BETA Patch: Balance Update — New Damage Formula, Smarter AI & New Creatures

Greetings, Heroes!

The Unfrozen team is currently preparing the biggest balance update since the game entered Early Access. We plan to change the formula for calculating damage from Attack and Defense, rework skills, artifacts, and alternative upgrades of creatures across all factions, make the AI on the Global Map noticeably stronger, and add two new units to the game.

🗺️ What about PvE? In case you missed our previous patch, here’s a quick reminder: we recently added Alliances, so you can team up with friends against both the AI and other players, and a fully random map generator built primarily with PvE in mind. Before that, we added the “Broken Alliance” map and the “Prisoners” scenario. We’re now hard at work on new story maps and single-player adventures, and announcements are coming soon. And the much smarter AI opponent in this update should especially please PvE fans — games against the computer are about to get a lot more interesting!

The list of changes in the upcoming patch is quite extensive, so, as we promised, we would like to test it in a beta version first and get your feedback. That is why the update is first being released on a public beta branch.

⚠️ Important: none of the changes in the beta are final. Based on the test results and your feedback, we may adjust or revert them. At the same time, the beta is not a vote: we are looking for issues, balance problems, and unexpected interactions that we have not noticed ourselves.

The beta test is expected to last several weeks. If new beta builds are released during the test, we will describe each of them in a separate post with a numbered list of changes.

The full version of this patch will be released once testing is complete; we will announce the exact release date later, based on the test results.

We would be very grateful for your participation in the beta test.

How to join the beta

1. Open Steam and right-click Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era in your library.
2. Select "Properties" → "Game Versions & Betas".
3. In the "Game Versions & Betas" section, select the public-test-branch branch.
4. Wait for Steam to download the update and launch the game as usual.
5. In some cases, you’ll need to restart the Steam application for the Beta branch to appear.

How to return to the main version: in the same "Game Versions & Betas" tab, select "Default Public Version".

Saves: beta saves are stored in the saves_beta and campSaving_beta folders.

Please note:

• When you switch to the beta, your save list will be empty. This is normal: your saves are still there and will reappear once you switch back to the main version.
• Cloud saves are disabled in the beta.
• Beta saves will not be visible in the main version of the game.

Multiplayer: to play together, all players must be using the same game version. Beta players will play on a separate server with other beta players.

What to pay attention to

Specific feedback matters most to us, rather than just an overall “like” or “dislike.” Please tell us:

• How the new damage formula feels in the late game and whether strong creatures remain strong;
• Which creatures or alternative upgrades feel too strong or useless;
• Which new combinations of skills, prayers, or artifacts turned out to be unexpectedly strong;
• How the AI behaves on the Global Map in your random games;
• Which bugs appeared with the rework.

If possible, describe the situation: faction, template, game stage, army composition.

Where to send feedback

• 🐛 Bugs: the best way to report a bug is to press the F1 button in the game. This way our QA team will directly receive complete information about what happened, and we will be able to investigate the issue in detail.
• 💬 Beta feedback: the #beta-feedback channel on our Discord and the subforum on the Steam forums.

Please leave your beta feedback there specifically so we don’t confuse it with reports about the main version. Thank you!

Known issues

• Some spells may be missing icons or effects. These are being worked on.

Changelog

v.0.82.02 BETA

Updated AI Behavior on the Global Map

New AI capabilities:

• AI main heroes can now flee from battle if they realize that winning would be extremely difficult, and for some time after fleeing they follow a special strategy to get back into the game as effectively as possible.
• The AI now learns spells of high Global Map Magic in the Magic Observatory.
• AI heroes have learned to use the most popular and useful Global Map Spells to move around the map.
• The AI now distributes resources better to effectively develop towns, hire armies, etc.
• AI heroes have learned to equip artifacts more effectively, taking into account set items, skills, army composition, etc.
• AI heroes have learned to pick only skills that suit their current role.

In addition to these new features, we have extensively tuned the AI’s general behavior so that it makes better strategic and local decisions. We plan to tell you more about this in future news when the update is released for the main version of the game.

New Neutral Creatures

Balance

This update brings a number of major changes that will significantly affect gameplay. With these changes, we pursued two goals: to reduce the creature stats that grew too much in the late game, which hurt the gameplay experience, and to bring more variety to the upgraded versions of creatures, making them more distinct from each other. These are fairly complex tasks: some of them were solved with targeted adjustments, others with a series of diverse changes.

In addition, we have worked on the formula for creatures’ Attack and Defense, namely how they affect the damage dealt. You can read about the reasons and goals of these changes below.

Please note: none of the changes presented in the open test are final. They may be adjusted, reverted, etc. depending on your feedback and the data collected during the test.

Adjusting the General Damage Formula Based on Creature Attack and Defense

The current damage multiplier formula based on creature stats:

Multiplier = (20 + ATK) / (20 + DEF), where ATK is the attacker’s Attack and DEF is the defender’s Defense.

It was originally introduced for two reasons: to keep low-tier creatures relevant in the late game and to cover both cases with a single formula — both when ATK is higher than DEF and vice versa.

However, several gameplay issues have emerged that we believe need to be addressed:

• As heroes have so many stats, creatures’ base stats become insignificant in the later stages — the outcome of a battle is determined by stack size and damage rather than by Attack and Defense.
• As a consequence of the first point, high-tier creatures lost their power as the game progressed and no longer looked like a formidable force compared to their "younger" brethren.
• Artifacts that increase combat stats had little impact on gameplay.
• Most importantly: as the total sum of stats grew, their effective power decreased. This confused players and made it harder for them to understand what was happening in battle and assess the situation.

Let’s look at the last problem with an example. Consider a Troglodyte (Attack 2, Defense 3) fighting a Waurms (Attack 20, Defense 20). Let’s see how much +1 Attack matters at different stages of the game.

Early stage, heroes’ Attack and Defense = 0:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • (20 + 2) / (20 + 20) = 0.550, then with +1 Attack:
  • (20 + 3) / (20 + 20) = 0.575. Increase: +4.5%.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • (20 + 20) / (20 + 3) = 1.739, then with +1 Attack:
  • (20 + 21) / (20 + 3) = 1.783. Increase: +2.5%.

Late stage, heroes’ Attack and Defense = 80:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • (80 + 20 + 2) / (80 + 20 + 20) = 0.8500, then with +1 Attack:
  • (80 + 20 + 3) / (80 + 20 + 20) = 0.8583. Increase: +0.98%.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • (80 + 20 + 20) / (80 + 20 + 3) = 1.1650, then with +1 Attack:
  • (80 + 20 + 21) / (80 + 20 + 3) = 1.1748. Increase: +0.83%.

The same +1 Attack increases damage by 4.5% and 2.5% at the start of the game, but by less than one percent at the end. The value of stats decreases as the game progresses.

Let’s look at the second point with an example. 1000 Troglodytes against 75 Waurmos (roughly equivalent to one week’s growth for each). A Troglodyte deals an average of 2 damage, while a Waurm deals 22.5. For simplicity, we only take into account the Attack/Defense multiplier, without other modifiers.

Early stage, heroes’ Attack and Defense = 0:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • Coefficient: (20 + 2) / (20 + 20) = 0.550
  • 0.550 × 1000 × 2 = 1100 damage.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • Coefficient: (20 + 20) / (20 + 3) = 1.739
  • 1.739 × 75 × 22.5 = 2935 damage.
• Waurmos deal 2.67 times more damage.

Middle stage, heroes’ Attack and Defense = 20:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • Coefficient: (20 + 20 + 2) / (20 + 20 + 20) = 0.700
  • 0.700 × 1000 × 2 = 1400 damage.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • Coefficient: (20 + 20 + 20) / (20 + 20 + 3) = 1.395
  • 1.395 × 75 × 22.5 = 2355 damage.
• Waurmos deal 1.68 times more damage.

Late stage, heroes’ Attack and Defense = 60:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • Coefficient: (60 + 20 + 2) / (60 + 20 + 20) = 0.820
  • 0.820 × 1000 × 2 = 1640 damage.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • Coefficient: (60 + 20 + 20) / (60 + 20 + 3) = 1.205
  • 1.205 × 75 × 22.5 = 2033 damage.
• Waurmos deal 1.24 times more damage.

The further the game goes, the weaker high-tier creatures become relative to low-tier ones. Building around strong stacks becomes unprofitable, and with small changes to base values (for example, +1 damage for both from the "Drum of War" artifact), a high-tier stack may even start dealing less damage than a low-tier one in the late game, although it dealt more in the early game.

What we are changing. The new formula is based on the difference between the attacker’s Attack and the defender’s Defense, rather than their absolute values. Let’s call it Delta = ATK − DEF.

