Azurite: The Blind-Dealing Ninja Squirrel Who Punishes Whiffs

Overview

Azurite is a 5-Star Legendary Ice hero from the Ninja Tower event. Released back in mid-2023, he burst onto the scene as one of the few heroes who actually made missing painful for the enemy. With his Charge mana speed, he offers the flexibility that defines the Ninja family—sniping early or nuking late.

He represents a specific era of Empires & Puzzles where mechanics started getting "meta" (in the literal sense of referencing game states like missing). While he doesn't have a costume yet, this review focuses on his base form, which is currently the only way to field this furry assassin. And yes, he is a flying squirrel. If that doesn't make you want to level him, I don't know what will.

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Hero Art & Visuals

Let's just take a moment to appreciate the sheer audacity of this design. It's a giant, anthropomorphic flying squirrel wearing full ninja garb, complete with a face mask and utility belt holding glowing blue grenades. The dynamic pose—mid-glide, claws out—is fantastic.

Compared to the grimdark aesthetic of many recent "cosmic horror" or "undead knight" heroes, Azurite is refreshingly whimsical without looking like a cartoon character from a different game. The blue and black color palette perfectly communicates his Ice element and Ninja stealth. It’s easily one of the most memorable character designs in the Ninja family.

General Info

Hero Stats

Here is a look at Azurite's base stats, which tell a story of a bygone era.

Stat Analysis: Here is the hard truth: Azurite's stats are showing their age significantly.

• Attack (939): Back in 2023, this was high. In 2026, where attackers regularly push 1300+ base attack (and up to 1600+ with LB2), it's merely "okay" and actually quite low for a primary damage dealer.
• Defense (774) & Health (1477): These are the danger zones. Modern snipers can nearly one-shot 1400 HP. His defense is paper-thin by current standards, where 1200+ defense and 2200+ health are the new benchmarks.

The Verdict: He is a "Glass Squirrel." To make him survivable in today's wars, he absolutely requires Limit Breaking (likely double LB) and full defensive emblems. Without them, he might die before he even glides into battle.

Special Skill: Light Grenades

Skill Analysis: The Charge mechanic is the star here, giving you three different spells in one hero:

• 1x Charge (Fast/Very Fast equivalent): This is his bread and butter. 250% damage to 3 enemies is decent for a quick hit, but the -35% accuracy is the real disruptor. It can ruin a perfectly timed enemy combo.
• 2x Charge (Average equivalent): The sweet spot. 325% damage is respectable, and -40% accuracy for 3 turns is a significant window of control.
• 3x Charge (Slow/Very Slow equivalent): The "Hail Mary." 400% damage to 3 is a heavy hit, and -54% accuracy basically turns enemies into Stormtroopers for 4 turns.

The Unique Twist: The "Damage on Miss" effect. If an enemy affected by his blind misses a Special Skill, they deal damage to a random ally (ranging from 320 to 470 depending on charge).

• Why it's cool: It adds insult to injury.
• Why it's niche: It only triggers on Special Skill misses, not tile misses. And it relies on RNG. You can't plan a win condition around it, but it's hilarious when it happens.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed:
  • Charge 1: ~5-6 tiles.
  • Charge 2: ~9-10 tiles.
  • Charge 3: ~13-15 tiles.
  • Note: With a level 29 Magic/Styx troop and emblem node 20, you can shave a tile off these requirements, making his 1x charge blisteringly fast.
• Damage Potential (1x Charge):
  • At ~1000 Attack (emblemed), 250% is roughly a 500-600 damage hit to three targets (before defense calculation). It's a "softener," not a finisher.
• Damage Potential (3x Charge):
  • 400% to three targets is significant. Comparable to older Slow hitters like Khufu but focused on 3. It won't wipe a modern team with boosted health, but it will hurt.
• Accuracy Debuff:
  • -54% (Charge 3) is statistically better than a coin flip. It forces the opponent to either cleanse or pray.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Azurite relies heavily on his family bonus for survival, as he lacks innate damage reduction passives.

Family Bonus

Analysis: The Ninja family bonus is one of the best in the game. Even with just one other Ninja, gaining a chance to Dodge or Counterattack gives Azurite survivability that his stats don't provide. The Dodge is particularly potent because it avoids damage and status ailments.

Passives

Analysis: Azurite actually relies heavily on his Class (Rogue) and Family Bonus as his "passives." The Rogue talent (Evade) gives him another 20% chance to dodge direct damage specials. Stacked with the Ninja family dodge, he can be surprisingly slippery.

