMo6z5FdTH1PGPJ4oboLutaTVaHyqHCOEhBwTiC0vyffUGAYMlnt4UAjkTUo3lFcPUy9Jr9zXqlEuDddaPxmFdrbp30NIw1wd8C8szewOAE8&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R HotA Facebook post]''
{{clear|left}}
-----

''"The depths of the sea hide dreadful carnivorous creatures that look like giant snakes. Fishermen call them "eels", but the correct term for them is "haspids." These haspids spend most of their time at the bottom, hiding in burrows and the hulls of sunken ships. Only during mating and hunting do they rise to the surface, posing a huge threat to navigators. A haspid can swallow a young whale whole—compared to that, a ship's crew put together is a mere snack! The good news is that these sea colossi don't have to feed often. A handful of sophisticated mages and beastmasters know how to tame haspids, but only the wealthiest and most powerful of the pirate lords can afford their services. This is hardly a surprise in itself; the black dragons of [[Nighon]] are no less dangerous, but this has never stopped warlocks from using these creatures liberally in their wars."''{{---}}― {{Hn|Dargem|0=}}

{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Maelstrom
| dwelling2 = Maelstrom2
| link2 = Maelstrom
| creature1 = Sea Serpent
| creature2 = Haspid
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* (none)

== Special Ability: Revenge ==
Haspids have an increase to the Damage parameter before the attack by the following formula: 

[[File:Haspid_eng.jpg|left|800px]]
{{clear}}
In layman's terms, an injured Haspid stack fights slightly better, and as some Haspids die, the total damage of the stack will decrease less than usual.
{{clear|left}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Sea Serpent}}
{{CreatureSounds|Haspid}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights=150px>
Sea Serpent old render.png|Sea Serpent (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Haspid old render.png|Haspid (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Haspid render.png|Haspid| Model by [[Alex-ander]]
Agar Cove Sea Monster.jpg| Early Sea Serpent concept (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Sea-serpent-PR-59.gif| Sea Serpent (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Allin5A.webm|thumbtime=0:00| A stained glass window in [[Casmetra]]'s chamber depicts a Haspid ([[Chasing the Dream]]{{-wh}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
The name "Haspid" (Russian: ''Аспид'') is taken (bastardizedly) after the [[wikipedia:Elapidae|Elapidae]] (Russian: ''Аспидовые'') family of serpents. It also sounds like [[wikipedia:Vipera aspis|Vipera aspis]], a European asp.

Creatures with [[Slayer]] (any level) on them have increased attack against Sea Serpents and Haspids.

A Haspid can kill an [[Angel and Archangel|Archangel]] in one-on-one combat, alongside the [[Behemoth and Ancient Behemoth|Ancient Behemoth]] and the [[Titan]] (Titan wins by defending 4 times and then attacking). They are also the only unit besides the [[Titan]] which can reliably kill an Ancient Behemoth in one-on-one combat.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Pirate, Corsair, and Sea Dog

2026-02-25T10:02:11Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{inhota}}{{CoveCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Pirate}}
{{Creature/Corsair}}
{{Creature/Sea Dog}}

'''Pirates''', '''Corsairs''', and '''Sea Dogs''' are the level 3 creatures of [[Cove]]. They can be recruited from the [[Cove creature dwellings|Frigate]].

''"Pirates plague unwary seafarers and can be found in almost every corner of the world, though they tend to plunder coasts and sea trade routes. Corsairs are skilled pirates who have proven themselves worthy of the respect of their captains. Their fencing prowess allows them to make lightning-quick attacks on enemies who find themselves unable to retaliate. Sea Wolves are legendary Corsairs who have engaged in numerous raids and are armed with exquisite pistols crafted by talented [[Regna|Regnan]] alchemists, hence why their shots are truly deadly. It is rumoured that, in acts of sadistic cruelty, they enjoy trapping their prey on random unknown islands across the [[Endless Ocean]]."{{-}}Adapted from [https://www.facebook.com/h3hotaofficial/posts/pfbid024rwfoLD8MSoHQRUnmkgrqeXkMLJ9521DqCFxZmNj1539dR62jvD3FNRHNSit9kqul?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXMHETKmGDQ8wttVEsY_KqOUKP9Wk_ERNg-Ntaw3PkhDaIVD2ScV8tH8uwAPz8U6VZt6I4RFZEfqUP43Kv5sEmH01wOiR4mUGMvyCH7yI7ro-ixnNebs-_w-sE65aOoLsUkvNd9jk_eDnnwlh0JWeBehOPCowb3pSNmKVmdFuqY7aKH28nZk8PhfBtQekEfd64IfhS7OPYfiGnXfQtG1FdF&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R HotA Facebook post]''
{{clear|left}}
-----

''"The pirates themselves are a very diverse people. Many were born and raised on board, and they don't know any other life. One can say that a pirate in these parts is a hereditary profession. It's not easy for an outsider to become one of them, unless he can make an instant, strong impression on others. The most powerful, smart, and brave among the pirates become [[captain|captains]] and [[navigator|navigators]]. The rest are their troops. At the same time, notably, there is a unique atmosphere of solidarity and brotherhood among them... at least when at sea. There is unwavering discipline and subordination on pirate ships. Even the [[Erathia|Erathian]] Guards could envy them.Everything changes as soon as the pirates come ashore, though! They instantly turn into slovenly loafers. They like to drink and smoke; most would never tell claret from port, yet still, they pride themselves in splurging on fine wines and tobacco imported from the colonies. They love gambling, fighting, and women. In other words, they enjoy everything that is forbidden on board. And yet, at the first call of their captain, they instantly pull themselves together, becoming a formidable force. I've always been surprised by these metamorphoses.Each pirate is proficient in several types of weapons, usually rapiers, cutlasses and pistols. The pistol is an achievement of the [[Bracada|Bracadan]] alchemists. This fairly easy-to-manufacture weapon has not yet become widespread among the other kingdoms of [[Antagarich]]. [[Jadame]] is another thing altogether... but I digress. In fact, the pistol is a miniature likeness of a ship's cannon. A skilled shooter can take down a knight, armored from the heels to the top of his head, with a single shot. I believe that the feudal lords of [[Erathia]] and [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]] are simply afraid of these weapons spreading among the commoners, and the [[Bracada|Bracadan]]s simply do not need them—they have their magic. The [[Regna|Regnan]]s, however, do not suffer from any silly phobias; this wonderful invention sees the widest use there."''{{---}}― {{Hn|Dargem|0=}}

{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitLargeNoExp
| dwelling = Frigate
| creature1 = Pirate
| creature2 = Corsair
| creature3 = Sea Dog
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Anabel|Captain}}
* {{H|Bidley|Captain}} {{withmapedhota}} can upgrade Pirates and Corsairs to Sea Dogs.

== Special Ability: Accurate Shot ==
Accurate Shot gives Sea Dogs a chance to instantly kill one or more units in the enemy stack after the Sea Dogs shoot. This ability doesn't work if shooting at creatures behind walls or at [[war machine]]s.
* This chance is 2% (with range penalty) or 3% (without range penalty) per Sea Dog in the stack, and is ''not'' cumulative. This means that, even with many Sea Dogs, there is a small chance that Accurate Shot does not activate after an attack.
* Accurate Shot will always kill the topmost unit(s) in the stack, meaning that if the enemy stack survives after Accurate Shot occurs, the new topmost unit will always have full Health.
* Accurate Shot chances (range penalty):
** 1—50 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—1 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 51—100 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—2 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 101—150 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—3 enemy units with Accurate Shot
* Accurate Shot chances (no range penalty):
** 1—33 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—1 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 34—66 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—2 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 67—99 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—3 enemy units with Accurate Shot

'''<big>Show Probability Tables</big>'''
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-ProbTab">
NOTE: This is based on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_distribution Binomial Distribution] formula of '''combinations(n,k) * pk * (1-p)n-k''' where:
* p: probability of Accurate Shot = 0.02 or 0.03
* n: # of Sea Dogs
* k: # of Accurate Shot victims
** NOTE: k has a maximum value of '''n * p''' (rounded up).
* NOTE: Values in the table are rounded to the nearest %.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left; margin-right:8px;"
|-
! !! colspan=99 | # of Victims (range penalty)
|-
! # Sea Dogs !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
|-
| 1 || 98% || 2% || - || - || -
|-
| 50 || 36% || 64% || - || - || -
|-
| 51 || 36% || 37% || 27% || - || -
|-
|100 || 13% || 27% || 60% || - || -
|-
|101 || 13% || 27% || 27% || 33% || -
|-
|150 || 5% || 15% || 22% || 58% || -
|-
|151 || 5% || 15% || 22% || 23% || 36%
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left;"
|-
! !! colspan=99 | # of Victims (no range penalty)
|-
! # Sea Dogs !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
|-
| 1 || 97% || 3% || - || - || -
|-
| 33 || 37% || 63% || - || - || -
|-
| 34 || 36% || 37% || 27% || - || -
|-
| 66 || 13% || 27% || 59% || - || -
|-
| 67 || 13% || 27% || 27% || 33% || -
|-
| 99 || 5% || 15% || 23% || 57% || -
|-
| 100 || 5% || 15% || 23% || 23% || 35%
|}
</div>
{{clear|left}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Pirate|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Corsair|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Sea Dog|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Pirate render.png|Pirate (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Sea Dog render.png|Sea Dog (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Agar Cove Pirate.jpg|Pirate (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Agar Cove Pirate Fangarm.jpg|Pirate and [[Fangarm]] (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Pirate-PR-53.gif| Pirate (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Corsair-PR-54.gif| Corsair (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Pirate-PR-52.gif| Corsair (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Sea-dog-PR-55.gif| Sea Dog (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-ROGERD-bik-ROGERD.webm|thumbtime=0:03| A Corsair as part of [[Jeremy]]'s crew at [[Utopia]] ([[Devil Sunrise]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Pirates are great tier 3 shooters with good stats and no melee penalty. Their only weakness is a low shot count (only 4), although it should be sufficient to kill most neutral creatures if split into multiple stacks. An [[Ammo Cart]] can also help greatly in prolonged battles.

Sea Dogs are without question the best tier 3 creature in the game. They have great stats and a ranged version of the [[Mighty Gorgon]]'s death stare ability. This is balanced by the high cost of the Gunpowder Warehouse, which prevents them from being acquired too early in the game. Pirates and Corsairs should generally be upgraded to Sea Dogs before engaging enemy players.

Like with Mighty Gorgons, care should be taken to maximize Accurate Shot caps when splitting stacks of Sea Dogs. The cap is the real limiting factor: 33 Sea Dogs will never kill more than one creature with their ability, while 34 of them can kill two when shooting without penalty, 27% of the time. Likewise, 67 Sea Dogs is the minimum amount for a triple kill, but the chance of it already starts at 33%. Accurate Shots can be used as a ranged and "improved" version of Death Stare with ability to "snipe" [[Undead]] and [[Non-living]] creatures down at the cost of lower efficiency per growth ratio.

Sea Dogs are in fact very expensive (Unit price is 375g), combined with their regular T3 weekly growth rate, total cost rivals tier 6 creatures. It's not wise to use them in early games, as they are not cost effective.

It is '''very''' important for the number of Sea Dogs to get to a new '50 + 1'. Remember this when splitting Sea Dogs into multiple stacks or targeting enemy Sea Dogs.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 3 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Halfling and Halfling Grenadier

2026-02-25T09:59:50Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{inhota}}{{FactoryCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Halfling (Factory)}}
{{Creature/Halfling Grenadier}}

{{About|This article refers to the level 1 creature of Factory. For the neutral creature, see [[Halfling]].}}

'''Halflings and Halfling Grenadiers''' are the level 1 creatures of [[Factory]]. They are recruited from the [[Halfling Adobe]], or the [[Thatched Hut]] on the [[adventure map]].
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Halfling Adobe
| dwelling2 = Thatched Hut
| ext1 = png
| creature1 = Halfling (Factory)
| creature2 = Halfling Grenadier
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|speciality]] ==
* {{H|Henrietta|Mercenary}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Halfling|ranged=y|extra={{-}}(Factory)}}
{{CreatureSounds|Halfling Grenadier|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150px">
Halfling render.png| Model by [[Dmitriy Gravchenko]]
Halfling Grenadier render.png| Model by [[Dmitriy Gravchenko]]
HotA_1.7.0-Data-HotA_lng_snd-Factory1B-bik-Factory1B.webm|thumbtime=0:00| [[Frederick]] and the [[Halflings]] prepare to depart [[Eeofol]] on an [[airship]] ([[World on Fire]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
HotA_1.7.0-Data-HotA_lng_snd-Factory2A-bik-Factory2A.webm| [[Frederick]], [[Henrietta]] and the [[Halfling]]s on an [[airship]] ([[Beyond the Horizon]]{{-wh}} prologue)
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-Factory2B-bik-Factory2B.webm|thumbtime=0:00| Halflings with [[Henrietta]] and the [[Ironfist of the Ogre]] ([[Beyond the Horizon]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-Factory8B-bik-Factory8B.webm|thumbtime=0:00| Halflings help rebuild a liberated [[Eeofol]] ([[Homecoming (HotA)|Homecoming]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Almost everything said about original [[Halfling|Halflings]] can be applied to their new version.

Due to their high luck, especially when using Henrietta, try to divide them into several stacks.

When using the non-upgraded [[Couatls]]' [[Meditation]], the player may use one or a few Halflings as the cannon fodder, while casting [[Armageddon]], but they can get killed too early due their slowness and low HP.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 1 Creatures]]
* [[Halfling]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Armadillo and Bellwether Armadillo

2026-02-25T09:59:08Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ removed unnecessary spacing

{{inhota}}{{FactoryCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Armadillo}}
{{Creature/Bellwether Armadillo}}

'''Armadillos and Bellwether Armadillos''' are the level 3 creatures of [[Factory]]. They are recruited from the [[Ranch]]. Building the [[Pen]] increases armadillos' growth by 3 per week. When affected by [[Haste]], their walking animation changes to them curling into a ball and rolling across the battlefield.
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Ranch
| creature1 = Armadillo
| creature2 = Bellwether Armadillo
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
*{{H|Celestine|Artificer}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Armadillo}}
{{CreatureSounds|Bellwether Armadillo}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Docent-picolan-armadillo.png| Art by [[Docent Picolan]]
Armadillo render.png| Model by [[Dmitriy Gravchenko]]
Docent-picolan-bellwether armadillo.png| Art by [[Docent Picolan]]
Bellwether Armadillo render.png| Model by [[Dmitriy Gravchenko]]
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-Factory2B-bik-Factory2B.webm|thumbtime=0:00| An Armadillo with [[Henrietta]] and the [[Ironfist of the Ogre]] ([[Beyond the Horizon]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Armadillos are slow and have no abilities but serve as a living shield and a backup for shooters. Due to absence of useful abilities and relatively bad characteristics among level 3 creatures (Armadillos are worse than [[Griffins]] with analogical characteristics) and Factory creatures separately, they may be used as an "extra" creature before the introduction of both Factory level 7 creatures at mid-late game. Otherwise, they have to be used like "reserve" units in Factory garrisons.

While both Armadillos and Bellwether Armadillos have very poor attack skill (even below average of all level 2 units), their high defence skill and above average HP make them somewhat durable. [[Celestine]]'s specialty improves on their paltry speed, but doesn't provide much of a boost to their meek attack skill. Since their defence skill is high, [[Frenzy]] (especially [[Wrathmont]]'s) should have a drastic effect on both Armadillos' offensive output at the cost of their durability.

When using the non-upgraded [[Couatls]]' [[Meditation]], the player may use one or a few Armadillos as the cannon fodder, while casting [[Armageddon]], but they can get killed too early due their slowness.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 3 Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Double attack

2026-02-25T09:43:56Z

ReaderCritic: /* {{hota}} */

'''Double attack''', or as phrased within the game '''strikes twice''' or '''shoots twice''', is a [[special ability]] of some creatures, that enables them to attack the same target twice in one combat round. Creatures with double [[melee]] attacks execute their second attack right after the attacked stack has [[Retaliation|retaliated]], and if the defending stack has killed some of the attackers, only the remaining creatures (if any) will do damage afterwards. Shooters who shoot twice do not get the second attack if engaged in a melee fight.

