• Hero Units •

12 December 2008

At this point, you've probably heard vague rumors about the new class of hero units that is being added to the game. What you might not know is that the first group of these skilled soldiers is almost here, and is due to hit the battlefield with the next batch of cards. Each faction will be receiving their own hero to cuddle and adore- though you might want to forego the cuddling if you value your limbs.

These rare, single-troops cards are proficient in the deadly arts of combat, utilizing special abilities that can impair or injure the enemy in novel ways. The dark elf Ankhir Fellhand can disarm a foe, decreasing its range by 95% for the remainder of the battle. Unfortunately, trebuchets do not excel in hand-to-hand combat, and if that means you're going to have difficulties knocking down that troublesome keep, you might want to call on the siege giant, Arthis Maker, who can capture one building instantly in a truly hostile takeover.

No matter how awesome-stuffed his special ability is, though, a hero just isn't a hero without the power to inspire the soldiers fighting alongside him. Therefore, each of the new units has an aura- a passive ability that provides bonuses to nearby friendly troops on the field. The presence of Nature's hero Doba Malkin, for instance, increases the range of nearby ranged units by 15%. Troops near the Undead's Ghertazzid gain a vampiric ability that gives them a chance to heal for a portion of the damage they do.

Players will only be able to field one hero at a time, but if utilized correctly, this unit can become a valuable asset to a player's army, providing support to friendly units and opening up opportunities for entirely new strategies. With the dog solider, Gruk, on the field, War's specials will cool down 20% faster, and the Machines nation will become more mobile with Ivan Bridlekit around (his aura increases melee unit speed by 20%). The heroes offer many exciting possibilities, so keep your eyes open for more news regarding the release of these fearsome warriors! This is only the first batch of this new class of unit, and players can expect new heroes and new abilities to arrive in the future.

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