Sylas the Fisher of Souls glaring at his next prey
“My name is Sylas. You killed my family. Prepare to die.”
Summary of Sylas
Since the King killed his family for fishing the wrong fish, Sylas seeks revenge and he’ll kill every King’s Guard and Hero to do it!
His entire gameplay is having a Bounty, getting +1 attack for each Bounty stack, and not dying. It’s more dangerous playing as him than other Heroes. But it’s so fun and, if played right, a big shot at victory!
Sylas’ Strengths
Sylas is more versatile than other Heroes because of his 3 Spirit and Wits combined with high Fight and Body. He can cast most spells without sacrificing strength in battle.
Still, Sylas can be stressful to play as. Sometimes you need to scramble to avoid being at or under 3 health while being Wanted. Still, for players wanting survivability, this is a trade worth making.
Sylas is effectively an anti-King’s guard hero with his Butcher ability. Butcher also means that you get Attack without items which means you can save money on those.
His high Body and Fight means Sylas has a high chance of surviving any battle. That, and you have a 50-50 chance of getting the extra reward in Body and Fight Quests.
King’s Guards become less of a threat because of Butcher’s piercing ability towards them. Even if they kill you, they’ll go down with you. Then again that’s probably what Sylas wants.
Opinion and Analysis
Playing as Sylas is risky, but high reward if you can stay alive. You need to keep your Body above 3 if you want to keep someone from claiming your bounty. On the other hand, having +3 attack, piercing against King’s Guards, is useful for fending off those other pesky Heroes.
He’s fun to play as since his Hero ability gives the player something to keep in mind. Your opponents will have to choose whether to attack you and risk getting annihilated. This limbo offers some level of protection.
Sylas excels against other Heroes who focus on Fight as he can match and/or beat them at their game. Still, an Immolation or Lightning strike from a high Spirit Hero can ruin your game.
Tips and Advice
Success with Sylas needs some luck and armor items. Getting mostly armor items early, including Treasure items like Helm of Heroes, is a must! As long as Sylas has armor and high Body, he can dominate the board.
Having at least +3 armor from items would be preferable. Best armor items would be the following: Tower Shield, Leather Armor, Chainmail Shirt, and/or Battle Armor.
Pick Serendibite as your ring, as you get Gold for each King’s Guard you kill which is basically most of Sylas’ gameplay. Sometimes I think that Ring was added just for him.
To stay alive (the other half of Sylas’ gameplay) pick the Soak, Grow, or Resist Amulet. Those will help you survive a Sharpshooter or Lightning Strike.
If you get Bounty, play it to yourself when it’s safe, such as after you have one armor Item Card equipped. Best way to build Butcher stacks quickly is to kill a King’s Guard, and then play Bounty to yourself. 2 Butcher stacks in one turn!
For Quests, get at least 1 Wit Quest to give you more Item/Spell choices. After that, at least 1 of both Fight and Body Quests should be enough to solidify your combat strength.
For Treasures, you guessed it, pick the armor ones like Royal Shield and Helm of Heroes. Unless you’re going for a Rot Victory, then build Treasures like Reaper’s Trident and Bane Blade. A Corrupted Sylas with full Butcher stacks is basically immortal.
Sylas Pros
King’s Guards become prey because the Butcher ability pierces their armor. You can just fight them without skirting around like everyone else…as long as you don’t die!
Have enough stacks of Butcher and you can beat basically anyone. +3 swords are tough to beat, even if they aren’t piercing. Thus, you have a good chance of victory against most Heroes.
Because he has high Fight and Body stats along with 3 Spirit, Sylas has high survivability. He can use most spells without needing to complete a Spirit Quest.
Combined with the Serendibite ring, Sylas can make bank off killing King’s Guards. You don’t need Settlements as much when you can just kill a Guard or two.
Sylas Cons
Having a Bounty is also your greatest weakness as now everyone wants to kill you. And, assuming someone builds enough armor (looking at you, Barnaby) you can be taken out, regardless of Butcher stacks.
Also, Butcher makes you a huge target for a Sharpshooter and/or other damaging Spell Cards. Thus, you’ll have to stay at or above 4 Health most of the time to keep others from claiming the Bounty.
The low starting Wits means you won’t have much choice of armor and weapons. You may have to burn a lot of cards to find the ones you want.
Sylas needs more patience than other Heroes. You’ll have to wait three turns to be a certified Traitor, and most players won’t want you to reach that point. Thus, endurance is needed more.
Choose Sylas if…
If you’re an otter enthusiast (like myself), definitely give Sylas a go! He’s more violent and cruel than you may like. Think of him like an otter version of Drax the Destroyer.
You want a high-risk, high reward gameplay. Sylas can be a tough cookie and fight his way all the way to the King. You just need the guts to do it.
You want a strong fighting Hero. Sylas has enough Fight to be safe from other Heroes, but enough Wits and Spirit to be one step ahead.
Like playing the dark side? Building Sylas with Rot can be very rewarding and getting health from kills is better when you’re a Butcher.
You want an easier path to a Prestige Victory. Since, Sylas can kill other Heroes and not technically lose Prestige when killing King’s Guards, he can be Prestige Leader all game.
Sylas Power Rating: 89/100
2. Fang the Exiled
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Fang the Exiled roaring as he hits Slaughter on an unfortunate Thane player
Summary of Fang
Corrupted by the Rot, Fang was sent away from his home. Still, he’s the fiercest Hero to play as and, with his Berzerker ability, he can defeat any Hero he fights…Assuming he causes enough damage for a Slaughter that is.
