Slayer's AIO Nord Invasion Guide

[Slayer]

More Information from winters guide

Hero Class Character Statistics Analysis

Statistic Analysis - Commando

Zweihander
This class is obviously meant to excel at slashing.  A two handed WPF increase of 40 created a ~4% increase in damage and a swing speed incrase of an approximate equivalent in 1.5 additional weapon speed stats.  This class also gains a slight increase in One handed WPF (10) and a decent increase in Polearm (30).  This means that if no good two handed weapons are available or you are using a two hander that is too short to be useful, you can pick up a polearm and still use it with some ability.  There is also a decent Crossbow WPF increase of 65 and Throwing WPF increase of 40, meaning that on waves where the team completely barricades off, you can shoot crossbows faster if they are available, and if not still be able to decently aim and use throwing weapons.  This class does not gain increased Ironflesh, but does get 1 Athletics to increase run speed.  Please, please, please note that this class does get a Shield proficiency increase of 2, meaning you can still shield with the same ability as the Hybrid Commandos of old.  Do not refuse to shield based on the fact that you are a Zweihander.  That would make you an asshat.


Legionnaire
This hero class for Commando is the odd one out.  Instead of focusing on shielding and slashing like Commandos traditionally have, this character gains a marked increase in both one hand and throwing ability.  An impressive 50 increase in One handed WPF increases damage and speed by an approximate 5% and 2 swing speed points, respectively.  A huge increase in Power throw (4) and Throwing WPF (150) makes this class have throwing abilities that can compete with a Tier 4 Pikeman.  A quick comparison shows that the Legionnaire has 1 less Power throw and and 20 less Throwing WPF, leading to a ~12% loss of throwing damage and a moderate decrease in speed (roughly 5-10 Throwing Speed loss), meaning the Legionnaire can still easily use throwing weapons effectively.  This class, like the Zweihander, gets an increase in Shielding of 2, which makes a total of 8 meaning this class can shield as effectively as the Hybrid Commandos of old.  Legionnaires should almost always shield over anything other than a Royal Guard, as the throwing support it can offer is typically less useful than the powerful slashing of a Zweihander and the shooting of a Pavise Champion.

Royal Guard
This hero class is clearly meant to shield.  An impressive increase  of 4 to the Shield skill means another ~40% reduced damage over a normal Commando, and ~20% over fellow Hero and Hybrid Commandos.  It should also be noted that it gains the same increases as Zweihander in Throwing, Polearm, and Crossbow WPF.  The same conclusions can be drawn.  This class also gets another point in Ironflesh, meant for an increase in sustainability of shielding.

Over All
Zweihanders are the expert slashers.  Legionnaires can throw, slash, and shield with decent ability.  Royal Guards shield like pros, but are still good slashers.  Royal Guard is the better shielder, but Zweihander and Legionnaire also do a good job.  Legionnaire can easily switch to throwing or slashing based on the needs of the team, whereas Zweihander and Royal Guard are more useful in the traditional positions of Commandos, slashing and shielding.  In the situation that the team fully barricades off, the Legionnaire can easily throw quite well, but the Zweihander and Royal Guard would be more useful shooting with crossbows, but can use throwing if no crossbows are available.  Legionnaires have a remarkable increase in One handed WPF as well as their throwing abilities.

Statistic Analysis - Sharpshooter

Chosen Marksman
The idea for this hero class is pretty simple: higher Crossbow WPF for faster shooting.  This hero class also gives a Power Strike increase of 1 (equal to ~8% damage in melee) and a decent Athletics and Shield increase of 2 each.  To be as generic as possible, this class also gets the usual 50 One handed, 40 Two handed, and slightly higher 30 Polearm WPF (as compared to 25) boosts to make them more useful if they ever happen to be required to slash.  Hopefully this is never the case.

Aventurier
Again, simple design.  High One handed WPF (85 more, meaning an approximate 10% increase in damage and 3-4 weapon speed), moderate Two handed and Polearm increase for those "OH NO _________ ARE ALL DEAD AND I NEED TO GO SLASH!" moments.  Unlike the other two Sharpshooter hero classes, however, this one gets a 3 Athletics boost (as compared to 2).  This allows this hero to get around the base faster and use that one hand skill to the benefit of the team.  Like Chosen Marksman, this class gets an additional 2 Shield, which could be useful if a shielder goes down and there aren't any to spare.  This class also gets a Power strike increase of 2, as compared to the Chosen Marksman increase of 1, meaning this class can do a bit more melee damage.  This fits in well with the One handed WPF increase. 