'''Creatures with double attack:'''
* {{Cn|Marksman}} - shoots twice.
* {{Cn|Crusader}}
* {{Cn|Grand Elf}} - shoots twice.
* {{Cn|Wolf Raider}}
* {{Cn|Cyclops King}} - throws 2 boulders, when aiming at castle walls.
* {{Cn|Ballista}} - shoots twice with advanced or expert Artillery.

== {{hota}} ==
* {{Cn|Ayssid}}s have a '''Ferocity''' ability which means a double attack if any unit in the attacked stack was killed by the first hit.
* {{Cn|Olgoi-Khorkhoi}} have a '''Devour Corpses''' ability which provides additional strikes.

[[Category: Creature specialties]]
__NOTOC__

Necropolis

2026-02-25T09:42:15Z

ReaderCritic: /* Trivia */ spacing

{{TownNew
| name = Necropolis
| alignment = Evil
| class_1 = Death Knight
| class_1_plural = Death Knights
| class_2 = Necromancer
| class_2_plural = Necromancers
| country = Deyja
| description = Necropolis towns are overrun and ruled by undead creatures. They are the natural bases for the Necromancer and Death Knight hero types. Necropolis armies have many units with abilities to weaken their opponents. This quickly gives them an edge over equal or even more powerful enemy armies.
| source = Restoration of Erathia
| page = 100
| terrain = Dirt
| commonGold = 37000
| commonWood = 45
| commonOre = 40
| mageGold = 6000
| mageWood = 25
| mageOre = 25
| mageMercury = 28
| mageSulfur = 28
| mageCrystal = 28
| mageGems = 28
| dwellingGold = 48400
| dwellingWood = 60
| dwellingOre = {{swh|65|70|noicon=}}
| dwellingMercury = {{swh|31|32|noicon=}}
| dwellingSulfur = {{swh|15|22|noicon=}}
| dwellingCrystal = 17
| dwellingGems = 17
| uniqueGold = 6000
| uniqueWood = 20
| uniqueOre = -
| uniqueMercury = -
| uniqueSulfur = -
| uniqueCrystal = -
| uniqueGems = -
| totalGold = 97400
| totalWood = 150
| totalOre = {{swh|130|135|noicon=}}
| totalMercury = {{swh|59|60|noicon=}}
| totalSulfur = {{swh|43|50|noicon=}}
| totalCrystal = 45
| totalGems = 45
| troopGold = 26920
| troopWood = -
| troopOre = -
| troopMercury = 2
| troopSulfur = -
| troopCrystal = -
| troopGems = -
| sp_banned_1_1 = Bless
| sp_banned_1_2 = Cure
| sp_banned_3_1 = Destroy Undead
| sp_banned_3_2 = Hypnotize
| sp_banned_4_1 = Prayer
| sl_banned_4_1 = Prayer
| sp_banned_5_1 = Magic Mirror
| sp_banned_5_2 = Summon Fire Elemental
| sp_banned_5_3 = Summon Water Elemental
| name_1 = Agony
| name_2 = Blackquarter
| name_3 = Blight
| name_4 = Cessacioun
| name_5 = Coldreign
| name_6 = Coldsoul
| name_7 = Death's Gate
| name_8 = Dark Cloud
| name_9 = Dark Eternal
| name_10 = Ghostwind
| name_11 = Grave Raven
| name_12 = Haunt's Wind
| name_13 = Sanctum
| name_14 = Shadow Keep
| name_15 = Terminus
| name_16 = Worm Warren
}}
== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
Necropolis-in-background.png| Town background
Necropolis-Prerelease-in.png|Fully upgraded Necropolis (pre-release)
Necropolis Castle render.png|Castle
Necropolis Mage Guild render.png|Mage Guild
Necropolis Soul Prison render.png|Soul Prison
Necropolis Town Hall render.png|Town Hall
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 UAi-smk-H3x2 UAi.webm|thumbtime=0:04| [[Gem]] and [[Gelu]] scouting a Necropolis ([[To Strive, To Seek]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3 vid-H3x2 UAl-smk-H3x2 UAl.webm|thumbtime=0:04| A [[Ghost Dragon]] and [[Wight]]s guard a Necropolis ([[Fall of Sandro]]{{-ws}} prologue)
</gallery>

== Trivia ==
The Tomb of Souls' appearance is probably inspired by Caspar David Friedrich's 1818 painting "[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Klosterfriedhof_im_Schnee.jpg Cloister Cemetery in Snow]".
{{user commentary|
* Necropolis armies have many units with abilities to weaken their opponents. This may give them an advantage over an equal or even a stronger opponent.

* All Necropolis' creatures are [[undead]], which means that they are unaffected by [[morale]]. They are also immune to all [[mind spell|mind spells]] as well as [[Curse]], [[Bless]], [[Resurrection]] and [[Death Ripple]].

* Necropolis is considered one of the most powerful towns. It has very strong 4th and 6th level creatures, as well as mighty shooters. [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] and [[Dread Knight|Dread Knights]] are among the strongest in their respective levels, and while having [[Power Lich|Power Liches]] in an army consisting of living creatures may have problematic because of the [[death cloud]] attack, in the army of undead, it is an advantage. Skeletons are around average rank of 1st level creatures, but due to [[Necromancy]] secondary skill, their numbers can be significantly greater than other 1st level creatures. The downside is, that [[Walking Dead|Walking Deads]], [[Wight|Wights]], and [[Bone Dragon|Bone Dragons]] are all among the weakest creatures of their respective levels. In fact, [[Bone Dragon]] is perhaps the weakest 7th level creature.

* Necropolis has excellent magic capabilities. It can build level 5th [[Mage Guild]] and has few special spells like [[Animate Dead]] and [[Death Ripple]] to support the armies. Also, undead hordes are immune to [[mind spell|mind spells]], which greatest advantage is that they cannot be [[blind|blinded]] or "[[berserk|berserked]]". In addition, undead do not suffer from negative [[morale]] (nor do they benefit from positive). This makes the [[Spirit of Oppression]] a useful tool for Necropolis armies.

* Perhaps the most outstanding feature closely related to Necropolis is [[Necromancy]] [[secondary skill]]. It enables heroes with the skill to "harvest" [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] (or [[Skeleton Warrior|Skeleton Warriors]]) from enemy armies as well as allied creatures. It is possible for a hero with Necromancy skill to come out from a battle with more troops than he went to it.

* An advantageous tactics with Necropolis is "harvesting" skeletons with the [[Necromancy]] [[secondary skill]]. At expert level Necromancy allows 30% (15% in {{hota}}) of the creatures killed in combat to be brought back from the dead as skeletons. The percentage points can be increased with two structures: [[Necromancy Amplifier]](s) and [[Soul Prison]]. Amplifiers can typically be constructed in necropolis towns, while Soul Prison is the [[grail building]] of Necropolis. Each amplifier increases the percentage points by +10% (5% in {{hota}}).

* There are also artifacts that can increase the skill: [[Amulet of the Undertaker]] increases the percentage points by +5% (2.5% in {{hota}}), [[Vampire's Cowl]] by +10% (5% in {{hota}}) and [[Dead Man's Boots]] by +15% (7.5% in {{hota}}). The artifacts combine to the [[Cloak of the Undead King]] which gives another +30% (15% in {{hota}}) to the [[Necromancy]] skill. With these artifacts and one amplifier, the Necromancy secondary skill can be increased to 100% (50% in {{hota}}). Additionally, two heroes specialize in Necromancy, [[Isra]] and [[Vidomina]]. Combining either of them with one amplifier and all three artifacts, it is possible in {{hota}} to reach 100% skill level in necromancy at level 67, which means that possibly all the creatures killed in combat will be brought back as skeletons.

* Harvesting leads to a situation, where it is profitable for heroes with Necromancy (mainly Death Knights and Necromancers) to carry through combats with wandering creatures instead of letting them flee if they are substantially less creatures and want to quit the battlefield. So, special months (see [[growth]]) where some creature types population doubles is actually a boon for Necropolis skeleton harvesters. This is especially valid for low-level creatures that come in large numbers, like hobgoblins. Random units blocking pathways on the map thus become a motivational boost because those wandering creatures mean additional [[Skeleton|Skeletons]].

* Even without Necromancy, you can turn any creature into [[Skeletons]]. This means that free level 1 map dwellings (like for [[Gremlins]] and [[Imps]]) will give you free skeletons indirectly, thanks to the [[Skeleton Transformer]]. That means you don't even need wandering enemies or the Necromancy secondary skill to raise huge hordes of skeletons as the Necropolis, and outnumber other towns.

'''Pros:'''
*A variety of good heroes to choose from.
*A variety of strategies available.
*Units are unaffected by negative [[Morale]] thus unaffected also by [[Sorrow]] or [[Spirit of Oppression]], mixing with other [[Town]] type units still has a penalty on units of other towns.
*Unaffected by [[Mind spells]] like [[Elemental|Elementals]], even [[Blind]] does not function on [[Undead]] units.
*[[Necromancy]] is a powerful secondary skill that only Necropolis town heroes can utilize effectively and that every [[Necropolis]] hero typically has. Given affordable [[Necromancy amplifier]] buildings (10% point building bonus to [[Necromancy]], '''unique''' town [[secondary skill]] boost building feature for all own heroes on the map, safe the [[Navigation]] centric building [[Lighthouse]] the only [[secondary skill]] bonus enhancer building available in the game) in [[Necropolis]] towns and a range of artifacts that further enhance the skill percentage like [[Vampire%27s_Cowl|Vampire's Cowl]] it is rather easy to recruit a small but steady number of [[Undead]] from most other creatures after fights. Every successful fight will increase the number of level 1 units one has even to astronomical amounts of stack sizes for steady motivation boosts after each encounter. [[Undead]] generally are [[Animate Dead]] resurrectable during combat additionally and the [[Skeleton Transformer]] in a [[Necropolis]] town can change foreign units to [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] so mixing foreign units with [[Necropolis]] town units does not make them suffer [[morale]] penalty when converting them to [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] first, one can recruit units off fights with the opponent and they are rather hard to kill and easily replenished given enough mana or [[Necromancy]] skill bonus points which are readily available via buildings or artifacts or even hero specials.
*[[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] are by far the most cost-efficient level 4 unit (and arguably the most cost-efficient unit in the game), as they can beat armies of much greater size as long as they are not (like [[Undead]], [[Unliving|Constructs]] or [[Elemental|Elementals]]) immune to the Vampire Lords' [[Life drain]] ability and as long as the Vampire Lords are used properly (with [[Blind]] on extra enemy stacks for example or [[Counterstrike]] on the [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] amidst low number/low hp enemy stacks, alternated with [[Animate Dead]] to help out if the [[Life Drain]] to damage inbound ratio is proving destructive to the [[Vampire Lord]] stack - perhaps also using [[Haste]] and the [[Flying]] feature of the [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]] to switch opponent melee stacks to feasible ones or to seek a safe point to replenish via [[Animate Dead]], [[Cure]] or [[First Aid]]).
* The level 3 spell [[Animate Dead]] (which the necromancer hero [[Thant]] has built in) can resurrect units in combat, and they '''stay''' resurrected after combat regardless of if the caster has [[Earth Magic]] or not. So given a good balance of [[Thant|Thants]] undead and repairable units compared to the opponent, enough mana for the resurrects and having [[Shackles of War]] for unlimited turns (a smaller version would be using [[Blind]] on all remaining enemy units and killing one [[blind|blinded]] stack each turn, keeping the enemy locked until the enemy hero is lost to the opponent and the artifacts if any are transferred) he would not lose any units in combat but also often get additional [[Necromancy]] created skeletons (which would hamper movement on the adventure map a little, as [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] are slow creatures (and even with [[Town Portal]] and [[Dimension Door]] there's an [[adventure map]] movement penalty to consider)).
*There are number of artifacts that are only useful to Necropolis (artifacts enhancing the created creature number of the unique secondary skill [[Necromancy]] like [[Cloak of the Undead King]], but also [[Pendant of Death]] which counters the mini, undead-only version of [[Armageddon]], damaging all undead on the battlefield, even those recruited in no Necropolis but on the adventure map).
*This town has the highest chance to get [[Berserk]] in the Mage Guild.
*Both Necropolis hero types begin with a spell book.
* The -1 to enemy morale ability for the Bone and Ghost Dragon means that neutral mobs except for Minotaurs will never get an extra turn in battle, giving the Necromancer/Death Knight greater control of the battlefield, reducing losses over time, and eventually resulting in a larger, stronger army. When upgraded to Ghost Dragons, they become faster than all units below level 7, allowing the Necromancer to cast the first spell unless the opponent has a Firebird/Phoenix or an upgraded Black Dragon, Gold Dragon, Arch Angel, or Arch Devil. The Ghost Dragon's aging attack can be terrifying in huge battles when split into 3 stacks and used to age the opponent's best stacks, though useless in small battles.

'''Cons:'''
* Necropolis produces the least amount of units per week. (Not counting Necromancy).
* Half of the troops are weak for their level ([[Walking Dead]] and [[Zombie|Zombies]] slow armies down, [[Wight and Wraith|Wights and Wraiths]] have below average stats, and the Bone and Ghost Dragons are the least resilient level 7 troops in the game).
* Only one ranged attacker ([[Lich]]/[[Power Lich]]) which has a [[Melee penalty]], no [[Double attack]], and cannot attack Siege Walls. Because they're level 5 it may take some time before they can be recruited which can leave the army without any ranged capabilities.
* The undead cannot be [[Bless|Blessed]].
* Unaffected by positive [[Morale]]. Mixing creatures of other town types without converting them to [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] via [[Skeleton Transformer]] first will get them negative [[Morale]] of course, on the other hand [[Spirit of Oppression]] is a very nice thing to have for any Necropolis hero with only Necropolis units in the party as it does not do any harm to [[Necropolis]] units. The [[Dread Knight|Dread Knights]]' [[Death blow]] feature works largely (no [[Luck]] bonus for the second strike) like an attack only, no movement [[Morale]] bonus would, but at a higher probability of 20% (high [[Morale]] has 12.5% of activating a second action each creature) and it is a natural feature.
* Difficulties in the early game, where your slow level 1 and level 2 creatures are not the best to conquer mines and explore the map (and in the endgame a host of in-combat resurrectable skeletons might hamper adventure map transfers (to re-flag buildings for instance) safe for [[Town Portal]] which is a nice (and often ''banned'') spell to jump the adventure map)).
* Necropolis heroes cannot learn [[First Aid]], even though their blacksmith produces first aid tents.
* While [[Armageddon]] can show up in the Mage Guild, it's not that helpful for Necropolis units since they don't have innate fire magic immunity (though [[Anti-Magic]] can somewhat compensate for this). Moreover, a [[Rampart]], [[Inferno]], [[Dungeon]], or [[Conflux]] hero may capture a Necropolis and learn Armageddon, which will be used in a proper way via [[Dragogeddon]].
* Dirt which is Necropolis's [[native terrain]] doesn't give any [[movement penalty]] to the enemy.
* This town is often considered too strong and thus is ''banned'' in many multiplayer games/tournaments. In {{hota}}, all percentages for [[Necromancy]] got halved in an attempt to balance this and also [[Galthran]] got replaced by [[Ranloo]].

'''Some thoughts'''

If you can upgrade your Estate early, you should do so. The Vampire Lords are one of the best 4th-level creatures in the game. Since they draw life from their enemy, and resurrect themselves, they can be used to single-handedly take out large numbers of low-level creatures. Combine with "counterstrike" to get even better effect.

"The month of the Hobgoblin" and the like are [[Necromancers]]' wet dream. Just take your strongest hero and stockpile Skeletons. [[Necromancy]] adds a little bit of motivation on clearing maps - who needs experience and levelups, when there's [[Skeletons]] aplenty?

The Necropolis has only a few units they can rely on, the others can wait with being bought and, in time, even be ignored. The reliable units are: [[Skeleton Warrior|Skeleton Warriors]], [[Vampire Lord|Vampire Lords]], [[Power Lich|Power Liches]] and [[Dread Knight|Dread Knights]].

