Among the 15 Archetypes players can choose from inCity of Heroes, the four “Epic Archetypes” stand out as rather unusual. While their Primary and Secondary Powersets are fixed, these Powersets offer a huge range of Powers and allow for a great deal of customization. This makes the Epic Archetypes somewhat more difficult to learn than the other Archetypes and thus better suited to players who have already learned the basics of the game.
Another aspect of the Epic Archetypes that differentiates them from other Archetypes inCity of Heroesis their connections to the game’s story. The Hero Epic Archetypes (collectively called “Kheldians”) are alien energy beings who journeyed to Earth while hunting down their archenemy and merged with willing hosts, granting the host tremendous energy manipulation and shapeshifting abilities. Meanwhile, the Villain Epic Archetypes (collectively called “Soldiers of Arachnos”) are members of the immense Villainous Group known as “Arachnos” who wield an array of weapons, gadgets, and psychic abilities.
A Brief History of Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes
The Epic Archetypes made their first appearance in Issue 3 of City of Heroes, when the Peacebringer and Warshade Archetypes were added to the game. They were unlocked once a player got a Hero Character to level 50, and the Soldier of Arachnos Archetypes added in Issue 12 had similar requirements (the only difference being that a level 50 Villain Character was needed instead). This level requirement dropped to level 20 in Issue 17 and was removed entirely in Issue 25.
All four of the Epic Archetypes in the game have their own special Missions and contacts available, offering them a somewhat different story experience compared to the other Archetypes and tying into their pre-established backstories. Peacebringers work with Sunstorm to fight the Nictus, Warshades do likewise with Shadowstar, and the Arachnos Archetypes work with Alan Desslock to sneak their names onto a list of “Destined Ones” and reap the benefits.
Hero Epic Archetypes (HEATs)
The Hero Epic Archetypes, collectively known as “Kheldians”, consist of the Peacebringer and Warshade Archetypes. These two Archetypes were designed as “Jack of All Trade” Archetypes, taking advantage of their shapeshifting abilities and wide array of powers to fit multiple roles in a group.To use an RPG analogy as an example, the Peacebringer is a “Paladin” Archetype, mixing damage and tanking utility with healing and an assortment of self-buffs. Meanwhile, the Warshade could be considered a “Dark Knight” Archetype, retaining damage and tanking utility but mixing them with control effects, debuffs, and draining abilities.
The Peacebringer Archetype
The Peacebringer Archetype, as discussed briefly earlier, is an Archetype with access to self-healing and powerful defensive buffs alongside a slew of Energy Damage attacks. By shifting into Bright Nova form, the Peacebringer can sacrifice their Defense to become a devastatingly powerful ranged blaster, while their White Dwarf form allows them to break free from immobilizing effects and enter a form with enhanced max HP and Endurance recovery. Their normal form strikes a balance between offense and defense while also having access to healing abilities and powerful defensive self-buffs.
Peacebringer players will sometimes choose to focus entirely on a single form, though many others recommend mastering two or even all three forms and taking advantage of the Archetype’s tremendous versatility. While they will never be quite as strong in any one area as a specialized Archetype, their ability to perform well in multiple roles allows them to quickly adapt to any situation.
The Warshade Archetype
Where the Peacebringer utilizes healing and self-buffs, the Warshade Archetype instead uses their dark power to siphon energy from their foes, freeze them in place, and otherwise steal their strength to use against them. Warshades excel when fighting large groups of enemies, allowing them to use Powers like Dark Mire to damage their foes while boosting their own damage and Chance To Hit, while Powers like Essence Drain help them to top off their HP. By using Dark Nova form, the Warshade can devastate foes with Negative Damage that reduces their attack and movement speed, while the Black Dwarf form grants them improved resistance and even more ways of siphoning enemy strength for their own.
Much like the Peacebringer, the Warshade Archetype can swap forms to adapt to different situations, achieving its full potential once players master their shapeshifting abilities.
Villain Epic Archetypes (VEATs)
The Villain Epic Archetypes, collectively known as the Soldiers of Arachnos, consist of the Arachnos Soldier and Arachnos Widow Archetypes. These Archetypes uniquely get “Promoted” when reaching level 24, gaining access to additional Powersetsthat reflect the abilities available to various Arachnos enemy types.
The Arachnos Soldier gains access to Crab and Bane Spider promotion Powersets, with the former offering potent mixed range damage Powers while the latter focuses more on melee and stealth/critical strikes. Meanwhile, the Arachnos Widow gains access to Fortunata and Night Widow promotion Powersets, the former of which offers Psionic Powers for ranged damage and control effects while the latter specializes in stealth and melee combat.
The Arachnos Soldier Archetype
The Arachnos Soldier Archetype begins with access to the Arachnos Soldier Primary Powerset and the Training and Gadgets Secondary Powerset. This offers them a mixture of ranged and melee combat options alongside three varieties of grenade and some powerful group buffs themed around leadership. After hitting level 24, players can access either the Crab Spider or Bane Spider Powersets.
The Crab Spider Soldier Powerset further specializes the character in mixed melee and ranged combat using a multi-armed backpack while introducing some incredibly effective AOE attacks, culminating in the devastating “Omega Bomb” Power. The Crab Spider Training Secondary Powerset greatly improves their defensive capabilities and provides them with self-healing, along with access to Spiderling pets that will help to pile on damage.
The Bane Spider Soldier Powerset equips players with a Bane Spider Energy Mace, giving them some crushing melee attacks mixed with mid-ranged energy blasts, making them tremendously effective when fighting at close range. Most of their melee attacks will deal additional damage when striking from stealth, and their Placate Power allows them to achieve this mid-combat. The Bane Spider Training Secondary Powerset provides them with a Cloaking Device, single-target resistance and Defense debuff, and a powerful single-target web grenade that holds the enemy in place.
The Arachnos Widow Archetype
The Arachnos Widow Archetype begins with access to the Widow Training and Teamwork Powersets. The former provides them with poisonous claw-based melee attacks and a couple of ranged options for initiating combat, while the latter gives them powerful defensive self-buffs and an assortment of team-wide buff toggles. After hitting level 24, players can access either the Night Widow or Fortunata Powersets.
The Night Widow Training Powerset provides a few more melee options and a couple of useful psychic attacks, along with smoke bombs for debuffing enemy perception and Chance To Hit. Meanwhile, the Widow Teamwork Powerset adds stealth and more team buffs to the Widow’s Powers, while also granting access to the tremendously powerful “Elude” self-buff.
For players favoring control and manipulation, the Fortunata Training Powerset offers ranged psychic attacks and control powers for locking down the enemy. Meanwhile, the Fortunata Teamwork Powerset offers confusion Powers alongside team buffs.