Fang’s Strengths
Offense and Rot. Those are the two routes Fang dominates in. Picking off weaker enemies is especially a strength of his. You also don’t have to worry about playing nice since you can just kill whoever’s in your way.
If you hadn’t guessed it, Fang is a kill-everything-in-my-path kind of Hero. This makes it fun to play him if I want to not die from combat.
Since he starts with 1 Rot, his path to a Rot Victory is already shorter. This is great for Players who prefer that sort of Victories.
Opinion and Analysis
Fang is my go-to if I want a Rot victory kind of game. His starting with one Rot means your path is pretty much already set for that. The Spoil and Ruin Amulets become your two options for him.
Against most Heroes, Fang wins in battle. But heroes with high Spirit can be a pain because their spells can weaken Fang. Also, if other players build armor up, it becomes harder to kill them, much less trigger Berzerker.
That and also, he cannot cast most spells when starting out. This can be a bad thing and drags on your gameplay until you get +1 Spirit. While tiresome, one Spirit Quest is a minor setback that is easily remedied.
Fang is a glass cannon. While he is undefeatable when attacking, he’s easier to kill when defending. Unless you’re willing to commit to at least 2 attack items and to a lot of fighting, Fang’s not for you.
Tips and Advice
While he can crush basically anyone, Fang needs the attack to make it happen. That and you have to watch your health! Balance improving his fighting with helping his lacking Wits and Spirit.
Build at least two items that give you +1 attack. Best two items to get would be the Bastard Sword and the War Hammer.
After getting attack items, find and equip one good armor item. The Tower Shield or Chainmail Armor are best because they’ll make defending easier.
If you want the Rotten path, Ruin or Spoil are the Amulets you want. They’ll help build up Rot quickly so you can choose those Rot Quests.
However, if you don’t want to go for a Rot Victory, pick the Grow Amulet. It’ll counter the -1 health you get at dawn from the Rot.
For your Quests, finish a Spirit quest as your second Quest. You’ll need 3 Spirit to use most of the more useful spell cards. After that focus on Body, Fight, and Rot Quests.
I always choose Rubellite as my ring because it basically guarantees that I’ll win every fight. However, Onyx is great for getting enough gold to buy what you need. It’s really about whether you want to rely on skill (Rubellite) or your Item Cards (Onyx).
Keep an eye on your health! Even if you’re not going for a Rot victory, Fang’s initial corruption means you’ll lose one health every dawn. Unless you’re running Rubellite, avoid swamps if possible.
Fang Pros
High Fight and combat strength. Fang, more than even other Wolf Clan Heroes, can defeat any combatant, especially with his Berzerker ability. This makes farming Banes all the easier too.
Fight and Body Quests are easier to get bonus rewards from. If you’re lucky to get a Fight Quest that gives a Treasure like the Silver Lance or Bane Blade, take it! You’ll most likely win.
Other players will want to avoid you which is a definite plus. Between being near a killing machine and staying alive, most people choose the latter. I know I do!
Killing the King becomes much easier when you’re facing him. All you need is 4 hits, and it doesn’t matter how much attack he builds. He’s already dead.
His Berzerker howl is epic to listen to. Seriously, turn up the volume and let the roar thunder in your eardrums!
Fang Cons
Unless you’re lucky and get The Cleansing Wyld or meet the Druids early in the game, you’re basically stuck going for Rot Victories. It’s not easy being the bad guy all the time.
Because Fang has only 2 Spirit, most spells cannot be used at the start of your game. So, you’ll have to either complete one Spirit Quest or equip the Feel Amulet.
Limited Wits means limited cards. You’ll have to burn them, preferably in combat, to find Item and Spell Cards for you.
You become vulnerable when it’s not your turn. Berzerker only applies when you’re attacking, and other players can kill you when you’re not Berzerking.
Choose Fang if...
You LOVE building Rot. Fang’s starting Rot is a good foundation to go to the dark side.
You like killing other people and ruining their day. It’s fun killing other players and hearing Fang’s howl as they lose their progress.
You want survivability. Fang is more vulnerable when defending, but he’s still not weak. Even defending, you’ll be hard to kill.
You want an easier Prestige Victory. Because Fang is a wrecking ball with a howl, he can kill Heroes and Banes endlessly and build up Prestige.
You want a better shot at killing the King. It’s easier killing him when you can banish his dice like he didn’t roll anything.
Fang Power Rating: 79/100
3. Barnaby, Screwloose
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Barnaby the Screwloose rolling his dice in combat
Summary of Barnaby
The smithy of Armello, Barnaby canters around with his pack and oversized hammer. His ability, Tinkerer, and his large pool of Body and Wits makes him dangerous if played the right way.
Barnaby’s Strengths
Barnaby is great at changing to situations, as long as he has the right Item Cards. Having enough Wits for 4 extra items, he can swap between, if your hand has only Item Cards, 7 items.
Also, Barnaby has a lot of health (6 Body points) which means he can take some punishment. That, combined with his ability to swap out weapons and armor, means he could take on just about any Hero, even Fang.
Opinion and Analysis
Barnaby’s kit is unusual and takes some time getting used to. I had to play several games before I realized the true power of Barnaby’s abilities.
The biggest thing to get used to is knowing what Item Cards you want to keep and which to burn in Perils and battle. This will depend on who you’re playing against and what they’re going for. Also, the game itself will influence your moves.
For example, if you’re up against, say, Fang, Horace, or Zosha, you’ll want to build armor immediately. Against weaker Heroes, maybe a mix of armor, weapons, and miscellaneous items like the Sailor’s Lantern.
