Hippogryph Rider

[e][h] Hippogryph Rider

Unit Information

Cost:

 290  30  4

Hotkey:

R

Hit Points:

785

HP Regeneration:

1 at Night

Armor:

1 (4)

Race:

Nightelf

Sleeps:

no

Formation Rank:

2

Sight:

1600 / 800

Acquisition Range:

500

Level:

4

Selection Priorty:

2

Movement

Speed:

350

Turn Rate:

0.4

Move Type:

fly

Collision Size:

8

Cargo Size:

0

Icon

Combat

Damage:

16 - 19 (23 - 31)

Range:

400 (600)

Weapon Type:

missile

Cooldown:

1.1

Targets:

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

In the heat of battle, Night Elf Archers can call upon the mighty Hippogryphs to carry them into the air. The Archers mount the flying beasts and are capable of firing their arrows from the Hippogryphs' backs. The brave creatures respond to the female riders as if they shared an empathic bond.

Archers transition well into Hippogryph Riders. Get an expansion then build 2-3 Ancients of Winds. Hot key these buildings and set the rally point on your Hero. Continue to make Hippogryphs by queuing them up. As they are created they will move to your Hero and Archers where you can match them up to create Hippogryph Riders. Eventually you can convert all of your Archers to Hippogryph Riders. This may not be wise to do if the enemy is prepared with Crypt Fiends with Web, Raiders with Ensnare, or other things that can easily kill air units. Keep in mind that by turning your Archers into Hippogryph Riders you can do attacks on enemy towns from the backside (away from towers). You are also creating Archers with the same damage but that cannot be hit by melee units, have greater sight, are faster, and that have more hit points. The only downsides of Hippogryph Riders vs Archers is 10 less range and a new weakness to anti-air abilities.

Since your Hero does not fly it can be challenging to use a Hero and Hippogryph Riders. One way to do it is to control the Hippogryph Riders and have the Hero set to follow them. You can also use Control Groups.

Use the standard ranged unit techniques as you do with Archers, Dryads, and Huntresses. It can be even easier for Hippogryph Riders since they don't have to worry about melee units.

Whenever possible attack enemy towns from over trees or other areas that ground units cannot reach. You can sometimes sneak into the back sides of towns that are not protected by towers and kill off enemy workers, Town Halls, Entangled Gold Mines, or Haunted Gold Mines, then run.

Research all of the upgrades for the Hippogryph Riders. If you are going to spend that much money creating them they should be the best they can be.

Archers can dismount from the Hippogryphs. This allows both units to attack on their own. You may find this useful in certain situations, such as when facing other air units.

Spells & Abilities

Decouple Archer & Hippogryph
	Cast Type : Active  Ability Type:  Physical Target Type : No Target Dismounts the Archer from the Hippogryph.
Hotkey : U

Improved Bows
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Increases the Archer's and Hippogryph Rider's attack range.
Range Bonus : 200
Upgrade: Improved Bows
Cost : 50 100  Research Time:  35 Researched at : Ancient of War  Hotkey : I  Requirements : Tree of Ages

Marksmanship
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Increases the damage of Archers and Hippogryph Riders.
Damage Bonus : 4
Upgrade: Marksmanship
Cost : 100 175  Research Time:  40 Researched at : Ancient of War  Hotkey : M  Requirements : Tree of Eternity, Hunter's Hall

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

Strength of the Moon

Increases the damage of Archers, Huntresses, Glaive Throwers, and Hippogryph Riders. Researched at : Hunter's Hall  Hotkey : M  Cost : 125 75  Research Time:  60 Damage Dice Bonus : 1

Improved Strength of the Moon

Cost : 175 175  Research Time:  75 Requires : Tree of Ages Damage Dice Bonus : 2

Advanced Strength of the Moon

Cost : 225 275  Research Time:  90 Requires : Tree of Eternity Damage Dice Bonus : 3

Moon Armor

Increases the armor of Archers, Huntresses, and Hippogryph Riders. Researched at : Hunter's Hall  Hotkey : A  Cost : 150 75  Research Time:  60 Armor Bonus : 2

Improved Moon Armor

Cost : 200 150  Research Time:  75 Requires : Tree of Ages Armor Bonus : 4

Advanced Moon Armor

Cost : 250 225  Research Time:  90 Requires : Tree of Eternity Armor Bonus : 6

Version History

Balance Patch History
Version	Release	Balance Changes
1.31.0	2019-05-28	Hippogryph Rider Hit Points increased from 780 to 785.
1.30.0	2018-08-08	Hippogryph Rider Hit Points increased from 765 to 780. Undocumented change: Marksmanship Upgrade damage bonus increased from 3 to 4.
1.10	2003-07-03	Hippogryph Rider hit points decreased to 765 from 835 and armor increased to 1 from 0.

References

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