Druid of the Talon

[e][h] Druid of the Talon

Unit Information

Built From:

Ancient of Wind

Build Time:

22

Hotkey:

T

Cost:

135 20 2

Hit Points:

300 (380)

Armor:

0

HP Regeneration:

0.5 (at Night)

Mana:

200 (400)

Initial Mana:

75 (150)

Mana Regeneration:

0.67 (1.31)

Level:

2

Race:

Night Elf

Sight Range:

1400 / 800 (1400 / 1400)

Acquisition Range:

700

Selection Priorty:

5

Formation Rank:

2

Movement

Speed:

270

Turn Rate:

0.6

Move Type:

foot

Collision Size:

16

Cargo Size:

1

Icon

Combat

Damage:

11 - 13

Range:

600

Weapon Type:

missile

Cooldown:

1.6

Targets:

• ground
• structure
• debris
• air
• item
• ward

This article is for the caster form version of this unit, for the crow version see: Druid of the Talon (Crow).

The Druid of the Talon is rarely seen but can be useful in several situations. Night Elves can have difficulty vs. heavy armored units. Druids of the Talon can cast Faerie Fire that reduces the enemy's armor and allows the Night Elves to have a much easier time attacking them. Another especially powerful use for Druids of the Talon is Cyclone. Cyclone renders a unit useless for 20 seconds. Druids of the Talon can also be useful in Storm Crow form for reaching islands, for scouting the map, and even for attacking massed enemy air units. Storm Crows can even cast Faerie Fire once you research their upgrade.

Strategy

The Druid of the Talon is mostly used in the match-up against Orc.

In the Night Elf mirror, Archers and Druids of the Talon are sometimes played.

Against Human, a timing push with Druids of the Talon can be played to counter the Human's heavy armored Footmen. This strategy only works, if the Human player has a very late tech, and can easily be countered once the Human player gets access to tier 2 units.
If a Human players goes for tank lame, Druids of the Talon can be added to reduce the armor of the tanks.

Spells & Abilities

Faerie Fire
	Cast Type : Autocast  Ability Type:  Magical Target Type : Unit Target Reduces a target enemy unit's armor by 4 and gives vision of that unit.
Cast Requirements : 45 1 s  Range:  700 Targets Allowed : Air, Ground, Enemy, Neutral Duration : 70 (40) s Armor Reduction : 4 Hotkey : R

Notes

Faerie Fire is a very good spell to use against units like Grunts or Tauren which are difficult to kill because of their armor. It is also good to use against Heroes. If the Druids of the Talon are not automatically casting Faerie Fire on the right enemy unit, cast it yourself manually. For example if you want Faerie Fire on an enemy Hero but the Druids of the Talon are not automatically targeting that hero, cast it yourself.

Research Mark of the Talon so that you can use Faerie Fire while in Storm Crow Form.

Crow Form
	Cast Type : Active  Ability Type:  Magical Target Type : No Target Transforms the Druid into a storm crow, giving him the ability to fly. While in Storm Crow Form he cannot cast any spells until you have researched Mark of the Talon.
Cast Requirements : 25 Required upgrade : Druid of the Talon Adept Training Hotkey : F

Notes

See more on the Druid of the Talon Crow Form here: Druid of the Talon (Crow)

Cyclone
	Cast Type : Active  Ability Type:  Magical Target Type : Unit Target Tosses a target enemy unit into the air, rendering it unable to move, attack or cast spells, and stopping others from attacking or casting on it.
Cast Requirements : 150 5 s  Range:  600 Targets Allowed : Ground, Enemy, Neutral, Organic Duration : 20 (6) s Required upgrade : Druid of the Talon Master Training Hotkey : C

Notes

Often the enemy may run leaving behind the flying units in the Cyclone. When these units land the enemy is often not watching them at this point leaving them to you for free kills. Cyclone is a very effective counter for large easy to click on units such as Abominations, Tauren, Bears and Knights.

Use Subgroups to cast Cyclone effectively. Good players can place an entire enemy army up in the air.

Cyclone can be dispelled.

Cyclone cannot be stolen with Spell Steal

Unit Inventory (Night Elf)
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Allows the unit to carry 2 items.
Item Capacity : 2 Notes : Items cannot be used by the unit and are dropped, if the unit dies.
Upgrade: Backpack (Night Elf)
Cost : 50 25  Research Time:  20 Researched at : Tree of Life Requirements : Ancient of Wonders

Upgrades

Ultravision

Gives Night Elves the ability to see as far at night as they do during the day. Researched at : Hunter's Hall  Hotkey : U  Cost : 50 50  Research Time:  45 Requires : Tree of Ages

Druid of the Talon Adept Training

Increases their Night Elf Form's mana capacity, mana regeneration rate, hit points, and unlocks a new spell. Researched at : Ancient of Wind  Hotkey : A  Cost : 100 50  Research Time:  60 Mana Point Bonus : 100 Mana Reg. Bonus : 0.32 Hit Point Bonus : 40 Spell Learned : Storm Crow Form

Druid of the Talon Master Training

Cost : 100 150  Research Time:  75 Requires : Tree of Eternity Mana Point Bonus : 200 Mana Reg. Bonus : 0.64 Hit Point Bonus : 80 Spell Learned : Cyclone

Version History

Balance Patch History
Version	Release	Balance Changes
1.35.0	2023-01-19	Druid of the Talon Crow Form mana cost reduced from 50 to 25. Druid of the Talon Crow Form damage base damage reduced from 34 to 26. Druid of the Talon Crow Form now does piercing damage.
1.32.6	2020-06-02	Druid of the Talon cost reduced from 145 to 135.
1.30.2	2018-11-30	Druid of the Talon cost reduced from 150 to 145.
1.30.0	2018-08-08	Druid of the Talon cost increased from 135 to 150 gold. Druid of the Talon Faerie Fire duration on heroes decreased from 60 to 40 seconds. Druid of the Talon Faerie Fire duration on units decreased from 90 to 70 seconds.
1.25b	2011-03-08	Druid of the Talon Faerie Fire duration decreased from 120 to 90
1.17	2004-09-20	Faerie Fire armor debuff reduced to 4 from 5.
1.15	2004-05-10	Faerie Fire mana cost increased to 45 from 35.
1.10	2003-07-03	Cyclone no longer affects mechanical units.
1.06	2003-06-03	Cyclone duration on units increased to 15 from 10. Faerie Fire cost reduced to 35 from 75.
1.04	2002-11-04	Cyclone duration reduced to 10/5.5 from 30/6 (normal unit/Hero units). Druid of the Talon (in Night Elf form) acquisition range increased to 700 from 600, improving the frequency with which Faerie Fire is auto-cast.

References

http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/druidofthetalon.shtml