The multiplier increases with the difference, but each subsequent point gives slightly less than the previous one: the first point of difference gives +4.00%, the second +3.96%, the third +3.92%, and so on, decreasing by 0.04% per point down to zero. Once the difference reaches 100, further increases in Attack or Defense no longer affect damage.

Essentially, the formula calculates the sum of an arithmetic progression. We’ll leave it behind the scenes, though, so we don’t scare you off with overly complex formulas.

• If ATK > DEF, damage is multiplied by (1 + Coefficient).
• If DEF > ATK, damage is divided by (1 + Coefficient).

Let’s recalculate both examples using the new formula.

Key property: the result depends only on the Delta difference, not on the heroes’ stats.

• Troglodyte attacks Waurms: Delta = 2 − 20 = −18 (Defense is higher, so we divide).
• Waurms attacks Troglodyte: Delta = 20 − 3 = 17 (Attack is higher, so we multiply).
• These differences do not change as the hero levels up, since the hero’s bonus is added equally to both creatures.
• Coefficient for Delta = 17: we add up the increases of the first 17 points (4.00% + 3.96% + …) = 62.56%. Coefficient for Delta = 18: the same plus the 18th point (3.32%) = 65.88%.

First example:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • Coefficient: 1.6588
  • 1.00 / 1.6588 = 0.6028.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • Coefficient: 1.6256
  • 1.00 × 1.6256 = 1.6256.

The value of +1 Attack is now the same at any stage of the game:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms:
  • Was 0.6028, with +1 Attack → 0.6152. Increase: +2.06%.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte:
  • Was 1.6256, with +1 Attack → 1.6588. Increase: +2.04%.

Neither the heroes’ stats nor the stage of the game affect this anymore.

Second example:

• Troglodyte hits Waurms: 0.6028 × 1000 × 2 = 1206 damage.
• Waurms hits Troglodyte: 1.6256 × 75 × 22.5 = 2743 damage.
• Waurmos deal 2.28 times more damage — and this ratio now stays constant throughout the game.

Summary of changes:

• One stat point gives the same effect regardless of the total number of stats.
• The damage ratio between stacks does not change over the course of the game, so high-tier creatures remain effective at any stage.
• Artifacts and stat bonuses feel equally strong from the beginning to the end of a match.
• Low-tier creatures have become slightly stronger in the early game, but will no longer grow as much in power by the late game.

Protection Against Excessively Lucky or Unlucky Streaks of Morale and Luck Effects

A mechanism has been added to the game that protects players from excessively long streaks of lucky or unlucky random events related to Morale and Luck. The probability of these effects triggering will now better match players’ expectations. Situations where your stacks with 5 Morale do not perform a single bonus action, while an enemy’s stack with 1 Morale triggers this effect almost every turn, will become practically impossible.

Combat Interface Update

We have updated the combat interface and implemented the following features:

• Updated visuals: game elements have become more convenient.
• Improved indication on the initiative bar — stack features are now easier to read.
• Heroes’ faction active skills have been moved to separate skill panels, which frees up space on the regular hero ability panel.
• Added the "Favorite Spells" feature: you can mark 3 favorite combat spells in the spellbook to cast them quickly.

Skills

In this section, you will find changes to hero skills: the long-awaited rework of the Temple faction skill, a new skill, and adjustments to other abilities. As part of these changes, we tried to find more suitable places for some subskills to open up new gameplay opportunities for players.

Righteousness

The original concept of the Temple faction focused on two aspects: positive effects and the hero’s base stats. In this update, we are pursuing a policy of reducing creature stats in battle, so when reworking the faction skill, we decided to move away from a strong focus on one of these aspects — the hero’s stats. The new version of the faction skill is no longer tied to creatures dying in battle or to a significant increase in the hero’s stats, but it gives players new tactical opportunities.

The skill has been completely reworked:

• The new skill allows the hero to use one of three prayers in battle: "Song of Wrath", "Plea for Healing", or "Hymn of Power". After activating a prayer, the hero maintains its effect until the end of the battle or until they use any other prayer.
• The active prayer empowers stacks whose turn comes while it is being maintained. The empowerment lasts until the turn passes to another stack.
• "Song of Wrath": attacks of a stack under the prayer’s effect deal additional Pure Damage.
• "Plea for Healing": when a stack under the prayer’s effect takes damage, it restores a certain amount of health. It can resurrect fallen creatures.
• "Hymn of Power": when a stack under the prayer’s effect uses abilities, the duration of all positive effects applied to it is extended.
• The effectiveness of all prayers depends on the hero’s level.
• In addition to the main skill, all of its subskills have been reworked and adjusted:
  • "Fields of Serenity": friendly Temple creatures deal +10% and take −10% damage on their native terrain.
  • "Secret of Mana": after using any prayer, until the end of the round, allied stacks restore 1 temporary mana to the hero when their turn comes.
  • "Piety": the hero gains +10% experience.
  • "Requiem": each time a creature dies, all of the hero’s stats increase by 1 until the end of the round.
  • "Care for Others": the effect of the prayer in use immediately triggers on the current allied creature.
  • "Contemplation": using prayers does not require Focus Charges.

Summon Swarm

• "Hive Power" subskill:
  • Before: the hero gains +1 Luck and Morale.
  • After: the cost and cooldown of the "Premature Emergence" ability are reduced by 1.
  • The subskill has been moved to Tier 2.
• The "Ravage" subskill has been moved to Tier 3.

Luck

• "Always Heads" subskill: the bonus to gold found on the Global Map (including when receiving rewards for capturing objects) has been reduced: 25% → 10%.

Insight

• The "Enlightenment" subskill has been replaced with the new "Understanding the Ephemeral" subskill:
  • Before: the hero gains another +10% experience.
  • After: the hero and friendly creatures deal +50% damage to summoned creatures.

Sorcery

• Magic damage bonus reduced: 20/30/40% → 20/25/30%.
• The "Piercing Spells" subskill has been replaced with the new "Protective Sorcery" subskill:
  • Before: spells ignore 25% of the target’s magic resistance.
  • After: reduces damage dealt by Heroic Strike to friendly creatures by 20%. The bonus is doubled if the hero has "First Aid".
• The "Summoning Sorcery" subskill has been moved to Tier 3.
• "Sticky Magic" subskill:
  • Bonus to the duration of applied effects reduced: 2 → 1.
  • The subskill has been moved to Tier 2.

Battle Magic

As part of our general policy of reducing creatures’ base stats in the late game, we are significantly reworking "Battle Magic". Currently, this skill simply gives the army base power regardless of any other factors. It is actively used by both might and magic heroes, which contradicts the original design, according to which the skill should strengthen the combat potential of magic heroes. We understand that this change effectively weakens the skill, so we will closely monitor its performance; for now, we are carrying out a major revision of all subskills available to players when upgrading it.

Major rework of the skill:

• The skill now not only increases creatures’ Attack and Defense based on the hero’s Spell Power and Knowledge, but also reduces the influence of the hero’s Attack and Defense on the corresponding creature stats. Here is how it works. Under normal conditions, creatures receive an Attack bonus equal to 100% of the hero’s Attack and 0% of their Spell Power. With the max level of "Battle Magic", creatures will receive Attack equal to 60% of the hero’s Attack and 40% of their Spell Power.
• Bonus to creature stats (and, accordingly, the added penalty) increased: 15/20/25% → 20/30/40%.
• The "Aura of Destruction" subskill has been replaced with the new "Piercing Spells" subskill:
  • Before: after each spell cast in battle, the hero gains +1 Attack until the end of the battle.
  • After: spells ignore 25% of the target’s magic resistance.
• The "Aura of Protection" subskill has been replaced with the new "Mana Return" subskill:
  • Before: after each spell cast in battle, the hero gains +1 Defense until the end of the battle.
  • After: after each spell cast in battle, the hero gains +2 temporary mana.
• The "Aura of Wizardry" subskill has been reworked:
  • Before: after each spell cast in battle, the hero gains +1 Spell Power until the end of the battle.
  • After: after each spell cast in battle, the hero gains +1 Spell Power and Knowledge until the end of the battle.
  • The subskill has been moved to Tier 3.
• The "Battle Mage’s Authority" and "Mage Protector’s Authority" subskills remain unchanged and do not reduce the inheritance of Attack and Defense from the hero’s stats.
• The "Magic Time" subskill has been moved to Tier 2.

Resistance

• The "Fast Metabolism" subskill has been reworked:
  • Before: negative effects applied to friendly creatures last fewer rounds: −1.
  • After: negative effects applied to friendly creatures cannot last longer than 2 rounds.
  • The subskill has been moved to Tier 3.
• The "Time Shift" subskill has been moved to Tier 2.

