I took 1 restart and this layout started.
I didn't buy many heroes, there was a stable and quite a few quests. Right next to the castle there is a mini Griffin Conservatory.
The respawn also revealed a Dwarf Cottage and a Medusa Hovel.
I quickly took the Necropolis village and captured the crystal and ore mines.
I had decent gold, put Bears on week 1.
On week 2, I bought units and broke the Dwarf Cottage with 20 Grand Elves, then the Griffin Conservatory too.
Further along the path were Grendel and Efreeti, I decided to go through the wasteland. I arrived on the grass with a bunch of quest artifacts.
I immediately turned in the artifact for 25 Grendel Demons and found a Pandora's Box for the entire 2nd level.
Next, I took the opponent's Inferno village and bought a Necklace of +1 Spell Duration at the Black Market, since I only had 1 Spell Power.
The opponent attacks, stats are equal, I have a big advantage in raw forces, but no Haste to Expert Air Magic :(
There are 2 shooter stacks, Grendel Gogs and Orcs, 2 Angels, 30 Grendel Wolves, and chaff.
With Mass Haste, the opponent managed to thin out my troops a bit and bought back in with 2 Angels. I had Bears, Demons, and about 40 Goblins left. Next, I turn in 2 more quests — 25 regular Demons and 10k gold. I find Haste and calmly take the villages in the remaining treasure zones. I planned to upgrade the Bears, but the opponent decided not to run any further.
Thanks for the game.
Thanks for the game!