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Unique to the fantasy tactical roleplaying game genre isSpellForce 3 Reforced, which serves as the updated version ofSpellForce 3, the ninth game in theSpellForceseries published by THQ. Similar to its predecessors,SpellForce 3 Reforcedhas tactical RPG components where players travel the world of Eo during the height of magic. However, at the same time,SpellForce 3also includes base-building mechanics that allows players to construct buildings that provide them with various perks such as buffs, new units, and other features.
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With the game putting players in charge of investigating the disease called Bloodburn, they would want characters to be equipped with only the best gear while looking into this illness that targets non-spellcasters. InSpellForce 3’s story that serves as the prequel to the first game, just which weapons should players aspire to possess?
Van’Karewa
At first glance, theVan’Karewaseems like an ordinary wooden bow with jade-like tips on both ends. However, in truth, Van’Karewa was said to be the bow wielded by the strongest elven archer, blessed by Elven Goddess Elen herself. Players can obtain this by offering a great bear claw, a great spider fang, and a wyvern wing to Elen’s Shrine in Old-Haalayash in order to summon the weapon. And by the time they’ve laid their hands on Van’Karewa, they would be the first mortal since the time of the Guardians to ever wield it.
Despite its rather decent statistics for a bow in a player’sSpellForce 3RPG playthrough, where the Van’Karewa shines is in its innate effect. Whenever players use the Van’Karewa to attack, they get the chance to summon an animal companion to briefly fight with them. These include a Direwolf, an Imposing Bear, a Vicious Puma, or a Vicious Panther. The presence of an animal companion in combat can be extremely useful in the latter stages of the game, where players are often either outnumbered by many foes or outmatched by powerful bosses. This alone makes Van’Karewa a rather peculiar weapon, similar tounique weapons in other RPGsthat have interesting features.
Sword Of The Renegade
Considered one of the most imposing blades in theSpellForce 3RPG, theSword of the Renegadehas a pristine appearance with a wide blade, complete with glowing runes. It’s said that this sword was a result of one of the Iskander Academy recruits building a combat style that battlemages of today were using. However, the enchantment of this blade was so potent that said recruit was forced to disassemble the blade.
Players can obtain the weapon by reforging it, courtesy of Isgrimm and the acquisition of the Sword’s parts which could be found in the Eye (the blade) and the Unknown Island (the hilt). When equipped, the Sword can actually inflict permanent Bleeding after each strike, ensuring that opponents always take damage throughout combat. Melee combatants would find this weapon similar toother equipment in other RPGsthat make combat rather easy, as the Sword of the Renegade can be extremely deadly when used properly, especially since these can eliminate mobs rather quickly.
Axe Of The Mountains
Those among the dwarves say Niethalf the War God used theAxe of the Mountainsto shape every landmass in the Windwall Foothills, much to the disbelief of various scholars. Regardless, the glowing blue runes on this axe’s blade suggest a rather ancient origin. Players can obtain this Axe through reforging via Isgrimm, and only after obtaining its components. The Axe’s parts can be found in Mulandir (the knob), the elven village near the river valley (the head), and to the very east of the Old Monastery (the haft).
Using this weapon does give players access to one of the most decent axes in the game. At its core, the Axe of the Mountains provides melee fighters witha faster means of dealing damage. After all, each attack with the Axe gives players a status effect that boosts their attack speed with each hit, albeit lasting only three stacks at a time. At the hands of a deadly assassin, the Axe of the Mountains could make them much deadlier and imposing.
Executioner’s Blade
According to the lore, theExecutioner’s Bladeoften became a source of hilarity as scholars conceded how the sword has finished more conflicts compared to armies. However, this is as far as it goes with regards to the weapon’s history, as its origins remain relatively unknown except for the fact that it is ancient in origin. Players can acquire this weapon after reassembling its parts with the help of Isgrimm, and its components lie scattered in the Foot of Barga Gor (the tip), the Everlight (the body), and the leafshade (the hilt).
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Assembling the weapon does give players one of the most decent greatswords in a player’sSpellForce 3tactical RPG experience. Aside from its decent damage, the Executioner’s Blade also has a chance of instant-killing the target whenever it hits, making it an ideal choice of weapon for melee fighters who are always on the frontlines. This property makes the Executioner’s Blade akin to otherbest weapons in other RPGs, as while its effect is chance-oriented, the decent base damage of the weapon immediately compensates for that.
Master Of Life And Death
Players would immediately recognize theMaster of Life and Deathfor its blue wavy blade, glowing an eerie azure when wielded. Such is the rarity of the Master that players need to acquire its several arts before having Isgrimm reforge the weapon. Its blade is located on the Unknown Island, its hilt is hidden near a pillar in Mulandir, and its knob is near the Liannon Refugee Camp.
