Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos/The Druids Arise

Chapter Four
Two days later, deep in the Winterspring Valley…

Mission Objectives

 * Main Quest - Awaken Druids
 * Reach the Barrow Dens
 * Destroy the corrupted Night Elf base
 * Bring Furion to the Barrow Dens


 * Optional Quest - Crazed Furbolgs
 * Kill the Furbolg Warlord


 * Optional Quest - Cursed Glade
 * Kill the Death Revenant to restore the forest

Overview
This mission is quite hard. It's not so much that it's hard in and of itself, rather the problem is that it's so different that you won't have a good idea of what you should do on the first, or fifth, attempt. Once you have managed to explore most of the map, however, your plan of action becomes clear, and the gameplay becomes fairly easy. There still are difficulties, but at least you can formulate decent plans.

Hard Mode Strategy
Split among 4 Gold Mines resources are scarce on this map. You will be forced to relocate your base at least two times. Luckily enemies are either weak or have little interest in you, fighting among themselves most of the time. Stay within No Upkeep before first three Gold Mines are empty.

Keep an eye on the immovable part of your base. Orcs will be sending ground forces there, including Catapults. Rooting both Ancient Protectors near the Hunter’s Hall will keep any intruders busy while help is on its way. Enemy air attacks will aim only at your current Gold Mine.

Humans
Once both Gold Mines west of the gates are empty your top priority is Human base, which is blocking the passage to the Cursed Glade and Barrow Dens. You shouldn’t lose any units up until this point. Bolster your army with at least 2 Ballistas, 2 Dryads and any amount of Archers/Huntresses you can afford (given that you did research armour & attack upgrades).

Lure Paladin’s main force outside the gates (Furbolgs around Defiled Fountain need to be cleared beforehand). Destroy towers next. Clear the area and set up your third base here. After the Gold Mine is captured, Orcs will stop attacking your immovable buildings at the starting location. Build two more Moon Wells and move your Protectors to the current Gold Mine.

As soon as Gold Mine collapses go beyond No Upkeep and build up a huge army: Huntresses, Dryads and Heroes will be in the first group; 12 Archers in the second group; 4 Ballistas in the third group. Leave Ancient Protectors and units that do not fit into first three groups at the base to defend against air strikes.

Cursed Glade
Completing second optional quest — although yields no treasures — will permanently remove any enemies that spawn within the Cursed Glade (otherwise you will be forced to fight undead each time you need to cross the forest). Take your vast army south east and defeat the Dark Revenant.

At the far west corner of the Cursed Glade trees can be destroyed to reveal Ancient Storm Wyrm which drops a very powerful treasure.

Corruption
Depending on your success with Dark Revenant, corrupted Night Elf base to south east can be destroyed without capturing the last Gold Mine. Simply root your Ancient Protectors near the entrance to their base and place Ballistas on the east ramp overlooking the passage (destroy their two Protectors there first).

Corrupted Night Elves have no wisps and won’t be rebuilding their base during the fight. Destroy everything except the Tree of Life and take your time to complete Furbolg Optional quest along with scouting northern part of the map for Dark Trolls and valuable items they possess.

Once Furion Stormrage is fully equipped, take him to the Barrow Dens to complete the mission.

Treasures

 * Sobi Mask from the Ancient Storm Wyrm hidden in the Cursed Glade
 * Claws of Attack +6 from the Furbolg Warlord
 * Ring of Protection +2 from the Dark Troll Warlord west of the Fountain of Health
 * Tome of Strength in a crate behind the Dark Troll Warlord
 * Potion of Mana in a crate on the way to Furbolg Warlord
 * Ironwood Branch in a small Troll camp east of starting location along with Potion of Healing