The Dungeon is one of the strongest factions in Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. Led by the Triumvirate of Alvar—an underground alliance of dark elves, minotaurs, medusae, and dragons—the faction is known for its tactical flexibility. Every unit can switch between two attack types, making the Dungeon more adaptable in battle than any other town.
Because of this, the faction provides steady power throughout the game. Early on, it features a good ranged core, like Onyx Dancers, for efficient damage. In the middle game, it introduces strong frontline units such as Minotaurs and secondary ranged options like Medusae. Later in the game, Black Dragons become the ultimate finishing units, a strength that many other factions can’t match. This playstyle is ideal for players who want options during fights and a clear power progression to aim for.
Overall Strategy Tips
Dungeon players should focus on controlling the map with aggressive tactics. The early game should establish a ranged damage core capable of clearing easier enemies fast—Onyx Dancers are especially effective. Moving into mid-game, build up frontline depth with Minotaurs and unlock additional ranged units like Medusae, as buildings come online. In late game, aim to get Black Dragons, which serve as the main endgame threat. Every decision about building, resources, and battles should align with your current stage in this plan.
Resources are key, particularly Ore and Gems. Ore is essential early because it unlocks some mid-tier buildings and is the first resource to address. Gems become critical later for high-tier structures and the Black Dragon dwelling. Prioritize claiming Ore outposts first; then switch focus to Gems once the main mid-game buildings are secured.
On maps with poor Gem distribution, the timing of the Black Dragon units can slow down, so plan accordingly rather than ignoring resource scarcity. Morale penalties can negatively affect Dungeon armies, so keep your units on your main hero and avoid adding neutral creatures unless necessary. The early army is potent but fragile; avoid battles that will drain key stacks before reinforcements arrive, as recovery is slow and missing stacks will hinder map control.
First Week Strategy
Dungeon has low Gold needs for Week 1 buildings but requires several rare resources early on. The best initial build is the Amphitheater, the newly unlocked Onyx Dancer dwelling, which produces units weekly from the start.
On Day 1, build the Amphitheater and recruit all available units. On Day 2, upgrade the Byzantine Palace to Tier 2 to boost Gold and Law Points. Day 3’s upgrade to Tier 3 is expensive but crucial for long-term income growth. By Day 4, construct the Labyrinth to unlock your main frontline units. The Day 5 build depends on your resources; options include the Bank if you have stable Gold, the Marketplace if Crystals or Gems are short, or the Mage Guild to secure necessary spells.
Your goal going into Week 2 is to have the Byzantine Palace fully upgraded, all core dwellings active, and enough rare resources saved to advance your mid-game development—especially upgrading the Amphitheater to boost ranged units like the Onyx Dancers to their full potential.
Army Composition Tips
Dungeon’s roster covers every combat role: ranged damage, melee frontline, control, and late-game finishing units. The dual-attack system means most stacks can switch attack types, rewarding players who adapt tactics during battles rather than sticking with a single approach.
Early on, prioritize units like Onyx or Aureate Dancers for ranged damage, as they’re cost-effective and initiate combat well. Minotaurs are vital for frontline defense, absorbing retaliation and protecting ranged units from damage. Maintain enough Minotaurs to hold position for the mid-game.
Maintain secondary stacks like Toxic Troglodytes for their long-range attack, which keeps them alive longer. The melee Troglodyte upgrade isn’t recommended since they compete with Minotaurs in space and lack durability. The Infiltrators are fragile; use them sparingly for minor tasks rather than core combat.
Medusae enter the mix mid-game, providing ranged control and complementing your core units without replacing early investments. Black Dragons are the late-game reward—powerful and expensive, but capable of turning the tide of battles. Securing Mercury outposts during mid-game speeds up their availability.
Single Hero Tips
Dungeon is ideal for a single hero setup. The core ranged units can clear many encounters on their own, and the dual attack types let your hero adapt tactics in difficult fights. Carefully route resources; without a secondary hero, mining and neutral creature control depend on your hero’s movement. Missing key resource nodes early delays your mid-game development. In the first two weeks, avoid taking on fights too far from your town, as losing key stacks leaves no recovery option.
If you choose a hero like Motley, use her Twilight spell proactively to neutralize dangerous enemy ranged threats at the start—keeping fights manageable.
Spells And Magic Priority
Dungeon supports both Warlock and Warlord primary skills. The choice depends on your hero and map conditions.
For Warlocks, focus on Nightshade Magic. It offers powerful disruption and debuffs, especially with heroes like Lodos who lock opponents out of Nightshade spells. Establish the Magic Observatory early to track available spells, which is crucial for maximizing your spell power.
For Warlord-based heroes like Stinger, prioritize combat skills and army-efficient passives over spellcasting. Building a Mage Guild is worthwhile for utility spells—movement, scouting, defense—but avoid investing heavily in magic unless it complements your combat focus.
Remember, resources like Alchemical Dust for spell upgrades are limited. Spend them on spells you are actively casting, and prioritize Nightshade spells on Warlock heroes once resources allow.