These secretive Druids have adopted the totem of the Crow. Their primary role in society is information gathering and intelligence. They have the ability to transform into Storm Crows and fly over the field of battle to scout and deliver orders to distant troops. Their magical spell-like abilities are capable of channeling even the winds to fight against the enemies of Kalimdor.
A supporting spellcaster unit, the Talon druids are seldom used by Night Elf players. However, they can be quite feared when put in the hands of a skilled player.
The druids start off in their humanoid form and come with Faerie Fire. This spell reduces the armor of the targeted unit by 4 and also grants them vision of that unit as if they were their own. The spell works extremely well with high-damage units like Chimaeras, as the reduced armor means their attacks deal even more damage against the enemy.
In their aerial form, they're essentially weaker versions of Hippogryphs as they can only attack air units and use a slow magic attack. However, if Mark of the Talon is researched, then they may cast Faerie Fire in this form.
Cyclone is by far the most strongest skill - though it makes the targeted unit invulnerable and can only be cast on ground units, it disables them for 20 seconds and cannot be dispelled. When facing a powerful ground army, the druids help lower the amount of potential targets for you or your allies to pick off the remaining units easily. When the affected units return to solid ground, they'll then be greeted with a large number of hostile faces and be killed before they even knew what happened.
Spells and abilities
Night Elf Form
Transforms the Druid into a Night Elf, allowing him to cast spells.
Duration
Mana Cost
Effect
N/A
50
Transform into Night Elf Form
When in Night Elf Form he may cast these spells
Faerie Fire
Reduces a target enemy unit's armor by 4 and gives vision of that unit.
Duration (Hero)
Cooldown
Mana Cost
Range
Effect
90 (60) sec.
1 sec.
45
70
Target's armor -4, shares vision
Crow Form
Transforms the Druid into a storm crow, giving him the ability to fly. While in Storm Crow Form he cannot cast any spells until you have researched Mark of the Talon.
Duration
Mana Cost
Effect
Requirements
N/A
50
Transform into Storm Crow Form
Druid of the Talon Adept Training
Cyclone
Tosses a target enemy unit into the air, rendering it unable to move, attack or cast spells, and stopping others from attacking or casting on it.
Duration (Hero)
Cooldown
Mana Cost
Range
Effect
Requirements
20 (6) sec.
5 sec.
150
60
Unit is stuck in a Cyclone.
Druid of the Talon Master Training
Upgrades
Druid of Talon Adept Training
Increases mana capacity by 100, mana regeneration rate by 30%, hit points by 40 and gives them the ability Storm Crow Form.
Research Cost
Researched At
Upgrade Time
100 50
Ancient of Wind
60 sec.
Druid of Talon Master Training
Further increases mana capacity by 100, mana regeneration rate by 30%, hit points by 40 and gives them the ability to cast Cyclone.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
100 150
Ancient of Wind
Druid of Talon Adept Training
75 sec.
Mark of the Talon
Allows Druids of the Talon to cast Faerie Fire while in Storm Crow Form.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
100 150
Ancient of Wind
Druid of Talon Master Training
25 sec.
Strength of the Wild
Increases the damage of Druids of the Claw in Bear Form, Druids of the Talon in Storm Crow Form, Dryads, Mountain Giants, Faerie Dragons, Hippogryphs, and Chimaeras.
Research Cost
Researched At
Upgrade Time
Effect
100 75
Hunter's Hall
60 sec.
Damage Dice Bonus: 1
Improved Strength of the Wild
Further increases the damage of Druids of the Claw in Bear Form, Druids of the Talon in Storm Crow Form, Dryads, Mountain Giants, Faerie Dragons, Hippogryphs, and Chimaeras.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
Effect
175 175
Hunter's Hall
Tree of Ages
75 sec.
Damage Dice Bonus: 2
Advanced Strength of the Wild
Further increases the damage of Druids of the Claw in Bear Form, Druids of the Talon in Storm Crow Form, Dryads, Mountain Giants, Faerie Dragons, Hippogryphs, and Chimaeras.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
Effect
250 275
Hunter's Hall
Tree of Eternity
90 sec.
Damage Dice Bonus: 3
Ultravision
Gives Night Elves the ability to see as far at night as they do during the day.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requirements
Upgrade Time
Effect
50 50
Hunter's Hall
Tree of Ages
45 sec.
Sight Bonus: Night sight is identical as the day sight.
Backpack
Gives the ability to carry up to two items. Items carried by the unit will be dropped upon death.
Units can not use or gain benefits of items that they carry.
Research Cost
Researched At
Requires
Upgrade Time
50 25
Townhall-type Structure
Player-built Shop
20 sec.
Backpack is unavailable in Storm Crow form.
Any items in the inventory will be dropped when transforming.
In the late Warcraft III beta, the Druid of the Talon had a different model. After the Arch Druid hero unit was cut, the Druid of the Talon was given a modified version of the Arch Druid's model instead.
The official Warcraft III website depicts the Druid of the Talon with antlers much like the Arch Druid, whereas the in-game model lacks them.
Most spellcasters (Sorceress, Priest, Shaman, Witch Doctor, Necromancer, Banshee, Druid of the Talon) have been re-balanced. In general, units with piercing damage rip up spellcasters, while basic melee units, such as Ghouls or Footmen, are weak against spellcasters. The specific changes to the units in question are:
They have a new armor type, unarmored, which takes bonus damage from siege and piercing attacks.
They also have a new damage type, magic, which does reduced damage to fortified and hero armor, but does bonus damage against medium armor.
They had their damage adjusted, typically downwards.
They no longer gain damage as they go up in level, and gain less hitpoints as they go up in level (but start with more hitpoints when initially built)
Many autocast buffs and debuff costs reduced.
Casters, including Dryads, have had their mana regeneration rates boosted by 30%.
Cyclone duration on units increased to 15 from 10.
Battle.net Warcraft III - Night Elves -> Units -> Druid of the Talon