Get a variety of items for different situations so you can react to them. For instance, two armor items, one attack item, a Sailor’s Lantern, and an Adventurer's Kit are the best items to have on hand. Thus, you can swap out when the situation calls for it.
For example, say you need to encounter a Peril and then fight a Hero with high attack items. You can equip the Adventurer’s Kit and Sailor’s Lantern to see what Peril it is, and so beat it accordingly. Then, when you reach the Hero, swap out the Kit and Lantern for the armor.
Tips and Advice
Knowing which items to have for situations is key. Get a balance of item cards that are defensive and attack.
Look at what the other players are using on their heroes before attacking them. That way you’ll know to fight Brun with Hand Cannons while he has +3 armor from his Item Cards.
Concerning Quests, you need to complete at least 2 Wits and 1 Fight Quest. This gives you an extra card and more strength to fight. Also, a Spirit quest would help push up Barnaby’s Spirit deficiency (Bad rabbit!)
With Amulets, Feel or Think are the two ones you have to pick. The Feel Amulet means you don’t have to waste a Quest to cast many of the game’s Spell Cards. Yet, the Think Amulet means more early choices for Item Cards and loadout changes.
For any Rabbit I play, I always pick Spinel. The +20% increase of success for your Quests is huge and means you’ll get more rewards basically all the time.
Still, for a style more fitting Barnaby’s unique mode of insanity, either Pink Topaz or Rainbow Quartz would work. Rainbow Quartz would be better as it’s a guaranteed +1 gold at dawn. That means you can buy new stuff more easily.
Barnaby Pros
Barnaby can change his loadout and basically overcome any situation. That alone is a huge advantage.
You like your Item Cards, you can keep your Item Cards. Unless someone uses Glamour on you. In which case, you cave their face in.
Barnaby has little chance of being killed. A high health pool is not easy to beat.
His ability to overcome Wits Perils is greater than most Heroes. This makes for a less distressed game.
Barnaby Cons
Wits doesn’t mean much if you only have 2 Spirit. This limits Barnaby’s spell-casting abilities.
Playing as Barnaby can be annoying if you only get mediocre items and/or consumables. Thus, it can get annoying if the game gives you terrible RNG.
Barnaby is difficult to learn. A straightforward game isn’t really possible while playing as Barnaby. It takes time getting used to your Item Cards not vanishing when you swap them out, believe me!
Choose Barnaby if...
You like swapping loadouts like in Destiny 2. Seriously, there’s little difference in picking Whisper of the Worm against Riven and Heavy Plate Armor against the King.
You like survivability on steroids. High Body points plus choosing different Item Cards mean Barnaby has little chance of dying. Unless everyone gangs up on you, so play nice!
You want a challenging yet rewarding play. Barnaby takes time mastering, but once mastered, becomes neigh unbeatable.
Barnaby Power Rating: 81/100
4. Nazar the Maniac
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Nazar the Maniac and his illusion staring at something out of sight.
Summary of Nazar
The Maniac and illusionist himself, Nazar is a loyal servant of the Rot. His powers of creating Illusions give him an edge over the other clans. With the right methods, this Hero can be the slipperiest winner of them all!
Nazar’s Strengths
Balance. Nazar can have a good choice of Cards while also having a little more Spirit to cast more lesser Spell Cards or more powerful Spell Cards.
Also, his Illusions can be useful in many areas. Including taking out all Perils except for ones in the Palace. Whaaaat!?!
Perils become easier to face since he can roll +1 dice than most Perils have. That and Quests have a larger success rate while playing Nazar.
Opinion and Analysis
Nazar is an interesting, and sometimes hard Hero to play as. His ability is simple enough, but how to use it is the issue. How to play it in a way without giving away the real Nazar is key to victory.
Nonetheless, Nazar can choose any route to progress down. His stats being equal means he can change based on his opponents and game. This is useful and makes it fun to play as him.
Personally, I enjoy playing as Nazar because he can shift to the game more easily than other Heroes. If I need more spells or to navigate more Perils, I can complete Wits and Spirit Quests to adapt.
Also, Nazar’s Illusions make for an easier game as they can take out most Perils. Yes, it takes a move. However, that is a sacrifice I’m willing to make.
Tips and Advice
Nazar’s Illusions are the greatest asset to your play, so know how you can use them. They are your not-so-secret weapon! Also, tweak your set to adjust to situations as they come.
First, you can use Illusions for trickery, and clearing away Perils. It’ll cost a movement as the Illusion only moves after you do. Still, it’s a good trade for not taking your chance against the Peril.
Also, Illusions don’t take damage from swamps, don’t have forest stealth at night, and don’t roll dungeons. That’s important because, if you want to fool the other players, you have to be smart about the Illusions.
For example, if you play an Illusion to a mountain when you have 1 move left and no ability to get into a mountain otherwise, the other Players can guess which is the real you.
Play you Illusions so that the others cannot tell what your strategy is. Be as paranoid as Nazar is.
Which Amulet you pick is up to you, depending on what you prefer to play as. Like staying alive? Pick the Soak Amulet as I often do.
If you want a truly adaptable game, Resist or Watch are your best Amulet options. These make sure that you stay alive while still being flexible enough to change your Quest strategies.
For the Ring, I’ve found that Axinite and Sulfur are the best choices for Nazar. If you want to make the most of your Illusions, pick Sulfur. That way, when you enter a swamp after casting an Illusion, no one can tell which is the real one.
Pick the Quests that best suit the victory you’re going for. Since Nazar has balanced traits, you have a 40-60/50-50 shot at extra rewards from Quests.
Speaking of Quests, complete at least one Body Quest to make sure you don’t die. After that 1 Spirit Quest and 1 Fight Quest should give you enough strength to battle and to cast powerful spells.
