Bone Bearer

"Several seasoned adventurers have whispered, gripping tankards of ale to hide shaking hands, that new horrors await in the deepest regions of the Ruins.  The repulsive ranks of the malignant skeletons therein are said to rally around banner-bearers of extreme decrepitude.  Theirs is a blasphemous and ensorceled flag whose presence in battle lends great strength and other unspeakable assistance to their damnable kin. These chittering fiends are even said to tap into the hoarish energies that animate the long-decayed corpses!  A new threat whose grinding teeth and shuffling steps echo endlessly in the shadowy arcades of the ruined battlements…"

- Radiant Update Teasers

The Bone Bearer is an enemy that appears only in Champion-tier expeditions in the Ruins. While it remains standing, the banner it bears will inspire the legions of the undead to fight harder, and it can rally them to make them hit even harder. Should its allies fall in battle, the Bone Bearer can simply reanimate these piles of bones, getting them to continue fighting as if nothing ever happened.

Behavior
The Bone Bearer is a champion-level monster that serves as a commander for groups of lesser skeletons. He has absolutely no offensive potential whatsoever, but he is nonetheless a formidable threat due to his ability to bolster and defend his squadmates. His mere presence will boost their offense power by 25%, and he will routinely use his Wicked Surge ability to boost his allies' offense even further by 20% a tick!

His most dangerous ability is Unholy Rally; this ability allows him to revive any enemy that has been killed provided it left a corpse — and with full HP, to boot. Killing a skeleton with a critical hit or an attack that pulverizes corpses (Daemon's Pull, Purge) will prevent him from animating their remains, as will killing them with bleed/blight. As such, killing the Bone Bearer is an immediate priority; if left to his own devices, he will bolster his allies considerably and his ability to revive the dead will further prolong the fight.

If forced to the front row, he will waste turns by using Defend the Icon, a relatively weak attack that will return him to the back rows.

Spawning
The Bone Bearer will only spawn in Champion level dungeons in the Ruins.

Abilities
While the Bone Bearer is alive, all enemies except itself receive +25% DMG.

* Wicked Surge cannot target the Bone Bearer itself.

** Unholy Rally is an Auto-Action used at the end of every round there is a corpse.

Trivia

 * Defend the Icon was originally called "Hide in the Ranks".
 * The eye on the Bone Bearer's Banner is very similar to the symbol on the Antiquarian's pouch.
 * The trumpet sound that plays while this unit uses abilities is the same as the Night's Watch signalling horn in the HBO TV-series "Game of Thrones".

'''All Areas

 * Bone Rabble

'''Ruins

 * Bone Soldier
 * Bone Courtier
 * Bone Arbalist
 * Bone Defender
 * Bone Captain
 * Bone Spearman

'''Boss

 * Necromancer