Myth@Bungie.Org -> Myth Master Central -> Tips & Tricks -> Pools of Iron

Myth: The Fallen Lords, Level 23:
"Pools Of Iron"

Your Units:
Alric (at start)
23 berserks (later)
7 archers (later)
2 journeymen (later) Objectives:
Get to the lake. Their Units:
Myrmidons
2 Trow
Thrall

The Orthodox Way

You start on the eastern edge of the map. The only unit you have is Alric. There are a few Myrmidons running around solo. Alric can make short work of them. Just face away from one, wait until he gets very close to you, then turn around and start whacking away. Try to fight one at a time. Go west, down the hill, to the main part of the map.

Head west. You'll run into a fairly large group of Myrmidons. Use one of Alric's dispersal dreams on them. Note that dispersal dreams do not spread out. They only hit one unit at a time. Therefore, it's best to target one end of the group. I suggest the front. Use Alric's sword to clean up any who survive somehow.
Next, go north. You will run into a similar group. Use the same tactics against them.

Walk to the damaged world knot. Alric should bring through a group of berserks with a journeyman, then a group of archers and a journeyman with a few more berserks.
If you're playing on legendary, you should see another group of Myrmidons aproaching from the north. You could use a dispersal dream against them, but this is not advisable as you'll need it later. You're best off if you flank them with your berserks. You should be able to kill them all fairly easily.

You can go a couple ways next. You can seek a defendable position on one of the many ledges around the edge of the map, then lure the enemies there, or you can bring your units to the temple for your attack.
Either way, use Alric's two remaining dispersal dreams on the Myrmidons on either side of the temple. Split up your berserks and try to attack the Trow from multiple directions. It helps if the archers pick at them while you do this. It also helps if the Trow is distracted by kicking at a journeyman or Alric as they can absorb many more hits before dying than berserks. You're guaranteed to lose a few berserks at higher difficulty levels, but with luck and good timing it won't be many.

Send your archers to the westernmost part of the temple. A huge line of thrall should walk out of the lake. Kill as many as you can with your archers, using all other healthy units for clean-up.
If your archers have to retreat, get them back into position and send another unit close to the lake. A second wave of thrall should come out. Deal with them in the same way.

Wade your units into the lake. You're done.

Films for The Orthodox Way to Master "Pools Of Iron"

"Pools Of Timid"
Timid, no casualties. This uses the direct attack method and shows just how forgiving the Timid dificulty level can be.
"Pools Of Face"
Legendary, twelve casualties. This uses the direct attack method, and shows the consequences thereof (twelve casualties!).
"Pools Of Face II"
Legendary, six casualties. This shows how to lure the Myrmidons to a defended ledge. It also shows my patented Alric distraction technique.

The Quick Way / The Easy Way

You start on the eastern edge of the map. The only unit you have is Alric. There are a few Myrmidons running around solo. Alric can make short work of them. Just face away from one, wait until he gets very close to you, then turn around and start whacking away. Try to fight one at a time. Go west, down the hill, to the main part of the map.

Keep going west, and cut south. You'll run into a fairly large group of Myrmidons. Use one of Alric's dispersal dreams on them. Note that dispersal dreams do not spread out. They only hit one unit at a time. Therefore, it's best to target one end of the group. I suggest the front. Use Alric's sword to clean up any who survive somehow.
Next, go north. You will run into a similar group. Use the same tactics against them.

Send Alric near the world knot, but, if you're playing on legendary, don't have him bring the rest of your units through yet. Wait for the Myrmidons from the north. It's okay to use a dispersal dream on them, since you won't need it later. Note that if you catch them far enough north, there will be two groups. Clean up any leftovers with your sword.

Bring the rest of your forces through the knot. Split off a group of one or more berserks. Send the rest of your units as far east possible, back to where you started.
Send your berserk group to the northern edge of the map and have them run west. They should be able to run right past the Myrmidons and thrall without being attacked. Keep going into the lake until you turn blue. You win, but you feel dirty.

Films for The Quick Way / The Easy Way to Master "Pools Of Iron"

"Tricks Of Iron II"
Legendary, no casualties. No damage received on this one.

The One True Way

You start on the eastern edge of the map. The only unit you have is Alric. There are a few Myrmidons running around solo. Alric can make short work of them. Just face away from one, wait until he gets very close to you, then turn around and start whacking away. Try to fight one at a time. Go west, down the hill, to the main part of the map.

Walk Alric just north of the world knot and keep going west. The two Myrmidon groups should pursue and join together. Use a dispersal dream to take out both groups. Remember to target one end of the conglomerate, or you won't get them all.

Go back to the world knot and get your army. If you're playing on legendary, you should see another group of Myrmidons aproaching from the north. You could use a dispersal dream against them, but this is not advisable as you'll need it later. You're best off if you flank them with your berserks. You should be able to kill them all fairly easily.

Separate out two berserks. Send the rest your units back to the eastern hill where you started. Set them up with Alric and some berserks in the front with the Archers above them.
Send one berserk to the ramp at the temple. Do not send him up far enough to activate the Trow. Have the other berserk run along one side of the temple and activate one of the groups of Myrmidons. Once you have their attention, run back toward your main forces.

Pretty soon, you should see the other Myrmidon group heading at your berserk on the ramp. Wait until they're almost to you, then run up the ramp to activate the Trow, then send him back to your army as well.

If you timed it right (you'll probably have to mess with things a bit), the Trow should run into the back of the Myrmidon group and get stuck behind them.

When they get into Alric's range, use a dispersal dream on the whole thing. Both Trow should be frozen or badly injured. Use your archers to finish them off. Get any remaining Myrmidons with berserks and Alric.
The remaining group of Myrmidons will appear shortly. Use a dispersal dream on them as well. Clean up the remainder.