Assembling the Master of Life and Death gives players one of thisSpellforceroleplaying game’s most potent weapons, however. Aside from its immense attack speed, the Master’s main gimmick lies in its special effect. Enemies defeated by the Master of Life and Death explode and hit enemies nearby. However, instead of damaging other enemies, those caught in the blast are instead Weakened, making them more vulnerable to attacks. Being able to capitalize on weaknesses isalways a reliable strategy even in other RPGsoutsideSpellForce 3.
Eye Of The World
Said originally to have been the weapon of Isamo Tahar, the player’s father, theEye of the Worldis a weapon that received notoriety both for having good intentions and a receiver of bloodshed. Having been Isamo’s main weapon during the Mage Wars, the Eye is perceived to have spilled the largest amount of Nortander blood in the conflict. Players can attain the Eye of the World by first seeing its chest in the Slaughterhouse, but only being able to open it after obtaining three Mage’s Notes within the Greykeep alchemist room (Vision), the Creators’ Guild (Self-Awareness), and the Old Monastery at Raith’s house (Perseverance).
Acquiring this staff also unlocks one of the most broken mechanics in theSpellForce 3RPG experience. When activated, Eye of the World will teleport all visible enemies in a target area. This teleportation process will apply impairment and even fall damage from the travel. Since teleports are considered stuns, foes immune to stun won’t be moved but still suffer the damage numbers. Either way, the Eye’s teleportation can group foes together to maximize AOE, similar tostrategies for mages in other RPGs, or to get units out of danger.
Star Of The Dusk
When Ulm, or Zarach the creator of the Orcs, still roamed Eo, alongside him was a devastating mace called theStar of the Dusk. Moreover, it’s said that only an avenger and protector of the people could ever wield it and use its powers. Players can locate this weapon at Barga Gor and activate its southern portal, although those with only at least Strength 9 could trigger its mechanism.
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Obtaining the Star of the Dusk does give melee players a huge advantage in combat in the tactical RPG. Taking hits from the Star of the Dusk curses the target, effectively making them explode on death. Not only that, enemies within the vicinity of the exploding corpse will take a bit of damage. For melee characters like tanks that prefer to be located smack in the middle of combat, the nifty AOE of this weapon is a godsend.
Soulreaver
Anyone who sees theSoulreaverfor the first time would see that the axe’s blade is red as though coated with blood, and this fits its description in the lore. It’s said that the Soulreaver doesn’t just kill its opponents but rather also consumes their souls, in turn condemning its victims to an eternity of despair and torment. Players can acquire this weapon after helping Tiamat during “The Blight from Beyond.” This may also be attained from the unholy shrine after visiting the Eye a second time.
Wielding this weapon gives players access to one of themost decent one-handed weaponsin theSpellForce 3tactical roleplaying series. Not only that, but killing enemies with the weapon will heal players for some of their HP, regenerate some of their Focus, and even reduce some cooldowns of their abilities. Players in need of survivability options can greatly benefit from the lifesteal component associated with the Soulreaver.
Hammer Of The Smith
The one-handed hammer known asHammer of the Smithis characterized by its pristine polish, glowing blue runes, and a glowing knob that makes it a rather imposing weapon. It’s said to have been created by Norgrimm the Smith, also considered as the first dwarven smith to ever master the Firebane crafting method. Players can have Isgrimm reforge the weapon after acquiring its parts, with its head in Mulandir and its half in Old-Haalayash.
Players may want to acquire the Hammer immediately since it’s the weapon with the highest base damage in theSpellforce 3tactical RPG. And as any RPG fans know,any weapon in any RPG with a high base damageis immediately an ideal piece of equipment. Not only that, but each of its attacks has the chance to deal random elemental damage as well as reduce resistances to the same elements released by this weapon. Melee fighters such as tanks can use Hammer of the Smith to pummel down and soften mobs to make them more vulnerable against the team’s spellcasters.
Defiler’s Bane
According to theSpellForce 3fantasy game’s lore, during Liliath’s leadership of the Bane, she created theDefiler’s Baneto be wielded by mages worshipping Aonir to fight other spellcasters during the Mage Wars. However, having these mages willingly kill their own kind has proven much more difficult than imagined. As such, the Defiler’s Bane was locked, only to be revealed to the player once they find a chest hidden deep within the Iskander Wilds. However, the chest only opens up to players with at least Dexterity 8.
Acquiring Defiler’s Bane will give players access to perhaps one of the most debilitating long-ranged weapons in the game, especially against spellcasters. Granted, the weapon may have rather middling attack values. However, Defiler’s Bane well compensates for this with its effects. Hitting its targets will drain Focus as well as interrupt and silence them, effectively disallowing them to cast spells. Not only that, but the targets also take damage whenever they receive buffs or debuffs, making this deadlier than otherranged weapons in other RPGs.
SpellForce 3 Reforcedis currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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