Pavise Champion
This is the Royal Guard of Sharpshooters.  An impressive increase of 5 Shield skill easily puts this class as the second best shielder in the game with an astounding total of 9 Shield skill, beat only by the 10 of Royal Guards.  The generic One handed, Two handed, and Polearm WPF increases are still added, but this character is clearly more prepared to shield than use those weapons.  This class also gets 2 more Ironflesh, as compared to the 1 increase in the other two Sharpshooter hero classes.  This creates an increase in survivability that can mean the difference between a team wiping or holding through the wave as the Pavise Champion rushes in to take over shielding from an unfortunate Swadian.

Over All
Chosen Marksmen can reload faster, Aventuriers can use one handed weapons at a very high proficiency and get to be a little faster, and Pavise Champions have more survivability and a great ability to shield.  Each of these classes also gets a generic increase in Two handed and Polearm WPF as well as 2 Power strike to allow for some slashing if completely necessary.

Statistic Analysis - Sniper

Warden
This speedy pew-pewer gets a neat increase of 55 Archery WPF, meaning faster draw speed and a good 6-7% more damage.  A Power draw increase of 1 means this character can hold aim longer than other archers, a skill that can be useful in making very precise shots.  The generic 50 One handed, 50 Two handed, and 25 Polearm, as usual, are present.  A 2 increase in Power Strike means this class is much more effective at defending itself in melee than its non-hero predecessor.  A measly 1 Shield increase reaffirms that this class should not need to shield.  Ever.  Never.  Seriously.  There is also an Atheletics increase of 2, which is useful for running away.

Ranger
This hero class is a beefy archer with a large increase in health, a whopping 4 Ironflesh.  Athletics increase is sacraficed for this and brought down to 1, rather than the 2 the other Sniper hero classes get.  It should also be noted that this class gets a Shield skill increase of 5, meaning it can pick up a shield from a fallen shielder and stem the tide of Nords entering the base.  This class gets an odd 7 increase in Archery WPF.  Very odd....  The generic increases of 50 One handed, 40 Two handed, and 25 Polearm are also present.

Sentinel
This hero class focuses on covering a weak spot of the Sniper class: melee damage.  This class gets a whopping 120 One handed WPF increase, equal to around 17-20% more damage and ~4 weapon speed, but sacrafices the generic Two handed and Polearm WPF increases, getting 0 increase instead.  This is most likely in place to keep this class from becoming an amazing slasher, as the next stat increase is 5 whole Power strike, which creates an approximate 40% melee damage!  This class gets a moderate Ironflesh increase of 1 and the same Athletics increase of 2 as the Warden.  It should be noted that this class does get a Shield skill increase of 4, meaning it can shield in dire situations.  It should also be noted that this class gets no increase to Archery WPF, which is only slightly less than the Ranger.

Over All
Wardens are the only Sniper hero class to get a notable increase in Archery WPF and get an increase in Power draw.  The Ranger is a beefy shooter with a decent Shield skill.  The Sentinel focuses more on melee damage and sports a powerful one handed ability and a decent increase in Shield skill.

Statistic Analysis - Pikeman

Halberdier
The Halberdier hero class gains the generic 50 One handed, 40 Two handed, and a slightly increased 30 Polearm (as compared to 25) WPF.  This class also gets a typical 2 Power strike increase.  This class's strong point is the Ironflesh and Shield gain, 3 and 3.  It should be noted that though this class gains no Athletics, it is already at 8 which is faster than most other hero classes already.  Disappointingly, this class gains no Power throw or Throwing WPF.

Master Peltast
This class, as the name suggests, has a focus on throwing.  A beautiful 25 Throwing WPF (~3% damage and 1 speed more) and 1 Power throw (10% more throwing damage) definitely create this effect.  The generic 50 One handed, 40 Two handed, and 25 Polearm increases are there.  A decent and default Power strike increase of 2 and Ironflesh increase of 1 accompany this class.  A fun 2 Athletics points make this tied for the fastest class in the game at a grand total of 10 Athletics.  This class does get a Shield skill increase of 2, putting it at 6 Shield skill and allowing it to be the backup shielder in dire situations.

Marauder
The glass cannon of Pikeman hero classes, this class has an amazing 65 Polearm WPF increase (~5% more damage and 1-2 more speed) and 3 additional Power strike (24% more damage), making it a very powerful slasher.  Other than the generic WPF increases and 2 Athletics, this class has no other stat increases.

Over All
The Halberdier is a decent slasher with an emphasis on survivability.  It has a good Shield increase allowing it to shield when required.  The Master Peltast emphasizes on throwing, but can clearly slash with ease as well.  A small Shield skill increase allows it to shield in dire situations.  The Marauder is a glass cannon of a slasher, focusing only on damage output and speed.