Manticore

"Ranged myth unit that fires a volley of spikes from its tail. Good against human soldiers."
In-game description

The Manticore is a monstrous leonine Greek myth unit available by worshiping Apollo in the Heroic Age.

Special Ability

Image	Name	Description
	Spine Volley	Fires a salvo of six spines that do 11 pierce damage each (×2 vs. myth units, ×0.25 vs heroes) at range of 16 in an area of 3. Recharge time: 15 seconds
	Solar Flare	Requires Sun Ray: Projectiles reveal the area around where they land

Technologies, Upgrades, & Bonuses

Upgrades

Name	God	Upgrades from	Upgrades to	Effect
Hand of Talos	Hephaestus	Colossus	Silver Colossus	+25% hit points
Shoulder of Talos	Hephaestus	Silver Colossus	Gold Colossus	+25% hit points and -20% hack vulnerability

God Bonuses

Image	God	Bonus
	Zeus	-1 population cost
	Hades	+15% hit points
	Poseidon	+0.4 speed

Myth Technologies

Image	Name	God	Description
	Oracle	Apollo	+4 Line of Sight
	Dionysia	Dionysus	+5% hit points

Age Bonus

Image	Name	Description
	Wonder Age	+100% hit points, +100% damage, +20% speed

Relic Bonuses

Image	Name	Description
	Scales of a Catoblepas	-15% Pierce vulnerability
	Pandora's Box	-20% favor cost
	Pelt of Argus	+6 Line of Sight
	Scales of a Echidna	-15% cost except favor

Gameplay

Manticores have a ranged attack and have an attack bonus against myth units. They attack over range by firing many spikes with limited accuracy, and are effective support units. They shouldn't be in the thick of combat. Instead they should stay on the sidelines and just continually deal damage so stronger units can kill enemy units.

Mythology

"◆ Scientific Name -- Epibouleos Occisor
◆ Size -- 1600 lbs.
◆ Diet --Carnivore, largely humans
The Manticore probably came into Greek mythology from Persia and originated in tales about far away and exotic India. The beast had the body of a red lion, a human face (with blue eyes and human ears), three rows of teeth, a stinging poisonous tail, and poisonous spines that could be shot like arrows in any direction. Its voice was like a mixture of pipes and trumpets. It was fast and capable of great leaps. When villagers vanished without a trace, it was believed they were devoured by a manticore."
In-game compendium

Gallery

Trivia

The Colossus, as referenced by its specific technologies, is based on Talos, a giant, bronze Automaton who patrolled the island of Crete.
The Colossus is named after one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes, a giant bronze-plated statue of the sun god Helios.
The Colossus originally had the second highest number of hit points of any myth unit that can be trained at a Temple. As of Tale of the Dragon, it only has the third-highest hit points.
During development, the Colossus did not exist, and its role was instead filled by the Golem.