Battlecraft

• Stat bonus when waiting or skipping a turn in battle reduced: 20/30/40% → 10/15/20%.
• The "Melee Mastery" subskill has been replaced with the new "At the ready" subskill:
  • Before: friendly creatures deal +10% and take −10% damage in melee.
  • After: when waiting in battle, a friendly stack gains +1 Speed until the end of the round.
  • The subskill is placed in Tier 3.
• The "Long Reach Mastery" subskill has been replaced with the new "Fortifying" subskill:
  • Before: friendly creatures deal +10% and take −10% damage from ranged attacks and at range.
  • After: when skipping a turn, a friendly stack additionally gains +20% Defense.
• The "Manacraft" subskill has been moved to Tier 2.

Summon Avatar

• The "Summon Destruction" subskill has been replaced with the new "Parasitic Summon" subskill:
  • Before: the hero and friendly creatures deal +50% damage to summoned creatures.
  • After: the summoned avatar restores 3 temporary mana to the hero when dealing or taking damage.

First Aid

A new skill available to all heroes and factions.

• Base effect: after winning a battle, surviving stacks in the hero’s army restore 20/30/40% of the creatures lost during the battle.
• Subskills:
  • "Return to Service": additionally restores 10% of the creatures lost during the battle. The bonus is doubled if the hero has "Recruitment".
  • "Healthy Decoctions": friendly creatures gain +2 Health.
  • "Antidotes": new ability — removes all negative effects from the target.
  • "Thrill of Battle": each time a friendly stack kills an enemy, it fully restores its health. Does not resurrect fallen creatures.
  • "Adrenaline": whenever a stack takes damage but survives, it deals +10% and takes −10% damage until the end of the next round.
  • "Ammonia": new ability — once per battle, allows resurrecting a fallen friendly stack, partially restoring its size relative to its size at the start of the battle.
• The following heroes have received this skill as a starting skill: Julius, Leira, The Iron Master, Typhona.

Recruitment

• The "Strenuous Training" subskill has been reworked:
  • Before: friendly creatures gain +2 Health.
  • After: reduces the cooldown of friendly creatures’ abilities by several rounds: −1.
• The "Elite Guards" subskill has been reworked:
  • Before: friendly creatures of Tiers 1–3 gain +25% of the hero’s Attack and Defense as Attack and Defense. The bonus is doubled if the hero has "Tactics".
  • After: allows retraining friendly creatures into their alternative versions without restrictions.
• The "Mentors" subskill has been replaced with the new "Militia" subskill:
  • Before: allows upgrading friendly creatures without visiting a town if the hero’s army already contains such upgraded creatures. Such an upgrade costs more than a regular one.
  • After: at the start of battle, friendly stacks of Tiers 1–3 receive 5% temporary creatures. The bonus is doubled if the hero has "Tactics".

Artifacts

• Identical artifacts can no longer be equipped at the same time.
• New artifacts added:
  • Common main weapon "Soldier’s Sword": +1 to the hero’s Attack and Spell Power.
  • Rare ring "Alchemist’s Signet-Ring": +2 to the hero’s Attack and Spell Power.
  • Epic belt "Kergar buckle": +3 to the hero’s Attack and Spell Power.
  • Common ring "Commoner’s Ward": +1 to the hero’s Attack and Knowledge.
  • Rare belt "Battle Mage’s Belt": +2 to the hero’s Attack and Spell Power.
  • Epic off-hand weapon "Greater Djinn’s Bracers": +3 to the hero’s Attack and Spell Power.
  • Common cloak "Satchel": +1 to the hero’s Defense and Spell Power.
  • Rare off-hand weapon "Ritual Shield": +2 to the hero’s Defense and Spell Power.
  • Epic boots "Boots of Dreams": +3 to the hero’s Defense and Spell Power.
  • Common armor "Leather Armor": +1 to the hero’s Defense and Knowledge.
  • Rare boots "Enchanted Jackboots": +2 to the hero’s Defense and Knowledge.
  • Epic helmet "Archmage’s Hood": +3 to the hero’s Defense and Knowledge.
• Two new items have been added to the "Living Arrows" set:
  • Epic off-hand weapon "Elven Blade": removes the melee penalty for friendly shooters.
  • Epic item "Ripe Apple": friendly creatures deal +10% ranged damage.
  • Set bonuses are now activated when collecting 3 and 5 items instead of 2 and 3.
• A new item has been added to the "Ambassador’s Word" set:
  • Legendary cloak "Diplomat’s Robe": +10% to the hero’s Persuasion Power.
  • Set bonuses are now activated when collecting 3 items instead of 2.
  • "Ambassador’s Sash" is now a belt instead of a cloak.
• The rarity of "Orb of Destruction" has been increased from rare to epic.
  • The item is now part of the "Hero of Tales" set. This set’s bonuses are now activated when collecting 3 items instead of 2.
• The rarity of "Tactical Guide" has been increased from epic to legendary.
• The rarity of "Orb of Inhibition" has been increased from epic to legendary.
• The rarity of "Monster Head" has been increased from rare to epic.
• The rarity of "Ring of Neutrality" has been increased from rare to epic.
• The bonus to reducing the enemy hero’s Spell Power of the "Crimson Resonance Controller" artifact has been reduced: 20/30% → 10/15%.
• The "Vortex Robe" artifact now restores temporary mana to the hero instead of permanent mana.

Spells

High Neutral Magic

• "Second Wind":
  • Mana cost reduced: 17/13/13/13 → 15/11/11/11.
  • Movement Points restoration adjusted: 40/40/60/60 → 35/35/50/80.
  • Number of uses depending on spell level adjusted: 1/1/1/2 → 1/1/1/1.
• "Pocket Dimension": mana cost increased: 14/10/10/10 → 22/18/18/18.
• "Gate of Light": mana cost reduced: 28/20/20/20 → 18/10/10/10.

Factions

As part of the faction creature changes, we have also revisited the balance value of Speed, alongside adjustments related to the reworked base formula. As a result, some stacks may have received minor stat adjustments — primarily high-speed creatures. However, most of the changes are related to the rework of alternative upgrades: in all such cases, creatures have undergone major changes.

Our goal is to make sure that every creature in the game can find its place and differs from its alternative upgrades. This does not mean that we are aiming for a perfectly even split in creature popularity: the main goal is for every stack to have its own use, offer new and unique gameplay, or something else.

Please note: due to these updates, some units will be weakened. For example, if a stack gains a new passive ability, it means it has become stronger. But to maintain balance, we need to reduce its stats or take away some of its other gameplay options.

Also, as part of this update, we have addressed the balance of some laws that affect creatures, making them more balanced and better suited to the role each stack plays.

1. Temple

• Tier 1:
  • Swordsman, Guard Captain, and Sun’s Aegis: these stacks have received the new active ability "Shields Up", which grants them an effect that reduces the ranged damage they take.
  • Swordsman:
    • Attack: 4 → 3
    • Defense: 4 → 3
  • Guard Captain:
    • Attack: 6 → 5
  • Sun’s Aegis:
    • Defense: 8 → 7
• Tier 2:
  • Crossbowman:
    • Attack: 5 → 4
  • Austringer:
    • Attack: 5 → 6
    • Speed: 4 → 3
• Tier 3:
  • Griffin:
    • Damage: 5-9 → 6-8
  • Temple Griffin:
    • Attack: 8 → 7
    • Defense: 6 → 10
    • Damage: 5-9 → 6-8
  • Guardian Griffin:
    • Attack: 9 → 10
    • Defense: 10 → 6
    • Damage: 7-7 → 8-8
    • Initiative: 10 → 11
• Tier 4:
  • Lightweaver:
    • Attack: 11 → 12
    • Defense: 11 → 12
  • Hierophant:
    • Attack: 13 → 12
    • Defense: 16 → 17
  • Sun Herald:
    • Attack: 16 → 17
    • Defense: 13 → 14
    • Damage: 11-18 → 11-17
• Tier 5:
  • Cavalry:
    • Defense: 17 → 18
    • Morale: 1 → 0
  • Noble Cavalry:
    • Defense: 17 → 18
    • Damage: 12-16 → 10-14
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Inspiring", which increases the chance of positive Morale triggering for all nearby allies.
  • Sunspear Cavalry:
    • Defense: 22 → 18
    • Morale: 2 → 1
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Strike and Return", which allows the stack to return to its starting position after attacking.
• Tier 6:
  • Mother Superior:
    • Health: 125 → 120
    • Initiative: 9 → 7
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Malleus Maleficarum", which reduces the magic damage taken by all nearby allies.
  • Excommunicator:
    • Attack: 26 → 20
    • Damage: 23-33 → 29-33
• Tier 7:
  • Angel:
    • Speed: 4 → 5
• The construction cost of creature-producing buildings, as well as the number of the corresponding creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes, have undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.

