Fafnir, The Frostbound Hoarder: When Greed is Actually Good

Overview

Fafnir is a Legendary Nature hero hailing from the frozen depths of the Myrkheim family in Untold Tales. Released around mid-2025, he enters the arena as a Fighter class powerhouse designed to punish enemies with massive raw damage and debilitating frost. While his lore suggests a dwarf cursed by greed to become a dragon, on the battlefield, he is simply a beast. He fits into the modern "high stat, high impact" meta, bringing a unique damage scaling mechanic that rewards you heavily for pumping up his attack stat. He is a base hero, and currently, there is no costume to speak of, though with his power levels, he hardly needs a wardrobe change to be effective.

Hero Art & Visuals

The artwork for Fafnir has sparked quite the debate in the community. Lore-wise, Fafnir is a male dwarf turned dragon. Visually? Well, let's just say the glorious flowing locks and somewhat softer features have led many players to ask, "Wait, is this a dude?" Regardless of the gender confusion, the art is undeniably cool, featuring a distinct icy aesthetic that separates him from the typical "rugged dwarf with a beard" trope. He wields a massive crystalline lance that looks like it could skewer a Titan, and the cold blue and green color palette perfectly communicates his Myrkheim origins. It is a refreshing, if slightly androgynous, take on a classic mythological figure.

General Info

Hero Stats

Fafnir boasts an Attack stat of 1250, which is impressive even by modern standards. His health pool of 2288 is robust, allowing him to survive long enough to fire his Fast mana speed skill. Compared to the current meta benchmarks, his stats are solidly in the upper tier. While he might not have the absolute highest numbers compared to the very latest "God-tier" releases from late 2025, he is competitively statted and capable of acting as a primary damage dealer without feeling fragile. The distribution leans slightly towards offense, which is exactly where you want it for his specific damage mechanic.

Special Skill: Lance of Avarice

The Lance of Avarice is a fascinating skill because of its "Up to" wording. Unlike standard snipers who deal a fixed percentage, Fafnir's damage scales based on the difference between his Attack and the target's Defense. If he overpowers the enemy, he hits them for a truckload of damage, capped at a staggering 2100.

But damage is not his only trick. The secondary effects are arguably just as dangerous. Increasing damage received by 35% makes him an incredible setup hero for a green stack, turning subsequent hits into one-shot kills. The buff reflection is the cherry on top; hitting a heavy buffer like a taunter or a healer and watching their buffs bounce to a random enemy (or effectively be wasted) can disrupt entire strategies.

By the Numbers

Let's break down the math behind the dragon's greed.

• Mana Speed: Fast. He needs 8 tiles to charge. With a level 29 Magic/Styx troop or a level 23 Mana troop plus the 20th emblem node (if you choose the mana bonus, though Fighter usually offers healing), you can get him down to 7 tiles in Rush, but generally, he is a reliable 8-tile charger.
• Damage Potential: The skill says "Up to 2100 damage". This is a flat cap. To reach this, your Attack needs to significantly exceed the enemy's Defense. Against soft targets or with Attack buffs, he will consistently hit high numbers. The 40% bonus against Fire targets is huge. If he hits a Fire enemy for his max potential, that 2100 could theoretically spike even higher or simply reach the cap much easier against elemental disadvantage (though usually, weak element hits for less, here the bonus compensates).
• Damage Amplification: The +35% damage received debuff is multiplicative with Defense Down. If you hit an enemy with Defense Down and then Fafnir's debuff, any follow-up sniper is going to obliterate them.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

The Myrkheim family is all about the cold.

Family Bonus

While the specific family bonus usually involves stat boosts for fielding multiple unique heroes, the real star of the show here is the interaction with the Passives.

Passives

Arctic Core: This is a devastating passive. Every time he casts, he charges the core. When it fires, it deals Frost DoT and lowers Attack. The fact that this happens in addition to his special skill means he is applying significant pressure even if the initial hit doesn't kill. The extra damage against minions is a nice modern touch, ensuring he isn't walled by summoners. Empowered Resist Frost: Gaining 450 boosted health and 5% mana when resisting Frost effects makes him a hard counter to other blue/frost-heavy teams or environmental effects in seasons.

Aether Power

Counterattack: At 60%, this is a decent defensive layer. Since Fafnir is likely to be targeted due to his threat level, punishing enemies for hitting him helps chip them down into kill range for his Lance.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Fafnir was immediately recognized as a top-tier green hitter. His mechanic of scaling damage was relatively fresh and offered a solution to high-defense tanks.
• Power Creep Analysis: Even months after release, Fafnir holds up incredibly well. The "Up to 2100" damage cap is high enough that he doesn't suffer from diminishing returns as enemy health pools grow—he just needs to maintain his Attack stat superiority.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Fafnir remains a highly viable competitive hero. In wars and raids, his speed and damage output make him a premier choice for green stacks. He hasn't been relegated to the bench; he is very much a starter.

