Heroes of Might & Magic IV - The creatures - First of all: why did I do this? Because I like Heroes and I like statistics. It all started with Heroes 3 when I was curious whether the Archangel would defeat every other seventh level creatures. So I created a simple map, two castles, two players, I chose two starting heroes with equal stats (At:0, Def:0, Pow:1, Knl:1) and I gave to one of them an Archangel an to the other one seventh level creature at a time. When H4 was released, I didn't know the strength of all the new units so I decided to do the same for every level. This time it was easier, because I didn't have to involve any heroes, I simply put the creatures on the map and I started making fights between them. One important detail: I used the weekly growth of the creatures. In H3 it didn't matter because all seventh level units (except the Phoenix) had a growth of 2. So for example, I used in the battles 3 Vampires, 6 Genies, 4 Nagas, etc. (the growth of the creatures is written near their names, in the first column). How to read the tables. You will see the following characters in the charts: v, d, e. A "v" means that the unit that is listed on top of the column was victorious in the battle with the unit from the corresponding line. A "d" means the creature was defeated. "e" means the battle did not have a clear winner and the creatures have both about 50% chance of winning. For example, if you want to know who won in the battle between the squires and the skeletons, in the first table, at the intersection between the Skeleton's line and the Squire's column, there is a "d", which means the Squires were defeated (and the Skeletons were victorious, of course). The data in these tables does always reveal the real strength and qualities of a unit, because each creature have its ability, and sometimes a unit's ability negates another's. For example, spell casters are defenseless against creatures resistant to magic, especially the black dragon. Therefore, these tables should be taken only as a guide of what creature fights the best against another. How did the battles take place: the creature with the biggest speed attacks first and if it doesn't reach the enemy in one turn it moves towards it. Same goes for the second creature. The creatures attack each other consequently (for example, if one of them gained an extra attack from good morale, I just moved it around a few steps, so it wouldn't have an advantage over the other). Also I tried to use each creature's abilities to its best advantage. There are some fights where the result would change if the other creature had attacked first. Also, there are a few where one creature usually wins, but the battle is very tight and the one that wins remains with very few hit points. All these are marked with "!". Here are the tables: Level I creatures Crossbowman (16) Squire (21) Peasant (36) Crossbowman (16) ____________n/a_________________v ______________e Squire (21)__________________d _________________n/a______________d Peasant (36) ________________e _________________v ______________n/a Dwarf(18) ___________________d !_________________d ______________v ! Halfling (23) _______________v _________________v ______________v Leprechaun (22) _____________v !_________________v ______________v Sprite (23) _________________d _________________v ______________v Wolf (15) ___________________v _________________v ______________v Bandit (26) _________________d _________________v ______________d ! Orc (16) ____________________v _________________v ______________d Pirate (24) _________________d _________________v ______________v Troglodyte (19) _____________d _________________d ______________v Imp (28) ____________________d _________________v ______________v Skeleton (25) _______________d _________________d ______________v Zombie (15) _________________d _________________d ______________e Berserker (19) ______________d _________________d ______________d Centaur (9) _________________v _________________v ______________d Dwarf (18) Halfling (23) Crossbowman (16)________v !____________d Squire (21) ____________v ____________d Peasant (36) ___________1 !____________d Dwarf (18) _____________n/a____________v Halfling (23) __________d ____________n/a Leprechaun (22) ________v ____________v Sprite (23) ____________v !____________d Wolf (15) ______________v ____________d Bandit (26) ____________v !