Overview
Urn Soldiers and Urn Swordsmen are summoned enemy types encountered during the Hexe Marie boss fight in the Smoking Lands. Officially labeled as Hexe Earthen Warriors in the game's combat UI, they are ceramic automatons that Hexe Marie conjures from the mysterious urns scattered throughout her arena. These minions serve as both distractions and genuine threats, forcing players to split their attention between dealing with waves of adds and attacking the boss herself.
Appearance
Both variants share a ceramic and pottery-based composition. They resemble scarecrows with tilted jugs perched on their heads, giving them an eerie, almost ritualistic appearance that fits the dark magic atmosphere of the Smoking Lands. Their bodies are constructed from clay, stone, and fired pottery, which becomes apparent when they are destroyed. Explosive arrows blast them apart into chunks of crockery, scattering ceramic fragments across the battlefield.
Types
Hexe Marie summons two distinct variants during the boss fight. Each requires a different tactical response.
Type | Description | Threat Level |
|---|---|---|
Urn Soldiers | Multiple stone soldiers with urn-shaped heads. They spawn in groups and swarm the player, functioning as distractions and chip-damage dealers. Individually weak, but dangerous when they pile up alongside Hexe Marie's crow attacks | Moderate (dangerous in numbers) |
Urn Swordsman | A singular, more formidable minion composed of stacked clay pot pieces. Significantly stronger and more durable than Urn Soldiers, with heavier attacks that can stagger the player. Moves slowly compared to the lesser minions, but hits much harder | High (priority target) |
Behavior
Hexe Marie summons these minions in waves throughout both phases of the boss fight. During Phase 1 (blue HP bar), she primarily summons groups of Urn Soldiers to harass the player while she attacks from range with her crow magic. As the fight progresses into Phase 2 (red HP bar), she begins summoning Urn Swordsmen alongside the Urn Soldiers, significantly increasing the pressure on the player.
Allowing minions to accumulate is one of the most common causes of death during the Hexe Marie encounter. A swarm of Urn Soldiers can pin the player in place while the Urn Swordsman delivers a heavy blow, or while Hexe Marie channels her Crow Storm attack from range. Keeping the battlefield clear of adds is essential for survival.
How to Counter
Explosive arrows are the primary counter against both variants. A single explosive arrow can shatter multiple Urn Soldiers in a cluster, blasting them into chunks of crockery. They are highly effective for crowd control when groups spawn together
Ice arrows can immobilize and freeze swarms of Urn Soldiers, buying time to deal with the Urn Swordsman or to focus damage on Hexe Marie during a vulnerability window
Always prioritize the Urn Swordsman when both types are present. The Swordsman's heavy attacks can stagger the player and create openings for Hexe Marie's most dangerous abilities. Despite being slower, its high damage output makes it the greater threat
Clear all minions before committing to sustained damage on Hexe Marie. Getting caught mid-combo by a group of Urn Soldiers while the boss is channeling Crow Barrage is extremely punishing
Elemental weapon imbues (particularly fire) deal bonus damage to both variants, consistent with their clay and pottery composition
Related Encounters
Urn Soldiers and Urn Swordsmen appear exclusively during the Hexe Marie boss battle in the Smoking Lands. They do not appear as regular enemies elsewhere in Pywel. Hexe Marie also deploys magic mines during the fight that explode and deal damage over time, adding another hazard layer on top of her summoned minions.