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Earth is one of the eight Paths of magic, and one of the Elemental paths.
It is best known as a path with powerful buffs, both those that improve a large number of troops and self-buffs for thugs and supercombatants. Some examples:
Troop buffs: * Strength of Giants can greatly increase the damage of a large number of troops. (Enchantment 3) * Legions of Steel likewise increases the protection of a large number of troops if they are wearing armor. (Construction 3) * Marble Warriors increases the natural protection of a large number of troops. (Alteration 6) * Iron Warriors significantly increases the natural protection of one square of troops. (Alteration 5) * Weapons of Sharpness allows troops to cut through armor easily (Construction 7) * Iron Will increases a small number of troops' magic resistance (Thaumaturgy 3) * Army of Gold and Army of Lead (Alteration 9) greatly increase an entire army's protection and grant other resistances, but add vulnerability to lightning
Self-buffs: * Ironskin (Alteration 3) and Stoneskin (Alteration 2) increase protection but decrease lightning or fire resistance * Temper Flesh gives physical resistance and fire resistance (Alteration 4) * Summon Earthpower gives reinvigoration and +1 to the caster's Earth path
Earth magic can do a variety of other things. Some notable spells are Earth Meld and Maws of the Earth (disable and damage enemy troops), Earthquake (battlefield wipe), Blade Wind (shred lightly-armored troops), and Petrify.
As with the other elemental paths, Earth can Summon Earth Elemental; earth elementals are often weaker than the other types because of their low mobility.