____________d Orc (16) _______________d ____________e Pirate (24) ____________v ____________v ! Troglodyte (19) ________d ____________d Imp (28) _______________v ____________d Skeleton (25) __________v ____________d Zombie (15) ____________d ____________d Berserker (19) _________d ____________d Centaur (9) ____________d ____________d Leprechaun (22) Sprite (23) Wolf (15) Crossbowman (16) ________d _______________v ___________d Squire (21) _____________d _______________d ___________d Peasant (36) ____________d _______________d ___________d Dwarf (18) ______________d _______________d !___________d Halfling (23) ___________d _______________v ___________v Leprechaun (22) _________n/a_______________v ___________v Sprite (23) _____________d _______________n/a___________d Wolf (15) _______________d _______________v ___________n/a Bandit (26) _____________d _______________v ___________d Orc (16) ________________d _______________v ___________d Pirate (24) _____________d _______________v ___________d Troglodyte (19) _________d _______________d ___________d Imp (28) ________________d _______________v ___________d Skeleton (25) ___________d _______________d ___________d Zombie (15) _____________d _______________d ___________d Berserker (19) __________d _______________d ___________d Centaur (9) _____________d _______________v !___________d Bandit (26) Orc (16) Pirate (24) Troglodyte (19) Crossbowman (16) _______v __________d __________v _____________v Squire (21) ____________d __________d __________d _____________v Peasant (36) ___________v !__________v __________d _____________d Dwarf (18) _____________d !__________v __________d _____________v Halfling (23) __________v __________d __________d !_____________v Leprechaun (22) ________v __________v __________v _____________v Sprite (23) ____________d __________d __________d _____________v Wolf (15) ______________v __________v __________v _____________v Bandit (26) ____________n/a__________d __________d _____________v Orc (16) _______________v __________n/a__________d _____________v Pirate (24) ____________v __________v __________n/a_____________v Troglodyte (19) ________d __________d __________d _____________n/a Imp (28) _______________v __________v __________v _____________v Skeleton (25) __________d __________d __________d _____________v Zombie (15) ____________d __________d __________d _____________d Berserker (19) _________d __________d __________d _____________d Centaur (9) ____________d __________v !__________d _____________v Imp (28) Skeleton (25) Zombie (15) Crossbowman (16) ________v ___________v ______________v Squire (21) _____________d ___________v ______________v Peasant (36) ____________d ___________d ______________e Dwarf (18) ______________d ___________d ______________v Halfling (23) ___________v ___________v ______________v Leprechaun (22) _________v ___________v ______________v Sprite (23) _____________d ___________v ______________v Wolf (15) _______________v ___________v ______________v Bandit (26) _____________d ___________v ______________v Orc (16) ________________d ___________v ______________v Pirate (24) _____________d ___________v ______________v Troglodyte (19) _________d ___________d ______________v Imp (28) ________________n/a___________v ______________v Skeleton (25) ___________d ___________n/a______________v Zombie (15) _____________d ___________d ______________n/a Berserker (19) __________d ___________d ______________d Centaur (9) _____________d ___________v ______________v Berserker (19) Centaur (9) Crossbowman (16) ____________v ______________d Squire (21) _________________v ______________d Peasant (36) ________________v ______________v Dwarf (18) __________________v ______________v Halfling (23) _______________v ______________v Leprechaun (22) _____________v ______________v Sprite (23) _________________v ______________v Wolf (15) ___________________v ______________d ! Bandit (26) _________________v ______________v Orc (16) ____________________v ______________v Pirate (24) _________________v ______________d ! Troglodyte (19) _____________v ______________v Imp (28) ____________________v ______________d Skeleton (25) _______________v ______________v Zombie (15) _________________v ______________d Berserker (19) ______________n/a______________d Centaur (9) _________________v ______________n/a Comments I should mention that the results for the first two levels are not very relevant, because these units die quickly and you will rarely encounter battles with numbers that are proportional with