Dragon refusing to use breath attack..

[pyremind]

Must stay calm, must use words.

So, I just lost a very close fight because EVERY which way that I told my star dragon to use his breath attack, the ability icon would turn into a red X, and he would hover... and nothing would happen. Until I gave him a move order, and the ability icon would go back to normal.

The ♥♥♥♥?

[Kzarekh]

Dragons can exclusively use their breath abilities while flying and not in melee mode with other flying units.

[Overread]

Two thoughts;

1) I can't recall, but breath attacks might have a maximum and minimum range; so if you're within the minimum - ergo too close - then it might not be able to enage the breath attack. Units in TW games don't tend to have a backward command to them as such so if you try to issue the order too close then the unit won't move back; instead it will remain static.

2) If the unit gets into any combat what so ever then it can't use its breath attack. This is a balance choice so that the breath attack can be more powerful; but not useable in combat where it would become quite brokenly powerful.
So you have ot use dragons and hydra carefully to get the best from them. Dragons are easier than the hydra because they can pull away from combat (unless totally surrounded) more easily and take flight - however if the enemy gets your dragon in the air then it, again, can't use its breath attack



Note there are a few spells which freeze air units in place. So be sure that the AI hadn't cast those spells on your dragon