Nazar Pros
His Illusions can take out Perils. I mean the Illusion just walks in and, hey presto, no more peril!
Because all of his traits (Fight, Body, Wits, and Spirit) are 4, he’s very balanced. Nazar has a higher chance of succeeding at Quest gambles than other Heroes.
Because of Nazar’s unique versatility, he can pick basically any path to victory. You can build his Fight and Wits for a Battle victory or use Nazar’s stats to get Spirit Stones from every Quest.
Being from the Dragon Clan means Nazar can be Infected by 2 Rot, yet not add those to his enemy’s dice. So, if you need a Leech or Hot Rot Wine to advance, well it won’t be too much of a bother, will it?
Nazar Cons
He can go from 4 to 0 health quicker than a wink. More so than most other Heroes you’ll have to keep an eye on Nazar’s health.
Also, 4 Fight isn’t as bad as 3, but still weak compared to most other Heroes. Thus, until a Fight Quest is done, avoiding combat is the only option.
Figuring out where to go with Nazar, quest-wise, can be trouble. Even with his adaptability, the game can pull the rug out from under you quicker than a wink.
Nazar is more complicated simply because of his Illusions. Where you place them can mean the difference between life and death.
Choose Nazar if...
You like playing mind games with your opponents. Illusions can really mess with your enemies if you play it right.
You want less Perils in your game. His Illusions do great work in clearing your way.
You like going down the Corrupted path. Dragon Clan Heroes, because of their Rot affinity, are the best to choose for that victory.
You want a higher chance at the extra rewards from quests (and who doesn’t?!?). Even a minor boost from spell or item cards can push Nazar to a better chance at getting that sweet Lionheart Breastplate.
Nazar Power Rating: 86/100
5. Elyssia, Wardess of Warrens
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Elyssia, Wardess of Warrens, looking over construction plans.
Summary of Elyssia
The Annabeth Chase of Armello, Elyssia has no invisibility cap. Still, she has a hammer, a huge measuring stick, and Wits enough to fortify victory. Her Settlement retention is best among the Heroes and can be key to her victory.
Elyssia’s Strengths
Elyssia is strong in building Gold and playing Trickery Cards, unusual for a Rabbit. Since she can secure Gold from Settlements, she can play a lot of Trickery Cards with the added reduction from Settlements.
Speaking of Settlements, (hehe), they’re easier to keep with Elyssia’s ability. Or rather, Settlements you claim can be harder to lose since they’re Fortified. And you can enter them easily!
Also, Elyssia has stronger chances of winning a Battle Victory, assuming she has at least 4 Fight. Having more cards means she can burn more cards and get a greater advantage in Perils and Combat.
Opinion and Analysis
Elyssia is both a burden and relief. On the one hand, I’m obliged to Fortify every Settlement I enter. Yet, I also am, mostly, guaranteed that I’ll keep them.
Elyssia can be built on like the buildings and warrens she makes. For instance, she has the potential to be strong in combat if she completes enough Fight Quests. Buffed up from 3 Fight to 5 Fight with 5 Wits can be deadly to any opponent, including the King.
However, you’ll have to be patient while building up your Fight. She’s weaker than other Heroes starting off.
Fortunately, the combination of keeping Settlements as well as 5 Wits means you can find the Item Cards you need to survive and afford them. Thus, Elyssia, while not as strong battle-wise, can be molded into a survivor.
Tips and Advice
Fortifying and securing Settlements are key to Elyssia's strategy. Also, getting enough stats to survive will be needed.
Stop at every and any Settlement in your path and Fortify it. It seems like a drag but having a lot of little forts means more Gold and sanctuary for you.
For Item Cards, one armor item and a weapon go a long way to keeping Elyssia alive until you have enough Fight to counter other Heroes. The Lord’s Specter is perfect for farming gold and Prestige from your Settlements.
I always pick Scratch as my Amulet. It makes getting to 6 Fight easier and means I can complete more Wits and Body Quests.
For any Rabbit I play now, I always pick Spinel. The +20% increase of success for your Quests is huge and means you’ll get more rewards basically all the time. Elyssia benefits from the Spinel Ring as she gets more rewards which can improve her position.
On the subject of Quests, make sure to complete at least 2 Fight Quests if possible. This makes living a lot easier. Along with those, complete at least 1 of both Body and Wits Quests.
Once she has 1-2 Settlements under her belt, Trickery Cards become more of an asset to her. Have 1-2 Trickery Cards in hand to play to your captured Settlements. You cannot trust Fortified walls to protect them themselves unfortunately.
The best Trickery Cards to play to your captured and Fortified Settlements are the following: Welcoming Party, Mercenaries, Patronage and Industry (even more gold!), and Sharpshooter. If you can play a Cursed Lands or Agent of Misfortune to your Peril-ridden Settlements, do it.
If you find yourself pushed towards the path of the Rot, continue down it. Elyssia can become powerful when buffed with Rot. I’ve won many games with Corrupted Elyssia.
Elyssia Pros
She won’t lack a choice of cards! 5 Wits means the odds can be in your favor.
Settlements are more easily retained which means more Gold. Also, it means you’ll have discounts on those sweet Trickery Cards!
Also, Settlements become safe havens for Elyssia. She just needs to jump into one for extra defense.
A large Wits pool means Elyssia can have a lot of Cards. This also means she’s better at conquering Perils.
Elyssia Cons
She’s weak in battle. Even with the Scratch Amulet, Elyssia isn’t strong enough to fight most Heroes early game.
Her ability relies on her getting and keeping Settlements. Thus, if you lose them, either by a Revolt or them being claimed by another Hero, you have no advantage.
