Elven Rune Army

List of all playable races in the first SpellForce series

Humans - Elves - Dwarves - Orcs - Trolls - Dark Elves

The elves are one of the six playable factions in The Order of Dawn, The Breath of Winter and Shadow of the Phoenix. Their benefits, their disadvantages as well as their units and buildings will be shown here.

Table of Contents
Warder	Ranger	Protector	Wanderer
Windarcher	Healer	Wintermage	Druid
Treant	Pixie	Stormbringer	Buildings

The Monument

The elven monument is created circular and has an elven woman armed with a longbow. The building is surrounded by a small river and has elven ornaments all over it.

When summoning units, the elven monument's statue's eyes glow in a bright green light before materializing elven rune fighters. Like all other Rune Monuments, the elven monument is indestructible but the connection to a rune can be separated by inflicting damage to the building.

Units

Now following is a list of the units available from this rune army.

	Warder
When the humans started invading the forests, the elves learned one lesson quickly – no matter how skilled and deadly their archers, it was always possible for an enemy to escape the barrage of arrows and deal a swift death to the otherwise unarmed archer with a sharp blade or other weapon. So the elves began to assign to each archer a warder, sworn to protect their charge’s life in close combat. Thus began the way of the Warder, who use their formidable fighting skills with the elvish wooden staff to protect the archer entrusted to them. A warder wears little protection, and their staff can do little damage against heavy armour. Their speed and endurance can, however, help them defeat even heavily armoured units, and their spartan lifestyle helps replace their losses quickly.
Unit Category:		Melee Fighter (Basic)
Attack Rating:		5 - 12 at 110% speed
Armor Rating:		120 (150 with upgrade)
Abilities:		None
Requirements:		Armory
Upgrades:		Wood Shield - Increases armor rating and health points.
Recruitment Costs:		60 Wood
	Ranger
Rangers are the backbone of the elven army. The natural bond between elves and the forest gives them the gift to become one with nature, enabling them to sense their prey or enemy’s presence from afar and adjust the trajectory of an arrow to the wind. Rangers can become extremely skilled with the longbow, and what was once used mainly for hunting or defense has become a formidable weapon.
Unit Category:		Ranged Fighter (Basic)
Attack Rating:		9 - 14 at 75% speed
Armor Rating:		100
Abilities:		None
Requirements:		Armory
Upgrades:		None
Recruitment Costs:		50 Wood
	Protector
As the dark races swept across the continent, any previous wars Fiara had seen paled in comparison. It was at this time that the old races came together and made a pact to face the new enemy together. Out of this alliance was born the path of the Protector. Using the human and dwarf metals, the elves learned to make armour and weapons, and a new method of fighting was born. The Protectors were able to drive back the armoured hordes of darkness and saved the elves from destruction. In close combat, the protectors are even more effective than the warders, despite not being as heavily armoured as many units of other races. The elves mastered metallurgy, but never took to the art of mining. Since they do not like to work underground, out of the sunlight, they must buy the metal for their armour and weapons from other colonies.
Unit Category:		Melee Fighter (Elite)
Attack Rating:		11 - 18 at 100% speed
Armor Rating:		180
Abilities:		None
Requirements:		Armory, Iron Armory
Upgrades:		Aryn's Wrath - The weapon is now able to apply Iceburst on attacks and the unit's ice resistance is considerably increased.
Recruitment Costs:		80 Iron
	Wanderer
All elves live with a strong connection to nature. There are, however, a few whose connection is stronger and more intimate, becoming a magical bond between elf and the forest. These few spend hours, days, even months wandering among the magnificent trees, listening to the rustling of leaves and the creaking of the trees, learning the language of nature, until they become one with the forest. Some of these chosen ones become druids, servants of the goddess Elen, whereas others stay more down-to-earth and become the best trackers and rangers under the sun. These few are known to the elves as Wanderers. They are experienced archers, protected by the powers of the forest, a protection they can offer to their colleagues and allies as well. Only very few elves can master these powers, and they are often the subject of legends and song.
Unit Category:		Ranged Fighter (Elite)
Attack Rating:		10 - 19 at 85% speed
Armor Rating:		180
Abilities:		Iceshield (with upgrade only)
Requirements:		Armory, Iron Armory, Archery Hall
Upgrades:		Frostshield - Unlocks the Iceshield ability, grants a dagger that can apply Iceburst on attacks and increases the unit's ice resistance.
Recruitment Costs:		45 Wood, 45 Iron
	Windarcher
Once an elf has mastered the art of archery by natural means, they can turn to the supernatural world of magic to further perfect their skill. An elf wishing to learn this magic must not only perfect her targetting skills, but also listen to the druids and understand the magic of nature. She can become one with her weapon and one with the wind, enabling her to draw and fire with dreamlike speed and uncanny accuracy. The training of such a Windarcher under the supervision of a druid takes time and patience - the effort put into such an elf is, however, well worth it on the battlefield.
Unit Category:		Ranged Fighter Hybrid
