I like how you state “The “puzzle” of E&P was the gem board, but I don’t see it that way now. My favorite “Puzzle” now is selecting my heroes to raid.”
I like it, but I also disagree partially. I’m more and more finding that the most universal strategy is one that makes the tiles do most of the work for you. It works for raiding and for titans. I discovered this strategy by having the sheer luck of the draw that made Wu Kong my first ever 4 star hero, and Grimm my second. I learnt not to completely rely on hardhitter specials early on.
You see where I’m heading right? Get those Wu and Grimm going, and a Boldtusk, and you’re not going to need specials to finish off that opponent. Each tile is going to hit like a truck. Join them up with a Rigard and Caedmon, and you have a 4 star dream team - I’m nearly there, got the heroes, got the ascension mats, just the levelling needs to be done!
This strategy synergizes very well with the kind of troops that introduce a % for critical tile damage. Those kind of troops are actually really important to this strategy.
You can do it all with tiles and then some. And suddenly that puzzle on the gem board becomes very important again. Because how do you get those tiles to do the work for you indeed?
The tile strategy works great on titans. In raiding, it has its limitations. Dropping lots of tiles powers up your foe’s specials, which can turn the tide against you.
In raiding, snipers are a very valuable adjunct to tiles. Blow a hole through the line, which lets you ghost tiles down the hole for double mana, powering up your specials, but leaving the foe on it’s slow-walk mana.
Excellent write up. This information should be read by all players.
I absolutely agree that everyone has their own plans, tactics and beliefs and these may differ, but if you find something that works for your playstyle, then that is the best way you have fun, win or lose (hopefully more winning though).
Also, I think it’s important to remember that different tactics are more or less effective at the different trophy levels and rosters. Strategies necessary for a 2600 team may not be the same as strategies optimal for an 1800 team.
Details: don’t forget about buff reversal. You don’t need Rigard/Viviana to clear all effects. Tibertus just hit you with defense debuff. Kiril can get rid of that too. Horghall just hit you all with an attack debuff? Glad you just charged up Boldtusk, because he will clear that too.
I want to add a little clarity on Boldtusk for our other readers. He Heals and Buffs attack, but he does not remove status ailments. His attack buff does help compensate for Horghall’s accuracy reduction, but it does not remove it. Same applies for Kiril’s defense buff. NIce…
You bring up a really good point I had not though about. Using a buff to counter a debuff. I like your term “Buff Reversal”. I feel the need to add this somewhere. probably in Pt 3.
FYI: Boldtusk has my vote for the most useful hero. I consider him for my teams almost every time.
Not to pile on, but this is incorrect. The game mechanics have a Defence Modifier and an Attack Modifier. Horghall puts a negative Attack Modifier on foes; Boldtusk puts a positive Attack Modifier on allies. One overwrites the other.
Understanding this mechanism is extremely important to timing specials. If Horghall is about to fire at you, you should hold your Boldtusk/Kiril/Ares (if you can survive the damage) until after Horghall fires, which will wipe away the attack debuff, replacing it with an attack bonus. If you cast first, then Horghall wipes away that bonus with his negative modifier.
Likewise, the negative Defense Modifier from Athena/Grimm/Tibertus/Gormek is overwritten by Vivica/Kiril/Magni. Timing your special to overwrite these specials is critical. Of course, if you can fire Magni and kill the caster first, that’s even better…
In a similar vein, if you see that a debuffer is about to fire, try to wait them out before casting a buffing special. There’s nothing worse than firing Alberich and then having Sabina strip away all the benefit.
It’s still useful in 2019 - thanks! It will have increased value with the new Raid Tournament as well.
I’m catching up on both play/heroes and reading the older posts - I’m not even to part 3 - and I’ve already realized from the OP and excellent comments for example that it’s important to play the board tiles as they are, not the ones I hoped for in casting the team of heroes.
