Crypt Fiend (Warcraft III)

Crypt Fiends are large, mummified creatures who appear to be a genetic cross between humans and spiders. Their lower bodies are supported by six spindly arachnid limbs and their heavily bandaged torsos are human in form. The cunning Crypt Fiends were once the lords of the ancient spider kingdom of Azjol-Nerub that spanned the entirety of Northrend in ancient times. However, the Crypt Fiends' power base was destroyed by the Lich King, Ner'zhul, when he and his undead Scourge took control of the frozen continent. Now the Crypt Fiends command their spider underlings in the name of their master, Ner'zhul. These aberrant creatures are capable of summoning swarms of vile insects and projecting web-like strands to incapacitate and harm their enemies.

Crypt Fiends are great additions for any Undead army, as their fairly high damage attacks compensates for their slow speeds. Unlike Troll Headhunters and Riflemen, Crypt Fiends cannot attack air units, which is a small setback when facing aerial creeps or early aerial units mid-game. In order to attack air units, Web must be researched at a Crypt, which allows them to bring down air units for ground only attacking units to strike, including themselves. Unlike the Raider's ensnare, Web can be auto-casted, but only targets aerial units. They're good at taking down aerial units which stray too far from the rest of their army.

Due to their fairly high health, damage and range, it is not uncommon to most Undead players start with them for their initial army.

• Binds a target enemy air unit in webbing, forcing it to the ground. Webbed units can be hit as though they were land units.

If you're building Crypt Fiends be sure to research Web. It's a cheap upgrade and it's good to have it available on the fly rather than having to wait for it if you get in trouble against air units.

Webbed air units cannot move and count as ground units. This means that units with ground attacks can now attack them, and also that units with no ground attacks cannot. Webbed units only count as ground units for attack targeting purposes. You cannot, for example, Possess or Impale a webbed air unit. Units with a good air attack but a poor ground attack, such as Gargoyles, do not mix well with Web.

• The Crypt Fiend digs into the ground, becomes invisible, and gains a regeneration rate of 5 hit points per second. The Crypt Fiend cannot attack while burrowed.

Notes: Burrowed Fiends have a new regeneration type and gain no benefit from Blight anymore. Burrowed units are not affected by auras.

They turn into invisible units - however, they can still be damaged via spells and AoE attacks.

• See Warcraft III Crypt Fiend quotes