Best and Worst Units

Without question, the most powerful unit in the game is the dragon. It comes in first in stamina, attack, counterattack, speed, resistance, ranged attack, and ammo. It also comes in second in hit points, defense, and morale. A dragon on the battlefield will destroy everything in it's path.

But they are astronomically expensive!

So can you really call dragons the best unit in the game? I say no. Without considering how much gold and gems you have to spend in upkeep, an army of dragons will wipe out your reserves rapidly, leaving you penniless and doomed.

I created a mathematical system by which we compare all of the statistics in the game and compare them. And the results are pretty interesting. Spoiler alert: dragons, it turns out, are not the best unit.

Assumptions

Keep in mind that I'm assuming the the unit lives forever -- so the amount of gold you have to spend to get him is negligible. If you play poorly and your units die regularly, then these numbers mean nothing.

Also, this assumes that the unit is always in battle. You'll have to decide for yourself which units are the best castle guards to leave behind while you're out conquering the world.

Most Efficient Units (Gold)

Of course, if you have a hero who is a ranged class, then you'll play differently than if you make your hero the tank. But at the end of the day, units that drink more gold than blood are impediments between you and victory. So, to keep your treasury from depleting, your armies should contain a mix of units from the following list:

	ALIGN	LVL	GOLD RATING	GEM SCORE	VALUE
GOBLIN	E	1	0.65	0.00	0.65
BRIGAND	E	1	1.10	0.00	1.10
SPEARMAN	N	1	1.23	0.00	1.23
CENTAUR	N	2	4.25	0.00	4.25
HORSE ARCHER	N	2	4.35	0.00	4.35
THUG	E	2	5.06	0.00	5.06
MINOTAUR	N	3	10.30	3.65	13.94
EXECUTIONER	E	3	12.69	0.00	12.69
OGRE	E	3	12.78	0.00	12.78
CYCLOPS	E	4	16.81	0.00	16.81
GIANT	U	4	18.03	0.00	18.03
WARLOCK	EI	4	21.89	0.00	21.89

Most Efficient Units (Gems)

Magic units require gem upkeep. As a result, if you get your hands on a solid source of gem income, you will want to specialize your armies with these units:

	ALIGN	LVL	GOLD RATING	GEM SCORE	VALUE
ELF	GC	1	7.08	4.39	11.47
IMP	EI	1	0.00	4.87	4.87
SHAMAN	U	1	2.15	5.33	7.47
PEGASUS	G	2	5.39	8.35	13.75
MONK	G	2	5.81	9.60	15.40
MINOTAUR	N	3	10.30	3.65	13.94
MANTICORE	N	3	9.61	10.22	19.83
PALADIN	GC	4	24.43	15.15	39.57
TREANT	GC	4	15.36	16.32	31.68

Most Efficient Units (Gold & Gems)

At the end of the day, gems and gold both play a part. Across all units (magical and not), here are the best ones to have in your army:

	ALIGN	LVL	GOLD RATING	GEM SCORE	VALUE
CYCLOPS	E	4	16.81	0.00	16.81
GIANT	U	4	18.03	0.00	18.03
WARLOCK	EI	4	21.89	0.00	21.89
TREANT	GC	4	15.36	16.32	31.68
EXECUTIONER	E	3	12.69	0.00	12.69
OGRE	E	3	12.78	0.00	12.78
MINOTAUR	N	3	10.30	3.65	13.94
CENTAUR	N	2	4.25	0.00	4.25
HORSE ARCHER	N	2	4.35	0.00	4.35
THUG	E	2	5.06	0.00	5.06
GOBLIN	E	1	0.65	0.00	0.65
BRIGAND	E	1	1.10	0.00	1.10
SPEARMAN	N	1	1.23	0.00	1.23
MILITIAMAN	N	1	1.23	0.00	1.23
SLINGER	N	1	1.27	0.00	1.27
THIEF	E	1	1.55	0.00	1.55
ORC	E	1	1.75	0.00	1.75
HALFLING	G	1	1.83	0.00	1.83
BARBARIAN	U	1	2.68	0.00	2.68
LIZARDMAN	N	1	2.85	0.00	2.85
PIKEMAN	L	1	3.78	0.00	3.78
SWORDSMAN	L	1	4.63	0.00	4.63

Deadliest Units

"Who cares about gold? I just want to see damage" you say. Well then here are the heaviest weapons in your arsenal without consideration for upkeep:

