recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Thane Deephorn

Thane Deephorn is a dwarven ranger from Thornhold who joined Harminil, Varragh il Sunayn and Varis Aloro on their quest to restore the magistrates to power in Waterdeep.

## Early Life

Thane Deephorn was born in 1427 in the Thornhold, son of the mighty King Thaedor. While Thane was still a young boy, assassins murdered his entire family, including his father and associates. Thane managed to escape with the help of his father's personal guard, who were later executed as they helped the young dwarf escape.

## Life in the Wilderness

Thane was forced to learn to survive on his own in the wilds. Two years after the assassination, Thane fought and tamed the boar Grint, that became his loyal and constant companion. For 50 years he traveled far and wide, seeking to hone his battle skills and gather support for his cause to reclaim Thornhold and avenge his family through his exploits in the wilds.

## Time in Waterdeep

By 1492, Thane had made his way to Waterdeep. There he was recruited by Gideon to join forces with the magistrates in the Infighting of Waterdeep, following the assassination of the Lord Protector. There he was introduced to the party of Harminil, Varis Aloro and Varragh il Sunayn, who were on the side of the magistrates. Thane joined the trio on their attempt to eliminate the other main factions: The Lord Protector Loyalists, led by the Grand Inquisitor, and the
Cassalanter family.
Sampson

Sampson was a Sergeant in the Southern Ward Watch of Waterdeep.

## Early Life

His early life is mostly unknown. He joined the watch at some point before 1492 and rose to the rank of Sergeant. Inside the Watch, he also joined a corrupt circle of it, led by Prodavac Devola and Draven Rylstrea.

## Encounter with Varis, Varragh and Harminil

In Kythorn of 1492, the trio of Varis Aloro, Varragh il Sunayn and Harminil were hired by Evander to investigate some irregularities regarding missing guards and prisoners in Waterdeep. He met them at the Endshift Tavern, where they went looking for William Castigan. There, Sampson got into a rude exchange of words with Harminil, annoying the bartender, Pierre Kukassy. Varragh pulled a knife to try and threaten Kukassy, however Sampson stopped her. Varragh tried to seduce Sampson, but without much success.

## 1st Assault at the Southern Ward Barracks and death

Sampson was one of the defenders during the 1st Assault at the Southern Ward Barracks, led by Varis, Varragh and Harminil. In the battle at the gate, he was eventually forced to retreat after the attackers managed to break through. He was ultimately slain by Harminil.
Evander Taerghlad

Evander Taerghlad, also known as Evander Evenwood in the Common tongue, was a Sergeant in the Southern Ward Barracks of the Waterdeep City Watch and currently serves as the Captain of the Nightstone Militia.

## Early Life

His early life is mostly unknown. He had joined the Waterdhevian Watch before 1489 and had worked with Harminil during the latter's brief service in the foreign contingents. He had also hired the services of Varragh il Sunayn for various mercenary contracts.

## Investigating missing prisoners and guards

In 1492, Evander started investigating cases of missing prisoners and guards. Among the missing guards was a friend of his, Holdfast Cuthalion. He looked to his old contacts, Harminil and Varragh for assistance, as well as Varis Aloro, who was looking for Lia, whom Evander believed was among the missing prisoners. After hiring the trio, his whereabouts and activities during that time were mostly unknown, he was seen once in the Flagon Dragon tavern, before meeting again with Varragh after the Bank Massacre. It was in this meeting that Evander was arrested on the grounds of having murdered Popovich at the Silent Shield Inn a few weeks before hiring the trio, by a Lieutenant in the Waterdeep Southern Ward Barracks, Colt Magnus. Evander was eventually taken in the dungeon of the Barracks. Harminil, Varragh and Varis assaulted the Barracks and entered the dungeon, however Evander was being held in some cells in the sewers, below the barracks. Approximately two months later, Harminil managed to contact Evander with a ring of sending, allowing Evander to relay that information.

## Rescue

Eventually, Harminil, Varragh and Varis, together with the Knights of Aloro, Tyavos and Vahayon managed to find the mines. The rescue however was unconventional, as during their mine-crawling, 4 tomb tappers awoke and started chasing the group. As Harminil led his brothers and Varis through an underground dried riverbed, they found Evander. Evander was surprised to see Harminil climb out of the riverbed, however there was no time to explain the situation, as Harminil ordered him to run for his life due to the tomb tappers chasing them. Evander managed to escape the mines, he however charged back together with the Knights of Aloro to try and save Varis from the tomb tappers, and returned to the surface afterwards.

## Infighting of Waterdeep

After his rescue, Evander did not participate in the major events of the infighting of Waterdeep, instead he remained at the Knight's Rest and the Free Ward.

## In Nightstone

Eventually, after the Infighting of Waterdeep concluded, Evander followed the party to Nightstone. In the party's brief stay there, Harminil began training a small militia force, composed of able bodied men who wanted to help protect the town. When the party departed for Neverwinter to save Varragh's mother, Harminil passed over the authority of the men he trained to Evander, and was officially appointed commander of the militia by Varragh. Under Evander, the Militia expanded from the few men that Harminil originally trained.
Traxx

### Unlock Condition

Complete Forge City III with Ruin Level II as Mork using three Trinkets that infuse Fire.

