Ghosting in Evony: Strategies, Benefits, and Best Practices
Ghosting is a fundamental strategy in Evony: The King's Return, often used during Player vs. Player (PvP) events such as Server vs. Server (SvS). This technique involves "hiding" your troops to protect them from being killed or wounded when your city is attacked. Mastering ghosting can help you preserve your troops, maintain your offensive capability, and avoid unnecessary losses.
What is Ghosting?
Ghosting in Evony refers to the practice of deploying your troops in such a way that they are not present in your city and cannot be attacked directly. When you "ghost" your troops, they are either marching towards a distant target or participating in a rally, effectively keeping them out of harm’s way. Ghosting is especially useful during PvP events where your city may come under repeated attacks.
Why is Ghosting Important?
Ghosting is crucial for protecting your troops during high-risk scenarios, such as Server verses Server (SvS) or Killing Events (KE). Without ghosting, your city becomes vulnerable to attacks, and you risk losing troops or incurring high healing costs. Ghosting ensures that your troops remain safe while you focus on other strategies, such as gathering points or launching counterattacks.
- Troop Preservation: By ghosting your troops, you prevent them from being wounded or killed, saving on resources and time required for healing or retraining.
- Enhanced Flexibility: Ghosted troops can quickly be called back to participate in rallies or other offensive operations, giving you a strategic advantage.
- Resource Protection: Keeping your troops out of harm’s way reduces the risk of losing resources stored in your city when under attack.
Methods of Ghosting
There are several ways to ghost your troops in Evony, each with its own advantages and limitations. Here are the most common methods:
1. Ghosting with Rallies
The most popular ghosting method involves creating a rally. Rallies are a secure way to keep troops "hidden" from direct attacks.
- How it Works: Start a rally against a faraway enemy (e.g., a high-level monster or an enemy city). Select a long rally duration (e.g., 1 hour) to ensure your troops are unavailable for that time.
- Tips: Choose a distant target to maximize the rally duration. Be mindful of the rally expiration time to prevent your troops from returning unexpectedly.
2. Ghosting with Gathering
This method involves sending your troops to gather resources at distant resource tiles. This methid is not ideal in SvS as the enemy can attack resource tiles but it is valied for Killing Events where the server rules include a NAP on resource tiles
- How it Works: Send your troops to a faraway resource tile and ensure they won’t complete the gathering process quickly.
- Tips: Use gathering generals and troop types that increase load capacity to prolong the gathering process.
3. Ghosting with Marching
You can also send your troops on a long march to a distant location.
- How it Works: Choose a distant point on the map and send your troops marching. This keeps them unavailable for enemy attacks until they return.
- Tips: Ensure the target location is far enough to give you sufficient time to react before troops return.
Pros and Cons of Ghosting
While ghosting is an essential strategy, it’s not without its limitations. Here are the pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Protects your troops from being killed or wounded. | Requires constant monitoring to prevent troop return. |
| Allows you to participate in events without risking heavy losses. | May limit your ability to defend your city directly. |
| Enables quick troop deployment for rallies or attacks. | Not foolproof—enemy tactics like rallying your city can still pose risks. |
Tips for Effective Ghosting
- Monitor Rally Timers: Always keep an eye on your rally timers to ensure your troops don’t return at an inopportune moment.
- Coordinate with Alliance: Work with your alliance to reinforce your city or distract attackers while your troops are ghosted.
- Combine Strategies: Pair ghosting with other defensive tactics, such as using bubbles or setting traps for attackers.
- Use Strategic Targets: When ghosting via rallies, target distant monsters or low-priority enemies to minimize disruption.
Conclusion
Ghosting is a vital strategy for intermediate and advanced players in Evony: The King's Return. By mastering the various ghosting methods, understanding its pros and cons, and coordinating effectively with your alliance, you can protect your troops, maintain offensive capabilities, and excel during high-stakes PvP events. Always adapt your ghosting strategy to your specific situation for maximum effectiveness.