WC3 introduces heroes, creeping and upkeep into the RTS formula. Timing hero levels and items is as important as macro.

Races

Humans wield Water Elementals and tower pushes; Orcs use Blademaster and Kodo auras; Undeads rely on Death Knight nukes and Destroyers; Night Elves utilise Demon Hunters and Bears/Dryads. Each race has different timings and tech routes.

Creeping & Items

Plan your creep route to hit level 3 before fighting. Deny your opponent access to important camps and item drops. Creep jacking — engaging while the enemy creeps — can swing games. Heroes drop consumables, auras and stat boosts that can decide battles.

Upkeep & Late Game

WC3 features low and high upkeep, reducing gold income above 50 and 80 supply. Timing when to go into higher upkeep is crucial; a fight won in low upkeep can win the game. In late game, heroes, scrolls and control spells like Cyclone and Storm Bolt decide fights.