You get [[Skeleton Warrior|Skeleton Warriors]] only if your ranks are full at the *end* of combat and if you have a stack of [[Skeleton Warrior|Skeleton Warriors]] and no stack of [[Skeleton|Skeletons]]. The downside is that you get less than if you'd get normal [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] (2/3rds as many). Therefore, if it is logistically manageable, it would be better to try and get a horde of normal [[Skeleton|Skeletons]] first, and then upgrade them at a Necropolis or Hill Fort for the last battle.

If there are any Level 1 dwellings nearby, recruit them and take them to the Necropolis. If you have a [[Skeleton Transformer]], you're practically getting free [[Skeleton|Skeletons]], and even free [[Skeleton Warrior|Skeleton Warriors]] if there is a [[Hill Fort]] close by too.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{Town 'see also'}}

[[Category: Necropolis]]
__notoc__

Comparison of Level 7 Creatures

2026-02-17T11:29:35Z

ReaderCritic: /* Notes */

{{CrCompheader}}
{{Creature Compare Lvl7}}
|}
== Key: ==
* '''Att''': [[Primary_skill#Attack_skill|Attack]]
* '''Def''': [[Primary_skill#Defense_skill|Defense]]
* '''Dmg-''': Minimum damage
* '''Dmg+''': Maximum damage
* '''HP''': Health
* '''Spd''': Speed
* '''Gr''': Growth
* '''Max Gr''': Maximum growth. The weekly growth of this creature in a town with a [[fortifications|castle]] and a [[horde building]] (if applicable). Does not count artifacts such as the [[Statue of Legion]], [[Growth#Special_weeks_and_months|astrology]], creature dwellings on the adventure map, nor any other factors.
* '''AI Val''': [[AI value]] per troop.
* '''{{g}} Cost''': Cost per troop
* '''Max Gr {{g}} cost''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the cost per troop. How much it costs to purchase an ordinary town's entire weekly growth of this creature.
* '''Max Gr AI Value''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the AI value per troop. This approximately measures how powerful an ordinary town's entirely weekly growth of this creature is.
* '''Max Gr Total HP''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by Health. This is useful to know if you want to [[Pit_Fiend_and_Pit_Lord#Special_Ability:_Demon_Summoning|farm demons]], for example.
* '''HP per {{g}}''': Health divided by Cost per troop. This is useful if you want to use this creature defensively. A higher value means you get more health for a given amount of gold spent.
* '''AI Val per {{g}}''': AI value per troop divided by Cost per troop. A higher value means you get a scarier army for a given amount of gold spent.

=== Notes ===
Analysis for non-neutral level 7+ creatures:
* Best Damage Dealer: [[Archangel]] (but with [[Bless]],{{showwithhota| [[Haspid|Haspids]]{{-wh}} and}} [[Titans]] deal more damage).
* Most resilient: [[Black Dragon]], followed closely by the [[Titan]]{{showwithhota| and the [[Juggernaut]]}}.
* Fastest: [[Phoenix]].
* Highest AI value: [[Archangel]], followed by [[Black Dragon]] and then [[Gold Dragon]].

* Worst Damage Dealer: [[Chaos Hydra]]. Lowest damage (out of all level 7 creatures) to the target, but attacks all adjacent enemies, so the total damage output is higher than the nominal{{showwithhota|. If we consider the multi-headed attack as an increase in damage output, the worst damage dealer becomes the [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}}}}.
* Least Resilient: [[Ghost Dragon]]{{showwithhota|, followed closely by the [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}}}}.
* Slowest: [[Chaos Hydra]]{{showwithhota|, tying with the [[Juggernaut]]{{-wh}}}}.
* Lowest AI value: [[Ghost Dragon]], followed by the {{showwithhota|[[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}} and then the }}[[Chaos Hydra]].

* The best upgraded level 6 damage dealer, the [[Naga Queen]], has 16 Attack and does exactly 30 damage. The [[Chaos Hydra]] has only 2 more Attack and does on average only 5 more Damage{{showwithhota|. The [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}} has only 3 Attack more than the latter}}.
* The most resilient upgraded level 6 creature, the {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}}, has 1 more Defense than the [[Ghost Dragon]] and only 65 HP less. The [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}} has only 4 more Defense than the latter|[[Dread Knight]], has 1 more Defense than the [[Ghost Dragon]] and only 80 HP less}}.
* The fastest upgraded level 6 creature, the [[Efreet Sultan]], has speed 13 which is faster than the [[Chaos Hydra]], the [[Ancient Behemoth]]{{swh|,| and|noicon=}} the [[Titan]]{{showwithhota|, the [[Haspid]]{{-wh}} and the [[Juggernaut]]{{-wh}}}}.

* The worst neutral level 10 dragon, the [[Rust Dragon]], has the same attack, defence and damage as the [[Archangel]].
* The least resilient neutral dragon, the level 8 [[Faerie Dragon]], has 5 less defense than the [[Black Dragon]] but 200 more HP.
* The fastest neutral dragon, the [[Azure Dragon]] is, at 19 speed, slower than the [[Phoenix]].

{{creature comparison 'see also'}}

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Comparison of Level 7 Creatures

2026-02-17T11:27:30Z

ReaderCritic: /* Notes */

{{CrCompheader}}
{{Creature Compare Lvl7}}
|}
== Key: ==
* '''Att''': [[Primary_skill#Attack_skill|Attack]]
* '''Def''': [[Primary_skill#Defense_skill|Defense]]
* '''Dmg-''': Minimum damage
* '''Dmg+''': Maximum damage
* '''HP''': Health
* '''Spd''': Speed
* '''Gr''': Growth
* '''Max Gr''': Maximum growth. The weekly growth of this creature in a town with a [[fortifications|castle]] and a [[horde building]] (if applicable). Does not count artifacts such as the [[Statue of Legion]], [[Growth#Special_weeks_and_months|astrology]], creature dwellings on the adventure map, nor any other factors.
* '''AI Val''': [[AI value]] per troop.
* '''{{g}} Cost''': Cost per troop
* '''Max Gr {{g}} cost''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the cost per troop. How much it costs to purchase an ordinary town's entire weekly growth of this creature.
* '''Max Gr AI Value''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the AI value per troop. This approximately measures how powerful an ordinary town's entirely weekly growth of this creature is.
* '''Max Gr Total HP''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by Health. This is useful to know if you want to [[Pit_Fiend_and_Pit_Lord#Special_Ability:_Demon_Summoning|farm demons]], for example.
* '''HP per {{g}}''': Health divided by Cost per troop. This is useful if you want to use this creature defensively. A higher value means you get more health for a given amount of gold spent.
* '''AI Val per {{g}}''': AI value per troop divided by Cost per troop. A higher value means you get a scarier army for a given amount of gold spent.

=== Notes ===
Analysis for non-neutral level 7+ creatures:
* Best Damage Dealer: [[Archangel]] (but with [[Bless]],{{showwithhota| [[Haspid|Haspids]]{{-wh}} and}} [[Titans]] deal more damage).
* Most resilient: [[Black Dragon]], closely followed by the [[Titan]]{{showwithhota| and the [[Juggernaut]]}}.
* Fastest: [[Phoenix]].
* Highest AI value: [[Archangel]], followed by [[Black Dragon]] and then [[Gold Dragon]].

* Worst Damage Dealer: [[Chaos Hydra]]. Lowest damage (out of all level 7 creatures) to the target, but attacks all adjacent enemies, so the total damage output is higher than the nominal{{showwithhota|. If we consider the multi-headed attack as an increase in damage output, the worst damage dealer becomes the [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}}}}.
* Least Resilient: [[Ghost Dragon]]{{showwithhota|, followed closely by the [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}}}}.
* Slowest: [[Chaos Hydra]]{{showwithhota|, tying with the [[Juggernaut]]{{-wh}}}}.
* Lowest AI value: [[Ghost Dragon]], followed by the {{showwithhota|[[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}} and then the }}[[Chaos Hydra]].

* The best upgraded level 6 damage dealer, the [[Naga Queen]], has 16 Attack and does exactly 30 damage. The [[Chaos Hydra]] has only 2 more Attack and does on average only 5 more Damage{{showwithhota|. The [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}} has only 3 Attack more than the latter}}.
* The most resilient upgraded level 6 creature, the {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}}, has 1 more Defense than the [[Ghost Dragon]] and only 65 HP less. The [[Crimson Couatl]]{{-wh}} has only 4 more Defense than the latter|[[Dread Knight]], has 1 more Defense than the [[Ghost Dragon]] and only 80 HP less}}.
* The fastest upgraded level 6 creature, the [[Efreet Sultan]], has speed 13 which is faster than the [[Chaos Hydra]], the [[Ancient Behemoth]]{{swh|,| and|noicon=}} the [[Titan]]{{showwithhota|, the [[Haspid]]{{-wh}} and the [[Juggernaut]]{{-wh}}}}.

* The worst neutral level 10 dragon, the [[Rust Dragon]], has the same attack, defence and damage as the [[Archangel]].
* The least resilient neutral dragon, the level 8 [[Faerie Dragon]], has 5 less defense than the [[Black Dragon]] but 200 more HP.
* The fastest neutral dragon, the [[Azure Dragon]] is, at 19 speed, slower than the [[Phoenix]].

{{creature comparison 'see also'}}

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Comparison of Level 6 Creatures

2026-02-17T11:21:14Z

ReaderCritic: /* Notes */

{{CrCompheader}}
{{Creature Compare Lvl6}}
|}
== Key: ==
* '''Att''': [[Primary_skill#Attack_skill|Attack]]
* '''Def''': [[Primary_skill#Defense_skill|Defense]]
* '''Dmg-''': Minimum damage
* '''Dmg+''': Maximum damage
* '''HP''': Health
* '''Spd''': Speed
* '''Gr''': Growth
* '''Max Gr''': Maximum growth. The weekly growth of this creature in a town with a [[fortifications|castle]] and a [[horde building]] (if applicable). Does not count artifacts such as the [[Statue of Legion]], [[Growth#Special_weeks_and_months|astrology]], creature dwellings on the adventure map, nor any other factors.
* '''AI Val''': [[AI value]] per troop.
* '''{{g}} Cost''': Cost per troop
* '''Max Gr {{g}} cost''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the cost per troop. How much it costs to purchase an ordinary town's entire weekly growth of this creature.
* '''Max Gr AI Value''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the AI value per troop. This approximately measures how powerful an ordinary town's entirely weekly growth of this creature is.
* '''Max Gr Total HP''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by Health. This is useful to know if you want to [[Pit_Fiend_and_Pit_Lord#Special_Ability:_Demon_Summoning|farm demons]], for example.
* '''HP per {{g}}''': Health divided by Cost per troop. This is useful if you want to use this creature defensively. A higher value means you get more health for a given amount of gold spent.
* '''AI Val per {{g}}''': AI value per troop divided by Cost per troop. A higher value means you get a scarier army for a given amount of gold spent.

=== Notes ===
Analysis for non-neutral level 6+ creatures:
* Best Damage Dealer: [[Naga Queen]]
* Most resilient: {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}} (depending on the situation, the [[Nix Warrior]]{{-wh}} can be more resilient, especially in late-game and battles without direct damage spells)|[[Dread Knight]]}}
* Fastest: [[Efreet Sultan]]
* Highest AI value: {{swh|[[Naga Queen]], followed by [[Dread Knight]] and then [[Efreet Sultan]]|[[Naga Queen]], followed by [[Dread Knight]] and then [[Champion]]}}

* Worst Damage Dealer: {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}}, followed closely by the [[Scorpicore]]|[[Scorpicore]]}}
* Least Resilient: [[Cyclops King]] ([[Wyvern Monarch]] is very close)
* Slowest: [[Naga Queen]]{{showwithhota| and [[Nix Warrior]]{{-wh}}}}
* Lowest AI value: {{swh|[[Wyvern Monarch]], followed by [[Cyclops King]] and then [[Scorpicore]]|[[Cyclops King]], followed by [[Wyvern Monarch]] and then [[Scorpicore]]}}

* The best upgraded level 5 damage dealer, the [[Minotaur King]], has 15 Attack and does 16 damage on average. The [[Scorpicore]] has only one more Attack and does on average only one more Damage
* The most resilient upgraded level 5 creature, the [[Mighty Gorgon]], has the same HP as the [[Cyclops King]] and [[Wyvern Monarch]], but 3 and 2 more Defense, respectively
* The fastest upgraded level 5 creature, the [[Thunderbird]], has speed 11 which is matched only by the [[Scorpicore]] and [[Wyvern Monarch]], and surpassed by the [[Efreet Sultan]]

* The worst upgraded level 7 damage dealer, the [[Chaos Hydra]], has only 2 more Attack than a [[Naga Queen]] and does on average only 5 more Damage
* The least resilient upgraded level 7 creature, the [[Phoenix]], has the same defense as the [[Dread Knight]] and only 80 more HP
* The slowest upgraded level 7 creature, the [[Chaos Hydra]], is only as fast as the slowest upgraded level 6 creatures{{showwithhota|, of whom only the [[War Mammoth]] is 1 speed slower{{-wh}}}}

{{creature comparison 'see also'}}

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Comparison of Level 6 Creatures

2026-02-17T11:10:36Z

ReaderCritic: /* Notes */

{{CrCompheader}}
{{Creature Compare Lvl6}}
|}
== Key: ==
* '''Att''': [[Primary_skill#Attack_skill|Attack]]
* '''Def''': [[Primary_skill#Defense_skill|Defense]]
* '''Dmg-''': Minimum damage
* '''Dmg+''': Maximum damage
* '''HP''': Health
* '''Spd''': Speed
* '''Gr''': Growth
* '''Max Gr''': Maximum growth. The weekly growth of this creature in a town with a [[fortifications|castle]] and a [[horde building]] (if applicable). Does not count artifacts such as the [[Statue of Legion]], [[Growth#Special_weeks_and_months|astrology]], creature dwellings on the adventure map, nor any other factors.
* '''AI Val''': [[AI value]] per troop.
* '''{{g}} Cost''': Cost per troop
* '''Max Gr {{g}} cost''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the cost per troop. How much it costs to purchase an ordinary town's entire weekly growth of this creature.
* '''Max Gr AI Value''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the AI value per troop. This approximately measures how powerful an ordinary town's entirely weekly growth of this creature is.
* '''Max Gr Total HP''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by Health. This is useful to know if you want to [[Pit_Fiend_and_Pit_Lord#Special_Ability:_Demon_Summoning|farm demons]], for example.
* '''HP per {{g}}''': Health divided by Cost per troop. This is useful if you want to use this creature defensively. A higher value means you get more health for a given amount of gold spent.
* '''AI Val per {{g}}''': AI value per troop divided by Cost per troop. A higher value means you get a scarier army for a given amount of gold spent.

