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Undead Beta Guide
Version: Beta V305A
Game Type: 1 vs 1
Suggested Maps: Any
Recommended Heroes: Any
Recommended Skill Level: 1-15
Author: Nightmyre
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UD has probably had the biggest change in terms of playstyle. Whereas the other races can still do roughly the same strategies as before, UD has to completely rethink their playstyle. The reign of ghoul-massing is over. The new era involves units of the other upgrade tree, namely, fiends, aboms, and sphynxes. Granted ghouls aren't absolutely useless, however, their usage is now severely limited, as tier3 absolutely destroys them now, and AoE spells are prolific.
So whats a UD player to do now that ghouls get smashed? Fiends early on allow UD players to creep rapidly, and their HP/damage ratio cannot be easily matched by other tier1 units. Only riflemen come close to comparing to their strength. They can single-handedly defeat any other tier1 unit except footmen and perhaps grunts, when combined with the correct heroes. See below for these.
Fiends however, get easily outmatched later on in the game. Spells just plain destroy them, siege destroys them, and tier3 heavy melee destroys them. Later on, their usage is devoted purely to anti air, and even then, it is rather limited. So, upon reaching tier3, getting aboms and sphynxes is requisite. Fiends should be able to last you until tier3. Human players pose the biggest threat, as sorceresses can cripple your army rapidly, so it is suggested that you avoid engaging them until you get sphynxes or sufficient AoE to wipe them out. Advancing from tier2 to tier3 rapidly is essential.
Reaching tier3 opens up several units for you. Aboms are now the staple UD meatshield, and you should always get a few of these just to give your heroes extra cover. Sphynxes now dominate over all spellcasters with devour magic, and their damage is quite potent with orb of annihilation. Be warned though that there is little or no need to morph into sphynxes when you still have mana left, as they have a roughly -3 mana drain per second.
So, what units do you use to counter what? Ranged units are by and large countered by aboms. Since they no longer have damage bonuses vs tier3, ranged units simply get overwhelemed by the superior damage and hp of heavy melee. Air units pose a major threat since gargoyles are near useless now, but, with sufficient AoE and spiders, coupled with aboms, you should be able to survive. Heavy melee is by and large countered by massed sphynxes. The biggest threat comes from mixed armies now. Vs mixed armies your best bet is to mix in aboms, sphynxes, necros, and banshees, in appropriate numbers.
Useless units now are gargoyles, ghouls, and wyrms. Gargoyles now get murdered by every single air unit in the game, and damn near every ground unit that can attack them back as well. Ghouls get just plain crushed by spells and tier3 heavy melee, which everyone gets now, so they are no longer worthwhile. Wyrms, while not exactly useless, are FAR too costly to be useful. If you have several thousand gold and lumber lying around, one or two are still useful support, however otherwise, there is simply no point.
Build order time - this one is my preferred build order, although there are others.
-build crypt/zig, send the 3 acos to gold, queue up two more onto gold
-when gold arrives, build a graveyard
-next up, build an altar when you can afford
-after that, start training ghouls. you need 3 ghouls, no more.
-when your graveyard is done, build a ziggurat and start making fiends.
-when your altar is done, get a hero (of course)
-keep making fiends until about 30-35 supply
-around when your first or second fiend is training, upgrade one of your ziggurats to a frost tower
-around the same point, get a tomb of relics. don't halt your fiend production
-make ziggurats when appropriate
-upgrade to tier2 when you have sufficient resources
-upon reaching tier2, get another hero, then progress to tier3 asap
-if you have an expansion by this point, get 2 slaughterhouses and a temple of the damned, otherwise, one slaughterhouse and a temple. You should have an expansion by this point though.
-once you reach tier3, start making whatever you need. third hero is optional, I usually don't bother.
As for hero choice, your primary hero should be either lich or dreadlord. I know some people suggest DK primary (*cough*neobie*cough*), but I don't recommend it, since AoE spells are really powerful now. Secondary hero should almost always be DK. Lich/DL or DL/Lich is possible, but very risky, as you have no healing. Third hero should usually be the last of that group. Crypt lord currently just is not powerful enough to be worthwhile, unless you are focussing on pure hero killing, IE DK/CL/Lich.
Thats it for this week. Next week is NE (*shudders*)
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