Hello everybody! I decided to make this guide to my favourite archetype in Poxnora: Draksars! First of all, i'm not a pro player at all, i played Pox for years but always as an occasional player, but i always played Sundered Lands and most of all draksar in all of their form! So this is most of all a guide line for new players to let them know which kind of runes are better and why in every role, and to collect some sample BGs. I hope this could be usefull for who wants to start trying this fabulous archetype, always considering this is just what i think about draksar. Also, if someone else want help me with suggestion or crytics i will appreciate them so much. Thanks to all, i hope you all will enjoy this. So let's start: i sorted runes in alphabetical order, and i gave them a vote from 1 to 5, that means: 1/5: bad runes, don't play it in draksar! 2/5: not the best choice, it could be good in some situation. 3/5: situational runes, not your core but usefull. 4/5: brings something important to the field, very important, pick it! 5/5: core runes, never go out without. Champions: Basilisk Templar: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + quest: kill enemy, cost 77 nora) Great rune, good stats and nice survivability thanks to quest: kill enemy. He also brings petrifying gaze, usefull to block an annoing enemy for a couples of turns. Unfortunatly it's a little costy. Blackscale Centurion: 3.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + battlemaster3, cost 80 nora) Tanky as hell, bulwark draksar is a great ability for your frontline. Battlemaster is also good, phalanx style BGs need aoe bonus, but "Fight in formation" can give it to ALL units for 8 turns for just 30 nora. Finally its cost is so high compared to the damage it brings (without protective proces of course). Broodguardians: 1.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + detection3, cost 83 nora) Quite useless rune, low range with so high cost and few damage. Relic guardin is good for stats buff, but not worth run this at all. Dragon Handler: 2/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + surge dragons, cost 74 nora) This rune isn't bad at all, good stats, two different attack, one of those ranged and magical, regen and drive for just 74 nora, not bad! But that surge dragons makes me cry. Playable in Draksar/Dragon BGs, not in Draksar phalanx, sorry my dear Handler. Draksar Archer: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade farshot1/3, both viable, + regen1, cost 66/73 nora) I prefer the costy build with farshot3, attacking at range 7-9 is so good, but i think it's not a great unit for the few damages it brings. Equip it with rage band and it becomes a monster of course. Draksar Augmentor: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + channel:speed or damage, cost 65 nora) Very good beater, with low cost and alternate damage(magical!), pummel also is good in 1v1 fights, and channel speed make him a very good font contestor. Just a little squishy to be a draksar, but stil a good choice. Draksar Berserker: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + pounce3, cost 75 nora) Great damage dealer, 8 speed with berserk3 and 15 base damage, careless is just a little price to pay for its strenght. That 0 def make him an easy target for your enemy, but very very good in 1v1 and in chasing ranged units. Draksar Bookburner: 3/5 (suggested upgrade resistance magical3 + ignorance, cost 74 nora) Nice antispell unit, book burn is pretty good, and also ignorance is annoing against some kind of BGs. I just gave him 3/5 cause of its range: it's a squishy unit, if it had more range, something like 4-5, it would be an autoinclude. Draksar Broodling: 1/5 (suggested upgrade regen1 + death nove fire 4, cost 34 nora) Useless in draksar, really, don't play this little thing. Draksar Broodqueen: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade detection3 + invigorate2, cost 77 nora) Great support unit, invigorate is very good, but too costy for what it brings. Most of all it's a squishy melee unit, not that good. Pro: it's also a dragon, not only a draksar, could be usefull in other kinds of BGs. Draksar Chameleon: 3.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + shadowspawn, cost 67 nora) Usefull low cost unit, shadowspawn + shatter in always a good combo, also constriction could be very usefull in some situation. If your enemy lacks of detection, it could be very very good at font contesting. Draksar Charger: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + charge 3, cost 72 nora) Nice unit, great stats, iniziative and charge are very good abilities, and also is "ranged" attack is good. Good damage and 51 hp are ok for just 72 nora. The only cons is that is a 2x2 unit. Draksar Constrictor: 3.