Creature banks are a type of adventure map object in the Heroes of Might and Magic series. Heroes can battle a guard of creatures in order to receive a reward, which include resources, artifacts, creatures, and occasionally more unique rewards like levels or spells.
When a hero visits a creature bank, it will display a description of what kind of creatures guard the bank as well as prompt the player to enter or leave. Once a creature bank has been successfully cleared, visiting it again will have no further effects (except a penalty to Morale in some cases). In Heroes IV and V, creature banks will accumulate treasure and guards over time and will restock one month after being cleared.
In most games, a battle at a creature bank is no different than a battle with a neutral army. In Heroes III and Olden Era, creature banks use a unique layout where the hero's army begins in the center of the screen and the enemies begin in five locations at the four corners and center right. War machines and Tactics are disabled in these creature bank fights.
Types of creature banks[]
Heroes of Might and Magic: A Strategic Quest[]
| Name | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Graveyard |  |
The graveyard is a creature bank where the hero can battle ghosts and be rewarded with gold. After it is looted, it will decrease the morale of the next visiting heroes by one. Can be found on grass, swamp, or dirt. |
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| Dragon City |  |
Dragon City is defended by a small amount of dragons (5x1). When the guardians are defeated, the Dragon City grants 1000 gold per day and has a small host of dragons defending it. Can be found on grass, desert, swamp, or dirt, but only one Dragon City can be on a map. |
| Shipwreck |  |
The hero fights 5x10 ghosts and is rewarded with 2000 gold and an Artifact. Can be found only on water. |
Heroes of Might and Magic II[]
| Name | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Graveyard | 
|
The hero can choose to fight 100 (5x20) Mutant zombies for the reward of 1000 gold and a random artifact. After reward is received, all the subsequent visits will grant -1 morale to any hero until the end of the next battle. |
| Daemon cave |  |
When the hero enters the daemon cave, they can choose to encounter a demon or his minions. If chosen to fight the minions, the combat with 8 (3x2 + 2x1) earth elementals commence for the reward of 2500 gold. If chosen to fight the demon, there is no actual fight, but a random chance for several outcomes: 30% chance to redeem the hero for 2500 gold, otherwise he will die, 30% chance to gain 1000 experience, 30% chance to gain 1000 experience and 2500 gold, 10% chance to gain 1000 experience and a random artifact. |
| Pyramid | 
|
The hero can choose to fight a group of 50 undead units (2x10 vampire lords in slots 1 and 5, and 3x10 royal mummies in slots 2, 3, and 4) for the reward of level five spell. Requires the Magic Book and Expert Wisdom to learn the spell. If the hero cannot learn the spell, it will simply disappear. After reward is received, all the subsequent visits will grant -2 luck to any hero until the end of the next battle. |
| Derelict Ship | 
|
The hero can choose to fight 200 (5x40) skeletons for the reward of 5000 gold. After reward is received, all the subsequent visits will grant -1 morale to any hero until the end of the next battle. Can only be visited by ship from the sea. |
| Shipwreck | 
|
The hero can choose to fight a random amount of ghosts for the reward. After reward is received, all the subsequent visits will grant -1 morale to any hero until the end of the next battle. Can be visited by land and by ship from the sea. |
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Ghosts can be split into 3, 4, or 5 stacks. If there are 3 stacks, slots 1 and 5 are left empty; if there are 4 stacks, slot 5 is left empty. Below are the possible configurations.
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Heroes of Might and Magic III[]
See List of Creature Banks in Heroes III.
Heroes of Might and Magic IV[]
See List of Creature Banks in Heroes IV.
Heroes of Might and Magic V[]
See List of Creature Banks in Heroes V.
Might & Magic: Heroes VI[]
| Name | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian Camp | 
|
A camp of marauding Orcs. If they are this numerous, they must be guarding something of value.OffBck (Note: The guard's faction is Stronghold, and creature types are Core and Elite) |
| Dark Elf Outpost | 
|
A group of Dark Elf spies have set up camp here to keep a close watch over the land. Many secrets await in the bowels of the tower. Defeat the guardians to get resources and artifacts.OffBck (Note: The guard's faction is Dungeon, and creature types are Core and Elite) |
| Dragon Utopia | 
|
For several centuries, powerful dragons have lived in these ancient ruins. Only the foolish would dare venture inside.OffBck (The guarding creature(s) are (or is) always Shadow Dragons, Black Dragons, and Spectral Dragons or a Daughter of Malassa) |
| Hellgate | 
|
A small army of Demons guards a gate to Sheogh. They are also doubtless guarding the plunder that they have taken.OffBck (Note: The guard's faction is Inferno, and creature types are Core and Elite) |
| Pyramid | 
|
A Necromancer army is protecting one of their holy sites. Where there are holy sites, there are usually precious relics.OffBck (Note: The guard's faction is Necropolis, and creature types are Core and Elite) |
| Ruins | 
|
The secret place where enemies conceal their loot. These bloody treasures must be guarded well so be ready to fight the guards.OffBck (Note: The guard's faction and type varies) |
| Wrecked Galleon | 
|
Most likely the victim of a pirate attack, this once puissant galleon is now a disintegrating hulk, ripe to be pillaged by avaricious wayfarers.OffBck (Note: The guarding creatures are always Ghosts and Specters ) |
Might & Magic: Heroes VII[]
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This section is incomplete and requires more information. Please help and contribute your knowledge by editing or expanding it. |