Skeleton Warrior — First Enemy Design
The first enemy type is taking shape. Skeleton Warriors are the most common undead patrol in the Prison Depths, armed with rusted swords and slow but deliberate movement patterns.
The Skeleton Warrior is Blood Mage's bread-and-butter enemy — the undead soldier you'll encounter most in the first four levels. Designing them meant balancing threat with approachability: they need to feel dangerous without being overwhelming when Raven is still finding his footing.
Movement-wise, they patrol fixed routes until they detect the player, then switch to a direct pursuit behavior. Their attack timing is telegraphed — a visible wind-up before each sword swing — giving skilled players a window to dodge or interrupt.
Blood magic is particularly effective against them. A well-timed Blood Bolt staggers a Skeleton Warrior mid-swing. Blood Bolt currently uses mana — it does not consume health.