### Primary Weapon

Chainshot

*Traxx* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. He is a variant of Ogol.

## Traits

* Chainshot: Shoots swift spiked balls chained together in a forward arc.
* Sworn Death: Temporarily increases Speed and Damage while stopping all forms of Healing when active.
* Passive: +50% Health, +25% Fire Rate, -20% Health, and -25% Healing effectiveness. +10% Fire Rate every 5 levels (up to 10 times) when under half Health.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30.
	+ Reward: Mighty Punch Universal Weapon.
Tabia

*Tabia* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. She is a variant of Lanyz.

## Traits

* Marksman's Crossbow: Alternated diagonal attacks that pierce through enemies.
* Decoy: Drops a decoy that distracts enemies for a while.
* Passive: Starts with +20% Projectile Speed and +20% Knockback. +10% Experience every 5 levels (up to 10 times).

## Strategy

Tabia is a character who initially revolves around crowd control. The Marksman's Crossbow's projectiles alternate between two diagonals, making damaging enemies inconsistent, although the arrows do have the ability to pierce, getting more damage on a crowd with one shot while opening up more space between the player and enemies. Controlling a crowd can also be done with Decoy, as it lures all enemies to the place that the player summoned it until the Decoy fades, allowing the player to pick up Experience Gems or damage enemies. The player should keep their distance from a crowd going towards a decoy, as enemies may get pushed out suddenly, while also keeping an eye on enemies heading towards the decoy. Upgrading Tabia's Experience gain is great for the player, as it neutralizes the rising Experience cost to achieve a level and can be used to counteract the negative effects of Trinkets, such as the Raven's Wing.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 25.
	+ Reward: Marksman's Crossbow Universal Weapon.
Experiment XIX

*Experiment XIX* (pronounced Experiment 19) is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Sparksword: Damage and stuns nearby enemies.
* Gravitic Vortex: Ensnares all enemies within range for a few seconds.
* Passive: Starts with +50% Health, -10% Fire Rate and -10% Luck. +4% Attack Duration for each equipped Weapon level (up to 30 times).

## Strategy

Experiment XIX is a character who can specialize in slowing down enemies that they cannot kill quickly, with paralysis from the Sparksword and Gravitic Vortex. The Sparksword can be treated as a version of Toxic Stench that sacrifices some damage in exchange for stunning enemies, and in early waves, the player can usually just run through enemies to kill them. Later on, the player can use more close-ranged weapons to damage stronger enemies. Gravitic Vortex can be used for both running away from enemies or grouping them up to kill all of them quickly, racking up experience. The player should be wary about the vortex not activating immediately.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 40.
	+ Reward: Sparksword Universal Weapon.
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Defiled Graveyard III with Ruin Level 2.
	+ Reward: Neptune Hero.
Ogol

*Ogol* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Wolf's Fang: Powerful melee attack with short range.
* Warcry: Pushes and damages nearby enemies.
* Passive: Starts with +20% Attack Size, +25% Health and -5% Speed. Increases health regeneration by +0.5 points per second every 5 levels (up to 10 times).

## Strategy

Ogol is a strong character by himself, as he is able to regenerate health much more quickly than other characters. His attack size works great with his primary weapon, as its otherwise-short range would make him more vulnerable to getting overrun by a mob. The Wolf's Fang is able to instantly knock out the first enemies spawned, and can grow to become more powerful and one-shot other enemies as the game progresses. Ogol should try to get other weapons quickly, however, as the length of time between each of the Wolf's Fang's shots allows many enemies to build up. If Ogol is surrounded, he can use Warcry to force every enemy away from him while possibly opening up an escape, meaning that the player should save Warcry for when they absolutely need it.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 15.
	+ Reward: Wolf's Fang Universal Weapon.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30 on in Forge City II.
	+ Reward: Hourglass Trinket.
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Forge City II with Ruin Level I.
	+ Reward: Mork Hero.
Michi

### Unlock Condition

Complete Forsaken Glacier II with Ruin Level II as Tisha with the Explosive Flash and Seal of Purity Trinkets.

### Primary Weapon

Throwing Bombs

*Michi* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. She is a variant of Lanyz.

## Traits

* Throwing Bombs: Thrown in an arc in front of the player.
* Dagger Circle: Throws a swift circle of daggers around the player.
* Passive: -20% Health, +20% Speed, and -10% Damage. +15% Damage to Bosses every 5 levels (up to 10 times).

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30.
	+ Reward: Throwing Bombs Universal Weapon.
Quicksilver Spears

### Unlock Condition

Reach Level 15 with Ariana. (Universal Weapon)Upgrade the Quicksilver Spears to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Serrated Spears)

### Evolution Elements

Fire Wind

The *Quicksilver Spears* are a weapon in Army of Ruin. They are the primary weapon of Ariana.

## Levels

* Level 1: Shoots three spears in front of Ariana. 18 Damage, 1.8 Fire Rate.
* Level 2: 25 Damage.
* Level 3: 1.5-second Fire Rate, +10% Attack Size.
* Level 4: 1.3-second Fire Rate, 32 Damage.
* Level 5: 39 Damage, +20% Attack Size.
* Serrated Spears: Shoots two sets of three spears leaning towards the left and right of Ariana's front.