Given the major update to the Temple faction skill, we are slightly revising the changes to the faction’s laws that were implemented in the previous update. As a result, the number of levels of laws that improve faction creatures has once again been reduced to two.

• All "Elite" creature laws: number of upgrade levels: 3 → 2.
• Laws "Resource Riches I", "Resource Riches II", "Resource Riches III": activation cost: 1/2/3 → 2/3/4.
• "Tax Collectors" law: activation cost: 2/2 → 3/3.
• "Architect’s Mastery" law: activation cost: 2 → 3.
• "Execute Excellence" law: removed from the list of available laws.
• "Elite Griffins" law: now increases the Attack and Defense of Griffins in the player’s army by 2 / 4 instead of the bonus to Health.
• "Training: Melee Combat" law: activation cost: 3/3 → 4/4.
• "Training: Long Reach Combat" law: activation cost: 3/3 → 4/4.
• "Elite Cavalry" law: now increases the Attack and Defense of Cavalry in the player’s army by 3 / 6 instead of the bonus to ignoring the target’s Defense. The Speed bonus remains unchanged.
• "Elite Inquisitors" law: now increases the Health of Inquisitors in the player’s army by 15 / 30 instead of the bonus to ignoring the attacker’s Attack. The Speed bonus remains unchanged.
• "Encouragement" law: activation cost: 2/2 → 3/3.
• "Hero’s Blessing" law:
  • Number of upgrade levels: 1 → 3.
  • Activation cost: 3 → 4/2/2.
• "Elite Angels" law: Angels in the player’s army now ignore 10% / 20% of the target’s Defense and the attacker’s Attack instead of inheriting the hero’s stats.
• "Sacred Protection" law: activation cost: 4 → 5.

2. Necropolis

• Tier 1:
  • Skeleton:
    • Defense: 1 → 2
  • Skeleton Warrior:
    • Defense: 3 → 2
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
  • Skeleton Archer:
    • Defense: 1 → 2
• Tier 2:
  • Base growth in towns reduced: 19 → 18. The number of creatures in heroes’ starting armies has been adjusted accordingly.
  • Wight:
    • Health: 8 → 9
  • Wraith:
    • Health: 8 → 9
    • Speed: 7 → 6
    • The stack has lost the active ability "Howl of the Banshee", which it could use to force a stack to move.
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Gates of Afterlife", which allows the stack to summon Wights on an adjacent hex.
  • Phantasm:
    • Health: 8 → 9
    • Defense: 4 → 6
    • Initiative: 6 → 7
    • Speed: 7 → 6
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Howl of the Banshee".

The visuals and narrative of the upgraded versions of Undead Pets did not quite match the role they play, so as part of the review of alternative upgrades, we adjusted their skills to fix this shortcoming.

• Tier 3:
  • Base growth in towns reduced: 14 → 13. The number of creatures in heroes’ starting armies has been adjusted accordingly.
  • Undead Pet:
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
  • Barghest:
    • Defense: 6 → 4
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Double Strike".
    • The stack has lost the active ability "Call the Pack", which it could use to create temporary stacks.
  • Armored Hound:
    • Health: 18 → 14
    • Attack: 4 → 6
    • Defense: 8 → 10
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Call the Pack".

In gameplay, Graverobbers and their upgraded versions have held a rather shaky position due to their combat stats. Instead of simply increasing the stack’s raw power, we want to further strengthen their support potential, so we are giving them a new type of passive abilities that empower certain stacks.

• Tier 4:
  • Base growth in towns reduced: 10 → 9. The number of creatures in heroes’ starting armies has been adjusted accordingly.
  • Graverobber:
    • Attack: 11 → 7
    • Defense: 10 → 8
  • Merchant of Death:
    • Attack: 11 → 7
    • Defense: 10 → 8
    • Damage: 7-10 → 9-9
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
    • The stack has lost the active ability "Ensnare Memories", which it could use to summon Wights on an adjacent hex.
    • Number of Skeletons summoned by the "Dig Up Bones" ability: 3 × stack size → 2 × stack size.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Throwing a Bone", which increases the Speed and Initiative of all allied Skeletons (and their upgraded versions).
  • Kennelmaster:
    • Attack: 14 → 7
    • Defense: 10 → 8
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Pack Leader", which increases the Speed and Initiative of all allied Undead Pets (and their upgraded versions).
• Tier 5:
  • Lich:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Defense: 12 → 13
    • Damage: 13-16 → 12-15
  • Pestilent Lich:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Defense: 12 → 13
    • Damage: 16-16 → 15-15
    • Speed: 3 → 2
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Plague Aura", which increases the duration of negative effects applied to enemy creatures.
  • Sanguine Lich:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Defense: 16 → 13
    • Damage: 13-16 → 12-15
    • Initiative: 4 → 5
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Last Spark", which destroys the target corpse and restores temporary mana to the hero.
• Tier 6:
  • Dread Knight:
    • Health: 80 → 85
    • Attack: 19 → 22
    • Damage: 12-14 → 12-16
  • Avatar of War:
    • Health: 80 → 85
    • Attack: 19 → 22
    • Defense: 20 → 18
    • Damage: 18-20 → 18-24
  • Hollow Reaper:
    • Health: 80 → 85
    • Attack: 25 → 22
    • Damage: 24-26 → 24-32
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Paralyzing Dread", which increases the chance of negative Morale triggering for all nearby enemies.
• Tier 7:
  • Vampire, Vampire Lord, Vampire Scholar: the strength of the "Vampirism" passive ability has been increased: 50% → 66.6%.
  • Vampire:
    • Attack: 22 → 26
    • Defense: 20 → 24
  • Vampire Lord:
    • Attack: 22 → 26
    • Defense: 26 → 28
  • Vampire Scholar:
    • Attack: 27 → 26
    • Defense: 20 → 24
    • Damage: 30-30 → 35-35
    • Speed: 5 → 6
• The construction cost of creature-producing buildings, as well as the number of the corresponding creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes, have undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.
• Laws "Resource Riches I", "Resource Riches II", "Resource Riches III": activation cost: 1/2/3 → 2/3/4.
• "Tax Collectors" law: number of upgrade levels: 2 → 3.
• "Bloodthirst" law: Vampirism bonus for creatures in the army: 60% → 50%.
• "Elite Dread Knights" law: max damage bonus increased: 6/6 → 8/8.
• "Free Death" law: activation cost: 3/2/2 → 4/3/3.
• "Terra Mortis" law: activation cost: 5 → 6.
• "Return to the Soil" law:
  • Number of upgrade levels: 2 → 1.
  • Activation cost: 4 → 5.
• "Death’s Presence" law:
  • Number of upgrade levels: 2 → 1.
  • Activation cost: 4 → 5.

3. Grove

The Grove faction has undergone the biggest adjustments compared to other factions. There were quite a few problems in the design of its upgraded creatures: the gameplay of many upgraded stacks was practically the same, their role was unclear, and their abilities did not fit the image and narrative of the stacks very well. In addition, due to the risky gameplay in the early stages, when losing even a single unit could lead to extremely negative consequences, we are slightly strengthening the faction’s starting potential.

