Scrollbeast: The Retired Boar Rider Who Refuses to Quit

Overview

Scrollbeast is a Legendary Holy hero hailing from the Goblin family, introduced around April 2024. As a "Retired Boar Rider," he brings a unique combination of brute force and tactical attrition to the battlefield. While his speed is Slow, his ability to summon a massive Mega Minion and cripple the enemy team's attack makes him a hero designed for the long game. In an era where speed often kills, Scrollbeast asks the question: "Why rush when you can simply outlast?" He doesn't just ride a boar; he brings the whole sty to the fight.

Hero Art & Visuals

Visually, Scrollbeast captures the essence of a seasoned, perhaps slightly weary, goblin veteran. Perched atop a sturdy, armored boar, he looks less like a frenzied warrior and more like a tank commander who has seen it all. The "Retired" moniker in his fancy name adds a layer of charm, suggesting he's back for one last job or perhaps he just never found a hobby that suited him as well as crushing enemies. The art style fits the Goblin family aesthetic perfectly—gritty, detailed, and slightly grotesque in a whimsical way.

General Info

Hero Stats

Scrollbeast enters the arena with a defensive stat distribution that supports his role as a sustainer.

When we look at the current landscape of Empires & Puzzles (as of late 2025), Scrollbeast's raw stats show the signs of aging. Modern heavyweights like Adelitza and Lin Chong boast Power levels exceeding 1260 and primary stats climbing over 1300. In comparison, Scrollbeast's base power of 1063 and stats hovering around the 1050-1080 range are now considered low to average. While he was a titan upon release, strictly by the numbers, he has been surpassed by roughly two generations of power creep. He relies heavily on his Limit Breaks and Master Emblems to stay physically competitive with the newest gods of the arena.

Special Skill: Boar of Fury

Analysis: "Boar of Fury" is a loaded skill that justifies its Slow mana speed.

1. AoE Damage: Dealing 365% damage to all enemies is a significant slap. Even with older stats, this hits hard enough to soften up an entire team.
2. Wither: The -400 Attack Wither is arguably the most potent part of his kit. Unlike percentage-based debuffs, this is a flat reduction that permanently alters the enemy's stat sheet until the battle ends (or it's cleansed/reversed by Growth). This creates a "death spiral" for the opponent—the longer the fight goes, the weaker they become.
3. The Mega Minion: This isn't just a minion; it's a second health bar. With 65% of the caster's HP, this boar is a massive meat shield.
4. Undispellable Counterattack: The Mega Minion grants a 100% counterattack. Because this is tied to the minion's existence rather than a status buff, it cannot be dispelled by standard dispellers. It forces enemies to chew through a prickly shield that hurts them back.

By the Numbers

Let's break down the impact of this retired rider.

• Mana Speed Analysis:
  • Base: Slow (12 tiles).
  • With a Level 29 Magic/Styx Troop or Level 30 Legendary Troop, plus his class/costume bonuses (if applicable, though he has none), you want to aim for the 12% or 24% (very hard) break-points to drop him to 11 or 10 tiles. In Rush Attack, he effectively becomes Very Fast (6.5 tiles), which is terrifying.
• Damage Potential:
  • Base Attack: ~1044.
  • Skill Multiplier: 365%.
  • Raw Damage Output: ~3810 damage spread across 5 enemies (before defense mitigation).
  • Passives: A 60% chance to add another 90% AoE tap adds significant chip damage over time.
• Survival & Support:
  • Mega Minion HP: At max base stats (1917 HP), the minion has roughly 1246 HP. That is more health than some maxed 3-star heroes.
  • Attack Mitigation: Reducing 5 enemies by 400 attack removes a total of 2000 Attack Power from the enemy team. This drastically reduces incoming slash attacks and special skill damage.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

The Goblin family brings a distinct flavor of chaos to the board.

Family Bonus

The Goblin family doesn't have a traditional "Family Bonus" like other families that gives +Stats for multiple heroes. Instead, their identity is tied to their unique passives and the specific mechanics of "Wither" and "Growth". Scrollbeast operates individually but synergizes with anyone who can exploit a weakened enemy team.

Passives

This passive is excellent. A 60% chance is better than a coin flip. When it triggers, it does two things:

1. Extra Damage: A 90% AoE slap.
2. Accuracy Debuff: -25% accuracy for 3 turns. This adds another layer of survival. Not only are enemies hitting softer due to Wither, but they are also missing 1 in 4 shots.

Aether Power

Ailment Immunity is a top-tier Aether Power for a Slow hero. One of the biggest counters to Slow heroes is being silenced, mana-blocked, or blinded before they can fire. This power ensures that for the first 6 turns, Scrollbeast can charge his mana without being shut down by annoying ailments.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Scrollbeast was a monster in Rush Wars and a formidable tank/flank in standard play. The Mega Minion meta was in full swing, and his ability to summon such a beefy companion made him a wall.
• Power Creep Analysis: The raw stat gap is undeniable. Heroes released in late 2025 have roughly 20% higher stats. Additionally, the introduction of "Garrison" heroes who specifically counter Wither/Growth mechanics, and newer heroes with "Bypass" or huge damage output, threatens his Mega Minion's longevity.
• Modern Viability Verdict: Scrollbeast is no longer the apex predator he once was, but he is far from obsolete. He remains highly viable in Very Fast wars and tournaments. In standard raid formations, he has fallen out of the top meta but serves as a fantastic depth hero for wars and a PvE superstar. His Wither effect is incredible against high-level bosses and events like the Tower or Monster Island where enemies have inflated stats.

