This is a post in relation to my thread where i wrote a lot of suggestions. here's the link: http://forum.supercell.net/showthrea...traps-enjoy%21
The Mantis
Mantises are stealthy creatures who turn invisible while running. They can quickly annihilate targets when leaving this stealth modus, but they deal reduced damage to walls.
Here is an image of how i think they should looke like:
http://imgur.com/MxbHzgD
His attack animation should have him attack vertically with one arm, while for the enhanced attack he uses both arms and attacks horizontally, slashing outwards.
Stats:
Preferred target: None
Level DPS DPH Enhanced damage HP Training cost (gold) Research cost (elixir) Research time Laboratory level required 1 46.6 56 160 64 1,200 / / / 2 60 72 180 89 1,800 1,125,000 2 days 7 3 73.3 88 220 114 2,400 2,500,000 3 1/2 days 8 4 86.6 104 260 140 3,000 5,000,000 5 days 9
Attack type: Melee (ground only), single target damage
Housing space: 6
Training time: 5 minutes
Speed: 20 (+4)
Attack speed: 1.2 seconds
Range: 0.8 tiles
Barrack level required: 3
Here is how his stealth mechanic works: when the mantis is out of combat (no damage dealt, none received) for 2 seconds he enters stealth and gains 4 movement speed. During this time, he becomes untargetable (meaning defensive structures can't directly target him) but not invincible. When he receives damage (by traps or splash) he quits stealth mode. This also occurs when he stops moving to attack a structure/troop. His next attack will then be enhanced, dealing a lot of bonus damage. They are quite frail, but also gain a lot of max hp when being upgraded. If the enemy has a defending vampire hero (see original thread) in bat form, it will reveal all stealthed units within 8 tiles. If a Mantis attacks a wall, the damage is halved.
The strategy for beating these guys lies in fast attacks. X-bows shoot blazingly fast, 8 times per second; I think. This will leave the Mantises unable to enter stealth and will soon die. Continuous damage from inferno towers also work well. A few good placed traps will do te trick as well.
Army comps
The mantis can be seen as a fronliner. Usually, frontliners are very tanky but that's not the case with the mantis, thanks to its stealth mechanic.
Perhaps an attacking strategy could look something like this: you set a tanky troop like a golem. This will take the defences' attention so you can use wallbreakers, followed by mantises (since they do reduced damage to walls). The mantises have raw damage that will then destroy the base.
Mantises don't work well with hawkriders. Hawkriders will only focus the defences and leave the mantises helplessly behind while they jump over walls. Using only Mantises and jump spells isn't adviced either, as they leave stealth when attacking and are very vulnerable to wizard towers. They have synergy with another one of my troop suggestions, the shaman.
