โ | I am the mighty Vermillion bird! | โ |
—Vermilion Bird introducing himself to Jiao-Long |
The Vermilion Bird is a Chinese flying myth unit in Age of Mythology: Tale of the Dragon that is available to the worshipers of Chongli.
The Vermilion Bird also makes an appearance as a campaign "character" in the ninth scenario of Tale of the Dragon, A Way Out. The great bird promises to guide the heroes out of the maze-like jungle, and to the Altar of Pangu for the final scenario, if they free his brethren from their captors.
Regular attack[]
Vermilion Birds summon mini fire tornadoes that do 15 hack damage and 10 crush damage per second to all units within about four feet range. Each tornado lasts 5 seconds and wanders randomly at low speed.
Strategy[]
The Vermilion Bird is one of the strongest Mythic Age myth units in the game. Although they are expensive, they can only be hit by ranged units, have high pierce armor, and the highest number of Hit Points of any trainable airborne Myth Unit. Unlike other ranged units, Vermilion Birds don't throw projectiles at their targets. Instead, they flap their wings and the heat generates small firestorms that drift on the ground for about 5 seconds. These storms deal Area of Effect damage and will hit several targets until they vanish.
Since they also deal crush damage, the birds are very effective against buildings. A small group of them alone has enough power to quickly level a Town Center and even a few nearby buildings. As they are flying units, they can easily bypass walls and cliffs, giving less time for opponents to defend themselves. Their main weaknesses, like all airborne units, are towers and ranged heroes, as well as groups of ranged myth units (especially Fire Giants as they deal hack damage, the Vermilion Bird's lowest armor), but the enemy will suffer great losses before they can kill at least one Vermilion Bird. As the Mummy's special attack also works against a Vermilion Bird, the Mummy is an effective counter to the Vermilion Bird for Egyptian players who pick Osiris for the Mythic Age, although it, like the Vermilion Bird, is also expensive. The Mummies can additionally be supported by Priests, Pharaohs, and a Son of Osiris.
In a similar case with the Nidhogg, Vermilion Birds are also effective at bringing down Titans and can even destroy one with impunity, especially if used in big groups. However, the player must make sure to not have the Titan deal splash damage to the Vermilion Birds while the Titan is attacking ground troops. It is also recommended to have as many Vermilion Birds as possible in order to destroy the Titan quickly.
Changelog[]
Tale of the Dragon[]
- Initially, Vermilion Birds had 14 maximum range and 0 minimum range, and only spawned tornadoes from special attacks. Their tornadoes lasted 10 seconds with a range of 7, doing 20 hack and crush damage per second, and two were spawned at a time. With patch 2.0, they have 6 maximum range and 2 minimum range, their regular attack spawns tornadoes. Their tornadoes lasts 5 seconds with a range of 4, doing 15 hack and 10 crush damage per second, and only one is spawned.
- Initially, Vermilion Birds have 650 hit points. With patch 2.0, they have 700 hit points. With patch 2.7, they have 600 hit points.
Trivia[]
- The Vermilion Bird is the only Chinese myth unit with a ranged regular attack.
- Prior to February 5, 2016, the Vermilion Bird had a special attack where it threw fireballs at the enemy (similar to the Fire Giant) that spawned mini fire tornadoes. Also, its regular attack consisted of merely rapidly flapping its wings with each beat causing damage. This was changed as it made the Vermilion Bird too powerful.
- It also had 650 hit points by default before being changed to 700.
- In the campaign, the Vermilion Bird is incorrectly spelled as Vermillion Bird.
Mythology[]
โ | Original Name - Zhu Que Size -- Up to 15' long Diet -- Snakes and serpents The Vermilion bird is a mythological creature which represents fire, summer, and sometimes goes by the name of Vermilion bird of the South. With its multi-coloured plumage perpetually coated in flames, the Vermilion bird's dominant colour is that of fire, much like its Egyptian counterpart Phoenix. Considered a bird of elegance, it is known to sing and break into dance at will, and can even make small seeds grow into giant trees. At night, however, the elegant creature shows its far fiercer side as it dines only after sundown and feasts on snakes and serpents coated in cinnamon. | โ |
Gallery[]
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