Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era Guide
The complete strategy wiki for all 6 factions — Temple, Necropolis, Grove, Hive, Schism, and Dungeon. Hero builds, tier lists, combat tactics, and beginner guides.
Current Coverage & Testing Boundary
Current coverage focuses on the six faction frameworks, hero and skill choices, town and economy priorities, adventure-map tempo, creature growth, Focus Points, turn-based combat, spells, artifacts, and beginner campaign decisions. This is an editorial coverage map—not a claim that every unit value, map seed, balance change, platform difference, or Early Access state has been independently tested. Check the live client and official patch notes for exact values; see the About and methodology notes for sources, review boundaries, and corrections.
What is Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era?
Olden Era is the official prequel to the genre-defining HoMM series, developed by Unfrozen Studio. Set on the continent of Jadame, it features 6 unique factions, turn-based tactical combat, empire building, and deep RPG hero progression. Launched in Early Access on April 30, 2026.
Which faction is best for beginners?
Temple is the most beginner-friendly faction. Its balanced unit roster and powerful buff synergy make it forgiving for new players. The straightforward playstyle lets you focus on learning core mechanics without managing complex faction-specific systems.
What's new in Olden Era compared to previous HoMM games?
Olden Era introduces Focus Points for hero abilities, dual-attack mechanics (Dungeon), hivemind synergy (Hive), spell denial (Schism), and a reworked skill system with faction-specific skill trees alongside universal combat, magic, and adventure skills.
What Is Olden Era?
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era takes players back to the origins of the beloved strategy series. Set generations before the events of the classic HoMM titles, the game unfolds on the mysterious continent of Jadame — a land of ancient magic, warring factions, and untold secrets. You take on the role of a faction leader, building towns, recruiting armies, and exploring a rich world map filled with treasure, creatures, and rival heroes.
What sets Olden Era apart from previous entries is its depth of strategic choice. Each of the 6 factions plays dramatically differently — from Temple's buff-centric armies to Necropolis's undead swarms, from Hive's aggressive rush tactics to Schism's eldritch summoning. The new Focus Points system adds a layer of tactical decision-making: heroes generate FP each turn that can be spent on powerful abilities, creating moments of critical impact in every battle.
Start Here If You Want A Clean First Campaign
New campaigns usually break because players try to optimize everything at once: one hero is scouting too little, the main army clears too slowly, the town build order drifts, and week two economy never catches up. The stable opening is narrower than that. Pick a forgiving faction, use one hero to keep tempo, add a support hero only when it protects movement, and convert early map control into creature growth instead of into comfortable but low-impact town buildings.
1. Pick A Forgiving Faction
Temple is still the safest first faction because its roster gives you usable answers in both early creeping and mid-map fights. If you want a faster tempo faction, move to Grove only after you understand neutral fight discipline.
2. Protect Hero Tempo
Your main hero should spend more time clearing, flagging, and collecting than visiting town. Secondary heroes exist to keep that movement alive, not to look productive on paper.
3. Build Around The Next Spike
Ask which next dwelling, spell, or creature stack changes your map fights the most. That answer is usually better than building “generally useful” comfort structures too early.
Factions at a Glance
Olden Era features 6 unique factions, each with its own governing body, playstyle philosophy, and unit roster. Click any faction to dive into detailed guides.
Temple A
The Church of the Sun strives to forge the best version of oneself. Temple units gain extra benefits from buffs, making ...
Necropolis S
Ruled by Necromancers and Vampires, Shadowspire's undead rise after each battle and often sap strength from their foes w...
Grove A
Each of the Murmurwoods' elemental spirits is a unique powerhouse, supported by equally strong — and expensive — rangers...
Hive B
Bent on conquering Jadame, Beelzebub's Order of the Fly is driven by swift and aggressive tactics. Their strength lies i...
Schism B
A splinter faction of Alvar that delved into the Depths of Water using ancient Vori rites. They deny opponents' abilitie...
Dungeon A
Formerly underground, currently backstage rulers of Jadame, the faction whose capital is Alvar focuses on subterfuge and...
Quick Start Tips
1. Pick Temple First
Temple's well-rounded roster and buff synergy make it the ideal learning faction. Start with Lord Edgar or Ister for a smooth early game.
2. Prioritize Economy
Build resource-generating structures early. Gold is the lifeblood of your army — heroes with Economy or Recruitment skills can dramatically accelerate your growth.
3. Scout Aggressively
Map knowledge wins games. Dedicate one hero to scouting with Logistics and Scouting skills. Finding resources and enemy positions early gives you a decisive advantage.
4. Learn Focus Points
The Focus Points system is Olden Era's defining innovation. Save FP for critical moments — a well-timed hero ability can turn a losing battle into a victory.
What To Read Next
Beginner Guide
Use this first if you want a stable week-one build order and a cleaner first hero route.
Economy Guide
Read this when town growth looks fine but creature recruitment and map tempo still feel weak.
Combat Guide
Go here once neutral fights start costing too many units or ranged stacks are dictating the whole battle.
Patch 12 Changes Explained
New for July 2026: Necromancy rework math, Sorcery buff, creature and spell balance, and what Patches 11–12 mean for the meta.