Fount of Corruption

* Level 1
* Level 2
* Level 3

"By the afternoon they had reached the eaves of Mirkwood, and were resting almost beneath the great overhanging boughs of its outer trees. Their trunks were huge and gnarled, their branches twisted, their leaves were dark and long. Ivy grew on them and trailed along the ground."
—Queer Lodgings, The Hobbit

As the Necromancer's influence spread through the forest of Mirkwood, he forced the Corrupted Entwives to do his bidding. They planted the defiled plants throughout the region, using spores carried on the wind to spread the corruption. The trees of the forest begin to rot, animals became wild and fell, and the Woodmen in the nearby Vale of Anduin found themselves losing control of their minds.

The Fount of Corruption is a secondary resource structure for Dol Guldur, providing corruption as a resource based on building placement. It can also be used to recruit corrupted units to assist the faction.

## Upgrades

**Upgrade Fount of Corruption to Level 2 (A)** - Increases resource production. Allows training of Blighted Trappers. (cost: 400)

**Upgrade Fount of Corruption to Level 3 (A)** - Increases resource production. Allows training of Corrupted Entwives. Blights the area surrounding the Fount. (cost: 600)

## Function

The Fount of Corruption will periodically produce a maximum of +20 resources depending on location relative to other resource structures. This value will increase as the Fount levels up. At level 3, it will blight the surrounding area, damaging enemy units and converting them into Wraiths upon death. The Fount of Corruption will also increase the command point limit by 25.

#### Corruption Bonus

Multiple Founts will reduce the cost of spider units.

* 2 Founts: 5%
* 3 Founts: 10%
* 4 Founts: 15%
* 5 Founts: 20%
* 6+ Founts: 25%

### Abilities

**Dark Presence** - Nearby Dol Guldur units afflicted by Slow Decay are no longer drained over time, receive +15% damage and armour, and are healed by a small amount. Passive ability.

**Infestation (W)** - Requires a Spider Lair. Summons a temporary swarm of spiders around the structure that slows nearby enemies' attack and movement speed by 10% and deals minor damage to nearby enemies. Left click to activate.

**Twisted Botany** - Entwives can enter the Fount to grant it +10% resource production. Order the Entwives to leave the Fount of Corruption.

## Strategy

The Fount of Corruption is one of Dol Guldur's main resource structures. However, it is more expensive than the Slave Mill and so it is is best to rely mainly on the Mills in the early game. The Corruption Bonus can be useful for reducing the cost of spiders, allowing the Dol Guldur player to access cavalry at higher numbers earlier in the game. The Fount is mainly useful for the units. Blighted Trappers can be used to counter archers and deal high damage to enemy units and structures. It can be a good idea to rush them if the enemy has little cavalry. Corrupted Entwives act as the faction's primary siege, being able to attack from both melee and range. They can also garrison themselves within the Fount to improve the resource production. Lastly, the Fount can be used as a defensive structure, with the **Dark Presence** allowing basic units to enter the area without losing health and the Blight effect at level 3 damaging nearby enemy units.