Elyssia needs to buff up her Fight in order to have a shot at killing the King. Thus, it can be a drag to find ways to buff her up.
Choose Elyssia if...
You want more Gold in your game and more Settlements. Elyssia’s ability means other players will have to pay to steal your Settlements.
You want an easier time overcoming Perils. Elyssia’s high Wits pool means she can overcome many Wits Perils.
You want a more secure game. Having enough money to play Perils and Item Cards is a huge advantage that Elyssia’s ability can keep.
Elyssia Power Rating: 65/100
6. Thane, the Winter Wolf
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Thane the Winter Wolf, holding his shoulder.
Summary of Thane
A classic Armello Hero, Thane is the heir to the Wolf Clan’s leadership and the original Fight-oriented Hero. While more straightforward than most other Heroes, simpler can be better for victory.
Thane’s Strengths
Thane is a fighter, as testified by his 5 Body and 5 Fight. He can survive almost any Hero that fights him. That and his sword-piercing ability gives him an edge.
Along with the Fight, Thane also has 3 Spirit which makes him, unlike most other Fight oriented Heroes, able to cast more spells. This is a huge advantage when it comes to Spell Cards like Teleport and Evil Eye.
Opinion and Analysis
Thane, as mentioned before, is a simpler Fight-oriented Hero. He doesn’t have Fang’s Berzerker or Sylas’ Butcher. However, these actually make Thane stronger in his way.
Thane is great to play as when I want a character that has an edge in Fight without becoming a target. Also, having 3 Spirit means one less Spirit Quest to worry about. Most Spell Cards are affordable with Thane.
He has Sylas’ stats but not his need for being Wanted. He has enough Wits to become smarter without sacrificing Fight Quests. Thane is perfect for building up his Fight while keeping up with the spellcasters and tricksters.
Tips and Advice
Increase your Wits as soon as you can. Without Cards with the sword symbol on them, Thane’s ability is basically useless. Combine that with getting sword Cards to rule the game.
Complete at least 2 Wits Quests in your game to maximize your piercing power!
Along with those Two Wits Quests, complete at least 1 Body and 1 Fight Quest. Or if you want to use the more powerful Spells, get 1 Fight Quest and 2 Spirit Quests.
For items, get two armor items. If you have at least +3 Armor going into battle, for any Hero but Thane in particular, you’re basically unkillable. Also, Thane’s ability means he can pierce through armor without needing to roll attack.
For Amulets, Think is an excellent choice for Thane. More Wits means more sword Cards to get your point across. Alternatively, the Grow and Resist Amulets are useful for survivability if you want more of that.
With the Rings, Rubellite is what I often choose since it makes Thane virtually unconquerable in a fight. Yet, if you want more flexibility and movement, equip the Celestite Ring.
Always have at least one sword Card in your hand. And, unless you’re against a +3 defense Hero, don’t use all the swords at once. Save them and pick your fights wisely.
Burn through cards that you don’t need to make sure you can keep that 1 sword quota. Fortunately, Thane’s Spirit level means he can cast most spell cards.
Thane Pros
Thane is basically Sylas, but without the need for the Bounty. Thus, Thane can take on anyone without worrying about giving them a Prestige victory if he dies.
Thane’s ability means most enemies cannot beat him without dying first to him. A well-played piercing sword can mean a sweet victory for you.
Having 5 Body and Fight means that Thane will live, theoretically, longer than most other Heroes. It’s harder to kill someone like that in combat.
Thane, since he has 3 Spirit and Wits, can build upon those without needing to be urgent about them. Unlike his fellow Wolf Clan Hero, Fang, Thane doesn’t need to boost his Spirit first.
He’s best for Prestige and Battle Victories. There are fewer Heroes who can take combat to the next level as Thane does.
Thane Cons
Low Spirit and Wits means less chance of extra rewards with those Quests. Sometimes brawn isn’t better than brains, I guess.
Also, low Wits means that Thane cannot have more than 3 sword Item Cards to burn. Thus, unless the player takes time to push his Wits pool higher for more swords, his ability is somewhat useless.
While 3 Spirit is better than 2, it still doesn’t leave much room for playing spell cards. Burning through Spell Cards can get tiring.
Choose Thane if...
You want a Battle or Prestige Victory. Thane’s natural combat skills means he’s a match for the King and whatever he throws at him!
You want survivability combined with the ability to fight. Unlike Barnaby, Fang has stronger Fight and an ability tailor-made for fighting other Heroes.
You want a simpler Hero to carry to victory. Thane’s skillset is simpler and thus easier to use when carrying out your killing of the King.
Thane Power Rating: 80/100
7. Agniya the Revenant
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Agniya the Revenant looking over her shoulder
Summary of Agniya
Ancient and powerful, Agniya has faithfully served the Rot for many years. With the right playstyle and Item Cards, she can ascend to the throne…assuming it’s large enough for her.
Agniya’s Strengths
Agniya excels at surviving through killing. Her ability, Consecrate, means she’ll be healed for each enemy she’s killed.
Combine her ability and her 6 Body pool and she has much higher survivability than other Heroes, even Barnaby. If you prefer not dying and losing progress, she’s for you!
Also, Agniya is perfect to advance down the Corrupted path. Her Rot Affinity combined with her passive means she can regain health back quickly from every kill and truly be unkillable.
Like Thane, her 3 Spirit and Wits makes her perfect for building into more of both. She can easily access the higher spells like Dark Influence after some Quest completion and live to spend it.
