Houndsmen Unit Guide

Unit Details

• Season 10: Highlanders
• Acquisition: Seasonal Challenges
• Unlocked Via: Seasonal Unit Challenges
• Type: Ranged Infantry - Archer
• Era: Golden Era

Clans will be united, and history will be made as three brand-new Seasonal Units arrive to fight for freedom in Season X: Highlanders. The last of the troops to answer the call to freedom is the Houndsmen (5-Star), the first Unit of its kind.

What could be better than charging into battle with a fiercely loyal companion? Less man’s best friend, and more “man’s best killing machine on four legs”, canines have been used throughout history in both hunting and warfare.

With gnashing jaws and slashing paws, dogs were used to break up enemy formations in war before their human counterparts were sent in to attack, using the chaos to their advantage.

In Scotland, inscribed stones have been found to show mounted hunters accompanied by dogs, proving that there is no greater friend in battle than a fluffy one for the people of the Highlands.

In Conqueror’s Blade, hunting with hounds is among the many peacetime pursuits of the Highlands nobility. Those with superior hunting prowess become the dedicated master of the hunt for their clan. The Houndsmen themselves are kennel masters—responsible for keeping the hunting grounds safe from poachers and Loegrian intruders. The Highlanders’ enemies consider the use of dogs in battle to be an underhanded tactic, most likely because of the high levels of success these attacks tend to enjoy.

Armed with bows, the Houndsmen have mid and long-range precision archery damage at their disposal, as well as their deerhounds to deploy for savage melee encounters.

The hound is as loyal to its hunter as the hunter is to his hound, and their close relationship extends to a loyal bond on the battlefield. As both fight, the damage they deal increases, and the dogs will never leave their side. When a hound is struck down, the hunter will unleash his full force on the enemy to avenge his fallen companion.

Core Unit Statistics

Unit Traits:

• Trained Hunters - Enemies hit will suffer bleeding for two seconds.
• Loyal Hound - The hunting hounds will attack any foe that attacks this unit. This reduces enemy attacks and movement speed.
• Man's Best Friend - An enemy attacked by a hunter or a hound will take even more damage when attacked by the other as well. When all hunters are killed, the hounds will continue to surround and attack enemies for 5 seconds before dying. When all hounds have been killed, the attack of hunters will be increased by 120% permanently.
• Highlanders - For the duration of Season X this unit's Leadership cost is reduced by 10%.

Formations:

• Dispersed - A loose formation that reduces unit vulnerability to ranged weapons.
• Stand Ground - The unit spreads out slightly with their hounds to the front. Good for ranged attacks.

Unit Orders:

• Hunting Stance - The hunters assume a Hunting Stance and launch three arrows in quick succesion.
• Hobbling Shots - The hunters fire a volley of arrows in a target direction that slow enemies hit.
• Get 'em! - Hounds charge in the designated direction and gnash enemies along the way. After using this you can use the 'Heel!' skill.

Veterancy Paths:

Core Path:

• Like Clockwork: Each level increases rate of fire by 5%.

Top Path:

• A Hundred Paces (3): Each level increases the maximum range by 5 meters.
• Impaler (2): Each level increases bleed damage by 50 points.
• Quick March (3): Each level increases Triple Arrow's base damage by 4%.
• Unwavering (3): Each level reduces damage taken by 5%.
• Cold Blood (3): Each level increases piercing damage by 3%.
• Move as One (2): Each level increases movement speed by 5%.
• Improved Supplies (3): Each level increases ammo by 10%.
• Razor-Sharp (2): Each level increases damage dealt to infantry by 5%.
• TBA (1): Hobbling Shots triggers Hunter's Will

Bottom Path:

• Move as One (2): Each level increases movement speed by 5%.
• TBA (3): Each level increases the damage enemies slowed by hounds take by 5%.
• TBA (2): Each level increases the duration of slow and damage reduction effects dealt to enemies by 1 second.
• TBA (2): Each level reduces Hunting Stance duration by 2 seconds.
• A Hundred Paces (3): Each level increases maximum range by 5 meters. 
• TBA (3): Each level reduces the cooldown of Hobbling Shots by 2 seconds.
• The Soldier's Life (3): Each level increases health by 5%.
• Improved Supplies (3): Each level increases ammo by 10%.
• TBA (1): Reduces damage hounds take from infantry for 2 seconds after impact by 50%.

Unit Kit Crafting

Related Information:

• Season 10: Highlanders
• Claymores (4.0 Stars)
• Bagpipers (3.0 Stars)