Timius: The Royal Vanguard of Owl Tower - Dispel, Denial, and Destruction

Overview

Timius arrived in Empires & Puzzles in late December 2023 as part of the Owl Tower event, looking like a heavily armored, battle-ready owl who definitely lifts. As a 5-star Ice (Blue) hero, he introduced players to the complex "Moonrise Strike" mechanic—a damage calculation so confusing it practically required a graphing calculator to understand on release.

He operates as a Fast speed utility-killer, specializing in stripping enemies naked (of buffs, that is) before smacking them and preventing them from dressing up again. He belongs to the Owl Family, which thrives on turning mana ailments into buffs. While he was a titan of the arena upon release, the years have been unkind to his stat line, turning this once-mighty vanguard into a tactical specialist rather than a brute-force dominance engine.

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Hero Art & Visuals

Timius sports a fantastic design that screams "guardian." He’s an owl clad in blue and silver plate armor, wielding a sword and shield mid-flight. It’s a dynamic pose that captures the essence of a "Vanguard"—he’s leading the charge. The art team did a great job making a bird look intimidating rather than cute. No "Harry Potter mail carrier" vibes here; this bird will peck your eyes out.

General Info

Hero Stats

Stat Analysis in 2026: Let's be blunt: Timius's stats are showing their age.

• Attack (1005): In an era where modern attackers boast 1300+ base attack, Timius sits significantly lower. This is critical because his special skill damage scales directly off the difference between his Attack and the enemy's Defense.
• Defense (994) & Health (1643): By modern standards, he is squishy. Modern tank busters and snipers can often one-shot or severely cripple him before he fires.
• Conclusion: He has fallen from "Tank/Flank material" to "Protected Wing" or "Offense-Only Specialist." He requires Limit Break 2 (LB2) and full emblems just to survive the opening volley of a modern match.

Special Skill: For Queen And Hollow

Analysis: Despite the aging stats, the utility of this skill remains top-tier. The order of operations is what makes Timius dangerous:

1. Dispel First: This is the gold standard. He removes Taunt (Ludwig, Phorcys), Defense Up, and Counterattack before dealing damage. This ensures his hit connects fully and safely.
2. Damage: He hits the Target and Nearby (Hit-3).
3. Buff Immunity: He prevents the target and neighbors from gaining new buffs for 3 turns.

This combo effectively shuts down defensive cores. If you fire Timius into a Taunt hero, you strip the Taunt, damage them, and then prevent them from casting Taunt again for 3 turns. It is a hard counter to buff-heavy teams.

By the Numbers

The Moonrise Math

The "Moonrise Strike" damage formula is unique. It doesn't use the standard percentage (like 400% damage). Instead, it uses a flat cap (up to 1500) that scales based on the difference between the Attacker's Attack and Defender's Defense.

The Rough Formula:Damage ≈ (Base Damage / 1000) * (Attack - Defense) + Base Damage(Where Base Damage is 50% of the Max listed on the card, approx 750 at 8/8 skill)

• Scenario A (Attack > Defense): If you buff Timius (e.g., with Growth) or wither the enemy, and his Attack exceeds their Defense, he hits hard, approaching the 1500 cap.
• Scenario B (Attack < Defense): This is the 2026 Problem. Because modern heroes have massive Defense stats (often 1300-1600+), and Timius has low base Attack (~1005), his Attack is often lower than the enemy's Defense. In this case, he deals significantly less than his base damage—often hitting like a wet noodle.

Effective Mana Speed:

• Base: Fast (8 tiles).
• Mana Troop (29) + Emblem (4%): Can reach 7 tiles comfortably.
• Family Bonus: Adds mana gen if he receives ailments, which can disrupt timing but usually in a good way.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

Family Bonus

Analysis: This is a fantastic defensive mechanism. If an enemy tries to slow Timius down (e.g., Waterpipe minions, or mana-slowing ailments), he actually gains mana generation. It makes him a soft counter to mana-control meta heroes.

Passives

Analysis: Reduce Mana Gain from Specials (-80%) applies to enemies. This is subtle but powerful. It stops enemies from gaining mana from things like Alberich's passive or other direct mana-add sources when they cast their skills. It does not stop tile mana.

