Regarding the mages, I think you can defeat them even without Vampires. You should give Sandrik in the Guild of Veterans Magic Resistance 1. Then you can pick off mages during the turn so they don't cast poison, and you can use skeletons to protect against melee attacks. Also, you need to cast
Magic Steal yourself and bring some Imps to quickly drain the elders' mana. Then just poison the enemies and wait for them to die.:p

Besides melee attacks, they will also shoot arrows. Magic Resistance might not be necessary later, but it will cost you 2000. I defeat the mages with two Vampires and six Imps without a hero :) Of course, I get into the boat on the 7th day, but with Imp and Vampire. I can't raise skeletons. I spent the upgrade points on health and mysticism (gaining +12 mana per turn). Try this strategy. In my opinion, there won't be a victory based on the number of days, especially if you go to destroy the first Nature Fortress :) You need to attack Chaos.

However, I decided to replay starting from the fourth day because I realized I missed a lot...
With the raised skeletons after the mages, I still want to get him into the boat on the sixth day, so I will try to play a little differently.:)

I'll have to extend the Tournament :)

Iron, how much mana do you have before the battle with the Mages, and did you capture the Forge, and how much gold do you have at that moment? You are delaying the purchase of the second hero... :mad:

I don't care about mana before the battle with the mages :) But it would be 32 :) If those damned Dwarves hadn't attacked during the turn. The hero had no health, so I had to remove the armor and cast a protection spell on himself for 5 points. Therefore, at the beginning of the 7th turn, I have 27 mana. The Forge isn't really needed, but I'll capture it later. I'm going to Chaos without potions. There is always not enough money. I will need a unit from this fortress only to defeat Nature, so there is time, but I still bought a Death Knight with poison for 1500 (I think I rushed the purchase), otherwise, there won't be enough money for three boats, I'll have to exchange minerals. His task is to capture the Forge - by the beginning of the week, there will be one Vampire. I bought the second one to steal the Ring of Power, which he did. It has already been given to Sandrik (attack +5). At the beginning of the seventh day, there are 2657 Gold, 20 Wood, 19 Stone, 7 Crystals, and 2 Ore. But on the 8th turn, I will also attack the Cemetery with Cerberus. I wasted one on the chest, and the second one is late - I don't want to replay - I'll figure it out. So, I also want to buy some useful skill for 2000. So, there isn't enough for even one boat - but I will exchange stones. Maybe I wasted 2500 on upgrading Wood.
Well, it's needed. If the Cemetery gives 2000, then there will be enough for two more boats - and then I will try to throw Imps into them without losing a turn from the first boat and collect money for the Vampire that will be born on this day. The Death Knight and Vampire should be stationed on their island. I want to capture the Forge and Tower, and if possible, level him up, if not, then at least take some money and potions. That's what I dream about :)