Flying Machine (Warcraft III)

For lore about flying machines, see flying machine.

Flying Machine
Race	Dwarf
Base unit	Gyrocopter
Faction	Human Alliance
Statistics
Hit points	250
Unit Type	Mechanical
Unit Classified As	Fly
Level	1
Gold	100
Lumber	30
Food	1
Produced at	Workshop
Build time	13 sec.
Hotkey	F
Combat
Weapon(s)	Mounted cannons (vs Air, can be upgrade to Flak Cannons); Throwing bombs (vs Ground, needs Flying Machine Bombs)
Normal attack	18-19 (18.5 avg)
Can attack	Air
Range	50
Attack type	Piercing
Cooldown	2.00 sec.
Weapon type	Instant
Secondary attack	7-8 (7.5 avg)
Can attack	Ground, Structure, Debris, Item, Ward
Range	10
Attack type	Siege
Cooldown	2.50 sec.
Weapon type	Missile
Armor Type	Metal
Defense Type	Heavy
Armor	2
Day Sight	180
Night Sight	110
Movement Speed	Very Fast (400)
Sound
Sound Set	FlyingMachine

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

The ingenious dwarven engineers replaced their gyrocopters with upgraded flying machines during the events of The Frozen Throne.

In Warcraft III: Reforged, the pilots of the flying machines are instead gnomes.

Information

Flying Machines are cheap, but extremely effective anti-air units. While a small batch of flying machines is unimpressive, they are particularly effective against medium aerial units such as Dragonhawk Riders, Gryphon Riders and Wind Riders when sufficiently massed.

The Flying Machine can automatically detect invisible units, such as Shades and mines.

Flying Machines possess the ability to attack ground units when Flying Machine Bombs are researched, although its extremely weak and only effective against buildings; even then, it requires numerous Flying Machines just to destroy a town hall, though it does make them ideal for harassment due to being aerial units and possessing already high movement compared to Siege Engines.

Counters

Troll Batriders can use Unstable Concoction to suicide themselves onto the Flying Machines, essentially killing them in a single hit. If the player is moving a large number of machines, two or three Troll Batriders can decimate the following group.

Their relatively low health also means a concentrated group of Gargoyles, Hippogryphs, and Frost Wyrms can easily destroy large groups of Flying Machines, due to the machine's low health. Gargoyles and Hippogryphs possess a powerful and rapid aerial attack that easily overwhelms the Flying Machine, while the Frost Wyrm's high health and damage can take down Flying Machines with ease due to their magic-type attack being highly effective against Heavy armor.

Spells and abilities

True Sight (Passive)

Reveals nearby invisible units.

Flying Machine Bombs (Passive)

Allows Flying Machines to attack land units.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time
150 100	Workshop	Castle	35 sec.

The Flying Machine gains a weak siege "melee" range attack allowing them to attack ground units and buildings. Avoid getting this research to ensure the Flying Machines don't target ground units (and then proceed to get destroyed by other aerial units they should be destroyed in the first place). Only research if the machines are designated for base bombing runs.

Flak Cannons (Passive)

Upgrades the weapons on Flying Machines to give them an area effect damage attack against air units.

Research Cost Researched At Requirements Upgrade Time 100 150 Workshop Keep 40 sec.
Area of Effect Effect 7.5 7 additional damage. 15 6 additional damage. 32.5 5 additional damage.

The damage dealt by Flak Cannons is affected by both Armor type and value.
So the damage values listed above will actually be double against Light armor,
and 50% more against Unarmored.

Upgrades

Black Gunpowder

Increases the ranged attack damage of Riflemen, Mortar Teams, Siege Engines, and Flying Machines.

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Effect
100 50	Blacksmith	60 sec.	Normal attack: 19-21 (20 avg) Secondary attack: 8-10 (9 avg)

Refined Gunpowder

Further increases the ranged attack damage of Riflemen, Mortar Teams, Siege Engines, and Flying Machines.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
175 175	Blacksmith	Keep	75 sec.	Normal attack: 20-23 (21.5 avg) Secondary attack: 9-12 (10.5 avg)

Imbued Gunpowder

Further increases the ranged attack damage of Riflemen, Mortar Teams, Siege Engines, and Flying Machines.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
250 300	Blacksmith	Castle	90 sec.	Normal attack: 21-25 (23 avg) Secondary attack: 10-14 (12 avg)

Iron Plating

Increases the armor of Militia, Footmen, Spell Breakers, Knights, Siege Engines, and Flying Machines.

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Effect
125 75	Blacksmith	60 sec.	Armor: 4

Steel Plating

Further increases the armor of Militia, Footmen, Spell Breakers, Knights, Siege Engines, and Flying Machines.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
150 175	Blacksmith	Keep	75 sec.	Armor: 6

Mithril Plating

Further increases the armor of Militia, Footmen, Spell Breakers, Knights, Siege Engines, and Flying Machines.

Research Cost	Researched At	Requirements	Upgrade Time	Effect
175 275	Blacksmith	Castle	90 sec.	Armor: 8

Battle.net description

Mechanical flying machine flown by a Dwarven pilot.

World Editor description

Fast moving flying machine. Excellent at scouting, and effective against air units. Can learn the Flying Machine Bombs and Flak Cannons upgrades.

Quotes

• See Warcraft III Flying Machine quotes

Patch changes

• Patch 1.15 (2004-05-10): Damage vs. air increased to 1d2 + 13 from 1d2 + 11.
  
• Patch 1.13 (2003-12-16): Flying Machine hit points increased to 200 from 175.
  
• Patch 1.10 (2003-07-03): Flying Machine damage versus air increased to 12-13 from 7-8.
  
• Patch 1.07 (2003-07-01): Added.
  

See also

• Gnomish Flying Machine (Warcraft II)

External links

Battle.net Warcraft III - Humans -> Units -> Flying Machine