Editing Gremlin and Master Gremlin

{{Tower creatures}}{{Creature
 | AI_Value  = 44
 | Name      = Gremlin
 | Attack    = 3
 | Defense   = 3
 | Speed     = 4
 | Growth    = 16
 | Damage    = 1–2
 | Health    = 4
 | Cost      = 30
 | No_spec   =
 | U_AI_Value= 66
 | U_name    = Master Gremlin
 | U_attack  = '''4'''
 | U_defense = '''4'''
 | U_speed   = '''5'''
 | U_shots   = '''8'''
 | U_cost    = 40
 | U_special = • '''[[Ranged attack]]'''
 | No_shots  =
}}

{{Cram|Workshop|Gremlin|Master Gremlin|no_dwelling=|-={{---}}|pad=5px 10px 3px 5px|}}
'''Gremlins''' and '''Master Gremlins''' are the level 1 creatures of [[Tower]]. They are recruited from the [[Workshop]].

''"Gremlins are indentured to menial labor around a Tower. While they are not great warriors by any standard, they are numerous and willing. Gremlins attack with their attached balls and chains. Master gremlins - those who have proven their loyalty - are cut from their balls and chains and able to hurl them in a ranged attack."{{-}}<sup>[[Restoration of Erathia Manual Page 113|RoE manual]]''</sup>

{{Fanopinion|
Gremlins should be promoted to Master Gremlins as soon as possible. Master Gremlins are the cornerstone of the Tower faction, being the unit which is used to clear the map in the early game and the only [[town]]-aligned level 1 shooter. Basically, since [[Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle|gargoyles]] have relatively low stats and [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|golems]] are too slow, the master gremlins are the best candidate for dealing the most of the damage in early battles. They should be surrounded and protected by golems and gargoyles, letting the gremlins do full damage with their ranged attack. However, be aware that they have only 8 shots, but that's enough for early game. Later in the game, they may need to be be replaced by [[Mage and Arch Mage|magi]], with superior stats.

3-4 [[Attack]] and [[Defense]] is average for a level 1 creature. 4 [[Health]] is on the low end. 4-5 [[Speed]] is lowest of all town-aligned level 1 creatures, tied with [[Pikeman]], [[Troglodyte]], [[Skeleton]] and [[Gnoll]]. However Master Gremlins can shoot, which might mean all the difference in early game battles.

If you have free slots in army, they can be divided into several stacks, so that even if one or two stacks are forced into melee others can keep shooting. [[Ammo Cart]] is essential for this "gunline" tactics as they only have 8 shots, and it is produced by Tower's [[blacksmith]].

Gremlins are extremely affected by [[Bless]] and [[Curse]] [[spell]]s due to their 1-2 [[damage]] spread. Normal Bless and Curse change their damage from average 1,5 to accordingly 2 and 1. Bless spell, when cast with Advanced [[Water Magic]], doubles their damage output, bringing it up from average 1,5 to 3. Since Curse cannot lower damage below 1, it doesn't matter if casting [[hero]] has [[Fire Magic]] skill.

Because of this extreme variance in damage [[Mirth]], [[Fortune]], good [[morale]] and [[luck]] in general synergize very well with Gremlins - their lucky strikes and double turns can be devastating, considering that they are a cheap, numerous level 1 troop. Morale and luck are not reliable, though - at best they offer 1/8th chance per action and Gremlins are fragile, so don't rely on these. [[Precision]] increases Master Gremlins' ranged attack, while [[Forgetfulness]] is a fatal spell against Master Gremlins who are slow and almost useless in melee.

[[Shield]] and [[Stone Skin]] are obvious protective spells to patch their weak defenses up. Shield has additional benefit of not being Defense buff but damage reduction, and as 3-4 Defense is likely to be below attacker's Attack stat, Shield will likely protect Gremlins better than additional Defense from Stone Skin. Keep in mind that even buffed Master Gremlins are not good melee fighters and should be kept away from melee as long as possible before enemy troops reach your ranks.

[[Air Shield]] is the best defense possible for Master Gremlins in ranged duel or for Gremlins advancing under enemy ranged fire. Remember that Air Shield stacks with [[Stone Skin]], but only works against ranged attacks, so replace it with [[Shield]] when coming into melee.

[[Prayer]] is a decent all-round spell, also increasing their Speed.

[[Frenzy]] might or might not be worth it, because if Gremlins are hit when having 0 Defense they are likely to be wiped out. However, if the enemy troops cannot reach Master Gremlins due to walls, obstacles or your melee troops, consider if their generally low Defense will increase their Attack enough to be worth casting Frenzy instead of [[Precision]] or [[Bless]].

[[Master Genie]]s should cast spells on Gremlins if you have Master Genies available, Gremlins are the strongest stack in your army and you somehow do not have [[Naga and Naga Queen|Nagas]] or [[Titan]]s. As the spells mentioned above are among those cast by Master Genies, there is a good chance of Gremlins getting something beneficial in any situation, even if your hero cannot cast such spell.

Due to their low Health Gremlins are extremely vulnerable to [[direct damage spells]], ranged attacks, and fast creatures. Thus Protection from X spells might be of some use, if not going all-out and casting [[Anti-magic]] to ensure your Master Gremlins cannot be dealt with in any other way than brute force.

Because they are usually shielded by [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|Golems]] and [[Stone Gargoyle and Obsidian Gargoyle|Gargoyles]] AoE spells & attacks like [[Fireball]], [[Magog]]'s attack, [[Lich]]'s death cloud and any type of [[Dragon]] can wreak havoc among Gremlins while also targeting other troops, so be careful when facing such opponents.

As cheap creatures with very high [[growth]] per week, stacks of Gremlins can be used as fodder to soak up retaliations to protect more valuable units like [[Master Genie]]s. Don't count on them to survive the retaliation though, so only do so when it's necessary. Similarly they can be used as cheap buffer to shield [[Mage and Arch Mage|Magi]] from melee troops, but [[Stone Golem and Iron Golem|Golems]] are better in this function.

In {{roe}} versions 1.0 and 1.1, the infamous Gremlin Rush strategy was possible, which included repeatedly hiring heroes from the [[Tavern]] merely to obtain their Gremlins and upgrade them, then dismiss the heroes. This was patched out in version 1.2 and the expansions by allowing only the first two heroes in a single week to have a full set of troops, and giving a single level 1 unit to the rest.
}}<!-- end of fan opinion -->

{{creature 'see also'}}
* [[Comparison of Level 1 Creatures]]
* [[Comparison of Ranged Creatures]]


== Discussion ==

Gremlins are very weak level 1 creatures, but benefit greatly from the upgrade to master gremlin. Of note, master gremlins only have 8 shots, so it may be worth buying [[ammo cart]] for any hero with master gremlins, as they will be the key to winning most of your early game battles (until you acquire [[Magi]]).


[[Category: Creatures]]