	ALIGN	LVL	POWER	VALUE
DRAGON	N	4	8.58	87.18
PHOENIX	N	4	5.52	106.11
DEVIL	EI	4	5.05	49.15
GIANT	U	4	4.99	18.03
PALADIN	GC	4	4.91	39.57
GHOST	EI	3	4.31	37.41
MEDUSA	N	3	3.67	43.39
UNICORN	GC	3	3.65	21.78
MANTICORE	N	3	3.64	19.83
GRYPHON	N	3	3.51	37.61
CENTAUR	N	2	3.53	4.25
HORSE ARCHER	N	2	3.22	4.35
PEGASUS	G	2	2.97	13.75
GARGOYLE	N	2	2.71	22.85
GIANT SLUG	N	2	2.68	5.98
FAIRY	G	1	2.84	14.51
ELF	GC	1	2.82	11.47
HALFLING	G	1	2.73	1.83
DWARF	G	1	2.55	6.67
IMP	EI	1	2.55	4.87

Most Expensive Units (Gold)

Sometimes the gold just isn't there to afford all the good things in life. We all know people who should be fired from their job because they're just there for the paycheck. And if you didn't before, the following is a list of units that should be fired from their job -- because they're just there for the paycheck.

	ALIGN	LVL	GOLD RATING	GEM SCORE	VALUE
ELF	GC	1	7.08	4.39	11.47
DWARF	G	1	6.67	0.00	6.67
BALLISTA	N	2	12.41	0.00	12.41
GIANT SPIDER	N	2	9.80	10.12	19.92
CATAPULT	N	3	45.21	0.00	45.21
KNIGHT	G	3	23.83	0.00	23.83
PHOENIX	N	4	72.43	33.68	106.11
DRAGON	N	4	58.27	28.90	87.18
HYDRA	N	4	35.67	22.12	57.79

Most Expensive Units (Gems)

Some magicians just aren't that good at their job. Unless you have seriously good sources of gems, avoid these units.

	ALIGN	LVL	GOLD RATING	GEM SCORE	VALUE
FAIRY	G	1	1.41	13.10	14.51
ZOMBIE	EI	1	0.00	14.18	14.18
GARGOYLE	N	2	0.00	22.85	22.85
GHOUL	EI	2	0.00	24.17	24.17
MAGICIAN	U	3	18.58	38.41	56.99
STONE GOLEM	N	3	0.00	38.81	38.81
DEVIL	EI	4	0.00	49.15	49.15
VAMPIRE	EI	4	0.00	51.14	51.14

Most Expensive Units (Gold & Gems)

In terms of overall financial health, here is a list of the most dangerously slothful units in the game. Limit the number of these units in your army the second you get the opportunity.

	ALIGN	LVL	GOLD RATING	GEM SCORE	VALUE
PHOENIX	N	4	72.43	33.68	106.11
DRAGON	N	4	58.27	28.90	87.18
HYDRA	N	4	35.67	22.12	57.79
MAGICIAN	U	3	18.58	38.41	56.99
CLERIC	G	3	19.49	32.22	51.71
CATAPULT	N	3	45.21	0.00	45.21
GHOUL	EI	2	0.00	24.17	24.17
GARGOYLE	N	2	0.00	22.85	22.85
FIEND	EI	2	0.00	20.08	20.08
FAIRY	G	1	1.41	13.10	14.51
ZOMBIE	EI	1	0.00	14.18	14.18
ELF	GC	1	7.08	4.39	11.47

Puny Units

These poor bastards are lucky they can get out of bed in the morning. Some may excel in one area, but overall they are vulnerable and weak. When the enemy sees these units, they start to lick their chops.

	ALIGN	LVL	POWER	VALUE
GOBLIN	E	1	1.54	0.65
SPEARMAN	N	1	1.62	1.23
MILITIAMAN	N	1	1.62	1.23
ORC	E	1	1.72	1.75
ZOMBIE	EI	1	1.75	14.18
BALLISTA	N	2	2.01	12.41
GHOUL	EI	2	2.05	24.17
THUG	E	2	2.37	5.06
CATAPULT	N	3	2.21	45.21
CLERIC	G	3	3.08	51.71
OGRE	E	3	3.13	12.78
VAMPIRE	EI	4	3.64	51.14
WAR ELEPHANT	N	4	3.97	35.23
WARLOCK	EI	4	4.11	21.89