Melancholia "Acolyte of the Old Ones" Guide: 5 Star Legendary Dark Paladin

ElementDark

ClassPaladin

Family & Source

Cultist Family(Shadow Summon)

Release DateMay 1, 2024

Availability

HA10May 1, 2026

COACHMay 1, 2026

Aether PowerAilment Immunity

Hero Review

Melancholia Hero Review: The Chaotic Queen of Resurrection

"Melancholia brings a unique twist to Empires & Puzzles with her guaranteed revive mechanic, but it comes at a maddening cost. Is the Insanity worth the second chance? We analyze her pros, cons, and chaotic potential."

Read Full ReviewIn-Depth Analysis & Strategy

Special Skill

Grim Awakening

Mana Speed

Slow

Revives all allies with 70% HP and 50 Insanity.
All allies get +74% defense against Special Skills for 5 turns.
If any ally except the caster is defeated in 5 turns, all enemies receive 400 damage.
Casting this Special Skill inflicts 50 Insanity on the caster.

⚡ Tile Breakpoints Guide

12Base Tiles

10% Bonus

11Tiles

Family Bonus

Shadow - Cultists

Bonus for 1 / 2 / 3 Heroes:
+20% / +30% / +40% defense
+20% / +30% / +40% health
The members of this family have additional perks in the Shadows of the Deep event.

Passives

Inherent Abilities

Passive Skills

Marked by the Old Ones
All damage is reduced by 5% per 10 Insanity for this character up to a maximum reduction of 50%.

Aether Power

Ailment Immunity

At the start of each battle, this Hero is immune to new status ailments for 6 turns.

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

Matching Legendary Troops

status_effect_defense_addition_legendary_troop

Elite Knight

Devoted Knight

Unseen Assassin

Divine Cleric

These troops provide full Class Synergy bonuses when equipped on Paladin heroes of the Purple element.
Click here to view the full guide on how to obtain and best utilize these powerful troops!

How it works

By default, Melancholia has Slow mana speed, requiring 12 tiles to charge. Equipping troops with a Mana Bonus can reach specific Breakpoints — the exact percentages where your tile count drops — allowing your hero to fire their special skill faster, with less tiles.

Standard12Tiles

OptimizedFASTER!

status_effect_attack_addition_legendary_troop

5★ Mana Troop Set

8 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required

LVL 28

Need Bonus:10%

This Troop:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

5★ Mana Troop Set

12 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required

LVL 29

Need Bonus:10%

This Troop:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Wayward Wizards

Magic Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required

LVL 11

Need Bonus:10%

This Troop:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required

LVL 29

Need Bonus:20%

This Troop:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Mystic Mages

Mana Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required

LVL 17

Need Bonus:10%

This Troop:+11%

Breakpoint Achieved!

General Information

Hero Name

Melancholia "Acolyte of the Old Ones"

Rarity
Element
Dark
Class
Paladin
Mana SpeedSlow
Skill Types
AoE Attackers (Hit-5)Revivers Buffers (DEF)DoT Attackers Negative Effects On Self Or Allies
SourceShadow Summon
Family
Cultist Family
Aether Power
Ailment Immunity
Release DateMay 1, 2024
Availability
Coach:May 1, 2026
HA10:May 1, 2026

Ascension Requirements

Tier

Food

Materials

Tier 2Ascension Cost

273K

★★★

★★★

★★

Tier 3Ascension Cost

442K

★★★

★★★

★★★

Tier 4Ascension Cost

708K

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

★★★

Limit Break Requirements

Tier

Materials

Limit Break 1Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

LB 1 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★

Limit Break 2Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

LB 2 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Level				💪
4/80	1093	1155	2136	1129
4/85lb1	1178	1245	2302	1208
4/90lb2	1348	1424	2633	1364

Strategy

Mana Node

Talent Level

Calculated Bonuses

Attack

+225 & +3%

Defense

+72 & +4%

Health

+172 & +3%

Mana

+2%

Resource Costs

Emblems

1,740

Master

Food

6,041,800

Iron

6,041,800

+18

+15

+36

+15

+3%

+18

+3%

+15

+36

+15

+18

+2%

+4%

+50

Community Feedback

Strategic Intel

0 Strategists Contributing

Explore collective wisdom! Hero discussion and tactical reports have moved to the new E&P Fan Forum. You can still contribute intel here, but the main discussion has moved!

