Crypt Fiend (Warcraft III)

For other uses, see Crypt Fiend (disambiguation).

Crypt Fiend
Race	Crypt fiend
Faction	Undead Scourge
Statistics
Hit points	550
Hit point regeneration	Blight
Hit point regeneration rate	2.00 HP/sec.
Unit Type	Undead
Level	3
Gold	215
Lumber	40
Food	3
Produced at	Crypt
Build time	30 sec.
Requires	Graveyard
Attacking priority	4
Hotkey	F
Combat
Weapon(s)	Swarm of vile insects
Normal attack	26-31 (28.5 avg)
Can attack	Ground, Structure, Debris, Item, Ward
Range	55
Attack type	Piercing
Cooldown	2.00 sec.
Weapon type	Missile
Armor Type	Medium
Armor	0
Day Sight	140
Night Sight	80
Movement Speed	Average (270)
Sound
Sound Set	CryptFiend

This article contains lore taken from Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, the manuals, and/or official bonus maps.

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.

Information

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.

Spells and abilities

Web (Autocast)

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

Research Cost Researched At Requirements Upgrade Time 150 150 Crypt Graveyard, Halls of the Dead 30 sec.
Duration (Hero) Cooldown Range Allowed Targets Effect 12 (7) sec. 12 sec. 40 Air, Enemy Traps unit in a web

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.

Burrow

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.

Research Cost Researched At Requirements Upgrade Time 75 75 Crypt Graveyard, Halls of the Dead 45 sec.
Burrow/Unburrow Time HP Regen Type HP Regen Rate 1.45 sec. Always 5 HP/sec.

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.

Upgrades

Creature Attack

Increases the attack damage of Crypt Fiends, Gargoyles, Destroyers, and Frost Wyrms.

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Effect
150 50	Graveyard	60 sec.	Normal attack: 27-37 (32 avg)

Improved Creature Attack

Further increases the attack damage of Crypt Fiends, Gargoyles, Destroyers, and Frost Wyrms.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
200 125	Graveyard	Halls of the Dead	75 sec.	Normal attack: 28-43 (35.5 avg)

Advanced Creature Attack

Further increases the attack damage of Crypt Fiends, Gargoyles, Destroyers, and Frost Wyrms.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
250 200	Graveyard	Black Citadel	90 sec.	Normal attack: 29-49 (39 avg)

Creature Carapace

Increases the armor of Crypt Fiends, Gargoyles, Destroyers, and Frost Wyrms.

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Effect
150 75	Graveyard	60 sec.	Armor: 2

Improved Creature Carapace

Further increases the armor of Crypt Fiends, Gargoyles, Destroyers, and Frost Wyrms.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
200 200	Graveyard	Halls of the Dead	75 sec.	Armor: 4

Advanced Creature Carapace

Further increases the armor of Crypt Fiends, Gargoyles, Destroyers, and Frost Wyrms.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
250 325	Graveyard	Black Citadel	90 sec.	Armor: 6

Backpack

Gives the ability to carry up to two items. Items carried by the unit will be dropped upon death.

Units can not use or gain benefits of items that they carry.

Research Cost Researched At Requires Upgrade Time 50 25 Townhall-type Structure Player-built Shop 20 sec.

Quotes

• See Warcraft III Crypt Fiend quotes

Patch changes

• Patch 1.13 (2003-12-16):
  • The Frozen Throne
    • Web upgrade cost increased to 150/150 from 75/75.
      
• Patch 1.10 (2003-07-03):
  • The Frozen Throne
    • Crypt Fiend damage reduced from 28-33 to 26-31.
    • Burrowed Crypt Fiends now heal 5 hp/sec down from 10 hp/sec.
      
• Patch 1.06 (2003-06-03): Web lasts 12 seconds, down from 20 seconds, and has a cooldown of 12 seconds, down from 20 seconds.
  
• Patch 1.04 (2002-11-04): Web duration decreased on Hero units to 7 from 20.
  
• Patch 1.03 (2002-10-09): Crypt Fiends' attack was slightly improved (damage increased to 28-33 from 27-32).
  

External links

Classic.Battle.net Warcraft III - Undead -> Units -> Crypt Fiend