Charnel Mission 7 Mission Title: Helios, the capital of Pyroborea and primary weapon testing grounds for Pyro Objective 1:Defeat Buta Objective 2: Defeat Sorcha Mission Attributes: None New Units: Styx New Spells: Plague You're ordered to face Pyro and his wizards once and for all - unfortunately, Pyro has a surprise in store, a new superweapon called magnafryer - in fact, there are three of them. You're offered two new excellent Charnel delights - the styx, with its ranged weapon and potentially devastating special ability rend soul; and plague, a long-lasting spell that inflicts disease on a group of enemy units. The mission opens with Faestus, who turned sides in the conflict once before - and he has apparently done so once again. The magnafryer is powerful. Use a large number of low-level units to destroy the structures. Faestus comes with information about the magnafryer. He instructs that the device is vulnerable against its base. Though the fryer can fire its weapon at a long distance, it can't fire straight down to hit attackers at its base. He suggests using a group of low-level creatures against the fryer's base to take down the superweapon. Though his suggestion is valid, the three fryers are so close together that a second fryer can get shots in against your base-attacking units. The fryer doesn't come into play during the first part of the mission - if you start inching close, back off and prepare your offense. There are two mana fountains nearby. Construct a manalith on the first fountain, then proceed to the next. Stand your ground here. Use souls to produce additional styx and convert available units into guardians. You'll have much more success in conducting a defense with guardians than you would if you simply produced these units and pushed against the Buta or Sorcha attack. Monitor your guardians during the battle and keep them healed. Should one die, retrieve the blue soul and replace the unit as soon as possible. When enemy groups approach, use plague or wailing wall (if you have the spell) to weaken them or, in the case of wailing wall, remove their mana. Quickly convert the red souls; use guardians to target the enemy wizard in an attempt to ensure you collect at least some of the enemy souls. Keep holding this position against subsequent attacks from Buta and Sorcha. With your guardians in place, summon additional units and place them in a mobile, offensive preset (in other words, don't guardian any additional creatures). Still maintain your position near your guardians, but simply use red souls for mobile units. Continue to defend, kill enemy units, convert red souls, and build your offense until you have a powerful preset group, which could hold off a Buta or Sorcha attack without the need of guardians. Start roaming, though not close to the magnafryer just yet, and seek out enemy manaliths. Destroy and replace undefended enemy manaliths first. When you encounter a defended enemy manalith, expect to be opposed by long-range weaponry. Counter with air units or your own long-range weaponry and assist with a plague spell. Convert dead souls and replace the manalith. You can deal with Sorcha's altar (northeast of your start position) before crossing close to the magnafryer. Defeat her defenses and desecrate her altar. She will flee to Buta's altar (beyond the fryers) and stand ground with Buta's heavy defenses. Clear out Sorcha's nearby manaliths and consider replacing them with a shrine for quicker enemy soul conversion (sac-doctors will go here instead of back to your altar). The magnafryer rests at the choke point between your altar's side and Buta's side. If you hug the right-hand cliff toward Buta's altar, you'll need to destroy only two magnafryers - the middle and the right-hand one. The fryer isn't especially tough, but it's difficult to get units close. You can employ Faestus' suggestion of low-level units (going for quantity over quality) or just send in your group of powerful units (a group of high-level, fast-moving air units can be effective). Either way, expect many to die. Retrieve their souls and replace them as soon as possible. Keep your wizard healed, because the fryer will shoot you. Back off after the first fryer tower is down. Replace your force and attack the second. With two out of the way, you can safely pass on the right-hand cliff. Organize your forces for the final attack against Buta. He has many defenses, so let him come to you. Weaken his force with plague or strip its mana with wailing wall. Try to banish him quickly, then move against his units. With Buta gone temporarily, you can steal his souls - meaning less units for him and more for you! Push against Buta and knock out Sorcha if she attacks (which forces her off the map). Desecrate Buta's altar and destroy the wizard to complete the task. Buta's heavy defenses require slow, careful execution of your offense. Don't be too aggressive; and use your wizard's spell to weaken enemy forces before you engage.   « Previous Page Charnel Missions (cont.) »