Qinglong, The Lunar Strategist: Very Fast Thievery & Minion Silence

Overview

Qinglong, the "Lunar Strategist Dragon," arrived in February 2024 as part of the Lunar New Year event, celebrating the Year of the Dragon. He is a Nature (Green) 5-star hero from the Zodiac family. While his arrival was met with awe due to his majestic artwork, his kit was designed more for tactical disruption than brute force. He's essentially a Very Fast version of The Hatter, but with a laser focus on the latest buff rather than all of them, and a passive that makes minion summoners cry.

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Hero Art & Visuals

The artwork for Qinglong is widely considered some of the best in the game. He features a classic, serpentine Eastern dragon design—elegant, white-scaled, and regal, holding a pipe with an air of sophisticated nonchalance. It's a refreshing break from the usual "angry warrior screaming at the sky" aesthetic. He looks like he's about to beat you at Mahjong while sipping tea, and honestly, he probably would.

General Info

Hero Stats

Base Stats (No Emblems)

Level	Attack	Defense	Health	💪Power
4/80	1001	953	1726	983
4/85lb1	1078	1027	1860	1050
4/90lb2	1234	1176	2128	1184

▶Calculate with Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Level				💪
4/80	1001	953	1726	983
4/85lb1	1078	1027	1860	1050
4/90lb2	1234	1176	2128	1184

Stat Analysis: In the landscape of 2026, Qinglong's base stats (1001 Attack / 953 Defense / 1726 Health) show his age. Modern heavyweights are pushing 1300+ in Attack and Defense and 2400+ in Health before limit breaking. Even with a second limit break (LB2), Qinglong's stats (approx. 1234/1176/2128) struggle to compete with the raw bulk of the latest Construct or Astral heroes. He is "squishy" by modern standards, meaning his survival depends heavily on his emblems and team support.

Special Skill: Confident Strategy

Special Skill

Confident Strategy

Mana Speed

Very Fast

• Deals 160% damage to all enemies.
• Steals the latest dispellable buff from all enemies and randomly distributes them on allies.
• All allies get +8% attack per transferred status effect buff for 2 turns.

⚡ Tile Breakpoints Guide

6.5Base Tiles

9% Bonus

6Tiles

Skill Analysis: "Confident Strategy" is a toolbox skill running at Very Fast speed.

1. Damage: 160% to all enemies is, frankly, negligible in the current meta. Against modern defenses with 1500+ defense stats, this is merely a scratch. Do not bring him for the damage.
2. Buff Steal: This is his primary active utility. He steals the latest dispellable buff from all enemies and distributes them to allies. Note the distinction: latest. If an enemy has fired multiple buffs (e.g., Attack Up then Defense Up), he only takes the Defense Up. It's less comprehensive than The Hatter, but at Very Fast speed, it allows for surgical interruptions.
3. Attack Boost: The 8% attack boost per stolen buff is a nice cherry on top, potentially swinging tile damage in your favor immediately after he fires.

By the Numbers

• Mana Speed: Very Fast (6.5 tiles). With a Lv. 29 Mana troop or appropriate Bard/Bonus support, he can fire in 6 tiles, making him one of the fastest disruptors in the game.
• Damage Potential: 160% of ~1234 Attack (LB2) = ~1974 damage raw. Against a target with 1200 defense, the actual damage per hit is likely in the 250-350 range. It's a "softening" hit, not a finisher.
• Buff Swing: If he steals 5 buffs (one from each enemy), that's a +40% Attack buff for your team, plus whatever utility the stolen buffs provide (Taunt, Dodge, etc.).

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Family Bonus

Family Bonus

Monthly Event - Lunar Year

• Heroes become stronger when teamed with other unique Heroes of the same family.
• The Lunar Year family features different Lunar Year Animal Heroes. Each Lunar Year Animal grants different bonus to the members of the Lunar Year family when paired with at least 1 other Lunar Year Hero.
• This Hero gives the following Lunar Year (**) bonus to the members of the Lunar Year Family:
• ** Rabbit: +5% mana generation
• ** Ox: +10% defense
• ** Tiger: +10% attack
• ** Dragon: +15% critical chance
• ** Snake: +5% healing
• ** Rat: +15% Special Skill power
• ** Horse: -5% Received damage reduction
• The members of this family have additional perks in the Lunar New Year event.

Analysis: The Zodiac family bonus provides a Critical Chance increase (up to 15% for 2+ heroes). It's a decent bonus for tile damage but rarely a game-changer on its own.

Passives

Inherent Abilities

Passive Skills

• 

  Stop Minions

  Enemy Minions can't attack or use abilities.

Analysis:

• Disable Minion Abilities: This is the crown jewel of his kit. Attacks and abilities of all Minions owned by enemies are disabled. This single passive shuts down the mana steal from Waterpipe, the mana cut from Lady of the Lake, and any other nasty effects minions apply. It turns dangerous minions into harmless meat shields. This passive alone keeps him viable in specific wars.