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + damage aura, cost 64 nora) One of our better low cost beater, high damage and hp for just 64 nora, an aura ability and constriction make it very viable. Draksar Consulate: 4/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + spellswallower, cost 76 nora) Great support unit, spellswallower detects hidden spells, grant draconic force give a nice bonus to our units, magical damage and a little range. Very solid choice. Draksar Doomsayer: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + battlemaster1, cost 72 nora) Great font contestor, doom and conqueror make him very good. But that faithless hurt so much, because we can't use any spell to help him if it's alone at contesting fonts. Draksar Explorer: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + ready2, cost 65 nora) Very good unit, with ready it is a very solid first one drop, brings detection and mountaneer, all for just 65 nora, solid include. Draksar Fabricator: 5/5 (suggested upgrade command dodge + summon gatling gun, cost 63 nora) One of the strongest draksars out there, it can drop free gatling gun, gives you a free draketooth rifle on next deployed champion (draksar lack solid range units, so this is sooooo good), and command dodge let our tank live more and more against heavy ranged BGs, 2x autoinclude. Draksar Flashblade: 4/5 (suggested upgrade punish + violent, cost 64 nora) Very good medium range unit, love the fact it can go for violent, that is op on ranged. Ponderous blow + punish are really annoying for all enemies. You can choose also other upgrades for this champ, all are viable: logistic range make it hurts at range 6, so good, but costy, while blind is one other good support abilities. Draksar Footman: 1.5/5 (suggested upgrade block2 + regen2, cost 59 nora) If i decided to play this guy i would go for block 2 just for font contesting and a little more tankiness, because its attack hurts a lot thanks to bravery, but it isn't really playable atm, 5 speed on a frontliner is so bad. Draksar Forerunner: 3/5 (suggested upgrade sentry1 + pin down, cost 74 nora) Good first turn deploy unit, same utility as the Explorer, but we pay its 8 speed, elusive and pin down 9 more nora. It has got no damage, but still like this guy a lot, solid include. Draksar Gunner: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen1 + piercing shot3, cost 76 nore) I gave it only 3 because of its cost, too high. It still bring a good ranged option, hit for 19 damage with piercing shot and punishing champs within its range with sapping strike. Draksar High Marshal: 4/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + purified, cost 72 nora) Really love this guy, and it is the reason i quite always pick regen 2 on draksars: its empathy gives our allies one free regen rank, to the max of 3. With purified and dictate it could be one of our better bruiser, 2 base def and 44 hp make it also not so squishy. Draksar High Priest: 5/5 (suggested upgrade regen1 + mutation, cost 78 nora) It is so costy, i know, but it's aso so strong: our sermon speaker must be in every kind of draksar BGs, just so strong. Then, with a little of luck, mutate can make our tank tankier, or our beater faster, so i always pick mutate (that also gives some stacks to mutant, don't forget it!). 3-5 range magical attack is just the cherry on top. Draksar Hunchback: 4/5 (suggested upgrade rebuke + tough2, cost 78 nora) One of our best tank: just 78 nora for a tough 2 champ in SL is so good, and sapping armor make this guy even tankier! I don't like rebuke that much, but i don't like stun too, and rebuke is cheaper, so go for rebuke! Draksar Hunter: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + surge draksar, cost 66 nora) This guy is good because it is so cheap, but not that good. Surge draksar + drudgery are good for sure, but it is so squishy, and, according to me, draksar need a solid frontline. Draksar Interrogator: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + all viable, cost 71/73 nora) Very usefull unit, it has got drive that is a great utility, and i usually run him with shred defense against heavy tank, that make this guy cost just 71 nora. Also swordbreaker is good if we don't have a shatter option, while i like punish in ap denial draksar. Draksar Knight: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade ready1+ fear2, cost 69 nora) Good tank, i like it because its kit makes it a good font contestor, but nothing more. Draksar Legionaire: 2/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + enduring aura, cost 76 nora) It could bring nice abilities for draksar phalanx, it's not that bad, but 76 nora for a very short ranged champ with no damage neither violence isn't that good. Draksar Lord: 4.5/5 (suggested upgrade commander + bulwark draksar/guarded draksar, cost 82/87 nora) It is THE tank, 67 hp and 2 def on base, becomes even more big with bulwark, regen3 on base and draconic force make it a beast, and it gives +2 atk to our phalanx too, i love thi guy! 1x autoincude according to me, not 2 because it's quite costy and also it's a 2x2 champ. Draksar Marauder: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade attack charged3 + regen2, cost 79 nora) So costy for what it brings, but aoe with violence it's op, Can reach very high damage in few turns. Draksar Marine: 2/5 (suggested upgrade pin down + dive1, cost 65 nora) It was op some time ago, now it's cost is too high for what it brings, just pin down is a nice sweet. Draksar Master: 2/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + drive, cost 76 nora) I don't like it that much, but it can decapitate low hp enemies and drive ours, so it brings some nice utilities. Draksar Morph: 3/5 (suggested upgrade metamorphosis + all upgrade, cost 83/84/86 nora) I'm used to play this champ with haste, because i love superchamp with 10 speed! But also soften is very good for draksar. Metamorphosis and mutate are very good supporting abilities too. The con is that it is so costy, more than 80 nora for a support unit is so high. Draksar Persecutor: 