Guide to 1.06 Dwarves

Whether you are an experienced Dwarven player or completely new to Dwarves, this guide should help you become better online or against the AI.


Overview


Dwarves is a very unique faction, being both strong and slow. Mines are used to counter their lack of speed, which gives a huge advantage to Dwarven units. Guardians, the basic infantry unit of the Dwarves, are stronger than any other basic infantry unit in the game. Dwarven buildings have more health than other factions’ buildings, which is a huge advantage. Dwarven heroes are similar to Dwarven units in that they are slow but incredibly strong. Most heroes are also effective at destroying buildings.


Heroes and their uses:


Gloin – as a cheap hero, he is usually purchased early to mid-game. He has many uses, though I prefer to have him charge the enemy’s fortress and take it down early in the game.

His level 1 Slam can damage a building or a clump of units with great effect. This power is best on resource structures or neutral lairs.

Gloin’s level 4 Shake Foundation can severely damage buildings and deactivate them for 10 seconds. This power works well against any structure, and can often one-hit-kill resource buildings or towers. This is also useful against a fortress, removing a large chunk of its health and preventing it from firing arrows for a precious 10 seconds. With a 60 second recharge time, this power is incredibly useful.

Gloin’s level 10 Shatter Hammer is his final power and is immensely powerful. Its only drawbacks are the fact that you have to get to level 10 to use it and its long recharge time of 120 seconds. Otherwise, this is an amazing power that can be used effectively against structures or units.

King Dain – as an average-costing hero, he is purchased mid-game most often. He serves as a unit/hero supporter with his multitude of buffing powers.

His level 1 Leadership gives nearby units +50% armor and damage, and doubles their experience gain rate. This power is useful in that it will keep your troops alive longer and make them dish out more damage. Dain’s Leadership can often be the deciding factor in any battle.

Dain’s level 4 Mighty Rage buffs both units and heroes, giving them +25% speed and damage. Its long recharge time is a drawback, but otherwise this power is extremely useful in almost any circumstance.

His level 7 Stubborn Pride makes nearby units immune to fear, which protects them from abilities such as the Fellbeast Screech or Shelob’s Instill Terror. This is useful when facing an evil faction, but otherwise does not have much use.

King Dain’s level 10 Summon Royal Guard summons six battalions of dwarves to his side. This power is useful for defending Dain when he has low health or for occupying the enemy while flanking from the side.

Gimli – as a more expensive hero, he is usually purchased mid to late-game. He is effective against both units and buildings.

His level 1 Axe Throw is useful for taking out a troublesome troll or an enemy hero with low health. It has a low recharge time of 30 seconds, so can be used often.

Gimli’s level 2 Leap can disrupt an enemy formation and kill a lot of units. This power is most useful when Gimli is surrounded, creating a gap for him to escape.

Gimli’s level 5 Slayer gives him a major buff, increasing his attack by 200% and attack speed by 100%. This is extremely useful in killing enemy heroes or units with heavy armor.


Units and their uses:


Guardians – the strongest basic infantry unit in the game, this unit has strong defense and moderate attack power. Can be used for most tasks, including destroying enemy buildings or units. With heavy armor and forged blades, Guardians are a force to be reckoned with. You can purchase Banner Carriers at level 1 for increased effect.

Phalanxes – the basic pike unit for the Dwarves, this unit is very effective in taking out enemy cavalry or creeping. Phalanxes have moderate defense and moderately strong attack power, and are useful against resource buildings and also heroes. Banner Carriers can be purchased at level 1 for increased effect.

Axe Throwers – the basic range unit for the Dwarves. Effective against units and buildings, their drawback is their short range. Can be lethal when equipped with forged blades. Axe Throwers are also effective at killing Ents. Banner Carriers can be purchased at level 1 for increased effect.

Men of Dale – the elite archer unit for the Dwarves, the Men of Dale have a long firing range and reload fast. They can be equipped with fire arrows for increased damage output. This unit is useful when garrisoned in a tower, and is the Dwarves’ strongest defense against troublesome flying units such as Fellbeasts. Their black arrow ability triples their damage rate, and so is very useful against any kind of unit. As with the rest of the Dwarven units, Men of Dale can be upgraded with Banner Carriers for increased effect.

Demolisher – a very strong ram that is supereffective against buildings. It can deploy itself to increase armor, however this makes it immobile until undeployed. Its only drawback is its speed, which allows cavalry or even normal units to overtake it and destroy it.

Battle Wagon – a chariot-like siege unit that can be upgraded with several different attachments. It is very fast, and can trample enemy units. The Battle Wagon’s barrel throw is useful against both buildings and units. Unfortunately, the Battle Wagon gets owned by pikes.

Catapult – a very long-range siege unit that fires two rocks at the same time. This is most often used against enemy fortress attachments and on the fortress itself. Can be upgraded with flaming ammunition to greatly increase damage.


Dwarven Buildings:


Mine Shafthe resource-providing structure of the Dwarves. Generates resources based on available terrain, and increases command point limit by 50. Also provides access to the Dwarven Tunnel Network. Units can enter one Mine Shaft and emerge from any other Mine Shaft on the map.

Hall of Warriors – this trains Guardians and Phalanxes at level 1. It can be upgraded once for +10% build speed and twice for +25% build speed. Acquires a defensive arrow tower when it reaches level 3.