## Strategy

The Quicksilver Spears are a good weapon to have in all parts of a round. Their fire rate is acceptable for the early game and has the damage to instantly knock out Wave 1's enemies, and the player will likely have Trinkets that boost the player's fire rate, damage, and attack size later on. Getting a bigger attack size and fire rate is important, as the spears are fairly thin. The Serrated Spears are a great evolution, as they can slow down enemies and have a wider reach, at the cost of not being able to hit enemies directly in front of the player without an extra projectile.
Ker

*Ker* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Ranger Bow: Fires a piercing shot to the right.
* Salvo: Stops moving and fires arrows in the direction the player is facing at high speeds. Can be canceled with a left-click.
* Passive: Starts with +5% Speed. -10% Fire Rate when moving. When not moving, +8% Attack Fire Rate for every 5 levels (up to 10 times).

## Strategy

Ker, like Bhask, suffers from a weapon that is hard to use, although similarly to Bhask, Ker's primary weapon becomes very useful when evolved. Ker's main problem is her Ranger Bow, as it only shoots to the right, with very little variation in the direction. This makes getting experience in early waves a chore, as Ker will constantly need to reposition herself, which slows down her firing rate. While her arrows do pierce through enemies, early waves aren't likely to have multiple enemies in the way of a single attack, while waves in the middle or end of a round will have too much health to go down in enough hits. When upgraded to the Elven Bow, Ker's attack range greatly improves along with damage from arrows piercing endlessly and the Poison status effect they inflict, but before then, the player should try to obtain more weapons to help with the range.

Ker's ability, Salvo, is great for clearing crowds, although it can't be used if a boss is close, as there is a one-second delay between activating the skill and cancelling it. It does great damage, especially if the player is far enough away from a boss to continuously shoot them.

Standing still is the most important thing to keep in mind when playing as Ker, although this can't be done in early waves and the player needs many weapons to perform this later on. If the player can safely do this, however, enemies are taken down incredibly easily and quickly. Ker's fire rate can be increased further with trinkets and the Spell Book pickup.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 15.
	+ Reward: Ranger Bow Universal Weapon.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30 in Defiled Graveyard III.
	+ Reward: Frozen Shard Weapon.
* Clear Defiled Graveyard III with Ruin Level I.
	+ Reward: Promethean Flames
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Defiled Graveyard II with Ruin Level II.
	+ Reward: Tisha Hero.

## Trivia

* Ker is the only unlockable character shown before being unlocked other than on the Challenges screen, being shown on the title screen.
* Ker is the only non-variant Hero who has six challenges.
Jeanne

### Unlock Condition

Complete Forsaken Glacier 1 with Ruin Level 2 as Selina without any Darkness-infusing Trinkets.

### Primary Weapon

Pirate Anchor

*Jeanne* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. She is a variant of Ariana.

## Traits

* Pirate Anchor: Hits and pushes enemies in the direction the player is facing.
* Divine Light: Stuns nearby enemies.
* Passive: Starts with +25% Luck. +6 Attack Size every 5 Levels, up to 10 times.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.

## Trivia

* Jeanne and Vildasor's primary weapons can be unlocked prior to their respective characters. Because of this, Jeanne, along with Vildasor and Selina, has less exclusive challenges than any other character.
Nekros

*Nekros* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. He is a variant of Saul.

## Traits

* Dark Staff: Shoots a beam towards a random enemy that may inflict the Cursed status effect.
* Wither: Creates three circular spots in a triangular pattern that damage enemies in them.
* Passive: Starts with -20% Damage and -10% Experience. Number of projectiles increases by 1 every 10 levels up to 5 times.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30.
	+ Reward: Dark Staff Universal Weapon.
Samael

*Samael* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Blood Wings: Shoots bullets in a fan pattern from the sides.
* Scorched Earth: Flies for a short time, increasing speed and leaving a trail of fire behind him.
* Passive: Starts with +2 Projectiles, -50% Attack Duration and -50% Luck. +1% Fire Rate and Attack Damage for each equipped Weapon and Trinket level (up to 50 times).

## Strategy

Samael is a character whose primary weapon and passive traits work best when used to keep enemies away from the player, although his special skill is best used for surrounding enemies. The Blood Wings lack in power, but they have incredble range. The player needs to look for spaces without much level geometry in order to fully utilize them, as bullets from the weapon do not go through walls. Scorched Earth is incredible for getting rid of enemies who have managed to get close to Samael, as it does high damage and can easily surround enemies. This especially allows the player to get rid of bosses. making getting upgrades far quicker.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 15.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 40.
	+ Reward: Blood Wings Universal Weapon.
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Hidden Shrine II with Ruin Level 2.
	+ Reward: Abaddon Hero.
Bhask

*Bhask* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Blaze: Fire attack shot in a clockwise pattern.
* Petrification: Petrifies nearby enemies for some time. Petrified enemies can't move, but they take less damage.
* Passive: Starts with +100% Health and +30% Damage, but -15% Attack Fire Rate. +15% maximum Health every 5 levels (up to 10 times).