4/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + mutate tough, cost 69 nora) This is a very solid unit, with high stato for its cost and great abilities: tough in SL is so strong, and clamp make it so annoying, for just 69 nora, maybe autoinclude! Draksar Psion: 2/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + shrive, cost 79 nora) I don't like this guy, draksar have got better ranged unit, 79 nora for what it brings is so high. However, telekinetic thrust is always a great ability. Draksar Pursuer: 3/5 (suggested upgrade leap3 + lay trap acid3, cost 66 nora) One other detection unit, but much more offensive than Explorer or Forerunner. I don't like it that much, but it has got nice damage for it's cost, good mobility, and the only trap ability in draksar theme. Draksar Ravenspeaker: 4/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + cleanse/disciple of the scale, cost 84 nora) It is so costy, but its raven tongue hurts so much against heavy summoning BGs. Raven form make it a melee unit with detection, so this is nice too. For the second upgrade, if you don't play Vindrax or Valdac choose cleanse for sure, while if you wanna play your dragon heroes choose disciple. Draksar Rocketeer: 2.5/5 (suggeste upgrande ammo2 + explosive attack1, cost 69 nora) That ammunition hurts so much on a defenseless unit, so this is not a solid include. I gave it still a decent vote because it can do 4 attack at range 5-7 with violent, that is so good. Draksar Sandstalker: 1.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + sandfall2, cost 72 nora) This unit needs a rework, really. I want assassinate back on it now! Seriously, it is just decent in sand draksar BGs, without sand don't play it. Never. Draksar Shifter: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + violent, cost 77 nora) Not a bad unit, but it is so costy. Just make him a pit dragon a hit like a truck, with 18 damage on base. Nothing more, for 77 nora, meh. Draksar Spellsword: 4/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + weaken spell, cost 69 nora) Great unit, low cost for high damage output. Magic eater make it a great counter against heavy magical BGs (magic amp kthir) and weaken spell let your phalanx tank more and more, at least 1x autoinclude. Dreadnought: 4/5 (suggested upgrade cleave + rampage, cost 98 nora) It's a beats. Just a beast. Your opponent will cast doom, drown, and every thing he has over this guy. But if he doesn't have a counter to it, it can win alone. Insane damage and resetting chain at every kill. BIIIIIG. Oh well.. It costs almost 100 nora. Dune Walker: 3/5 (suggested upgrade sand veil + trail sand, cost 61 nora) Of course, this is made for sand BGs, so in drasar BGs is at least 1x autoinclude. But also in non sand draksar it could be good, granting mobility to your bruisers. One of my favourite unite by far. Fallen Draksar: 1.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen 2 + hunter righteous, cost 59 nora) Don't play this guy, please. It only brings shatter, but 5 speed makes it unplayable. Flagellum of Chains: 5/5 (suggested upgrade punish + tormented, cost 77 nora) Great rune, always 1x autoinclude. Take prisoner is a very strong ability, you can steal forever a piece to your opponent (well, untill death or cleanse) and also give it bodyguard. Also range 3 with punish and terminus is so nice. Homicidal Thug: 2/5 (suggested upgrade scour1 + abuse charged3, cost 77 nora) This guys isn't that viable, it needs too many stack too work properly. If it manages to reach its maximum mutation it becomes a beast, with scrapper and psychic amped it is also tanky, but you will need too many turns to make this happens. Judge Torien: 4/5 (suggested upgrade punish + regen2, cost 72 nora) Great guy, short ranged unit with high base damage and violent, and also fire attack. The combo defensive strike + punish is very strong, but also very predictable. Priest of Fury: 5/5 (suggested upgrade surge draksar + blind/revere akakios, cost 69/75 nora) Our better ranges choice, that surge makes it a truck. Of course choose revere akakios if you decide to play Akakios in your BGs. Rip Demon: 3/5 (suggested upgrade surge enemies + damage shield3, cost 65 nora) This guy is not made for mono draksar BGs, but for fire amp, maybe splitted with UD (in that case pick ally:UD as upgrade). Rip Demon Alpha: 3/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + damage shield3, cost 78 nora) A little more viable than Rip Demon in draksar thanks to brutality, but it is make for fire amp BGs too. Sandstalker Dustdevil: 1.5/5 (suggested upgrade trail sand + regen2, cost 71 nora) I don't like its restyle, i loved it when it could swhirl enemies getting attack by violent. Now, with stasis and just a basic attack, it's not that viable also in sand draksar BGs. Sandstalker Lord: 4/5 (suggested upgrade desert front + desert camo, cost 76 nora) I love this guy, so damned tanky, and violent gives him great amount of damage. Of course the vote is referred for sand draksar BGs, don't play it without sand. Serpentor Ardent: 3.