Leading conditioner Chris Waller plans to divert his $2.7 million colt St Gotthard away from Gosford to contest a stakes race at the Gold Coast, yet he holds a formidable group in the two-year-old contest amid the standalone fixture.

A winner at first ask in midweek racing at Warwick Farm during the previous month, St Gotthard prepares for Saturday’s Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic (1200m) in Queensland as the $3.80 top pick.

The colt led the betting for the Win $100K @ The Coast Raceday 2YO Handicap (1200m) at the Central Coast track, but Waller aims to secure black-type for the full brother of Group 1 winner Switzerland.

“At this stage, St Gotthard is going to go to the Gold Coast,” Waller said.

“He’s a nice horse and he’s gone the right way since winning.”

St Gotthard’s defection leaves Waller with four juvenile hopefuls at Gosford: Zynaro, Quarterback, Whitehall, and Air Of Solace.

Zynaro makes his NSW bow after securing third over 1000m at Mornington by maintaining his spot, whereas Quarterback follows a minor finish at Kensington.

Whitehall and Air Of Solace were winless on debut outings, with Waller forecasting enhancement from the pair.

“Zynardo is coming up from Melbourne. He’s been here for a week or so and has settled in really well. He ran a good placing in his only Melbourne run,” Waller said.

“Whitehall has drawn a bit wide. He’s a good horse but he just needs a bit of experience, while Quarterback ran well on debut and will appreciate the extra distance.

“Air Of Solace, he blew the start at Hawkesbury on debut, but he has been back to the trials since and he trialled well.

“They are all nice, progressive horses.”

In St Gotthard’s place, Priory Park trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald is positioned to assume favouritism at Gosford after capturing his maiden in the Star Kingdom Stakes (1000m) at Muswellbrook recently.

Bjorn Baker’s I Am Dirty stays in the mix having battled from a wide post to midfield behind rising star Bangkok Hottie at Randwick for his only previous race.

Discover the best racing betting markets ahead of the Gosford two-year-old showdown.

If you’re starting a new playthrough and have sided with the righteous Templars, you might be wondering which are the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era to use. Unlike other Factions, Temple is all about empowering their units and protecting their own in combat. Fielding good ranged units from the get-go, once you set up a defensive line, the enemy will break upon your shields.

The High Inquisition will bring justice to Jadame, either by their holy word or by the sword. Whichever the enemy chooses shall be delivered unto them. Given the type of units that you’ll have access to, there are several ways you’ll be able to play. However, given the composition as is, the best offense will be a solid defensive line that slowly pushes up.

That being said, here are the five best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era to use during your playthrough.

Note: The list of best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era mentioned in the article will range from Tier-1 to Tier-7 in ascending order.

5 Best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, ranked

1) Sun’s Aegis

There is something about Sun’s Aegis that makes them immaculate on their battlefield. Aside from being knights in shining armour, they carry with them the belief in the power of the Chalice, and owing to their faith, they are imbued with the Sun’s strength.

These units can hold the line, steadfast and ready to block the enemy from getting past them. This makes them one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era. They have two Passive Traits; they are:

• “Aegis: This unit and adjacent friendly units take -30% less ranged damage.
• Anointed for Defense: Whenever this unit gains a positive effect, its defense increases by 2 until the end of combat.”

Aegis not only makes them better at holding the line but also increases the defense capabilities of adjacent units. When up against Faun Archers of the Grove Faction, they will incur less damage, allowing them to stand firm in the face of arrows. Anointed for Defense is another Passive Trait that works well in tandem with Lightweavers, making them one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.

2) Marksman

The Marksman is without doubt one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era. When placed behind the front line, they can wreak havoc on enemy units, slowly chipping away at their health. They also serve as scouts, enabling your Hero to see further. It would seem that the Order of the Anvil has more tricks up its sleeve than just metallurgy. They have two Passive Traits; they are:

• “View from Heavens: Increases the Hero’s sight radius by 1 while this unit is in their army. Does not stack.
• Sharpshooter: Deals full ranged damage at any range”.

View from Heavens is going to give your Hero the edge when it comes to spotting threats (or opportunities) to engage with. Whereas Sharpshooter will enable the unit to fire from any distance without incurring damage falloff. When going up against the Hive Faction, you can form a defensive line and shoot the insectoids before they get close.