Costume & Costume Bonus

Currently, Fafnir does not have a costume. He relies entirely on his base stats and skills, which are sufficient to keep him relevant.

Emblem Path Analysis

Because Fafnir's damage scales based on the difference between his Attack and the enemy's Defense, there is really only one logical path.

The Dragon's Greed (Attack Focus)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes the damage potential of Lance of Avarice. The higher his attack, the closer you get to that 2100 cap. It also boosts his DoT from the Arctic Core.
• Cons: He becomes slightly squishier, relying on his Fighter revive to stay in the fight.

The Scaled Hide (Defense Focus)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: survivability.
• Cons: You are actively working against his primary mechanic. Lower attack means significantly lower damage on his special.

Final Recommendation

For almost every player, the Attack Focus is the way to go. You bring Fafnir to kill things, not to stand there and look pretty. Maximize that Attack stat at all costs.

Strengths

• Massive Target-Specific Damage: Can delete enemies if his Attack stat dominates theirs.
• Team Support: The +35% damage received debuff sets up team wipes.
• Disruption: Reflecting buffs can ruin an opponent's setup turn.
• Minion Hate: Passive deals extra damage to minion/mega-minion owners.
• Fighter Class: The chance to revive is always game-changing on a fast sniper.

Weaknesses

• Stat Dependent: If his Attack is lowered or he hits a hero with absurdly high Defense, his damage floor (around 525) can feel underwhelming compared to the ceiling.
• Status Reflection RNG: The reflected buffs go to a "random" enemy, which might not always be the target you want to debuff/buff block.

Best Game Modes

• PvP Raids/War Attack: His bread and butter. Great for picking apart defenses, especially those relying on Fire tanks (thanks to his bonus damage).
• Titans: The +35% damage increase is a separate multiplier from Defense Down and Elemental Defense Down, making him excellent for boosting tile damage against blue Titans.
• Events: High damage to three targets at Fast speed is great for clearing mob waves and boss stages quickly.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Fafnir shines in a "Green Stack" designed to overwhelm the enemy before they can stabilize.

Sample Team Ideas

• The "Softener" Combo: Fafnir + Almur/Evelyn. Use Elemental Defense Down first. Then Fafnir hits. The combination of EDD and Fafnir's damage received increase will likely vaporize the targets.
• The Fast Green Strike: Fafnir + Elkanen (Costume) + Quenell. All fast, all hitting multiple enemies. Fafnir softens them up and increases damage taken, the others finish the job.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Attack Debuffers: Heroes that lower Fafnir's attack (like Scarlett or Kingston) directly cripple his special skill's damage potential.
• Blind: While his card says "Never misses", Blind can still cause him to miss tiles, slowing his charge.
• Taunt: He hits three, but a Taunt hero can absorb the hit. However, his reflect ability might send the Taunt buff elsewhere if he hits the Taunter!

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Fafnir early, congratulations. Focus on leveling him immediately. Even without emblems, his raw power will carry you through map stages. Don't worry too much about the complex math of his special; just know that "Big Green Man Hits Hard."

Advice for Veterans

Fafnir is a prime candidate for Limit Break 2 (Alpha Aethers). The stats boost directly translates to more damage on his special due to the scaling mechanic. He pairs exceptionally well with other modern Untol Tales or newer heroes. Don't sleep on his passive DoT; in prolonged battles, that frost damage adds up significantly.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The community reaction to Fafnir was a mix of awe at his damage and confusion at his appearance.

• "Is Fafnir worth summoning for? Yes, absolutely." - The polls were overwhelmingly positive.
• "If I remembered right, this derpy dragon used to be called fafnir... sounds pretty solid in my opinion." - Players noting the lore disconnect.
• "Up to 2100. What is the formula for 'up to'?" - This was the biggest point of confusion. The consensus settled on "Higher Attack = More Damage", leading everyone to strip emblems from other heroes to boost Fafnir's sword path.

Final Thoughts

Fafnir is a greedy dragon, and he demands your best Attack emblems and troops. In return, he gives you one of the most satisfying "Hit-3" nukes in the game. He isn't just a damage dealer; he's a damage amplifier and a buff reflector, wrapping utility and violence into one stylish package. If you have him, use him. If you don't, pray you don't face a Limit Broken one in a Rush war.

Final Verdict: A top-tier Green hitter who rewards aggressive play and high stats. An absolute keeper.