## Strategy

Bhask is a character who suffers from a weapon that is hard to use effectively and a special skill that goes against his weapon, but in turn, has far greater survivability than other characters when based on health alone. Because early waves generally start with enemies scattered around, it can be difficult to take them down, as Blaze fires in one of eight possible directions with each activation. The weapon does burn enemies, however, making successful hits do more damage over time. Because of the way it acts, only having Blaze makes the player vulnerable to crowds, although by the time they start forming, the player should have amassed a sizable number of weapons. When evolved into Dragon Breath, these issues aren't as prevalent, as the firing direction covers the previous and next direction and does a lot more damage, all while piercing.

Petrification acts similarly to the Ice Flower pickup, as it freezes most enemies in place and slows down bosses. It comes with the upside of enemies who are completely stuck being rendered harmless, but at the cost of a limited range and less damage, making it better for running through a crowd than defeating its enemies.

Bhask's best attribute is his health, as it is doubled from other characters and continues to rise as the player levels up, up to a grand total of 250% more health. This lets Bhask run through enemies, although the player should only try this when Petrification or an Ice Flower is active.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 15.
	+ Reward: Blaze Universal Weapon.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Complete Ancient Forest II on Ruin Level I.
	+ Reward: Battle Cog Trinket.
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Ancient Forest III with Ruin Level II.
	+ Reward: Kroat Hero.
Selina

*Selina* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. She is a variant of Ariana.

## Traits

* Necromancer Gauntlets: Short ranged attack towards the closest enemy.
* Heal: Recovers part of her health. Amount recovered increases with character level.
* Passive: Starts with +10 Thorns, +100% Health and -15% Speed. Increases Thorns by +10 every 5 levels (up to 10 Times).

## Strategy

Selina is a character who revolves around sacrificing her health for damage while swiftly recovering her health in any downtime she has. Selina has one of the highest base Health stats in the game, and while it can't go up over time with leveling up, the other part of Selina's primary Passive trait is an initially-weaker version of the Armor of Thorns Trinket that gains power the more she levels up. This allows Selina to run through a horde of weak enemies and kill them instantly or stand next to a boss to gradually take it down with Thorns. Both of these strategies require the player to take heavy damage, meaning that the player should keep an eye on their health bar at all times and avoid using it too often.

Heal is a great Special Ability, as it allows Selina to recover any HP lost through using Thorns damage to take down enemies. The ability is weak at the start, but it can become able to recover nearly half of Selina's health later in a round. The Armor of Thorns, Elixir of Health and Emerald Ring Trinkets work wonders with Selina because of this, as Selina will have more Health to use, her Heal ability will charge at a faster pace, and her Thorns trait will stack with the Armor of Thorns trinket, boosting its potential. If the player has Weapon Evolution unlocked, they can choose to evolve the Necromancer Gauntlets into the Vampire Gauntlets, which steal a small amount of health with each enemy they hit, allowing the player to last slightly longer.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.

## Trivia

* Selina is the only unlockable character whose primary weapon is available as an upgrade by default. She is also the only character to have been added after her primary weapon.
	+ Because of this, Selina has less exclusive challenges than any other character.
Ranger Bow

### Unlock Condition

Reach Level 15 with Ker. (Universal Weapon)Upgrade the Ranger Bow to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Elven Bow)

### Evolution Elements

EarthWind

The *Ranger Bow* is a weapon in Army of Ruin. It is the primary weapon of Ker.

## Levels

* Level 1: Shoots one swift arrow to the right that can pierce 4 enemies. 28 Damage, 1.8 Fire Rate.
* Level 2: 43 Damage, +25% Attack Size.
* Level 3: Pierces 6 Enemies, 1.4 Fire Rate.
* Level 4: 63 Damage, Pierces 7 Enemies, +50% Knockback.
* Level 5: +50% Attack Size, Pierces 9 Enemies.
* Elven Bow: Fires piercing shots to the right that inflict the Poison status and bounce off of screen borders.

## Strategy

The Ranger Bow, despite having high damage outputs and being able to pierce, is very hard to use effectively, particularly in Ruin Levels or in Hidden Shrine stages, due to its incredibly limited range. This prevents it from being usable to get rid of a crowd around the player, and its best use is for damaging enemies so that other weapons can finish them. The Elven Bow, however, is a worthwhile upgrade, as it shoots bigger arrows that pierce until they despawn along with bouncing off the sides of the screen. This is very useful for raw damage, but the poison damage can also be beneficial with the Pearl of Pain trinket, allowing it to deal more damage due to the status effect.
Lanyz

*Lanyz* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Spectral Dagger: Shoots several projectiles in a wide arc.
* Dodge: Drops a poison bomb and performs a quick evasive move that prevents from harm.
* Passive: Starts with -10% Health and +10% Speed. +15% Luck every 5 levels (up to 10 times).

## Strategy

Lanyz is a character who revolves around hit-and-run tactics early on, while trying to get good Weapons and Trinkets with her Luck stat increasing every five levels. While her Spectral Daggers don't often hit her targets until Level 2, when a shot is added directly in front of her, and Lanyz herself is more frail than others, being right in front of an enemy when her Spectral Daggers shoot can make all daggers hit one enemy, which can be followed by Lanyz herself backing away to repeat the process. Evolving her daggers into the Spectral Needle will make this technique more viable later in a round, as they will instantly bounce off of the enemy and into a crowd forming behind Lanyz.