Emblem Path Analysis

Scrollbeast's effectiveness relies on two things: firing his skill (survival) and the strength of his minion (inherited stats).

The "Iron Boar" Build (Defense/Health)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Maximizes the HP of the White Boar Mega Minion, making it harder to destroy and keeping the counterattack active longer. Increases Scrollbeast's own survivability to ensure he fires at Slow speed.
• Cons: The AoE hit will be softer, and the minion's counterattack damage (based on received damage) remains the same, but the minion's slash attacks will be weaker.

The "Savage Rider" Build (Attack/Defense)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Increases the 365% AoE damage significantly. Since the Mega Minion inherits 250% of the caster's attack, this build makes the minion hits hit like a truck.
• Cons: The hero and the minion are squishier. At Slow speed, he might die before firing.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Defense/Health path is recommended. Scrollbeast's primary utility is the Wither and the annoyance of the Mega Minion. If he dies before firing, he does nothing. Keeping that Minion alive as long as possible is key to his value.

Strengths

• Permanent Stat Reduction: Wither (-400 Attack) is debilitating in long fights.
• Massive Survivability: The Mega Minion acts as a huge health buffer.
• Passive Mitigation: The accuracy debuff passive provides free miss chances.
• Undispellable Counterattack: Forces enemies to take damage to remove the minion.

Weaknesses

• Slow Speed: In a fast meta, he can be dead before he charges.
• Stat Creep: His defense and health are low compared to modern tanks.
• Minion Counters: Heroes who destroy minions (e.g., Grimsteel, newer anti-minion rangers) or steal life from them can dismantle his main defense.
• Wither Counters: Heroes that resist or cleanse stat modifications reduce his impact.

Best Game Modes

• Rush Attack (Wars/Tournaments): This is his playground. Firing this skill in 6 tiles is devastating.
• PvE / Map Stages: The Wither effect makes hard bosses hit like wet noodles.
• War Depth: A solid option for cleanup teams or specific counters to passive heavy defenses.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Scrollbeast thrives in "Turtle" or "Attrition" teams where the goal is to survive the initial onslaught and then grind the enemy down.

Sample Team Ideas

1. The Rush Wall:
   • Composition: Ludwig - Scrollbeast - Alfrike - -
   • Why: Ludwig charges Scrollbeast. Once Scrollbeast fires, the enemy team loses attack power, making Ludwig's taunt even harder to break.
2. The Minion Horde:
   • Composition: Scrollbeast - - Waterpipe/Bera - -
   • Why: Layering Mega Minions with regular minions creates a wall of HP. While Mega Minions usually replace regular minions, having other summoners ensures that if the Boar dies, there is still meat on the board.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Minion Destroyers: Heroes like Grimsteel, Ogima, or anyone with "Destroy Minion" capabilities are his worst nightmare.
• Lunar Heroes: Heroes from the Lunar New Year or others that disable minion summoning effects.
• Anti-Wither: Garrison Guard heroes often have mechanics that interact with or resist these goblin effects.

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Scrollbeast early, rejoice! He will carry you through almost every map stage and quest. The -400 attack makes difficult bosses manageable. Prioritize keeping him alive with healers. Do not worry too much about his speed in the early game; his impact when he does fire is worth the wait.

Advice for Veterans

Scrollbeast is a luxury tool. He likely won't make your main defense team due to his stats and speed. However, he is worth leveling for Rush Wars and specifically for events like the Tower of Magic or Styx, where boss damage is high. Do not prioritize Alpha Aethers for him unless you are heavily focused on Rush War competitiveness.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

The community's reaction to Scrollbeast has been a mix of respect and frustration regarding his speed.

• The Garrison Problem: Early feedback noted, "The new garrison guard heroes pretty much **** all over half of the goblin roster. Scrollbeast is doomed from the beginning." This highlights the rock-paper-scissors nature of the meta.
• The Rush Beast: Players consistently praise him in specific modes: "Whatever you think, Scrollbeast is a beast and really strong... especially in rush wars."
• The Pull Regret (or Lack Thereof): Many players pulled him while chasing Pepperflame. While some lamented getting the "Slow brother," others found him to be "Greatly underrated" and a "Game changer" when fully leveled.
• Tactical Nuke: One user described a war hit where Scrollbeast was the last one standing: "Enemy left 5 heroes at about 1/3-1/4 HP. Thanks to the Wither and MM, SB have wiped out all the left enemy alone."

Final Thoughts

Scrollbeast fits the "Old Man Logan" archetype of Empires & Puzzles. He might not be as fast or as flashy as the young guns (looking at you, Slime family), but he hits with the weight of experience. His Wither effect remains one of the best tools for neutering high-attack modern heroes, essentially dragging them down to his level where he can beat them with experience (and a giant pig). While he is no longer a universal answer, in his niche, he is still the boss of the sty.

Verdict: A valuable asset for Rush modes and PvE, but requires protection and patience in standard PvP. Keep him fed, keep him leveled, but maybe don't bet the farm on him against the newest speedsters.