Aether Power

Analysis: Dodge. A solid defensive defensive layer. Since Timius is now stat-crept and fragile, having a chance to Dodge specials for the first few turns gives him a fighting chance to fire his skill at least once.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Timius was an absolute beast. He was the "Fortuna killer" and a nightmare for Holy tanks like Shaal or Erlang Shen. His ability to strip buffs at Fast speed made him a staple in top-tier defenses.
• Power Creep Analysis: The "Moonrise" mechanic is his Achilles' heel in the long run. Since damage scales off raw stats, and his stats are frozen in 2023 while enemies get stronger in 2026, his damage potential has plummeted. He simply cannot overcome the Defense stats of modern heroes to deal his maximum damage without significant external help (Growth/Wither).
• Modern Viability: Viable but Niche. You don't bring him for the damage anymore. You bring him because you need a Fast Dispel + Buff Block to counter a specific threat (like a Taunt hero). He is a tactical tool, not a nuker.

Emblem Path Analysis

The "Glass Cannon" (Attack Focused)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes his Attack stat to try and keep his Moonrise Strike relevant. Every point of Attack helps him overcome enemy Defense thresholds.
• Cons: He remains extremely squishy.

The "Utility Survivor" (Defense Focused)

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Keeps him alive long enough to cast his Dispel and Buff Block, which is his primary job in 2026.
• Cons: His damage will be negligible against modern heroes.

Final Recommendation

For most veterans still using him, the Attack Path is usually preferred to squeeze whatever damage you can out of him, relying on Aethers/Troops for survival. However, if you strictly use him as a counter to Taunt, go Defense to ensure he casts.

Strengths

• Priority Dispel: Removes buffs before hitting, ensuring damage isn't mitigated by Def Up and counters aren't triggered.
• Buff Immunity: shuts down buffers for 3 turns.
• Fast Speed: Can keep pace with the fastest threats.
• Holy Hater: Deals 40% fixed extra damage to Holy targets, making him still decent against Yellows.

Weaknesses

• Stat-Dependent Damage: His damage output has collapsed due to power creep; he struggles to scratch high-defense modern heroes.
• Low Base Stats: Extremely fragile by current standards.
• Complex Mechanic: The Moonrise mechanic is confusing and often works against him when facing superior stats.

Best Game Modes

• War Attack: Excellent for dissecting buff-heavy teams or countering Taunt tanks.
• Bloody Battle: Fast speed and Dispel/Buff Block are premium here where healing is disabled.
• Buff Booster: Ironically good here to strip enemy buffs, though his own buffs are minimal.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

Pairing with Goblins

Since Moonrise Strike relies on the Attack vs Defense delta, Goblins are his best friends.

• Growth: Heroes like Smarttongue or Goldie who provide Attack/Defense Growth modify the base stats, which directly fuels the Moonrise calculation.
• Wither: Heroes like Darkfeather or Acidfire reduce enemy stats, widening the gap for Timius to hit harder.

The "Anti-Taunt" Injection

Use Timius as a scalpel. If you see a defense with Ludwig, Phorcys, or Queen Guowang, bring Timius. Hold his special until they fire (or are about to), then strip them immediately. His fast speed allows him to cycle and keep the Buff Immunity up, rendering these powerful tanks useless.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Higher Stat Enemies: His biggest counter is just... stats. A hero with 1400 Defense laughs at Timius.
• Cleanse: While he blocks new buffs, a Cleric or Monk resisting his ailments, or a cleanser firing after him, undoes his control work.

Advice for New Players

If you pull Timius early, he is a godsend. His Dispel/Block combo will carry you through almost all map stages, raids, and early wars. Prioritize leveling him as your main Blue hero.

Advice for Veterans

He is a luxury tool. Do not prioritize his LB2 unless you lack a modern Dispel/Blocker. He is useful for depth in War teams, specifically to counter Taunt or heavy buff teams, but he should not be your primary damage dealer. Treat him as a support hero who happens to do some chip damage.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

• Historical Salt: When Timius released, many players felt "SG is seriously MEAN" because he instantly made heroes like Fortuna feel obsolete due to his Dispel-first mechanic.
• The "Moonrise" Confusion: The community spent weeks trying to decipher the damage formula. As one player noted, "It’s a match-3 game, why do I need a PhD in math to know how much damage I'll do?"
• Holy Hater: Players quickly noted his specific malice towards Yellow heroes, with one user calling him a "Holy Hater" that makes Yellow tanks regret their life choices.

Final Thoughts

Timius is a prime example of how unique mechanics can both make and break a hero over time. The Moonrise Strike was terrifying when his stats were King, but now that he's a pauper in the stat department, the mechanic holds him back. However, Dispel First at Fast Speed is a timeless luxury. He may not be the nuclear weapon he once was, but he remains a sharp, reliable dagger for those who know exactly where to stick it.

Is he worth the mats? Yes, for the utility alone, but keep your damage expectations grounded in reality.