Everybody knows that while the Orcish Tower rush works against all races, it is most effective against the Night Elves. This is because the Night Elf's buildings only have level 2 Armor until upgraded, while the other races all have level 5 Armor. Because of this, Night Elf players have been victims of MANY Raider and Tower rushes.

Well, the Night Elves now have a VERY tough to beat "Tower Rush" of their own...and it's in the form of the Ancient of War Rush. Recommended for smaller maps (2-4 players).

Build Order:

1-3 wisp to Gold
Queue 2 wisps (Rally to Gold)
4 wisp Altar (wood when finished)
5 wisp Moon Well (second moon well when finished, then wood)

-(Continue building wisps (Rally to Wood) until you get to 17 supply)

-Choose Demon Hunter as your hero. Skill points as follows:
- 1 - Immolation
- 2 - Mana Burn
- 3 - Immolation

-Upgrade to Tree of Ages
-When the Tree of Ages upgrade is about half finished, build a Hunter's Hall
-When the Tree of Ages upgrade is complete, research the Nature's Blessing upgrade

How to Execute:

As soon as your Tree of Ages is complete, send six wisps to a point that is near the enemy's base. You want to be close enough that your Ents don't have to walk too far, but far enough away that you won't be discovered before you're ready. Also, be careful where you build your Ents. When I was experimenting with this strategy on Plunder Isle. I accidentally built my Ents too close to the Dragons on the left side of the map, and the creeps destroyed all of my buildings leaving me with no buildings, and very little money quite a while into the game.

When you arrive at your determined point of attack, use four of your six wisps to build four Ancients of War. Use the remaining two wisps to build two Ancient Protectors.

Your Ancients of War should finish building before the Ancient Protectors. As soon as your Ancients of War are complete, uproot them, and sent them on an "Attack Move" into the enemy's base.

About this time your Ancient Protectors should be finishing. Uproot them and send them into the enemy's base. You want to root them again so that they'll get their ranged attack. Put them where they're out of your Ancients of War's way, but where they can provide Covering fire for you melee only Ancients of War.

If your Ancients of War are taking too much damage, be sure to use the "Eat Tree" command to replenish their health.

Why this is so effective:

You're bringing 4 attackers with a HUGE amount of hit points VERY early in the game.

Now, the normal counter for an attacking Ancient would be to use hit and run tactics against them. You'd run up with your Grunt, attack, and run away before the Ancient could attack you back. The Ancients are so slow, that this is very effective counter.

HOWEVER, you're also using Ancient Protectors who have a ranged attack, so now those hit and run tactics don't work.

Example Replay:

Replay #1

Replay #2