Vincent: The Frightened Gargoyle Who Freezes The Competition

Overview

Vincent is a 5-star Legendary Ice hero from the Gargoyle family, released in October 2024. In a family known for stoic stone warriors, Vincent stands out—mostly because he looks like he just realized he left the oven on. As a Wizard, he brings a mix of soft-hitting setup and hard-hitting payoff, relying on a unique conditional mechanic that rewards team synergy. While he isn't the standalone nuker that ends games in one turn, his ability to apply Elemental Defense Down at Fast speed makes him a tactical asset for blue stacks.

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Hero Art & Visuals

Let's address the elephant—or rather, the terrified monster—in the room. Vincent's artwork is arguably the most expressive in the Gargoyle family. While his kin look menacing and sturdy, Vincent sports a look of sheer panic, complete with a third eye that seems just as widened in shock as the other two. He’s wearing what looks like a wizard's hat and a scarf, giving him a distinct "Harry Potter if he was a blue monster" vibe. It’s a hilarious departure from the grimdark aesthetic of most E&P heroes.

General Info

Hero Stats

Stat Analysis: Released in late 2024, Vincent's stats are respectable but are beginning to show their age compared to the powerhouses of late 2025 and 2026 (like the Construct or Astral Demon heroes).

• Attack (1178): Decent, but no longer elite. Modern attackers push 1300+.
• Defense (1079) & Health (1915): Serviceable bulk, especially when aided by his Stoneskin passive.
• Verdict: He is no longer a stat monster. To compete in the top meta, he absolutely requires Limit Break 2 and full emblems to survive the initial barrage and fire his skill.

Special Skill: Cold Fire

Analysis: Vincent’s skill, Cold Fire, is a "conditional switch" skill, meaning it does two very different things depending on the state of the enemy.

1. ** The Setup (No Frost Present):**
   • He deals 200% damage to all enemies. This is a "softener" hit. It won't kill healthy heroes.
   • He applies a massive Frost DoT (705 damage over 5 turns). This works out to 141 damage per turn. It’s a slow burn, but high total damage.
2. The Payoff (Frost Present):
   • If any enemy has a Frost ailment, the skill upgrades significantly.
   • -30% Defense against Ice for 5 turns to ALL enemies.
   • 270% damage to ALL enemies.

The Strategy: Vincent is a self-combo hero. If he fires alone, he sets himself up: the first hit applies Frost, enabling the second hit to be the stronger version. However, in today's fast-paced meta, waiting for a second charge is risky. The key is external synergy. Pairing him with other heroes who apply Frost (like White Fang, Costumed Krampus, or Morel) allows Vincent to trigger his "Payoff" mode on his very first turn.

By the Numbers

• Effective Mana Speed: Fast. He charges in 8 tiles (or 7 with the right mana troop/bard bonus/emblem node). This is his biggest selling point.
• Damage Calculation (Maxed & Limit Broken 1):
  • With ~1269 Attack, a 200% hit against ~1300 Defense is roughly 250-300 damage per target.
  • The DoT adds 705 damage guaranteed (ignoring defense).
  • Total Setup Output: ~1000 damage per target over 5 turns.
  • Total Payoff Output: 270% hit (~350-400 damage) + amplified tile damage from the -30% EDD.
• Softskin Value: Reduces damage by 90% for the first 3 hits after casting. If an enemy sniper hits him for 1000, he takes 100. This effectively gives him "virtual health" far beyond his stats.

Family Bonus, Passives, Aether Power & Unique Abilities

The Gargoyle family packs one of the best defensive mechanics in the game.

Family Bonus

Analysis: Immunity to Poison is niche but useful against specific heroes (like many Sorcerers or select nature heroes). It's a nice bonus, but rarely the reason you bring him.

Passives

Analysis:Gargoyle’s Softskin is the star here. Every time he casts, he gets 3 layers of Stoneskin (1 damage). This makes him incredibly tanky after he fires. It also blocks status ailments, meaning he can't be silenced or mana-controlled easily once he gets rolling. This allows him to survive long enough to fire that crucial second shot.

Aether Power

Analysis:Special Boost is perfect for him. Since his primary role is dealing damage (especially on the second hit), the extra raw power helps him keep up with modern stats.

Legacy & Modern Relevance

• Historical Context: Upon release, Vincent was met with mixed reviews. Beta testers saw a different version, and the final "Fast but conditional" iteration left some players confused on how to use him optimally. He wasn't an instant "must-have" like some Goblins, but savvy players recognized the value of a Fast Hit-All Ice hero.
• Power Creep: His direct damage (200%/270%) is low by 2026 standards where heroes are hitting for 400%+ on everyone. However, Elemental Defense Down is a timeless mechanic. As long as blue tiles exist, -30% Ice Defense is valuable.
• Modern Viability:
  • Top 100 Defense: No. He lacks the raw stats and immediate threat.
  • War Offense: Yes. In a blue stack, he is an excellent opener or follow-up.
  • Titans: Yes, if you lack stronger Elemental Defense Down options (like Nordri, King Arthur, or Frida), though -30% is on the lower end.