=== Notes ===
Analysis for non-neutral level 6+ creatures:
* Best Damage Dealer: [[Naga Queen]]
* Most resilient: {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}} (depending on the situation, the [[Nix Warrior]]{{-wh}} can be more resilient, especially in late-game and battles without direct damage spells)|[[Dread Knight]]}}
* Fastest: [[Efreet Sultan]]
* Highest AI value: {{swh|[[Naga Queen]], followed by [[Dread Knight]] and then [[Efreet Sultan]]|[[Naga Queen]], followed by [[Dread Knight]] and then [[Champion]]}}

* Worst Damage Dealer: {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}}, followed closely by the [[Scorpicore]]|[[Scorpicore]]}}
* Least Resilient: [[Cyclops King]] ([[Wyvern Monarch]] is very close)
* Slowest: [[Naga Queen]]{{showwithhota| and [[Nix Warrior]]{{-wh}}}}
* Lowest AI value: {{swh|[[Wyvern Monarch]], followed by [[Cyclops King]] and then [[Scorpicore]]|[[Cyclops King]], followed by [[Wyvern Monarch]] and then [[Scorpicore]]}}

* The best upgraded level 5 damage dealer, the [[Minotaur King]], has 15 Attack and does 16 damage on average. The [[Scorpicore]] has only one more Attack and does on average only one more Damage
* The most resilient upgraded level 5 creature, the [[Mighty Gorgon]], has the same HP as the [[Cyclops King]] and [[Wyvern Monarch]], but 3 and 2 more Defense, respectively
* The fastest upgraded level 5 creature, the [[Thunderbird]], has speed 11 which is matched only by the [[Scorpicore]] and [[Wyvern Monarch]], and surpassed by the [[Efreet Sultan]]

* The worst upgraded level 7 damage dealer, the [[Chaos Hydra]], has only 2 more Attack than a [[Naga Queen]] and does on average only 5 more Damage
* The least resilient upgraded level 7 creature, the [[Phoenix]], has the same defense as the [[Dread Knight]] and only 80 more HP
* The slowest upgraded level 7 creature, the [[Chaos Hydra]], is only as fast as the slowest upgraded level 6 creatures{{showwithhota|, of which only the [[War Mammoth]] is 1 speed slower{{-wh}}}}

{{creature comparison 'see also'}}

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Comparison of Level 6 Creatures

2026-02-17T10:54:55Z

ReaderCritic: /* Notes */

{{CrCompheader}}
{{Creature Compare Lvl6}}
|}
== Key: ==
* '''Att''': [[Primary_skill#Attack_skill|Attack]]
* '''Def''': [[Primary_skill#Defense_skill|Defense]]
* '''Dmg-''': Minimum damage
* '''Dmg+''': Maximum damage
* '''HP''': Health
* '''Spd''': Speed
* '''Gr''': Growth
* '''Max Gr''': Maximum growth. The weekly growth of this creature in a town with a [[fortifications|castle]] and a [[horde building]] (if applicable). Does not count artifacts such as the [[Statue of Legion]], [[Growth#Special_weeks_and_months|astrology]], creature dwellings on the adventure map, nor any other factors.
* '''AI Val''': [[AI value]] per troop.
* '''{{g}} Cost''': Cost per troop
* '''Max Gr {{g}} cost''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the cost per troop. How much it costs to purchase an ordinary town's entire weekly growth of this creature.
* '''Max Gr AI Value''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by the AI value per troop. This approximately measures how powerful an ordinary town's entirely weekly growth of this creature is.
* '''Max Gr Total HP''': 'Maximum growth' (as above) multiplied by Health. This is useful to know if you want to [[Pit_Fiend_and_Pit_Lord#Special_Ability:_Demon_Summoning|farm demons]], for example.
* '''HP per {{g}}''': Health divided by Cost per troop. This is useful if you want to use this creature defensively. A higher value means you get more health for a given amount of gold spent.
* '''AI Val per {{g}}''': AI value per troop divided by Cost per troop. A higher value means you get a scarier army for a given amount of gold spent.

=== Notes ===
Analysis for non-neutral level 6+ creatures:
* Best Damage Dealer: [[Naga Queen]]
* Most resilient: {{swh|[[War Mammoth]]{{-wh}} (depending on the situation, the [[Nix Warrior]]{{-wh}} can be more resilient, especially in late-game and battles without direct damage spells)|[[Dread Knight]]}}
* Fastest: [[Efreet Sultan]]
* Highest AI value: {{swh|[[Naga Queen]], followed by [[Dread Knight]] and then [[Efreet Sultan]]|[[Naga Queen]], followed by [[Dread Knight]] and then [[Champion]]}}

* Worst Damage Dealer: [[Scorpicore]]
* Least Resilient: [[Cyclops King]] ([[Wyvern Monarch]] is very close)
* Slowest: [[Naga Queen]]{{showwithhota| and [[Nix Warrior]]{{-wh}}}}
* Lowest AI value: {{swh|[[Wyvern Monarch]], followed by [[Cyclops King]] and then [[Scorpicore]]|[[Cyclops King]], followed by [[Wyvern Monarch]] and then [[Scorpicore]]}}

* The best upgraded level 5 damage dealer, the [[Minotaur King]], has 15 Attack and does 16 damage on average. The [[Scorpicore]] has only one more Attack and does on average only one more Damage
* The most resilient upgraded level 5 creature, the [[Mighty Gorgon]], has the same HP as the [[Cyclops King]] and [[Wyvern Monarch]], but 3 and 2 more Defense, respectively
* The fastest upgraded level 5 creature, the [[Thunderbird]], has speed 11 which is matched only by the [[Scorpicore]] and [[Wyvern Monarch]], and surpassed by the [[Efreet Sultan]]

* The worst upgraded level 7 damage dealer, the [[Chaos Hydra]], has only 2 more Attack than a [[Naga Queen]] and does on average only 5 more Damage
* The least resilient upgraded level 7 creature, the [[Phoenix]], has the same defense as the [[Dread Knight]] and only 80 more HP
* The slowest upgraded level 7 creature, the [[Chaos Hydra]], is only as fast as the slowest upgraded level 6 creatures{{showwithhota|, of which only the [[War Mammoth]] is 1 speed slower{{-wh}}}}

{{creature comparison 'see also'}}

[[Category:Comparisons]]

Devil and Arch Devil

2026-02-17T10:42:06Z

ReaderCritic: /* {{hota}} */

{{InfernoCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Devil}}
{{Creature/Arch Devil}}

{{About|NOTE: This unit primarily represents the [[Kreegan|Kreegans]].}}

'''Devils and Arch Devils''' are level 7 creatures of [[Inferno]]. They are recruited from the [[Forsaken Palace]].

''"Devils and arch devils can teleport to any hex on the battlefield. Their overwhelming attack leaves no possibility for a [[Retaliation|retaliatory strike]]. They also do [[Hate|150% damage]] to [[Angel and archangel|angels]] and reduce enemy [[Luck]] by one when they appear on the battlefield."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 99|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Forsaken Palace
| creature1 = Devil
| creature2 = Arch Devil
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Xeron|Demoniac}} {{withmaped}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Devil}}
{{CreatureSounds|Arch Devil}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150px">
George-almond-arch-devil.jpg| Sketch by [[George Almond]] (RoE manual p56)
Archdevil_gold_figurine.jpg | Arch Devil collectible sold with some copies of Heroes of Might and Magic V for the Chinese market.
HC-02_Conquest_of_the_Underworld_CD-Data-Hchron_vid-Intro-bik-Intro.webm|thumbtime=0:12.5| A Devil kidnaps Rion Gryphonheart's soul from [[Paradise]] ([[Conquest of the Underworld]]{{-whc}} intro)
RoE 1.0 CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3 VID-EVIL1A-bik-EVIL1A.webm|An Arch Devil with a Cerberus ([[A Devilish Plan]]{{-wr}} prologue)
</gallery>

== {{hota}} ==
In {{hota}}, Arch Devils decrease enemies' [[Luck]] by 2 instead of 1.

{{user commentary|
Their health upgrade is the lowest for a level 7 unit, only a bonus of 40, less than a quarter of the upgrade's health, while many level 7 units have their health almost doubled on upgrade.

Arch Devils' extremely high speed makes them very useful to resist [[Dragogeddon]] tactics. As they are faster than [[Green Dragon and Gold Dragon|Gold]] and [[Red Dragon and Black Dragon|Black Dragons]], use only [[Efreet and Efreet Sultan|Efreeti]] and Arch Devils, casting [[Anti-Magic]] on the latter. Efreeti are immune to [[Fire Magic]], thus [[Armageddon]] spell will be completely useless on the battlefield.

=== Size ===
A thing of note is that Devil and Arch Devil, along with the Giant, Titan, and Angel prior to its upgrade, are the only 1-hex tier 7 units. It comes useful when the enemy cheeses his shooters behind obstacles or force fields. Titan's size, in turn, makes the said cheese easier.

=== Black Dragon versus Arch Devil ===
The Arch Devil strangely is more expensive than the Black Dragon, at 4500+2M versus 4000+2S for the BD. The Black Dragon has 50% more health, spell immunity, a 2 hex attack, and a higher median damage (45 versus 35). The Arch Devil has the no retaliation (which makes it somewhat like a ranged unit with running), a -1 enemy luck special (-2 enemy luck in {{hota}}), +2 speed, and a delta 4 advantage in A/D. 500 more for an Arch Devil? The cost difference seems difficult to justify. Which unit has a better value to the army? Counter arguing, Black Dragons have that cool spell immunity, but that also means that can't be shielded/stone skinned/blessed or what-have-you, whereas Arch-Devils can. Both pros and cons seem to nullify each other for the low level spells. However, the real difference is in the 3, 4, and 5 level damage spells. Those hit points, which by the way you are paying a lot of gold for, can be dwindled down quite drastically with those damage spells with a decent spell power, devastating that enormous investment. To add to the matter, Arch Devils have the least hit points of any upgraded level 7 unit, tied equal with the lowly Ghost Dragons, and the growth-boosted Phoenixes, both of which which cost at least 1,500 less gold than the Arch Devil. Henceforth, is the Arch Devil over-priced for the value that it brings to the army, the question can be asked? In particular, is the Arch Devil worth more gold than the Black Dragon? It's close. The ultimate counter argument to the Arch Devil, its lower hit points, and its high cost, is it is easier raising by Sacrifice or Resurrection. Also, even a single Arch Devil debuffs the entire enemy army, whereas a single black dragon cannot do the same.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]

{{luck navigational box|pic=-1}}

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Devil and Arch Devil

2026-02-17T10:41:04Z

ReaderCritic:

{{InfernoCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Devil}}
{{Creature/Arch Devil}}

{{About|NOTE: This unit primarily represents the [[Kreegan|Kreegans]].}}

'''Devils and Arch Devils''' are level 7 creatures of [[Inferno]]. They are recruited from the [[Forsaken Palace]].

''"Devils and arch devils can teleport to any hex on the battlefield. Their overwhelming attack leaves no possibility for a [[Retaliation|retaliatory strike]]. They also do [[Hate|150% damage]] to [[Angel and archangel|angels]] and reduce enemy [[Luck]] by one when they appear on the battlefield."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 99|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Forsaken Palace
| creature1 = Devil
| creature2 = Arch Devil
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Xeron|Demoniac}} {{withmaped}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Devil}}
{{CreatureSounds|Arch Devil}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150px">
George-almond-arch-devil.jpg| Sketch by [[George Almond]] (RoE manual p56)
Archdevil_gold_figurine.jpg | Arch Devil collectible sold with some copies of Heroes of Might and Magic V for the Chinese market.
HC-02_Conquest_of_the_Underworld_CD-Data-Hchron_vid-Intro-bik-Intro.webm|thumbtime=0:12.5| A Devil kidnaps Rion Gryphonheart's soul from [[Paradise]] ([[Conquest of the Underworld]]{{-whc}} intro)
RoE 1.0 CD-Heroes3-DATA-HEROES3 VID-EVIL1A-bik-EVIL1A.webm|An Arch Devil with a Cerberus ([[A Devilish Plan]]{{-wr}} prologue)
</gallery>

== {{hota}} ==
In {{hota}}, Arch Devils decrease enemies' [[Luck]] by 2 instead of 1.

{{user commentary|
Their health upgrade is the lowest for a level 7 unit, only a bonus of 40, less than a quarter of the upgrade's health, while many level 7 units have their health almost doubled on upgrade.

Arch Devils' extremely high speed makes them very useful to resist [[Dragogeddon]] tactics. As they are faster than [[Green Dragon and Gold Dragon|Gold]] and [[Red Dragon and Black Dragon|Black Dragons]], use only [[Efreet and Efreet Sultan|Efreeti]] and Arch Devils, casting [[Anti-Magic]] on the latter. Efreeti are immune to [[Fire Magic]], thus [[Armageddon]] spell will be completely useless on the battlefield.

=== Size ===
A thing of note is that Devil and Arch Devil, along with the Giant, Titan, and Angel prior to its upgrade, are the only 1-hex tier 7 units. It comes useful when the enemy cheeses his shooters behind obstacles or force fields. Titan's size, in turn, makes the said cheese easier.

=== Black Dragon versus Arch Devil ===
The Arch Devil strangely is more expensive than the Black Dragon, at 4500+2M versus 4000+2S for the BD. The Black Dragon has 50% more health, spell immunity, a 2 hex attack, and a higher median damage (45 versus 35). The Arch Devil has the no retaliation (which makes it somewhat like a ranged unit with running), a -1 enemy luck special (-2 enemy luck in HotA), +2 speed, and a delta 4 advantage in A/D. 500 more for an Arch Devil? The cost difference seems difficult to justify. Which unit has a better value to the army? Counter arguing, Black Dragons have that cool spell immunity, but that also means that can't be shielded/stone skinned/blessed or what-have-you, whereas Arch-Devils can. Both pros and cons seem to nullify each other for the low level spells. However, the real difference is in the 3, 4, and 5 level damage spells. Those hit points, which by the way you are paying a lot of gold for, can be dwindled down quite drastically with those damage spells with a decent spell power, devastating that enormous investment. To add to the matter, Arch Devils have the least hit points of any upgraded level 7 unit, tied equal with the lowly Ghost Dragons, and the growth-boosted Phoenixes, both of which which cost at least 1,500 less gold than the Arch Devil. Henceforth, is the Arch Devil over-priced for the value that it brings to the army, the question can be asked? In particular, is the Arch Devil worth more gold than the Black Dragon? It's close. The ultimate counter argument to the Arch Devil, its lower hit points, and its high cost, is it is easier raising by Sacrifice or Resurrection. Also, even a single Arch Devil debuffs the entire enemy army, whereas a single black dragon cannot do the same.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 7 Creatures]]

{{luck navigational box|pic=-1}}

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Pirate, Corsair, and Sea Dog

2026-02-16T19:02:57Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ Removed unnecessary section divisions

{{inhota}}{{CoveCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Pirate}}
{{Creature/Corsair}}
{{Creature/Sea Dog}}

'''Pirates''', '''Corsairs''', and '''Sea Dogs''' are the level 3 creatures of [[Cove]]. They can be recruited from the [[Cove creature dwellings|Frigate]].

''"Pirates plague unwary seafarers and can be found in almost every corner of the world, though they tend to plunder coasts and sea trade routes. Corsairs are skilled pirates who have proven themselves worthy of the respect of their captains. Their fencing prowess allows them to make lightning-quick attacks on enemies who find themselves unable to retaliate. Sea Wolves are legendary Corsairs who have engaged in numerous raids and are armed with exquisite pistols crafted by talented [[Regna|Regnan]] alchemists, hence why their shots are truly deadly. It is rumoured that, in acts of sadistic cruelty, they enjoy trapping their prey on random unknown islands across the [[Endless Ocean]]."{{-}}Adapted from [https://www.facebook.com/h3hotaofficial/posts/pfbid024rwfoLD8MSoHQRUnmkgrqeXkMLJ9521DqCFxZmNj1539dR62jvD3FNRHNSit9kqul?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZXMHETKmGDQ8wttVEsY_KqOUKP9Wk_ERNg-Ntaw3PkhDaIVD2ScV8tH8uwAPz8U6VZt6I4RFZEfqUP43Kv5sEmH01wOiR4mUGMvyCH7yI7ro-ixnNebs-_w-sE65aOoLsUkvNd9jk_eDnnwlh0JWeBehOPCowb3pSNmKVmdFuqY7aKH28nZk8PhfBtQekEfd64IfhS7OPYfiGnXfQtG1FdF&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R HotA Facebook post]''
{{clear|left}}
-----

''"The pirates themselves are a very diverse people. Many were born and raised on board, and they don't know any other life. One can say that a pirate in these parts is a hereditary profession. It's not easy for an outsider to become one of them, unless he can make an instant, strong impression on others. The most powerful, smart, and brave among the pirates become [[captain|captains]] and [[navigator|navigators]]. The rest are their troops. At the same time, notably, there is a unique atmosphere of solidarity and brotherhood among them... at least when at sea. There is unwavering discipline and subordination on pirate ships. Even the [[Erathia|Erathian]] Guards could envy them.Everything changes as soon as the pirates come ashore, though! They instantly turn into slovenly loafers. They like to drink and smoke; most would never tell claret from port, yet still, they pride themselves in splurging on fine wines and tobacco imported from the colonies. They love gambling, fighting, and women. In other words, they enjoy everything that is forbidden on board. And yet, at the first call of their captain, they instantly pull themselves together, becoming a formidable force. I've always been surprised by these metamorphoses.Each pirate is proficient in several types of weapons, usually rapiers, cutlasses and pistols. The pistol is an achievement of the [[Bracada|Bracadan]] alchemists. This fairly easy-to-manufacture weapon has not yet become widespread among the other kingdoms of [[Antagarich]]. [[Jadame]] is another thing altogether... but I digress. In fact, the pistol is a miniature likeness of a ship's cannon. A skilled shooter can take down a knight, armored from the heels to the top of his head, with a single shot. I believe that the feudal lords of [[Erathia]] and [[Enroth (nation)|Enroth]] are simply afraid of these weapons spreading among the commoners, and the [[Bracada|Bracadan]]s simply do not need them—they have their magic. The [[Regna|Regnan]]s, however, do not suffer from any silly phobias; this wonderful invention sees the widest use there."''{{---}}― {{Hn|Dargem|0=}}

{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitLargeNoExp
| dwelling = Frigate
| creature1 = Pirate
| creature2 = Corsair
| creature3 = Sea Dog
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Anabel|Captain}}
* {{H|Bidley|Captain}} {{withmapedhota}} can upgrade Pirates and Corsairs to Sea Dogs.

