Flamehide: The Lizardfolk Gambler Who Deals Pain at Very Fast Speed

Overview

Flamehide enters the arena as a member of the Garrison Guards family, a lizardfolk with a penchant for gambling and a very quick draw. Released in April 2025, he occupies a distinct niche as a Very Fast sniper who doesn't just hit you; he leaves behind a massive bodyguard to finish the job. While he might look like he's bluffing with those cards, his ability to summon a Sword Guard Mega Minion at 6.5 tiles is no joke. He is a Wizard, which allows him to potentially dispel buffs with Jinx, adding another layer of utility to his kit. He doesn't have a costume yet, so what you see is what you get: a scaly, card-sharking commando.

Hero Art & Visuals

Flamehide's design is a fun departure from the standard "angry warrior in armor" trope. He's a lizardfolk rogue, hunched over a barrel that serves as a makeshift card table, examining his hand with intense focus. The coins, the cards, and the casual demeanor contrast sharply with the heavy Garrison armor he wears. The colors are vibrant, with his red scales popping against the muted background of the garrison walls. It gives the impression of a soldier who spends more time fleecing his squadmates in poker than drilling on the parade ground.

General Info

Hero Stats

When we look at Flamehide's stats (1200 Attack, 1161 Defense, 2165 Health, 1173 Power), and compare them to the titans released in late 2025 (like Adelitza with ~1260 Power and stats pushing 1300+ across the board), it's clear that Flamehide has experienced some stat drift. He is no longer at the bleeding edge of raw numbers. However, his stats are far from obsolete; they remain robust enough to survive in the current meta, especially given his role as a Very Fast hero who aims to end fights—or at least disrupt them—before attrition sets in. He is attack-oriented, which suits his sniping nature perfectly.

Special Skill: Calling the Bluff

Calling the Bluff is a skill that prioritizes speed and disruption over raw, single-hit annihilation. At Very Fast speed, Flamehide does three things:

1. Direct Damage: Deals 375% damage to a single target. This is a respectable slap, though not a one-shot kill against modern tanks.
2. Mega Minion: Summons a Sword Guard Mega Minion. This is the meat of the skill. The minion inherits 35% of his HP and a staggering 300% of his Attack. This makes the minion incredibly durable and hard hitting.
3. Spreading Bleed: The Mega Minion doesn't just hit; it applies a Bleed DoT (468 over 3 turns) to its target. Crucially, this effect spreads to nearby enemies.

The synergy here is potent. You fire quickly, summoning a meat shield that hits like a truck and spreads a nasty ailment. It forces the opponent to deal with the minion immediately or suffer spreading damage that can quickly overwhelm a team's cleansing capabilities.

By the Numbers

Let's break down what "Very Fast" means for this lizard.

• Mana Speed: Very Fast requires 6.5 tiles. With a Lv. 29 Mana Troop (or sufficiently leveled Magic/Styx/Cyclops troops) and his Wizard class talent (or bard bonus), you can get him to fire in 6 tiles. This is blazing fast.
• Direct Damage: With a base attack of 1200 (before troops/emblems), a 375% hit lands for roughly 4,500 raw damage value. Against a hero with ~1300 defense, this will likely hit for around 500-700 actual damage, depending on the damage formula curve and troops. It's a softener, not a finisher.
• The Mega Minion: This is the real star.
  • HP: 35% of 2165 = ~758 HP. That is a substantial meat shield, absorbing more than a typical tile match or slash attack.
  • Attack: 300% of 1200 = 3,600 Attack. When this minion strikes, it hurts.
• Bleed Damage: 468 over 3 turns is 156 damage per turn. Since it spreads, if left unchecked on a flank or tank, it can infect the neighbors, turning a single snipe into a passive AoE pressure.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

The Garrison Guards family and Flamehide's innate abilities add significant survivability and utility.

Family Bonus

The Garrison Guards usually have bonuses related to minion reduction or beefing up their own defenses. (Note: The specific family bonus wasn't in the provided text, but Garrison heroes typically punish minion users or have specific interactions. Based on standard knowledge, they often start battle with Mega Minions or have damage reduction). Correction based on JSON: The JSON lists garrison family but doesn't detail the bonus text. Typically, this family has a chance to reduce received damage or boost stats.

Passives

• Resist Mana Reduction: This is huge. In a meta filled with mana cutters (like the Water Margin heroes or various seasonal pests), Flamehide's mana bar is safe. He will fire when his tiles are matched.
• Guard Rally: Every 4 turns, he cleanses Wither from all allies. This is a niche but valuable passive against the newer "stat-crunching" heroes that rely on Wither to cripple your team. It happens automatically, requiring no input from you.

