Chain Lightning

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School of Air Magic
Symbol for the School of Air Magic
Level 1
 Haste
 Magic Arrow *
 View Air
Level 2
 Disguise
 Disrupting Ray
 Fortune
 Lightning Bolt
 Precision
 Protection from Air
 Visions *
Level 3
 Air Shield
 Destroy Undead
 Hypnotize
Level 4
 Chain Lightning
 Counterstrike
Level 5
 Dimension Door
 Fly
 Magic Mirror
 Summon Air Elemental
 Titan's Lightning Bolt
School of Earth Magic
School of Fire Magic
School of Water Magic
Chain Lightning
Chain Lightning.png
School:  Air Magic
Level:  4th
Cost:  24/20
Duration:  instant
 Basic effect
Lightning bolt strikes target troop for (25 + (power x 40)) damage. Bolt strikes four troops.
 Advanced effect
Lightning bolt strikes target troop for (50 + (power x 40)) damage. Bolt strikes five troops.
 Expert effect
Lightning bolt strikes target troop for (100 + (power x 40)) damage. Bolt strikes five troops.
 Probability of occurrence (%):
Town portrait Castle small.png Castle   20
Town portrait Rampart small.png Rampart   20
Town portrait Tower small.png Tower   29 (20*)
Town portrait Inferno small.png Inferno   20
Town portrait Necropolis small.png Necropolis   20
Town portrait Dungeon small.png Dungeon   20
Town portrait Stronghold small.png Stronghold   0
Town portrait Fortress small.png Fortress   0
Town portrait Conflux small.png Conflux   20
Town portrait Cove small.png Cove Horn of the Abyss   20
Town portrait Factory small.png Factory Horn of the Abyss   20
* Without Library

Chain Lightning is a 4th level spell in the School of Air Magic.

Chain Lightning strikes up to four or five creature stacks causing full damage for the initial target, and halving for each target after that. The closest creature stack to the initial target becomes the second target of the spell whether it is a friend or a foe, and this method repeats itself for all the spell's targets. However, the same creature stack cannot be targeted twice. If two or more targets are at the equal distance from previous target, then the stack is randomly chosen. If the spell is resisted after it has already struck at least one target, it will continue arcing to the next target.

If the casting hero is equipped with the Pendant of NegativityPendant of Negativity, the lightning strikes will only jump to enemy creatures, even if friendly creatures are closer.

  • This spell deals up to (46 + power x 75) damage on basic level, (96 + power x 77.5) on advanced level and (193 + power x 77.5) with expert air magic.

Heroes starting with Chain Lightning:

Heroes specialising in Chain Lightning:

Creatures immune to Chain Lightning:

Creatures vulnerable to Chain Lightning:

Creatures capable of casting Chain Lightning:

Artifacts that provide immunity to Chain Lightning:

User commentary

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Some may find the information in this section subjective or irrelevant.

In a big battle, Chain Lightning is mighty, especially at the beginning of the combat. It can wipe out great amounts of units and weaken the enemy significantly. However, when fighting against an enemy with a low amount of stacks, it is not very welcome since it may destroy some of our troops. Ironically, when Air Magic secondary skill level is increased, there are more situations where Chain Lightning is not a good choice, as it strikes 5 stacks instead of 4 (i.e. fighting against enemy with 4 stacks makes Chain Lightning undesirable). Thus, low amount of stacks is a way to resist this powerful spell. If you fight against wandering monsters, consider having a little army, so that your enemies will form many small stacks, and you kill them with Chain Lightning.

Chain Lightning on the other hand only strikes the closest creature from last one, so if enemies have a lot of stacks, ar machines and etc it will still only attack the enemy.

A way to defend your tower army from lightning strikes is just to have Golems as your closest impact creature. Iron Golems will absorb 75% of the magic damage, making your losses negligible.