Question about army composition

[Cinderfall]

Wow, thanks for all the info Vilk. I had the Ancient Bears for a long while, but started using the Knights when I realized how much sturdier they were. Good to know I'll get more in late game. I'll admit I haven't experimented with a lot of other units, I'll try some of those that you mentioned.

I'm really loving the Shamans though. Life totem is a great AOE heal to prevent losses if I stay on defense, Death totem attracts a lot of attention like you said, and they hit like a truck too, move well and have good defense. Probably my favorite unit so far.

[Vilk]

Yes Shaman are excellent units, alas in some game you won't get enough of them until late in the game and sometimes until very late.

You can't compare Knight and Ancient Bear, the first are quite stronger. But if you have learned the Knight special attack through a warrior skill, then they become even stronger. You'll get infinite supply of Knight and Horseman later in the game.

There's one unit you should have since soon in the game and that can be useful even up to the point you reach, that's the Alchemist. They seem weak because of a too high Leadership cost but those are excellent anyway to use for minimizing number of death.

You'll find many more tactics through posts of this forum, check thread around Spells, usually people explain why they prefer a spell and what favorite tactic they use with it.

[Akimbo]

I never did get on with Alchemists, they never seemed to do enough damage for my liking.

[Metathron]

Yep, me neither, not a big fan of Alchemists.

The only times they excel are battles that will get really packed, like the one in the Orc Embassy, etc.

[Vilk]

Their leadership is very high for a level 4 unit. They are difficult to use because of their unique standard attack and their slow speed. Their ability to attack above obstacle and hit multiple opponents is interesting. Their range ability and high health are interesting stuff.

For example they are interesting like you quote when there are many units but also with obstacle like often in swamps but also like often in pirate islands. They are also very interesting against a stack you slow down. They are a sort of half long range unit quite unique in the game. In the beginning of the game they are excellent units and you are guaranty to find a good amount of them in swamps. During pirate islands they are still good units, priest or archer aren't better for me.

They do a better job of mixing long range and short range than Shaman because range of 3 and movement of 2 give them a sort of fake speed of 5, not really but sort of. I prefer Shaman because of totems and real long range attack more powerful but Shaman can't do the same type of job because Shaman speed of 2 offer you very few opportunity to use their normal attack and that's quite different for Alchemist.

[Metathron]

Use the shaman's normal attack? Why would I need to do that? It happens in about 10% of fights, maybe, when the enemy gets within range and your shaman have no special abilities to use at the moment, so it's hardly a shortcoming. And their melee attack ain't too shabby either.

Bottom line, the shaman sweep the floor with the alchemists.

[Vilk]

I didn't explain me well I also prefer Shaman than Alchemist and yes Shaman are stronger.

In first areas you won't get any Shaman but you are guaranty to get Alchemist for a long use. Even in Pirates Islands you have no guaranty to get Shaman.

Yes Shaman don't use much their normal attack unlike Alchemist that what I tried to explain.

[Razorflame]

alchemist are perfeect for darion!

but exchange them as soon as able!!

with alchemist and horseman u can clear whole darion ^^
with ease!

alchemist got alot of hp and got nice bottles

perfect for killing thorns or undead

^^

[BB Shockwave]

I used Alchemists up until the end of the Dwarven lands, then I switched to Shamans. They are both great units, and Alchemists do very well against pretty much all creatures thanks to their versatile potion attacks (though against poison-immune creatures they are not the best choice). However, Shaman offer more options for crowd-control strategy.

You can 100% sure find them at the Dwarven Alchemist in the Marshan swamps, this should be enough until you get to the Creiston Mines - if you run out of them on the Freedom Isles, just kill Lucky James and the Baron Ahey (both are pitifully easy fights) and rush to Kordar where even on the first map you are guaranteed to find some. The guy with the Hyena problems usually sells them.