the ones in the charts. But anyway... The peasants were the worst possible units in Heroes 3. Here they are not too tough either (not as stupid as they were in H3), but they come in large numbers and that's why they defeated many of the others. The units that have lost every battle are the leprechauns. Also the imps had many loses, but they fly and they have high movement, so they are not so bad (plus, they are many). The winners of this table are the squires, the dwarves, the troglodytes, the skeletons, the zombies and the berserkers. Wolves are not bad units, but their growth is a bit too small (15/week). They have the same growth as the zombies, but those are much stronger. Centaurs are quite strong, but they are very few (9/week). Same goes for the wolves. However the berserkers are the big winners here, they defeated everything. Their only flaw is that you cannot control them and sometimes they die stupidly attacking dragons or something by themselves. They are good in any army, I think. The zombies are also pretty tough, but they lower the moral of the troops too much (unless they are death - aligned troops, of course). I should also mention that pirates are much better at sea, but sea battles do not happen that often. Level II creatures Ballista (7) Pikeman (9) Ballista (7) _________n/a_____________v Pikeman (9) __________d _____________n/a Gold Golem (6) _______d _____________v Mage (8) _____________v _____________v Elf (7) ______________v _____________v Satyr (8) ____________d _____________v White Tiger (6) ______d _____________v Evil Eye (6) _________v _____________v Medusa (6) ___________v _____________d Minotaur (6) _________v !_____________v Troll (6) ____________d _____________v Cerberus (7) _________d _____________v Gargoyle (8) _________d _____________v Ghost (8) ____________d _____________v Mummy (8) ____________d _____________v Harpy (8) ____________d _____________v Mermaid (8) __________d _____________v Nomad (6) ____________d _____________v Gold Golem (6) Mage (8) Ballista (7) __________v ____________d Pikeman (9) ___________d ____________d Gold Golem (6) ________n/a____________d Mage (8) ______________v ____________d Elf (7) _______________v ____________d Satyr (8) _____________v ____________d White Tiger (6) _______v ____________d Evil Eye (6) __________v ____________v Medusa (6) ____________v ____________v Minotaur (6) __________v ____________d Troll (6) _____________d !____________d Cerberus (7) __________v ____________v Gargoyle (8) __________v ____________d Ghost (8) _____________v ____________v Mummy (8) _____________v ____________v ! Harpy (8) _____________v ____________d Mermaid (8) ___________v ____________d Nomad (6) _____________v ____________d Elf (7) Satyr (8) White Tiger (6) Ballista (7) ________d _________v ____________v Pikeman (9) _________d _________d ____________d Gold Golem (6) ______d _________d ____________d Mage (8) ____________v _________v ____________v Elf (7) _____________n/a_________v ____________v Satyr (8) ___________d _________n/a____________v White Tiger (6) _____d _________d ____________n/a Evil Eye (6) ________d _________d ____________v Medusa (6) __________d _________d ____________v Minotaur (6) ________d _________d ____________v Troll (6) ___________d _________d ____________v Cerberus (7) ________v _________d ____________v Gargoyle (8) ________d _________v ____________v Ghost (8) ___________d _________v ____________v Mummy (8) ___________d _________d ____________v Harpy (8) ___________d _________v ____________d Mermaid (8) _________d _________v ____________v Nomad (6) ___________d _________d ____________v Evil Eye (6) Medusa (6) Minotaur (6) Troll (6) Ballista (7) ___________d ____________d ____________d !___________v Pikeman (9) ____________d ____________v ____________d ___________d Gold Golem (6) _________d ____________d ____________d ___________v ! Mage (8) _______________d ____________d ____________v ___________v Elf (7) ________________v ____________v ____________v ___________v Satyr (8) ______________v ____________v ____________v ___________v White Tiger (6) ________d ____________d ____________d ___________d Evil Eye (6) ___________n/a____________v !____________v ___________v Medusa (6) _____________d !____________n/a____________d ___________d Minotaur (6) ___________d ____________v ____________n/a___________v Troll (6) ______________d ____________v ____________d ___________n/a Cerberus (7) ___________v ____________v ____________d !