The Marksman can also be considered one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, owing to its Active Abilities. They aren’t the strongest in the grand scheme of things, but they do more than enough to supplement their battle capabilities on the field. Here is what they offer:

• “Fine Bolt II: Deals +40% damage. Lasts 2 rounds. Does not end turn. Ability tier 3. Costs 2 Focus Charge.
• Piercing Shot: Deals 50% damage. The target takes +20% damage until the end of the round. Ability tier 3. Costs 1 focus charge.”

At the start of the round, you can choose between Fine Bolt II and Piercing Shot. They both deal extra damage to the target, but depending on the situation, one will be better than the other. Fine Bolt II enables you to deal more damage for two rounds straight, whereas Piercing Shot grants bonus damage and makes the target susceptible to more damage. If you have other units nearby, you can use them to inflict grievous wounds.

3) Hierophant

Griffins are terrifying and one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, but the Hierophant is better in certain ways. In the field of battle, having a chaplain by your side to strengthen faith and boost resolve is nothing short of a mental victory. This is where this unit shines. It can buff and heal those wounded and in need of salvation. Hierophant has two Active Abilities; here’s what they do:

• “Inner Glow: Increases friendly unit’s attack and defense by 5. Speed and initiative are increased by 1. Lasts 2 rounds. Ability tier 4.
• Holy Ablution: Dispels all negative effects from all friendly units and fully restores their HP. Does not affect undead, embodiments, or constructs. Ability tier 4.”

Inner Glow will boost a unit’s attack, defense, speed, and initiative. When used on a friendly such as the Sun’s Aegis, its stats are not only boosted but also increased owing to it having a Passive Trait that synergizes with this one.

Thanks to Holy Ablution, the Hierophant cements its position as one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era by healing and dispelling a unit of negative buffs.

4) Sunspear Cavalry

If your Sun’s Aegis is the anvil, Sunspear Cavalry will serve as the mighty hammer strike. Clad in the finest armour a knight can have, these units charge onto the field, covering vast distances to strike their foe.

With high attack, defence, damage, and decent speed, they are a sight to behold on the battlefield. They have not one, nor two, but four Passive Traits that boost their own capabilites are those of their allies. Here’s what they have to offer:

• “Piercing Strike II: Ignores 40% of the enemy’s defense.
• Inspiring II: Increases friendly units’ morale by 2. Does not stack; only the strongest one is active.
• Jousting Bonus II: Moving before an attack increases damage by 10% per hex.
• Anointed for Attack: Whenever this unit gains a positive effect, its attack increases by 2 until the end of battle.”

Piercing Strike II and Inspiring II help boost their prowess in combat by ignoring a vast portion of the enemy’s defense and boosting the morale of friendly units, respectively. Jousting Bonus II is perhaps what makes Sunspear Cavalry one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era, as it increases damage significantly, merely by covering ground before the attack.

5) Archangel

The Church of the Sun prides itself in their ability to send forth angels to the field of battle. While their divinity can be questioned (since these angels are far from divine beings and are merely constructs with a soul), their utility on the battlefield cannot be disputed or doubted for even a second. The Archangel has two Passive Traits that it brings to the fray. They are:

• “Forging Perfection: Whenever a positive effect is applied to a friend unit, it is also applied to this unit. The effect’s duration and power are copied. If the effect targets multiple stacks, it is only to this unit only once.
• Sharpshooter: Deals full ranged damage at any range.”

Forging Perfection alone makes the Archangel one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era to field. A positive effect on one target affects it as well, boosting it’s capabiliites. If you want to keep the unit afar, Sharpshooter will ensure you can snipe enemy units before they reach your front line.

Not to be outdone by other units, the Archangel has two very powerful Active Abilities as well that it brings to bear. With them, the unit will be able to dispel and buff their own with ease. Here’s what they do:

• “Refract and Reflect: Applies a copy of all positive affects currently on this unit to a friendly unit. Does not trigger Forging Perfection. Ability tier 2. Costs 1 Focus Charge.
• Devouring Chalice: Dispels all positive effects from enemies within a 1-hex radius area from the chosen hex and applies them to this unit. Ability tier 2.”

Refract and Reflect make it so that any buff to the Archangel can be copied to any friendly unit on the field, boosting them in an instant. Lastly, we have Devouring Chalice, which is absolutely terrifying. Imagine an enemy unit with numerous positive effects on them; they become unstoppable in battle.

By using this ability, you can not only steal their buffs, but also neutralize it for them, wasting your opponents’ Focus Charge and Mana. If you’re looking for a unit that truly embodies this Faction, the Archangel is undoubtedly one of the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.

That’s everything you need to know about the best Temple units in Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era. Keep in mind that your army composition may vary from the aforementioned list based on several factors.

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