[mwcard=MWSTX1CKC03]Galador, Protector of Straywood[/mwcard] seems pretty weak on the surface, compared to other level 4 creatures. [mwcard=MW1C34]Steelclaw Grizzly[/mwcard] costs only 1 extra mana and is better both in his offence as his defence. At the surface, he seems to outclass Galador by a mile. The first time I used Galador, I reasoned that his succes was pure luck and the specific circumstances of that game. The second time I again reasoned it was luck, but after 4 good games, I had to conclude: Galador is a good creature!
Number 1: Galador has a 4-dice ethereal attack. Ethereal is something nature mages don't easily find. Force hammer is a good spell, but very expensive and a one-time use. His ethereal attack can be boosted easily with hawkeye to become 5 dice. If the opponent casts some incorporeal conjurations or creatures he might become the savior of your battle!
Number 2: Galador can effectively damage and daze/stun big guys with his lightning attack. This comes in very handy when the opponent has some huge creatures by his side.
Number 3: He can attack flyers! The nature school mostly does not have a ton of flying creatures, but Galador can shoot them out of the sky.
Number 4: Armored soldiers are weak to lightning attacks. He is a very good counter to common creatures like the [mwcard=MW1C22]Knight of Westlock[/mwcard]. His ranged attack will gain 2 dice and the Daze/stun chances also rise.
Number 5: His melee attack is decent. Not great but certainly not bad. 4 or 5 dice + piercing 1 is slightly above average but nothing to brag about. Still, it is a decent attack whenever you need it.
Galador has an answer for every situation and will almost certainly be usefull in every single round. Flyers? Shoot them! Big guys? Daze them! Ethereal? Kill it! Guards? Avoid it with a ranged attack or attack it with the antlers! [mwcard=MW1Q07]Elemental Cloak[/mwcard]? Antlers!
The beauty of Galador is thus his biggest weakness at the same time. He can almost every round get things done and will have an answer in every situation. The downside remains that the grizzly bear has more strength. If you never played the deer because he seems too weak on the surface I would really suggest to test him out. There is more to him than meets the eye.