• Tier 1:
  • Base growth in towns increased: 13 → 15. The number of creatures in heroes’ starting armies has been adjusted accordingly.
  • Faun, Faun Archer, Faun Warrior: these stacks have received the new active ability "Outsider Eradication", which lets them perform an attack that deals more damage.
  • Faun:
    • Defense: 3 → 4
  • Faun Archer:
    • Attack: 4 → 8
    • Defense: 3 → 4
  • Faun Warrior:
    • Attack: 6 → 8
    • Defense: 6 → 8
• Tier 2:
  • Base growth in towns increased: 9 → 11. The number of creatures in heroes’ starting armies has been adjusted accordingly.
  • Hoplet:
    • Defense: 5 → 6
    • Damage: 4-8 → 4-6
    • Initiative: 6 → 7
    • Speed: 5 → 6
  • Dawn Hoplet:
    • Attack: 9 → 6
    • Defense: 5 → 6
    • Damage: 4-8 → 4-6
    • Initiative: 6 → 8
    • Luck: 2 → 1
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Whirlwind Strike".
  • Dusk Hoplet:
    • Attack: 7 → 8
    • Defense: 7 → 8
    • Damage: 4-8 → 4-6
    • Initiative: 9 → 8
    • Speed: 5 → 7
    • Morale: 2 → 1
• Tier 3:
  • Vine Iriyad:
    • Attack: 6 → 7
    • Defense: 11 → 13
    • Damage: 5-7 → 6-9
    • Initiative: 2 → 3
  • Fungal Iriyad:
    • Attack: 6 → 7
    • Defense: 11 → 13
    • Damage: 4-8 → 6-9
    • Initiative: 3 → 4
    • Speed: 4 → 3
  • Crystal Iriyad:
    • Attack: 6 → 7
    • Defense: 11 → 13
    • Damage: 5-7 → 6-9
    • Initiative: 3 → 4
• Tier 4:
  • Naiad:
    • Health: 40 → 50
    • Attack: 11 → 12
    • Damage: 10-14 → 12-14
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
    • Speed: 5 → 4
  • Vernal Naiad:
    • Health: 40 → 50
    • Attack: 11 → 20
    • Defense: 14 → 12
    • Damage: 14-18 → 14-16
    • Speed: 6 → 4
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Whirlpool", which allows it to pull enemies toward a selected point.
  • Brumal Naiad:
    • Health: 40 → 50
    • Attack: 15 → 12
    • Defense: 10 → 18
    • Damage: 14-18 → 12-14
    • Initiative: 6 → 8
    • Speed: 5 → 4
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Hypothermia", which reduces the enemy hero’s stats until the end of the round.
• Tier 5:
  • Herbomancer:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Defense: 14 → 16
    • Damage: 15-18 → 14-18
    • Initiative: 6 → 5
  • Sporemancer:
    • Attack: 16 → 18
    • Defense: 18 → 16
    • Damage: 15-18 → 18-18
    • Initiative: 8 → 7
    • The stack has lost the active ability "Protective Roots", which it could use to make an allied stack immune to magic damage.
    • The stack’s active ability "Swarm of Bees" has been replaced with the new, stronger "Bees Invasion" ability, which now deals damage and applies an effect to all enemies within one hex of the target.
    • The stack’s passive ability "Mushroom Magic" now reduces the mana cost of the allied hero’s spells by 3 instead of 2.
  • Murmurmancer:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Defense: 14 → 16
    • Damage: 18-18 → 14-18
    • Initiative: 8 → 6
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Protective Roots".
• Tier 6:
  • Qilin:
    • Health: 130 → 120
    • Attack: 22 → 23
    • Defense: 20 → 23
    • Damage: 24-30 → 24-33
    • Speed: 6 → 7
    • Luck: 2 → 0
  • Thunder Qilin:
    • Health: 130 → 120
    • Attack: 22 → 23
    • Defense: 20 → 23
    • Damage: 30-36 → 30-39
    • Luck: 2 → 0
    • The stack has lost the passive ability "Cloud Nine", which generated Focus Points at the beginning of each round.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Scintillating Scales", which increases the magic damage taken by all nearby enemies.
  • Mist Qilin:
    • Health: 130 → 120
    • Attack: 24 → 23
    • Defense: 22 → 23
    • Damage: 27-36 → 24-33
    • Initiative: 13 → 10
    • Luck: 2 → 0
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Cloud Nine".
    • The stack has lost the passive ability "Scintillating Scales".
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Opportunity Attack", which allows it to always attack enemies passing nearby.
    • The stack’s active ability "Mist Form" has been reworked: it now reduces incoming damage to one point instead of by a certain percentage.
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Forest Haze", which prevents the target enemy stack from shooting.
• Tier 7:
  • Phoenix:
    • Attack: 28 → 31
  • Flaming Phoenix:
    • Attack: 36 → 35
    • Defense: 27 → 26
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Flaming Agony", which makes it deal damage to all nearby stacks upon its death.
  • Energy Phoenix:
    • Attack: 28 → 30
    • Defense: 39 → 32
• The construction cost of creature-producing buildings, as well as the number of the corresponding creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes, have undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.
• Laws "Resource Riches I", "Resource Riches II", "Resource Riches III": activation cost: 1/2/3 → 2/3/4.
• Building the "Blooming Pond" no longer requires a "Mage Guild".
• "Elite Fauns" law: now allows Fauns in the player’s army to counterattack twice: once before the enemy’s attack and once after.
• "Forest Magic" law: activation cost: 4/4 → 3/3.
• "Focus" law: activation cost: 3 → 2.
• "Live roots" law: activation cost: 6 → 5.
• "Elite Mancers" law: now allows Herbomancers in the player’s army to use abilities without ending their turn.
• "Elite Qilins" law: now increases the Attack and Defense of Qilins in the player’s army by 3 / 6 instead of the bonus to Damage.

4. Hive

We continue to work on Hive stacks to make playing this faction more engaging while preserving its key feature — an aggressive and risky playstyle. Some of the changes described below should allow the Hive to dominate the enemy even more, improving its effectiveness in battle. Others will allow the Hive to adapt to a more cautious playstyle, which should lead to the same result — fewer losses in regular battles. In addition, the faction’s gameplay was too dependent on randomness, and by adjusting creature stats and laws, we want to make it more predictable for the player.

• Fire Larva:
  • Health: 16 → 20
  • Base explosion damage of the passive ability on death: 15 → 10.
  • Explosion damage when using active abilities: 30 → 15.
  • The stack has received the new passive ability "Castes", which increases the power of Larvae depending on the class of the hero whose army they are in. With might heroes, they deal 50% more damage. With magic heroes, their explosion deals 50% more damage.
• Tier 1:
  • Parasite:
    • Health: 7 → 8
  • Warden Parasite:
    • Health: 9 → 10
    • Defense: 6 → 3
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Strike and Return", which allows the stack to return to its starting position after attacking.
  • Ravager Parasite:
    • Health: 7 → 8
    • Attack: 6 → 5
    • The stack’s passive ability "Topple the Strong!" now deals +6% damage (instead of +3%) to higher-tier enemies for each tier of difference.
• Tier 2:
  • Harvester Locust:
    • Defense: 4 → 6
• Tier 3:
  • Hornet:
    • Attack: 7 → 8
    • Defense: 10 → 9
    • Damage: 4-9 → 4-12
    • Initiative: 10 → 9
  • Chanter:
    • Attack: 7 → 8
    • Defense: 10 → 9
    • Damage: 4-9 → 4-12
    • Initiative: 4 → 11
    • Speed: 11 → 8
  • Stinger:
    • Attack: 7 → 8
    • Defense: 10 → 9
    • Damage: 4-9 → 4-12
    • Initiative: 12 → 9
    • Speed: 9 → 10

We decided to significantly expand the capabilities of upgraded Scorpions and clearly define their roles. The defensive upgrade has taken on the role of a support stack that will empower other Hive stacks, opening up new opportunities for the faction. The alternative upgrade serves as a fighter and has been strengthened accordingly.

• Tier 4:
  • Scorpion:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Defense: 12 → 14
    • Damage: 10-12 → 10-14
  • Volcanic Scorpion:
    • Attack: 12 → 14
    • Damage: 10-12 → 10-14
    • Luck: 2 → 1
    • All "Adaptation" active abilities have been reworked. They now affect all allied stacks with half the effectiveness.
  • Spelaean Scorpion:
    • Attack: 14 → 16
    • Defense: 12 → 16
    • Damage: 12-14 → 14-18
    • Initiative: 6 → 7
    • Speed: 4 → 5
    • Morale: 2 → 1
• Tier 5:
  • Reaver:
    • Attack: 18 → 22
    • Speed: 6 → 7
    • Morale: 1 → 0
  • Menacing Reaver:
    • Attack: 18 → 22
    • Defense: 18 → 12
    • Damage: 20-30 → 20-40
    • Speed: 7 → 8
    • Morale: 3 → 0
    • The stack has lost the active ability "Rapid Assault", which allowed it to attack an enemy without receiving a counterattack.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Swift Strike".
  • Maniacal Reaver:
    • Attack: 18 → 22
    • Initiative: 12 → 11
    • Speed: 6 → 7
    • Morale: 2 → 0
• Tier 6:
  • Waurms:
    • Attack: 21 → 20
    • Defense: 21 → 20
    • Damage: 21-23 → 20-24
    • Luck: 1 → 2
    • The "Corpse Eater" passive ability has been weakened: the amount of health restored has been reduced: 120 → 100.
  • Devourer:
    • Attack: 21 → 20
    • Defense: 21 → 20
    • Damage: 27-29 → 24-28
    • Initiative: 7 → 8
    • Luck: 3 → 2
    • The kill threshold of the "Devour" active ability has been reduced: 40% → 30%.
  • Pyroboros:
    • Attack: 21 → 20
    • Defense: 21 → 20
    • Damage: 21-23 → 20-24
    • Initiative: 8 → 7
    • Speed: 8 → 10
    • The stack has lost the passive ability "Corpse Eater", which allowed it to restore health by devouring corpses.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Mana Eater", which allows it to restore temporary mana to the hero by devouring corpses.
• Tier 7:
  • Hive Queen:
    • Attack: 25 → 30
    • Defense: 25 → 30
    • Bonus to the stack’s Attack and Defense when the enemy army contains Temple and Necropolis creatures reduced: 25% → 20%.
  • Hive Mother:
    • Attack: 25 → 30
    • Defense: 25 → 30
    • Bonus to the stack’s Attack and Defense when the enemy army contains Temple and Necropolis creatures reduced: 25% → 20%.
  • Hive Huntress:
    • Attack: 25 → 30
    • Defense: 25 → 30
    • Damage: 70-70 → 60-60
    • Initiative: 8 → 9
    • Bonus to the stack’s Attack and Defense when the enemy army contains Temple and Necropolis creatures reduced: 25% → 20%.
    • The stack’s passive ability "Squash the Weak!" now deals +6% damage (instead of +3%) to lower-tier enemies for each tier of difference.
• Building the "Paper Nest" now requires the "Neglected Housing" and the "Carrion Lair".
• The construction cost of creature-producing buildings, as well as the number of the corresponding creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes, have undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.
• Laws "Resource Riches I", "Resource Riches II", "Resource Riches III": activation cost: 1/2/3 → 2/3/4.
• "Elite Parasites" law: now increases the max damage of Parasites in the player’s army by 1 / 2 instead of the bonus to Health.
• "Elite Hornets" law: now increases the min damage of Hornets in the player’s army by 2 / 4 instead of the bonus to Initiative.
• "Elite Scorpions" law: now reduces the cooldown of Scorpions’ abilities in the player’s army by 1 / 2 rounds instead of the bonuses to Luck and Morale.
• "Elite Waurmos" law: now increases the Initiative of Waurmos in the player’s army by 1 / 2 instead of the bonuses to Luck and Morale.
• "Elite Hive Queens" law: now increases the Attack, Defense, and Damage of Hive Queens in the player’s army by 3 / 6, as well as their Speed and Initiative by 1 / 1, instead of the bonuses to Damage and Health.
• "Great Conquest" law: once again affects all creatures, not just Hive creatures.