___________v Gargoyle (8) ___________v ____________v !____________v ___________v Ghost (8) ______________v ____________d ____________v ___________v Mummy (8) ______________d ____________d ____________d ___________v Harpy (8) ______________v ____________v ____________d ___________v Mermaid (8) ____________v ____________v ____________v ___________v Nomad (6) ______________v ____________d ____________v ___________v Cerberus (7) Gargoyle (8) Ghost (8) Mummy (8) Ballista (7) ___________v _____________v ____________v __________v Pikeman (9) ____________d _____________d ____________d __________d Gold Golem (6) _________d _____________d ____________d __________d Mage (8) _______________d _____________v ____________d __________d ! Elf (7) ________________d _____________v ____________v __________v Satyr (8) ______________v _____________d ____________d __________v White Tiger (6) ________d _____________d ____________d __________d Evil Eye (6) ___________d _____________d ____________d __________v Medusa (6) _____________d _____________d !____________v __________v Minotaur (6) ___________v !_____________d ____________d __________v Troll (6) ______________d _____________d ____________d __________d Cerberus (7) ___________n/a_____________d ____________d __________d ! Gargoyle (8) ___________v _____________n/a____________d __________v Ghost (8) ______________v _____________v ____________n/a__________v Mummy (8) ______________v !_____________d ____________d __________n/a Harpy (8) ______________d _____________d ____________d __________v Mermaid (8) ____________d _____________d ____________d __________v ! Nomad (6) ______________v _____________d ____________d __________v Harpy (8) Mermaid (8) Nomad (6) Ballista (7) __________v ____________v ____________v Pikeman (9) ___________d ____________d ____________d Gold Golem (6) ________d ____________d ____________d Mage (8) ______________v ____________v ____________v Elf (7) _______________v ____________v ____________v Satyr (8) _____________d ____________d ____________v White Tiger (6) _______v ____________d ____________d Evil Eye (6) __________d ____________d ____________d Medusa (6) ____________d ____________d ____________v Minotaur (6) __________v ____________d ____________d Troll (6) _____________d ____________d ____________d Cerberus (7) __________v ____________v ____________d Gargoyle (8) __________v ____________v ____________v Ghost (8) _____________v ____________v ____________v Mummy (8) _____________d ____________d !____________d Harpy (8) _____________n/a____________d ____________d Mermaid (8) ___________v ____________n/a____________d ! Nomad (6) _____________v ____________v !____________n/a Comments The troll is not as good as the table shows, but because of its ability to regenerate, and because of the small number of creatures fighting they managed to defeat most of the others. Interesting are the guys that could beat the trolls, despite their advantage (pikemen, white tigers, medusas, and also the gold golems - they were almost victorious). The strongest units are the pikemen, the white tigers and the gold golems. Medusas are also good, but without their stone gaze ability they wouldn't be much. The elves are better in real battle (this generally goes for almost all of the ranged attack creatures). A pleasant surprise: mummies. What disappointed me: gargoyles, ghosts, cerberi, satyrs, mages (big disappointment). Level III creatures Monk (6) Crusader (5) Monk (6) ____________n/a___________v Crusader (5) ________d ___________n/a Naga (4) ____________d ___________d Genie (6) ___________d ___________d Griffin (4) _________d ___________v Unicorn (5) _________d ___________d Waspwort (6) ________d ___________d ! Earth Elem. (6) _____v ___________v Fire Elem. (6) ______v ___________v Air Elem. (6) _______v ___________v Water Elem. (6) _____v ___________v ! Nightmare (4) _______d ___________d Efreet (4) __________d ___________d Vampire (3) _________d ___________v Venom Spawn (3) _____v !