Opinion and Analysis
Agniya is interested to play as, and not just because she towers over everyone else. Her ability means that battle becomes a lifeline like no other Hero has. It also means seeking out fights more than other Heroes do.
She, along with Fang, is a go-to for the Corrupted path. Restoring +1 health after killing someone when Corrupted interacts well with Consecrate. Together, it becomes a recipe for limitless health.
Of course, the only way for Agniya to live long enough to get anything from Consecrate is to have enough Fight. Fortunately, 1 Fight Quest and/or the Scratch Amulet is enough to give her that edge.
Overall, Agniya is a good choice if you want to fight with the chance of living afterwards, go for a Rot Victory. Or if you simply want more Survivability and flexibility in your game. Agniya can grow and live long enough to complete the necessary Quests to access the King.
Tips and Advice
Consecrate is key to Agniya's survival. However, her Fight will need to be increased to make the most of it and to achieve victory.
Build your Fight to at least 5 as soon as you can. Agniya’s ability means nothing if you cannot kill anything. Thus, completing at least 1 Fight Quest is paramount to your game.
Along with that Quest, complete at least 1 Wits Quest to gather more card options. It’ll also mean more cards to burn in battle.
Her ability triggers on your next turn. That means you have to stay alive until you get your health back.
To stay alive long enough for Consecrate to work, buy armor Item Cards. Tower Shield, Chainmail Shirt, Leather Armor, and Battle Armor are all great options, and you should have at least one of those equipped.
For Amulets, Scratch is what I always pick as it makes full use of Consecrate. However, if you want to dive straight into the Corrupted path, pick Spoil or Decay.
For Rings, it depends on whether you want more combat strength or health retention. Axinite works great for mass killing and building Consecrate stacks. Alternatively, Sulfur makes sure that you don’t lose health from swamps.
I always pick Sulfur as it works better at keeping Agniya in full health. Combined with the Scratch Amulet, I become harder to kill and healthy as a…turtle?
Pick your prey carefully. If you’re low on health, find a weaker Hero or Bane to kill. Don’t attack King’s Guards unless you absolutely have no choice.
Agniya Pros
High survival rate. It’s hard killing a giant turtle with a high Body and post-killing regeneration.
Like Nazar, Agniya has the Dragon Clan’s Rot affinity. That makes her difficult to slay since she doesn’t lose health at dawn. Also, the Rot Victory is easier to get.
Agniya makes victories in battle more rewarding as she regains health afterwards. So let go of your fear and beat that King to death!
Like Thane, she can easily build into higher Spirit and/or Wits without sacrificing completing Fight or Body quests.
Agniya Cons
Limited Wits means you have to build that to overcome Perils and get Item Cards. Same with Spirit which restricts your ability to cast higher spells like Banish.
Her Ability, while useful, only works after you kill something. Thus, you really need to be high in Fight to use it. Or at least to complete one Fight Quest.
No Affinity for night or day means you’re at a disadvantage for any Peril you encounter. Thus, avoiding them becomes a chore.
Choose Agniya if...
You want to stay alive. More than most other Heroes, Agniya cannot be killed.
You like going down the Corrupted path. Dragon Clan Heroes, because of their Rot affinity, are the best to choose for that victory.
You want a Prestige or Battle Victory. Agniya can stay alive to keep her Prestige and can beat the King in battle.
Agniya Power Rating: 74/100
8. Horace the Iron Poet
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Horace the Iron Poet, raising his blood-stained axe in the rain.
Summary of Horace
The last of an order of knights, Horace carries on his duty to protect Armello. In this case, he’ll have to kill the King to save him. Fortunately, his friendliness with King’s Guards and high fighting capabilities means access most Heroes would kill to have.
Horace’s Strengths
Access is a huge advantage with Horace. His 9th Knight ability means he can swap places with King’s Guards instead of fighting them. This places him ahead of other Heroes.
Fighting strength is another benefit of Horace. With 5 Fight, Horace can beat most Heroes without dying. Thus, he can maneuver the playing field with ease, fighting only when needing to.
Horace’s survivability, while not as great as Agniya, is still formidable with 6 Body. This makes him able to stay alive for many turns while completing Quests.
Opinion and Analysis
Horace is a good Hero to pick for a quicker game. The ability to swap with King’s Guards means moving around quicker. I’m partial to finishing games quicker which is why he’s a good option for that.
He is also better for combat without needing to fight anyone. What I mean is that he’s stronger at fighting, but you don’t need to fight. This means a less risky game while using his ability to the fullest.
Horace’s survivability also isn’t reliant on combat. Agniya needs to kill to use her Consecrate while Fang has to savagely attack while Corrupted. Meanwhile, Horace can live without needing to fight anyone.
Horace is a good Hero to play if you want a Thane-like game without the need to keep track of Item Cards. He also is great for Battle and Prestige victories.
Tips and Advice
Horace's ability works well with his high survival stats. Make the most of his ability and increase his Fight to win the day.
Use your 9th Knight ability to your advantage and not just to move around. For example, you can swap with a King’s Guard to block another player who’s chasing you or to guard a Settlement you captured.
Complete 1 Wits Quest and 1 Spirit Quest each. Without these, he cannot advance much anywhere. After that, 1 Fight and 1 Body Quest should be enough to guarantee victory against the King.
Pick the Celestite Ring to get more mobility. His Ability combined with crossing mountains easily means you’ll walk around like you own the place. Knight’s privilege?
I always pick the Feel Amulet to fix Horace’s lacking Spirit which feels odd to say about a poet! Alternatively, pick Favor to increase your chances of having the King’s ear. You don’t want him declaring you a wanted Badger!