The law that allows Larvae to provoke enemies was originally added to the faction to help minimize casualties in battles where no ranged units were available. However, the effect itself proved incredibly powerful and drew negative feedback from some players.

Now, with a new skill that helps reduce casualties being added to the game, the Hive will have another way to keep its army combat-ready for longer. Therefore, we are weakening the provocation effect:

• "Hive Offsprings II" law: Larvae now provoke enemies only during the first round after hatching.

5. Schism

• Tier 1:
  • Stinging Ra’Shoth:
    • Attack: 5 → 6
    • Defense: 5 → 6
• Tier 2:
  • Cultist:
    • Attack: 5 → 6
    • Defense: 4 → 5
  • Binder:
    • Attack: 5 → 6
    • Defense: 7 → 8
  • Votary:
    • Attack: 9 → 8
    • Defense: 4 → 5
    • Damage: 4-8 → 4-6
    • Speed: 4 → 5
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Rift Conductor", which increases the Initiative of all allied Ra’Shoth, Grand Shoth, and Abyssal Envoys (and their upgraded versions).
• Tier 3:
  • Aga’Shoth Rider:
    • Health: 20 → 25
    • Attack: 7 → 8
    • Defense: 7 → 8
    • Damage: 5-7 → 6-8
    • Initiative: 6 → 5
  • Aga’Shoth Tamer:
    • Health: 20 → 25
    • Defense: 8 → 11
    • Damage: 5-7 → 6-8
    • Initiative: 9 → 8
  • Aga’Shoth Mat’ha:
    • Attack: 7 → 10
    • Defense: 7 → 8
    • Damage: 5-7 → 6-8
    • Speed: 6 → 5
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Raid", which increases the Speed of all allied Ra’Shoth, Grand Shoth, and Abyssal Envoys (and their upgraded versions).
• Tier 4:
  • Grand Shoth:
    • Attack: 11 → 12
    • Defense: 11 → 12
    • Damage: 10-13 → 12-14
    • Speed: 5 → 6
  • Unspeakable Shoth:
    • Attack: 11 → 14
    • Defense: 11 → 14
    • Damage: 10-13 → 12-14
  • Unthinkable Shoth:
    • Attack: 11 → 12
    • Defense: 11 → 12
    • Damage: 10-13 → 14-14
    • Initiative: 13 → 12
    • Speed: 6 → 7
• Tier 5:
  • Concubus, Mistress of Chains, and Bewitcher: these stacks have received the new passive ability "Seduction", thanks to which they always take minimum damage.
  • Concubus:
    • Health: 60 → 55
    • Attack: 16 → 15
    • Defense: 13 → 14
    • Damage: 14-20 → 16-20
  • Mistress of Chains:
    • Health: 60 → 55
    • Attack: 20 → 19
    • Defense: 13 → 14
    • Damage: 14-20 → 16-20
    • The stack’s passive ability "Earn Your Magic, Dear" now increases the mana cost of the enemy hero’s spells by 3 instead of 2.
  • Bewitcher:
    • Health: 60 → 55
    • Attack: 16 → 15
    • Defense: 13 → 18
    • Damage: 20-20 → 16-20
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Flog Idle Mind", thanks to which the stack’s attacks deal additional damage depending on the army’s current Focus.
• Tier 6:
  • Arbitrator:
    • Attack: 20 → 24
    • Defense: 20 → 23
    • Damage: 18-22 → 18-24
  • Rift Arbitrator:
    • Attack: 26 → 24
    • Defense: 28 → 29
    • Damage: 18-22 → 18-24
  • Bloated Arbitrator:
    • Defense: 22 → 24
    • Damage: 22-26 → 22-28
• Building the "Involuntary Summons" now requires the "Great Library" instead of the "Mage Guild".
• The construction cost of creature-producing buildings, as well as the number of the corresponding creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes, have undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.
• Laws "Resource Riches I", "Resource Riches II", "Resource Riches III": activation cost: 1/2/3 → 2/3/4.
• "Elite Cultists" law: now increases the Health of Cultists in the player’s army by 5 instead of the bonus to Damage.
• "Elite Aga’Shoth Riders" law: now increases the Damage of Aga’Shoth Riders in the player’s army by 2 instead of the bonus to Health.
• "Elite Concubi" law: Attack and Defense bonuses increased: 4 → 6.
• "Unstoppable" elite hero class: bonus to hero stats: 10 → 8.

6. Dungeon

As with the Grove faction, Dungeon stacks were very similar to each other. However, unlike the Grove, the Dungeon faced another problem — few ways to spend Focus. The changes described below are designed to solve these problems and bring alternative upgrades more in line with their narrative and image.

