Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition is DotEmu's 2015 remaster of the 1999 turn-based strategy classic, released on 29 January 2015. Read the contents before you buy, because this is the base game only. It carries the 7 Restoration of Erathia campaigns, around 50 skirmish maps, a map editor, local multiplayer and a Steamworks online lobby. It does not include Armageddon's Blade, it does not include Shadow of Death, and it has no random map generator, because the generator shipped with Armageddon's Blade rather than with the original release. That also means eight town factions rather than nine: there is no Conflux. Players who want the generator, the Conflux and the combination artifacts generally buy the Complete edition on GOG instead.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough. If you're just starting, check our beginner's guide first.
Essential Tips
1. The HD Edition contains Restoration of Erathia only
The HD Edition contains Restoration of Erathia only. No Armageddon's Blade, no Shadow of Death, no random map generator, and eight towns rather than nine because Conflux arrived with Armageddon's Blade.
2. If a random map generator matters to you, buy the Complete edition on GOG instead
If a random map generator matters to you, buy the Complete edition on GOG instead. It bundles all three releases, generally costs less, and it is the version the long-running community mods are built against.
3. The HD Edition is not compatible with the community HD Mod or with Horn of the Abyss
The HD Edition is not compatible with the community HD Mod or with Horn of the Abyss. Those are built for the original disc release or the Complete edition, so the Steam HD Edition is the wrong purchase for a modded setup.
4. Combination artifacts such as the Cloak of the Undead King and the Angelic Alliance came with Shadow of Death, so nothing you read about assembling them applies here
Combination artifacts such as the Cloak of the Undead King and the Angelic Alliance came with Shadow of Death, so nothing you read about assembling them applies here.
5. One structure per town per day is the hard rule that shapes the opening
One structure per town per day is the hard rule that shapes the opening. Plan the first fourteen builds before you place the first one, because a misordered week costs a full creature growth cycle.
6. Wisdom is not optional on a spellcasting hero
Wisdom is not optional on a spellcasting hero. Without it you are capped at level two spells, which means no Town Portal, no Resurrection and no Dimension Door.
7. Slow is the strongest cheap spell in the base game
Slow is the strongest cheap spell in the base game. Cast it on the enemy's fastest stack before you do anything else and most fights change shape immediately.
8. Hero chaining, where a line of cheap heroes hands an army forward each turn, moves troops across the map far faster than one hero's movement pool
Hero chaining, where a line of cheap heroes hands an army forward each turn, moves troops across the map far faster than one hero's movement pool. It is the single biggest skill gap between casual and experienced players.
9. Shooters lose half their damage in melee
Shooters lose half their damage in melee. Keep a body between a Titan or a Grand Elf stack and anything with legs, or the ranged advantage evaporates on turn two.
10. The 7 campaigns unlock in a fixed order: the first three open Liberation and Long Live the King, which open Song for the Father, which opens Seeds of Discontent
The 7 campaigns unlock in a fixed order: the first three open Liberation and Long Live the King, which open Song for the Father, which opens Seeds of Discontent.
Advanced Strategies
Build Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive. See our builds guide for full breakdowns.
For Castle (A-Tier):
- Focus on Adventure map movement and turns combinations for maximum output.
- Core gear: Archangel
- Stat priority: Offensive stats first
For Rampart (A-Tier):
- Versatile approach that handles any situation.
- Core gear: Gold Dragon
- Stat priority: Balanced stats
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition's systems interact is where the real optimization lives. Our combat guide covers this in detail.
Adventure map movement and turns + Town building and creature growth: Every hero has a movement pool per day that shrinks off-road and grows with a Stables visit, the Logistics skill or a fast slowest creature in the army. Combined with Town building and creature growth, each of the eight towns builds one structure per day, running from the village hall up through the capitol and from the tier one dwelling up to the tier seven dragon or angel building.
Hero skills and spellbooks + Tactical combat on a hex grid: Heroes level up into secondary skills, capped at eight, chosen from offers of two at a time. When paired with Tactical combat on a hex grid, fights play out on a hex battlefield where stacks act in initiative order set by creature speed.