If you can, get the Royal Pardon Treasure Card. With that, you can move anywhere and not have to worry about the King’s Guard. Heck, you could be standing in the palace about to kill the King and they won’t care!
For items, one armor and one weapon should be enough, Leather Armor and a Shining Steel Sword should be enough. After that, a Sailor’s Lantern or a King’s Guard Armor will keep you protected up to the King’s throne room.
Horace Pros
High accessibility. Horace’s friendship with the King’s Guards means you can be in most places even inside the palace! Assuming you keep the Bounty off you.
High survivability with Horace’s high Body pool. That combined with his ability means little, short of a coordinated attack, will stop you.
Even if you cannot complete the Quests, you can just enter the Palace and kill the King. So, you don’t necessarily have to do the long game of completing the Quests (Whew!).
High combat strength. Horace has enough Fight to stand against more Heroes and enough Body to survive the encounter.
Horace Cons
The starting lack of Spirit cripples Horace’s gameplay. Unless a Spirit Quest is undertaken or the Feel Amulet equipped, Horace isn’t good for spells.
Also, 3 Wits points doesn’t leave many options for card choices. Unless you get good RNG, you’ll have to get used to burning Cards.
Perils become a bigger issue too with the 3 Wits and Spirit. There’s a low shot of getting past them without good RNG, an Adventurer’s Kit, the Brilliant Fool, or a combination of all three.
Choose Horace if...
You want an easier time moving around the map. Navigating the map becomes easier when King’s Guards just swap places with you.
You want survivability. Horace shares Agniya’s high health and can survive most damage. Being a knight makes you tougher, I guess.
You don’t want to do all of the Quests for Palace access. Since you can trade places with King’s Guards, Palace entry becomes easier. You’re like a VIP!
You want a fighter-oriented Hero that has a non-fighting ability. While Horace can beat most enemies, he’s not required to initiate fights like Aginy or Fang.
Horace Power Rating: 68/100
9. Mercurio the Grinning Blade
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Mercurio the Grinning Blade looking over an amount of coins
Summary of Mercurio
Suave and backstabbing, Mercurio is an original along with Thane. However, while Thane focuses on combat, Mercurio is better at playing Trickery Cards, completing Quests, and staying flexible.
Mercurio’s Strengths
Maintaining Gold is easier for Mercurio since he can just take it from other players via Settlements. Combined with Rat Clan Rings, he has potential for great profit.
Additionally, his ability to get Gold means more use of Trickery Cards. Those can protect his Settlements and his path while he completes Quests. This means an easier time of completing the game.
His high Wits pool means he can escape most Perils. Additionally, he can burn more Cards for combat and Perils. Again, an easier time in the game.
Finally, Mercurio can become powerful in combat with 1 or 2 Fight Quest completions. Those, plus some good Item Cards can make a Battle Victory a walk in the park.
Opinion and Analysis
I rarely play Rat Heroes, but Mercurio is my go-to for a game of Trickery Cards and easier Quests. With the Scratch Amulet equipped, he has a 50-50 chance to get extra goodies from Quests. Who doesn’t like more spoils?
Additionally, most Perils, except Spirit Perils, become less dangerous for you. Having more Cards to burn and more dice to roll makes for a more relaxing and straightforward game.
While Mercurio lacks Spirit to make an effective spellcaster, Mercurio makes up with high Wits and his Scoundrel ability. Trickery cards are more affordable and within his reach.
While his combat isn’t high to start, it can become high early in the game. This makes Mercurio a good choice for combat if one wishes not to play as a Wolf, Horace, or Sylas.
He can be good for Prestige Victories as he can complete Quests well, navigate most Perils safely, and defeat most Heroes. If Prestige victories are your game, Mercurio is right for you.
Tips and Advice
Trickery and Gold harvesting are the main staples of Mercurio. Use Mercurio's fighting abilities and Trickery potential to win the game.
Complete a Spirit Quest as your second Quest. Without that, you won’t be able to cast any Spells Cards and you’ll be weaker against spell Perils.
Aside from that, complete 1 Fight Quest and 1 Wits Quest. The combination of the 2 means you’re stronger in combat, and able to cycle through cards better with a larger hand.
Which Ring you pick depends on your gameplay. If you prefer to be stronger in combat, the Ruby Ring is best as you’ll get a better shot at winning.
If survivability is more your aim, pick the Black Opal or Turquoise. I personally use Black Opal to get the drop on enemies attacking me in my Settlements. It also keeps me safe from being targeted by Spell Cards.
However, if you want to focus on Trickery Cards, use the Cat’s Eye Ring. Combined with your Scoundrel ability, you’ll be dealing out Trickery Cards like it's a poker game.
For Amulets, I pick the Scratch Amulet so that I can have an improved chance of getting the extra rewards from Fight Quests early. However, if you’re patient about building up Fight, pick the Watch Amulet. It’ll save you a lot of trouble dealing with Perils.
For items, Sailor’s Lantern will help you see the Perils you’re about to encounter. Then, once you know what Cards you need, see if you can burn some unnecessary ones of your own to pass. If not, take another safer route.
Furthermore, Leather Armor is great both for defense and for getting through most Perils. Get one of those and another attack item like the Bastard Sword.
Mercurio Pros
Money is no object with Mercurio. Taking Gold from other people’s Settlements is a neat, if not nice, way to build up your bank.
High Wits and Body make Mercurio’s surviving life easier. Many Perils become easier with high Wits, believe that!
Settlements become a key asset to Mercurio if he claims them. Even if one is taken away from him, he’ll take it back for 1 Gold if he goes there again.
His starting Health pool means some survivability. He can stay alive longer.
