Hodrick is the first literal wall you hit in Unicorn Overlord. You meet him early, he looks like a tank, and honestly, most players just stick him in the front row and forget he exists. That is a mistake. While the game wants you to think he’s just a meat shield, a proper Unicorn Overlord Hodrick build requires a bit more nuance than just stacking HP and hoping for the best.
He’s a Hoplite. In the early game, he’s invincible. In the mid-to-late game? He gets shredded by hammers and magic if you aren't careful. If you’ve noticed Hodrick falling over the moment a Warrior or a Wizard looks at him, it’s because you’re playing him too passively.
Why Your Current Hodrick Build is Probably Failing
Most people treat Hodrick as a "set it and forget it" unit. You put him in a squad with Lex or Chloe, and you assume the Heavy Cover will do the work. It doesn't. The problem with Hoplites in the Cornia and Drakenhold stages isn't their physical defense—it's their action economy.
Hodrick has terrible initiative. He is slow. Like, "glacier moving uphill" slow. By the time he gets a turn, the enemy has already swung three times. If he’s burning all his Passive Points (PP) on Heavy Cover, he’s going to run out of steam before the second wave of attacks hits. You need to balance his role as a protector with his ability to actually stay standing when the armor-piercing hits start flying.
I've seen players stack nothing but Defense on him. That’s a trap. Defense has diminishing returns when enemy penetration skills come into play. What you actually need is a mix of guard rate and specific utility items that turn him from a punching bag into a strategic anchor.
The "Impenetrable Fortress" Setup
To make a Hodrick build that survives the transition into Elheim and Bastorias, you have to prioritize his shield. The Azure Shield is a godsend early on because of the extra PP. More PP equals more covers. Simple math.
💡 You might also like: Why the Disney Infinity Star Wars Starter Pack Still Matters for Collectors in 2026
But let’s talk about the Greatwood Spear. A lot of people skip over the HP recovery weapons because they want more attack power. Why? Hodrick isn't there to kill things. He’s there to exist. The Greatwood Spear provides a percentage-based heal that scales with his massive HP pool. It makes him self-sufficient.
Essential Gear for the Mid-Game
- Weapon: Greatwood Spear (for the sustain) or a Spear with high Guard Rate.
- Shield: Azure Shield (early) or the Greatshield of the Iron Wall.
- Accessory 1: Lapis Pendant. You need Active Points (AP) to use Sting, but more importantly, you need the stats.
- Accessory 2: Guard Talisman. Getting his Guard Rate to 100% is the goal. A blocked hit is a fraction of the damage; a non-blocked hit on a Hoplite is a disaster.
You have to be careful with the Heavy Cover tactics settings. If you have him covering every single chip-damage arrow, he’ll be empty by the time the enemy Knight charges. Set your tactics to "Cover: Only when HP is below 50%" or "Cover: Only for Back Row." This forces your other units to take the hits they can handle while saving Hodrick’s stamina for the hits that would actually kill your squishies.
The Magic Problem: Solving Hodrick’s Weakness
Let's be real. A single level 15 Wizard with Fireball can ruin Hodrick’s whole career. Since Hoplites have basically zero Magic Defense, you have to gear around it or pair him with the right teammates.
The White Knight is his best friend. Monica or Miriam can provide Magic Barrier, which is the only way Hodrick survives a run-in with a squad of casters. If you aren't running a Sainted Knight or White Knight with him, you’re basically gambling with his life every time you enter a forest stage.
Another sneaky trick? The Spiked Shield. It doesn't solve the magic issue, but it punishes physical attackers. If he’s going to stand there and take hits, he might as well deal damage back without using an action. It turns his defensive role into a "thorns" build that softens up enemies for your damage dealers in the back.
📖 Related: Grand Theft Auto Games Timeline: Why the Chronology is a Beautiful Mess
Tactical Priority: Fixing the AI
You can't just leave his skills on default. If you do, he’ll prioritize Sting, which is fine, but it’s not his best move. You want him using Line Cover effectively.
Here is a setup that actually works:
- Line Cover: Target back row. Use this when the enemy has Row-attack capabilities (like Gryphon Knights).
- Heavy Cover: Target Infantry.
- Sting: Target scouts or casters if they are in reach, but honestly, just use it to chip.
The real "pro" move for a Hodrick build is giving him the General's Longbow if you're using him in a multi-class setup, though he's locked to spears. Wait, scratch that—stick to the Steel Spear early for the raw stats, then move to the Dragonbone Spear for the extra PP, even with the initiative penalty. He’s already slow; making him slower doesn't hurt, but having 4 PP makes him a god.
Team Synergy: Who Guards the Guardian?
A Hodrick build is only as good as the four people standing behind him. You want high-damage, low-health units that benefit from his protection.
- Rolf (Hunter): Covers the flying units that Hodrick can't hit.
- Auch (Wizard): Provides the magical artillery Hodrick lacks.
- Scarlett (High Priestess): Because Hodrick will take chip damage, and he needs a dedicated healer to keep his HP at the "Guard" threshold.
Don't put Hodrick in a unit with another tank. Don't put him with Alain. It's redundant. Alain is a dodge/parry tank who handles himself; Hodrick is a wall. Putting them together is like wearing two coats in the summer—it's overkill and you're wasting a slot that could go to a damage dealer like Berenice or a Sellsword.
👉 See also: Among Us Spider-Man: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With These Mods
Advanced Strategies: The Bastorias Shift
Once you get to Bastorias, the game changes. Werewolves and Werebears hit like trucks. Your Hodrick build needs to pivot. This is where you look for the Hero's Shield or anything that grants Indomitable.
If Hodrick gets stunned, he can't guard. If he can't guard, he's a pile of scrap metal. You must equip him with a Clear Vision accessory or a Stun Charm if you're fighting in the snow. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a perfectly built Hodrick get one-shotted because a Werewolf stunned him, bypassing his guard entirely.
Practical Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you want to optimize your Hodrick right now, do these three things immediately. First, check his Guard Rate. If it’s under 70%, go to a smithy or find a better shield. Second, look at his PP. If he doesn't have at least 3, find a Lapis Pendant or an Azure weapon. A Hoplite without PP is just a slow soldier.
Third, and most importantly, refine those tactics. Set Heavy Cover to only trigger for your most vulnerable unit, usually your healer or your primary mage. This preserves his longevity across multiple encounters in a single mission.
Hodrick isn't the flashy hero of Unicorn Overlord. He won't get the most kills. But with the right build, he makes the rest of your army feel invincible. Focus on his PP, cap his guard rate, and keep him away from mages unless he has a White Knight babysitting him. That’s how you turn the first recruit into a permanent fixture of your endgame squad.