Dodge can be used in a similar way to Ariana's Shell, as it can be used to escape from a large crowd or used to attack enemies with high damage output. Dodge is far less effective, however, as its invincibility period is much shorter and the poison bomb it drops is only active when the player activates the special attack. As such, the player should make use of other weapons to flee from crowds, with Dodge being a last resort.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 15.
	+ Reward: Spectral Dagger Universal Weapon.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Complete Forge City I with Ruin Level I.
	+ Reward: Silvan Shell Weapon.
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Ancient Forest III with Ruin Level I.
	+ Reward: Tabia Hero.
Edmund Exley

Edmund Exley is a former member of the Waterdhavian Guard.

## Early Life

His early life is unknown, he was fired from the guard around or possibly before 1492. He was fired possibly around the same time as Sergei Illistrad and Popovich.

## Life after the Guard

After being fired, Edmund started worked at his father's bakery, Gerin's Breads in the Sea Ward and spent time at the Shrine of Nature park in Waterdeep. It was there where he was spotted painting by Varis, Harminil and Varragh. Harminil challenged him to some painting contest Edmund did not realize he was participating in while being asked questions about irregularities in the Guard, on the initiative of Evander. He was unable to provide any useful information. What happened to him afterwards, is unknown.
Magic Staff

### Unlock Condition

Reach Level 15 with Saul. (Universal Weapon)Upgrade the Magic Staff to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Miracle Staff)

### Evolution Elements

Ice Wind

The *Magic Staff* is a weapon in Army of Ruin. It is the primary weapon of Saul.

## Levels

* Level 1: Shoots one pellet towards the closest enemy. 17 Damage, 1.1s Fire Rate.
* Level 2: 2 Bullets, +25% Bullet Speed.
* Level 3: 26 Damage, Fire rate 0.8 seconds.
* Level 4: 3 Bullets, +50% Bullet Speed.
* Level 5: 33 Damage, 4 Bullets.
* Miracle Staff: Shoots four explosive pellets against the closest enemy.

## Strategy

The Magic Staff and the Miracle Staff are both mediocre weapons to have, as they have lackluster damage, lack much control over what enemy is targeted, and pellets disappear on impact. Early on, they are capable of instantly killing enemies with a smooth firing rate, allowing the player to collect Experience more easily. However, the player should try to get more weapons or damaging trinkets quickly, as the staff will outlive its usefulness around Waves three to five, when the player can get surrounded by thick crowds of enemies.
Saul

*Saul* is a starter Character in Army of Ruin.

## Traits

* Magic Staff: Shoots a magic pellet against the closest enemy.
* Magic Missiles: Shoot 8 magic pellets around you.
* Passive: -1% attack cooldown for each equipped trinket level (up until 25 times).

## Strategy

Saul, being a starter character, is easy to understand, but has difficulties surviving later waves. The Magic Staff is good enough to hold its own at the start of a game due to its relatively swift firing speed, although the player should try to obtain more weapons as soon as possible. Getting trinkets every so often should also be done with each level-up, as it will make Saul's weapons more efficient. Saul's biggest handicap in later waves is his own staff, as it does weak damage, even at Level 5 and when upgraded to the Miracle Staff, and is always aimed towards the closest enemy, which may not be where the player needs to go.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 15.
	+ Reward: Magic Staff Universal Weapon.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 30 on in Forge City II.
	+ Reward: Buckler Trinket.
* Defeat all Special Bosses in Ancient Forest I with Ruin Level I.
	+ Reward: Kyros Hero.

## Trivia

* Saul's artwork on the character select screen shows his hat with a blue crystal, rather than a purple crystal seen everywhere else.
* Saul is the only Hero with a unique model to lack a Steam Trading Card.
	+ He does, however, appear on the Level 1 badge, Wisdom, from combining all six cards for the first time, and an emoticon that can be obtained from the same process.

## Gallery

Saul's model, shown on Milkstone Studios' Twitter account.Wisdom badge.:aorwizard:.
Heroes

Characters are warriors fighting off hordes of enemies in Army of Ruin. Each character has a primary weapon that they always have, a special attack that is slowly charged up, and a passive trait that influences how they can be used.

## Hero Variants

Hero Variants are characters that share models, portrait lineart, and voice lines with other Heroes, but have different Primary Weapons, Special Skills, and passive traits. They are all unlockable characters, and most of their unlock methods are connected to their base Hero.

## Overview

Each character has a primary Weapon, a special attack, and one or two passive traits. A character starts each game with their assigned weapon, which can be upgraded if the player is given the opportunity when leveling up. A character's special attack is unique to them, being different for everybody and having different effects. A passive trait generally affects the character's stats, such as their attack cooldown or their health. The mix of both a character's special attack and their passive trait control how a character is used.