___________v Ice Demon (4) _______v ___________v Cyclops (3) _________d ___________v Ogre (6) ____________v ___________e Naga (4) Genie (6) Monk (6) ____________v __________v Crusader (5) ________v __________v Naga (4) ____________n/a__________v Genie (6) ___________d __________v Griffin (4) _________v __________v Unicorn (5) _________v __________v Waspwort (6) ________v __________v Earth Elem. (6) _____v __________v Fire Elem. (6) ______v __________v Air Elem. (6) _______v __________v Water Elem. (6) _____v __________v Nightmare (4) _______v __________v Efreet (4) __________v __________v Vampire (3) _________d __________v Venom Spawn (3) _____d __________v Ice Demon (4) _______v __________v Cyclops (3) _________v __________v Ogre (6) ____________v __________v Griffin (4) Unicorn (5) Waspwort (6) Monk (6) ____________v _____________v _____________v Crusader (5) ________d _____________v _____________v ! Naga (4) ____________d _____________d _____________d Genie (6) ___________d _____________d _____________d Griffin (4) _________n/a_____________v _____________d Unicorn (5) _________d _____________n/a_____________d Waspwort (6) ________v _____________v _____________n/a Earth Elem. (6) _____v _____________v _____________v Fire Elem. (6) ______v _____________v _____________v Air Elem. (6) _______v _____________v _____________v Water Elem. (6) _____v _____________v _____________v Nightmare (4) _______d _____________v _____________d Efreet (4) __________d _____________e _____________d ! Vampire (3) _________d _____________d _____________d Venom Spawn (3) _____d _____________d !_____________d Ice Demon (4) _______d _____________d _____________v Cyclops (3) _________v _____________v _____________v Ogre (6) ____________d _____________d _____________v Earth Elem. (6) Fire Elem (6) Air Elem (6) Water Elem (6) Monk (6) ___________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Crusader (5) _______d ______________d ____________d ______________d ! Naga (4) ___________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Genie (6) __________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Griffin (4) ________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Unicorn (5) ________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Waspwort (6) _______d ______________d ____________d ______________v Earth Elem. (6) ____n/a______________v ____________d ______________v Fire Elem. (6) _____d ______________n/a____________v ______________v Air Elem. (6) ______v ______________d ____________n/a______________v Water Elem. (6) ____d ______________d ____________d ______________n/a Nightmare (4) ______d ______________d ____________d ______________d Efreet (4) _________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Vampire (3) ________d ______________d ____________d ______________d Venom Spawn (3) ____d ______________d ____________d ______________d Ice Demon (4) ______d ______________d ____________d ______________d Cyclops (3) ________d ______________d ____________d ______________v Ogre (6) ___________d ______________d ____________d ______________v Nightmare (4) Efreet (4) Monk (6) _____________v _____________v Crusader (5) _________v _____________v Naga (4) _____________d _____________d Genie (6) ____________d _____________d Griffin (4) __________v _____________v Unicorn (5) __________d _____________e Waspwort (6) _________v _____________v ! Earth Elem. (6) ______v _____________v Fire Elem. (6) _______v _____________v Air Elem. (6) ________v _____________v Water Elem. (6) ______v _____________v Nightmare (4) ________n/a_____________d ! Efreet (4) ___________v !_____________n/a Vampire (3) __________d _____________d Venom Spawn (3) ______v _____________v ! Ice Demon (4) ________d _____________d Cyclops (3) __________v _____________v Ogre (6) _____________v !_____________d Vampire (3) Venom Spawn (3) Ice Demon (4) Monk (6) ____________v ______________d !_______________d Crusader (5) ________d ______________d _______________d Naga (4) ____________v ______________v _______________d Genie (6) ___________d ______________d _______________d Griffin (4) _________v ______________v _______________v Unicorn (5) _________v ______________v !_______________v Waspwort (6) ________v ______________v _______________d Earth Elem. (6) _____v ______________v _______________v Fire Elem. (6) ______v ______________v _______________v Air Elem. (6) _______v ______________v _______________v Water Elem. (6) _____v ______________v _______________v Nightmare (4) _______v ______________d _______________v Efreet (4) __________v ______________d !