Aether Power

Analysis: Attack Up gives a boost at the start of battle. For a hero with already high base attack (for his time) and an AoE skill, this is decent, but honestly, Defense Up or Dodge would have been better to keep him alive.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: When released, Azurite was seen as a fun, tactical hero. He wasn't "broken" like the initial release of Milena or Xnolphod, but he was respected for his speed and blind utility. The "Flying Squirrel" art was an instant hit.
• Power Creep Analysis: The stat gap is undeniable. New heroes have ~40-50% more raw bulk. His damage percentages (250%/325%/400%) are also lower than modern "Hit 3" heroes who often start at 450%+ at Fast speed. The "Damage on Miss" is a fun gimmick but rarely decides matches in the era of Overheal and massive Minions.
• Modern Viability Verdict:
  • Top 100 Alliances: He is largely a bench warmer or a niche attack team filler. He cannot survive on defense.
  • Mid-Game: Still very viable. His speed allows him to act as a "safety valve," blinding dangerous snipers before they fire.
  • PvE: Excellent. Blinding bosses is always a valid strategy to keep your team alive.

Costume & Costume Bonus

As of this review, Azurite does not have a costume.

Emblem Path Analysis

Azurite belongs to the Rogue class, which is fantastic for his survival.

The Survivor (Recommended)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Mitigates his biggest weakness (low durability). Keeps him alive long enough to fire that 2x or 3x charge.
• Cons: Lowers his damage output slightly.

The Glass Assassin

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes the damage of his 3x charge nuke.
• Cons: He will die to a stiff breeze or a stray slash from a modern barbarian.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Survivor path is mandatory. His utility comes from the Blind (-Accuracy), not the raw damage. A dead squirrel blinds no one.

Strengths

• Versatility: Charge speed lets you adapt to the board. Bad board? Fire 1x to survive. Good board? Hold for 3x to win.
• Disruption: Accuracy debuffs are devastating against heavy hitters. Making a hero like Khufu miss his special is game-winning.
• Survivability (RNG): Between Rogue Dodge and Ninja Family Dodge, he can sometimes tank hits he has no business surviving.

Weaknesses

• Outdated Stats: Low defense and health make him a liability against modern meta teams.
• RNG Dependence: His main utility (Blind) is probabilistic. -35% accuracy means they still hit 65% of the time.
• Cleanse Vulnerability: His blind is cleansable. A fast cleanser (like Ariel or newer cartoons) completely negates his turn.

Best Game Modes

• War Attack: As a counter to heavy hitters without cleanse.
• Bloody Battle: Accuracy debuffs are premium mitigation when you can't heal.
• Titan Battles: High tile damage (due to high base attack) and blind helps team survival.
• Map/Tower Stages: Great for controlling bosses.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Sample Team Ideas

• The Ninja Squad: Azurite + Quartz + other Ninjas.
  • Why: Maximize the family bonus for Dodge/Counter. Quartz provides the Cleanse/Heal to keep Azurite going.
• The "Can't Touch This" Team: Azurite + Kadilen (C) + Constance (or other Dodgers).
  • Why: Layering Blind with Dodge buffs makes your team virtually impossible to hit with specials.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Monks/Clerics: Can resist his Blind.
• Garnet/Grazul/Aramis: Ailment immunity blocks his blind completely, rendering him just a weak damage dealer.
• Sure-Hit Heroes: Heroes like Russell or new Astral heroes with "Never Miss" passives ignore his entire gimmick.

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Azurite early, celebrate! He will carry you through map stages and raids. Focus on his 1x Charge to shut down enemy snipers. Don't worry about waiting for 3x Charge unless you are safe.

Advice for Veterans

He is likely a depth hero for War attacks. Do not strip emblems from a modern meta hero for him. He is fun to play manually but unreliable on defense. Unless you have a specific synergy in mind (or just love the art), he is not a priority for Alpha Aethers.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The community reaction to Azurite was a mix of amusement and tactical curiosity.

• "Wow… you make the attacker pay when they miss. LOL… interesting mechanic there." - This sentiment was common; players loved the concept of "punishing RNG."
• "If this is the adorable squirrel hero then danger rolled up in a cute little package, very nice." - The art carried a lot of his initial appeal.
• "I have to give heartfelt lulz to this hero. A troll if I’ve ever seen one in this game." - He is viewed as a "Troll" hero—annoying to fight if RNG goes his way, but not terrifying.

Final Thoughts

Azurite is the definition of a "fun" hero. He isn't the most efficient killer, nor the sturdiest tank. But there is a unique satisfaction in watching an enemy charge up a devastating attack, only to see "MISS" float above your team, followed by that enemy slapping their own teammate in the face.

He has been left behind by the raw stat stick of power creep, but his utility remains timeless. If you need a flexible Blue hero who brings chaos to the battlefield, the Ninja Squirrel is ready to glide into action.

Verdict: A solid B-tier hero in the modern era. Worth maxing for depth, but keep him away from the Alpha Aethers unless he's your absolute favorite.