Stone Skin: Difference between revisions

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{{user commentary|
{{user commentary|
Stone skin is often compared to [[shield]], which has similar effects. They both reduce the amount of [[damage]] creature stacks receives. The main difference between these two spells are, that stone skin also works against ranged creatures while shield only reduces hand-to-hand damage. A rule of thumb whether to use shield or stone skin in hand-to-hand combat is, that if enemy's attack skill is greater than your defense skill, use stone skin. Of course, with both spells active, your troops will receive considerably less damage.
Stone Skin is often compared to [[Shield]], which has similar effects. They both reduce the amount of [[damage]] creature stacks receive. The main difference between these two spells is that Stone Skin also works against ranged creatures while Shield only reduces hand-to-hand damage. A rule of thumb whether to use Shield or Stone Skin in hand-to-hand combat is that if an enemy's attack skill is greater than your defense skill, use Stone Skin. Of course, with both spells active, your troops will receive considerably less damage.


Advanced/Expert Stone Skin is only strictly better than equal-skill Shield if the difference between your unit's defense and the opponent's attack is exactly 21 or 22.  <!-- At 20 difference, defense reduces the damage by 50%.  So 6 extra points of defense bring the damage to 35% of base, and so does Shield: 50%*(100%-30%)=35%.  At 21 or 22 difference, the unit takes 47.5% or 45% of base damage, and Shield is even less effective; however, the effect of defense is capped at 28 difference, so at 23 or more, +6 defense becomes less effective due to the cap. -->  That means Shield is almost always preferable, unless you expect ranged attacks.
Advanced/Expert Stone Skin is only strictly better than equal-skill Shield if the difference between your unit's defense and the opponent's attack is exactly 21 or 22.  <!-- At 20 difference, defense reduces the damage by 50%.  So 6 extra points of defense bring the damage to 35% of base, and so does Shield: 50%*(100%-30%)=35%.  At 21 or 22 difference, the unit takes 47.5% or 45% of base damage, and Shield is even less effective; however, the effect of defense is capped at 28 difference, so at 23 or more, +6 defense becomes less effective due to the cap. -->  That means Shield is almost always preferable, unless you expect ranged attacks.

Revision as of 08:04, 25 January 2024

School of Earth Magic
Symbol for School of Earth Magic
Level 1
 Magic Arrow *
 Shield
 Slow
 Stone Skin
 View Earth
Level 2
 Death Ripple
 Quicksand
 Visions *
Level 3
 Animate Dead
 Anti-Magic
 Earthquake
 Force Field
 Protection from Earth
Level 4
 Meteor Shower
 Resurrection
 Sorrow
 Town Portal
Level 5
 Implosion
 Summon Earth Elemental
School of Air Magic
School of Fire Magic
School of Water Magic
Stone Skin
School:  Earth Magic
Level:  1st
Cost:  5/4
Duration:  1 rnd/sp
 Basic effect
Increases the selected friendly unit's defense strength by 3.
 Advanced effect
Increases the selected friendly unit's defense strength by 6.
 Expert effect
Increases the defense strength of all friendly units by 6.
 Probability of occurrence (%):
Castle   32
Rampart   32
Tower   63 (53*)
Inferno   31
Necropolis   54
Dungeon   30
Stronghold   53
Fortress   31
Conflux   31
Cove Horn of the Abyss   31
Factory Horn of the Abyss   ???
* Without Library

Stone Skin is a 1st level spell in the School of Earth Magic. It increases the target allied troop's defense.

Heroes starting with Stone Skin:

Heroes specialising in Stone Skin:

Creatures immune to Stone Skin:

Creatures capable of casting Stone Skin:

User commentary

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Some may find the information in this section subjective or irrelevant.

Stone Skin is often compared to Shield, which has similar effects. They both reduce the amount of damage creature stacks receive. The main difference between these two spells is that Stone Skin also works against ranged creatures while Shield only reduces hand-to-hand damage. A rule of thumb whether to use Shield or Stone Skin in hand-to-hand combat is that if an enemy's attack skill is greater than your defense skill, use Stone Skin. Of course, with both spells active, your troops will receive considerably less damage.

Advanced/Expert Stone Skin is only strictly better than equal-skill Shield if the difference between your unit's defense and the opponent's attack is exactly 21 or 22. That means Shield is almost always preferable, unless you expect ranged attacks.