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Overall Grade

Overall performance in the current meta

0v0%

Strong

0v0%

Average

0v0%

Weak

0v0%

Terrible

0v0%

Summon Value

Is this hero worth your gems and tokens?

Yes, Absolutely

0v0%

Only if you’re Pay-to-Win

0v0%

Yes, but only when featured

0v0%

Not Really

0v0%

Not at all

0v0%

Copies to Keep

How many copies are worth keeping and leveling?

None

0v0%

1 Copy

0v0%

2 Copies

0v0%

3+ Copies

0v0%

Limit Break Priority

Priority for applying Limit Breaks

LB2 (Alpha)

0v0%

LB1

0v0%

None

0v0%

Emblem Path

General emblem path preference

Sword path (Attack when possible)

0v0%

Shield path (HP and Def when possible)

0v0%

Node Strategy

Specific node priority strategy

Atk > Def > HP

0v0%

Atk > HP > Def

0v0%

Def > Atk > HP

0v0%

Def > HP > Atk

0v0%

HP > Atk > Def

0v0%

HP > Def > Atk

0v0%

Best Def Position

Best placement in a defense formation

Tank

0v0%

Flank

0v0%

Wing

0v0%

None

0v0%

Primary Use (Max 3)

Top scenarios where this hero excels

Raids/War

0v0%

Defense

0v0%

Titans

0v0%

Tournaments

0v0%

Events

0v0%

Farming

0v0%

Visual Design

What do you think of the visual design?

Amazing

0v0%

Refreshingly new

0v0%

It’s ok

0v0%

It could be better

0v0%

Very bad

0v0%

Discussion

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Melancholia

What element and rarity is Melancholia in Empires & Puzzles? +

Melancholia is a 5 star Dark hero (Purple) with legendary rarity.

What is Melancholia's special skill? +

Melancholia's special skill is called "Grim Awakening". Revives all allies with 70% HP and 50 Insanity. All allies get +74% defense against Special Skills for 5 turns. If any ally except the caster is defeated in 5 turns, all enemies receive 400 damage. Casting this Special Skill inflicts 50 Insanity on the caster.

When was Melancholia released? +

Melancholia was released on May 1, 2024.

Which family does Melancholia belong to? +

Melancholia belongs to the Cultist Family. Bonus for 1 / 2 / 3 Heroes:. +20% / +30% / +40% defense. +20% / +30% / +40% health. The members of this family have additional perks in the Shadows of the Deep event.

What are Melancholia's passive skills? +

Marked by the Old Ones: All damage is reduced by 5% per 10 Insanity for this character up to a maximum reduction of 50%.

What is the mana speed of Melancholia? +

Melancholia has Slow mana speed.

Your Ultimate E&P Companion

Hero Review

Melancholia Hero Review: The Chaotic Queen of Resurrection

Special Skill

Grim Awakening

Family Bonus

Shadow - Cultists

Passives

Passive Skills

Aether Power

Ailment Immunity

Matching Legendary Troops

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

5★ Mana Troop Set

5★ Mana Troop Set

Wayward Wizards

Mystic Mages

General Information

Melancholia "Acolyte of the Old Ones"

Ascension Requirements

Limit Break Requirements

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Community Feedback

Strategic Intel

Overall Grade

Summon Value

Copies to Keep

Limit Break Priority

Emblem Path

Node Strategy

Best Def Position

Primary Use (Max 3)

Visual Design

Discussion

Global Hero Discussion

Council Login Required

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Melancholia