Attack Rating:		6 - 12 at 80% speed
Armor Rating:		100
Abilities:		Trueshot
Requirements:		Armory, Ailantery, Archery Hall
Upgrades:		Icestrike - Ranged attacks will deal minor ice damage, can briefly freeze and will have a chance to trigger Iceburst with a low chance.
Recruitment Costs:		25 Wood, 30 Lenya
	Healer
Before the greed of the dark races and the madness of the Circle plunged the world into chaos, the way of the elves was one of peace and thoughtfulness. They applied their talents to the healing skills very early, bringing the kindness and comfort of their goddess Elen to the ill and wounded. When the wars started, the elf healers helped support their comrades in battle. Using their natural magic, they can make the difference between victory and defeat, and no army should go into battle without them.
Unit Category:		White Magician (Basic)
Attack Rating:		4 - 9
Armor Rating:		60
Abilities:		Healing
Requirements:		Ailantery
Upgrades:		Elen's Gift - Mana costs for spells are reduced when close to forests.
Recruitment Costs:		55 Lenya
	Wintermage
These servants of the frost draw their strength from the ancient pact between the elves and the winter dragon Aryn. Cenwen, a queen of the elves, once sacrificed herself to him to protect her people from death – and in exchange, the elves received the power of the ice dragon. Only a few, however, are able to harness this power. Those that are able to survive the test of winter and defeat the cold are also known as the followers of Aryn. Their skin becomes pale as ice, and their bodies become weak from the turmoils of the great powers they must learn to control. After their training, however, they can use the full power of the ice against their enemies. With this powerful magic, they can cause great damage to an enemy army, freezing the units in their tracks.
Unit Category:		Offensive Magician
Attack Rating:		3 - 7 at 100% speed
Armor Rating:		70
Abilities:		Iceburst
Requirements:		Ailantery, Hall of the Ancients
Upgrades:		Elen's Gift - Mana costs for spells are reduced when close to forests.
Recruitment Costs:		70 Lenya
	Druid
Only a small minority of elves have the dedication and strength necessary to follow the path of the forest goddess as druids. Similarly to the Wanderers, they have a particularly strong bond with the forces of nature, but theirs goes ever deeper. There lives are governed by the laws of nature and they server their clan as priest and advisor. In the wars against the dark ones, the druids learned to use their powers in battle and hurl them against their enemies.
Unit Category:		White Magician (Elite)
Attack Rating:		4 - 7 at 110% speed
Armor Rating:		80
Abilities:		Hallow, Aura of Healing
Requirements:		Ailantery, Hall of the Ancients
Upgrades:		Elen's Gift - Mana costs for spells are reduced when close to forests.
Recruitment Costs:		100 Lenya
	Treant
In the eternal forests of the Finon Mir they wander through the wood’s shadows and in the quiet and forgotten groves the silently hold watch over ponds and clearings. In Elen’s name they have been entrusted with guarding the forests long before the elves had first seen the light of day and they are more knowledgeable in the secret lore of the Lady of Rain than any other creature in this world. Like their goddess, the Treants live a withdrawn and gentle life, unaffected by the petty quarrels of the people and the realms of the wider world. But when the elvenfolk was drawn into the struggle and intrigues of war and almost trampled down under the boots of the dark armies, they rallied to the side of Elen’s children. They left the tranquillity of their forests to face the hordes of the enemy and stand side by side with the elves on the Godwall against the tides of darkness. From that time onwards the elves could call on them in time of need. Wherever the people of the elves are threatened, the wise and mighty Treants are at their side. Nothing can break this bond, for its roots reach as deep as those of the ancient forests themselves.
Unit Category:		Titan
Attack Rating:		6 - 11 at 90% speed
Armor Rating:		250
Abilities:		Aura of Endurance
Requirements:		Great Headquarters
Upgrades:		Powerful Titan - Improves the power and allows recruitment after death again.
Recruitment Costs:		700 Wood, 300 Lenya
	Pixie
These small woodland spirits are more inclined to tricks and dancing than battle. But to compensate for their life of ease and the pixie dust with which they can perform small wonders, they have promised the goddess Elen to fight on the side of their elf sisters if their lives should be threatened. Since the days of the circle the little pixie warriors have hardly had time to rest as their promise continually calls them into battle. And anyone who mocks them because of their size and daintiness will suffer a nasty surprise, just as is to be expected from pixies.
Unit Category:		Swarm Unit (SotP)
Attack Rating:		8 - 10 at 100% speed
Armor Rating:		50
Abilities:		None
Requirements:		Pixie House
Upgrades:		None
Recruitment Costs:		60 Food (for 10 units)
	Stormbringer
In times of peace these priestesses work to balance the powers of nature and calm the angry elements if they were to threaten an elven settlement. But when a mortal power draws up against their sisters, the priestesses leave their wind temple and become stormbringers who hurl the combined anger of nature against the fortresses of their enemies.
Unit Category:		Siege Unit (SotP)
Attack Rating:		9 - 23 at 100% speed
Armor Rating:		100
Abilities:		Wrath of Nature - Attacks enemy buildings from distance.
Requirements:		Wind Temple
Upgrades:		None
Recruitment Costs:		140 Wood, 120 Lenya

