The Arcane Tower is a magical defensive tower with the Reveal and Feedback abilities. Attacks land and air units.[1]
Although the Arcane Tower is considered a human structure, other races can build one by buying an Ivory Tower from an allied human's Arcane Vault and upgrading it, since there are no other requirements.
It appears to be a fairly weak defensive tower due to its poor damage - this is true against plain units, but not against Heroes and summoned units. The Arcane Tower comes with the Feedback ability, which combusts 24 mana for every strike against a unit with mana, and deals damage equal to the mana it destroys. Against summoned units, it deals an additional 20 damage on them. This makes it excellent against discouraging hero rushes, as the tower quickly drains the enemy heroes of vital mana needed to continually harass a base.
Once the Magic Sentry technology is researched, Arcane Towers can start revealing areas of the map. Though slower than Reveal from the Goblin Laboratory and definitely weaker than the Far Seer's True Sight, it allows human players a chance to observe the map without much cost.
Counters
Arcane Towers have Heavy armor so magic units will destroy them with ease.
Spells and abilities[]
Reveal[]
Reveals an area of the map. Detects invisible units.
Duration
Cooldown
Range
Area of Effect
Effect
Requirements
15 sec.
180 sec.
Unlimited
90
Reveals area
Magic Sentry
Feedback (Passive)[]
This tower's attacks destroy 24 mana per hit against any unit (16 against heroes), causing bonus damage equal to the mana destroyed.
Additionally, attacks made by this tower cause 20 bonus damage against summoned units.
Magic Sentry (Passive)[]
Reveals nearby invisible units.
Area of Effect
900
Research Cost
Researched At
Upgrade Time
50 50
Arcane Sanctum
30 sec.
Upgrades[]
Improved Masonry
Increases the armor and hit points of Human buildings.
Research Cost
Researched At
Upgrade Time
Effect
125 50
Lumber Mill
60 sec.
Hit Points: 550 Armor: 6
Advanced Masonry
Increases the armor and hit points of Human buildings.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
Effect
150 75
Lumber Mill
Keep
75 sec.
Hit Points: 600 Armor: 7
Imbued Masonry
Further increases the armor and hit points of Human buildings.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
Effect
175 100
Lumber Mill
Castle
90 sec.
Hit Points: 650 Armor: 8
Patch changes[]
Patch 1.25b (2011-03-08): Masonry Upgrade health boost decreased to 10% from 20% for all 3 levels.
Patch 1.19 (2005-09-19): Now gains 1 armor per masonry upgrade, down from 2.
Patch 1.17 (2004-09-20): Now deals 20 bonus damage per attack to summoned units.
Patch 1.13 (2003-12-16): Now gains 2 armor per masonry upgrade, up from 1.
Patch 1.12 (2003-07-31): Arcane Towers now deal Piercing damage, and have had their range increased from 700 to 800.