== Special Ability: Accurate Shot ==
Accurate Shot gives Sea Dogs a chance to instantly kill one or more units in the enemy stack after the Sea Dogs shoot. This ability doesn't work if shooting at creatures behind walls or at [[war machine]]s.
* This chance is 2% (with range penalty) or 3% (without range penalty) per Sea Dog in the stack, and is ''not'' cumulative. This means that, even with many Sea Dogs, there is a small chance that Accurate Shot does not activate after an attack.
* Accurate Shot will always kill the topmost unit(s) in the stack, meaning that if the enemy stack survives after Accurate Shot occurs, the new topmost unit will always have full Health.
* Accurate Shot chances (range penalty):
** 1—50 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—1 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 51—100 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—2 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 101—150 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—3 enemy units with Accurate Shot
* Accurate Shot chances (no range penalty):
** 1—33 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—1 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 34—66 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—2 enemy units with Accurate Shot
** 67—99 Sea Dogs '''may''' kill 0—3 enemy units with Accurate Shot

'''<big>Show Probability Tables</big>'''
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-ProbTab">
NOTE: This is based on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binomial_distribution Binomial Distribution] formula of '''combinations(n,k) * pk * (1-p)n-k''' where:
* p: probability of Accurate Shot = 0.02 or 0.03
* n: # of Sea Dogs
* k: # of Accurate Shot victims
** NOTE: k has a maximum value of '''n * p''' (rounded up).
* NOTE: Values in the table are rounded to the nearest %.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left; margin-right:8px;"
|-
! !! colspan=99 | # of Victims (range penalty)
|-
! # Sea Dogs !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
|-
| 1 || 98% || 2% || - || - || -
|-
| 50 || 36% || 64% || - || - || -
|-
| 51 || 36% || 37% || 27% || - || -
|-
|100 || 13% || 27% || 60% || - || -
|-
|101 || 13% || 27% || 27% || 33% || -
|-
|150 || 5% || 15% || 22% || 58% || -
|-
|151 || 5% || 15% || 22% || 23% || 36%
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; float:left;"
|-
! !! colspan=99 | # of Victims (no range penalty)
|-
! # Sea Dogs !! 0 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4
|-
| 1 || 97% || 3% || - || - || -
|-
| 33 || 37% || 63% || - || - || -
|-
| 34 || 36% || 37% || 27% || - || -
|-
| 66 || 13% || 27% || 59% || - || -
|-
| 67 || 13% || 27% || 27% || 33% || -
|-
| 99 || 5% || 15% || 23% || 57% || -
|-
| 100 || 5% || 15% || 23% || 23% || 35%
|}
</div>
{{clear|left}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Pirate|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Corsair|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Sea Dog|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Pirate render.png|Pirate (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Sea Dog render.png|Sea Dog (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Agar Cove Pirate.jpg|Pirate (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Agar Cove Pirate Fangarm.jpg|Pirate and [[Fangarm]] (sketch by [[Agar (Artist)|Agar]])
Pirate-PR-53.gif| Pirate (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Corsair-PR-54.gif| Corsair (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Pirate-PR-52.gif| Corsair (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
Sea-dog-PR-55.gif| Sea Dog (pre-release) (model by [[Alex-ander]])
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-ROGERD-bik-ROGERD.webm|thumbtime=0:03| A Corsair as part of [[Jeremy]]'s crew at [[Utopia]] ([[Devil Sunrise]]{{-wh}} epilogue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Pirates are great tier 3 shooters with good stats and no melee penalty. Their only weakness is a low shot count (only 4), although it should be sufficient to kill most neutral creatures if split into multiple stacks. An [[Ammo Cart]] can also help greatly in prolonged battles.

Sea Dogs are without question the best tier 3 creature in the game. They have great stats and a ranged version of the [[Mighty Gorgon]]'s death stare ability. This is balanced by the high cost of the Gunpowder Warehouse, which prevents them from being acquired too early in the game. Pirates and Corsairs should generally be upgraded to Sea Dogs before engaging enemy players.

Like with Mighty Gorgons, care should be taken to maximize Accurate Shot caps when splitting stacks of Sea Dogs. The cap is the real limiting factor: 33 Sea Dogs will never kill more than one creature with their ability, while 34 of them can kill two when shooting without penalty, 27% of the time. Likewise, 67 Sea Dogs is the minimum amount for a triple kill, but the chance of it already starts at 33%. Accurate Shots can be used as a ranged and "improved" version of Death Stare with ability to "snipe" [[Undead]] and [[Non-living]] creatures down at the cost of lower efficiency per growth ratio.

Sea Dogs are in fact very expensive (Unit price is 375g), combined with their regular T3 weekly growth rate, total cost rivals tier 6 creatures. It's not wise to use them in early games, as they are not cost effective.

It is '''extremely''' important for the number of Sea Dogs to get to a new '50 + 1'. Remember this when splitting Sea Dogs into multiple stacks or targeting enemy Sea Dogs.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 3 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Lizardman and Lizard Warrior

2026-02-15T06:51:31Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{FortressCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Lizardman}}
{{Creature/Lizard Warrior}}

'''Lizardmen and Lizard Warriors''' are the level 2 creatures of [[Fortress]]. They are recruited from the [[Lizard Den]].

''"Lizardmen and lizard warriors are armed with bows for ranged attacks and daggers for [[hand-to-hand]] fighting."{{-}}[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 93|RoE manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortraitNoExp
| dwelling = Lizard Den
| creature1 = Lizardman
| creature2 = Lizard Warrior
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature_specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Wystan|Beastmaster}}

== {{roe}} and {{ab}} ==
In the original {{roe}} and {{ab}} versions, the statistics of Lizardmen and Lizard Warriors were a bit different. These were updated in {{sod}} as well as {{roe}} patch 1.3 and {{ab}} patch 2.1.
Changed Stats:
* {{Cn|Lizardman}}: Growth: 8, Damage: 1-3, Health: 12
* {{Cn|Lizard Warrior}}: Growth: 8, Damage: 2-3, Health: 12, Attack: 5, Defense: 7, Cost: 130 {{G}}

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Lizardman|ranged=y}}
{{CreatureSounds|Lizard Warrior|ranged=y}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Lizard Warrior render.jpg
Lizardman1.jpg
HotA 1.7.0-Data-HotA vid-Factory6A-bik-Factory6A.webm|thumbtime=0:00| Lizardmen under [[Pactal]] attack some [[Airship]]s on the [[Couatl Islands]] ([[Tarred and Feathered]]{{-wh}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{Fanopinion|
In {{sod}} and {{hota}} especially, Lizardmen and Lizard Warriors serve as the critical unit for the Fortress in the early and mid game. They are the only shooters produced in the Fortress and are respectably strong for level 2 shooters. They will falter in the late game, and you can expect to see them be a prime target almost always in combat. Keep them well-guarded with [[Basilisks]] or [[Gorgons]] and you'll be a tough force to beat in the early weeks of the game.
}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 2 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]

[[Category: Creatures]]
__NOTOC__

Unused content

2026-02-15T06:39:58Z

ReaderCritic: /* Combination artifacts */

__TOC__
This page contains unused content found in the game files. The [[Forge (NWC)|Forge]] town was planned, but then scrapped earlier on in development. Also, see [[Cut content trivia]] for some little known facts!
=={{roe}}==

===Adventure Map Objects===
<gallery mode=traditional widths=80px heights=80px style="image-rendering:pixelated;">
Market of Time.webp| Certain maps include [[Market of Time]] (e.g., [[Titan's Winter]], [[Warmongers]] in RoE [[1.4|1.0]]).
Windmill (unused).webp| Alternate (fast) [[Windmill]]
Gnoll Hut2-dwelling.webp| Alternate [[Gnoll Hut]] (present in [[Gelea's Champions]] scenario)
School of Magic (unused).webp| Alternate [[School of Magic]]
HoMM3 sprite ADCFRA0.webp| Alternate [[Campfire]]
Obelisk 6.webp| Red [[Obelisk]] for underground terrain *''(added in {{hota}})''
AVLHOLU0.webp| Alternate underground hole (current is identical to sand hole) *''(added in {{hota}})''
</gallery>
*Adventure map versions of [[Ballista]], [[Ammo cart]], [[First Aid Tent]], [[Spell book]], [[Grail]] and [[Catapult]], however, only with placeholder graphics

You can still easily add these Adventure Map objects into your map editor. Map with this objects will work correctly even for players without these objects enabled. For SoD simply put [https://1drv.ms/t/s!Ahfxr6a8tP2F8UAIz1dJn8kpaUvu?e=nb17dJ this Objects.txt] in your "data" directory or insert it in H3Bitmap.lod using Grayface's MMArchive. For HotA (1.6.1 and prior only, this will crash your editor on 1.7.0 and above) put [https://1drv.ms/t/s!Ahfxr6a8tP2F8T-ovsiTbjpD42nj?e=lYEXZM this EdObjts.txt] in your "data" directory or insert it in HotA.lod using Grayface's MMArchive. All unused objects can be found under "Towns" category.

=== Creatures ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Creature
! Image
! Notes
|-
| [[Lobstrosity]]
| [[File:Lobstrosity concept art.jpg|x140px]]
| Cut [[Stronghold]] creature

|-
| [[Will-o-the-Wisp]]
| [[File:Banshee render.jpg|x140px]]
| Cut [[Fortress]] creature

|}

==== Animations and Sounds ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Creature
! Animation
! Sound
! Notes

|-
| {{Cn|Zealot}}
| {{watchable|Zealot Cast Up crop.webp}}
|
| Spell casting animation

|-
| {{Cn|Centaur}}
| {{watchable|Centaur Shoot Straight crop.webp}}
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Centaur - ShootSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Shooting animation and sound (HoMM2 leftover)

|-
| {{Cn|Centaur Captain}}
| {{watchable|Centaur Captain Shoot Straight crop.webp}}
| {{unk}}
| Shooting animation and sound (HoMM2 leftover)

|-
| {{Cn|War Unicorn}}
| {{watchable|War Unicorn Cast Up crop.webp}}
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - War Unicorn - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting animation and sound

|-
| {{Cn|Gremlin}}
|
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Gremlin - ShootSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Shooting sound

|-
| {{Cn|Magog}}
|
| {{unk}}
| Fireball sound

|-
| {{Cn|Efreeti}}
| {{watchable|Efreeti Cast Straight crop.webp}}
|
| Spell casting animation

|-
| {{Cn|Efreet Sultan}}
| {{watchable|Efreet Sultan Cast Straight crop.webp}}
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Efreet Sultan - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting animation and sound

|-
| {{Cn|Devil}}
|
| {{unk}}
| Moving sound

|-
| {{Cn|Vampire Lord}}
| {{watchable|Vampire Lord Cast Up crop.webp}}
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Vampire Lord - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting animation and sound

|-
| {{Cn|Lich}}
|
| {{unk}}
| Alternate melee sound (HoMM2 leftover)

|-
| {{Cn|Dread Knight}}
| {{watchable|Dread Knight Cast Up crop.webp}}
|
| Spell casting animation

|-
| {{Cn|Harpy Hag}}
| {{watchable|Harpy Hag Cast Straight crop.webp}}
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Harpy Hag - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting animation and sound

|-
| {{Cn|Beholder}}
| {{watchable|Beholder Unused Death crop.webp}}
| {{unk}}
| Alternate death animation and sound 
* Added in {{hota}} as a result of death from a spell

|-
| {{Cn|Evil Eye}}
| {{watchable|Evil Eye Unused Death crop.webp}}
| {{unk}}
| Alternate death animation and sound 
* Added in {{hota}} as a result of death from a spell

|-
| {{Cn|Minotaur King}}
| {{watchable|Minotaur King Cast Up crop.webp}}
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Minotaur King - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting animation and sound

|-
| {{Cn|Manticore}}
|
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Manticore - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting sound

|-
| {{Cn|Scorpicore}}
|
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Scorpicore - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting sound

|-
| {{Cn|Cyclops King}}
| {{watchable|Cyclops King Cast Up crop.webp}}
|
| Spell casting animation

|-
| {{Cn|Dragon Fly}}
|
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Dragon Fly - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Spell casting sound

|-
| {{Cn|Gold Golem}}
| {{watchable|Gold Golem Unused Death crop.webp}}
|
| Alternate death animation 
* Added in {{hota}} as a result of death from a spell

|-
| [[Arrow Tower]]
|
| {{unk}}
| Shooting sound (HoMM2 leftover)

|}

=== Spell Effects and Sounds ===
*The game contains alternate animations of [[Berserk]], [[Bless]], [[Curse]], [[Stone Skin]], [[Cure]], [[Dispel]], [[Forgetfulness]], [[Frost Ring]]. They're very similar to the final animations, just slightly slower coming up and fading out.
*Leftover sounds from HoMM2 for [[Armageddon]], Elemental Storm, Cold Ray, Cold Ring, [[Death Ripple]], [[Dragon Slayer]], [[Fireball]], [[Haste]], [[Magic Arrow]] and Mirror Image. Also unused sound from HoMM2 called PROTECT and Leftover sound of ending creature teleporting from HoMM1.
* Alternate [[Fire Shield]] sound
<gallery mode=traditional>
HOMM3 sprites c13spf0.gif|Alternate [[Fireball]] animation
HoMM3 Sprites sp13.gif|Unused petrify animation probably for [[Medusa|Medusas]] and [[Basilisk|Basilisks]]
</gallery>

=== Morale and Luck values ===
In the game files, there are lines intended to show the hero's army's luck as a descriptive value, instead of a number (such as +1, or -3). The values for Morale were intended as follows: Treason (-3), Awful (-2), Poor (-1), Normal (0), Good (+1), Great (+2), and Blood! (+3). The values for Luck were intended to be Cursed (-3), Awful (-2), Bad (-1), Normal (0), Good (+1), Great (+2), and Irish (+3).

=== Miscellaneous ===
* Negative [[luck]] *''(added in {{hota}})''
<gallery mode="traditional">
Fear.png | [[Fear (spell)]] |link=Fear (spell)
Scroll_Fear.png | [[Fear (spell)]] scroll|link=Fear (spell)
HoMM3 H3sprite TBRFWTRW.gif | Watermill building for [[Fortress]]
Unnamed Hero render.jpg | Unnamed Hero render
Unnamed Heroine render.jpg | Unnamed Heroine render
</gallery>

=={{ab}}==
=== Creatures ===
==== Animations and Sounds ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Creature
! Animation
! Sound
! Notes

|-
| {{Cn|Rogue}}
|
| {{unk}}
| Sounds

|-
| {{Cn|Faerie Dragon}}
|
| {{watchable|Heroes3 - Faerie Dragon - CastSound.webm|audio=yes}}
| Shooting sound 
* Added in {{hota}} as a casting sound

|}

=== Building names ===
In the game files, alternate names for some of the Conflux creature dwellings are listed. They are as follows:
* Flower of Life - [[Pixies]]
* Enchanted Flower - [[Sprite|Sprites]]
* Temple of Clouds - [[Storm Elemental|Storm Elementals]]
* Temple of Ice - [[Ice Elemental|Ice Elementals]]
* Temple of Magma - [[Magma Elemental|Magma Elementals]]
* Temple of Magic - [[Magic Elemental|Magic Elementals]]
* Funeral Pyre - [[Phoenixes]]

== {{sod}} ==
=== Combination artifacts ===
*Diplomat's Suit *''(added in {{hota}} as [[Diplomat's Cloak]])''
*Mire of Neutrality
*[[Ironfist of the Ogre]] *''(added in {{hota}})''

=== Miscellaneous ===
<gallery mode="traditional">
Combat Favourable-Winds.png| [[Favorable Winds]] battlefield
</gallery>

=={{hota}}==
=== Miscellaneous ===
<gallery mode="traditional">
Bofcship.png | [[Airship]] building for [[Factory]]
</gallery>
The original concept for the airship was to have it tied to the Factory. Ultimately, [[Horn of the Abyss/Team Interview (2024)#Airship Yard|the decision was made]] to have airship yards only as map objects instead.