Buildings

To create a good army, a good base is required first. See below what buildings the elves have to do so.

Headquarters
	Small Headquarters
	Unlocks some advanced buildings and allows size increase of light rune armies to 30 units.
	Medium Headquarters
	Unlocks some elite buildings and allows size increase of light rune armies to 50 units.
	Large Headquarters
	Allows the training of the Treant and allows size increase of light rune armies to 80 units.
Resources
	Woodcutter's Hut
	Gathers wood from nearby forests.
	Forester
	Plants new trees that will grow over time until being ready to be used by woodcutters.
	Lenya Gatherer
	Gather's Lenya from nearby plants.
	Hunting Lodge
	Gathers food from nearby wildlife creatures.
	Gatherer's Hut
	Gathers food from nearby berry bushes.
	Hunting Guild
	Gathers food from nearby wildlife creatures with faster speed.
	Master Woodcutter
	Gathers wood from nearby forests with faster speed.
	Sawmill
	Refines wood and doubles the amount of wood gathered.
	Food Store
	Refines food and doubles food gained. Unlocks mana and health regeneration for elven units.
Military
	Armory
	Allows training of basic elven warriors and researches Wood Shield upgrade.
	Ailantery
	Allows training of basic elven mages.
	Archery Hall
	Unlocks Windarcher and Wanderer unit and researches Icestrike upgrade.
	Iron Armory
	Unlocks Protector and Wanderer and researches Frostshield and Aryn's Wrath upgrades.
	Hall of the Ancients
	Unlocks Wintermage and Druid unit and researches Elen's Gift upgrade.
	Archer Tower
	Passively shoots arrows at nearby enemies.
	Frostbringer
	Passively shoots Iceburst spells at nearby enemies.
	Pixie House (SotP)
	Quickly creates Pixie units up to 10 at a time.
	Wind Temple (SotP)
	Produces the Stormbringer unit.

Passive

As all races the elves do have passive ability.  While being in close proximity to forests, all elves take less damage from all physical attacks and enemy spells have a higher chance to be completely withstood. The effect persists a few seconds after leaving the forests but then perishes until getting close to forests again.

Stats

The elven units do have their base stats such as damage and armor. However their attributes are not static but instead scale with the units level. See below how the attributes are changed for elves when leveling up:

• Strength: 20 + 1 X lvl
• Stamina: 15 + 1 X lvl
• Dexterity: 40 + 2 X lvl
• Agility: 40 + 2X lvl
• Intelligence: 30 + 1 X lvl
• Wisdom: 40 + 2X lvl
• Charisma: 30 + 2X lvl
• Fire Resistance: 20 + 1 X lvl
• Ice Resistance: 35 + 1X lvl
• Black Resistance: 20 + 1 X lvl
• Mind Resistance: 35 + 1 X lvl

Media

Units

Wintermage

Warder

Windarcher

Ranger

Wanderer

Healer

Protector

Druid

Artisan

Buildings

Author's Note

• All entries with (SotP) are only available with the Shadow of the Phoenix installed and while playing in the Shadow of the Phoenix Campaign or the Free Game.

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