Overview
The Kobolds are one of the primary enemy factions in Vindictus: Defying Fate. They inhabit the Frozen Valley region, a snow-covered territory where they have established mining operations and strongholds. The Kobolds are part of the broader Fomor confederation but operate semi-independently, driven more by resource disputes and territorial control than by the cosmic war between Morrighan and Cichol.
Kobold types
The Frozen Valley contains several types of Kobold enemies with distinct combat roles:
Miner Kobold: The most common variant. Miner Kobolds carry pickaxes and other mining tools repurposed as weapons. They attack in groups and use straightforward melee patterns.
Guard Kobold: More heavily armored than Miners, Guard Kobolds carry shields and weapons. They are tougher to stagger and often protect other Kobold types.
Kobold Wrangler: Handlers who command beasts in combat. They fight alongside their creatures, adding an extra layer of complexity to encounters.
Draenog: Beasts used by the Kobold Wranglers. These creatures are faster and more unpredictable than the Kobolds themselves.
Barghest: Another beast type found alongside Kobold forces. Barghests are aggressive and tend to charge at players.
Elite variants
Foreman Kobold: An elite commander variant with higher health, stronger attacks, and the ability to rally nearby Kobolds. They appear as mid-mission mini-bosses.
Master Hunter Kobold: A ranged elite that uses projectile attacks from distance. More dangerous than standard ranged enemies due to higher accuracy and damage.
Named bosses
Several named Kobold bosses control different sectors of the Frozen Valley:
Expedition Captain Imich: Leads Kobold scouting parties near the region's borders. One of the first named bosses players encounter in the Frozen Valley.
Supervisor Eiwoch: Oversees mining operations and guards resource-rich areas.
Storekeeper Echeloch: Protects Kobold supply caches. Defeating Echeloch can yield crafting materials for the weapon crafting system.
Chief Priest Emaighsoch: A more powerful Kobold with access to different attack patterns than the standard martial fighters.
Faction boss: Chimpuu Emuloch
The leader of the Frozen Valley Kobolds is Chimpuu Emuloch. As the faction boss, Chimpuu Emuloch has a massive health pool, a full array of precision action-triggering attacks with both yellow and red telegraphs, and a high stagger threshold. This fight is a major progression milestone in the Frozen Valley storyline.
Lore
The Kobolds are known for their resilience and their focus on labor, particularly mining. Tensions in the Frozen Valley arise from competition over resources between the Kobolds and other factions. While they are part of the Fomor alliance, the Kobolds' motivations are primarily practical: they defend their territory, their mines, and their way of life.
The Frozen Valley itself is a harsh environment with steep cliffs, icy paths, and limited shelter. The Kobolds have adapted to this terrain, using it to their advantage in combat encounters. Players arriving from the Northern Ruins (where the Gnolls are the primary threat) will find the Kobolds present a different kind of challenge: more organized, more defensive, and harder to dislodge from fortified positions.
Other Frozen Valley enemies
While Kobolds dominate the Frozen Valley, they share the region with other creatures:
Draenogs and Barghests: Beasts controlled by Kobold Wranglers that also roam independently in some areas.
Environmental hazards (ice, avalanche zones, narrow paths) can affect both players and enemies during combat.
Combat tips
Guard Kobolds block frontal attacks. Circle behind them or use heavy hits to break their guard.
Kobold Wranglers should be prioritized in mixed groups. Killing the Wrangler first can cause their beasts to become disorganized.
Against Chimpuu Emuloch, watch for red-flash attacks that cannot be guarded. Space and Perfect Dodges are your best tools.
The Frozen Valley's icy terrain can cause sliding during combat. Account for this when positioning for precision actions.