Heroic Swarm Unveiled in Might & Magic: Olden Era

Unfrozen Studio, the developers behind Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, have unveiled further details about the Swarm faction, a unique castle previously teased. The team discussed their design inspiration, the evolution of the concept from "Inferno" to "Swarm," and the unfolding narrative within the Jadame continent.

The Swarm's defining characteristic is its adaptability. Certain creatures possess abilities directly influenced by enemy unit levels; the larger the disparity, the greater the inflicted damage. Others, like mantises, select from three distinct abilities each round. Furthermore, creatures such as worms and locusts can consume corpses for healing and empowerment – a skill also learnable by heroes.

In Olden Era, an insectoid race, only briefly mentioned in Might & Magic 8, assumes the role of the demonic threat. While respecting established lore, the developers infused the Swarm with elements of body horror and occultism, transforming them beyond a simple insect colony into a cult devoted to a singular overlord. Each member is integrated into a vast hive mind, existing solely to serve their master's command.

The Swarm's gameplay hinges on a "mono-faction" mechanic, rewarding players for utilizing exclusively Swarm units due to their synergistic enhancements. Swarm troops can summon cocoons, their health determined by the army's overall size. The resulting larvae provide temporary combat units, enabling strategic adaptation to diverse battlefield scenarios.

The developers emphasize the Swarm's aggressive playstyle. Their corpse-consuming healing and empowerment, combined with enemy-strength-dependent abilities, promotes direct confrontation and offers players a novel combat strategy.