_______________v Vampire (3) _________n/a______________d _______________d Venom Spawn (3) _____v ______________n/a_______________d Ice Demon (4) _______v ______________v _______________n/a Cyclops (3) _________v ______________v _______________v Ogre (6) ____________v ______________v _______________v Cyclops (3) Ogre (6) Monk (6) ____________v ___________d Crusader (5) ________d ___________e Naga (4) ____________d ___________d Genie (6) ___________d ___________d Griffin (4) _________d ___________v Unicorn (5) _________d ___________v Waspwort (6) ________d ___________d Earth Elem. (6) _____v ___________v Fire Elem. (6) ______v ___________v Air Elem. (6) _______v ___________v Water Elem. (6) _____d ___________d Nightmare (4) _______d ___________d ! Efreet (4) __________d ___________v Vampire (3) _________d ___________d Venom Spawn (3) _____d ___________d Ice Demon (4) _______d ___________d Cyclops (3) _________n/a___________e Ogre (6) ____________e ___________n/a Comments First of all, the Cyclops battles do not show their true power, as they are indeed extremely powerful. But in these battles they couldn't use their area attack and they couldn't use much of their ranged attack either, because the other creatures would usually get near them in two turns and they are really weak at close combat. In a real battle, it wouldn't be so easy to get near them. The elementals have really let me down, I would have expected more from them. Also, the ogres are not what they used to be in Heroes 3, and I had hoped that griffins were a bit stronger What really surprised me were the genies and the unicorns. I knew the genies were good, but I didn't realize they were this good (they defeated everything else). However, I think the best 3rd level creature is the Vampire. Despite the fact that they lost to the genies (it was 6 against 3), in a real game, they ability to drain life and resurrect is incomparable and makes them a must have in your army, even if you are not playing with Necropolis. So if you can get them, do it. Not to mention that Grandmaster Necromancy gives you vampires. Genies are weaker and tend to die faster in battles, that is why they come in a relatively large number (6/week). But if you manage to defend them properly, to the middle of a game you will have a powerful army. The vampires also lost to the Crusaders (again, they were outnumbered 5 to 3), but the Crusaders have Death Ward and that gives them an excuse. The Efreet has an improved version of their Fire Shield, and I fell for this the first time I encountered them. I attacked them with my hero, which was pretty powerful and I was used to the old Fire Shield, which was nothing to fear. My hero didn't take much melee damage from the Efreeti, but the Shield killed him. There are two new units which are rather strong, the Venom Spawn and the Ice Demon. Well, that's about it with the 3rd level, let's get to the big guys. Level IV Creatures Champion (4) Angel (2) Champion (4) ____________n/a____________v Angel (2) _______________d ____________n/a Dragon Golem (2) ________v ____________v Titan (2) _______________d ____________v Faerie Dragon (2) _______d ____________d Mantis (2) ______________d ____________d Phoenix (2) _____________d ____________d Hydra (2) _______________v ____________v Black Dragon (1) ________d ____________d Bone Dragon (2) _________d ____________d Devil (2) _______________d ____________v Behemoth (2) ____________d ____________d Sea Monster (2) _________d ____________d Thunderbird (3) _________d ____________d Dragon Golem (2) Titan (2) Champion (4) _____________d _______________v Angel (2) ________________d _______________d Dragon Golem (2) _________n/a_______________v Titan (2) ________________d _______________n/a Faerie Dragon (2) ________d _______________d Mantis (2) _______________d _______________d Phoenix (2) ______________d _______________d Hydra (2) ________________d _______________v Black Dragon (1) _________d _______________d Bone Dragon (2) __________d _______________d Devil (2) ________________v _______________d Behemoth (2) _____________d _______________d Sea Monster (2) __________d _______________d Thunderbird (3) __________d _______________d Faerie Dragon (2) Mantis (2) Phoenix (2) Champion (4) _____________v ________________v _____________v Angel (2) ________________v ________________v _____________v Dragon Golem (2) _________v ________________v _____________v Titan (2) ________________v ________________v _____________v Faerie Dragon (2) ________n/a________________d _____________d Mantis (2) _______________v ________________n/a_____________d Phoenix (2) ______________v ________________v _____________n/a Hydra (2) ________________v ________________v _____________d Black Dragon (1) _________d ________________v !