Stormbird and Ayssid

Cove creatures
Level 1
Nymph
Oceanid
Level 2
Crew Mate
Seaman
Level 3
Pirate
Corsair
Sea Dog
Level 4
Stormbird
Ayssid
Level 5
Sea Witch
Sorceress
Level 6
Nix
Nix Warrior
Level 7
Sea Serpent
Haspid
Towns

Statistics
Stormbird
Cost per troop  275
	Attack 10 Defense 8 Damage 6–9 Health 30 Speed 9 Movement Flying Size 2 Growth 4 (+3) AI Value 502
Ayssid
Cost per troop  325
	Attack 11 Defense 8 Damage 6–10 Health 30 Speed 11 Movement Flying Size 2 Growth 4 (+3) AI Value 645
Special abilities:
• Ferocity
Portraits

Stormbirds and Ayssids are the level 4 creatures of Cove. They can be recruited from the Nest.

Building the Roost increases Stormbird and Ayssid growth by +3 per week.

"Once Aqualander, overlord of Water, and Shalwend, overlord of Air, started the war. However, the Realm of Winds was unreachable for water elementals: their ice peaks crumbled under a barrage of lightning before they had time to reach its borders. Then Aqualander created several birds from steam that was on the border between two Realms. Named Stormbirds, these creatures brought water elementals a decisive victory in this war. Regnan magicians, specializing on magic water, often summon these birds for the aid. Bards say that semilegendary Ayssids were harnessed to the heavenly chariot of Aqualander, on which he crushed the lord of Air. These birds are bloodthirsty as their creator. ^{HotA Facebook post}

Special Ability: Ferocity

If at least one creature was killed by an Ayssid's attack, a second blow is inflicted. It works as a situational version of double attack.

Heroes with a specialty

• Illor the Captain has stormbirds as a specialty, which increases the speed of any Stormbirds or Ayssids by 1 and their Attack and Defense skills by 5% for every 4 levels (rounded up). He also start with Stormbirds in his spawning army.

User commentary

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Un-upgraded Stormbirds are average fourth level creatures. Ayssids however gain tremendous advantages from the upgrade, mostly due to the double attack ability. They have above average damage and second best speed of all 4th level creatures, but they are relatively fragile, so protect them if you can with Shield, Stone Skin, or other such defensive spells. For the same reason, it's best to use Ayssids to finish enemies that have already retaliated in the current turn; their high speed makes it easy, as they can outwait other stacks and reach most of the battlefield. Make sure that the attack will actually kill at least one unit, so Ferocity can trigger -- this is another reason to attack a wounded stack. In a pinch, using a damage spell before the attack can also help. In longer games, larger stacks mean Ferocity will always trigger. Above all else, don't let the opponent gang up on Ayssids, as Ferocity doesn't work when retaliating. Fly away when surrounded and attack another weakened stack at the end of the next turn. Ayssids not only are very fast, but also defeat Crusaders on equal numbers fight. They are even more dangerous when you consider they have +75% growth.

See also:

• List of creatures

• Comparison of Level 4 Creatures