Sun Ray (Apollo): Increases pierce attack by 10%. (since patch 1.9 of the Extended Edition)
Strategy[]
Medusae wield bows and arrows, providing a powerful ranged attack. They have a deadly special attack whereby their eyes glow green and they turn one targeted enemy to stone. This ability is best used on the most powerful or expensive units on the other player's team. Due to this, the Medusa myth unit is best micro-managed in combat, rather than being left to her own devices. This special attack does not work against heroes, but can be used on animals - in the case of the latter, it is best used on animals that provide a lot of food, such as Elephants, to deny enemies from hunting these animals for food or Priests loyal to Set from converting these animals to their cause.
Though non-siege units with ranged attacks commonly tend not to be effective at destroying buildings, the crush damage dealt by Medusa's ranged attack makes her surprisingly effective at demolishing them. Like all myth units, the Medusa gets bonus damage against human units and can even take on other myth units, but are countered by heroes and airborne units, especially the Vermilion Bird and Phoenix, which the Medusa cannot turn to stone.
The Medusa can also be used near the water to protect friendly Docks and ships from powerful naval or amphibious myth units like the Dragon Turtle, Azure Dragon, or Kraken, as she can petrify naval myth units, instantly eliminating them. She should still be kept out of the range of the Argo, though, as it will easily defeat her.
Medusa was one of three sisters known as the Gorgons, children of sea gods with live sea snakes for hair, scaly necks, boar-like tusks, golden hands, and bronze wings. One tale is that Medusa was once a beautiful maid who boasted of being more beautiful than Athena, who turned her into a monster so ugly that those who gazed upon her were turned to stone. She was killed by Perseus, with the help of Athena and Hermes. From her blood was created the winged horse, Pegasus. Her head was used as a weapon to kill the sea monster Cetus and then the head was mounted on Athena's shield.
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Trivia[]
The icon and in-game appearance (including the "Stoning Attack" animation) of the Medusa unit are based on the depiction of Medusa in the 1981 film "Clash of the Titans".
Medusa is the name of a specific creature. A more accurate name for the generic monster would have been Gorgon, as mentioned in the mythology section.
Face of the Gorgon (Hera): Increases hit points by 33%.
