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.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Long Live the Queen | Adventure map movement and turns basics | Rampart | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Dungeons and Devils | Town building and creature growth mastery | Rampart | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Spoils of War | Hero skills and spellbooks + gear | Castle or Rampart | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Long Live the King | Build optimization | Castle | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Seeds of Discontent | Min-max | Castle or Dungeon | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Long Live the Queen)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Campaign 1 of 7, three maps Key Rewards: Carryover hero and artifacts into later campaigns, Castle fundamentals
What to Do in Long Live the Queen
- Learn Adventure map movement and turns. 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. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick Rampart as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- 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.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Gold Dragon or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Adventure map movement and turns fundamentals
- Rampart selected and functional
- Long Live the Queen main content cleared
- Ready for Dungeons and Devils
Phase 2: Early Game (Dungeons and Devils)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Campaign 2 of 7, three maps Key Rewards: Steadwick, Inferno and Dungeon army experience
What to Do in Dungeons and Devils
- Work on 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. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Gold Dragon if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- 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.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Spoils of War.
- Consider whether Castle might suit your playstyle better than Rampart.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Town building and creature growth integrated into gameplay
- Gold Dragon acquired
- Dungeons and Devils fully cleared
- Ready for Spoils of War
Phase 3: Mid Game (Spoils of War)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Campaign 3 of 7, three maps Key Rewards: Fortress and Stronghold practice, artifacts carried into the later campaigns
What to Do in Spoils of War
- Master Hero skills and spellbooks. Heroes level up into secondary skills, capped at eight, chosen from offers of two at a time. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Archangel. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- 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.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Tactical combat on a hex grid for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- Hero skills and spellbooks mastered
- Archangel acquired or in progress
- Spoils of War fully cleared
- Ready for Long Live the King
Phase 4: Late Game (Long Live the King)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Campaign 5 of 7 Key Rewards: Necromancy focused play, story bridge into Song for the Father
What to Do in Long Live the King
- Finalize your build. You should be running Castle or Rampart with optimized gear.
- Archangel should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- 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.
- Resource management and mines optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Seeds of Discontent.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Archangel upgraded to max
- Long Live the King fully cleared
- Ready for Seeds of Discontent
Phase 5: Endgame (Seeds of Discontent)
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.
Level/Difficulty: Campaign 7 of 7 Key Rewards: Campaign completion, several of the 13 Steam achievements
What to Do in Seeds of Discontent
- Seeds of Discontent tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- 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.
- The endgame loop: run Seeds of Discontent, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with Dungeon for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Resource management and mines mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Seeds of Discontent fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- 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.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
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 Beginner's Guide
- Heroes of Might and Magic III - HD Edition Tips & Tricks
- 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
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