Speed teams

Fast teams act first, and a unit that dies before its turn deals no damage. Speed also directly powers a few of the game’s best abilities.

Heroes that use speed

• Cutpurse makes one Flurry hit per 2 speed at level 3, and each hit pierces armor. It’s the most direct way to turn speed into damage.
• Assassin deals double damage at level 3 to enemies at least 3 speed slower than it, and pierces armor too.
• Apprentice is fast enough to use Thunderclap before most enemies act, and at level 3 it dodges the first attack each round from a slower enemy.

Sources of speed

• Aurel gives every ally +2 speed at the start of each battle.
• Minstrel gives every ally +1 speed each round at level 3.
• Nyx takes 1 speed from every enemy, which counts for abilities that compare speeds.
• Caltrops, on several heroes, slows anyone who hits that hero in melee.
• Quicksilver Boots give +3 speed at the start of battle.
• The Altar offers a speed blessing of +3.

How to use it

Speed buffs are about thresholds. Going from just slower than an enemy to just faster than it changes a lot, while being far ahead of it changes little, unless you’re using an ability that scales with speed.

Protect your fast heroes. Most fast heroes have little health. A sturdy front line still matters, as does knowing that Retreat moves a hero to the back after it blocks a hit.

Watch out for slows. Wargs and other Caltrops enemies slow your melee attackers, and an Ogre’s Tar slows any hero it hits. Anchor Stone makes its wearer immune to speed loss.