Units

The “Barracks”

The Undead equivalent of the barracks is the Crypt. The Crypt spawns Ghouls, Crypt Fiends and Gargoyles. The Ghoul is the default unit that comes out of the Crypt and is the basic melee unit. Like Grunts or Footmen, they have average speed, low damage and low hitpoints. However, they are cheap, take only 2 food each and serve as good fodder – in addition to being the wood gatherers of the Undead race. While not as cheap, numerous or quick as Zerglings, Ghouls do tend to resemble them in role and even character. Their special ability is Cannibalize, whereby the Ghoul consumes a nearby corpse to replenish its health. The ability won’t always change the course of a battle but it can prolong them significantly. The most significant downside is that the Ghoul turns its back on its foes while it hunts for a corpse.

Crypt - undead barracks

Ghoul

Cannibalize ability

The next unit that becomes available, with the construction of the Graveyard (Lumber Mill/Armory equivalent), is the Crypt Fiend. Essentially a giant spider with a long and powerful ranged attack, the Crypt Fiend is essential against aerial opponents. They are big and somewhat unwieldly, like Dragoons from StarCraft. However, they do not have a direct anti-air attack, like Dragoons or other Archer-type units. Rather, they need to use the researched Web ability to force flying units down to the ground to be hacked apart by ground units. In an expert’s hands, Web is abusive and totally neutralizes any air attack. However, an inexperienced player may find the micromanagement to be a bit much and will resort to the Gargoyle for his air protection.

Graveyard

Crypt Fiend

Web ability

Gargoyles are a tech level 2 unit, requiring an upgrade of the Necropolis (town center) and the Gargoyle Spire before they can be built. Gargoyles have the relative power of the Wraith from StarCraft, though with a more effective ground attack. Very effective as an anti-air unit and good at taking out enemies unable to strike back, Gargoyles tend to fall quickly to archer-type units so care must be taken. The Gargoyle’s special ability is Stone form, which forces the unit to the ground, increases its armor dramatically and begins a regeneration process. Stone form leaves the Gargoyle unable to attack, however.

Gargoyle Spire - allows gargoyles at crypt

Gargoyle

Stone Form ability

Slaughterhouse

The Slaughterhouse is where the Undead’s advanced conventional-attack units come from. The most common unit to come out of the Slaughterhouse is the Abomination, a slow-moving but powerful and tough melee unit. Abominations seem to be the Undead’s answer to Ogres. Expensive and slow, they are risky to use in combat against quicker units with a ranged attack, so you need to protect them with quicker guards. Their special ability, shared with the Meat Wagon, is Plague Cloud. Plague Cloud is left behind by Abominations and Meat Wagons and slowly drains the health of attacking units over a long period of time.

Slaughterhouse - heavy units

Abomination

The Meat Wagon is a catapult with a twist. Instead of just demolishing buildings and giving a long-range attack to the Undead army, Meat Wagons can also pick up and carry up to 8 corpses for later use. These corpses can be used to raise skeleton warriors from, or as fodder for Ghouls. The Death Knight can also use them to Animate Dead… could be a nasty trick if anyone gathers some powerful corpses.

Meat Wagon

Plague Cloud ability