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{{Creature/Rust Dragon}}
{{Creature/Rust Dragon}}


'''Rust Dragons''' are level 7 [[neutral creature]]s recruited from the [[Sulfurous Lair]].
'''Rust Dragons''' are level 7 [[neutral creature|neutral creatures]] recruited from the [[Sulfurous Lair]].


''"Rust Dragons are known to hunt [[Gorgon and Mighty Gorgon|Gorgons]], and live and feed in [[Sulfurous Lair|sulfur mines]]. With this appetite, Rust Dragons spew a concentrated acid as their primary attack. This acid is capable of eating through the strongest armor, lowering the defense of its target while inflicting further damage."{{-}}<sup>[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 19|AB manual]]''</sup>
''"Rust Dragons are known to hunt {{hv|Gorgon and Mighty Gorgon|GorgonMightyGorgon|text=Gorgons}}, and live and feed in [[Sulfurous Lair|sulfur mines]]. With this appetite, Rust Dragons spew a concentrated acid as their primary attack. This acid is capable of eating through the strongest armor, lowering the defense of its target while inflicting further damage."{{-}}<sup>[[Armageddon's Blade Manual Page 19|AB manual]]''</sup>


''"Bloodthirsty and vicious this beast cannot wait to make the next hero into a midday snack. Rust Dragons are known to hunt Gorgons. It is said the best way to meet a Rust Dragon is when it’s heading North and you’re heading South. Able to take and give massive amounts of damage and a penchant for blood and gore, these beasts are any kingdom’s worst nightmare."{{-}}<sup>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030807112523/http://www.3do.com:80/products/pc/heroes3/expansion/units/exp_rust.html Armageddon's Blade website description]''</sup>
''"Bloodthirsty and vicious this beast cannot wait to make the next hero into a midday snack. Rust Dragons are known to hunt Gorgons. It is said the best way to meet a Rust Dragon is when it’s heading North and you’re heading South. Able to take and give massive amounts of damage and a penchant for blood and gore, these beasts are any kingdom’s worst nightmare."{{-}}<sup>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030807112523/http://www.3do.com:80/products/pc/heroes3/expansion/units/exp_rust.html Armageddon's Blade website description]''</sup>
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== Appearance ==
== Appearance ==
Rust Dragons were added in {{ab}}, so there are no Rust Dragons or [[Sulfurous Lair]]s in {{roe}}. They also prominently appear in the [[Rust Dragons]] scenario from the [[Dragon Slayer]] campaign in from {{ab}}.
Rust Dragons were added in {{ab}}, so there are no Rust Dragons or [[Sulfurous Lair|Sulfurous Lairs]] in {{roe}}. They also prominently appear in the [[Rust Dragons]] scenario from the [[Dragon Slayer]] campaign in from {{ab}}.


{{video|AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABds2-smk-H3ABds2|550px}}
{{video|AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABds2-smk-H3ABds2|550px}}
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{{user commentary|
{{user commentary|
With their incredibly high speed, health, and attack damage, Rust Dragons are generally considered the third strongest creatures in the game, following only [[Azure Dragon]]s and [[Crystal Dragon]]s in raw stats.
With their incredibly high speed, health, and attack damage, Rust Dragons are generally considered the third strongest creatures in the game, following only [[Azure Dragon|Azure Dragons]] and [[Crystal Dragon|Crystal Dragons]] in raw stats.


Placing Rust Dragons (as well as any living Dragons) in the [[Skeleton Transformer]] will give you [[Bone Dragon]]s instead of regular [[Skeleton]]s.
Placing Rust Dragons (as well as any living Dragons) in the [[Skeleton Transformer]] will give you [[Bone Dragon|Bone Dragons]] instead of regular {{hv|Skeleton|SkeletonSkeletonWarrior|text=Skeletons}}.
----
----
Even though in the game files themselves the Rust Dragon and other neutral dragons are considered to be level 7, the official editor shows they are level 10 (8 for [[Faerie Dragon]]). This is either due to code limitations and impossibility of creating a unit with tier higher than 7, either because the developers didn't have time, motivation or reason to add a new creature level in the game code and invest time in that, just telling us they are level 10, respectively 8. As such, even now their levels are still being debated.
Even though in the game files themselves the Rust Dragon and other neutral dragons are considered to be level 7, the official editor shows they are level 10 (8 for [[Faerie Dragon]]). This is either due to code limitations and impossibility of creating a unit with tier higher than 7, either because the developers didn't have time, motivation or reason to add a new creature level in the game code and invest time in that, just telling us they are level 10, respectively 8. As such, even now their levels are still being debated.


=== Toughness ===
=== Toughness ===
Rust Dragons are true tanks; same defense as an [[Archangel]] and thrice the health, these dragons will endure much damage in early, mid-game and even some in late-game. In early game especially, it is pointless to fight them without [[Mighty Gorgon|Mighty Gorgons]] or [[Sea Dog|Sea Dogs]] or powerful spells.
Rust Dragons are true tanks; same defense as an {{hv|Archangel|AngelArchangel}} and thrice the health, these dragons will endure much damage in early, mid-game and even some in late-game. In early game especially, it is pointless to fight them without {{hv|Mighty Gorgon|GorgonMightyGorgon|text=Mighty Gorgons}} or {{hv|Sea Dog|PirateCorsairSeaDog|text=Sea Dogs}} or powerful spells.


