This title is an expansion pack for the turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia, released in 2000. It functions as a standalone expansion, meaning the original game is not required for play. This expansion introduces new campaigns, characters, and a narrative that serves as a prequel to established storylines within the Heroes of Might and Magic universe.

Story and Setting

The narrative focuses on Sandro, a necromancer who arrives on the continent of Antagarich with a ten-year plan to reassemble two powerful necromantic artifacts: the Cloak of the Undead King and the Armor of the Damned. Sandro uses illusionary magic to disguise himself as a human and manipulates heroes such as the sorceress Gem and the barbarian Crag Hack into retrieving the artifact pieces. The story unfolds across multiple campaigns, detailing Sandro's ascent to power, his conflicts with vengeful forces, and the efforts of a group of heroes to thwart his ambitions.

New Content and Gameplay Additions

This expansion pack introduces a significant amount of new content, including:

New Campaigns: Several new story-driven campaigns explore Sandro's schemes and the heroes' attempts to counter them.
New Heroes and Units: Players gain access to additional heroes to command and a variety of new units for recruitment and tactical battles.
New Artifacts and Items: The introduction of powerful new artifacts and items enhances strategic depth in army management and combat.
Expanded World: The game world is enriched with new maps and environments to explore.

What are the distinctive features of this expansion?

The core gameplay loop retains the turn-based strategy mechanics of its predecessor, emphasizing exploration, city building, resource management, and tactical combat. This expansion deepens the experience by integrating a more complex narrative and offering players expanded choices in heroes, units, and strategic approaches. Its standalone nature allows for direct engagement with its new content, providing a different perspective on the established world and its conflicts.

Integration with the Main Game

While playable independently, the narrative of this expansion pack is directly connected to the events of Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia, functioning as a prequel. This connection provides additional lore context for players familiar with the original game, shedding light on subsequent events.

Scope and Quality

As a comprehensive expansion pack, it delivers a substantial volume of new content, with a quality and scope comparable to the original game. The addition of new campaigns and gameplay elements offers numerous hours of strategic gameplay for fans of the series.

Additional Content

There are no further DLCs, expansions, or remakes available for this specific title.