[[category: Game Content]]
[[category: Cut Content]]

Dungeon

2026-02-15T06:32:03Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{TownNew
| name = Dungeon
| alignment = Evil
| class_1 = Overlord
| class_1_plural = Overlords
| class_2 = Warlock
| class_2_plural = Warlocks
| country = Nighon
| description = Dungeons are built by Warlock and Overlord hero types to act as bases from which to wage campaigns of conquest for wealth and power. Similarly minded creatures are attracted as allies. Other Dungeon creatures are in thrall to their masters. Dungeon armies are possessed of a variety of long range attacks, have effective damage dealing troops, and have the ability to greatly disrupt the strategies of their enemies.
| source = Restoration of Erathia
| page = 88
| terrain = Subterranean
| commonGold = 37000
| commonWood = 45
| commonOre = 40
| mageGold = 6000
| mageWood = 25
| mageOre = 25
| mageMercury = 28
| mageSulfur = 28
| mageCrystal = 28
| mageGems = 28
| dwellingGold = 53900
| dwellingWood = 67
| dwellingOre = 67
| dwellingMercury = 12
| dwellingSulfur = 54
| dwellingCrystal = 4
| dwellingGems = 17
| uniqueGold = 15500
| uniqueWood = 5
| uniqueOre = 10
| uniqueMercury = -
| uniqueSulfur = -
| uniqueCrystal = -
| uniqueGems = -
| totalGold = 112400
| totalWood = 142
| totalOre = 142
| totalMercury = 40
| totalSulfur = 82
| totalCrystal = 32
| totalGems = 45
| troopGold = 27205
| troopWood = -
| troopOre = -
| troopMercury = -
| troopSulfur = 4
| troopCrystal = -
| troopGems = -
| sp_banned_2_1 = Death Ripple
| sp_banned_3_1 = Animate Dead
| sp_banned_4_1 = Prayer
| sl_banned_4_1 = Prayer
| sp_banned_5_1 = Summon Air Elemental
| name_1 = Blindroot
| name_2 = Castigare
| name_3 = Chillwater
| name_4 = Coldshadow
| name_5 = Darkburrow
| name_6 = Darkhold
| name_7 = Deepshadow
| name_8 = Dragonnade
| name_9 = Evernight
| name_10 = Lost Hold
| name_11 = Malev
| name_12 = Scar
| name_13 = Shade
| name_14 = Shadowden
| name_15 = Sorrow Crown
| name_16 = Veks
}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Dungeon-in-background.png| Town background
Dungeon-Prerelease-in.png| Fully upgraded Dungeon (pre-release)
Troglodyte Warren render.png| Warren
George-almond-warren2.jpg| Warren concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
George-almond-warren.jpg| Warren concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
George-almond-harpy-nest.jpg| Early Harpy Loft concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
George-almond-harpy-nest2.jpg| Early Harpy Loft concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
George-almond-pillar-of-eyes3.jpg| Early Pillar of Eyes concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
George-almond-pillar-of-eyes.jpg| Pillar of Eyes concept (sketch by [[George Almond]])
SoD_CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3_snd-H3x2RNa-smk-H3x2_RNa.webm|thumbtime=0:00| A Dungeon under attack by the [[undead]] ([[Target]]{{-ws}} prologue)
SoD_CD-Heroes3-Data-Heroes3_snd-H3x2RNb-smk-H3x2_RNb.webm| A [[Red Dragon]] defends a Dungeon ([[Master]]{{-ws}} prologue)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
* Upgrade the level 2 creature dwelling as soon as possible: [[Harpy Hag|Harpy Hags]] have a huge speed increase (6->9) and gain no retaliation.

* Upgrading [[Medusa|Medusas]] to Medusa Queens is more crucial than [[Beholder|Beholders]] to Evil Eyes, because a Medusa Queen has eight instead of four shots, while a Beholder already has twelve. Getting an [[Ammo Cart]] (from Inferno's, Stronghold's or Tower's [[Blacksmith]], or at a [[War Machine Factory]]), will help a lot, since Medusa Queen's eight shoots are still not sufficient for a fierce battle.

* [[Bless]] your Harpies/Harpy Hags (Dungeon has a 19% chance to get Bless). Harpies/Harpy Hags have damage range 1–4. Instead of on average 2.5, with basic (advanced) Water Magic they will consistently do 4 (5) damage, a 60% (100%) increase. Similarly, [[Curse]] the enemy's Harpies/Harpy Hags ([[Slow]] would also be useful since Harpy Hags have a decent speed).

* [[Haste]] your [[Minotaur|Minotaurs]]/Minotaur Kings. They are brutes which do a lot of damage and you want them to strike at the enemy as soon as possible. In addition a hasted Minotaur King can reach nearly any point of the battlefield given no obstacles.

* '''Beware of Red and Black Dragons' breath attack which can damage your own troops.''' If you have both Black Dragons and [[Giant and Titan|Titans]] in the army, due to reciprocal [[hate]] Black Dragons will do 150% damage on their own Titans having attacked them by mistake.

* Having only Black Dragons in your army, you may rush through the map with [[Dragogeddon]] manoeuvre. Red Dragons cannot be used for Dragogeddon as they are susceptible to 4-5 level spells.

*Spells '''not''' appearing in a Dungeon [[Mage Guild]] are [[Death Ripple]] (damage to all living creatures) and [[Animate Dead]] (resurrecting undead) (both more of a [[Necropolis]] thing), [[Prayer]] ([[attack]], [[defense]] and [[speed]] enhancement by 2 or 4 points) and [[Air Elemental]] (one of the four elemental summoning spells).

*Dungeon is expensive to build, has good magical capabilities (e.g. [[Mana Vortex]] and level 5 Mage Guild) and powerful troops like [[black dragon|black dragons]], which are among the strongest creatures in [[Antagarich]].

*If there is a high level creature dwelling which can be conquered early, it may be beneficial to wait flagging other creature dwellings. This allows to recruit the high level creatures every week from both the [[Portal of Summoning]] and the dwelling itself. The Portal of Summoning selects its units every week randomly from all creature dwellings you have flagged. For example, if there are Red Dragons and Troglodytes available on the adventure map, it is beneficial to not flag the Troglodyte dwellings to recruit more Dragons.

* Playing against [[Tower]] which has [[Giant and Titan|Titans]] who hate Black Dragons, try to use the following tactics so as to avoid Black Dragons' losses (see [[Dungeon#Cons|Cons]]). If Titans are behind someone else, attack that unit with Black Dragons, and breath attack will do 150% damage against Titans due to Black Dragons' hate against them. It works even if Black Dragons targeted another stack, and Titans won't retaliate.

'''Pros:'''
* Two ranged units, both of which have no [[melee penalty]].
* Mana Vortex: doubles your max spell points once a week.
* Black Dragons are immune to all damage or debuffing spells.
* [[Armageddon]] spell is available in Dungeon, unlike [[Rampart]] or [[Conflux]] which also have units immune to it.
* [[Warlock|Warlocks]] gain more Spell Power than other hero classes.
* [[Harpy and Harpy Hag|Harpy Hags]] are among the best 2 level units.
* The [[Battle Scholar Academy]] instantly levels-up starting heroes.
* Powerful heroes, e.g. [[Gunnar]] with Logistics specialty, and [[Jeddite]] and [[Alamar]] with [[Resurrection]] spell.
* [[Portal of Summoning]] may be used to gain additional creatures.
* The weekly income with [[Capitol]] and the Resource Silo is enough to recruit all the units without any external mines.
* On a map with two layers, Dungeon will get a huge advantage as any battle in the underground will be fought on [[subterranean]] terrain, thus Dungeon units will get speed bonus.
* Dungeon is the only evil town where [[Bless]] is not banned.
* Dungeon doesn't suffer too much from being slowed down, as only basic Troglodytes have speed 4 (while Rampart, [[Tower]], and [[Stronghold]] have some prominent units with speed 3-4).

'''Cons:'''
* Dungeon is quite expensive to build it up.
* [[Manticore and Scorpicore|Manticores]] are one of the weakest level 6 units, have low HP, and even when upgraded to Scorpicores they are significantly weaker than [[Naga and Naga Queen|Naga Queens]] or [[Black Knight and Dread Knight|Dread Knights]]. Scorpicores are also quite too expensive for their strength, costing more than [[Unicorn and War Unicorn|War Unicorns]].
* Black Dragons are immune to any benevolent spells, including Resurrection.
* Moreover, Black Dragons are slower than upgraded 7th level units of [[Castle]], Rampart, [[Inferno]], and Conflux. They are immune to Haste and [[Prayer]], which allows [[Necropolis]] and [[Fortress]] to overtake Dungeon by top speed as well. Finally, their dwelling is very expensive.
* Basic [[Pillar of Eyes]] which is level 3 creature dwelling requires each type of resource, and is necessary to build all higher level creature dwellings. It makes Dungeon possibly the worst town for playing on Impossible level.
* Though Dungeon has many strong protagonists, it has many issues with heroes as well. Many heroes (Darkstorn, Deemer, Geon, Jaegar, Lorelei) have secondary skills which aren't that useful, and there is no one who specializes in Medusas, who are the only 4th level units without a specialist. Besides that, overlords cannot learn [[Water Magic]], therefore being unable to cast Bless on the entire army, while many Dungeon units have significant damage range (especially Harpies and Minotaurs).
* If the map has only one layer, Dungeon will get a disadvantage since subterranean terrain is used rarely without underground layer, and in most cases any other faction will get a speed bonus unlike Dungeon.
* Beware [[Giant and Titan|Titans]] who [[hate]] Black Dragons. Titans and Black Dragons have similar stats, possibly sharing 2nd-3rd place in the whole game after [[Archangel|Archangels]], but Titans have an opportunity to shoot Black Dragons to death, and if Black Dragons force them to melee (which is possible as Black Dragons are faster), Titans will still do 150% damage by retaliation. Impossibility of Black Dragons' resurrection makes it a big problem.
* [[Prayer]] is banned, while this spell may help Red Dragons (but not Black) a lot since they're immune to Bless, Bloodlust, and Haste. (Rampart's [[Green Dragon and Gold Dragon|Green Dragons]] are receptive to Prayer as well, and in Rampart this spell is available.)
* Subterranean which is Dungeon's [[native terrain]] doesn't give any [[movement penalty]] to the enemy.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{Town 'see also'}}

[[Category: Dungeon]]
__notoc__

Stronghold

2026-02-15T05:51:17Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */

{{TownNew
| name = Stronghold
| alignment = Neutral
| class_1 = Barbarian
| class_1_plural = Barbarians
| class_2 = Battle Mage
| class_2_plural = Battle Mages
| country = Krewlod
| description = Stronghold towns are built by alliances of tribes and are frequented by the Barbarian and Battle Mage hero types. Armies composed of Stronghold-based units have a balanced mix of ranged and hand-to-hand attackers. With the inclusion of the stronger units, these armies are particularly well-equipped to deal with attacks on other towns.
| source = Restoration of Erathia
| page = 108
| terrain = Rough
| commonGold = 37000
| commonWood = 45
| commonOre = 40
| mageGold = 4000
| mageWood = 15
| mageOre = 15
| mageMercury = 10
| mageSulfur = 10
| mageCrystal = 10
| mageGems = 10
| dwellingGold = 45200
| dwellingWood = 87
| dwellingOre = 92
| dwellingMercury = -
| dwellingSulfur = -
| dwellingCrystal = {{swh|40|50|noicon=}}
| dwellingGems = 5
| uniqueGold = 6000
| uniqueWood = 10
| uniqueOre = 5
| uniqueMercury = -
| uniqueSulfur = -
| uniqueCrystal = -
| uniqueGems = -
| totalGold = 92200
| totalWood = 157
| totalOre = 152
| totalMercury = 10
| totalSulfur = 10
| totalCrystal = {{swh|50|60|noicon=}}
| totalGems = 15
| troopGold = 24530
| troopWood = -
| troopOre = -
| troopMercury = -
| troopSulfur = -
| troopCrystal = 2
| troopGems = -
| sp_banned_1_1 = Curse
| sp_banned_2_1 = Death Ripple
| sp_banned_3_1 = Animate Dead
| name_1 = Battlement
| name_2 = Bocc
| name_3 = Cragmoor
| name_4 = Dolere
| name_5 = Drago Breach
| name_6 = Dragonspire
| name_7 = Hartgrim
| name_8 = Kragg
| name_9 = Kruber
| name_10 = Morganheim
| name_11 = Rockwarren
| name_12 = Rovener
| name_13 = Sandflash
| name_14 = Slau
| name_15 = Strongglen
| name_16 = Tormina
}}

== Trivia ==
* Stronghold does not have a [[moat]] in {{roe}} {{withroe}}.

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Stronghold-in-background.png| Town background
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
* Armies composed of stronghold-based units have a balanced mix of [[ranged attack|ranged]] and [[melee|hand-to-hand]] attackers. With the inclusion of the stronger units, these armies are particularly well-equipped to deal with attacks on other towns.
* [[Hobgoblin|Hobgoblins]] are excellent 1st level creatures due to their high speed. Giving them to secondary heroes they will give them a lot more movement points (only [[Sprite|Sprites]] and [[Centaur Captain|Centaur Captains]] are faster). With 70-80 Hobgoblins, you can already take down 3 [[Behemoth|Behemoths]] and conquer a [[Behemoth Crag]] in the first week. Similar for other tough but slow monsters that are a single stack. This is possible due to their speed. Make 6 stacks of one Hobgoblin and the last stack has all remaining. This big stack is in the last slot (on the bottom when fighting). The strategy is as follows: The Behemoths are in reach of the Hobgoblins but the Hobgoblins are just outside the Behemoths reach. The big stack of Hobgoblins waits. One single Hobgoblin attacks the Behemoths to take the retaliation. Then, the Behemoths approach but can't attack because nothing is in range. After the Behemoths moved, the big stack attacks on the side where they have more space to run away. The round ends. In the next round, everyone runs out of reach in one direction, only one Hobgoblin stays behind in reach of the Behemoths to lure them away. Then, you get the same situation as before and repeat until the Behemoths are dead. You should get ~4 hits before they retaliated once against you. That is sufficient to take down the rest in melee 1v1.
* Be aware that [[Tactics]] and [[Haste]] are incredibly important to get the rather slow Stronghold units engaged into combat.
* Always have your [[Wolf Rider|Wolf Riders]] strike not as the first one so they won't receive the retaliation. They deal an immense amount of damage but are very fragile.
* Expert [[Teleport]] and [[Earthquake]] are your spells when besieging a town with a castle (Teleport is hard to get though). Expert Teleport lets you teleport troops behind walls. You have only two mediocre damage-dealing shooters and one expensive flier. You need to get the Behemoths and/or [[Ogre|Ogres]] involved. Consider splitting your [[Cyclops King|Cyclops Kings]] into 2-4 stacks so you can take down the walls effectively. After 18 hits, all defensive structures are destroyed. With Expert [[Ballistics]] and two stacks of Cyclops Kings you can get 2 + 2*2 {{=}} 6 attacks onto walls per round this way. After 3 rounds, you have destroyed everything. In Round 2, some towers will already be destroyed. If you additionally have Expert Earthquake, you can take down the entire defensive structures in only two rounds. With four Cyclops King stacks and neither Ballistics nor Earthquake you will still destroy all defensive structures within two rounds.
* Don't be fooled by the low AI value of Behemoths. Yes, they don't have a 2-hex breath attack, they can't resurrect dead allies and they are not immune to spells. However, they defeat all other level 7 units in 1v1 combat, except [[Haspid|Haspids]], and are also the cheapest level 7 unit. Because they are not immune to spells, they *can* get [[Resurrection|resurrected]]. Their only downside is that they are slow - but that's what you can fix with Tactics and Haste. Their building has the fewest prerequisites of all level 7 buildings so you can start amassing them early. In late-game their defense-reducing ability scales very well and they deal absurd amounts of damage.
* Beware of saving lives of your [[Thunderbird|Thunderbirds]]. The more Thunderbirds is in a stack, the more additional damage will their [[lightning strike]] do. [[Cure]] them if necessary.