Emblem Path Analysis

Vincent is a Wizard, which allows him to potentially deal extra damage with Jinx, though his main job is setup.

The Ice Cold Killer (Recommended)

• Path: Attack > Defense > Health
• Pros: Maximizes his DoT damage (which scales with Attack) and his direct damage. Since Softskin handles his survival, you can afford to go glass cannon.
• Cons: Slightly squishier before he fires the first time.

The Sturdy Statue

• Path: Defense > Health > Attack
• Pros: Ensures he survives to fire his special, activating Softskin.
• Cons: His hit becomes negligible, turning him into a pure support hero.

Final Recommendation

For most players, the Ice Cold Killer (Attack) path is recommended because his primary value is dealing damage and Softskin covers his defensive needs.

Strengths

• Fast Speed AoE: Hitting all enemies at Fast speed is always good for board control and finishing off weakened teams.
• Softskin: One of the best defensive passives in the game, making him surprisingly durable.
• Elemental Defense Down: A rare and powerful debuff that amplifies your entire team's damage.
• Flexible Synergy: Can set himself up or work beautifully with other Frost heroes.

Weaknesses

• Conditional Damage: without a Frost starter, his first hit (200%) is very weak by modern standards.
• Cleansable DoT: His major damage source in "Setup Mode" (the Frost DoT) can be cleansed, negating much of his threat.
• Low Elemental Def Down: -30% is lower than the standard -54% provided by dedicated EDD heroes like Frida or C. Finley.

Best Game Modes

• War Offense (Blue Stack): Pair him with other fast blues. If you have another Frost hero, he becomes a wrecking ball.
• Farming: Fast Hit-All makes him great for clearing waves quickly.
• Bloody Battle: He excels here. The Softskin prevents damage, and his hit-all adds up. The DoT is also valuable when healing is disabled.
• Rush Attack: While he is already Fast, in Very Fast wars, he can fire repeatedly, keeping Softskin active 100% of the time.

Advanced Strategy & Team Compositions

The key to unlocking Vincent is bypassing his "Setup Phase".

Sample Team Ideas

1. The "Frostbite" Mono Blue:
   • Team: Kiril (C) - Morel - Vincent - White Fang - Sobek
   • Why: White Fang (Slow) is the weak link here, but if you have a faster Frost source (like Costumed Krampus or Vela), use them. The goal is to have someone apply Frost so Vincent triggers his -30% EDD immediately.
2. The 3-2 "Softskin" Wall:
   • Team: Vincent - Arco - El Naddaha - Gaillard - Fortuna
   • Why: A mix of Gargoyles and defensive heroes. The Gargoyle family bonus (Poison/Burn resistance) helps the team survive DoT heavy defenses.

Counters & Anti-Synergies

• Cleansers: Heroes like Ariel or Vivica wipe out his Frost DoT instantly, removing his setup for the next turn.
• Ailment Blockers: Garnet or Hathor prevent him from applying the Defense Down or the DoT, rendering him useless.
• DoT Immunity: Monks or Clerics who resist his Frost ailment break his combo chain.

Advice for New Players

If you pulled Vincent, congratulations! He is a solid 5-star. Focus on leveling him and look for any other hero in your roster who does "Frost" damage (even 3-stars like Nordri or 4-stars like Sapph). They will make him twice as effective. Use him in your main raid team; his Softskin will save you from snipers.

Advice for Veterans

Vincent is a "luxury" depth hero for War. He likely won't displace your primary blue EDD hero (like C. Finley or Frida) against Titans because his percentage (-30%) is lower. However, for a 2nd or 3rd War team, he provides valuable utility. Don't prioritize Alpha Aethers on him unless you absolutely love the Gargoyle playstyle or lack other Hit-All Blue options.

Community Corner: Hot Takes & History

• The Beta Switch: The community was initially confused by the changes from Beta. As one player noted, "I liked the beta version with elemental defense down first. Not sure what to do with him now." The retail version forces you to work for that debuff.
• The Synergy Hunt: Players quickly identified his best friend. "Has an amazing synergy with White Fang. So he sets up the first punch... and his second punch comes as a pretty good leveler."
• The "Meh" Factor: Some veterans found him underwhelming compared to the hype. "Nice to have, but not a must-have... he won't be a gamechanger."

Final Thoughts

Vincent is a hero who requires a bit of homework to get an A+. On his own, he's a frantic wizard running around freezing people slowly. But paired with the right team, he becomes a conduit for icy destruction. His "Frightened" face is probably just him realizing how much damage he can actually do when the stars align.

Empuzzled Verdict: A solid, durable Hit-All hero who shines in blue stacks but requires specific teammates to reach top-tier status. Keep him, level him, but maybe don't bet the house on him.