Fortress

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Fully upgraded Fortress

Fortress is a Neutral alignment town, home to the Beastmaster and Witch hero classes.

Fortress represents Tatalia.

The native terrain of Fortress is Swamp.

"Fortress towns are built at the edge of swamps and are often used as bases by the Beastmaster and Witch hero classes. Their armies are primarily made up of deadly creatures — born of the swamps, and then subdued and trained for warfare. While among them there is only one ranged attack creature, Fortress units are possessed of many special abilities to offset this deficiency." Restoration of Erathia Manual

Fortress Buildings[edit source]

Toggle Fortress Building Tree

Fortress Building Tree
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Building Category
Cost Horn of the Abyss Shadow of Death
Common Buildings
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37000

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45

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40

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-

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Mage Guild
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4000

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15

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15

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10

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10

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10

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10

Dwellings
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45400

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105

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50

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19

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39

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-

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Unique Buildings
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6000

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20

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Total Building Cost
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92400

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185

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105

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29

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49

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10

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10

Weekly Troop Cost
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26660

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2

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Common Buildings[edit source]

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Halls
Village Hall
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-

Town Hall
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2500

City Hall
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5000

Capitol
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10000

Fortifications
Fort
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5000

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20

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20

Citadel
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2500

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-

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5

Castle
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5000

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10

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10

Miscellaneous Buildings
Tavern
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500

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5

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Marketplace
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500

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5

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Resource Silo
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5000

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-

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5

Blacksmith
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1000

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5

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Mage Guild
Mage Guild Level 1
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2000

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5

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Mage Guild Level 2
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1000

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5

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4

Mage Guild Level 3
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1000

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5

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6

Banned Spells
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Disguise.png
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Creature Dwellings[edit source]

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Building
Cost Horn of the Abyss Shadow of Death
Creature
Max/Wk
Cost/Wk
Gnoll Hut
Upg. Gnoll Hut
Lizard Den
Upg. Lizard Den
Serpent Fly Hive
Upg. Serpent Fly Hive
Basilisk Pit
Upg. Basilisk Pit
Gorgon Lair
Upg. Gorgon Lair
Wyvern Nest
Upg. Wyvern Nest
Hydra Pond
Upg. Hydra Pond
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400

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10

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-

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-

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1000

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10

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1000

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5

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1000

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5

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1000

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2

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2

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1000

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2

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2

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2000

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10

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2000

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5

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2500

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10

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10

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5

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5

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-

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2000

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5

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5

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3500

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15

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3000

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10

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10000

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10

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10

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15000

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10

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10

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20

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Creature portrait Gnoll small.gifCreature portrait Gnoll small.gif
Creature portrait Gnoll Marauder small.gifCreature portrait Gnoll Marauder small.gif
Creature portrait Lizardman small.gifCreature portrait Lizardman small.gif
Creature portrait Lizard Warrior small.gifCreature portrait Lizard Warrior small.gif
Creature portrait Serpent Fly small.gifCreature portrait Serpent Fly small.gif
Creature portrait Dragon Fly small.gifCreature portrait Dragon Fly small.gif
Creature portrait Basilisk small.gifCreature portrait Basilisk small.gif
Creature portrait Greater Basilisk small.gifCreature portrait Greater Basilisk small.gif
Creature portrait Gorgon small.gifCreature portrait Gorgon small.gif
Creature portrait Mighty Gorgon small.gifCreature portrait Mighty Gorgon small.gif
Creature portrait Wyvern small.gifCreature portrait Wyvern small.gif
Creature portrait Wyvern Monarch small.gifCreature portrait Wyvern Monarch small.gif
Creature portrait Hydra small.gifCreature portrait Hydra small.gif
Creature portrait Chaos Hydra small.gifCreature portrait Chaos Hydra small.gif
30
18
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8
6
4
2
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Unique Buildings[edit source]

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Building
Cost Horn of the Abyss Shadow of Death
Description
Glyphs of Fear
Blood Obelisk
Cage of Warlords
Captain's Quarters
Shipyard
Carnivorous Plant
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1000

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1000

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1000

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1000

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2000

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20

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Gives a garrisoned hero +2 Attack while defending in siege combat.
Gives a garrisoned hero +2 Defense while defending in siege combat.
Gives visiting allied heroes +1 Defense permanently.
Horde Building. +6 Gnoll and Gnoll Marauder growth per week.
Allows the player to purchase boats if the town is next to water.
Grail Structure. +5000 Gold/day. +50% creature growth. Gives a garrisoned hero +10 Attack and Defense while defending in siege combat.

