ConquestJoint DefenseHoward leads the effort to fortify defenses, increasing Defense by 5%/7.5%/10%/12.5%/15% for all heroes.
Epic · Infantry · Combat
Howard Guide
Distinguished guardsman of the Sixth Imperial Cavalry, Howard was used to putting his life on the line in the service of His Holy Emperor.
ExplorationWatchtower IntelHero RecruitmentEpic General Hero Shard
Hero basics
| Name | Howard |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Epic |
| Role | Combat |
| Best For | Exploration, Watchtower Intel, Hero Recruitment |
| Strengths | Infantry role coverage, Expedition Attack 140.11% |
| Weaknesses | Requires matching troop focus, shard access, and pairings before heavy investment. |
| F2P Friendly | Depends on source availability |
Conquest Attack
1,361
Conquest Defense
2,220
Conquest Health
26,640
Expedition Attack
140.11%
Expedition Defense
140.11%
Skills
ConquestJoint DefenseHoward leads the effort to fortify defenses, increasing Defense by 5%/7.5%/10%/12.5%/15% for all heroes.
ConquestShield BlockHoward trades in his shield for an upgraded model, reducing damage taken by 10%/15%/20%/25%/30%.
ConquestShielded StrikeHoward gives an enemy a solid whack with his heavy shield, knocking the target back while dealing Attack *200%/220%/240%/260%/280% Area of Effect damage.
ExpeditionDefenders' EdgeHoward guards our troops with his shield, reducing damage taken by 4%/8%/12%/16%/20% for all troops.
ExpeditionWeakenHoward's intimidating presence reduces the total Enemy Squads' Attack by 4%/8%/12%/16%/20%.Best Builds
- PvP build: use Howard only when your troop type, gear, and partner hero support the same combat plan.
- PvE build: prioritize consistent clears and event value before niche damage setups.
- F2P build: delay heavy investment until Howard's shard sources fit your account.
Best Pairings
- Alcar: similar Infantry or Combat role for formation testing.
- Amadeus: similar Infantry or Combat role for formation testing.
- Amane: similar Cavalry or Combat role for formation testing.
- Use pairings that improve the same battle purpose instead of mixing unrelated bonuses.
Formation Tips
- Match Howard with Infantry research and gear where possible.
- Do not judge a formation by power alone; check whether the frontline, damage, and support roles work together.
- Test before spending rare shards or speedups.
Upgrade Priority
- Upgrade Howard when the hero is part of your main march or solves a specific PvP, PvE, or event bottleneck.
- Check source availability before using universal shards.
- Keep buildings, research, and gear aligned with the hero plan.
Common Mistakes
- Upgrading only because the hero is Legendary.
- Ignoring troop type and formation role.
- Spending shards before checking related heroes and source access.
Hero Shards
5 star rows
| Stars | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | Tier 5 | Tier 6 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 40 |
| 3 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 40 | 115 |
| 4 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 100 | 300 |
| 5 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 600 |
Story
Distinguished guardsman of the Sixth Imperial Cavalry, Howard was used to putting his life on the line in the service of His Holy Emperor. His most glorious moment came during the defense of the Imperial Palace against General Cesares. Howard was stuck with defending the nearly-indefensible southern wall. Fortunately, his men held their section of the city. Unfortunately, his was the only unit to do so... If there is one thing the unwieldy Imperial bureaucracy do not like it is people that make them look bad. A confused Howard found himself out of the Guards. But even this wasn't enough. An imperial warrant for his arrest soon showed up too. Imperial prisons are dirty, unpleasant places. Howard's only consolation was he became good friends with the chef, Gordon, who did his best to look after Howard as does best he could. What happened next would have been impossible without a friend on the inside. "Don't eat tonight's cookies" Gordon said innocently as he passed by Howard's cell. That night the guardsmen in Howard's block were excited to see extra cookies to go around. Thump! There were a series of loud bangs from the ground. What was going on? The last thing Howard remembered before losing consciousness was that he probably should have listened to Gordon's advice and not also eaten a cookie. Howard awoke to find himself wrapped up tightly in a coarse rug. Beside him was his gruff, stubble-faced chef friend who complained loudly about "all of that darned sleep-talking". "You don't like my pizza?!" "It's not stealing if it's in the recipe, is it?!" As Gordon kept walking Howard realized there was something different about the air here: it smelled of freedom. Thus Howard became chief sentry of the local village. The ex-army background made him qualified. But it is also a job that he cares about deeply. This, after all, is the village that saved his life. Howard's first test came quickly with a surprise Rebel attack. Without decent weapons, Howard's men were forced back to the old town fort which itself was barely hanging on by a thread. Chenko the "great inventor" ripped the door from its hinges and started hammering. Thereafter Howard became known as the guardian with the plank-shield and their village's most loyal defender.
FAQ
Is Howard worth upgrading?
Howard is worth upgrading when you need a Infantry Combat hero and can support the investment with shards, formation partners, and gear.
What is Howard best for?
Howard is commonly tied to Exploration, Watchtower Intel, Hero Recruitment.
Is Howard F2P friendly?
Check the source list before spending universal shards. Repeatable sources make Howard more F2P friendly.