Master Strategist
Theodore
Cavalry
Garrison
Skills
Rarity
Legendary
Race
Human
Faction
League of Order
…
Theodore’s Skills
In the dynamic world of Call of Dragons, Theodore stands out as the premier Garrison captain. This guide is your go-to resource for maximizing Theodore’s capabilities, covering essential aspects like talents, artifacts, pets, and hero combinations.
Shadowed Spite
Rage Skill
Attack Range: Near
Deals damage to an enemy Legion and Bruises them: HP -10% for 3s.
Damage Type: Hero Skill damage (Physical)
Upgrade Preview:
- Skill Damage Factor 700 / 800 / 1,000 / 1,200/ 1,400
- HP reduction: 10% / 15% / 20% / 25% / 30%
Traitor’s Ambition
Passive Skill
Theodore’s Cavalry units gain a bonus to their attributes.
Upgrade Preview:
- Cavalry unit DEF bonus: 10% / 15% / 20% / 25% / 30%
- Cavalry Unit March Speed: 4% / 5% / 6% / 8% / 10%
Royal Writ
Passive Skill
When garrisoning a City or Stronghold, Theodore’s Legion has a 20% chance to gain Vigor and ATK Resistance when hit by an attack.
Duration: 3s
Upgrade Preview:
- HP bonus: 4% / 5% / 6% / 8% / 10%
- ATK Resistance: 4% / 5% / 6% / 8% / 10%
Coup de Grace
Passive Skill
Each time Theodore inflicts a debuff effect on an enemy Legion via a Hero Skill, he gains one stack of Consul’s Mark (maximum stacks 3).
All stacks of Consul’s Mark are consumed when Theodore casts a Rage Skill, increasing damage dealt by that Skill.
Consul’s Mark is reset when battle ends.
Upgrade Preview:
- Hero Skill damage bonus: 10% / 12% / 14% / 16% / 20%
Weaver of Intrigue
Passive Skill
Theodore’s Legion takes 25% less normal attack damage.
Prayer of Life
Skill Enhanced: Foremother’s Blessing
Before Awakening: Heals lightly wounded units in a nearby friendly Legion with the lowest Unit Count (Healing Factor 400) and grants the Legion Onslaught, increasing normal attack damage dealt by 20% for 5s.
After Awakening: Heals lightly wounded units in a nearby friendly Legion with the lowest Unit Count (Healing Factor 400) and grants them Onslaught, increasing normal attack damage dealt by 20% for 5s, while also healing Pan’s Legion (Healing Factor 200).
Can be Awakened once Hero Level reaches 40, and all the Hero’s Skills are upgraded to the maximum level.
Theodore’s active skill is a game-changer, dealing 1,400 damage and slashing the health of the target by 30%. Interestingly, this makes him an effective option for city rallies, as reducing the health of every unit in an enemy city significantly can turn the tide of battle. However, Theodore’s true calling lies in city defense, which we’ll explore more shortly.
The second skill bolsters defense by 30% and adds a 10% march speed boost. Given that cavalry often becomes a target, this defense enhancement is invaluable. For those focusing on field performance, prioritize upgrading the first skill, then unlock and maximize the second skill before distributing points further.
The third skill, specific to strongholds, activates when Theodore serves as a primary or secondary commander in a city or stronghold. It offers a 20% chance to gain Vigor—increasing hit points and attack resistance by 10%—when hit by an attack, with a more frequent trigger during swarms due to its 3-second cooldown. This makes Theodore particularly resistant against swarm attacks in Garrison.
The fourth skill is where things get more intricate. Each time Theodore inflicts a debuff through a hero skill, he gains a stack of Council’s Mark, up to three stacks. When Theodore casts a rage skill, these marks are consumed, amplifying the skill’s damage by 20% per stack. This reset at the end of each battle adds a strategic layer to using his abilities effectively.
However, since Theodore’s skills don’t inherently apply debuffs, pairing him with a secondary commander who does is crucial. 
Forondil, another cavalry commander released alongside Theodore, is the perfect pairing. Fondel’s skills can add stacks of debuff, which synergizes well with Theodore’s fourth skill.
In terms of countering, Theodore offers a 25% reduction in normal attack damage, making him a formidable adversary against specific rally strategies, like the Syndrion Ffraegar rally. This reduction in damage taken is a significant factor in Theodore’s effectiveness in Garrison defense.
Pairing Theodore with Forondil unlocks further potential. Forondil’s active skill applies a debuff, contributing to Theodore’s skill stack. Additionally, Fondel’s Awakening skill potentially adds another stack, making the duo an exceptional combination in battles.
If you’re looking to acquire Theodore’s tokens, they are available through the “Strongest Lord” event or, later in season 2, in daily deals. Deciding whether to gradually upgrade Theodore or focus on another near-awakening hero is a strategic choice each player must make based on their game plan.
Recommended Theodore’s Talent Trees
Garrison Talent Tree
Recently, the game has undergone a change, allowing players to level up to 60 again solely through PvE, a welcome update from the developers.
At level 60, for Garrison duty, I suggest focusing on defense and health talents, ignoring march speed as it’s irrelevant for garrisoning. It’s important to prioritize defense over attack, leading to the selection of Garrison’s Riposte. This talent enhances counterattack damage, which is key since Theodore can counterattack all attacking units, unlike normal attacks which are directed at a single target.
Thorn Barrier is another talent I chose, giving a chance to inflict gloom and a defense break on the target. While I’m not entirely sure about the function of Fair Defense, it seems to activate a unit skill that counters enemy rallies with a single troop type. The potential of this talent warrants further investigation.
