Table of Contents
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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.
Earth is also known as a forging path with a variety of useful items. A few standouts include:
- Dwarven Hammer, to make everything else cheaper
- Greatsword of Sharpness, a powerful anti-thug weapon
- Armor of Knights, cheap and strong armor
- Girdle of Might, a misc-slot reinvigoration item that also adds strength
- Main Gauche of Parrying, useful to make defense thugs
- Bracers of Protection, useful for increasing protection even more
- Earth Boots, an accessible earth booster
- Gate Cleaver, suitable for chopping up forts and protection-thugs alike
There are some very powerful crosspath forging options as well:
- Crystal Coin, Crystal Matrix, Slave Matrix, and Crystal Shield, in earth/astral
- Elemental Armor, Fire Brand, and Shield of Gleaming Gold, in earth/fire
- Dancing Shield in earth/air
- Kithaironic Lion Pelt, in earth/nature