Aether Power

Aether Power

Special Boost

At the start of each battle, this Hero's Special Skill deals an additional 30% damage for 6 turns.

In battles with multiple waves, the effect is refreshed at the beginning of each wave.

Analysis: Special Boost increases his special skill damage by roughly 30% for the first 6 turns. Since he is Very Fast, he will likely fire within this window. It helps patch up his low damage output slightly, but don't expect miracles.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Qinglong was praised for his art and the minion-silencing passive, though players immediately noted his low damage output. He was seen as a luxury "fun" hero rather than a meta-defining monster.
• Power Creep: Two years later, his stats have fallen behind significantly. The "hit all" damage is almost irrelevant against modern overhealed teams.
• Modern Viability: Niche but Viable. He is not a general-purpose hero. However, in "Minion Wars" or against specific defenses relying on minion effects (like the enduring Waterpipe or newer summoners), he is a hard counter. He is a tool you keep in your box and bring out specifically to neuter minion-heavy teams.

Emblem Path Analysis

The Survivalist (Recommended)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Qinglong's stats are outdated. He needs every point of Defense and Health to survive match-3 slash attacks and sniper hits long enough to fire his skill. His damage is already low; boosting it won't change match outcomes as much as him staying alive to steal a Taunt or Dodge.
• Cons: His special skill hits even softer (like a wet noodle).

The Glass Cannon

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes the 160% hit and the impact of the Aether Power boost.
• Cons: He becomes extremely fragile and may die before firing a single tile. Not recommended for modern play.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Survivalist (Defense/Health) path is recommended. His value is in his utility (Buff Steal + Minion Silence), not his damage.

Strengths

• Minion Nullification: Passive completely shuts down annoying minion effects without needing to cast a skill.
• Speed: Very Fast mana allows him to interrupt enemies and steal buffs before they can be utilized fully.
• Buff Redistribution: Can swing the momentum by stealing powerful buffs like Taunt, Dodge, or Counterattack.

Weaknesses

• Low Damage: 160% hit is very weak by 2026 standards.
• Selective Stealing: Only steals the latest buff, which can be played around or might miss the most critical buff if the enemy casts in a specific order.
• Squishy: Outdated base stats make him a liability against high-damage snipers.

Best Game Modes

• Minion Wars: His absolute best environment. He neuters the enemy defense's primary mechanic.
• Raids (Offense): excellent counter-pick against Waterpipe, Bera, or heavy buffers.
• Bloody Battle: The buff steal is valuable here, and his lack of healing doesn't matter (though his squishiness does).

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Qinglong shines when you need to dismantle a specific enemy setup. He is not a "plug and play" hero for defense.

Sample Team Ideas

• The "Anti-Minion" Green Stack:
  • Alberich - Qinglong - Eron - Leadria - Silvaria
  • Why: A green stack designed to survive minion onslaughts. Qinglong silences the minions, while Eron or other modern hitters deal the actual damage.
• The "Yoink" Squad:
  • Qinglong - Hatter - Ithar - -
  • Why: A "just for fun" team that steals everything the enemy creates. Qinglong takes the latest, Hatter takes the rest.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Uncleansable Buffs: He cannot steal uncleansable buffs (like those from some Construct or Elemental heroes).
• Raw Damage: He has no defensive mechanism (dodge/damage reduction) in his own kit aside from stats. High damage fast heroes (like Anne or newer Goblins) will delete him.

Advice for New Players

If you are lucky enough to have him, cherish him for his passive. You don't need to limit break him fully to get value from the minion silence—just keep him alive. He will help you immensely against annoying map stages with minion bosses.

Advice for Veterans

Qinglong is a luxury tool. Do not prioritize him for LB2 (Alpha Aethers) unless you are struggling desperately in Minion Wars. His stats are too low to justify the cost for general use. However, kept at 4/80 or LB1, he remains a fantastic counter-pick for your war depth.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

• The Art Lover: "Think I’ll skip work today and fly around town... Anyone know the way to Fantasia?" - Community member celebrating the design.
• The Realist: "Very soft and gentle hit all. Almost no damage. Great art." - A common sentiment upon release.
• The Specialist: "He neuters water pipes, sorrow, Hulda... Essentially their minions become just meat shields." - Validating his primary niche.

Final Thoughts

Qinglong is the epitome of "Age implies wisdom, not strength." He won't muscle his way through a modern defense, but his ability to silence minions just by existing and his Very Fast hands make him a tactical asset. He is a scalpel, not a hammer. If you see a Waterpipe tank, bring the dragon, light his pipe, and watch the minions do absolutely nothing.

Verdict: A permanent resident of your war roster for Minion situations, but safely benched for daily driving.