Aldermarrow
Ulmus
- Faction: Wilders
- Type: Strength
- Class: Tank
- Role: Tank
- Rarity: Ascended
- Union: Wisdom and Hope
- Race: Treant
- Gender: Male
- Height: 320 cm
- Age: Unknown
- Affiliations: Arden
Tasi
Solice - Past Residence: Unknown
- Voice Actor: Akitsugu Kinoshita
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Introduction
AFK Arena Ulmus, also known as “Aldermarrow,” is a Wilder faction hero. As a Strength-based Tank, he is designed to absorb damage and provide support to his allies. Ulmus functions as a melee/ranged hybrid, adapting his attack style based on his abilities. Typically placed at the frontline, he excels at soaking up damage while sustaining himself through self-healing.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Skills
Deep Roots
At Level 1, Ulmus immediately recovers 40% of his max HP and roots himself to the ground until the end of battle. While rooted, he is immune to all control abilities and his normal attack becomes a ranged attack that raises his Attack Rating by 40%. If he has enough energy, he uses 35% of his max Energy to enhance his normal attack damage and stun effect.
At Level 81, the energy required to strengthen normal attacks is reduced to 30% of max Energy.
At Level 161, Ulmus’s Attack Rating while rooted is increased to 50%.
Writhing Roots
At Level 11, Ulmus uses his roots to entangle nearby enemies, causing 120% damage to them; entangled enemies cannot use any attacks.
At Level 21, damage is increased to 125%.
At Level 101, damage is increased to 130%.
At Level 181, damage is increased to 135%.
Forest’s Oath
At Level 41, Ulmus casts a shield around his weakest teammate, mitigating damage up to 200% of the damage they receive.
At Level 121, the shield restores 4% of lost HP per second while active.
At Level 201, the shield’s value is increased to 220% of Ulmus’s attack rating.
Life Torrent
At Level 61, a passive ability that restores 4% of lost HP per second.
At Level 141, the weakest ally also receives this ability’s effects.
At Level 221, the restoration increases to 5% of lost HP per second.
AFK Arena Ulmus’s kit makes him a sustained frontline tank with self-recovery, ally protection, and crowd control. His effectiveness can be further enhanced through Signature Item and Furniture upgrades, improving his survivability and utility in battle.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Signature Item
Tomtem Scoring
Strange carved designs that glow with ancient power.
Skill: Healing Roots
Ulmus’ own health recovery effects are increased by 10%.
+10 Unlocks, Ulmus’ own health recovery effects are increased by 20%.
+20 Unlocks, after using the ability Deep Roots, Ulmus’ health recovery effect is increased by an additional 20%.
+30 Unlocks, after using Deep Roots, the effects of Forest’s Oath will be received by 3 allies.
Due to the underwhelming effects of higher-tier upgrades, Totem Scoring is generally recommended to be upgraded only to +10, unless Ulmus is a core part of a player’s team. Other heroes with stronger Signature Items may offer a better return on investment for resources.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Engraving Abilities
Forest’s Oath
At Engraving Level 30, Forest’s Oath is enhanced, increasing the value of shields to 240% of attack rating value.
Reach 2 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: CRIT +3
Reach 3 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: CRIT +3
Life Torrent
At Engraving Level 60 , Life Torrent is enhanced to restore 6% of lost HP per second.
Reach 4 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: CRIT +3
Reach 5 Star Ascended with this hero to gain: CRIT +3
Endeavor
At Engraving Level 80, Endeavor grants bonuses in Arena of Heroes, Legend’s Challenger Tournament, Legends’ Championship, and Heroes of Esperia, increasing ATK by 10% and DEF by 37.04%.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Furniture Set Bonuses
Protection of Nature
At 3/9 Mythic Pieces, allies close to enemies afflicted by Ulmus’ Writhing Roots ability are granted the positive effects of his Forest’s Oath ability.
At 9/9 Mythic Pieces, the value of the shield granted by Forest’s Oath is increased by 100%.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Artifacts
AFK Arena Ulmus’s artifact choices depend on the player’s progress in the game, with early-game recommendations differing from the “Collections” system introduced in the Ghoulish Gallery.
Waistband of Resilience
In the early game, the best artifact for AFK Arena Ulmus is the Waistband of Resilience, which enhances his tankiness and survivability. This artifact provides damage reduction and self-sustain, making it a solid choice for his role as a frontline tank.
For most players, equipping Waistband of Resilience remains the most effective choice, ensuring Ulmus maintains his durability without requiring additional investment in the Collections system.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Self-Sustain and Ally Healing
AFK Arena Ulmus’s passive ability, Life Torrent, restores a percentage of his lost HP per second. At higher levels, it also heals nearby allies, enhancing team survivability.
Crowd Control
His Writhing Roots skill entangles nearby enemies, preventing them from attacking and providing valuable CC during battles.
Ultimate Ability
Upon activation, Deep Roots roots Ulmus to the ground, making him immune to control effects and converting his attacks to ranged with increased attack rating. This transformation enhances his durability and damage output.
Shielding Allies with Forest’s Oath
AFK Arena Ulmus can shield his weakest ally, mitigating incoming damage and, at higher levels, providing healing over time, bolstering team defense.