Moving up the talent tree, Garrison Synergy is a must-have, boosting hero skill damage by 10% when Theodore serves as Garrison Captain. The choice of a secondary hero significantly influences this talent’s effectiveness. Arrogance, which offers a chance to gain additional rage on normal attacks, is another excellent pick.
In terms of Garrison resistance or Garrison Rampage, the choice hinges on your gameplay philosophy – whether to focus on reducing damage taken or increasing damage dealt. While the healing ability seems underwhelming, it becomes valuable in swarm scenarios.
The talent Formidable is a strategic choice for Garrison Captains, reducing enemy hero skill damage upon casting rage skills. However, it’s ineffective against certain rally strategies like Syur and Fragar, so plan accordingly.
After completing the main talent tree, I revisited some of the earlier talents. Grumpy, which provides additional rage, is a standout pick. Tough Garrison, reducing skill damage taken, is vital for Theodore’s survivability. Garrison Determination, offering a choice between reducing or increasing normal attack damage, depends on your tactical preference.
In summary, the Garrison talent tree is so robust for Theodore that it’s advisable to focus exclusively on it, rather than spreading points thinly across other trees. The sheer potency of the Garrison talents, especially when fully optimized, makes them indispensable for maximizing Theodore’s effectiveness in Call of Dragons.
Openfield Talent Tree
When it comes to field battles, Theodore’s approach shifts significantly. Here, the focus moves to the skill tree, which offers an impressive range of options. Starting with overall speed, we then delve into the skill tree for its remarkable effectiveness. You’d be surprised to find that even for Garrison purposes, the skill tree can be incredibly potent.
Key talents like Intimidation and Head Held High are essential for boosting hero skill damage and increasing rage. The choice between Spirit of Rage and Boiling Blood hinges on your strategy for activating active skills more frequently. Personally, I lean towards generating more rage, equating to more frequent skill use and hence, increased damage output.
Detached and Focus are next, with the former reducing normal attack damage but significantly boosting hero skill damage. Thirst for Blood is my choice over Caged Animal, aiming for impactful hits early in the battle, especially effective when charging with Cavalry units.
Moving to the Cavalry tree, Egoism and Perfect Verocity stand out, reducing incoming hero skill damage and significantly enhancing your own hero skill damage at the start of battle. With these talents, Theodore becomes a force to be reckoned with, delivering devastating skill damage.
The versatility of the skill tree is remarkable, offering numerous viable options for talent points. Whether you’re focusing on rage generation, countering specific unit types, or maximizing skill damage, there’s a wealth of choices to tailor Theodore to your battlefield strategy.
While my primary intent for Theodore is Garrison defense, his flexibility and strength in the open field cannot be overlooked. Though I have yet to fully maximize his potential, the versatility in talent choices means Theodore can be an asset in various combat scenarios, beyond just Garrison needs.
Best Pairings or Theodore
When deploying Theodore in the field as the primary commander, the choice of secondary commander is pivotal.
Forondil emerges as a top pick, with their synergistic design making them a formidable pairing.
Beyond Forondil, Bakshi and Emrys stand out as excellent choices, each bringing unique strengths that may influence your pet selection.
While Bakshi offers a skill tree advantage, Theodore’s ability to reduce enemy health makes him better suited as the primary. This setup allows the secondary skill damage dealer, whether it’s Bakshi or Emrys, to capitalize on the weakened enemy with high damage output.
Other commanders like Hosk could be considered, but their synergy with Theodore isn’t as strong, particularly since Hosk isn’t focused on skill damage. In open-field battles, pairing Theodore with a commander who enhances skill damage is crucial. Theia, for example, boosts skill damage but focuses more on shielding than dealing skill damage herself, making her less ideal.
An unconventional yet effective pairing could be with Kregg, especially if using Eagles. Despite the fact that Theodore is grounded, Kregg’s AOE skill damage can complement Theodore’s abilities well.
Alistair, at the Epic tier, is another viable choice, offering area of effect damage and a mechanism to gain passion, which is crucial for rage generation and consequently impacts pet choice.
Passion, a key factor in commander synergy, is essential for optimizing Theodore’s performance. Commanders like Eliana can also be a compatible pairing, offering different tactical advantages in the field.
Strongholds
In the scenario of defending a stronghold, selecting the right secondary commander for Theodore is crucial. While Forondil, with his strong synergy, seems like an obvious choice, there are nuances to consider. For instance, Forondil skills are most effective in the field, which may limit their utility in prolonged Garrison battles.
In such cases, Bakshi emerges as a surprisingly effective alternative. Particularly for defending passes, the Theodore-Bakshi pairing could be more advantageous due to Bakshi’s consistent performance in extended engagements. This combo can handle the unique demands of Garrison defense more effectively than Fondel.
When it comes to city defense, where various troop types are present, the dynamics change. Here, you might want a combination that maximizes damage output across all unit types. Surprisingly, Theodore paired with Bakshi could still be an excellent choice, even for city defense. Bakshi’s ability to increase hit points by 30% for all troop types within the city is remarkably effective, offering a significant boost to defensive capabilities.
In conclusion, while Theodore’s versatility allows for various pairings, the optimal choice for secondary commander depends on the specific context of the battle. Whether it’s field skirmishes or Garrison defense, considering the unique strengths of potential secondary commanders and how they complement Theodore’s abilities is key to formulating a successful strategy.
