Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness Hints

Mission 9: The Razing of Tyr's Hand

• Mission Objectives:
  
  - Build a Fortress and a Shipyard on the island at the mouth of Tyr's Bay
  
  No matter how many times I play this level, it always seems that I win it by the skin of my teeth.  First things first: there are a couple Humans at the east and west sides of your island, so watch for them.  Also, if you do some scouting, the island you're supposed to be building on is the one with the Circle of Power on it (and a Human Keep).  On this level, you can also upgrade your Stronghold to a Fortress, as well as upgrade your Ogres to Ogre-Mages.  I personally find that a waste of money in this mission, although it may be minutely helpful when attack Tyr's Island with Ogres.   Now, onto the hints!
  
  Make many more Peons, and start your normal processes.  However, you'll want gold fast, to upgrade to a Stronghold, build an Ogre Mound, and make some Ogres to defend your city.  Now, when it comes to cutting down trees, try to get only the groups next to the Lumber Mill, and next to the gold mine.  The clump next to the Blacksmith is useful for defending against enemy invaders.   At any openings (top of island, west side of island where your village when you start off ends) build Farms there, and at least a Guard Tower.  Station an Ogre nearby each as well.  Build several towers all throughout the town, and don't skimp on Ogres.  It should be noted that the computer will upgrade its units in this level, but don't worry about that until your base is fortified well.  I've found by using the previous "farm/tower" strategy, the AI couldn't figure out a good place to attack, and thus didn't.  Now, onto your actual mission plans.
  
  There's an island just to the upper-left of your own (it's one of the only other islands).  When your base is well protected, send over a bunch of Peons and about two Ogres.  Build a Great Hall there.  Move all lumber chopping over to this island, as well.  Have a few gold miners here, because the Great Hall where you start off is rather far from the mine.  Have a Barracks here too, just in case, and a Cannon Tower on the shore.  At this point, you should strengthen your navy fleet (i.e., build many Juggernauts, and upgrade them) and upgrade your own guys.
  
  Once you have enough ships (about 8 Juggernauts will do well) have a Transport load up 2 Catapults and 4 Ogres.  Send those 9 ships (as well as a Zeppelin, in case those stupid Subs decide to impede your progress) to the bottom of the island that you'll need to colonize to beat the level (we'll call it Tyr's Island).  Send the Juggernauts to attack the 3 Cannon Towers that are on the south shore, and unload the Transports.  Although the guys will be slaughtered, it's all part of the plan.  The Catapults and Ogres will take out as much as they can.  When they get wiped out, the 3 Cannon Towers should be gone as well, but hopefully your Juggernauts are still alive.  Have them move south.  The Ballistas should have noticed you, and moved closer to the shore, in order to attack your ships.
  
  Now, boys and girls, we all know what to do with a Ballista on the shore, right?  Yes, we blow the heck out of it with our cannons!  (Also, watch for enemies on the shores of the other island!).  Now, get 2 more Transports, with 2 Peons, 2 Catapults, and all rest Ogres.  Send them up to Tyr's Island (south side).  Build a Barracks right where you land.  Hopefully, the Catapults will take care of any guys that try to attack your Barracks, but don't let the Ogres out, or they'll get killed by the remaining Towers (have them guard the Catapults from the attacking Knights).
  
  Now, get your Catapults (make new ones if they're gone) and take out the rest of the Cannon Towers.  While this is happening, you'll want maximum gold and lumber production.  If the secondary island is bare of lumber, move the wood harvesting back to the main island.  Once the Keep is gone, build a Shipyard (again, south edge, preferable out of the way of the enemy shoreline).  Then, build a Great Hall, upgrade to a Stronghold, and once again to a Fortress.
  

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