• Tier 1:
  • Troglodyte:
    • Health: 8 → 9
  • Infernal Troglodyte:
    • Health: 8 → 9
    • Defense: 6 → 5
  • Toxic Troglodyte:
    • Health: 8 → 9
    • Attack: 5 → 4
• Tier 2:
  • Guile Infiltrator:
    • Initiative: 6 → 8
    • Speed: 7 → 5
    • Luck: 2 → 1
    • The stack has lost the active ability "Shadowstrike", which allowed it to attack any enemy on the battlefield while ignoring its Defense.
    • The stack has lost the passive ability "Staggering Hits", which prevented the target of its attack from counterattacking until the end of the round.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Sharper Blade", which increases its Luck with each attack.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Liquidation", which instantly kills the attacked enemy if, after the attack, its stack size is below a certain value.
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Swift Strike".
  • Bleak Infiltrator:
    • Initiative: 9 → 6
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Shadowstrike".
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Staggering Hits".
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Ambush", which allows it to hide in the shadows and be untargetable at the start of the battle and at the start of each round until its turn comes.
• Tier 3:
  • Onyx Dancer, Jasper Dancer, and Aureate Dancer: these stacks have received the new active ability "Blade Dance", which allows them to attack twice until the end of the round.
  • Onyx Dancer:
    • Defense: 8 → 7
    • Speed: 2 → 3
  • Jasper Dancer:
    • Defense: 8 → 9
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
    • Speed: 4 → 5
  • Aureate Dancer:
    • Attack: 8 → 9
    • Defense: 8 → 7
    • Initiative: 7 → 6
• Tier 4:
  • Minotaur, Minotaur Lord, and Minotaur Vanguard: these stacks have received the new active ability "Minotaur’s Onslaught", which allows them to push the target back with their next attack, if possible.
  • Minotaur:
    • Attack: 11 → 12
    • Defense: 11 → 12
    • Damage: 12-14 → 12-16
  • Minotaur Lord:
    • Attack: 11 → 12
    • Defense: 15 → 16
    • Damage: 12-14 → 12-16
  • Minotaur Vanguard:
    • Attack: 15 → 14
    • Defense: 11 → 14
    • Damage: 14-16 → 12-16
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Balthazar’s Tramp", which reduces the Speed of all nearby enemies for several rounds.
• Tier 5:
  • Medusa:
    • Attack: 15 → 18
    • Defense: 14 → 16
    • Damage: 11-15 → 14-19
  • Medusa Sculptor:
    • Attack: 20 → 18
    • Defense: 18 → 16
    • Damage: 15-15 → 14-19
    • Initiative: 5 → 6
    • The stack has received the new passive ability "Marble Arrows", which reduces the target’s Initiative on attack.
  • Medusa Queen:
    • Attack: 17 → 23
    • Defense: 14 → 16
    • Damage: 11-15 → 14-19
    • Initiative: 8 → 7
    • The stack has lost the passive ability "Marble Arrows".
    • The stack has received the new active ability "Hail of Arrows", which allows it to select several hexes and bring down a rain of arrows on each of them, dealing damage to all enemies near the targets.
• Tier 6:
  • Hydra:
    • Health: 130 → 120
    • Defense: 22 → 27
    • Damage: 25-28 → 25-30
  • Chthonic Hydra:
    • Health: 160 → 150
    • Defense: 30 → 32
    • Damage: 25-28 → 25-30
  • Infernal Hydra:
    • Health: 130 → 120
    • Attack: 30 → 29
    • Defense: 26 → 27
    • Damage: 30-38 → 30-35
• Tier 7:
  • Cave Dragon:
    • Health: 275 → 300
    • Attack: 29 → 32
    • Defense: 25 → 28
  • Black Dragon:
    • Health: 350 → 375
    • Attack: 29 → 32
  • Ashen Dragon:
    • Health: 300 → 325
    • Attack: 37 → 36
    • Defense: 25 → 28
• The construction cost of creature-producing buildings, as well as the number of the corresponding creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes, have undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.
• Laws "Resource Riches I", "Resource Riches II", "Resource Riches III": activation cost: 1/2/3 → 2/3/4.
• "Elite Infiltrators" law: now increases the max damage of Infiltrators in the player’s army by 1 / 2 instead of the bonus to Health.
• "Elite Dancers" law: now increases the Luck and Morale of Dancers in the player’s army by 1 / 2 instead of the bonus to Attack and Defense.
• "Elite Minotaurs" law: now increases the Attack and Defense of Minotaurs in the player’s army by 2 / 4 instead of the bonus to Damage. The Initiative and Speed bonuses remain unchanged.
• "Elite Medusae" law: now increases only the Attack of Medusae in the player’s army by 4 / 8 instead of the bonuses to Attack and Defense. The Initiative bonus remains unchanged.
• "Elite Hydras" law: now increases the Defense of Hydras in the player’s army by 4 / 8 instead of the bonuses to Health. The Speed bonus remains unchanged.
• "Balthazar’s Bodyguard" elite hero class: bonus to hero’s Attack: 100% → 40%.
• "Silvertongue’s Envoy" elite hero class: bonus to hero’s Defense: 100% → 40%.
• "Amelchia’s Heir" elite hero class: bonus to hero’s Spell Power: 100% → 40%.

7. Neutral Stacks

• Tier 1:
  • Pixie:
    • Health: 6 → 4
    • Attack: 3 → 2
    • Defense: 3 → 2
• Tier 2:
  • Ghoul:
    • Attack: 9 → 7
    • Defense: 7 → 5
    • Damage: 4-8 → 4-6
• Tier 3:
  • Animated Armor:
    • Defense: 8 → 7
    • Damage: 5-12 → 6-12
• Tier 4:
  • Starchild:
    • Attack: 13 → 12
• Tier 5:
  • Added a new neutral enemy — Mummy.
  • Giant Toad:
    • Attack: 19 → 16
• Tier 6:
  • Couatl:
    • Health: 95 → 100
• Tier 7:
  • Added a new neutral enemy — Kitsune.
• The number of these creatures that can be obtained as a reward from Pandora’s Boxes has undergone various adjustments related to the review of stack value and rebalancing.

Map Generator and Objects

General changes

• Pandora’s Boxes have been substantially reworked: all of them now let the player choose a reward.
  • Pandora’s Boxes that previously gave hero experience now let you choose between hero experience, Law Points, or Astrology Points. The value of such objects has been increased by 25%.
  • Pandora’s Boxes that previously gave gold now let you choose between gold, resources, or Alchemical Dust. The value of such objects has been increased by 20%.
  • Pandora’s Boxes that previously gave creatures remain unchanged: the player can still choose any upgrade version.
  • Pandora’s Boxes that previously gave stats have been reworked. They are now divided into two groups: "combat" and "magic".
    • Combat Pandora’s Boxes let you choose between increasing the hero’s Attack by 4/6, increasing the hero’s Defense by 4/6, or a one-time restoration of 20/30% Movement Points.
    • Magic Pandora’s Boxes let you choose between increasing the hero’s Spell Power by 4/6, increasing the hero’s Knowledge by 4/6, or a one-time restoration of 20/30% mana.
    • In addition, the value of such objects is now significantly lower than before.
  • Pandora’s Boxes that previously gave spells have been merged. Instead of separate objects that gave all spells of a specific magic school or a specific tier, now:
    • There are five Pandora’s Boxes in the game — one for each spell tier.
    • Each box lets you choose which magic school’s spells the hero will learn.
    • The hero learns the spells even without Wisdom or the magic school skills.
    • In addition, the value of such objects is significantly lower than before.
• Guards in Creature Bank-type objects have been significantly adjusted:
  • "Point of Balance", guard stack size: 4 / 8 / 11 / 14 → 6 / 11 / 15 / 18.
  • "Colosseum", guard stack size: 7 / 14 / 20 / 25 → 11 / 20 / 27 / 32.
  • "Ritual Pyre", guard stack size: 4 / 8 / 11 / 14 → 7 / 12 / 16 / 19.
  • "Tomb of Vigilance", guard stack size: 14 / 28 / 40 / 50 → 20 / 38 / 52 / 62.
  • "Boreal Call", guard stack size: 11 / 22 / 32 / 40 → 16 / 28 / 38 / 46.
  • "Carrion Pile", guard stack size: 19 / 38 / 55 / 69 → 30 / 55 / 75 / 90.
  • "Petrified Memorial", guard stack size: 5 / 10 / 14 / 18 → 7 / 13 / 18 / 22.
  • The guards of the first two versions of each listed object no longer include upgraded stacks. The number of upgraded stacks in other versions of the objects has been adjusted.
• "Chimerologist": creature conversion penalty reduced: 15% → 10%.
• "Mearea’s Altar": the object’s inner guard has been increased by 1 Couatl. It is now split into stacks of 1 Couatl each instead of a single stack.
• "Trophy Hunter’s Den": The internal guards are split into stacks of 2 Dragon Slayers each and start the battle positioned around the player’s army rather than directly opposite it.
• "Overgrown Vori Ruins": the amount of Alchemical Dust received as a reward for defeating the inner guard has been halved. The object’s inner guard has been adjusted: it has become stronger, and the guardians are now always split into three stacks on the battlefield.
• Added a new object for templates with a tournament system or a decisive battle — "Hell Light Spire". It allows registering the hero who last visited the object for the duel. The presence of this object depends on the map or template and does not guarantee a change in the match rules.
• On templates and maps with a tournament system or a decisive battle, the hero selected for battle is now displayed. You can find this information in the tooltip of each player, including opponents.
• Slightly reduced the chance that groups of 3 or more objects are generated under the protection of a single guard.

Templates

• On the Blitz, Chosen One, Exodus Classic, Exodus, Helltide, Infinity, Jebus Cross, Jebus Tournament, Massacre, Outcast Tournament, and Symmetry templates, "Siegecraft" can no longer be offered to a hero when leveling up.
• The "Diplomatic Gifts", "Ambassador’s Sash", and "Diplomat’s Robe" artifacts can no longer be generated on random templates and maps. These artifacts will return to the game with the rework of the "Diplomacy" skill.
• Many templates have received minor adjustments improving object generation.
• Added the new Jebus Arena template — a variation of the Jebus Cross template (160x160) without a central town and with the ability to challenge an opponent to battle using the "Hell Light Arena".

Jebus Cross

• Template size increased: 160x160 → 176x176.
• The central zone of the template has been significantly reworked:
  • Secondary central towns are no longer tied to the main exits from the side areas — they are placed randomly throughout the center.
  • Instead of secondary towns, "Remote Footholds" are now located at the main exits from the zones.
  • Base creature growth in dwellings reduced from double to single.
• The side zones are now connected by a portal for quick travel between them.
• Creature growth in dwellings in the side zones reduced from triple to double.

