ForgeOne of your pawns becomes a knight or a bishop.
GreeceHephaestus
Greece · Style Transformation
HephaestusThe smith of the gods
Hephaestus forges pawns into knights or bishops and minor pieces into rooks. The god for patient builders who strike in the endgame.
Forges pawns and minor pieces into stronger ones. For patient builders.
- Free to download
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- No account
- Plays offline
Who is Hephaestus?
The smith of the gods turns simple pieces into mighty ones.
Hephaestus is the smith of the gods. He forged Zeus’ lightning bolts, Hermes’ winged helmet and the throne on which the others feel so important. Hardly anyone ever thanked him. So he prefers to stay in his workshop inside the volcano, where it is loud, hot and wonderful. Give him a pawn and a little time, and he will make a rook of it.
Before the first move, Hephaestus hides the Anvil trap on the board. If your opponent moves onto the square, a bishop or knight is reforged into a pawn. Any other piece is paralyzed for 2 moves instead.
Powers
Hephaestus's three powers
Every move earns 1 favor, every captured piece adds its value on top. Instead of moving, you use a power. After that it needs a few moves before it is ready again.
- Forge
One of your pawns becomes a knight or a bishop.
- Furnace
One of your knights or bishops becomes a rook.
- Masterpiece
Ultimate power: One of your pawns becomes a rook, but it must cool for 2 moves and cannot move until then.
In mythology
Who was Hephaestus really?
Hephaestus was the Greek god of fire, smithing and craftsmanship. He was a son of Hera and walked with a limp. According to legend he was thrown down from Olympus and landed on the island of Lemnos. Even so he became the greatest artist among the gods: in his workshop he made palaces, weapons and marvels, such as the splendid armor of Achilles. At the command of Zeus he shaped Pandora, the first woman. He was married to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, and the Romans called him Vulcan. In the game he turns simple pieces into stronger ones, just as he forged masterpieces from raw metal.
Tactics
How to win with Hephaestus
Trade to heat the forge
Forge and Furnace cost 24 favor each. Trade early, because every captured piece adds its value to your favor.
Upgrade idle pawns
Turn a pawn with nothing to do into a knight or bishop. You gain material without touching the pawns that shield your king.
Forge the Masterpiece in peace
Masterpiece turns a pawn into a rook once per game, but it must cool down for 2 turns. Use it when you are not under pressure.
An anvil for knights
The Anvil trap forges a bishop or knight back into a pawn. Hide it on an outpost where enemy knights love to settle.
Quips
Hephaestus has something to say about everything
I forged this board myself. Treat it well.
at the startA material flaw. Not mine.
after a lossA little smaller suits you.
when the trap snapsGood work. I mean yours.
after a defeat
Every mythology has a god of the Transformation style: Ptah and Sindri play a similar game with very different powers.
Good to know
Questions about Hephaestus
The download is free. Hephaestus can be bought on their own in the game, or together with every other god in the Key of the Gods.
The ultimate power Masterpiece. It costs 25 favor, works only once per game and does this: One of your pawns becomes a rook, but it must cool for 2 moves and cannot move until then.
Every mythology has one god for the Transformation style. Besides Hephaestus, these are Ptah (Egypt) and Sindri (The North).
24: eight each from Greece, Egypt and the North, each with a play style of their own. Zeus is playable right away, Gaia and Hermes join you after three wins.