Stronghold Units

The stronghold is a town with powerful creatures. This town lacks a really good ranged unit until the cyclops, but you can climb up the tech tree quickly and gain some powerful units very fast. These creature dwellings are expensive, though. Most of the creatures here have brutal attacks but are weak in defense. So if you use these creatures, strike first and fast.

Goblin/Hobgoblin
Attack: 4/5
Defense: 2/3
Hit Points: 5/5
Damage: 1-12/1-2
Speed: 5/7
Movement: ground
Cost: 40/50
Special Abilities: None/None

The goblin is a weak little creature but it can be recruited in great numbers and has decent attack strength when coupled with the barbarian's high attack skill. For their cost, they are actually somewhat effective in large numbers, although they aren't ever the equal of centaurs, pikemen, troglodytes, or gnolls. They are never durable, whether upgraded or not.

Upgrade your goblins to hobgoblins and they gain a pretty good speed boost that makes them second to the centaur captain in terms of first-level speed. However, they still fall easily to ranged attackers and higher level troops.

This upgrade isn't vital, but you need the upgraded goblin barracks before you can upgrade your wolf riders, which is an essential upgrade.

Wolf Rider/Wolf Raider
Attack: 7/8
Defense: 5/5
Hit Points: 10/10
Damage: 2-4/3-4
Speed: 6/8
Movement: ground
Cost: 100/140
Special Abilities: None/Strikes twice

Like so many other stronghold creatures, the wolf rider has good attack but weak defense. The hit points for the wolf rider are laughably low for its level and because it always charges into the thick of battle, you will always have high wolf rider casualties. But, this unit is designed for quick strikes, with little consideration to the deaths that will inevitably result. While the wolf rider is a fairly good unit, the upgraded wolf raider is much more effective. This should be your first stronghold upgrade, as the wolf raider gains a higher attack, speed, and two attacks.

While not as fast as the obsidian gargoyle or harpy hag, the wolf raider does have good speed and can strike with lethal results. If Heroes III has a shock troop, this is it. The two strikes allow it to effectively double its damage, and the higher minimum damage ensures that the attack delivers a scathing blow. However, often times, if you are attacking a large stack of units, you might not be able to deliver the second attack because the wolf raider's hit points are so low. Increase their defense with stone skin and shield. Although you should definitely upgrade and use these creatures, don't expect many to survive your battles. These creatures seem ideal for engaging ranged units but are particularly vulnerable to attacks from marksmen, magogs, and grand elves.

Stronghold units, continued