Heroes[edit source]

Name Class Expansion Source Specialty Skill 1 Skill 2 Spell
BronBron Bron    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Basilisks small.png  Basilisks Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Resistance  Basic Resistance  Shadow of Death 
BronBron Bron    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Basilisks small.png  Basilisks Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Interference  Basic Interference Horn of the Abyss 
DrakonDrakon Drakon    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Gnolls small.png  Gnolls Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Leadership  Basic Leadership  
WystanWystan Wystan    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Lizardmen small.png  Lizardmen Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Archery  Basic Archery  
TazarTazar Tazar    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Armorer small.png  Armorer Advanced Armorer  Advanced Armorer    
AlkinAlkin Alkin    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Gorgons small.png  Gorgons Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Offense  Basic Offense  
KorbacKorbac Korbac    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Serpent Flies small.png  Serpent Flies Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Pathfinding  Basic Pathfinding  
GerwulfGerwulf Gerwulf    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Ballista small.png  Ballista Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Artillery  Basic Artillery  
BroghildBroghild Broghild    Beastmaster Beastmaster   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Wyverns small.png  Wyverns Basic Armorer  Basic Armorer   Basic Scouting  Basic Scouting  
MirlandaMirlanda Mirlanda    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Weakness small.png  Weakness Advanced Wisdom  Advanced Wisdom     Weakness small.png Weakness 
RosicRosic Rosic    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Mysticism small.png  Mysticism Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Mysticism  Basic Mysticism   Magic Arrow small.png Magic Arrow 
VoyVoy Voy    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Navigation small.png  Navigation Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Navigation  Basic Navigation   Slow small.png Slow 
KinkeriaKinkeria Kinkeria    Witch Witch   4 - Horn of the Abyss Specialty Learning small.png  Learning Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Learning  Basic Learning   Slow small.png Slow 
VerdishVerdish Verdish    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty First Aid small.png  First Aid Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic First Aid  Basic First Aid   Protection from Fire small.png Protection from Fire 
MeristMerist Merist    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Stone Skin small.png  Stone Skin Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Learning  Basic Learning   Stone Skin small.png Stone Skin 
StygStyg Styg    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Sorcery small.png  Sorcery Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Sorcery  Basic Sorcery   Shield small.png Shield 
AndraAndra Andra    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Intelligence small.png  Intelligence Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Intelligence  Basic Intelligence  Dispel small.png Dispel 
TivaTiva Tiva    Witch Witch   1 - Restoration of Erathia Specialty Eagle Eye small.png  Eagle Eye Basic Wisdom  Basic Wisdom   Basic Eagle Eye  Basic Eagle Eye   Stone Skin small.png Stone Skin 

Creatures[edit source]

 Name   Town   Lvl   Att   Def   Dmg-   Dmg+   HP   Spd   Grw   AI Val   Cost   Special 














Gnoll Gnoll Gnoll Gnoll   Town portrait Fortress small.png 1 3 5 2 3 6 4 12 56 50 Gold    
Gnoll Marauder Gnoll Marauder Gnoll Marauder Gnoll Marauder   Town portrait Fortress small.png 1+ 4 6 2 3 6 5 12 90 70 Gold    
Lizardman Lizardman Lizardman Lizardman   Town portrait Fortress small.png 2 5 6 2 3 14 4 9 126 110 Gold   Ranged (12 shots) 
Lizard Warrior Lizard Warrior Lizard Warrior Lizard Warrior   Town portrait Fortress small.png 2+ 6 8 2 5 15 5 9 156 140 Gold   Ranged (24 shots) 
Serpent Fly Serpent Fly Serpent Fly Serpent Fly   Town portrait Fortress small.png 3 7 9 2 5 20 9 8 268 220 Gold   Flying, Dispel 
Dragon Fly Dragon Fly Dragon Fly Dragon Fly   Town portrait Fortress small.png 3+ 8 10 2 5 20 13 8 312 240 Gold   Flying, Dispel, Weakness 
Basilisk Basilisk Basilisk Basilisk   Town portrait Fortress small.png 4 11 11 6 10 35 5 4 552 325 Gold   Petrify 
Greater Basilisk Greater Basilisk Greater Basilisk Greater Basilisk   Town portrait Fortress small.png 4+ 12 12 6 10 40 7 4 714 400 Gold   Petrify 
Gorgon Gorgon Gorgon Gorgon   Town portrait Fortress small.png 5 10 14 12 16 70 5 3 890 525 Gold    
Mighty Gorgon Mighty Gorgon Mighty Gorgon Mighty Gorgon   Town portrait Fortress small.png 5+ 11 16 12 16 70 6 3 1028 600 Gold   Death stare 10% chance/unit 
Wyvern Wyvern Wyvern Wyvern   Town portrait Fortress small.png 6 14 14 14 18 70 7 2 1350 800 Gold   Flying 
Wyvern Monarch Wyvern Monarch Wyvern Monarch Wyvern Monarch   Town portrait Fortress small.png 6+ 14 14 18 22 70 11 2 1518 1100 Gold   Flying, Poison 
Hydra Hydra Hydra Hydra   Town portrait Fortress small.png 7 16 18 25 45 175 5 1 4120 2200 Gold   No enemy retaliation, Attack all adjacent enemies 
Chaos Hydra Chaos Hydra Chaos Hydra Chaos Hydra   Town portrait Fortress small.png 7+ 18 20 25 45 250 7 1 5931 3500 Gold 1 Sulfur  No enemy retaliation, Attack all adjacent enemies 