_____________v Bone Dragon (2) __________v ________________d _____________d Devil (2) ________________v ________________v _____________e Behemoth (2) _____________v ________________v _____________d Sea Monster (2) __________v ________________d _____________d Thunderbird (3) __________v ________________d _____________d Hydra (2) Black Dragon (1) Champion (4) ___________d _____________v Angel (2) _____________d _____________v Dragon Golem (2) _______v _____________v Titan (2) ______________d _____________v Faerie Dragon (2) ______d _____________v Mantis (2) _____________d _____________d ! Phoenix (2) ____________v _____________d Hydra (2) ______________n/a_____________v Black Dragon (1) _______d _____________v Bone Dragon (2) ________d _____________v Devil (2) ______________d _____________v Behemoth (2) ___________d _____________d ! Sea Monster (2) ________d _____________v Thunderbird (3) ________d _____________v Bone Dragon (2) Devil (2) Champion (4) ____________v ________________v Angel (2) _______________v ________________d Dragon Golem (2) ________v ________________d Titan (2) _______________v ________________v Faerie Dragon (2) _______d ________________d Mantis (2) ______________v ________________d Phoenix (2) _____________v ________________e Hydra (2) _______________v ________________d Black Dragon (1) ________d ________________d Bone Dragon (2) _________n/a________________d Devil (2) _______________v ________________n/a Behemoth (2) ____________v ________________d Sea Monster (2) _________v ________________v Thunderbird (3) _________v ________________d Behemoth (2) Sea Monster (2) Thunderbird (3) Champion (4) ___________v _____________v ___________________v Angel (2) ______________v _____________v ___________________v Dragon Golem (2) _______v _____________v ___________________v Titan (2) ______________v _____________v ___________________v Faerie Dragon (2) ______d _____________d ___________________d Mantis (2) _____________d _____________v ___________________v Phoenix (2) ____________v _____________v ___________________v Hydra (2) ______________v _____________v ___________________v Black Dragon (1) _______v !_____________d ___________________d Bone Dragon (2) ________d _____________d ___________________d Devil (2) ______________v _____________d ___________________v Behemoth (2) ___________n/a_____________v ___________________v Sea Monster (2) ________d _____________n/a___________________v Thunderbird (3) ________d _____________d ___________________n/a Comments In my opinion, the Black Dragon is the most powerful creature in the game. One of them loses against the Mantis, the Phoenix and the Behemoth, but if you have more... If you've completed the Chaos campaign, you know what I mean. The weakest are the Champions, I think, despite their growth (4/week) they die too quick. The Angel and Titan are not what they used to be (however I noticed that the Titan does very well in a real game - probably because it is harder to get to them). The new Dragon Golem has some pretty nice stats and is not so bad in the game but compared to the others... In other words, there is no reason why you shouldn't make titans instead (they have no melee penalty), except they are cheaper. The Devil is another disappointment, as now the enemy can retaliate and it isn't very strong. However, it is the only unit that can move right away to any point on the battlefield (it has the highest movement). They can also summon ice demons, which are tough, but this ability is useless unless you have a big number of devils, and personally, I prefer the Bone Dragons. The Behemoth is, once again, very strong and Thunderbirds, if they get the chance to use their thunderbolt, are also quite useful. The Bone Dragon has improved dramatically from what it was in Heroes 3 (if you cast Vampiric Touch on them they are almost invincible). There are also Sea Monsters and Mantises, which you cannot recruit in towns, but their not bad at all. The Sea Monsters have an interesting ability, they can swallow one unit. You'd say this is nothing, but in the final mission in the Chaos campaign I had to defeat around 50 of them and all I had were my 2 heroes, and it was pretty damn annoying when they were swallowing them. Well, I'm about done with this, please send me any comments and suggestions to kthan@xnet.ro or thanathos@rdslink.ro This guide is Copyright 2002 - Butnariu Catalin. If you want to copy, edit, modify, post it or anything else, just let me know first. 1