Necrolyte (Warcraft I)

For lore about necrolytes, see Necrolyte.

Necrolyte
Race	Orc
Statistics
Hit Points	40
Armor	0 2 (1 upgrade) 4 (all upgrades)
Basic Damage	0 2 (1 upgrade) 4 (all upgrades)
Piercing Damage	6
Cooldown Time	50
Range	2
Speed	6
Sight	3
Priority	50
Decay Rate	N/A
Production Related
Gold	700
Lumber	0
Produced at	Temple
Build time	800
Campaign
Unlocked in	Grand Hamlet

This article contains lore or information taken from Warcraft: Orcs & Humans and/or its manual.

Necrolytes are practitioners of the Orcish religions. These binders of souls command the black powers that hold control over the earth. Linked into the dominions of the lower plains, Necrolytes have power over all things dark and evil, including the raising of fallen warriors to create armies of the undead. Through ceremonies performed at their Temples, they learn to warp the essence of shadow to use for their advantage.

Information

The basic spell casters of an army, Necrolytes are quite weak and vulnerable, so they must be protected. Their spell Dark Vision can make up for a scout by removing the fog of war from previously undiscovered areas, mainly to find a new gold mine. Their spell Raise Dead is quite useful, as The Dead can prove to be a good distraction of enemy units, but should only be used if there is enough mana to be spared. The Necrolyte's most powerful spell is Unholy Armor as it renders a unit immortal for an allotted time; it is most useful on a Daemon.

Necrolytes use mana to cast spells. Mana will slowly regenerate over time, up to a maximum of 255.

Upgrades

Upgrade Axe Strength

Increases the basic attack damage of Grunts, Raiders, Necrolytes, Warlocks, Spiders, Daemons and The Dead by 2

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time
750	Blacksmith	120

Upgrade Axe Strength

Further increases the basic attack damage of Grunts, Raiders, Necrolytes, Warlocks, Spiders, Daemons and The Dead by 2

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time
1500	Blacksmith	120

Upgrade Shield Strength

Increases the armor of all your units and buildings by 2

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time
750	Blacksmith	120

Upgrade Shield Strength

Further increases the armor of all your units and buildings by 2

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time
1500	Blacksmith	120

Research Raising Dead

Unlocks the spell Raise Dead

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Unlocked (Campaign)
750	Temple	120	Grand Hamlet

Research Dark Vision

Unlocks the spell Dark Vision

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Unlocked (Campaign)
1500	Temple	120	The Red Ridge Mountains

Research Unholy Armor

Unlocks the spell Unholy Armor

Research Cost	Researched At	Upgrade Time	Unlocked (Campaign)
3000	Temple	120	Northern Elwynn Forest

Spells

By commanding the powers of darkness and death, tendrils of blackness stretch across the land to envelop the unwary and careless. It is upon these fools that the Necrolytes prey, filling their temples with fresh sacrifices and our armies with undead warriors.

Attack (Shadow Spear)

Gives target unit 6 damage

Range	Effect	Mana Cost
2	Gives target unit 6 damage	5

This is a spear of energy culled from the evils of the Orcish clans. When an Orc dies, his soul descends into Hades for judgment, and his essence is divided into good and evil. The Orcish Necrolytes have learned to siphon the black energies from this plane and use it for their own purposes. This weapon of darkness is the manifestation of those black souls, and causes excruciating pain to those it strikes.

Raise Dead

Summons The Dead (up to 3)

The Necrolyte as seen in the Warcraft: Orcs & Humans Manual.

Range	Effect	Mana Cost
5	Summons The Dead (up to 3)	70 per Dead

The Necrolytes have close ties to the dark forces of Hell, and in consequence study the forbidden arts of the dead. They have gained the ability to bind the bodies of the dead to this domain, creating armies of soulless creatures. With no minds to speak of, they will disdain the use of weapons, seeking to rend the flesh of those they are directed to attack with their bare boned hands.

Dark Vision

Removes fog of war from selected area

Range	Effect	Mana Cost
∞	Removes fog of war from selected area	50

Wherever there is light, there is shadow, and it is this shadow that the Orc Necrolyte uses to see into places he cannot travel. Wherever the slightest shadow is cast, the sight of the Necrolyte can enter and view. The effects of this spell are limited in size, for too much knowldege^[sic] of the confines of shadow has been known to forever trap the caster within the realm of darkness.

Unholy Armor

Makes target unit impervious to attacks at the cost of half its current HP for an allotted amount of time. Duration time: 1000.

Range	Effect	Mana Cost
8	Makes target unit impervious to attacks at the cost of half its current HP for an allotted amount of time	125

This ritual invokes the recipient with a mystic armor of invulnerability. Weapons will have their effects dissipated when striking the wearer. This armor is constructed from the souls of the damned, and they absorb the pain that any blows would normally inflict upon the wearer. The price that is exacted from those who are bestowed with this invulnerability is a high one, however, for they must sacrifice a portion of their soul to act as a magnet to bind these lost souls to themselves. After some time, this binding will weaken, and those who make up the armor will be released back into their eternal torment.

Quotes

• See Warcraft I orc quotes