The Council of Shadows — Songs of Conquest Walkthrough

Learn how to effectively use the Sassanid unit in Songs of Conquest. Discover their strengths, weaknesses, upgrade paths to Shadow, and strategic tips for Barya builds.

Hey there! So you're looking to get the most out of your Sassanids in Songs of Conquest? These guys are pretty cool, acting as deadly assassins and scouts for the Barya faction. Let's break them down. ### Sassanid The Sassanid is your go-to melee unit for Barya, recruited from a Fortalice. They're all about swift, silent takedowns. Think of them as your sneaky damage dealers. ### Shadow When you upgrade your Sassanid, you get a Shadow. This upgrade costs 300 gold and 1 glimmerweave. Shadows are even deadlier, and the coolest part? They can ignore zones of control! This means they can bypass enemy lines and get to those juicy back targets without getting bogged down. ### Lore These guys have a bit of a reputation. The Harima Sassanids are known for their stealth, thanks to some finely crafted velvet shoes that let them move without a sound. They're hired killers, and if they want to live long enough to spend their earnings, they have to be lethal. The best of them are called Shadows, and they live up to the name. They also serve as scouts and spies for the Merchant Houses of Barya. It's a morbid trade, dealing death in the dark, but in Barya, everything's a deal, even death. There's a story about the Council of Merchants dealing with the Barony of Pinecoast. When negotiations failed over a tariff, they hired a Sassanid. Soon after, the Baron of Pinecoast had an 'accident,' and the new Baron removed the tariff, letting Baryan goods flow freely again. There's also a notable group called the Stone Pact. Back in the day, during the Aurelia Empire, a Faey Queen named Ethylle-Ernaline had a vision of the Empress Aurelia's plans. A Harima clan leader named Darktongue decided to form the Stone Pact to hunt down and destroy any monuments where the undead could be summoned. They were pretty effective for centuries, stopping Aurelia's followers, until they were wiped out by the undead Wielder, Kastus Maal. ### Strategy Sassanids are all about speed and hitting where it hurts. Their high movement and Backstabber trait let them flank enemies and strike vulnerable spots. Once they're Shadows, they get Stealthy, meaning they can just walk past enemy units without taking any damage. Combine that with their high damage potential, and Shadows are a really potent threat. Heads up though: Sassanids and Shadows aren't the toughest units out there, unlike Brutes. You need to make sure they either get buffs to help them survive or that they can take out their target in one or two hits. If they get stuck in a long fight or take a lot of ranged damage, they can get wiped out quickly. Because they have a mix of Order and Destruction essence, Sassanids can offer more magical utility than Brutes, which can help them fit into more army compositions. However, they're most commonly seen in Harima builds. To get Sassanids, you'll need a Fortalice in your town, which requires a Piper's Post first. You'll also need Glimmerweave to purchase the unit. To upgrade the Fortalice to unlock Shadows, you'll need a Sawmill and some Celestial Ore. So, keep them moving, pick your targets wisely, and use their stealth to your advantage. They can be absolute game-changers when used right!