'''Pros:'''
* Stronghold is the cheapest town to fully build up.
* Hero classes. [[Battle Mage]] is one of the most balanced classes in the game with a host of useful specials. [[Barbarians]] are the best fighter class available, expect attack ratings to rise fast and keep on rising. With great specials like Offense, a high-level Barbarian is a tough opponent.
* [[Escape Tunnel]]: it is great to be able to retreat from a siege, so that you don't lose your best hero this way. However, it doesn't allow surrender and thus won't save your army.
* [[Cyclops|Cyclopes]] and [[Cyclops King|Cyclops Kings]] can attack castle walls with their ranged attack. This is a vastly underestimated special that can tip the scale in an attacking force's favor very quickly, especially when combined with a fast initiative-giving unit and [[Haste]] (Expert level for best effect). If you have the room in your army, every additional stack gives additional shots at the wall! A stack of 1 [[Cyclops King]] 'sieges' as well as a stack of 1,000 (and twice as well as a stack of Cyclops).
* [[Ancient Behemoth]] can win a 1vs1 against most 7th level creatures.
* [[Crag Hack]] is one of the best Heroes in the game, at later stages, he will deal incredible amounts of damage thanks to his Offense specialty.
* Least expensive town as far as weekly troop cost is concerned for gold, though the [[Rampart]] town will often have a better economy in general by making use of the [[Treasury]].
* Possible to get [[Behemoths]] on third day, provided sufficient resources.
* [[Barbarians]] have great chances to get combat-based skills(primary and secondary ones) in order to do pure combat-based and/or anti-magic skill builds, that would be good synergize with the [[Orb of Inhibition]] and would be useful especially against heroes with pure magic-based skill builds.
* [[Freelancer's Guild]] may be helpful to get resources you need by getting rid of units which aren't very important (being weak, slow, and/or not from Stronghold).
* Opportunity to get two war machines.
* [[Gurnisson]] with his artillery ability and high attack, can quickly take many mines, artifacts, enemy heroes, and artifacts quite easily in early-game. The ballista doesn't phase out with a high attack Barbarian until way later in late-game, so this is a great strategy to get a fast start on Stronghold, and get Behemoths quickly.

'''Cons:'''
* Stronghold creatures have the lowest defense rating of all towns.
* Slow units, the fastest is the [[Thunderbird]] with a [[Speed]] of 11. [[Ancient Behemoth]] has 9.
* Magic, [[Mage Guild]] is limited to level 3.
* Only one flying unit, namely the [[Thunderbird]].
* [[Cyclops]] and [[Behemoth]] lairs both require a lot of crystal to build. This competition makes it hard to have them both out in the earlier times - you have to choose between one of them, while both are very useful. This was changed in HotA, where the base Cyclops Cave dwelling no longer requires crystal to be built.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{Town 'see also'}}

[[Category: Stronghold]]
__notoc__

Earth Elemental and Magma Elemental

2026-02-13T12:01:00Z

ReaderCritic: /* Gallery */ Removed unnecessary section dividions

{{ConfluxCreaturesNew}}
{{Creature/Earth Elemental}}
{{Creature/Magma Elemental}}

'''Earth Elementals and Magma Elementals''' are the level 5 [[creature|creatures]] of [[Conflux]]. They are recruited from the [[Conflux creature dwellings|Altar of Earth]], or the [[Earth Elemental Conflux]] and [[Elemental Conflux]] on the [[adventure map]]. Earth Elementals can also be summoned with the [[Summon Earth Elemental]] spell. They are creatures summoned from the [[Plane of Earth|Elemental Plane of Earth]].

''"Earth Elementals are forces of Earth Magic. They take no damage from [[Mind spells|Mind]], [[Lightning Bolt]], [[Chain Lightning]], and [[Armageddon|Firestorm]] spells. They take double damage from [[Meteor Shower|Meteor Storm]] attacks. From a source deep beneath the world's surface, roam the Magma Elementals. Slightly stronger than their earthen counter-parts, Magma Elementals can also [[Spellcaster|cast]] the spell [[Protection from Earth]]."{{-}}[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 16|AB manual]]''
{{clear|left}}
== Dwellings & Portraits ==
{{DwellingPortrait2
| dwelling = Altar of Earth
| dwelling2 = Earth Elemental Conflux
| dwelling3 = Elemental Conflux
| creature1 = Earth Elemental
| creature2 = Magma Elemental
}}
{{clear|left}}
== Heroes with a [[Specialty#Creature specialties|specialty]] ==
* {{H|Thunar|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)
* {{H|Erdamon|Planeswalker}} (fixed-stat specialty)

== Special Abilities ==
* Earth and Magma Elementals: +100% to basic damage to {{Cnu|Air Elemental|Storm Elemental}}.
* Magma Elementals: Can cast {{Sn|Protection from Earth}} at advanced level at 6 power, 3 times per battle.

== {{roe}} ==
In {{roe}}{{-}}{{withroe}} Earth Elementals are level 5 [[Neutral creature|Neutral creatures]]. They are recruited from [[Elemental Conflux]] or [[Earth Elemental Conflux]].

[[File:Earth Elemental portrait (RoE).png]]

=={{hota}}==
* Magma Elementals' level bug is fixed.
* The in-game descriptions for both Earth and Magma Elementals are updated.
* The [[Elemental Conflux]] now increases the growth of all four basic elementals by 1.

== Bug ==
Though '''Magma Elementals''' are level 5 units, the game considers them as level 3 in creature level-based calculations and "Random Monster 3" object in the [[Map Editor]] (''fixed in [[Horn of the Abyss]]{{-wh}}'').

== Sounds ==
{{CreatureSounds|Earth Elemental}}
{{CreatureSounds|Magma Elemental}}
{{SoundClickInfo}}

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
Earthelem.jpg| Earth Elemental
Magma-elemental-sketch.jpg| Magma Elemental concept
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Earth Elementals are one of the worst elementals, since they are incredibly slow and also expensive. Though they will win on melee 1v1 against other elementals, for their cost they are not as good. Also, they have significantly lower growth, with just 4 per week compared to the water's 6 - meaning the Earth Elementals actually produce ''less'' weekly HP. They can neither attack ranged, fly, or have other useful abilities. In fact, they struggle even against level 3 creatures with equal weekly growths.

On the other hand one very notable property is their resistance to [[Armageddon]] (along with [[Fire Elementals]]), making them useful for [[Dragogeddon]] tactics. Another pretty notable property is their resistance to Lightning and Chain Lightning. If enemy heroes forget to research Ice Bolt, Meteor Shower, or Implosion (for the last two, Magma Elementals can still cast Protection from Earth), then these guys will not be able to take much single target spell damage. Overall, this is the elemental with the best resistances.

Magma Elementals have the same weaknesses as their unupgraded counterparts (even with high individual HP for elementals, they have low defense for a level 5 creature: Compare their 11 Def vs the 16 Def of [[Mighty Gorgon|Mighty Gorgons]]). Though it is notable that although they are weak to [[Meteor Shower]], their [[Protection from Earth]] cast spell does offer a defense against Meteor Shower itself. The most important stat upgrade is +2 speed (from 4 to 6).

The Protection from Earth spell was buffed in HotA, resulting in an indirect small boost to the utility of Magma Elementals.

Earth Elementals are basically only suited for garrison defense and Armageddon tactics, while Magma Elementals may find a place in your army but only if you have a lot of gold to recruit/upgrade them. If you can recruit more Storm or Ice Elementals you will be better off with them instead, much as like with Psychic and Magic Elementals. All in all they are a low priority unit.

There is something of note however: Earth Elemental specialty is actually good. The +5 damage means that they deal at least 50% more damage than normal, turning them into decent units along with the atk and def bonus. However, take into account this specialty is fixed (doesn't scale with hero level), so it's more important in the early game. Do note that this type of specialty sadly doesn't upgrade the speed of the creature. Both Earth Elemental specialists ([[Thunar]] and [[Erdamon]]) are identical, starting with Tactics and basic Estates. While Estates will be mostly useless for a main hero, Tactics is key to positioning your slow Earth and Magma elementals forward or in other advantageous positions when the battle starts. If you choose these heroes, your priority will be getting as many earth/magma elementals as early as possible and use their upgraded damage to clear enemies. Still, sadly, even with near +100% minimum damage from the specialty (Earth goes from 4 to 9, Magma from 6 to 11), unsupported Earth Elementals barely can go toe to toe with other level 5 units due to their still overall low stats.

}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 5 Creatures]]

[[Category:Creatures]]
[[Category:Elementals]]
__NOTOC__

Strategies

2026-02-11T16:55:09Z

ReaderCritic: /* Choosing a good primary (main) hero */ Fire magic on a new line like the other magic schools, for better visibility

== General Strategies ==

=== Choosing a good primary (main) hero ===

* A good main hero should be good in battle, and some heroes are equipped with unnecessary secondary skills like [[Eagle Eye]] and [[Learning]]. Avoid them. [[Archery]], [[Offense]] or [[Armorer]] are much better.
* Might heroes are better with big armies than magic heroes. Every point in [[Attack]] and [[Defense]] is useful for every creature, while too much [[Spell Power]] or too much [[Knowledge]] can be of limited use. Sometimes you need a simple spell more than very advanced spells, that need much more power and knowledge to be effective.
* On the other hand, powerful mages with high [[Spell Power]] and [[Knowledge]] can often win battles against neutral creatures without any army whatsoever: [[Solmyr]], [[Aislinn]], [[Luna]] and other spell specialists that focus on damage of their spells can go through battles with only a few (usually fast) units in their army.
* Heroes that can be better with each level are generally better than ones that do not benefit much from having a lot of experience. [[Crag Hack]], [[Mephala]] or [[Malekith]] are better and better with each level, while also combining their specialty with specific primary skills. Obvious exception to this rule include heroes with great specialties that do not scale, such as [[Lord Haart the Death Knight]], [[Luna]] or [[Ciele]].
* Good hero can move fast. Someone with [[Logistics]] (or [[Navigation]] on water maps) is much better than slow heroes. Not only can fast heroes collect more resources, they also gain experience faster. This makes, [[Gunnar]] or [[Kyrre]] good options, especially when playing without {{hota}}.
* [[Estates]], [[Scholar]], and other similar skills are useful, but normally the main hero does not have enough skill slots to have room for them. There are simply more important skills needed for those slots.
* No magic skills? Not good. Try to obtain at least one or two. Your main hero shouldn't have all four though since there will be not enough slots for other important skills.
** [[Earth Magic]] is usually the best choice, due to spells like [[Slow]], [[Resurrection]], and [[Town Portal]] having vastly different effects between Basic and Expert level.
** [[Air Magic]] is often considered a reasonable choice because of [[Fly]], [[Dimension Door]], and Haste.
** [[Fire Magic]] is also a good option, because of [[Curse]], [[Blind]], and [[Berserk]].
** [[Water Magic]] is generally considered to be the weakest of the [[Schools of magic]], especially outside of Island-maps (where [[Water Walk]] could be useful) - it does not have any powerful spells that significantly change their results based on the secondary skill proficiency. As an example, Exper [[Bless]] is only better than Basic when the hero has multiple units dedicated as their main offensive force and all of these units have low damage (as then the +1 damage bonus becomes more relevant). [[Clone]] and [[Teleport]] can be utilised to almost their full potential without the [[Water Magic]] skill. The only exception is [[Prayer]], which becomes significantly better at the Expert level.
* Some [[Secondary Skills]] are great in combination. For example, if you like to use the spell [[Chain Lightning]], the combination of [[Air Magic]] and [[Wisdom]] is very powerful. (You may also consider using [[Sorcery]], however even at Expert level it only increases spell damage by 15%.) Adding [[Intelligence]] or [[Mysticism]] can improve it even more.
* Some heroes start with a lot of creatures. Heroes that have unit specializations of creatures between 1st and 3rd level start with a significantly greater amount of the creatures they specialize in. Using these creatures, the player can create a strong attacking force (often dubbed "powerstack") much more easily. This applies to [[Bron]], [[Illor]], and [[Todd]] as well, who all start with the level 4 creature they specialize in.
* When choosing heroes with creature specialties, consider the bonus of speed they provide. Heroes like [[Josephine]] or [[Ryland]] have a much bigger impact on the usefulness of the troops they specialize in than heroes such as [[Korbac]], whose specialized unit is already very fast.
** Remember that hero specialty bonus to speed of creatures affects the number of [[movement|movement points]] they have at the start of their turn.
* There are a lot of good heroes and bad heroes. Use the forums and Wiki to know more about them.
* Find your build. Different towns need different heroes, but some of the heroes are great in any town, while others are usable only in one town. For example, [[Valeska]] is only good in [[Castle]] towns, while [[Orrin]] is good in every town - and even better in towns with more ranged units - or when using archers from multiple towns. Having [[Marksmen]], [[Magi]], [[Zealot|Zealots]] and [[Titans]] in one army is preferable for him.
* Choose your hero based on the map. For example, if you are playing a map with a lot of snow or swamp, consider a hero with [[Pathfinding]] (such as [[Corkes]]).
* Some magic heroes are great in the hands of a skilled player. Some examples include [[Eovacius]] {{withhota}}, [[Thant]], [[Luna]], [[Victoria]], and [[Jeddite]].
* Overall, [[Overlords]] and [[Barbarians]] are among the strongest heroes, while [[Planeswalkers]] and [[Alchemists]] are among the weaker heroes.

Some of the best primary heroes include: {{Hn|Orrin|0=}}, {{Hn|Mephala|0=}}, {{Hn|Kyrre|0=}}, {{Hn|Gunnar|0=}}, {{Hn|Crag Hack|0=}}, {{Hn|Dessa|0=}}, {{Hn|Tazar|0=}}, {{Hn|Corkes|0=}}{{-wh}}, {{Hn|Dury|0=}}{{-wh}}, {{Hn|Murdoch|0=}}{{-wh}}.

=== Choosing a good secondary (helper) hero ===

* [[Estates]], [[scholar]] and [[logistics]] are some of the preferred secondary skills for heroes, that are not supposed to be fighting.
* Normally, secondary heroes will have much less experience than main heroes. It is possible that they will learn only a small amount of secondary skills.
* Gold and estates specialists are really good, especially on poor maps. They can provide you with gold, so you can build important buildings faster and hire new heroes more often.
* During 4 months, a single gold specialist can provide you with 39 200 gold. That's enough for 4 capitols or 1 entire week of all creatures from a single town. Leena with Expert Estates can produce about 150 000 gold in the same time.
* Logistics is good if you need to move new fresh forces from your town to the main hero, fighting several days from your town.
* In need of gems? Crystals? Mercury? Sulfur? Or do you simply have multiple towns and can therefore trade surplus? Heroes like [[Rissa]] can help you out.
* Scholar can help you with three things: Exchanging spells between important heroes, providing other heroes with a spell a different hero starts with (such as [[Alamar]] with [[Resurrection]] or [[Loynis]] with [[Prayer]]) and copying spells obtained from a [[Pandora's Box]] to other heroes (which is otherwise impossible).
* [[Ballista]] costs as much as a hero. Therefore it's better to recruit a hero with Ballista (such as [[Sir Christian]]) and swap ballista to your main hero. The same applies to [[Cannon]], provided by [[Jeremy]] (which is even more expensive). You can also use [[Rion]], if you need a first aid tent in the castle town.

Some of the best secondary heroes: [[Leena]], [[Lord Haart]], [[Octavia]], [[Aine]], [[Rissa]], [[Alamar]], [[Sephinroth]], [[Jeremy]]...

It's up to the player whether their first hero is a good primary or a good secondary hero.