Archery Range – this trains Axe Throwers at level 1. It can be upgraded to level 2 to train Men of Dale. It can be upgraded to level 3 to enable the research of Fire Arrows. A defensive tower is also added at level 3.

Forge Works – this trains Demolishers at level 1, Battlewagons and Catapults at level 2, and all of the Dwarven upgrades at level 3.

Battle Tower – this sturdy tower fires at any hostile units within a large radius. It can be garrisoned with archers for increased damage. Fire Arrows can also be purchased to increase the tower’s damage output.

Hearth – this serves the same function as a well for Men and a Mirror of Galadriel for Elves. Any allied units/heroes within its radius heal over time. Try to build several of these to keep your forces alive.

Heroic Statue – this statue gives allies within its radius a useful damage and armor bonus. They also gain experience twice as fast.

Wall Hub – this allows for the expansion of walls to protect your base. Nothing else to it.

Fortress – this is the strongest Dwarven building, and is the most expensive. You can train heroes and builders from it, and can also upgrade it with multiple additions.


Dwarven Palantir Powers:


5 Power Points:


Rallying Call – this power gives selected units +50% damage and +50% defense. This is most useful when attacking a fortress or other building.

Rebuild – this power instantly heals a selected building by a large amount. Use this on your fortress to regain about half of its health, or on other important buildings. This power is also useful on gates when defending a fortress.

Heal – this power heals the selected units and revives one dead unit per battalion. This is useful in any situation, though particularly when your hero is in danger.


10 Power Points:


Summon Men of Dale – this power summons 3 battalions of elite Dwarven archers to the battlefield. They are very good at killing enemy trolls or other monsters. I would recommend using this power to back up your army during a battle.

Summon Hobbit Allies – this power summons 3 battalions of Hobbits, plus Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin. These Hobbits can easily kill archers or cavalry from afar, and are also efficient at taking down enemy heroes. This power is most useful when used behind enemy lines or as a distraction.

Lone Tower – this power summons a permament Battle Tower that is extremely useful when defending a Mine Shaft or other building. The Battle Tower is also very good at killing enemy archers and cavalry, but is especially weak against swordsmen and pikemen.

Dwarven Riches – this power raises a select Mine Shaft’s resource production by 300%. Use on protected Mine Shafts to boost your economy immensely.


15 Power Points:


Barrage – this power summons several giant rocks that rain down upon a selected area. This is extremely useful against armies and most buildings. Your units can also take damage from the rocks however, so be careful.

Undermine – this power summons a permanent Mine Shaft that instantly becomes connect to the Dwarven Tunnel Network. The Mine Shaft does not produce resources, but is useful for quickly getting your forces behind enemy lines.

Cloud Break - this power creates rays of light that spread across the battlefield, stunning enemy units for a short period of time. This can be used with Summon Men of Dale or Barrage for great effect.


25 Power Points:


Earthquake – this power creates an earthquake at the selected location. Use this on an enemy’s base to eliminate everything except the fortress. This is good for finishing an enemy off or when you are about to charge.

Summon Citadel – this power summons a permanent citadel to the battlefield. It has about the same health a a Fortress, but heals a lot faster. You can train builders and heroes at the citadel.


Popular Rush Strategies:


Gloin Rush – the main idea here is to get Gloin as fast as you can and rush straight to the enemy fortress. Getting a few Guardian units can be helpful in case Gloin’s charge fails. Destroying neutral lairs with Gloin is a good strategy, as it easily raises him to level 4 so he can use his Shake Foundation on the enemy fortress. This power can easily take off a quarter of the fortress’s health. Once the fortress is destroyed, continue with Gloin to destroy the remaining buildings. If possible, ignore resource structures and units, as these only get in the way.

Build Order: Forward Mine, Hall of Warriors, Mine, Gloin, Mine, Guardians, Guardians

Demolisher Rush – the plan here is to pump out Demolishers to devastate the enemy base. A Forge Works near the enemy base but hidden is a good idea, but a Forge Works by your base works well also. Note that you will want to have units to support your demolishers, or they will get owned by cavalry or pikemen. I like combining this rush with the Gloin Rush.

Build Order: Mine, Forward Forge Works, Mine, Hall of Warriors, Mine, Demolisher, Demolisher

Guardian Rush – I don’t use this strategy very often, but I have seen it efficiently destroy a base in record time. You want to pump out as many Guardians as possible, optionally purchasing Siege Hammers for a huge damage increase. A forward Mine is essential in this strategy, as it greatly decreases the time it takes to reach the enemy base. Every few Guardian units you train, you will want to train a Phalanx unit for creeping and protection against enemy cavalry. Send all the Guardians to the enemy base and destroy the buildings. When doing this, it is a good idea to send one or two units head-on to distract the enemy, while sending your main force from behind. This way you won’t get destroyed by archers as easily.

Build Order: Forward Mine, Hall of Warriors, Mine, Guardians, Guardians, Mine, Phalanx, Guardians


Final Thoughts:

I hope this guide has helped you become a better player. Dwarves are arguably the best faction, and mastering them is essential to playing online. If you have any questions or suggestions for the guide, please post here.

[This message has been edited by Blatant7 (edited 01-03-2009 @ 06:33 PM).]