Jebus Tournament

• Despite the addition of the new object, the condition for selecting a hero for battle remains the same — the starting hero takes part in tournament battles.
• Final battles on the template now take place one day earlier.
• Slightly adjusted the balance value of zones on the map.
• The central town has been removed from each player’s treasury zone. The remaining towns are now distributed more evenly within the zone, and the "Remote Footholds" of the central zone are generated near these towns.
• Objects in a treasury zone are now guaranteed not to match the faction of the player who owns that treasury.
• Pandora’s Boxes with creatures have been returned to treasury zones in small numbers, and the possible number of Pandora’s Boxes with spells has been increased.
• Increased the number of artifacts in treasury zones.

Infinity

• Changed the template format: it is now a best-of-three tournament format with continuous simultaneous turns.
• The central zone has been split into two isolated parts.
• Final battles on the template take place on the following in-game days:
  • Day 2 of Week 2;
  • Day 6 of Week 2;
  • Day 3 of Week 3.

Exodus

• Due to the rework of Pandora’s Boxes that increase hero stats, their limits and spawn chances on the template have been adjusted.
• The guard strength of the "Mountain Monastery" object on the template has been tripled.
• The guard strength of creature dwelling objects in the starting zone has been doubled.
• Pandora’s Boxes that increase hero stats or grant the hero spells can now appear in small numbers in the first desert zone.
• The second desert zone now always contains at least one "Dragon Utopia", one "Research Laboratory", and one "Overgrown Vori Ruins" object, and their maximum number per zone is limited to 2/2/1 respectively.

Matchmaking

In this update, we are reducing the number of templates available in each mode. Some of these templates are guaranteed to appear during the pick phase, which reduces the chance of encountering other templates. So for now we are removing the least popular templates to make room for more popular ones and increase their chance of appearing in the pick.

Classic mode

• The map rotation in this mode has been updated:
  • Old pool: Jebus Cross, Jebus Tournament, Universe, Infinity, Last Fortress, Arcade.
  • New pool: Jebus Cross, Jebus Tournament, Universe, Infinity, Arcade.
  • Jebus Cross and Jebus Tournament are always included in the pool.

Single Hero Mode

• The map rotation in this mode has been updated:
  • Old pool: Exodus, Outcast Tournament, Vendetta, Helltide, Sprint, Blitz.
  • New pool: Exodus, Outcast Tournament, Helltide, Sprint, Mix.
  • Exodus is always included in the pool.
  • Mix is a new template focused on developing towns of several factions at once, with best-of-three tournament battles.

Other changes

• Adjusted the base number of points awarded for a win and deducted for a loss:
  • Players now lose 40 points for a loss in any division.
  • Players now receive 40 points for a win in the Iron, Bronze, and Silver divisions.
  • Players now receive 35 points for a win in the Gold division.
  • Players now receive 30 points for a win in the Platinum division.
  • Players now receive 25 points for a win in the Diamond division.
  • Players now receive 20 points for a win in the Master division.
• Changed the number of restarts available to players:
  • There are no restarts in the Iron and Bronze divisions.
  • Two restart points are available in the Master division.
  • One restart point is available in all other divisions.
• Reduced the maximum rating spread depending on the player’s division.

Arena Mode

• At the stack selection stage, players can now be offered stacks they have already picked in previous stages.
• The size of creature stacks offered for selection has been increased by 15–20%.
• Adjustments to heroes’ starting stat bonuses:
  • The following heroes have received a +1 stat bonus: John Johnson; Pip; Octavia; Aunt Daliar; Vim; Echolily; Grellekh the Betrayer; Kwinri.
  • The following heroes have received a +2 stat bonus: Gingertail; Tölketh.
  • Stat bonus reduced from +3 to +2: Nadir; Adahn; Blackhorn; Curson, Duke of Rage; Mila; Oriax.
  • Stat bonus reduced from +4 to +2: Tavi; Enatee.

Bug Fixes

Combat and creature mechanics

• Abilities that kill +1 unit no longer trigger on obstacles.
• Units summoned onto a "Firewall" or traps no longer die immediately.
• Unit corpses now disappear if another unit, killed with a knockback effect, dies on top of them.
• Abilities marked "only the strongest active effect applies" (for example, on Cavalry) no longer take enemies into account.
• Wait can no longer be activated during a stack’s action animation.
• Initiative bonuses (for example, "Early Start") now apply to waiting units.

Creatures

• The minimum and maximum Morale and Luck values of some creatures are now within the correct ranges.
• Added the missing description of the Kittenhorns’ passive ability, which enhances the Diplomacy effect of the hero whose army they are in.
• The effect of the Minotaurs’ passive ability "Adrenaline Surge" now has the correct duration.
• The effect of the Medusae’s passive ability "Marble Arrows" now stacks correctly.
• The effect of the Reavers’ active ability "Beelzebub’s Blessing" now has the correct duration.
• Bonuses of the "increases the duration of applied effects" type no longer increase the duration of Scorpions’ adaptations.
• Fixed the description of the "Ranged Attack" passive ability of Worldwatchers and Halflings.
• The Grolls’ ability "Rrr, Jump!" no longer deals damage to allies.
• The Sentinels of Glory’s ability "Doreath’s Way" no longer shows that it will deal damage to allies.
• The Mist Qilins’ ability "Cloud Nine" no longer grants bonuses after the stack dies.

Spells and skills

• The bonus to an additional counterattack from the "Riposte" spell now starts working at spell level 3 instead of level 2.
• The "Doreath’s Tide" spell now dispels the petrification effect.
• The damage in the description of the "Umbral Grip" spell is now calculated correctly.
• When using the "Reality Distortion" spell, damage is no longer multiplied by the number of hits twice.
• The "Recruitment" skill can now appear in Global Map objects that teach heroes new skills.

Faction laws

• The descriptions of the "Hive Integration" and "Hive Reception" laws now specify that they only affect Hive creatures.

Artifacts

• The "Two-faced Mask" artifact can no longer be bought at the Marketplace.

Interface

• Player nicknames in the game results text (victory/defeat) are now displayed correctly.
• The interface can no longer be hidden while the game is loading.
• The cursor in the main menu no longer changes to the system cursor when the interface is hidden.
• Automatically closing the battle results no longer closes dialogues in some missions and scenarios.
• Hiding the interface no longer triggers in text fields.
• The list of available screen resolutions now updates when changing monitors.
• Battle and map animation speed settings are no longer reset on restart.
• The damage tooltip under the effect of the "Taunt" spell is now displayed correctly.
• The tooltip for potential damage to allies is now displayed when using the Lich Dragons’ "Bone Armageddon" and the Starchildren’s "Starfall" abilities.
• The victory/defeat window is no longer partially displayed in the settings window.
• Hero stat tooltips in battle are no longer displayed during the Tactics Phase.

Multiplayer

• Restart can now be used after desynchronization.
• Players who have just joined are now displayed in the active slot settings drop-down list in the lobby.
• In a multiplayer game, one player can no longer close another player’s Esc window by pressing Esc.
• In a multiplayer game, one player can no longer close another player’s restart confirmation window.

Stability and saves

• Fixed a rare freeze when clicking the "Custom Game" button in the main menu.
• Reloading a save now works correctly if some of the opponents have been eliminated.

Arena mode

• The subskills of the "Summon Avatar" skill now work correctly in Arena mode.
• The hotkey for opening the Battle Log no longer works during the Pick/Ban stage.
• The mana value can no longer be negative.

Campaign and scenarios

• Fixed some character portraits in campaign dialogue windows.
• "Garner Hills". In old saves, the dialogue with the rider beyond the bridge no longer repeats endlessly if the player bribed him or showed him the "Last Coin" artifact.
• "Never-ending Conflict". The "Capture the escaped priestesses" quest from the necromancers in the upper left corner of the map can no longer be taken if the player is already doing the escaped priestesses’ quest "Free the priestesses at the altar".
• "Burning Hearts". The Stargazer now gives a reward for correctly answering all 4 of his riddles.
• "Gorges of Discord". In old saves, the final dialogue is no longer cut short by the victory screen.
• "Deal with a Vampire". After completing the dead knight’s quest, the game no longer gets stuck if you place a second hero at his new spawn point.
  ⚠️ This fix does not apply to old saves made inside the mission.
• "Saving the Knight". The rightmost "Twilight Bloom" object now grants an artifact as a reward, as stated in its tooltip.
  ⚠️ This fix does not apply to old saves made inside the mission.
• "Saving the Knight". Fixed numerous bugs in the troglodyte’s quest.
  ⚠️ This fix does not apply to old saves made inside the mission.
• "Renegade" / "Corruption". The reward behind the hydras in the sand biome can no longer be collected without fighting them.
  ⚠️ This fix does not apply to old saves made inside the mission.
• "Alvar Diruil". Fixed a bug that allowed attacking the town with one of the remaining heroes and, upon winning, breaking all further scripted logic.
  ⚠️ This fix does not apply to old saves made inside the mission.

Thank you for helping us make Olden Era better. See you on the battlefield!

With love,

💙 Unfrozen Team