## Trivia

* Out of all unlockable characters, Ker is the only one shown before unlocking, appearing on the title screen.
* Selina is the only unlockable character whose primary weapon is unlocked as a possible upgrade by default.
	+ Jeanne and Vildasor can also be unlocked before or after their primary weapon, but in these cases, the weapon is a required unlockable.
Simon

Simon is a former Valabrar of Waterdeep, serving under Ulder Cole, who defected to the Free Ward together with his leader following Draven Rylstrea's coup in Waterdeep.

## Early Life

His early life is unknown. He probably served as a Valabrar for many years before 1492, under Ulder Cole. The exact date he joined the guard in Waterdeep is unknown.

## Defection

Following the coup that brought Draven Rylstrea to power, Simon, together with Ulder Cole and 3 of his comrades defected and allied themselves with the Knights of Aloro of the Field Ward, which became de-facto independent following a series of events within the ward, which led to the death of many guards. Simon was well aware that the Knights of Aloro were led by the butchers of Waterdeep, Harminil, Varis Aloro and Varragh il Sunayn, but their common goal in fighting made Simon brothers in arms with the Knights of Aloro.

### Stormhaven Prison Rescue

Following the failed coup to overthrow the Lord Protector, Varragh organised a daring prison rescue attempt in an attempt to free the Sons of Finderwel, Varis and Alaric. Simon joined the attempt together with his comrades, and under the leadership of Varragh and Ulder, they were successful in their mission.

### Assassination of the Lord Protector

After the successful prison rescue, the assassination of the Lord Protector was planned. Simon fought in the assault at the palace and after the negotiations with the guard broke down, escaped together with the rest of the strike team.

### Assault of the Inquisitorium

After the assassination of the Lord Protector, Ulder Cole managed to negotiate a deal with the magistrates, who had partially seized control of Waterdeep following the assassination. Together with the Knights of Aloro and Harminil, Varragh il Sunayn and Varis Aloro, they would take out the remaining Lord Protector Loyalists, who were led by Tajni Savetnik, the Grand Inquisitor.
With their combined forces, they assaulted the Inquisitorium and defeated all inquisitors.
Necromancer Gauntlets

### Unlock Condition

Upgrade the Necromancer Gauntlets to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Vampire Gauntlets)

### Evolution Elements

EarthWind

The *Necromancer Gauntlets* are a weapon in Army of Ruin. They are the primary weapon of Selina.

## Levels

* Level 1: Shoots one projectile towards the closest enemy. 11 Damage.
* Level 2: 16 Damage.
* Level 3: +20% Attack Size.
* Level 4: 2 Shots.
* Level 5: +40% Attack Size, 23 Damage.
* Vampire Gauntlets: Short range attacks with health steal capabilities.

## Strategy

The Necromancer Gauntlets are a very straightforward weapon. They don't have much damage, but they can hit multiple enemies at once, which can be taken advantage of with its natural Attack Size upgrades or Trinkets like the Magnifier. This makes the weapon suited for weapon combinations that lack a close-ranged weapon. The Vampire Gauntlets are a slight improvement, as they heal the player with each hit, although the stolen health is incredibly small.

## Trivia

* The Necromancer Gauntlets are the first primary Weapon to:
	+ initially be exclusive to leveling up.
	+ be added before their respective Hero.
	+ be available to all heroes immediately.
Mork

*Mork* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. He is a variant of Ogol.

## Traits

* Mighty Punch: Very close range attack that deals high damage.
* Nature's Fury: Multiple shots in a frontal arc.
* Passive: -25% Speed, +100% Health, +40% Attack Size, and +25% Pickup Radius. When hit, recieves a temporary damage boost.

## Strategy

Mork can be described as a more extreme version of Ogol, as his primary attack has far less range and his Special Attack only hits where Mork is facing, although he gets much higher Damage in return. Mighty Punch is very small, but it has enough strength to instantly kill some enemies while taking a large chunk of damage away from bosses. Mighty Punch's cooldown is relatively short, allowing it to continuously rack up Experience Gems near Mork. Nature's Fury is a great Special Attack, as it has a wide reach and it has even greater damage. Using a similar strategy to the Spectral Dagger, the player can go up to an enemy, activate Nature's Fury while close enough to ensure that most bullets hit, and then run away. Mork's secondary Passive trait is similar to the Wristband of Grudge, as it will increase Mork's damage even further, and Mork's doubled base Health allows the player to intentionally take damage to swiftly take out all enemies.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 25.
	+ Reward: Mighty Punch Universal Weapon.

## Gallery

Special Bosses Teaser.JPGMork approaching a Special Boss on a teaser image.Tundra Teaser.JPGMork standing in an unnamed map on a teaser image.
Kroat

*Kroat* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. He is a variant of Bhask.

## Traits

* Ominous Gale: Attack covering a great vertical distance.
* Totem: Marks an area for a while, cursing all enemies entering on it.
* Passive: Starts with -15% Speed, +50% Health and +2 Regeneration. +2% Attack Size every level (up to 30 times).