Aether Power

• Attack Up: A simple, effective boost. For a sniper whose Mega Minion inherits his attack stat, this is actually double-dipping. A higher base attack means a harder initial hit and a stronger Mega Minion.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: When released, there was some controversy. Beta testers remembered a version of Flamehide that hit multiple targets or had different utility. The released "sniper" version felt like a downgrade to some. However, the Very Fast speed saved him.
• Power Creep Analysis: Eight months post-release, Flamehide's stats are average for a 5-star. He lacks the 1300+ defense values of the newest heroes. However, the mechanics of a Very Fast Mega Minion summoner defy standard aging. A meat shield at 6 tiles is always useful.
• Modern Viability: Flamehide remains a solid PvP attacker and a nuisance on defense. He excels in "bloody battle" tournaments and wars where quick kills are necessary. He isn't the absolute top dog anymore, overshadowed by newer multi-hitters with 1260+ power, but he is far from bench-warmer status. He is a workhorse for red stacks.

Costume & Costume Bonus

Flamehide currently does not have a costume.

Emblem Path Analysis

As a Wizard, Flamehide has a chance to deal extra damage (Jinx). Since his primary role is damage dealing and his Mega Minion scales off his Attack, there is really only one way to go.

The Gambler's Strike (Attack Path)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes the initial hit damage. Crucially, it maximizes the Attack stat inherited by the Mega Minion, making the minion a deadly threat in its own right.
• Cons: Slightly squishier, though the Mega Minion acts as a buffer.

Final Recommendation

Go full Attack. The synergy with the Mega Minion's 300% attack inheritance is too good to pass up. Every point of attack you give Flamehide is essentially tripled for his bodyguard.

Strengths

• Speed Kills: Very Fast mana allows him to dictate the pace of the match, often firing before the defense can set up buffs.
• Mega Minion Utility: The minion acts as both a sword and a shield. 700+ HP is a lot of damage mitigation.
• Spreading DoT: The bleed effect forces opponents to bring cleansers or risk taking passive damage across the board.
• Mana Safety: Immune to mana reduction makes him reliable against controllers.

Weaknesses

• Single Target: In a meta of "Hit All" nukes, hitting one target can feel low-impact if you don't secure the kill.
• Minion Dependence: If the enemy has heavy anti-minion tech (like Grimsteel or Lunar heroes), his value drops significantly.
• Stat Drift: His defensive stats are becoming average, making him vulnerable to the newest one-shot snipers.

Best Game Modes

• Raids (Offense): excellent for picking off key threats early. The Mega Minion helps keep him alive to fire again.
• Farming: As noted by players, the Very Fast animation and MM makes him surprisingly quick for auto-farming.
• Bloody Battle Tournaments: The bleed damage and minion health buffer are premium assets when healing is disabled.
• War: A solid depth hero for attacking teams, especially against green tanks.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Flamehide shines in aggressive red stacks that aim to overwhelm the enemy before they can charge.

Sample Team Ideas

• The "Speed Demon" Red Stack: Flamehide - Tetisheri - Khufu. Use Flamehide and Tetisheri (both fast/very fast) to pick off a target or apply defense down, then let a slower nuker like Khufu clean up.
• The Minion Overlord: Pair him with other Mega Minion summoners. A front line of Mega Minions makes it incredibly difficult for the enemy to land tile damage on your heroes.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Counters: Heroes who destroy minions (e.g., Grimsteel, Ogima, Goretooth) ruin his day. Grimsteel is particularly nasty as he gains bonuses from destroying minions.
• Anti-Synergy: Avoid pairing him with heroes who rely on the enemy not having ailments if you want to control the spread, though usually, spreading Bleed is just free damage.

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Flamehide early, he is a game-changer. His Mega Minion essentially gives you a 6th team member. Level him immediately. He will carry you through map stages by providing a meat shield that absorbs boss hits.

Advice for Veterans

You likely have newer, flashier toys. However, Flamehide's Very Fast speed gives him a permanent spot in War depth and Tournaments. Don't strip him of emblems unless you have a direct upgrade (like a newer VF red sniper). He's likely not worth an Alpha Aether (LB2) unless you use him in your primary defense team, as his stats don't need the LB2 to do his job of summoning a minion.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The community's reaction to Flamehide was a mix of confusion and acceptance.

• Many players were shocked by the "Very Fast" tag, noting, "He was Fast in beta, seems too strong at VFast, probably a typo."
• Others felt the trade-off was harsh: "Oh gosh they stripped him to his bare minimum!" referring to the loss of splash damage and other beta effects.
• Despite the nerfs, the utility was recognized: "Love my Flamehide. His MM is a real gamechanger in battles and also very useful for farming."
• One player jokingly (or perhaps seriously) renamed the category of luck required to pull two of him back-to-back: "There are Whales, and then there are, LEVIATHANS!!!"

Final Thoughts

Flamehide is a hero who proves that speed often trumps complexity. He doesn't have a novel of text on his card, but what he does—hit fast and summon a brute—he does effectively. While his stats are slowly being overtaken by the relentless march of power creep, the mechanic of a 6-tile Mega Minion ensures he remains a nuisance to deal with. He might not be the ace of spades anymore, but he's definitely a king of hearts... or at least a jack of clubs.

Verdict: A solid, reliable sniper who offers great protection for himself. A worthy ascension for almost any roster.