Dwarven Units
The Dwarves have some of the strongest and toughest units in the game, but also the slowest. This means that you really need to use forward Mines to transport your troops into battle.
Guardians
Cost: 250
Built by: Hall of Warriors
Upgrades: Banners (250), Mithril Mail (300), Forged Blades (300), Siege Hammers (300)
Abilities: Charge (level 2)
Guardians are the bread and butter unit of the Dwarves. You will need many of them to fight against the Elves. They are strong and deal nice damage to resource buildings, and a few of them clumped on a production building will bring it down in no time. Use Guardians to engage the large Elven armies while you let other units, like Axe Throwers and Battlewagons pick the enemy apart with ease. Remember, you can upgrade your Guardians with Banners, which will allow them to use their Charge ability, trampling the target. Use this ability to defend your Mines with ease by trampling troops clumped and attacking your Mines. Guardians are decent counters for heroes weak to slash, like Haldir, if they are catchable.
Phalanxes
Cost: 350
Built by: Hall of Warriors
Upgrades: Banners (250), Mithril Mail (300), Forged Blades (300)
Phalanxes are not needed in large numbers in this match up, but they can be one of the most important units early game as you use them to creep Wargs and Trolls. They are good for countering Ent Summons or just normal Ents, mounted heroes, and Elrond/Thranduil if you can get close enough.
Axe Throwers
Cost: 250
Built by: Archery Range
Upgrades: Banners (250), Mithril Mail (300), Forged Blades (300)
Axe Throwers are the Dwarves’ main ranged unit, but they are unique from other factions because they deal slash damage, not pierce like other archers. Slash damage is great against pikes and archers. Axe Throwers are great at taking down weak Mithlond Sentries from afar and allowing your Battlewagons to swoop in and trample archers, or just attacking the archers directly. However, they are not that great against Lorien Warriors.
Men of Dale
Cost: 500
Built by: Level 2 Archery Range
Upgrades: Banners (250), Mithril Mail (300), Fire Arrows (300)
Abilities: Black Arrows (level 2)
Men of Dale are the second tier archers of the Dwarves. You can get them to take out enemy pikes or troops in general, but they are not needed. Money could be better spent elsewhere. A huge exception is if you see an Eagle coming from the Elves’ Fort. In this instance, you should get some Men of Dale immediately. Black Arrows triples their damage and causes fear in enemy units, making them run.
Hobbits
Cost: 200
Built by: captured Inn
Abilities: Throw Rocks
Hobbits are great against production buildings but have rather weak armor compared to other Dwarven units, so be careful when you send them in, for archers will rip them apart. They can be a nice addition to harassment from the sides on Fords of Isen II, but no need to go crazy making lots of them against Elves. They can use a melee attack or throw rocks, which are decent against cavalry or enemy units or heroes trying to flee.
Battlewagons
Cost: 500
Built by: Level 2 Forge Works
Upgrades: Hearth (400), Banners (300), Men of Dale (500), Axe Throwers (300)
Ability: Oil Barrel
Battlewagons are very important in this match up to take out Elven archers before they can wipe out your troops. Use Oil Barrel on a clump of enemy units that are closely guarded by pikes. Battlewagons are very nimble and can be microed around pikes with more ease than conventional cavalry, but still be careful with them. Ranged Elven heroes can be a good counter against them, so if they are doing no good, retreat them before they are lost. The Banners upgrade is handy if you want a little extra leadership for your troops (25% damage and experience), and it adds a Phalanx to the wagon. The Hearth will allow the Battlewagon to heal itself, other Battlewagons, troops, heroes, buildings, and even units in Mines, although not very fast. The Men of Dale upgrade is great against heroes, Lancers if they get them, or even Eagles in masse. The Axe Thrower upgrade is another good option, as it will do good damage against Lorien Archers and Mithlond Sentries. Battlewagons are nice harassers as well if you are not using them against the enemy army, just stay away from Fort fire/level 3 Mallorn Trees. Mass archers will destroy Battlewagons too.
Demolisher
Cost: 600
Built by: Forge Works
Upgrades: Mithril Mail (300)
Ability: Deploy
The Demolisher is an amazing siege unit. It can trample units with ease along the way to a building, but stay away from pikes and heroes. Once locked on an enemy Fort, it can be deployed, rendering it immobile but greatly increasing its armor. Although strong, Demolishers are not that important in this match up, unless you want to sneak one in the start or use it to finish them off. They take significant amounts of damage from groups of archers, so have unit support.
Dwarven Catapult
Cost: 800
Built by: Level 2 Forge Works
Upgrades: Flaming Shot (400)
Ability: Oil Barrels, Bombard
The Dwarven Catapult is a good catapult as far as damage goes, but they are not needed unless you have them beaten but cannot finish them off. They can be used against clumped armies, but they take a while to build and the money could be spent on other things. Their Oil Barrel ability is similar to the Battlewagon's, it launches a barrel that sets fire to the ground, but has longer range. The Bombard ability can increase the catapult's range and allows it to attack where you do not have line of sight, but it reduces accuracy and damage. If you want more damage, get Flaming Shot to make quick work of the enemy defenses.