Town Names[edit source]

Unless specified by the mapmaker, towns will generate with a random name. Fortress towns will use one of these following names:

Backwater Coolmire Deadfall Deadwood
Drakenmoor Edgewater Hermit Cove Lostmoor
Marshank Marshchoke Marshwall Mossden
Mosswood Mudshire Silt Stillbog

If there are more Fortress towns on the map than possible names, they will use names taken from other towns.

User Commentary

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

  • While among them there is only one ranged-attack creature, Fortress units possess many special abilities to offset this deficiency.

Pros:

  • High defense (Defense themed town)
  • With a two-hex moat and several buildings which increase the stats of the defending hero, a Fortress castle is a real pain to attack. So the Fortress moat is considered as the best moat in the game due to usefulness thanks to two-hex wide that make harder to attack a Fortress castle without support of shooters, flyers and spells.
  • Hand-to-hand troops with excellent specials (Dispel, Death Stare, Petrify, Poison).
  • Dragon Flies are extremely fast. They share 8th place by speed among town units with Efreet Sultans (not including 7 level creatures, these two are fastest in the game), being faster than all creatures in Tower and Stronghold - and it's on level 3! For early development, it rocks, since the hero may simply rush through the map having Dragon Flies only (even basic Serpent Flies are ok, as their speed 9 is decent); and in a big battle, they are a major problem since they remove positive spells casted on enemy units and cast Weakness, making them less effective. They are also good creatures in terms of speed per cost ratio for scouting heroes at early game and/or towns with slow armies.
  • Their swamp native terrain makes them move much faster than any hero (without pathfinding) in the swamp.
  • The Wyvern Nest is very cheap and has very low requirements compared to the other level 6 dwellings, allowing the Fortress town to get level 6 units in their army early even on impossible difficulty.
  • Bron is the only hero in the game to bring level 4 units - Basilisks - with him at the start of the game. (Except Illor and Todd in HotA.) Horn of the Abyss

Cons:

  • Fortress creatures have the lowest attack ratings of all towns.
  • The heavy focus on Defense can be disadvantageous in many cases, as a hero with high attack can kill their enemies before they have a chance to attack back. Attack can therefore be used as a type of defense, while defense cannot be used as offense.
  • The big focus on Defense, combined with the fact that Fortress only has one shooter, makes it more difficult for it to win battles without casualties, than the other factions.
  • Magic, Mage Guild is limited to level 3.
  • Some creatures have poor stats (in Shadow of Death, as well as Restoration of Erathia patch 1.3 and Armageddon's Blade patch 2.1, some stats for Lizardman/Lizard Warrior and Serpent Fly/Dragon Fly were increased, but overall they are still relatively weak).
  • Very slow 7 level creature, especially the basic version (with speed 5, Hydra is slower than six level 1 creatures, and there is no upgraded level 1 creature slower than Hydra; among level 2 melee units, only Dwarf, Walking Dead, and Zombie are slower). Moreover, Chaos Hydras are more expensive than Ancient Behemoths who are stronger, faster and more resilient.
  • Wyverns are on the bottom of the 6th level, have low HP, and are too expensive for their strength (Monarchs cost as much as Efreet Sultans, and more than War Unicorns).
  • With two fragile fliers (lvl 3 with 20 hp, lvl 6 with 70 hp) and one low-level shooter, the Fortress has a very hard time invading other towns properly. So Expert Ballistics, Expert Teleport and/or Expert Earthquake are a must.

The fortress is a "Defense" themed town. It's evident all throughout the design of this faction. The castle itself has a double-thickness moat, and many tough, resilient creatures such as Basilisks, Gorgons, and the immovable Hydra which can make fortress hypothetically the hardest town to siege. Even the native terrain of swamp plays into this theme because many opposing heroes will be severely hindered in the area around your town.

Unfortunately, having a tough defense is usually not ideal strategy in Heroes III as it is a game that favors aggression and outward expansion. Most players rank the fortress as among the weakest towns, and typically if you don't expand to other towns in the first few weeks, you'll most likely be outpaced by other players or NPCs. Pick a strong beastmaster as your hero and begin pounding on wandering creatures as early as possible (you'll suffer losses, but fortress creatures are hard to wipe out).


See also[edit source]