## Strategy

Kroat is a variant who is relatively equal to his base character. His primary weapon, while reaching past the top and bottom of the screen and lacking Blaze's issue with aiming, lacks power and horizontal range, although there is a small amount of space for a hit on the sides. His Special Skill is meant to get additional damage on enemies, although it is only for those drawn into a small area and the damage itself hardly rises. Kroat's first passive trait revolves around health, with additional points of regeneration in exchange for only 50% more health, which allows the player to back away for less time to recover. Increasing Kroat's attack size is helpful for Ominous Gale's lacking horizontal reach, although without weapons that create an area-of-effect around the player, it doesn't do much.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 25.
	+ Reward: Ominous Gale Universal Weapon.
Ziraj

Ziraj, nicknamed "the Hunter" was a member of the Amrik's Raiders and brother to Zaerk.

## Early Life

Not much is known about his early life, or how he joined the Amrik's Raiders, he was however by 1492 sentenced to death in absence by 12 different cities in the Sword Coast.

## Bank Heist and death

In early Summer 1492, Ziraj was one of the members of the Amrik's Raiders who would partake in the robbery of the Sword Coast Traders bank, together with Harminil, Varis and Varragh. Immediately, the Amrik's Raiders started killing the bank guards, which infuriated the trio, so by initiative of Harminil, they turned on Ziraj and his crew. Ziraj was eventually slain by the blade of Harminil in the fight that ensued between the Amrik's Raiders and the trio.
Fire Staff

### Unlock Condition

Reach Level 25 with Kyros. (Universal Weapon)Upgrade the Fire Staff to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Magma Staff)

### Evolution Elements

Fire x2

The *Fire Staff* is a weapon in Army of Ruin. It is the primary weapon of Kyros.

## Levels

* Level 1: Shoots one pellet towards the closest enemy. 11 Damage, 1.5s Fire Rate, and burns.
* Level 2: 1-second cooldown.
* Level 3: 2 Bullets, +10 Effect Power.
* Level 4: 17 Damage, +25% Attack Duration.
* Level 5: +20 Effect Power, 0.7-second Fire Rate.
* Magma Staff: Shoots fireballs that spawn lava pools where they hit.

## Strategy

The Fire Staff is a very poor weapon that will weigh the player down until it evolves, while also limiting the player's potential Trinket combinations. It fires bullets that are similar to what the Magic Staff shoots, but the Fire Staff's primary difference is that its targets are completely random. This means that enemies have a chance to get closer to the player than usual, as the weapon can avoid shooting the closest enemies for a prolonged period of time, other enemies can get in the way and take the hit, and it will be even less effective when close to walls or other geometry that will make bullets disappear on contact. While enemies who are hit get burned, the player will still have trouble hitting them again if the initial damage doesn't kill the enemy immediately.

The Magma Staff, on the other hand, is much better than its counterpart. While it shoots half as many bullets, enemies that are hit create lava pools that can burn more enemies than the one that was hit with the initial bullet. This can create a large damage zone around the player if their fire rate is low and their amount of weapons is high. Evolving the Fire Staff still comes with a caveat, however, as it requires two Fire elements to evolve. This limits the amount of potential Weapon and Trinket combinations the player can have if they want every weapon to evolve at some point, which can be detrimental depending on what the player has already acquired. Overall, despite having a good evolved form, the Fire Staff takes so much time to level up while also being very difficult to use that it isn't worth getting in almost any circumstance.
Vildasor

*Vildasor* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. He is a variant of Bhask.

## Traits

* Swift Tornado: Tornadoes cluster towards the player and then exit the same way they came.
* Thunderball: Summons an electric ball that damages enemies nearby.
* Passive: Starts with -15% Speed, +100% Health, +20% Damage, -10% Experience and -50% Healing Effectiveness. +15% Damage every 5 levels (up to 10 times) at full Health.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 1,000 Money.
Blaze

### Unlock Condition

Reach Level 15 with Bhask. (Universal Weapon)Upgrade Blaze to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Dragon Breath)

### Evolution Elements

Fire x2

*Blaze* is a weapon in Army of Ruin. It is the primary weapon of Bhask.

## Levels

* Level 1: Shoots fire balls in eight directions, going clockwise. 6 Projectiles, 8 Damage, 1.4-second Fire Rate.
* Level 2: 9 Projectiles, +25% Attack Size
* Level 3: 11 Damage, +25% Bullet Speed.
* Level 4: 12 Bullets, 1-second Fire Rate.
* Level 5: +1 Piercing, +5 Burn Strength.
* Dragon Breath: Much wider and faster projectiles that pierce more enemies.

## Strategy

Blaze is a weapon that is difficult to use until it evolves. There is no way to change the direction that bullets travel in, forcing the player to circle around enemies they want to target, which can't be done well if a crowd has formed. Blaze also lacks damage and reach when shot, relying on burn damage to kill enemies. Each projectile moves in the same general direction, meaning an enemy hit by one fireball will likely get hit by enough to get knocked out.

The problem Blaze has with damage is lessened when evolving it into Dragon Breath, with the Burn status it gives having been buffed, being able to pierce many enemies, and gaining the ability to cover one side of the player with bullets. However, it costs two Trinket slots to gain the two Fire elements needed to evolve it, meaning the player will have less potential weapon sets if a goal is to evolve as many weapons as possible.
Wolf's Fang

### Unlock Condition

Reach Level 15 with Ogol. (Universal Weapon)Upgrade the Wolf's Fang to Level 5 after unlocking Weapon Evolution. (Dire Fang)

### Evolution Elements

Earth x2

The *Wolf's Fang* is a weapon in Army of Ruin. It is the primary weapon of Ogol.

