Unicorn Overlord
Unicorn Overlord

Mercenaries & Recruits

Bolster your army in Unicorn Overlord by recruiting valuable mercenaries and unique characters. Learn how to fill out your squads effectively with these units.

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Mercenaries & Recruits

While your journey through Fevrith will introduce you to a diverse cast of unique characters, often with their own compelling backstories and powerful unique classes, sometimes you'll need to bolster your ranks with more generic, but equally valuable, units. This is where Mercenaries and Recruits come in. These units are essential for filling out squads, providing specific class synergies, or simply acting as cannon fodder to protect your more valuable named characters.

Understanding Mercenaries vs. Recruits

The game distinguishes between two types of generic units, though their function is largely similar:

  • Mercenaries: These are pre-leveled units available for hire at various Forts and Sanctuaries. They come with a set level, equipment, and often a few basic skills already learned. Their primary advantage is immediate deployment into your active units.
  • Recruits: These are fresh, Level 1 units that can be hired at any Fort or Town you've liberated. They start with no equipment and minimal stats, requiring more investment but offering complete customization from the ground up.

Where to Find and Hire

Both Mercenaries and Recruits are primarily acquired through liberated settlements:

  • Forts: Once a Fort is liberated, you can access its "Recruitment" option. Forts typically offer a wider selection of Mercenary classes and often at higher levels than smaller towns.
    • Example: After liberating the Fort Soliel in Cornia, check its services. You might find a Level 5 Fighter Mercenary or a Level 3 Archer Mercenary available for a reasonable sum of Gold and Honors.
  • Towns: Liberated towns also provide recruitment services, though their Mercenary offerings might be more limited in class variety and level compared to Forts. However, they are always a reliable source for Level 1 Recruits.
    • Strategy: Early game, prioritize liberating towns like Gran Corrine to gain access to basic Recruits like Soldiers or Housecarls to quickly fill out your initial units.
  • Sanctuaries: Certain Sanctuaries, particularly those dedicated to specific classes or races, may offer unique Mercenary options not found elsewhere. Keep an eye out for these on the world map.

Recruitment Costs

Hiring units isn't free. You'll need two primary resources:

  • Gold: The primary currency for hiring. Higher-level Mercenaries and more advanced classes will naturally cost more Gold.
  • Honors: A secondary currency earned by completing quests, liberating areas, and winning battles. Honors are crucial for expanding your unit capacity and promoting characters, so spend them wisely on recruitment.

Tip: Early in the game, focus on recruiting Level 1 units if Gold and Honors are scarce. While they require more training, their initial cost is significantly lower, allowing you to build a larger force more quickly.

Strategic Use of Mercenaries & Recruits

Don't underestimate the power of these generic units. They are incredibly versatile:

  1. Unit Fillers: Many early units only have 1-2 unique characters. Recruit a few generic units to bring them up to a full 3-5 person squad, maximizing their combat potential.
  2. Class Synergy: Need a specific class to complete a unit's synergy? Recruit one! For example, if you have a powerful Gryphon Knight but no one to protect them from archers, recruit a Hoplite to draw fire.
  3. Specialized Roles:
    • Frontline Tanks: Recruit Fighters, Hoplites, or Housecarls to absorb damage and protect your squishier backline. Equip them with items like the Iron Shield (found in early Cornia quests) or Sturdy Plate (purchasable at most Armories).
    • Ranged Support: Archers and Hunters are excellent for dealing with flying units or providing consistent damage. Equip them with Long Bows (often found as enemy drops or in shops).
    • Magic Users: Shamans and Witches can provide crucial debuffs or buffs. A recruited Shaman with Curse can significantly weaken enemy defenses.
  4. Experience Farming: If you have a powerful main unit, recruit a few Level 1 units and place them in the back row. They'll gain experience from battles without being directly exposed to danger, allowing them to catch up quickly.
  5. Sacrificial Lambs: In certain challenging battles, a cheap recruited unit can be used to draw out enemy attacks, activate traps, or simply buy time for your main forces to reposition.

Remember, every unit, unique or generic, contributes to the liberation of Fevrith. Don't hesitate to expand your army with these valuable additions!