Send your archers to the westernmost part of the temple. A huge line of thrall should walk out of the lake. Kill as many as you can with your archers, using all other healthy units for clean-up.
If your archers have to retreat, get them back into position and send another unit close to the lake. A second wave of thrall should come out. Deal with them in the same way.

Wade your units into the lake. You're done.

Films for The One True Way to Master "Pools Of Iron"

"Pools Of True Power"
Legendary, no casualties. Watch how many times the Trow get hit by the dispersal dream.

Your Units: Alric (at start) 23 berserks (later) 7 archers (later) 2 journeymen (later)	Objectives: Get to the lake.	Their Units: Myrmidons 2 Trow Thrall


The Orthodox Way

You start on the eastern edge of the map. The only unit you have is Alric. There are a few Myrmidons running around solo. Alric can make short work of them. Just face away from one, wait until he gets very close to you, then turn around and start whacking away. Try to fight one at a time. Go west, down the hill, to the main part of the map.
	Head west. You'll run into a fairly large group of Myrmidons. Use one of Alric's dispersal dreams on them. Note that dispersal dreams do not spread out. They only hit one unit at a time. Therefore, it's best to target one end of the group. I suggest the front. Use Alric's sword to clean up any who survive somehow. Next, go north. You will run into a similar group. Use the same tactics against them.
Walk to the damaged world knot. Alric should bring through a group of berserks with a journeyman, then a group of archers and a journeyman with a few more berserks. If you're playing on legendary, you should see another group of Myrmidons aproaching from the north. You could use a dispersal dream against them, but this is not advisable as you'll need it later. You're best off if you flank them with your berserks. You should be able to kill them all fairly easily.
	You can go a couple ways next. You can seek a defendable position on one of the many ledges around the edge of the map, then lure the enemies there, or you can bring your units to the temple for your attack. Either way, use Alric's two remaining dispersal dreams on the Myrmidons on either side of the temple. Split up your berserks and try to attack the Trow from multiple directions. It helps if the archers pick at them while you do this. It also helps if the Trow is distracted by kicking at a journeyman or Alric as they can absorb many more hits before dying than berserks. You're guaranteed to lose a few berserks at higher difficulty levels, but with luck and good timing it won't be many.
Send your archers to the westernmost part of the temple. A huge line of thrall should walk out of the lake. Kill as many as you can with your archers, using all other healthy units for clean-up. If your archers have to retreat, get them back into position and send another unit close to the lake. A second wave of thrall should come out. Deal with them in the same way.
Wade your units into the lake. You're done.


The Quick Way / The Easy Way

You start on the eastern edge of the map. The only unit you have is Alric. There are a few Myrmidons running around solo. Alric can make short work of them. Just face away from one, wait until he gets very close to you, then turn around and start whacking away. Try to fight one at a time. Go west, down the hill, to the main part of the map.
	Keep going west, and cut south. You'll run into a fairly large group of Myrmidons. Use one of Alric's dispersal dreams on them. Note that dispersal dreams do not spread out. They only hit one unit at a time. Therefore, it's best to target one end of the group. I suggest the front. Use Alric's sword to clean up any who survive somehow. Next, go north. You will run into a similar group. Use the same tactics against them.
Send Alric near the world knot, but, if you're playing on legendary, don't have him bring the rest of your units through yet. Wait for the Myrmidons from the north. It's okay to use a dispersal dream on them, since you won't need it later. Note that if you catch them far enough north, there will be two groups. Clean up any leftovers with your sword.
	Bring the rest of your forces through the knot. Split off a group of one or more berserks. Send the rest of your units as far east possible, back to where you started. Send your berserk group to the northern edge of the map and have them run west. They should be able to run right past the Myrmidons and thrall without being attacked. Keep going into the lake until you turn blue. You win, but you feel dirty.


The One True Way

You start on the eastern edge of the map. The only unit you have is Alric. There are a few Myrmidons running around solo. Alric can make short work of them. Just face away from one, wait until he gets very close to you, then turn around and start whacking away. Try to fight one at a time. Go west, down the hill, to the main part of the map.
	Walk Alric just north of the world knot and keep going west. The two Myrmidon groups should pursue and join together. Use a dispersal dream to take out both groups. Remember to target one end of the conglomerate, or you won't get them all.
Go back to the world knot and get your army. If you're playing on legendary, you should see another group of Myrmidons aproaching from the north. You could use a dispersal dream against them, but this is not advisable as you'll need it later. You're best off if you flank them with your berserks. You should be able to kill them all fairly easily.
	Separate out two berserks. Send the rest your units back to the eastern hill where you started. Set them up with Alric and some berserks in the front with the Archers above them. Send one berserk to the ramp at the temple. Do not send him up far enough to activate the Trow. Have the other berserk run along one side of the temple and activate one of the groups of Myrmidons. Once you have their attention, run back toward your main forces.
Pretty soon, you should see the other Myrmidon group heading at your berserk on the ramp. Wait until they're almost to you, then run up the ramp to activate the Trow, then send him back to your army as well.
	If you timed it right (you'll probably have to mess with things a bit), the Trow should run into the back of the Myrmidon group and get stuck behind them.
When they get into Alric's range, use a dispersal dream on the whole thing. Both Trow should be frozen or badly injured. Use your archers to finish them off. Get any remaining Myrmidons with berserks and Alric. The remaining group of Myrmidons will appear shortly. Use a dispersal dream on them as well. Clean up the remainder.
	Send your archers to the westernmost part of the temple. A huge line of thrall should walk out of the lake. Kill as many as you can with your archers, using all other healthy units for clean-up. If your archers have to retreat, get them back into position and send another unit close to the lake. A second wave of thrall should come out. Deal with them in the same way.
Wade your units into the lake. You're done.