Counting down to #1– the top 10 spells in Factions: Battlegrounds (the top 2!).
We have reached the very best spells in Factions: Battlegrounds- both of these spells are effective enough that you can base your battleplan around them and efficient enough that with a very small amount of planning you can utilize them multiple times during the course of battle.
Before we dive into #2, let’s recap!
#2- ICE MISSLE
(Zermano- Zermano Battlemage)
(5 mana- 2 damage to an enemy unit within a range of 4 spaces)
I thought long and hard about making Ice Missle the top overall spell in the countdown. In head to head matchups, it’s a cornerstone offensive weapon. The 4 range is the longest single target range in the game (including non-spell ranged attacks). The difference between 2 range and 3 range is extreme, but the difference between 3 and 4 range is gamechanging. 2 damage is not a devastating hit, but still a substantial chunk that can eliminate lower health enemies outright and significantly wound bulky enemies. Ice Missle’s 4 range is what makes it a contender for the top spell. That range will allow Ice Missle to win most shootouts, spell or otherwise. 4 range is also enough to change water spaces and enemy tiles from disadvantages to advantages, and in 2 player games where you have well-placed water spaces and home tiles, your enemy better get across the board quickly or they can forget about winning.
Since Ice Missle is a single target spell, the mana cost is lower than some of the more raw-power damage spells in the game. 5 mana means it’s available twice right away, and with a stable supply of mana generation, it will be available consistently. Having a 2 damage shot from almost anywhere on the board available almost every round is the upside that Ice Missle provides, and unlike a lot of other spells that upside can be realized in most battles.
The only aspect of Ice Missle that kept it from being # 1, is that my #1 spell has more of an impact in 3 and 4 player games. That’s not to say Ice Missle isn’t a great spell in multi-player- it is- as there are always a plethora of targets and ample opportunities to generate consistent mana. Overall Ice Missle is a top 2 spell and probably the most convenient, consistent spell in the game.
#1- DEATHWAVE
(Baazaria- Deathstorm Lich)
(7 mana- 1 damage to all enemy units (including aerial units))
Deathwave probably was the odds on favorite to take the #1 spot from the get-go. There are no other spells or abilities that globally deal 1 damage. The only pure avoidance is Immune to Spells– an ability which only 4 units have (units can still Evade or use Spell Ward). Simply put, Deathwave impacts the most enemies of any activation in the game. As soon as Deathwave is casted, the clock ticks for opponents to prepare for the next Deathwave. No other spell has that sort of impact when it ISN’T being used!
When it is casted, Deathwave provides a unique combination of point-scoring and auxiliary support. It wipes away 1 health support units and is a bane to enemy spellcasters as they usually have low health attributes. If the first wave doesn’t eliminate, it sets up the second one to be devastating. For higher health units, Deathwave is an excellent support tool. Melee attackers benefit tremendously from being able to strike an enemy that is already down a couple of health. While casting Deathwave for point-scoring is the most fun use, casting it to make melee unit’s jobs easier is probably it’s best use. 7 mana is not a bad cost and with strategic resource management, Deathwave is usually usable at least twice per game- at least. Entire battles are won and lost based on how opponents respond to Deathwave.. and it’s presence throws the enemy strategy out the window.
In 3 and 4 player games, Deathwave is somehow even more powerful. With more units on the board, the impact of the spell goes from dangerous to catastrophic for enemies. It also serves as a tool to instigate pure chaos, as enemies suddenly become weaker and more susceptible to players vulturing eliminations. A big board means that there is plenty of space to sit back and slowly destroy– everything. For these reasons, Deathwave is the spell that deserves the top spot!
That concludes my top 10 spells! Don’t worry- next week we start right back at the top- kicking off a new countdown as we jump into the top 10 ABILITIES in Factions: Battlegrounds.
Conquering Graviterrus 