My rankings of the Zermano units!

We are rolling right along with the Factions: Battlegrounds tier rankings! Today I am revealing my Zermano unit rankings, partially because I get busy and fail to post for weeks at a time and partially because ranking monsters is becoming my favorite hobby. Let’s jump into Zermano! (Next up– Vitawaasi)

Here is my Zermano tier list! (For the non-blurry version click here)

• Superb Tier: Manawing Aku, Zermano Battlemage
• A Tier: Storm Conjuror, Quicksilver Golem, Dwarf Warrior
• B Tier: Gnome Pyromancer, Blizzard Elemental, Yacuruna Veteran, Island Umlingo, Octokonzi Raider, Scouting Gargoyle
• C Tier: Overlord Sorceror, Kraken Overlord
• D Tier: Savage Cyclops, Lurking Inkanyamba

D TIER: Savage Cyclops, Lurking Inkanyamba

Savage Cyclops is fine. It’s a big, basic melee unit with no abilities. Lurking Inkanyamba is probably one of my more controversial rankings… I know a lot of players love to deploy it to solidify a resource center and it’s really tough to eliminate, especially with Natural Toughness. For me, it just kind of gets stuck a little too much after that initial Aquatic attack. It’s usefulness (like a couple of other Zermano units) is tied into how well Zermano placed their terrain tiles. Maybe it’s a tier or 2 too low, but too often the big Inkanyamba is sitting in it’s own private pool while the battle is raging a tile away.

C TIER: Overlord Sorceror, Kraken Overlord

The Overlord tier! This is where I have Zermano’s rulers of land and sea. Both units have immense power, but that power is expensive and challenging to deploy on in combat. The Overlord Sorceror’s Vaporize spell is basically an auto-kill. However, it is a little limited by only having a range of 2. On it’s own, that’s fine, but Zermano’s long-range, efficient cost spells like Ice Missle, Lightning Bolt, and even Jolt are usually a more tactically sound option. Dominion is a nice ability- but it’s best used when staying out of the action- which limits the chances to get in range for Vaporize. Skypierce is nice as well, but just an auxiliary spell- not something you’d want to drop 7 gold for. Kraken Overlord I have discussed before.. Unbelievable power, but the massive attack is usually relatively easy to sniff out before it happens due to the high gold cost. Once it’s on the board, Kraken Overlord can be stuck just like Lurking Inkanyamba.

B TIER: Gnome Pyromancer, Blizzard Elemental, Yacuruna Veteran, Island Umlingo, Octokonzi Raider, Scouting Gargoyle

Most of Zermano’s warband ends up in the B tier for me. These units fill important roles in Zermano’s unique strategies. Gnome Pyromancer and Island Umlingo are cheap but weak spellcasters that can be really useful in picking off wounded enemies. Scouting Gargoyle is a great resource center grabber. It can fly and has Immunity to Range which makes it trickier to eliminate than at first glance. (I almost put Scouting Gargoyle in A Tier). Blizzard Elemental is a point- scorer thanks to speed and high attack skill. Blizzard is also a powerful spell, although the opportunity to maximize it doesn’t happen every battle (similar to Vaporize).. Despite being Immune to Range, Blizzard Elemental is a little fragile for 6 gold which keeps it in B tier. Yacuruna Veteran is a tough Captain that is held back by being entirely dependent on terrain tile placement. Octokonzi Raider is Zermano’s best surprise Aquatic attacker, thanks to Multi- Attack. The fact it generates gold is also helpful…but like other Aquatic units it can be vulnerable and stuck after that initial attack.

A TIER: Storm Conjuror, Quicksilver Golem, Dwarf Warrior

Storm Conjuror is a great offensive unit, as Lightning Bolt has 3 range and is a great value spell at just 5 mana. With 4 Rank, the Storm Conjuror has the potential to wipe out multiple units, and they only cost 5 gold. Conversely, Quicksilver Golem is a great defensive unit and can be a major matchup problem for range and spell heavy factions. Malleable forces your enemy to dedicate melee units to try to eliminate it, which draws them away from spellcasters. I’ve seen Quicksilver Golem waltz around the middle of the battleground at will. Dwarf Warrior generates gold and only costs 2. Several units can do that, but none of them have 3 health- making Dwarf Warrior an excellent deal.

S TIER: Manawing Aku, Zermano Battlemage

Just like the Farm Peasant from Zyan’s tier, the Manawing Aku is among the best of the best. Gold, to be clear, is more valuable than mana, but the Manawing Aku’s fit with mana-reliant Zermano makes it extremely important… Also, the Manawing Aku can fly. Numerous times I have seen it simply remain on the board unscathed the ENTIRE BATTLE! Zermano Battlemage is an excellent Captain thanks to good rank and decent attack and defense… and that is really just the frosting on the cake. The Ice Missle spell is absolutely lethal- ripping across the battleground at 4 range. The 2 damage is not really anything to scoff at either, especially when it comes zooming in from clear across the board. To top it off, Ice Missle only costs 5 mana. Zermano Battlemage, at 5 gold, can be gamebreaker at best and a solid, commanding captain at worst.

Let me know what you think is too high or too low! If you want to make your own tiers- here is the link!

Vitawaasi coming soon!