The Book of Empress Kiova

[dnutt99]

The Book of Empress Kiova
Dawn of Darkness - Collection 6 - "Heroes of Durgeth"

Spoiler Alert!

If you cannot see the Army Card graphic, check Hasbro's Unit Page for stats and special powers, plus "character biography" and other non-game unit info.

Character Bio: Her stark beauty is like the golden sun setting against a snow-covered horizon. Her family has ruled in Lindesfarme for
generations beyond count. Just as her father before her, she inspires an extreme sense of loyalty in all of her servants. Einar holds Kiova in
high honor. She is spotted frequently in his court. Some tale-bearing Kyrie say that her visits serve not only to share plans of battle. Perhaps
Kiova¹s stone heart is not so hard as she would have many believe. The Empress is never seen without her personal escort of Imperium. When
attacked, Kiova draws a rune-engraved sword and sings out in a clear and icy voice. Her song is a hymn of battle; its words bear an ancient magic.
It is a prayer of protection for those who serve her. (Hasbro)

_________________________________________________________________
-Rulings and Clarifications-

• - STEALTH FLYING : Walking Away From Engagements
  Does Empress Kiova have disengage when walking?
  No. If Empress Kiova’s flying power is negated, or if she decides to walk away from an engagement, she
  will take any leaving engagement strikes. If Empress Kiova begins her move engaged and chooses to fly,
  she will not take any leaving engagement swipes. (dnutt99)

_________________________________________________________________
-Combinations and Synergies-

Synergy Benefits Received

• - N/A

Synergy Benefits Offered

• - GIFT OF THE EMPRESS : Kyrie Units that Follow Einar
  • Einar Imperium
  
  - SACRED BAND : Disciplined Army Defense Bonus
  • * Having a Disciplined personality, Empress Kiova may aid the Sacred Band with their DISCIPLINED
    ARMY DEFENSE BONUS.
    *NOTE: See The Book of Sacred Band for proper application.

_________________________________________________________________
-Strategy, Tactics and Tips-

• - TBA

_________________________________________________________________
-Heroscapers Community Contributions-

Power Rankings

Jexik: Empress Kiova- Though extremely limiting, Kiova has decent stats for a Kyrie. C-

OEAO: C-

Cleon: Tier 2 (197/208)

dok (VC inclusive): C-

Master Index

Originally Posted by MKSentinel

Empress Kiova
Synergy with Raelin? http://www.heroscapers.com/community...ead.php?t=6736

Unit Strategy Review

• 
  Unit Strategy Review: Empress Kiova

[Roufus]

Another to go in my 'probably won't ever use' pile.

The only Kyrie I seem to ever use is the healing and defense girls. (who'se names escape me for the moment).

Maybe that'll change when I get a chance to use my EI.

[IAmBatman]

you're thinking of Kelda and Raelin. They're the only kyrie I use with any regularity as well - of course I've yet to obtain Saylind or Concan, so that might be part of the reason.
I use Taelord from time to time, but he's so gosh darn expensive.
I don't have enough Minions (one squad) to justify Runa (she's a good decoy to play off of them) or Imperium (one squad) to justify Kiova yet. But it seems like both would become more valuable with more of the common squad they work well with.

[Kroz]

I find Two Einar Imperium combined with Realin and Thorgrim makes their army quite hard to kill. My brother used Grimnak against them but then I just charged them in and killed Grimnak. I held off his whole army with those five people and their wings help shield Realin and Kiova from ranged attacks.

[DingoDarkly]

Imperium + Kiova + Raelin sounds like a great combo!

Unfortunately because i usually play random drafting with my dad most of the time one person gets the Imperium while the other gets Kiova!

[Billtog]

I thought Empress Kiova was priceless until I realized that Gift of the Empress Aura only applies to kyrie... she's still pretty cool, just not as useful as I thought she was.

[Taeblewalker]

If you consider all of the Kyrie heroes in and of themselves - i.e. isolated from their allies - then Kiova is the second best, next to Concan, on raw stats. Don't count their non-flying powers (if they are more than 4 spaces from allies these don't count), and Kiova is attack 3/defense 4, Concan is attack 4/defense 4, while the others are all worse than Kiova (3/3 or 2/3) and none of them have Stealth Flying.

[rdhight]

Originally Posted by Sisyphus

Yeah, a unit that boosts the defense of a single non-ranged squad doesn't seem useful to me unless there is some kind of bonding.

Although if I were going to pick one non-ranged squad to receive a hero who helps their defense and has no other use, I don't think I could pick better than the Einar Imperium.

[mathguy]

These aura Kyries certainly shine in a high point siege scenario.
In "The Battle for Aaryglynn", one attacker can pick
Empress Kiova, Raelin, Marcus, and 3 or 4 squads of Einar Imperium.
(The imperium are good for castle sieges where the defender has figures on every hex of the castle top, say with 4mass raining down death.
This is because there are very few places to land on the castle top, and when you do land, you want multiple attacks. And the Imperium have a move of 6 with Marcus. Raelin+Kiova will keep them mostly alive while
the holes in the defense are made.)
And Taelord is good for one of the other attackers to give that +1 boost to attacks in an attempt to break an opening in the castle top.
This has worked for the attacking force in the last few games of this scenario that we have played.

I guess my point is, in a large siege scenario, where the attackers have many points to spend, it is more about getting a good combination of units that can break through the castle's defenses. (Because if not, eventually, all the attackers' points will slowly be killed by the ranged fire from the top of the castle anyway.) And the attacker shouldn't worry about the Kyries getting shot at first, because if the defender is shooting at the supporting kyries, then the defender is not shooting at the actual attacking units.

[johnny139]

Very nice. After finally getting a match in with her, I can honestly say I like her. She could only help the Imperium's ferocity, and once they were gone, she could still hold her own with some height and her good defense. Plus, a VERY nice sculpt. Her vs. Kee-Mo-Shi on a bridge over lava... epic looking stuff.

[The Super Atheist]

Is (classic) raelin better for the Imperium than Kiova?

[ThrasherDarkrai]

Originally Posted by The Super Atheist

Is (classic) raelin better for the Imperium than Kiova?

Only if you're suicidal.