Mercurio Cons
With 2 Spirit, Mercurio’s spell casting is limited. This can be a problem if you need to use a Teleport or other 3 cost card.
4 Fight is better than most, but still weak. Without a Fight Quest completed or the Scratch Amulet, fighting becomes out of the question.
His ability becomes useless if you keep control of your Settlements or if the Settlements stay unclaimed or in revolt.
Choose Mercurio if...
You enjoy playing Trickery Cards. Mercurio’s need to capture Settlements means he’ll have the money and discount to play a lot of Trickery Cards.
You like more cCrd choices and a larger hand. Having a bigger hand can make your game easier.
You like a higher chance at Kingslayer victory. It only takes 1-2 Fight Quest completions to give the strength to beat the King. Only beating a Wits Palace Peril is all you’d need to do.
You want Prestige Victories. With enough Fight, Mercurio can slay Heroes all game and come out the Presige Leader.
Mercurio Power Rating: 60/100
10. Brun, Oakbreaker
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Brun the Oakbreaker being chosen by an AI player for a game.
Summary of Brun
The powerhouse among the Bear Clan, Brun combines spellcasting with brutality in battle. Cast enough Spell Cards and smash a few skulls and Brun can be a winning Hero!
Brun’s Strengths
While it doesn’t seem like it at 4 Fight, combat is a talent of Brun. His Scarcaster ability makes getting more Fight, including from Quests, easier.
Also, spellcasting becomes a focus for Brun. This means more spells to be used.
Brun’s high health pool also means Brun lives longer than most other Heroes. That combined with higher Scarcaster stacks means he can annihilate most Heroes in one turn.
Opinion and analysis
Brun, like the other Bear Heroes, is centered on casting Spell Cards to the board. Yet, he also brings a combat effectiveness the other Bear Heroes lack. This makes him a better choice for a Bear Hero.
It can be frustrating to start with 3 Wits and 3 Spirit for a Hero designed to cast multiple Spell Cards. Patience will be needed to grow Brun to have more spells available to him.
If you want a Bear Hero that can survive fights and stay alive while using his spellcasting effectively, Brun is the best choice for you.
Tips and Advice
With both Spell Cards and fighting, Brun is strong with in the game. Maximize his spellcasting abilities and he'll win any fight.
Pick your battles carefully. Even when buffed up with Scarcaster, Brun can still lose a fight to enemies who have the right items. Fight your enemies if they’re at half health (3 health if the Hero has 5 Body).
Build up Brun’s Wits and Spirit. It can be tempting to use his Scarcaster ability to complete a Fight Quest. Go for that strategy after completing at least 1 Spirit and 1 Wits Quest.
Play at least one Spell Card each turn. You need to have at least +1 Fight from Scarcaster to keep you ready for the next fight. The more spells that you cast, the better.
Without at least 1 Spirit and Wits Quest done each, you cannot cast many spells and so, not have enough damage to kill the King or anyone else. Focus on Spirit and Wits and then complete the Fight Quests.
With Rings, pick Amethyst. You’ll be able to build Magic after a fight and can cast more spells afterwards.
However, if you’d prefer to save the fighting until you need to, pick Jade, or Taaffeite. I personally pick Jade for the extra magic. That means more spell casting and more Fight in that turn.
Correct placement will be needed to get the most magic to cast spell cards. The Jade and Taaffeite Rings are your only other reliable means of getting magic. So, make sure you’re in a forest at dawn or dusk for best results.
For Amulets, pick Think to give you more chances for spells to cast. Otherwise, Intimidate gives more survivability as nearby enemies will be discouraged from attacking you.
If you can, get the Mahogany Staff and/or Wyldfire Staff as soon as you can. Along with that, Battle Armor and the Bastard Sword are your best item options.
Brun Pros
While his Fight is 4, Brun can still be a powerful fighter if you cast enough Spell Cards. In two turns, you can go from 4 to 10 Fight!
He doesn’t need to cast many Spell Cards to build up Scarcaster. Get enough 1-2 cost spell cards, and you’re set for a fight!
You’ll cycle through Cards quickly. You need to cast as many Spell Cards as possible, which means you’ll have a lot of options.
Survivability is another strong suit of Brun. As long as enough Scarcaster Fight is built up, few enemies can beat this bear.
Brun Cons
A small hand means Brun’s casting ability is pitifully limited. You can get, at best, 3 Cards played in a turn. Like Thane, Brun’s lacking Wits hurts his gameplay.
Also, 3 Spirit doesn’t give you much ability to cast spells either. Until you complete at least 1 Spirit Quest, you’re not going to be Scarcasting much.
You lose your extra Fight from Scarcaster after any encounter. Thus, if you need it for a fight or Quest, it can be easily lost.
You’re stuck to forests if you’re using Emerald or Taaffeite to boost your Spirit. Those Rings need you to be in a Forest by dawn or dusk. It can get annoying trying to get to those places in time.
Choose Brun if...
You like spellcasting. Brun’s ability makes playing Spell Cards must for his power to grow.
You like staying alive with more than 3-4 Body. Brun’s large health pool allows him to live longer than most, even than other Bears.
You like crushing opponents in a single turn. Enough Scarcaster energy and your enemies go bye-bye!
With a ship full of articles, an overflowing vault of weapons, and my three Fallen hatchlings, I, Noah ascend from the forests of Pennsylvania to farm glimmer, indulge in board games, and occasionally
Gamer Since:
2008
Favorite Genre:
RPG
Currently Playing:
Destiny 2
Top 3 Favorite Games:
Armello, Sid Meiers Civilization: Beyond Earth - Rising Tide, Ori and the Blind Forest