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + fear, cost 74 nora) It could be insanly good, zeal + quicken makes your opponent cry, while it gets attack and speed. Heart strike makes him a great finisher. Serpentor Paradigm: 2.5/5 (suggested upgrade regen2 + spur, cost 76 nora) A great beater, spur makes it hurts so much, resistance physical supplies its squishy body, but 76 nora is a litte too much according to me. Skywing Patrol: 2/5 (suggested upgrade relic guardian + sunder, cost 90 nora) Just too costy. Drop beacon + relic guardian is great, short range with sunder is great, but 90 nora for 44 hp is too much. Temple Guard: 5/5 (suggested upgrade defender + regen2, cost 64 nora) Our bodyguard, our defender, also got shrine defender and violence, that is not bad. That 5 speed isn't a big problem, you just need that +2def aoe. Wyrmpriest: 1.5/5 (suggested upgrade rite of creation + sermon, cost 75 nora) Don't play it, high priest make everything better than it. Related Champs: This guys are not draksars, but they are really usefull in draksar decks, or just fit well into. Vindrax: 5/5 (suggested upgrade resistance physical3 + acid bomb3, cost 101 nora) This is just the strongest unit in SL according to me, too many HP, too much damage, resistance and bombs. Put taint on it and let it win the game for you. Valdac: 4/5 (suggested upgrade cleansing aura + augment creation, cost 94 nora) Great support unit, love its cleansing aura and creation, to make my phalanx even stronger and purified. Also very good with disciples of the scale, giving them heal champs3. Vex: 3/5 (suggested upgrade surge draksar + deploy charged2, cost 80 nora) One other big bad dragon, but not that good unfortunatly. Divine wellspring isn't that good at the moment, loosing all charge to give perseverance to just one champ don't worth 80 nora. Akakios: 4.5/5 (suggested upgrade scale armor + guarded draksar, cost 84 nora) I love this champ, but i love it most of all in fire amp BGS. In draksar it's still really usefull, but of course it's not the star of the BG. However, putting taint on him is amazing, just too big. Snogvie the antbear: 4/5 (suggeste upgrade sonic aura3 + fascinate, cost 92 nora) Only 4/5 to this guy just because it's not a draksar, and its stats don't worth 90 nora, as Vindrax. But the aoe distract it gives is simply great, in every kind of BG, so it could be a good include. Work in progress..
As aid i accept crytics and suggestion. I knew that someone would have disagree with my opinions: we can also compare our experience to modify this list, it's possible that i didn't try enough something and my vote wasn't correct for all.
Charger is insanely good, might be autoinclude. Both rip demons are underrated, but the smaller one especially. It's a 64 nora unit that beats most melee's in 1v1 and has great damage output, not sure what more you want. Crowdraksar is mostly good for countering summons, he's not efficient otherwise and I don't think he is autoinclude. Draksar archer is really good. Fabricator probably not autoinclude after equip nerf. I don't wanna talk too much about it cause it's a waste of time to go looking at the ratings and argue about them. But this is not a good guide.
Well, i've already received 2 negative feedback, so i think i'm gonna delete this post, maybe i didn't understand anything about draksar. However, all these suggestion are arguable, according to me: Charger is good, i said that, but i think that there's better runes, it's not an autoinclude, just a good choice. Ravenspeaker is very good against hard summon BG, could be a winning champs, i gave it 4 because of it. In a heavy summon meta it's autoinclude, but at the moment i don't play it always too. Archers aren't good for me, just few damage. Great range, but after the remotion of violent i had always prefered rocketeer over archer. Fabricator is stil an autoinclude, well according to me, command dodge is great in draksar, and the equipment isn't that bad. About rip demons you have right, i was sure i gave them 3/5, so i'll change it immediatly.
If you want to do the guide, rather than just delete the post get all the feedback you can, play a lot of games exclusively with Draksar, and watch other games of people using them. After that point go back and recreate it. Look at my Sand Guide or Markoths IS guide for examples of ways to format. I think the biggest problem your guide faces other than content is its formatting. It is simple, but lackluster. Put some pictures in or the sprites. Change the size, color, or font of titles to draw attention. Small things like that really help. If you want some help with content, I am more than willing to help and others would be willing to contribute EDIT: also get on discord and hold discussions about each Draksar. The more input you can get the better and a lot of veteran players use the discord server
I've never been on discord, maybe i'll take a look. And yeah of course that formatting isn't definitive, i just put down my champs opinion for now, when i had a little of time i'm going to make it visually better. I've already seen and read your sand guide, i got the idea of a guide/encyclopedia about draksar reading yours XD
Rating champions by your opinion is not that good of a guide. It's just a rating of champions, you don't explain example situations, strategies (even though there aren't many here, it's still worth talking about them). My opinion on d. charger is based on two things: first I used him even when I thought he was underwhelming, and found out that he has a huge threat range, comes to play fast and has great stats -> all of these are not so easy to come by with draksars. Simple charge is one of the most underrated abillities in the game. 2nd I saw Tiny run him 2x and I trust Tiny's judgement more than most other people's.