Resource management and mines scaling: Seven resources drive everything: gold, wood, ore, mercury, sulfur, crystal and gems. Gold comes from town halls and captured mines, while the four rare resources gate the upper-tier dwellings and the strongest artifacts. A sawmill and an ore pit taken on day one or two is worth more than a hero level.
Equipment Efficiency
| Equipment | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Archangel | Attrition wars and campaign maps where you cannot afford to lose troops | Castle's upgraded tier seven, with the highest attack value of any base game creature and the ability to resurrect a friendly stack once per combat. |
| Gold Dragon | Fighting magic-heavy opponents such as Tower | Rampart's tier seven, immune to spells of levels one through four. |
| Titan | Sieges from behind walls, and any fight you can control the range of | Tower's tier seven and the only top-tier shooter in the base game. |
| Black Dragon | Breaking a caster-focused defence | Dungeon's tier seven, immune to every spell in the game, friendly ones included. |
| Ancient Behemoth | Killing heavily armoured stacks that shrug off ordinary attacks | Stronghold's tier seven, which ignores 80 percent of the target's defence. |
Location Efficiency
Long Live the Queen (Campaign 1 of 7, three maps): The first Restoration of Erathia campaign, three maps of Castle forces landing on the beaches of Erathia and pushing inland against Dungeon opposition. It is the intended tutorial for town building and hero chaining.
Dungeons and Devils (Campaign 2 of 7, three maps): Three maps played from the invading side: Inferno on the first, Dungeon on the second, and your choice of the two on the third as you take the Erathian capital of Steadwick.
Spoils of War (Campaign 3 of 7, three maps): A mercenary campaign of three maps caught between Fortress and Stronghold. You work for the Fortress on the first map, the Stronghold on the second, and pick a side on the third.
Long Live the King (Campaign 5 of 7): The fifth campaign, unlocked after the first three are finished. It moves the story to the Necropolis side of the war and the fate of King Gryphonheart.
Seeds of Discontent (Campaign 7 of 7): The seventh and final Restoration of Erathia campaign, unlocked after Song for the Father. It closes the base game story, and it is the last content in the HD Edition, since neither expansion is included.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Buying the HD Edition expecting the random map generator. It is not in this version and never was, because it shipped with the Armageddon's Blade expansion.
- Planning a Conflux strategy from a guide written for the Complete edition. Conflux does not exist in Restoration of Erathia, so the base game has eight towns.
- Skipping the Wisdom skill on a magic hero and then discovering the Mage Guild has spells you can never cast.
- Leaving mines uncaptured while chasing enemy heroes. Wood and ore decide how fast your town builds, and the town decides the game.
- Trying to install the HD Mod or Horn of the Abyss over the Steam HD Edition. Neither supports it, and the fix is a different purchase rather than a different install order.
Pro Quick Tips
- The HD Edition contains Restoration of Erathia only. No Armageddon's Blade, no Shadow of Death, no random map generator, and eight towns rather than nine because Conflux arrived with Armageddon's Blade.
- If a random map generator matters to you, buy the Complete edition on GOG instead. It bundles all three releases, generally costs less, and it is the version the long-running community mods are built against.
- The HD Edition is not compatible with the community HD Mod or with Horn of the Abyss. Those are built for the original disc release or the Complete edition, so the Steam HD Edition is the wrong purchase for a modded setup.
- Start with Rampart, switch to Castle when ready
- Invest in Archangel above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Long Live the Queen → Dungeons and Devils → Spoils of War → Long Live the King → Seeds of Discontent. See our maps guide
- Adventure map movement and turns + Town building and creature growth together are stronger than either alone
More Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Guides
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Overview
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Best Builds
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Tier List
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Walkthrough
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Beginner's Guide
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Weapons Guide
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Combat Guide
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Boss Guide
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Maps & Locations
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Crafting Guide
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Tips & Tricks: strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Tips & Tricks: strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Tips & Tricks: strategy game with similar mechanics
