The IMMORTALS (Gold Saving Newbie Edition)

Roles

Build Cycle

3

3

4

4

Shortest Cycle

14

4

5

6

Playable Anywhere

This build is good for beginners since there is not much micro-managing or need to upgrade units too fast. I beat most levels with this build right before reaching Heroics and I think several missions after that as well. I switched out some of the units for specific missions that it was better suited for. Like using Banshee for example. (see below)
If you don't have all the units yet, the combo of Tirion and Shaman Healer with at least 2 tanks should still keep the death-ball rolling but they won't survive as long as the reviving tanks.
It's not a fast cycle build but should give it a steady push with the double healing and win you seemingly difficult PvE missions early on and even the later missions.
Basically my routine with this build I'll use my initial 10 gold in the beginning to deploy one of the tanks and healer on a lane or to defend a lane. But few minutes in, you'll have enough Tirions and Frostwolfs keeping everyone alive and making them almost "immortal". There were times I didn't even know I was winning the match as I was busy pushing lanes or defending towers. The units that were aleady ahead kept surviving and pushing forward long enough to defeat the boss. LOL

It's a safe build but I found it keeps the units and the "resurrecting type" tanks alive much longer so you don't need to constantly get gold to survive while you push. You can even distract or push another lane with split Core Hounds with a cheap range unit to back it up….while you amass a push on the opposite side. Sometimes I use Banshee, in place of Ogre Mage, to possess stronger tanks to defend the tower. She can possess gargoyles pretty easily too.

For the bottom Army Upgrades slots, I make sure to have at least Air and Range with AoE. Tanks need AoE support against swarms which can pummel them faster than other single units. The best range unit is Darkspear Troll so you can swap one of the AoE range units out. I like Drake for PvE because he can attack high and low anywhere. You may not know which map will load for a mission or a quest but Drake is a safe bet than any lane it is on, it will be able to attack over a bridge or ledge. Pyromancer is a cheaper AoE but squishier and can't reach those annoying enemy range units when he's underneath a bridge or ledge. Frostwolf Shaman doesn't have the strongest attack but I love his combo with healing. You could also swap Frostwolf with Holy Nova if you want a cheaper instant AoE damage and heal for emergencies but I like having that consistent healing rather than spending gold for Holy Nova. I like Ogre Mage AoE damage as well and his bloodlust buff will help the other lower DPS units in this build.

Core Hounds could be swapped out with a higher HP tank too but I like its "rebirth" ability plus they come as a pair. Another good option to swap in for the tank is Mountaineer. Only problem is that it costs 6 gold. But at least in earlier levels, the cpu doesn't deploy unbound as much on your range units. So as long as the Rifleman is alive to heal his bear you have another extra healer for the bear. This also gives you another tank and range. But he can only heal his bear for now unless he gets the "heal beast" talent which will let him heal other beasts nearby.
There are other cheaper tanks or stronger tank units you could swap in but I felt the combo wasn't as effective for most situations or the units didn't last as long in PvE. Also, once you get the extra talents for Corehounds (unlimited revive range) and Harvest Golem (stuns ground and air on each death), that is a force to reckon with. You can even split the Corehounds so each takes an opposite lane and it will revive the other.

For levels that are not as difficult, I would replace Ogre Mage with cheaper range unit like Darkspear Troll or Pyromancer if you want to cycle better. I like Ogre Mage bloodlust buff since most the other tank units in this build don't have the highest dps. Like I said, not a super aggressive build but a safe and steady one for the win.

This build was also great for that mission with the 6 Serpents along the edges. The units survived pretty well and when they hit the acid waterfall, Core Hound survived through it and was rebirthing each other for a bit until they both died from oncoming attacks.

This build can seem a bit slow at first, but with only one tank and one healer deployed in the beginning, you can survive pretty long until you deploy a range unit.
It can also be used aggressively in the beginning but you would have to use Pilot or other units to capture gold chests or stones as you are pushing.
I use her slam AOE for emergencies that will take out fragile squads or almost dead bosses. Can also slam her in from behind a distracted tank or range unit. I added Drake for another good AOE since this build doesn't have much of it. Both these units are also good for hitting those annoying range units attacking from up high on the bridge areas. Blizzard is another good AoE for swarms but it's not strong enough against enemy tank units unless you have the freeze talent to slow them down. I usually use it as a last minute defense for my tower or if boss needs one more hit but I can't reach him. But at 4 gold, it can only be cast once, and I'd rather have Drake because he can AoE as many times as it wants on a lane until he dies. And with Tirion or Shaman Healer helping keep it alive it could keep providing that AoE without spending 4 more gold.


Even though I don't use Banshee as much anymore, she was great at possessing tanks and Gargoyles, especially early on when my units were low level. While the enemy are distracted with your tanks, you can possess easily. But caution! Banshees can also get killed easily against AOE damage - so sneak her in from the side or when no AOE units are facing her in a fight.

Like I said, this build is for PvE and doesn't work as well for PvP because it's a bit heavy. And the strategy is a quicker pace for most PvP maps.