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Behemoth
Summon Behemoth
Realm Icon NatureNature
Spell Properties
Spell Rarity Very Rare
Casting Cost Icon Mana 700
Upkeep Cost Icon Mana 15 per turn
Research Cost Icon Research 2,000
Unit Properties
# of Figures Icon SingleFigureUnit 1
Moves Icon Movement Ground2
Melee Attack per figure Icon Melee Normal 25
Defense per figure Icon Defense 9
Resistance Icon Resist 10
Hit Points per figure Icon Hits 45
Unit Abilities
Ability ToHit +20% To Hit
Tactical Behemoth

The Behemoth is a type of Fantastic Unit featured in Master of Magic. The Behemoth belongs to the Icon NatureNature Realm, and may be summoned using a Summoning Spell of the same name. The Behemoth is one of the most powerful (and most expensive) Fantastic Creatures in the Icon NatureNature Magic arsenal, delivering a massively-powerful Icon Melee Normal Melee Attack. It is also exceptionally difficult to kill thanks to its large amount of Icon Hits Hit Points. Behemoths can lay waste to large armies singlehandedly, and even pose a threat to well-trained Champions.

The Fantastic Unit[]

Physical Description[]

The Behemoth is a large reptilian creature, roughly resembling a Stegosaur. Larger than an elephant, it is clad from head to tail in thick red scales which provide it with heavy protection. A row of spiny plates protrude out its back, all the way down its spine and tail. The Behemoth itself is essentially a much-more-powerful version of another Icon NatureNature creature, the Basilisk, although it lacks the magical Gaze of its smaller cousin.

The Behemoth is a Icon SingleFigureUnit Single-Figure Unit.

Attack Properties[]

The Behemoth is an extremely powerful Melee combat unit, capable of delivering a deadly physical Icon Melee Normal Melee Attack and surviving long battles in the face of fierce opposition. Its attack is purely a Melee Attack, and doesn't Petrify its victims like the Basilisk does, but it is nonetheless one of the most powerful Melee Attacks of any unit, at Icon Melee Normal 25. Furthermore, the Behemoth enjoys a very high Icon ToHit +20% To Hit bonus, meaning that on average it will deliver no less than Icon Damage 12.5 points of Icon Damage damage per attack. This is easily enough to severely injure a well-trained and well-equipped Champion, or kill an entire Normal Unit.

Defensive Properties[]

The Behemoth's hide is also extremely thick, presenting a Defense rating of Icon Defense 9. This is one of the highest Icon Defense Defense scores of any unit, and will block an average of Icon Damage 2.7 points from any Conventional Damage attack. Furthermore, behind that armor the Behemoth itself is exceptionally hardy: it has Icon Hits 45 Hit Points to absorb any damage that gets through. This is the second-highest toughness of any Fantastic Unit (a title it shares with the Great Wyrm), after the Hydra.

Other Properties[]

To make matters worse (or better, depending on which side the beast is on), despite its size, the Behemoth moves with great speed, at Icon Movement Ground2, both on the overland map, as well as in combat. It charges up to the enemy lines, soaking Ranged Attacks (if any) as it goes, and then rips straight through those lines to get at the squishy units in the rear. Any enemy retaliation will be met with ferocious Counter Attacks.

In addition, with a Resistance score of Icon Resist 10, the Behemoth is virtually immune to several kinds of Unit Curses and other ill effects. The only maledictions that stand a chance to get through its high Resistance are those that inflict a penalty on Resistance rolls – and even those stand little chance of working.

Basic Tactics[]

There are very few options for defeating a Behemoth. It must either be attacked with powerful spells and/or Heroes – or repeatedly assaulted with masses of powerful Normal Units and smaller Fantastic Creatures (many of whom will likely be slaughtered). Attacks that bypass armor can help significantly to bring this creature down, and slowing down its movement is another favoured tactic. Naturally, Behemoths stand a good chance in one-on-one combat with most other top-level units, and can even defeat most of them easily in any straight fight.

Enemy Behemoths[]

Behemoths do appear as neutral monsters, but are quite rare. They are almost entirely limited to guarding high-powered Icon NatureNature Nodes, though on high Difficulty settings several can appear in a single battle. If not alone, Behemoths tend to be accompanied by various smaller Icon NatureNature creatures.

As explained above, assaulting even a single Behemoth may require a large and powerful army (or two!). Even a top-tier Fantastic Unit or Champion may take a few combat rounds slaying this beast. Large amounts of Ranged Attacks and direct-damage spells are probably the best assets against a Behemoth.

Ability Overview[]

Ability ToHit +20% To Hit[]

  • This unit has an extra Icon ToHit 20% chance to hit its target with every die of its Attack Rolls. This improves its statistical chance to inflict more Icon Damage Damage with each attack it makes.

The Summoning Spell[]

Usage[]

Behemoth may only be cast overland, for the base Casting Cost of Icon Mana 700. Upon successfully casting the spell, the new Behemoth unit will appear in the Town currently containing the Wizard's Summoning Circle, with full Movement Allowance, and may move and/or attack immediately as necessary.

To keep the Behemoth in play, its controller is required to pay an Upkeep Cost of Icon Mana 15 per turn. This is drawn automatically from the caster's Icon Mana Mana pool at the beginning of each turn while the unit exists. Failure to pay this Upkeep due to lack of Icon Mana Mana will lead to the Behemoth immediately disappearing, along with any Unit Enchantments currently affecting it. However, this upkeep is for the unit, not for the spell: Summoning Spells can not be dispelled by the enemy once cast.

Naturally though, if the unit is destroyed, then it is gone from the world entirely, and there is no further need to pay its Upkeep Cost. Units summoned on the overland map may also be dismissed manually from their unit statistics window the same way as any other overland unit (during their controller's turn, while not in combat).

Acquisition[]

As a Very Rare Spell of the Icon NatureNature Realm, Behemoth may become available to any Wizard who acquires at least Icon Nature3 Spellbooks. With any less, the spell can normally not be learned during the campaign. This is the minimum requirement for it to be traded for, appear in Treasure, or be found in the spoils of victory when conquering the Fortress of a rival Wizard who already knows it.

The base chance for Behemoth to be researchable (at some point) in the campaign is roughly 10% (with Icon Nature3 books), which gradually increases with the amount of Icon NatureNature Spellbooks possessed or found during gameplay. With Icon Nature10 or more, the spell is certain to show up sooner or later, unless acquired from another source. It has a Research Cost of Icon Research 2,000, although its research is quicker for Wizards possessing the Sage Master, Conjurer, and/or Nature Mastery Retorts; or a bookshelf containing Icon Nature8 or more.

Behemoth may not be acquired at the start of the game, regardless of the amount of Icon NatureNature books selected from the starting picks. It must always be either researched or found. However, a bug exists in the official game, that may occasionally allow Behemoth to be researched with only Icon Nature2 books despite its Rarity. This can happen if, and only if, the second Icon NatureNature Spellbook comes from Treasure, as it then allows a random Very Rare Spell to be researched, which has a flat 10% chance of being this spell. This oversight is corrected in the Unofficial Patch 1.50.

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