=== Offense ===
=== Offense ===
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[[Category: Creatures]]
[[Category: Creatures]]
<!-- popupables -->
{{Creatures/Angel and Archangel|popupid=AngelArchangel}}{{Creatures/Gorgon and Mighty Gorgon|popupid=GorgonMightyGorgon}}{{Creatures/Pirate, Corsair, and Sea Dog|popupid=PirateCorsairSeaDog}}{{Creatures/Skeleton and Skeleton Warrior|popupid=SkeletonSkeletonWarrior}}

Revision as of 13:10, 21 August 2025

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SatyrSatyr Satyr Horn of the Abyss
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Rust Dragon
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750
17
Move
Flying
Size
2
Growth
1
26433
24030
Cost

15000

14

Rust Dragons are level 7 neutral creatures recruited from the Sulfurous Lair.

"Rust Dragons are known to hunt Gorgons, and live and feed in sulfur mines. With this appetite, Rust Dragons spew a concentrated acid as their primary attack. This acid is capable of eating through the strongest armor, lowering the defense of its target while inflicting further damage." AB manual

"Bloodthirsty and vicious this beast cannot wait to make the next hero into a midday snack. Rust Dragons are known to hunt Gorgons. It is said the best way to meet a Rust Dragon is when it’s heading North and you’re heading South. Able to take and give massive amounts of damage and a penchant for blood and gore, these beasts are any kingdom’s worst nightmare." Armageddon's Blade website description

Dwellings & Portraits

Heroes with a specialty

Special Ability: Acid Breath

Acid breath special ability may occur after a stack of Rust Dragons have attacked target creature stack and before the stack has a chance to retaliate. The breath reduces the target stack's defense by 3, and has 20 % chance to cause additional damage amount of 25 points per attacking unit.

Appearance

Rust Dragons were added in Armageddon's Blade, so there are no Rust Dragons or Sulfurous Lairs in Restoration of Erathia. They also prominently appear in the Rust Dragons scenario from the Dragon Slayer campaign in from Armageddon's Blade.

Media:AB CD-Heroes3-DATA-Heroes3 vid-H3ABds2-smk-H3ABds2-AB-voice.webm

Gallery

User Commentary

Show User Commentary
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With their incredibly high speed, health, and attack damage, Rust Dragons are generally considered the third strongest creatures in the game, following only Azure Dragons and Crystal Dragons in raw stats.

Placing Rust Dragons (as well as any living Dragons) in the Skeleton Transformer will give you Bone Dragons instead of regular Skeletons.


Even though in the game files themselves the Rust Dragon and other neutral dragons are considered to be level 7, the official editor shows they are level 10 (8 for Faerie Dragon). This is either due to code limitations and impossibility of creating a unit with tier higher than 7, either because the developers didn't have time, motivation or reason to add a new creature level in the game code and invest time in that, just telling us they are level 10, respectively 8. As such, even now their levels are still being debated.

Toughness

Rust Dragons are true tanks; same defense as an Archangel and thrice the health, these dragons will endure much damage in early, mid-game and even some in late-game. In early game especially, it is pointless to fight them without Mighty Gorgons or Sea Dogs or powerful spells.

Offense

With a fixed damage of 50, same as an Angel or Archangel, and same attack stat as the latter, the Rust Dragons will usually deal less damage than expected. However, they are backed up by their toughness, speed and their very strategical ability, Acid breath, which reduces the target stack's defense for the rest of the battle, its effect being cumulative too. Keep in mind, they can also strike two troops by breath attack, just like most dragons.

Efficiency and cost

For a significantly lower cost in gold Gold than a Crystal Dragon's, the Rust Dragon's more "expensive" price to pay is the sulfur Sulfur, especially for a Dungeon army. Unless having a large amount of special resources, if playing with a Dungeon army you might not want to recruit more than one for the tactical advantage. Otherwise, it's a good addition for its price, as any neutral dragon.

Tactics

The strategy of a Rust Dragon is simple: block shooters, lower defense of enemy troops and soak retaliations. Aside from their powerful stats, they are vulnerable to spells, so beware of Implosion if you don't have more than 2 such dragons. On the other hand, they can be resurrected if you have enough spell power or buffed by positive spells.

If the enemy army is more of a threat and these dragons' numbers are low, you should not prioritize them too much. To fight them, it is needed to have high stats and many high level troops, so they can deal enough damage to kill them. As said before, spells such as Implosion are good.

Skill bonuses

Due to their raw strength, Rust Dragons don't get too much of a benefit from hero skills, aside from maybe Offense, since their damage is relatively low.


See Also:

Angel
20
20
50
200
12
Move
Flying
Size
1
Growth
1
5019
3585
Cost

3000

1

Flies. +1 Morale. Hates Devils.
Archangel
30
30
50
250
18
Move
Flying
Size
2
Growth
1
8776
6033
Cost

5000

3

Flies. +1 Morale. Hates Devils. Resurrects allies (100 Health per Archangel).
Gorgon
10
14
12–16
70
5
Move
Ground
Size
2
Growth
3
890
890
Cost

525

Mighty Gorgon
11
16
12–16
70
6
Move
Ground
Size
2
Growth
3
1028
1028
Cost

600

Pirate
8
6
Shots
4
3–7
15
6
Move
Ground
Size
1
Growth
7
312
208
Cost

225

Shoots. No melee penalty.
Corsair
10
8
Shots
4
3–7
15
7
Move
Ground
Size
1
Growth
7
407
311
Cost

275

Shoots. No melee penalty. No enemy retaliation.
Sea Dog
12
11
Shots
8
3–7
15
8
Move
Ground
Size
1
Growth
7
602
376
Cost

375

Shoots. No melee penalty. No enemy retaliation. Accurate Shot.
Skeleton
5
4
1–3
6
4
Move
Ground
Size
1
Growth
12 (+6)
60
75
Cost

60

Skeleton Warrior
6
6
1–3
6
5
Move
Ground
Size
1
Growth
12 (+6)
85
85
Cost

70