- A reference guide and manual in Russian for Heroes 3.

Could you provide the figures for, say, some Archangels?

It's not difficult to show, but it will be quite cumbersome...

The damage calculation formula will look like this:

D= [D(bas) + D(bas)*(Att-Def)*0.05 + 0.3*D(bas)*(1+0.05*Level)] * (1-0.15*(1+0.05*Level)),

where
D(bas) is the base damage of the unit, which in our case is constant for the Archangel and equals 50 HP;

D(bas)*(Att-Def)*0.05 is the base damage modifier, which increases by 5% with each increase in the Attack/Defense delta;

0.3*D(bas) is the standard bonus for the Expert Attack skill;

0.3*D(bas)*(1+0.05*Level) is the "specialty" modifier, increasing the Attack bonus by 5% for each level (Crag Hack);

0.15*(1+0.05*Level) is the "specialty" modifier, increasing the Armor bonus by 5% for each level (Tazar);

Let's start by defining the task - what exactly do we want to test? How to assess the effectiveness of the secondary Attack and Defense skills?

By default, both heroes have the same primary Attack/Defense skills and the same secondary skills (both have Expert Attack and Expert Armor). That is, complete parity.

Obviously, it is necessary to compare the effect (damage) that the attacking unit will inflict under the condition that both specializations are working (Crag Hack attacks Tazar) and the damage when Tazar attacks Crag Hack (in this case, the specializations are not active, and the damage is calculated according to standard rules).

If we analyze the dependence (let's assume the heroes' levels are the same, it doesn't matter which one, let's say 3. Primary skills are equal to zero), then we can easily find that with an Attack/Defense delta of 8 or more, the hero with the Armor specialization receives less damage - 72.20 HP, than he is able to inflict under the same conditions - 72.25 HP. That is, his skill begins to dominate. Moreover, the higher the level of the heroes, the faster this mechanism is activated. For example, if both heroes are level 27 (and higher), then the calculation shows that Tazar already at the start (with zero attack/defense spread) inflicts more damage - 55.25 HP, than he receives from the attack of Crag Hack - 55.20 HP...

Conclusion: the Attack specialization is effective only with relatively small values of the Attack/Defense spread, when direct damage dominates. As soon as the emphasis is placed on the difference in the primary skill, the Armor specialization will have an advantage. And the higher the level of the heroes, the more pronounced this becomes.

Note:
This calculation has nothing to do with assessing a duel between two heroes. Since it compares two heroes under the condition that each of them has an advantage in attack over the other - which cannot happen simultaneously... )) The conversation is exclusively about the effectiveness of secondary skills, all other things being equal. I apologize for all this math, but you asked for it... ))