Synergy in Stall Teams
He fits well in compositions focused on stalling, especially when paired with heroes like Nemora, Tasi, and Lyca, enhancing overall team control and sustainability.
Weaknesses
Reliance on Ultimate Activation
Ulmus’s effectiveness heavily depends on successfully casting Deep Roots. If defeated or controlled before activation, his impact diminishes significantly.
Healing Based
His healing scales with missing HP, making it less effective when he’s at low health or facing burst damage, potentially compromising his survivability.
Lack of Damage Mitigation
Unlike other tanks, Ulmus lacks inherent damage reduction abilities, making him susceptible to high-level enemies and reducing his viability in late-game content.
Limited Role Specialization
While versatile, Ulmus doesn’t excel in any specific role, often being outperformed by heroes who specialize in tanking, healing, or CC.
Furniture and Signature Item Dependency
To maximize his potential, Ulmus requires investment in his signature item and furniture bonuses, which may not be resource-efficient compared to other heroes.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Team Synergy
AFK Arena Ulmus is a versatile hero who can be incorporated into a variety of team compositions, though he isn’t typically a core hero to build a team around. His strengths lie in his ability to provide survivability, healing, and crowd control, making him a valuable addition to several team setups.
HeroFactionRoleTeam Synergy InteractionNemoraIntelligence Support / Healer★ Works seamlessly with Ulmus; her healing and charm complement his passive healing aura and frontline tanking in stall comps.Tasi
Intelligence Support / Crowd Control★ Combines with Ulmus’s roots for near-permanent CC loops, banishing and sleeping enemies during his rooting phase.Lyca
Agility / Ranger Energy Support★ Her haste buff accelerates Ulmus’s ultimate activation, letting him enter his defensive rooted form faster while boosting the whole team’s tempo.EironnAgility Ranger
Burst / AoE Damage Dealer★ Pulls enemies into tight groups, perfectly setting up Ulmus’s Writhing Roots to hit multiple enemies and apply CC across clustered foes.
AFK Arena Ulmus is not considered a core hero for late-game compositions, but his utility can be valuable in certain team setups. He is better suited as a supporting hero, rather than the main tank or damage dealer. His versatility means he can contribute to multiple areas, from tanking to healing and crowd control, making him a flexible choice for various team compositions.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Lore
Ulmus, the ancient Treant known as Aldermarrow, was once a noble guardian of the forest, deeply attuned to the land he protected. When the Hypogeans invaded and spread corruption, the forest began to rot and so did Ulmus. His leaves withered, bark decayed, and his once-clear mind was consumed by blight. As his roots grew wild and dangerous, Ulmus became a threat to the very creatures he once vowed to protect.
Overwhelmed by despair and fading memories, Ulmus drifted toward ruin. Unable to resist the growing corruption, he gave in to the blight, losing hope for restoration. Just as he reached his lowest point, his longtime friend Arden arrived. The sage bathed him in a burst of light, sparking a chaotic reaction Ulmus’s corrupted roots lashed out and ensnared Arden.
In that moment of danger, Ulmus rediscovered his purpose. Moved by Arden’s selflessness, he fought against the corruption threatening to consume him. With Arden’s final encouragement and a surge of inner strength, Ulmus cast off the blight. He emerged renewed his bark healed, leaves vibrant, and roots once again under control. Though Arden lay weakened, he smiled, proud to see his friend restored. Ulmus’s story is one of loss, rebirth, and the enduring strength of friendship.
AFK Arena Ulmus Guide: Conclusion
Ulmus is a reliable and flexible tank in AFK Arena, offering a balanced mix of crowd control, healing, and survivability that makes him especially valuable in the early to mid-game. While he doesn’t dominate late-game meta, his utility shines in stall teams and specific synergy-driven lineups. His ultimate, Deep Roots, is crucial for unlocking his full potential, allowing him to switch roles mid-battle, self-heal, and support allies from the backline. Though not a resource-priority hero for high-end builds, Ulmus remains a strong pick for strategic players looking to enhance team durability and control.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)
❓What is Ulmus’s primary role in AFK Arena?
Ulmus is a Strength-based Tank from the Wilder faction. He excels in providing frontline durability, crowd control, and healing support, especially in early to mid-game team compositions.
❓Is Ulmus viable in late-game content?
Ulmus falls off in late game due to limited scaling and better tanks available. While still serviceable in Wilder teams or niche PvP, he’s mostly used in early-to-mid-game or faction-specific modes.
❓What artifacts are suitable for Ulmus?
Waistband of Resilience is a good early artifact, boosting his tanking and healing. In late-game, artifact investment is better spent elsewhere unless you’re focused on Wilder synergy or faction tower use.
❓Can Ulmus be effective in Guild Hunts?
Ulmus works decently in early Guild Hunts due to self-healing and durability. He can tank bosses while supporting allies, but his value drops later when burst damage and specialized heroes dominate.
❓Does Ulmus’s healing scale with missing health?
Yes, his Life Torrent healing improves based on how much HP he or nearby allies have lost. This makes him more effective when under pressure, fitting well into sustain or stall teams.
