RISE OF CASTLES - HEROES

Oliver has always been an interesting hero. Since his release in Season SX24, he stood out as one of the few General heroes in the game — capable of commanding both Cavalry and Archer effectively. His Skill 5, Strike of Light, delivered a burst of 725% damage to 2-3 enemies, one of the highest multipliers in the game. His Skill 8, Paladin's Resilience, allowed stat stacking that few heroes could match.

But time passed. The meta changed. New heroes arrived. And Oliver gradually lost his place. His damage, once impressive, now barely scratches 100k in many situations. What was once a standout hero is now just another name on the bench.

Now, the developer releases two simultaneous skins for Oliver: Ashen Vanguard (Cavalry focus) and Phantom Blade (Archer focus). Both paid, both with a 1.4% drop rate from collection chests, both costing what easily exceeds **$200 USD**.

The question remains: Do these skins bring Oliver back to the game? Or is this just another case of money thrown away?

Let's analyze

The New Skins: Overview

The developer released two simultaneous skins for Oliver:

| Skin | Focus | Skill Name |

|-------------------- |----------|---------------|

| Ashen Vanguard | Cavalry | Ashen Oath |

| Phantom Blade | Archer | Shadowless Echo |

Both share the same base attributes:

| Attribute | Bonus |

|-------------------- |-------|

| Might | +12% |

| Resistance | +6% |

| Tactical Might | +9% |

| Tactical Resistance | +3% |

| HP | +6% |

| Damage | +2% |

> Important:This bonus applies per activated skin, but if a player owns both skins, the attributes do not stack. You only receive the bonus from one skin at a time.

Skin 1: Ashen Vanguard (Cavalry Focus)

Skill Name: Ashen Oath

Official Description:

After Oliver's normal attack, different effects are triggered based on the unit carried.*

Archer: Increases self Might and Resistance by 150%, stackable up to 4 layers for 2 rounds, with a 65% chance to clear self Negative Status.*

Cavalry: Deals 278% Physical Damage to 2-3 random enemy squads, Reduces the target's Might and Resistance by 150%, stackable up to 4 layers for 2 rounds, with a 65% chance to clear self Negative Status."*

Analysis of Ashen Vanguard

What changed? The developer added damage to the Cavalry version of the skill.

What it seems: A significant addition. 278% physical damage to 2-3 enemies, on top of the -150% stat debuff, seems promising.

What it really is: The damage is Physical, not Skill Damage. This means:

- It doesn't scale with Skill Damage bonuses

- It's affected by the enemy's physical resistance

- It's an addition, not a replacement for Oliver's core function

The problem is that Oliver's base damage is already low. Adding 278% physical damage on top of a weak foundation doesn't solve the core issue.

Skin 2: Phantom Blade (Archer Focus)

Skill Name: Shadowless Echo

Official Description:

After each normal attack, Oliver triggers effects based on the unit type.

Archer: Increases self Might and Resistance by 180%, stackable up to 4 layers for 2 rounds, with a 65% chance to remove negative status after casting a combat skill.

Cavalry: Reduces the target's Might and Resistance by 150%, stackable up to 4 layers for 2 rounds, with a 65% chance to remove negative status."

Analysis of Phantom Blade

What changed? The developer increased the stat buff from +150% to +180% and changed the cleanse condition.

What it seems: +30% additional stats at max buff (+120% total considering 4 layers) seems like a solid improvement.

What it really is: Oliver's problem as an Archer was never a lack of stats. It was the fact that he needs to stack 4 layers to reach his full potential. This takes time. In a meta where battles are decided in a few rounds, slow stat stacking isn't efficient.

Additionally, the cleanse was changed to "after casting a combat skill". This means Oliver needs to use a skill to cleanse debuffs, instead of having a chance with every normal attack. This is a downgrade from the original version.

Hidden Power and Attributes

If a player acquires both skins they unlock the Hidden Power effect:

The Hidden Power is pathetic. Investing the cost of two skins (easily $400+) to gain only +4% Might and +2% HP is one of the worst returns on investment in the game.

The Real Cost: The Precious Hero Collection Problem

Both skins are obtained through the Precious Hero Collection — chests with a 1.4% chance of containing the skin.

Cost Scenarios

**For both skins:** Multiply by 2.

The real cost to get both skins easily exceeds $400-500 USD.

Practical Tests: The Reality of the Numbers

I tested both skins in real battle conditions. The results were disappointing.

Oliver with Ashen Vanguard (Cavalry)

| Metric | Result

|------------------------------- |-----------

| Average damage per battle | < 100k

| S8 Damage (Ashen Oath) | ~30-50k (when it triggers)

| Kill capacity | Rarely above 100k troops

| Comparison with other Cavalry | Far below Don Quixote, Cyrus, Roland

Oliver with Phantom Blade (Archer)

| Metric | Result

|------------------------------- |-----------

| Average damage per battle | < 100k

| Stat stacking speed | Too slow for current meta

| Worsened cleanse | Less effective than original

| Comparison with other Archers | Far below AL-Hawra, Henry II, Ramses II

Oliver Today: A Dead Hero?

It's painful to say, but the reality is clear: Oliver is dead.

What Killed Oliver?

Comparison with Current Meta Heroes

Oliver isn't even close to these numbers.

The Core Problem

The developer tried to "revive" Oliver with two skins, but missed the mark.

What Should Have Been Done

| Problem | Solution That Would Work |

|---------- |------------------------|

| Low damage | Increase S5 multiplier (1000%+) |

| Slow stacking | Reduce to 2 layers with stronger effect |

| Worsened cleanse | Keep original cleanse or improve it |

| Meta adaptation | Add control immunity or true damage |

What Was Actually Done

Skin - Ashen Vanguard-Cavalry Change: +278% Physical Damage

Effectiveness: Insufficient

Skin - Phantom Blade-Archer

Change: +30% stats , worsened cleanse

Effectiveness: Insufficient

Hidden Power: +4% Might, +2% HP | Irrelevant

None of these changes address the core problem: Oliver doesn't deal enough damage in the current meta.

• Final Verdict

Summary Analysis

Final Message

Oliver was a great hero. He deserved a proper comeback. Instead, he received two extremely expensive skins that don't solve his fundamental problems.

Ashen Vanguard adds a bit of damage to the Cavalry version, but not enough to compete with Don Quixote or Cyrus.

Phantom Blade increases the stat stacking, but worsens the cleanse and doesn't solve the slow accumulation problem.

Hidden Power is a bad joke — +4% Might and +2% HP for investing in two skins that cost hundreds of dollars.

If the developer truly wants to bring Oliver back, they need something much more significant: increasing S5's multiplier, reducing stacking time, or adding a completely new mechanic that adapts to the current meta.

Until then, Oliver will remain on the bench. And these two skins will be nothing more than an expensive reminder of a missed opportunity.