## Levels

* Level 1: Close-ranged attack around Ogol. 20 Damage, 3.5-second cooldown.
* Level 2: 30 Damage, +10% Attack Size.
* Level 3: +20% Attack Size, 3-second cooldown.
* Level 4: 2.5-second cooldown, 40 Damage.
* Level 5: +30% Attack Size, 2.25-second cooldown.
* Dire Fang: Poisons enemies.

## Strategy

The Wolf's Fang is a very good weapon as long as the player has something to increase Attack Size. It starts out like any other weapon, as it is able to instantly kill Wave 1's enemies, but it has the downside of a small range. Its range gradually increases as it gets upgraded, and if the player has the Magnifier trinket, it will have a very large radius. The player should also get a trinket that boosts damage, such as the Dragon's Heart, since the weapon's cooldown is slightly below-average at the start.

A small weakness of the Wolf's Fang is its requirement of two Earth-infusing Trinkets to evolve. While this means the player can get a stat bonus, this only applies if the player has unlocked the Elemental Overload feature and prevents the player from being able to evolve other weapons in certain circumstances. Poison does small damage over time to enemies, but it is best used against bosses and with other damaging statuses, such as Burn.
Kyros

*Kyros* is an unlockable Character in Army of Ruin. He is a variant of Saul.

## Traits

* Fire Staff: Shoots fireballs at random enemies.
* Fire Bullets: Shoot 6 fire pellets around you.
* Passive: Starts with +20% Fire Rate. Increases Attack Duration by +4% every level (up to 30 times).

## Strategy

Like Saul, Kyros is a mediocre character to use, with most of his problems being in his primary weapon. Unlike Saul, who has slight control over his targets, Kyros can't control his shots at all. This issue makes killing bosses more difficult and tedious in a crowd, as the staff has a high chance to target an enemy in a direction away from the boss. Kyros' first Passive Trait simply gives more chances for the staff to shoot the desired enemy as well. As a result, the player will be very reliant on weapons obtained from leveling up.

Kyros' saving grace is his special attack, Fire Bullets. While it shoots less pellets than Saul, the bullets still do a lot of damage with a different trait of staying around for a long time and weaving through many groups of enemies. Despite this, both the Fire Staff and Fire Bullets are done by another variant, Tisha, with just her primary weapon, leaving Kyros redundant.

## Challenges

* Reach Experience Level 10.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 20.
	+ Reward: 500 Money.
* Reach Experience Level 25.
	+ Reward: Fire Staff Universal Weapon.

## Gallery

Kyros Teaser.JPGKyros, as shown on the Hero Variants teaser.
Rainbow Sector

**Rainbow Diamond's Interplanetary Colony Crystal System Sector** or **The Rainbow Sector** for short is a system of colonies founded by Rainbow Diamond as sanctuaries and homes for the gems she creates

These colonies are extremely advanced, past the standards of The Great Diamond Authority's former colonies as Rainbow Diamond has utilised a way to use kindergartens that don't ruin the natural environment and ecosystems.

## Significant Structures

* Eclipse Arena which is used for sparring and training. Located on the Oziter colony.

* Indigium Shrine which is used to honour their fallen soldiers and allied crystal gems. Located on the Kutheshan colony.

* Lunar Station which is a diplomatic-based station in space near the Zogone colony.

* Equinox Spire is which is used for recreational uses so gems can look at astronomical events. Located on the Yadilia colony.

* Stellar Station which is a scientific research station in space near the Oziter colony.

* Transmission Tower which is a tower that can be used to send transmissions across the universe. Located on the Uthea colony.

* Solar Station which is an artillery station full of soldier gems and ships ready for combat if ever needed. Located in space near the Mabara colony.

* Basalt Forge which is used to create weapons for gems who don't have their own, and are kept in multiple places across the sector. Located on the Oziter colony.

* Universal Observatory which is used for gems to access star maps and blueprints for their leisure or personal usage. Located on the Anvore colony.

* Club Etherion which is used for parties and leisure of the gems who go there. Located on the Uthea colony.

* Abalone Reef which is the main reef used for pearl creation. Located on the Uthea colony.

* Celestial Galaxy Warp which is used for fast transportation across the sector. Located on the Anvore colony.

* Medical Bay which is used to heal gems with minor injuries such as cracks or chips. Located on the Cherenus colony.

* Grand Ballroom which is used as a celebration venue for minor or major events. Located on the Uthea colony.

* Cosmic Mausoleum is used to store the remains of the fallen soldiers of the sector and sometimes holds the remains of fallen crystal gems. Located on the Kutheshan colony.

* Garden of Light which is used for relaxation purposes for any gems that wish to go there. Located on the Vadilia colony.

* Geode Coast is a point of interest used for gems who just want to unwind and relax from a more urban lifestyle. Located on the Strinatov colony.

* Great Gem Metropolis is the main capital of the Rainbow Sector and is the most inhabited place in the sector also. Located on the Mabara colony.