=== Early [[Capitol]] ===
This strategy is particularly relevant when playing on Hard or lower difficulty on relatively poor, small, closed maps, in which the player is separated from enemies by border guards, long destinations or very powerful monsters. If you then rush for an early capitol, you can have much more gold than other players.
* Pros: You can have more income, allowing you to build new units and buildings with enough gold. You can also have more heroes than usual.
* Cons: With limited amount of creature dwellings, you cannot make a good defense early. You also cannot attack all the wandering monsters and may find yourself unable to conquer any important locations in the first week. As a result, while you will not have a problem with gold, you may miss out on ore, crystals etc. which can be equally important for the city development.

Rushing for capitol is of course hard or even impossible on higher difficulties. Capitol costs 10 000 gold, castle and citadel cost 7 500 gold. Many buildings, like blacksmiths, are not that useful early on (or almost useless for some time), yet they are simply required. However, after two more weeks Capitol pays back for itself fully - 14 x 2000 gold is 28 000 gold.

For early capitol, it is a good idea to pick a good secondary hero (or start with someone) with gold speciality and/or estates. [[Lord Haart]] and [[Leena]] are two best choices.

Example build order:

# Town Hall
# Magic Guild
# Marketplace
# Blacksmith
# City Hall
# Citadel
# Castle
# Capitol
# unupgraded creature dwellings (so you can have as much units as possible)
# other buildings

Note, that generally it is advised not to follow this strategy on maps that have gold more readily available on the map itself (either in gold piles, [[Treasure Chest|Treasure Chests]], [[Gold Mine|Gold Mines]] or [[Creature Bank|Creature Banks]]) or a large number of [[external dwelling|external dwellings]] or [[Creature Bank|Creature Banks]] that provide units (such as [[Griffin Conservatory|Griffin conservatories]], as well as on maps where the enemy can be easily reached. In these cases, the player who decides to focus on building the capitol will be unable to conquer (and therefore recruit) those gold sources and external units, and will also not gain any relevant troops from their town within the first week. As a result, their enemy can simply focus on building an army early on and defeat them within the first three weeks, before the Capitol even pays itself off.

=== Early Army ===
A much more common strategy on rich maps is Early Army, where the player aims to build one or two "powerstacks" (main offensive units) within the first 2 days of the game, and then attempts to build the dwellings of level 6 or level 7 creatures of their town.

For example, when playing as Inferno, this would most often involve choosing {{Hn|Calh|0=}}, a [[Gog]] specialist, upgrading the [[Hall of Sins]] on the first day, and using the [[Magog|Magogs]] as the main offensive force; in the subsequent days, the player would try to conquer as much sources of gold or other resources, in order to build a [[Demon Gate]], a [[Hell Hole]], a [[Fire Lake]], and a [[Forsaken Palace]] in order to be able to recruit 2 [[Devil|Devils]] and 4 [[Efreet|Efreets]] by the first day of the second week.

Alternatively, if the map is not as rich (especially in terms of rare resources required for dwellings of level 7 creatures), players often try to build [[Fortifications|Castle]] and as many creature dwellings as they can, in order to recruit as many creatures as possible by week 2.

=== Dragogeddon ===
A tactical maneuver, wherein the hero aims to cast the [[Armageddon]] spell without harming his own troops. In the original {{roe}}, [[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]] and [[Gold Dragon|Gold Dragons]] were the best creatures to have when using this tactic, hence the name dragogeddon. Important note is that [[Red Dragon|Red]] and [[Green Dragon|Green Dragons]], who are, respectively, basic versions of Black and Gold ones, are immune only to 1-3 level spells, and thus will be normally damaged by Armageddon which is level 4 spell.

In order for dragogeddon tactics to work in the best possible way, the hero requires:
* at least advanced [[Wisdom]] to learn Armageddon
* high [[Primary skill#power_skill|power skill]] for Armageddon to cause as much damage as possible
* reasonable [[Primary skill#knowledge_skill|knowledge]] for sufficient spell points to cast the spell at least few times
* creatures with appropriate spell immunity to cause damage only to enemy units.

Possible creatures for the dragogeddon tactics are:
* [[Black Dragon|Black Dragons]] from [[Dungeon]] (but not Red!)
* [[Gold Dragon|Gold Dragons]] from [[Rampart]] (but not Green!)
* [[Efreet Sultan|Efreet Sultans]] from [[Inferno]]
* [[Fire Elemental|Fire Elementals]], [[Magma Elemental|Magma Elementals]], [[Magic Elemental|Magic Elementals]] or [[Phoenix|Phoenixes]] from [[Conflux]]
* [[Couatls]] from [[Factory]] (by the [[Meditation]]; however, the non-upgraded ones skip a turn during it, so another unit is needed)

Additionally, [[golem|golems]] may be used for the tactic because of their [[Spell damage reduction]] ability. For this purpose, [[Tower]]'s [[Stone and Iron Golem|Stone and Iron Golems]] are typically the easiest to gather. However, dragogeddon tactics are often used in situations where it is essential to rapidly – preferably in the first round of combat – destroy enemy forces, and therefore golems with a slow [[speed]] rating are not a preferable choice. Conflux's Fire Elementals and Magic Elementals are not significantly better. Another option is using [[Angel and Archangel|Archangels]] or [[Devil and Arch Devil|Arch Devils]] who are faster than Gold or Black Dragons, casting [[Anti-magic]] on them in the first turn and Armageddon afterwards (beware that Anti-magic disallows you to [[Resurrection|resurrect]] units).

The combination artifact [[Power of the Dragon Father]], while hard to obtain, makes all of the hero's units immune to Armageddon, allowing dragogeddon usage with any army.

Another situation for dragogeddon is when a player needs to weaken an enemy hero's main force. When used for this purpose, the attacking method is typically hit-and-run, which makes speed essential and Phoenixes the best choice. It is vital for the hero to act first in the combat, cast Armageddon and then [[surrender]] (or [[retreat]]), and then repeat the process. In an ideal situation, the enemy hero's movement has ended up near the defending player's town, when it is a short distance to attack the enemy hero over and over again with Phoenixes combined with Armageddon.

The biggest threats for dragogeddon are [[Orb of Inhibition]], disallowing the use of all spells in combat and [[Recanter's Cloak]], suppressing spells any higher than level 3.

In general, Dungeon's Black Dragons are more likely to be part of Dragogeddon than Rampart's Gold Dragons, since Armageddon spell appears only in [[Alignment|evil alignment]] towns (Inferno, [[Necropolis]], and Dungeon). If a map has Rampart and/or Conflux but no evil alignment towns, it is almost impossible to use dragogeddon tactics.

=== Artifact Monopoly ===
A tactic for the turn's first human player of every month. Since all [[Artifact Merchants]] carry the same stock, the human player who is first in the turn order gets the first choice of artifacts to buy every month. This can be a huge advantage during multiplayer games, as the computers always act after the human players.

If playing with {{sod}} expansion, a solid use of the strategy is to buy every [[combination artifact]] piece they can afford at the first round of the month. After a few months, and with some luck in adventuring, the first player - using this tactic - may combine few of the easier combination artifacts like [[Bow of the Sharpshooter]], [[Cloak of the Undead King]] or [[Wizard's Well]] - all quite powerful.

=== A mite, but not an enemy, very charming, no enmities ===
If you don't have the resources to run that one town you need the troops from, let the enemy capture it and spend all their resources building it for you, then when they least expect it, take it back with minimal force. Losses are 500 (basic city) over 1000 (with [[Town Hall]] building) over 2000 ([[City Hall]]) gold to 4000 gold ([[Capitol]] city, losing the [[Capitol]] to the enemy destroys the 10k gold [[Capitol]] building) each day and the added costs of recapturing the town - but the [[Resources]] needed for better buildings might even be harder to come by and you want that high level unit buildings to be built in the long term, why not let the enemy build them.

=== Stack divide, and conquer ===
Flanking has its uses, [[Cyclops]], [[Wraith]] and [[Genie]] units with their casting or castle wall damage feature work '''without considering the unit amount''' of the stack , so [[Cyclops]] that have damage castle walls as a special will get one castle wall attack per [[Cyclops]] stack (or even advanced [[Ballistics]] and thus two shots when the stack is a [[Cyclops King]] stack), the number of [[Cyclops]] in the stack is not relevant and [[Genie|Genies]] will get their usual allotment of spells without regarding the stack size too - one [[Genie]] and his utility spells is as important as 100 considering spells that they can cast - as opposed to [[Faerie Dragon|Faerie Dragons]] that use damaging spells that depend on the number of units the stack has. [[Genie|Genies]] are level 5 creatures, a [[Cyclops]] is a level 6 creature, both are a little bit faster than level 1 or 2 units in general - and those tend to die off easily midgame so the open places in the army of the hero are not actually wasted given utility spells on worthwhile creatures or faster sieges and additionally higher level creatures also tend to move faster on the adventure map.

== Faction Specific Strategies ==
* [[Castle#User Commentary|Castle]]
* [[Rampart#User Commentary|Rampart]]
* [[Tower#User Commentary|Tower]]
* [[Inferno#User Commentary|Inferno]]
* [[Necropolis#User Commentary|Necropolis]]
* [[Dungeon#User Commentary|Dungeon]]
* [[Stronghold#User Commentary|Stronghold]]
* [[Fortress#User Commentary|Fortress]]
* [[Conflux#User Commentary|Conflux]]
* [[Cove#User Commentary|Cove]]{{-wh}}
* [[Factory#User Commentary|Factory]]{{-wh}}
* [[Bulwark#User Commentary|Bulwark]]{{-wh}}

== See also ==
* [[Tricks]]

[[Category: User commentary]]

Magic Mirror

2026-02-11T13:36:26Z

ReaderCritic: /* Trivia */

{{Air spells}}{{Spell|-|16|28|14|0|0|12|-|-|13|-|16|-
| school = Air Magic
| level = 5th
| cost = 25/20
| duration = 1 rnd/sp
| b_effect = Enemy spells cast on targeted, allied troop has a 20% chance of being redirected to a random enemy troop.
| a_effect = Enemy spells cast on targeted, allied troop has a {{gt|30%}} chance of being redirected to a random enemy troop.
| e_effect = Enemy spells cast on targeted, allied troop has a {{gt|40%}} chance of being redirected to a random enemy troop.
}}

In addition to its main effect, Magic Mirror also makes its target immune to [[Hypnotize]] spell (the original owner of the already hypnotized creature still can cast Magic Mirror on it but Hypnotize effect won't be removed).

The Magic Mirror will also not work against creature spells (such as the ones cast by [[Faerie Dragon]]s themselves). Spells cast by creatures (unlike the ones cast by human-controlled heroes) will never be reflected.

'''Spells reflected by Magic Mirror'''
* Direct damage unit-targetted spells, such as [[Magic Arrow]], [[Ice Bolt]], [[Implosion]] or [[Chain Lightning]], but not area-of-effect damage spells (f.e. [[Frost Ring]], [[Firewall]], [[Land Mine]] or [[Armageddon]])
* Unit-targetted hostile spells, such as [[Disrupting Ray]] or [[Blind]], but not [[Berserk]] (which targets an area) and neither hostile spells cast on all units, such as [[Slow|Expert Slow]] or [[Curse|Expert Curse]]

'''Creatures immune to Magic Mirror:'''
{{immune|spell12345=1}}
'''Creatures capable of casting Magic Mirror:'''
* {{Cn|Master Genie}}s (Advanced level)
'''Creatures with natural Magic Mirror:'''
* {{Cn|Faerie Dragon}}s (Basic level)

== Trivia ==
An early name for this spell was "Backlash".

{{user commentary|
Despite being flashy and a 5th level spell, Magic Mirror serves very little function in the game. [[Faerie Dragon]]s are well-protected by its effects, but by the time you have a hero with the mana and a [[Mage guild]] upgraded to the highest level, there are likely at least a few spells in your spell book you'll want more to cast in combat. Arguably this spell would not have been overpowered even if it could be [[mass cast]] like [[slow]], [[prayer]], or [[curse]]. And because only one [[troop stack]] can be targeted for protection, it will almost never be the ideal choice to cast in combat.
}}{{end of user commentary}}
{{spell 'see also'}}
[[Category: Spells]]

Learning

2026-02-11T06:34:23Z

ReaderCritic:

{{Secondary skills}}
{{Secondary skill
| B_effect = increases the hero’s earned experience points by {{swh|20%|5%}}. {{showwithhota|Also grants an additional level upon learning the skill{{-wh}}.}}
| A_effect = increases the hero’s earned experience points by {{gt|{{swh|40%|10%}}}}. {{showwithhota|Also grants a {{gt|2nd}} additional level upon learning the skill{{-wh}}.}}
| E_effect = increases the hero’s earned experience points by {{gt|{{swh|60%|15%}}}}. {{showwithhota|Also grants a {{gt|3rd}} additional level upon learning the skill{{-wh}}.}}
}}
{{showwithhota|In {{hota}} v1.7.3, Learning cannot be offered again if the level-up was awarded via picking Learning (unless it remains one of the only two unmaxed skill slots).}}

'''Heroes with Learning as a starting skill:'''
* {{H2|Loynis|Cleric}}
* {{H2|Calid|Heretic}}
* {{H2|Moandor|Death Knight}}
* {{H2|Xsi|Necromancer}}
* {{H2|Darkstorn|Warlock}}
* {{H2|Merist|Witch}}
* {{H2|Kalt|Planeswalker}}
* {{H2|Victoria|Artificer}}{{-wh}}
* {{H2|Glacius|Elder}}{{-wh}}

'''Heroes with {{PAGENAME}} as a specialty and a starting skill''' ''(5% bonus per level to the skill)''''':'''
* {{H2|Kinkeria|Witch}}{{-wh}}

In [[Horn of the Abyss]], these heroes also start with 1000 [[Experience]] (the level-up is resolved upon next experience gain).{{-wh}}

== Chance to get ==
{{Secondary skill chance explanation}}
{{ZET SEC SKILL CHANCE TABLE|4|4|4|4|{{gt|10}}|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|4|8|4|{{rt|2}}|4|4|4|4|4}}

== Trivia ==
* According to [[Greg Fulton]] in his [[Greg Fulton/Fanstratics Newsletters/10#Behemoth Cave Interview (part 3 of 7)|Behemoth Cave Interview]], "Learning could have used a buff, but we were worried about it becoming a ‘required skill’, so we errored on the side of ‘underpowered’."

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150px">
Brian-kemper-learn.jpg| Art by [[Brian Kemper]] (pre-release) (note the colored candles in front of the book)
</gallery>

{{user commentary|
Skills like Learning, [[Eagle Eye]], and [[Mysticism]] aren't loved very much by the majority of players. They aren't bad themselves, but the number of secondary skills is limited, while some of them are just vital, and absence of e.g. [[Wisdom]] or [[Earth Magic]] makes a hero significantly weaker, especially in the endgame. However, for a hero who is not a "number one", is rarely involved into major battles, and has a task chiefly to collect resources and summon troops, Learning is a good skill. He or she will rush between levels faster than usually, and will increase [[primary skill]]s rather quick, which is important for unexpected battles (e.g. when a town is sieged and the main hero is far away, ability to throw a powerful [[Magic Arrow]] or to accumulate 30-40 [[spell point]]s does a good job). {{hota}}{{-wh}}'s [[Kinkeria]] may be used as the main hero, as she will get experience very fast, soon becoming really strong.

A major flaw of Learning is that experience points increase is very slow, while range between experience points needed for every new level is increasing throughout the game. If a hero were to have expert level of Learning from the beginning of the game, when the hero reaches 230,000 experience points, a hero without the skill would have achieved 200,000 points. This would mean that the first hero is on level 26 and the second on level 25, which is only a one-level difference.

In {{hota}}{{-wh}} (v. 1.7.2) the bonuses have been drastically increased and it now grants an additional level upon learning/advancing the skill, meaning the hero with it will very quickly become strong, though still at the cost of sacrificing a skill slot.
Note, however, that the instant level-up also increases experience requirement, so the advantage will still be represented mostly by extra Primary skills and [[Specialty]] bonus in addition to quicker access to quests requiring you to reach a certain level, rather than learning Secondary skills quicker.
}}{{end of user commentary}}

{{secondary skill 'see also'}}

[[Category: Secondary skills]]