A knightly faction inspired by Medieval Europe and classic fantasy fiction, Arleon is about mingling the power of Humans and Faey to crush one's enemies in Songs of Conquest. Arleon's approach to most situations is straightforward, making it the perfect beginner faction.
Though it's easy to learn, Arleon has a high skill ceiling, and even veteran players will continue to find new tricks and strategies to bolster their gameplay. Knowing how to get the most out of the faction's archers to rain down pain on the enemy from a distance matters just as much as the ability to compensate for the faction's narrow spell selection. Here are some invaluable tips for playing with the Arleon faction.
8 Understand Units
Most units in the Arleon army are Human, but several others are Faey. Lady Hammond specializes in Human units, and Gnaw specializes in Faey, so if the player is starting with one of those Wielders, they will want to focus their unit development accordingly to get the most from their heroes. Otherwise, the player is free to mix Human and Faey units to their heart's content.
Essence, the resource used for spellcasting, is generated by troops. Most Human units provide Order Essence, whereas most Faey provide Chaos Essence. The former lends itself towards defensive buffs, while the player focuses on DPS and mobility. Minstrels and Troubadours are a special case, because despite being Humans, they provide Creation Essence. These two units provide significant defensive bonuses and thus form an indispensable part of most Arleon armies.
7 Hold The Line
One of Arleon's major weaknesses is the default fragility of most of its units. The player will need either a Wielder who specializes in defense, or a plethora of Order spells to buff their vulnerable troops and keep them alive. Footmen are a notable exception, to this, boasting strong Defense and natural resistance to ranged attacks.
As a general rule, the player will want to keep at least one unit of Footmen or Shields of Order in their army to protect their army's most vulnerable units, particularly its ranged ones. The closer the player gets to the end game, the more worthwhile it is to consider adding a second unit of Footmen or Shields of Order, assuming the Wielders have the added unit slots to support them.
6 Use Minstrels
Players of RPGs and strategy games alike will understand the importance of buffs and debuffs for keeping the good guys alive and making sure the bad guys see an early grave. The importance of support units holds true in Songs of Conquest, and for Arleon, Minstrels are the prime example.
Minstrels provide Creation Essence to cast a number of useful defensive spells such as Clouded Vision (to neutralize the enemy's ranged troops) and Earth Block (to guard the Arleon army's flanks). Minstrels also enhance Footmen with their songs, and given the importance of that defensive unit for keeping the rest of the army alive, the work done by Minstrels is indispensable.
5 Choose The Right Wielders
Wielders are the leaders and heroes of Songs of Conquest, unit characters who bring specialized abilities to the battlefield. Every faction has a variety to choose from. Understanding the major differences between Wielders is a vital part of any player's strategy, either shoring up a faction's weaknesses or complementing its strengths.
For Arleon, the most important consideration is whether to specialize in Human or Faey troops. Certain Wielders allow the player to mix and match these unit types more easily, while others push the player in a certain direction. Giandra Stormspire, for example, is a strong choice for Faey armies, whereas Cecilia Stoutheart is a strong choice for Human armies. It's a waste of time and effort to compose an army of units that don't match the Wielder's specialization.
4 Prioritize The Barracks
Whether the game is Heroes of Might and Magic, StarCraft, or Command and Conquer, build order is always one of the most important considerations in any strategy game, and can take a long time to perfect. The difference between completing a certain building first or second can make or break a strategy.
For Arleon, the Barracks is the top priority. It allows for the recruitment of Footmen, who will be the single-largest factor in keeping the rest of the army alive. On the first turn, the player should build a Lumber Mill to fulfill the Barrack's building requirement, using the second slot for a Peasant Hut or Tavern.
3 Choose Units That Compliment The Wielder
After the Barracks has been completed, the player should turn their attention toward the recruitment of units. The goal is to recruit troops whose strengths directly complement the starting Wielder.
A common mistake amongst players of Faey Wielders such as Ethylle and Gnaw is to forego the construction of a Barracks and instead build a Faey Grove first. Though Faey Spirits and Horned Ones are a better overall compliment for these Wielders than Footmen, neither of those Faey units serve well in the early game. Horned Ones take too long to recruit, and Faey Spirits die too easily. What the player needs in the early game is a reliable shield wall, and that's what Footmen provide.
2 Specialize In The End
Unlocking a large building site allows the player to turn their attention away from early-game considerations and towards their mid- and late-game strategies. If the player is continuing to focus on a Human army centered around the defensive capabilities of Footmen, the construction of the Grand Armory makes the most sense. Knowing the details of one's army pays off.
If instead the player is using either a ranged army or a Faey army, the Faey Court is a better construction project. Faey Nobles buff both of those unit types and add significant value at the center of a bow-line. The Faey Court also allows the player to research Faey unit upgrades, which is invaluable for late-game players specializing in those units.
1 Choose The Right Spells
Some factions rely on magic more than others in Songs of Conquest. Arleon's wielders have an unfortunate lack of flexibility in this area, making the choice of spells all the more important. There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to Arleon spellcasting. Arleon focuses on Order and Chaos Essence, with Creation Essence a secondary concern.
Order spells best compliment Human armies, whereas Chaos and Creativity spells best compliment Faey armies. The choice of either is ultimately determined by one's preferred playstyle. Spells like Fury, Onslaught, Quicken, Protection, Rally, and Rejuvenation should be the player's highest priority if they are to succeed with Arleon.
Songs of Conquest is available to play in early access on Windows and macOS.